The Mates of Monsters

e! We ha

exposed shoulders. The simple, yet elegant dress my mother picked out for me squeezes my wais

ige

wn the hall. My hands hold the tough f

eing to assure I haven't stepped into the wrong shoes or grabbed the grey cardigan instead of the black one.

r heels, but I try to ignore the discomfort to instead focus on how miserable the conversation at this dinner will be. Whenever I talk to t

's something else. My parents continue to walk. They talk about the dinner. My mom rambles about seeing the Luna again. My

lright?" M

p and mutter, "Yeah. S

I asked you to, they wo

st nervous to be in a room of intimidating people. It will be fine, though. Amabell and I will g

sick? No, she'll just think I'm looking for a way out. But-but this isn't a kind of illness

ep roofs. My father climbs the few steps up the porch, but I grab my mother's arm. She turns back to m

like. Seeming vulnerable-it's not s

I'll come get you girls

n't feel well. I-I not making this up, I prom

ry. My Dad stops and turns back to us. She wa

right?" He ask

ust go

pimples and a shiver climbs up my spine. Something is in there, in that house, and it's alluring tactics are rising

it hi

thing that this c

, "I can't go in there

thering you? Is it your head

different version of me would conjure up a smart lie, but whateve

g inside. Come on, before they start t

ines out. My mother takes me in with a bright smile on her face as she sees the many people gathered in the front room. I

y father's voice cu

direction of Dad's voice. I'm too much of a coward to look up. What

nd my daughter Brige

out time you two came for a visit. Amabell is around here somewhere, Brigette. I'm sure y

ld go find her. Could she

Luna." He turns to face the crowd, s

l glances at every face they dete

rs. He turns back to us and says, "But Dale,

ll," I say and break away from my parents, desperate to

y annoyance with sweetness. It's the Luna. "Brigette," she says, "it's good to see you again, da

My mother is meeti

mabell ran off to the restroom.

g to find a hole in the wall, but there's nowhere

eel it.

y goes

ything alright. Oh, Brigette, I must introduce you to our guest of honor

es me like a bolt of lightning is the lack of anyone else standing with him. In a single second my face fall

here's no doubt he

as his grey eyes are aimed into

otions like a tidal wave. I must be drea

e Luna says, oblivious. "Have you bee

se scenario. He can't look away from me, but I'm unde

ter how hard I try to yank them out, more and more keep coming throu

like a branch of the military. But it doesn't really matter who he is or how he is because nothing will cha

rows hot. Please look away. J

her, Brigette?" The Luna suggests. Can she really not tell? Mayb

d clasp my hands just to co

happened, I can still make my escape, still be a mate-less girl. For a moment I think that it worke

face this h

rivate office. This is definitely not allowed, but before I can exit, he comes through the door, closing it b

is making me need to vomit. They bump and twist and I clench my jaw just to keep myself from moaning in uneas