20

Running as fast as she could, she ran towards Casper. He was staring wide-eyed at her. She grinned and kept running. He did the same. With a few long strides, he was pulling the apartment building’s door open and stepping inside. Emily’s stomach was sloshing, and she felt like she would be sick, but she didn’t let up her speed. 

“Dog boy,” she shouted as soon as she opened the apartment building door. He took one glance at her before he stepped onto the elevator. It binged and closed its doors right as Emily reached it. “Damn it.” She watched the number above the elevator doors light up. It went past two and stopped at the third floor. 

The two flights of stairs was no match for Emily’s determination to confront Casper. She stepped into the hallway of the third floor. As she looked down the hallway, she saw Casper looking over his shoulder at her as he was stepping inside an apartment. He quickly closed the door behind himself leaving

Knowing he wasn’t going to be able to leave the building without having to walk by her first, Emily took the time to catch her breath. All the running had finally caught up to her. She steadied herself with one hand on the wall; her other hand was rubbing her stomach. The small circles she was doing to her stomach was easing her nauseous feeling. When her hand would lift off of her stomach, the feeling would come back tenfold.

“Don’t think I need a test now. Do I,” she chuckled. With every ounce of her being, she now had no doubt she was pregnant. Her body was the answer to the test. The sickness to smells. The moodiness. The sporadic sex drive. And the bizarre dreams. Pregnancy hormones. She wasn’t crazy after all. Just pregnant.

Over the years, she had overheard coworkers and read in books the changes that came with being pregnant. Now she was experiencing all of them... at once. 

A sound down the hallway startled Emily from her thoughts. No one was there, but she was thankful the noise had taken her out of dreamland. She marched over to the apartment that Casper had gone into. Emily had no clue what she would say to the man... werewolf... dog.

Her knocks on the apartment door echoed through the hallway. 

“Sorry,” she called out for anyone she may have disturbed and continued to knock. Just as her hand was getting sore the apartment door flung open. Standing there glaring was a very pissed off Casper. He came out of the apartment so fast Emily had to jump back and out of his way. Without saying a word, he closed the door behind him and crossed his arms.

“Busted, dog boy! Get over here,” Emily demanded pointing a finger down in front of her. He’s already over here, Emily, she groaned. 

“Emily? What are you doing here?” Casper barked at her quietly. “Where’s Kian?”

“Don’t try to change the damn subject.”

“What subject? I’m just trying to go into my apartment and you’re yelling at me,” he replied calmly and shrugged. Emily laughed, stomped her foot and pointed at him. 

“I saw you fucking shift, dog boy!”

“Shift? What are you talking about and why are you calling me dog boy,” he said with less assertiveness? It was almost a whisper. 

“Isn’t that what you shift into? A cute little puppy-wuppy,” Emily replied in a sugar-sweet baby-talk voice.

“Are you drunk?” Casper asked chuckling softly.

“If you didn’t just shift, then why in thee fuck are you naked, dog!”

“Oh, fuck,” Selma said on the other side of the door. Casper and Emily both turned to the closed door. Casper sighed as he opened the door. Standing on the other side was Selma. He said nothing to her, just walked by her and into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Emily,” Selma said with her eyes still focused on Casper’s bare ass.

“Thank God you’re alive,” Emily breathed. Something instinctive kicked up in her and she rushed to the other woman and wrapped her arms around her. She couldn’t be happier to know Selma was alive. Emily felt like such a shitty friend for not turning over every rock in Camden to find Selma.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be alive?” Selma asking laughing. Selma’s arms wrapped around Emily and hugged her back.  

“I don‘t know. I just got worried about you since you didn‘t look too well at the diner. So I came by last night.” And screamed your name like a maniac throughout the building.

Selma’s head lowered, “I’m sorry... it’s been... um...” her voice trailed off. 

Emily read Selma’s body language. Selma was keeping her own secret from Emily. She had noticed how Selma didn’t find it weird for Casper to be coming in the door butt naked. Or that she hadn’t demanded Emily to explain what she meant by dog boy. Emily’s heart dropped into her stomach as she realized the other woman’s secret.

“You knew didn’t you,” Emily growled with a shaky voice. She took a step away from Selma breaking away from their embrace. 

Emily knew she hadn’t been the best of friends with Selma; however, she had thought they were on the same page about sticking together.

“So you planned on staying this entire time?”

“Emily—” Selma tried to interrupt.

“I know you care about Jughead but you could have at least told me that you gave up on leaving!”

“A lot has happened, I’m not sure where to even begin.” Selma wrapped the blanket she had around her tighter to her body. 

“Don’t begin anywhere,” Emily growled and looked around Selma. “Dog, get out here! I want my fucking car! Now!”

“Emily—” Selma pleaded.

Emily had no intentions of leaving without Kian. Her demanding her car was for principle only. She didn’t want Selma or Casper holding anything above her head. She wanted to cut whatever ties they had between them and walk away. 

