The scent of garlic, chicken, and olive oil filled the kitchen as I chopped up an onion and a couple of bell pepper halves to add. I don’t know why I was cooking, I wasn’t hungry, but there I was. I was making Chicken Penne, darting around the room as if I were a pinball in a machine. I barely noticed the door to the kitchen opening, let alone a half asleep Jack stopping to stare at me from the doorway.

“Reyna,” I nearly jumped out of my skin when he spoke, “this is getting ridiculous.”

“I’m making Chicken Penne.” He looked about to say something, but shook his head instead.

“It’s two in the morning,” he sounded more exasperated than angry.

“But…” I stopped, I had no argument; I’d just started compulsively cooking, “I have to finish.” Jack breathed a heavy sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly.

“Alright, that’s it,” he picked me up around the waist and slung me over his shoulder, turning off the stove and the light as he passed, “no more cooking until the sane population of the house is actually awake.” I growled at him, but there wasn’t much I could actually do short of breaking something. He carried me back to the bedroom and practically tossed me under the covers before laying down behind me, wrapping his arms around me when I started to get back up.

“But I need to at least put it away.” Jack growled under his breath.

“It can wait, besides,” he smirked, “I got used to how warm you are,” he pulled me against him, “I might freeze if you leave again.” I glared, but could think of nothing to say before he seemed to have fallen back asleep. I breathed a heavy sigh in defeat before curling closer to him and closing my eyes.

-----

I went back to the shop later that day, going inside long enough to set the bag I’d brought to Jack’s on the floor beside the stairs. I glanced up at Jesse where she sat on the sofa as I passed, but she wore a ridiculous grin that made me scowl and stare at my shoes instead. I darted back out the door before she could say anything, moving out to the alley and taking apart the engine of Echo’s bus to check for damage. I had pretty much gutted it by Halloween, now it was just a matter of replacing what I needed to and putting it back together. I was working on something under the van when the door to the shop opened and I heard footsteps approach me.

“Fuck off, Jesse, we’re not talking about it.” The steps stopped and I heard a familiar chuckle.

“I had no intentions of bringing December up,” Michael crouched down and peered under the bus at me as I looked over, “and last I checked, my name wasn’t Jesse.” I blinked, my gaze flicking away for a second before returning to him.

“Oh,” it wasn’t much, but it was all I could think of to respond, “hi,” I spoke weakly and he flashed a small smile.

“I’ve got a commision I need to finish, would you mind covering the shop?” I shrugged my indifference.

“Sure, I would’ve come by to say hello, but Jesse…” I trailed off, and from the knowing look he wore, I didn’t need to explain further. “Just give me a minute to finish this and clean up,” Michael nodded slightly.

“Thanks,” he straightened up and disappeared back into the shop while I got the bus to the point I could leave it.

-----

I was sketching in my journal when the bell over the door rang and I looked up. The couple that came in were normal enough, which was in itself strange to me. I straightened up, slipping the journal away as I studied them. They were dressed in business casual and their scent was entirely human; the two combined piqued my curiosity.

“Welcome to Dogwood Apothecary,” I plastered on a fake smile as I drew their scrutiny away from the shelves, “can I help you find something?” The man glanced briefly at his wife before he stepped up to the counter, the woman following quietly.

“We’re looking for our daughter.” I raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure what I was supposed to say to that; every now and then I got requests like that, they were over the phone calling me as one would a PI.

“Alright,” I began slowly, trying to think of a reply, but thankfully I was saved by the door into the back opening.

“Reyna, would you—” Echo stopped when she saw the couple, frozen in place as she stared at them with a suddenly blank face.

“Sarah Grace?” The woman broke her silence and Echo seemed to suddenly come back to herself, turning on her heel and disappearing back into the back of the shop without a word. We all watched her go, as if we needed a moment to process what had just happened. The man, apparently Echo’s father, was the first to react.

“Sarah Grace, you show some respect to your mother and come back here!” He raised his voice as he called after her. I was still processing everything when he pulled open the door into the back, I assume to go after her. I darted after him, temporarily escaping my confusion. “I did not raise you to act this way!” Echo darted up the stairs when he followed her, and I stepped in front of him, barring him from getting any further.

“Sir, please return to the shop.” I spoke evenly, hoping not to have to drag him out.

“You didn’t raise me at all!” Echo shouted back down the stairs, emphasizing her words with the slam of her bedroom door.

“Sir,” the man tried to push past me, but I didn’t budge, “if you don’t leave,” my voice had become a low growl, “I’m going to have to call the police.”

“That’s my daughter up there!” He voiced his outrage and I flashed a bitter smile, folding my arms across my chest.

“She is an adult and this is private property,” I repeated my statement, my voice on the edge of a full blown snarl, “Please leave before I have to get the police involved.” The man glared daggers at me for a long time before his wife put a hand on his arm and turned him away.

“He said this might happen initially, we should just do as he said and wait for him.” She spoke softly and I watched as the man squared his shoulders and made for the front door. I followed them back into the shop in silence.

“Figures she’d be at a damn hippie shop.” I bit back a sharp reply and locked the door behind them, flipping the sign around.

“Hippie shop my ass,” I muttered the words as I went to climb the stairs. Michael stood in front of Echo’s door, as if he was about to knock but didn’t know what he’d say. I smiled briefly when I saw him, pausing long enough to knock for him before I continued to the kitchen.

“Reyna,” he said my name like a question and I laughed softly.

“Commit, Michael,” I said teasingly, “You’ll just be in the way if you never make up your mind.” He stared after me as I disappeared into the kitchen. “Well,” I spoke to myself, killing time as I pulled a mug from one of the cabinets, “I guess I’ll make hot chocolate.” I started pulling everything from the cupboards at once, until I had a stack on the counter.

-----

By the time Michael left Echo’s room, I had a steaming mug of hot chocolate. I knocked on the door to Echo’s room and opened it slowly, but I was suddenly at a loss for what to say; I couldn’t even begin to understand what she was going through. So I glanced over at the hinges on the door, as if inspecting them for damage.

“Here and I was worried I’d have to come replace these,” I spoke with a laugh, reaching out to touch one of the hinges. Echo didn’t laugh, she looked more distraught than ever.

“I—I’m sorry, I just—”

“Echo,” I cut her off, “don’t apologise, you did nothing wrong.” I smiled and stepped into the room. “Here,” I held out the mug, “hot chocolate.” She set the folded stiletto knife she’d been holding on the nightstand and took the mug with careful fingers. She peered at it apprehensively for a moment.

“Is there alcohol in it?” I laughed, sitting on the edge of her bed a few feet away.

“What do you take me for, an alcoholic?” I spoke jokingly, well aware of the hypocrisy of my words. Echo only smiled briefly and took a sip. Her eyes lit up and another small smile crossed her lips.

“Oh my God,” she took another sip and I smiled, “this is really good.” I laughed again.

“It’s just cocoa, sugar, a bit of salt, caramel, and cinnamon,” I counted the ingredients off on my fingers as she kept drinking.

“Where did you get it? It’s delicious.” I shrugged.

“The kitchen,” I looked away and changed the subject, “so those were your parents.” I trailed off, leaving it open for interpretation.

“Biologically? Yes,” she glared into the now empty mug, as if it were the root of all her troubles, “but they don’t deserve to be called parents. Parents don’t try to fix their kids, they don’t drag them from doctor to doctor just because they’re different, they don’t have them institutionalised,” I winced at that one, “and they don’t just dump her on her grandmother because they give up.” I started to say something but she didn’t let me, “Please don’t give me the crap about understanding what I’m going through and how I feel.” A dry laugh escaped my lips, much to her surprise.

“I can’t even begin to understand, my parents—” I choked on the words when I remembered the blood, the sound of my mother’s knife slipping from my fingers to the floor echoing in my head as I’d tried to stop the bleeding. I swallowed and tried again with a small sheepish smile, “they died when I was little.” She wore a bitter smile that looked so out of place on her.

“You’re lucky they didn’t get the chance to hurt you.” I flinched, but I didn’t let it show as I looked down at my hands.

“Do you mind if I tell you a story?” Echo seemed to hesitate a moment before she answered.

“Okay…” She spoke as if she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear what I was going to tell her.