“Don’t.” Emily’s voice was cracking, and she was on the verge of crying.

“He can’t get your car, Emily,” Selma snapped.

“So you want to trap me in this town with you,” Emily growled back at the other woman.   

When Emily’s emotions exploded, her eyes burned then everything she saw turned into shades of blue. Selma was the brightest of blues with everything else being either a light or dark blue. Calm down, baby. It’s okay, she cooed repeatedly hoping to ease her emotions.

“Emily,” Selma asked concerned.

Casper ran into the room and stood between them with his hands extended out towards both Selma and Emily. 

“Ladies, you must calm down.” He looked at Selma’s hands. Emily looked at Selma’s hands. They were now the brightest object in the room. They looked like small blue flames that were growing by the second. Emily knew Selma wasn’t the same Selma that drove into Camden.

Emily became worried for her unborn child. If Selma’s emotions were anywhere near Emily’s rollercoaster of emotions, then Emily was in for trouble. The more worried she became, the warmer her body became. She felt the need to defend her child at all costs. 

Casper turned his gaze back to Emily. He had a look of horror and he tensed up. Selma came around him and between Emily and Casper.

“Don’t you...” Selma began but the same look as Casper appeared on her face.

Protect your child, the familiar woman’s voice said. 

Emily felt her lips curling up into a smirk. The smirk appeared full beam when she watched Selma take hold of Casper’s arm and pull him backward. She watched them like a hawk as they went to the opposite side of the room. Selma tripped over the blanket she had wrapped around her. Casper caught her with ease and carried her across the room and behind the couch.

Their fear of Emily pleased her. It was a feeling that should have sickened her; however, it gave her satisfaction and courage. She would stop them at all costs. She would stop the werewolf and... she didn’t know what Selma was exactly, but she had a feeling she would soon find out.

Casper held on to Selma tenderly. Each look he gave to Selma, Emily watched his shade of blue brighten. He was in love with Selma. Selma’s gaze on him did the same to Selma’s shade of blue. Her blue was almost blinding. It was clear Casper and Selma were in love. Love was the reason Selma hadn’t told Emily anything.

“This is why I can’t trust anyone.” Emily’s voice was seductive. Unrecognizable to herself. The seductive voice was trying to hide the sorrow and pain Emily felt for trusting Selma. For the feeling that the two could be friends.

“Emily,” Kian shouted as he barged into the apartment. “Sweetheart. Please? Don’t do this.” 

All the pieces came together. She wasn’t pregnant. Everything happening to her body was because of something Kian did to her. Just like the way Selma had changed. Kian was to blame. 

“You did this to me. Didn’t you,” her voice was husky, seductive and fearful. There was nothing sweet about her voice. Her voice was threatening Kian. Despite her angry, seductive voice a tear slipped down her cheek.

The three people who stood in the room with her she hated. No. She despised them. They had tricked her. Tricked her into believing they were good people. At least Selma and Kian had. It was all a mirage. Her father was right. There was no one in the world who would care for her. Not in any sense. Friendship-wise or romantically. Emily would be alone forever. Only able to rely on herself.

“Emily, come back home and I’ll explain everything. I promise,” Kian whispered walking over to Emily slowly.

“I guess everyone in this town enjoys lying to me. Some sick, twisted joke amongst all of you to make me into a fool. I thought I could trust Selma at least. But no. I can’t trust anyone.” She chuckled dramatically and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Guess my dad was right. No one will ever care about me.”

She couldn’t hold back the tears anymore as she looked around at those who had betrayed her. She burst into tears.

“Emily. Sweetheart, it’ll be okay. I’m here, all right,” Kian whispered making his way to her. She held up her hand, and he stopped walking. 

“No. No one can help me,” she sobbed then bolted out the door and into the hallway.

“Emily,” she heard Kian call out to her. All she wanted was for the door to shut in his face and him to not be able to chase after her. She headed for the stairwell. Behind her, she heard a door slam and a click of a deadbolt. 

With tears streaming down her face, she made her way down the two flights of stairs and out the apartment building door. She didn’t know where she was going. Her lungs were tight making each breath harder than the next. The normal colors of the world were back and the shades of blue gone. Everything was overwhelming. Mentally and physically. She wanted to be back home, in her small apartment, curled up on the couch eating a pint of her favorite ice cream. She didn’t want to be in a town full of liars and magical wonders of the world. She wrote about them. They didn’t bother her. Even in person. However, liars bothered her. 

Liars were at the top of her list of things she hated. The way her grandmother promised to take Emily away from her abusive parents. The way her exes had lied how they would never cheat on her. The way people came and gone through her life after promising to always be there for her. Lies. All lies. She preferred the brutal truth over a sugar coated lie any day.

“Emily,” Kian called out behind her. Emily didn’t slow. She just ran toward the woods. It wasn’t the best idea, but at the moment, any place was better than near Kian, Selma, or Casper. “Sweetheart.” His voice was closer to her.

“Of course he can run fast,” she sobbed. “He’s probably a shifter.” 