“This story,” I flashed a bittersweet smile, “it’s like the Romeo and Juliet of the supernatural world.” I took a deep breath, “A long time ago, there was a woman, a bairn of Artemis, who was said to be beyond beautiful. And there was a fox who was wildly cunning, but he had a monster inside him, and because of it, he never allowed himself to fall in love. The bairn of Artemis heard stories about this fox and, curious, she went to find him. They fell in love. Intermarriage between races was, and still is, nearly unheard of, though, and so they were constantly criticized and berated.” Echo looked sorry for them when I glanced up briefly, “Still, they were happy for nine long years.”

“Why so short?” She asked as if she were holding her breath.

“The fox, he slipped. He succumbed to the monster, and though the bairn of Artemis had faced monsters all her life, she couldn’t bring herself to kill this one. He, on the other hand, had lost all recognition of her and so, she was killed. The fox turned then, to try to sate his bloodlust elsewhere…” I grew quiet, “their bairn; she took her máither’s knife, and when he went after her…” I swallowed, trying to detach myself from the pain of the old wound, “He became her first kill,” my words were hollow, “and she never cried again.” I fell silent, staring vacantly at the floor in front of me.

“Oh my God,” Echo spoke, her eyes wide. I exhaled through my teeth, drawing my hand down my face as I reset my wall.

“Anyway, the point is that everyone has ‘damage’ from their parents and how they grew up, but you can’t keep running away from it,” I forced a smile, “you face it and learn from it what you can. Then you move on.” I took the empty mug from her as I stood to go.

“Reyna?” I paused in the doorway.

“Hmmm?”

“What happened to their daughter?” I rubbed the back of my neck with a bittersweet smile.

“I’m still running,” I spoke softly and left before she could reply.

-----

I was up late. A couple more hours and the sun would be peeking over the horizon. I was up late a lot lately, but not usually like this. Usually, work was the thing keeping me up, but this time was different. The old anxiety had returned, as it did sometimes, and brought with it memories of a bloody kitchen heavy with the taste of blood in the air and slick in my throat. Every time I closed my eyes, the nightmares were there waiting. I’d been curled in the armchair for hours, staring blankly up at the ceiling while my ears strained for any sound, as if waiting for the familiar sounds of flesh ripping and tearing. Finally, I breathed a heavy sigh and rolled out of the armchair, taking one of my mother’s silver knives with me as I climbed the stairs to the library. I left the door open and collapsed into the window seat, curled up against the window.

I’d started humming at some point, a rock ballad stuck in my head underneath the replaying blood and death.

Maybe Echo heard me moving around because I heard a cupboard closed in the kitchen, though I barely noticed it. I leaned my head against the window, the cool glass somehow comforting.

“Reyna?” I looked back in surprise, suddenly drawn back by the soft voice.

“Echo,” I said with a shy smile, “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?” Echo was sitting on the bench of my piano, as if it gave her some comfort. She looked at it silently a moment before speaking.

“Does Michael play?” I smiled slightly.

“No, it’s mine.” She looked surprised at my words as I climbed to my feet, moving to sit beside her on the bench. “Alix insisted,” my voice was a whisper, as if I held my breath as I carefully uncovered the piano’s keys.

“Alix?” I smiled softly, a smile I hadn’t shown anyone in a long time as I touched the keys with light fingers.

“The woman who trained me to hunt.” I took a deep breath, glancing at her from the corner of my eye before I changed the subject. “What’s with the salt?” Echo blushed, her eyes widened as she glanced down at the salt shaker in her hands.

“I… I heard the humming… and I thought it was a ghost.” I couldn’t help my laugh.

“Really? A ghost in my home?” I smiled, “You do remember I hunt monsters for a living, right?” she blushed brighter.

“Hey, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning.” She spoke defensively and I leaned back on the bench.

“It is, isn’t it,” I took a deep breath, “I’m sorry I woke you up, go back to sleep, yeah?”

“Why are you still up?” I blinked, distracting myself as I ran my fingers across the piano cover. I was stalling, and maybe it was clear, because she seemed to figure out the answer on her own, “It’s something to do with your parents, isn’t it?” The piano cover slipped from my fingers and closed with a thud that echoed loudly in the silence. I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my shaking hands.

“Echo,” my voice cracked and I swallowed, “Echo, just go back to sleep.” Echo looked like she wanted to push, but I guess something made her change her mind. Instead she just nodded slightly and stood.

“If you ever want to talk, I’m here.” I nodded slightly, my gaze fixed on my knuckles as they turned white and my grip tightened on the edge of the bench; talking never helped me, it was just exhausting, but I wasn’t going to tell her that.

“Thanks,” I breathed the word and waited for her to leave before I let out the breath I was holding and rested my forehead on the cold polish of the piano.

Another deep breath and my eyes turned back from red-gold to emerald green.

-----

Michael was working on his latest commission, so I was working the shop again… or, we were working the shop; Echo was acting like my shadow, so much so that I’d almost bumped into her a few times. I was about to say something to her about it when the bell over the door rang and Echo’s parents walked through again. I glanced at Echo, gauging her reaction but keeping my mouth shut.

“Sarah Grace—” Her father began, but he didn’t get far.

“Dear God, leave me the Hell alone,” I hid a smirk behind my hand, although I have to admit I was worried I might be rubbing off on her.

“Listen to me, you ungrateful—”

“Stop,” A third person came through the door, exuding confidence and charisma like a pheromone, “Mr. Montgomery, this line of conversation won’t solve anything.” I stared at the man’s smile; it took everything I had to keep my eyes from changing.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Achar stared at me as I flashed a cruel smile, “you drove all the way up here from Florida, but it just wasn’t a good enough night for a repeat.” He glared at my words.

“I’m not here for you, Reyna—” I raised an eyebrow at him, my gaze cold as he corrected himself, “Miss Wildes. I’m here with Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery.” Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery looked from Achar to me and back again in their confusion.

“You know each other?” I started to answer, but Achar jumped in before I could say something to screw up whatever he had going.

“Yes, we had a… business plan together a while back, but unfortunately it ended in failure.” Echo looked over at me and I shrugged, but I said nothing to confirm or deny his story; while he’d been vague about it, he wasn’t exactly wrong.

“So what do you people want?”

“We are here to save our daughter from people like you.” Mr. Montgomery spoke and I bit back my reply, folding my arms across my chest as my jaw clenched. It took everything I had not to make some smart remark back; this was really none of my business and I didn’t want to get involved if at all possible. Achar must have picked up on the tension because he stepped up with a hand on Mr. Montgomery’s shoulder and an easy smile.

“I believe what he means to say is that we’re here to…” he paused as if looking for the correct word, “help miss Sarah Grace here with her symptoms and, if at all possible, to repair her relationship with her parents.” Echo rolled her eyes beside me.

“I don’t need saving from Reyna, so get the hell out!” I exhaled through my teeth; I’m prone to turning homicidal but she didn’t need saving from me… yeah, sure.

“Now, Sarah Grace—” Achar began but Echo made an exasperated sound and disappeared into the back, slamming the door behind her.

“This is your doing—” Mr. Montgomery turned to me but he snapped his mouth shut when I gave him a look like a wild animal ready to attack him.

“I’ll be closing the shop now, so if all of you could leave—” Achar cut me off mid-sentence.

“It might be best if I talk to her alone first,” he spoke to the Montgomery’s, ignoring their protests, “just to get an idea of where to start with treatment.” After a moment, they seemed to come to a reluctant agreement and left. I moved around the counter to turn the sign around and lock the door, but Achar blocked my path. “You know, since I’m here—”

“No.” I spoke bluntly and tried to move past but he didn’t let me.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy—”

“I said no.” I tried again, but he grabbed my arm.

“Reyna—” I knocked his arm off of me, gaze narrowed into a glare. A bell rang somewhere, but I barely noticed it.

“Save your breath, Achar, you’ll need it to inflate your date tonight,” my voice was low as I flashed him a cruel smile.

“Reyna,” I looked past Achar at the door and my smile relaxed slightly, “who’s this?”

“Jack, this is Achar.” Jack raised an eyebrow at me and slipped past Achar to wrap an arm around my waist almost possessively while realization twisted Achar’s expression into a bitter frown.

“Achar from Florida?” I nodded slightly at his question.

“Apparently he’s convinced Echo’s parents that he can ‘fix’ her,” I shook my head slightly and looked up at Jack, “would you give us a minute?” Jack looked like he wanted to say no, but after a moment studying my face, he gave a slight nod, pressed his lips to my cheek in a silent kiss, and disappeared into the back. I waited for the door to close before I looked back at Achar with a cold look in my eyes.

“So that’s Jack…” Achar spoke slowly, like he was trying to think of ways to use the information against me, but I ignored it.