“I’m not a shifter,” he said taking hold of her waist and startling her. She let out a scream. “It’s just me.” He turned her around then pulled her into his embrace.

“Go away,” she bawled. Her fists pounded at his chest as best they could given the small amount of room between her and Kian. “I hate you.”

“Emily, please,” Kian said weakly. “I wanted to tell you.”

“But you couldn’t because of that witch,” she snapped with her tears continuing. “She’s a real witch isn’t she?” Kian became tensed.

“She’s...” he took a deep breath. “She’s a fairy godmother.” 

“Hmph! Figures! That explains her stupid glowing bracelet.” Emily burst into more tears. “I hate this town! I just want to go home.” Kian held her tighter.

“Please, don’t leave me,” he breathed. “Please? I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back.” 

“I hate you,” she whispered. Her body said one thing but her heart said another thing. She could never hate Kian. No matter what he did, he would always hold a spot in her heart. 

“Please, Emily,” his voice was shaky. “I’m nothing without you.” 

“I want my car, Kian.” She pulled out of his hold and took a step back. Kian looked at her with apologetic eyes. There was a gloss to them. He looked like he was about to cry. “Please? I just want to leave.”

“Emily...” he choked.

“Kian...” Emily began but found the rest of the sentence lodged in her throat.

“Let’s go home. I’ll tell you everything and anything you want to know.”

“I don’t want to go back to your apartment, Kian,” Emily noted his wince at the mention of the apartment being his. Not theirs. 

“It’s your home too.” She held out her left hand. 

“Looks empty to me,” She chuckled while smiling sweetly. “We aren’t married Kian. We aren’t even dating. We are just two people who fu—”

“Enough,” Kian growled at her. “We aren’t just two people who fuck! So don’t even finish that sentence.”

It was the first time Kian had truly gotten loud with her. She could see it in his eyes as they shifted to black then blue. He was filled with anger. No. Rage. He was full of rage. His eyes locked on hers. 

“You are more to me. Just because Nikki made us keep who we are a secret, does NOT change how I feel about you. It never will. So you’re going to have to accept the fact I care about you.” He pointed a finger at her. “If you don’t like it, that’s too bad.” His deep angry tone made Emily burst into tears. Kian’s body language and facial expression shifted.

“I am so sorry,” he whispered taking Emily into his arms. “I am so, so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”  

With her face in his shirt the tears flowed. There was nothing else she felt she could do at the moment. Her life was a mess. All she could do was hope someone would shake her awake from this dream — this heart-wrenching dream.

Emily placed one hand on her stomach. The warm, calming sensation from before washed over her. Her brain was still trying to digest everything, but her body was at least at peace. She felt like she could breathe again. 

You are in there aren’t you, little one? she questioned her stomach not expecting an answer. However, one was given to her. The warming sensation flickered. It reminded her of a light switch. The warming feeling came, went, came, went. With her face against Kian’s chest, she smiled brightly. All’s not lost.

If nothing else, she was leaving Camden with the greatest gift of all. 

“Can we talk?” Kian asked looking down at her. She gave a short nod and stepped back away from him. Her eyes were looking everywhere but him. “Emily. Sweetheart. I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

“Did Nikki give you permission?” Emily asked looking at a nearby apartment building. When Kian didn’t answer right away, she looked at him. He was running his hands through his hair. “She still didn’t want me to know. I see.”

“She is just worried that you and Selma would leave and tell the rest of the world.”

“Tell them what exactly? Tell them there is a town full of paranormals living in the middle of nowhere stuck in the damn ‘50s?” It was as though a lightbulb went off in her mind and everything about Camden came together. The lack of technology. The classic cars in pristine condition. The way the townspeople dressed, talked, and acted.  

She took a breath, “You guys are trapped in time aren’t you?”

Kian sighed and nodded. “Yes. We’ve been trapped in time for a while now. Not sure how long. But long enough.” 

“So you’re... old?” The question came out of nowhere. Emily didn’t have a clue why she cared enough to ask. She just wanted the hell out of Camden. 

“Yes. I guess I’m... old,” he chuckled. “Hadn’t thought of that, but compared to your age, yes.”

“How old?” Who gives a fuck, Emily? Get your car, she screamed at herself. Someone else seemed to have control of her mouth. Emily wondered if her lack of control over her mouth was Nikki’s doing.  

“Um...” His mouth twisted a bit and he seemed to be concentrating. Maybe calculating. “Wow. I don’t even know anymore.” 

“So older than one hundred?” He nodded. “What are you?” 

“An incubus,” he whispered with his eyes lowered.

“That’s why you and all the women,” she stated. Incubi in the stories needed sex to stay alive. Him having been trapped for years would leave his selection of women limited to the ones in Camden.

“Yes,” he replied softly. 

“Is that why you were upset when you could look me in the eyes, and nothing happened?” He nodded. 

“You were the first. That’s how I knew you were the one.” 

“The one?” 

“My mate.”