“Achar, I don’t know what you’re planning with all of this ‘fix their daughter’ bullshiteshit, but I want to make something very clear,” my cruel smile returned, “I figured out how you played me so well in Florida, and if you touch her,” my smile turned into a malicious grin, my low voice a warning, “I’ll make you wish I’d just kill you.” Achar stared at me a moment, as if trying to decide if this was still a salvageable situation, and left without a word. I exhaled slowly and locked the door behind him. After a moment, I moved to the back of the shop and found Echo flopped on the sofa. “Echo,” she looked over at me with a dull gaze I never thought I’d see from her, “I’m going to say something you’re not going to like, but I want you to listen and at least think about it.” I sat in the armchair, leaning on my knees. Echo rolled toward the back of the couch and I breathed a heavy sigh. “You can’t keep ignoring them, it won’t make the problem disappear. You have to stop running away and face them, because they will keep coming back.” Echo gave a harsh laugh.

“I have to stop running?” She laughed again, “Why the Hell should I listen to you? You know nothing about facing it, you told me yourself you’re still running.” I winced, closing my eyes and swallowing the rage that flashed through my head at her words.

“Echo,” I practically snarled her name before I stopped to take a deep breath and begin again, my voice still low, “I don’t have a choice; I can never stop running. If I do? If I stop to rest? Then the darkness that always follows one step behind has a chance to catch up. You have a choice, and the fact I’m still running is exactly why you should listen to me; I know how much pain comes with that road and you don’t go down that path and reach the end the same person you are now; you never reach the end at all.” I got up and climbed the stairs before she could answer. I found Jack in the boys’ room, playing toy soldiers with them on the floor.

“Hey ,” Zevi spoke softly when I paused in the doorway and Jack looked up to meet my gaze as I forced a smile.

“Hey guys, do you mind if I borrow Jack a moment?” I tried my best to sound like nothing was wrong, but Jack saw through it, already on his feet before the pups could answer.

“Sorry boys,” he ruffled Loki’s hair and flashed an easy smile, “I’ll come back in a bit.” He followed me out the door, closing it behind him. “Are you alright?” I nodded slightly, but when the smile had slipped from my face, I’m sure it wasn’t very convincing.

“Come on,” I led him down the hall to my little library and shut the door. “Echo’s parents showed up,” he started to reply but I hadn’t finished, “the first time was actually yesterday, and it didn’t end well.”

“It couldn’t have been too bad if they were both still alive to come back today,” he spoke teasingly but it was like his heart wasn’t behind it.

“It ended with me telling Echo how I lost my parents,” I hurried on before he could say anything to that, “I was trying to make a point, that she has to face her parents and deal with this or it’ll haunt her for the rest of her life.” Jack still looked concerned but when he spoke, he didn’t ask about my parents.

“She does have to deal with it, but she doesn’t have to do it alone.” I growled quietly and shook my head, turning away.

“Don’t go where I think you’re going with this,” I muttered the words but Jack ignored them.

“Jesse didn’t deal with our parents until she met you, she said meeting you made her believe it was possible to go against them. I didn’t deal with them until my father attacked you at a restaurant for being honest,” I glared at him as his voice gradually grew louder, “Echo looks up to you whether you like it or not, and—”

“Jack, stop.” I raised my voice, cutting him off with a shout, “I'm not getting involved any more than I have to. Don’t push it.” Jack met my glare with one of his own, backing me into the corner because I didn’t want him within my reach when I was that angry.

“Your support might just be what she needs to be able to face them.” My eyes changed and my canines bit into my lip.

“She doesn’t need my help, Jack! She needs to do it on her own!”

“Reyna—”

“No!” My voice had turned into a snarl again as I shouted the word. “Why do you have to be so contrary!” I growled in my frustration, turning to put my fist through the drywall next to me and swearing under my breath when I really registered what I’d just done. Jack’s laugh was harsh behind me.

“This coming from the girl who picks a fight with everyone she meets!” My fingernails bit into my palms hard enough to draw blood, “Why can’t you accept that sometimes people just need some help?!” I turned on him like a cornered animal.

“Do you think I want to fight everyone?! I'm afraid of hurting the people I care about, so I try to make sure they don't want to be around me! And some people needing help?! What the Hell do you think I do everyday of my life?!” I felt like I was numb, but tears still welled in my eyes.

“Reyna, I—” Jack began, reaching out to touch me but I backed out of his reach.

“No, Jack,” I growled at him, tears beginning to fall even though I wasn't sure why, “just leave,” I flashed a cruel smile and gave him a harsh laugh, “Isn't that what you do best?” Jack looked as hurt as I felt, but I couldn't say anything else as he turned and made his way to the door. There was a crash outside the door, like something shattering against the wood floor as a door closed down the hall. Jack pulled open the door and disappeared down the stairs around the corner, leaving me to collapse against the wall as my unfocused gaze found the pics of glass on the floor of the hall.

-----

I was still crying silently, though I still wasn't sure why, about a half hour later. I had pried myself away from the wall and gotten a trash bin from next to my desk to collect the broken glass in. Loki poked his head out their bedroom door to look for Jack and I wiped my face in a hurry.

“Hey mum?” I forced a smile and looked up at him, “Where'd Jack go?” I laughed shakily.

“I’m sorry bud, he had to go.” The disappointment wrote itself into Loki’s face as he studied me a few more minutes before he seemed to decide not to ask. I watched him slip back into the room and looked down at my hands again as the tears came back. There was blood on some of the glass that hadn't been there when I'd started. I checked my hands trying to figure out where it'd come from; there were cuts patterning my palms and dripping blood down my wrists like external veins. Another door opened down the hall but I barely registered the sound as I started to pick up the glass again. Echo joined me in cleaning up the pieces, no doubt noticing the blood, but still we continued in silence.

And I kept crying silently without any idea why.

-----

Echo and I didn’t speak beyond the usual mumbled good mornings as we waited for the coffee pot. Then she went to help Michael in the shop and I went to work on scrubbing the last of the smoke residue from the inside of Emerson. She’d moved into the back when I came inside an hour or two later for a quick drink and my headphones; her parents and Achar were all wedged onto the sofa having what almost resembled one of my old counseling sessions. I didn’t pause to listen because it really wasn’t my place, I just grabbed my things and went back out, turning the music up loud enough that even my ears couldn’t pick out their words over it, but not loud enough it impaired my vision too much. I’m not entirely sure how long they talked, but I was in the middle of installing new front seats when the back door slammed loud enough for me to catch it up even with the music. I pulled the headphones down around my neck and looked towards the door, trying to see what was wrong as my vision faded from dark dancing stars when I picked up a salt tinged vivid blue haze. Echo was walking past, turning away to head down the alley, but not before I caught a glimpse of an already forming bruise on the side of her face. I scrambled out of the van to catch her by the arm, taking her chin in gentle fingers and lifting her chin to get a better look at the bruise.

“What happened?” My voice was low and cold when I met her gaze, but she looked away a second later.

“It’s nothing,” she mumbled the words and tried to turn away, but I grabbed her other arm and held her in place.

“Echo, this is not nothing. Who the Hell did this to you?” It sounded like a threat, but it wasn’t directed at her.

“It doesn’t matter, no one ever believes me anyway.” She muttered the words bitterly and tried again to walk away, but I didn’t let go.

“Was it your faither?” She didn’t answer; she didn’t need to, her silence combined with the look in her eyes when I asked was enough to confirm my suspicion. “Come back inside.” I let go of her and started to pull open the door, but Echo shook her head and started to leave. “Echo, this is your home. If anyone is going to leave, it’s going to be them,” my gaze was cold; seeing the bruise had jumped me straight into ‘business mode’ because I didn’t want to think about the memories it triggered.

“Home? That’s something I haven’t had in awhile,” she spoke quietly, apprehension in her eyes as she looked at the door. A small smile crept across my lips.

“Well you have it now for as long as you need it,” I paused, glancing down at my hand on the door, “and I’m sorry I didn’t try to help before it came to this.” I pulled it open and stepped inside, Echo trailing reluctantly behind. I moved to stand next to the sofa, studying the Montgomerys with a cold gaze. “Achar left?” I spoke more to myself than anyone else, but still Mr. Montgomery saw fit to answer.

“Yes, the snake oil salesman ran the second things got too messy.” I tipped my head slightly to one side as I studied him.

“You don’t like messy much, do you.” It wasn’t a question, and I didn’t give him the chance to answer, “Look, Mr. Montgomery, there’s something I should’ve told you the first day you two showed up, but I didn’t want to get involved before. This though,” I gestured to Echo’s already bruising face, “this is too far.” He fumed, climbing to his feet and causing Echo to step back with wide eyes.

“You little brat! What’d you do, run crying to this one?” I bared my teeth quietly at his words.

“Sit down, Mr. Montgomery—” I tried to keep my voice calm and even, but he started toward Echo again, so I moved between them, arms folded across my chest. “Sit. Down.” I spoke slowly, my voice low and cold now. Mr. Montgomery sat back down as if the wind had been knocked out of him. “I really hate having to repeat myself, so I’m only going to say this once,” I flashed a cruel smile, “this thing I should’ve told you, it’s something I tell every monster who comes to the East Coast,” I meant quite literally, but I’m sure that’s not how they took it, “I didn’t say it before because I didn’t realize just how bad you are; I will not continue to make that mistake.” I stepped closer to him, flashing my sharp canines in a malicious smile, “The East is my territory; everyone here is under my protection, and if I ever hear that you step foot in my territory again,” I moved my hand to my side, very deliberately drawing attention to the knife there, “I’ll make sure they never find your body.” I let the smile slip back into my icy mask, “Is that clear enough for you?” Mrs. Montgomery stared at me in horror, a look I was fairly used to getting from humans by now, but her husband just glared daggers at me.

“Stupid little girl,” he growled the words and stood, and if he weren’t moving to grab Echo, I probably would’ve laughed at them. Instead, I moved on instinct, intercepting his arm as he reached for Echo and twisting it behind his back while my other hand drew the knife from its sheath with one fluid movement. In a second I had him essentially pinned with his arm pinned painfully to his back and the blade pressed to his throat so that all he had to do was swallow and it would bite into his skin and all it would take to dislocate his shoulder was a little pressure in the right place, an awfully tempting thought at the moment.

“Get off of my property,” I spoke coldly, leaving no room for arguments, but stupidity made him go against instinct and try anyway.

“Not without Sarah Grace.” My laugh at his attempts to get out of my grip was a harsh one right behind his ear.

“Did I not make myself clear?” I spoke with a smile, the scent of fear coming off him almost intoxicating.

“N—No,” his voice was filled with defeat when he finally answered, much to my disappointment.

“Then get out and never come back.” I released him as his wife stood and shoved him towards her. I watched them get to the door into the shop, tapping the flat of my knife while I waited. “Oh, one more thing before you go,” they looked back at me with a mix of fear and frustration that was enough to tinge the air with the taste of rust and cocoa butter, “her name isn’t Sarah Grace, its Echo.” They left, slamming the door behind them, but I waited for the bell over the front door to relax my stance and put the knife away. The semi-tense silence was broken by Echo’s laugh, much to my surprise, and I turned to face her, eyebrow raised in question.

“I’ve never seen anyone talk to him like that.” A wicked smile tugged at my lips as I offered her a mock bow.

“Hello, I’m Reyna Ailith Wildes, I’m not sure we’ve met,” I trailed off to a laugh of my own when she started again. “Come on, let’s get something on that bruise,” I spoke with a gentle smile and led her up the stairs to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, “sit down.” Echo seemed about to protest but sat down anyways while I opened the cabinet for a jar of calendula and parsley poultice, something I had a lot of experience with all things considered. “Would you tie up your hair?” I spoke as I popped open the jar and grabbed a gauze pad and some medical tape. Echo did as I asked and I frowned as I studied the bruise again. “This might be a bit cold, but it’ll help keep the swelling down at the very least.” I spoke as much to myself as rubbed my hands together to warm them up a little before applying the poultice to the bruised skin in a thin layer. It dried relatively quickly so I taped the gauze pad over it and leaned back to double check before giving a slight nod of confirmation. “Okay, all good.” Echo gave me a small smile, and stood to leave.

“Thank you,” she spoke quietly and I cocked my head slightly to one side.

“Oh, Echo,” she paused, looking back at me from the hallway, “best not mention how you got that to Michael, yeah? He’ll feel awful about not being there and, knowing him, he’s liable to go track down Mr. Montgomery.” She flashed another small smile and nodded slightly before disappearing down the hall.

I let my smile slip and leaned back against the counter in the silence.

I was kicking myself for not seeing it sooner; Jack had been right.