I was right, I didn't have an appetite.

Any chance of me getting some juice in my system was all ruined by an extreme lack of desire.

Shame too... don't know when she learned it, don't know how she worked it, but Ash was surprisingly a good cook.

Better than me anyway, which, thinking about it now... was more insult than compliment.

I still burn my eggs sometimes - don't think I should be anybody's benchmark to strive for.

Anyways, back to late night dinner, I barely moved my fork, on Ash's insistence, I took a nibble and a couple of bites here or there.

I felt awful for not eating, and that feeling didn't ease up one bit, cause you got me over here forcing down every swallow - meanwhile, Tyler was licking clean every square inch of his plate, wolfing down his share in half the time it took me to clear out a quarter of my own.

See? Ash took the time and effort to cook for him too, and he's paying that gesture back in kind by relishing every bite with the widest smile that's ever been smiled.

Can you do that, me? Can ya? 'Course not, it'll just take time away from your sulking, and we can't have that now, can we?

"I see that you're in no mood for any more," spoke Ash after a while, taking the plate away from under me. "Do not worry, I shall keep it warm for your return."historical

Her comforting smile stung at me. I felt like some rich posh stuck-up snob whose definition of considerateness extended only to taking my shoes off before entering the house.

Once eleven came around, it was time to head out. Since I wasn't yet fully capable of walking on my lonesome, Ash once again, did all of the heavy-lifting for me, like picking out a change of attire well-suited for a chilly night outing.

She ain't allowed to be there, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to be with me every step of the way before that.

"At the very least, I must see you off," Ash said. "I will not be able to rest easily otherwise."

As for me I get delegated the arduous task of sitting my ass down on the couch, feeding a recently-awoken Adalia, away from the ever-curious gaze of Tyler.

How we managed that? The same way you do all gullible kids, 'look over there! A big (insert creature here)', for my case, I had him turning the place upside down for a hot flaming redhead who so happens to also be single.

It was just enough time to pull up my sleeve and have a pair of fangs sink into my skin.

"Do you... have to go...?"Adalia then muttered, slowly raising her lips away from my arm. "It... doesn't sound... safe... to me..."

Shit, if this confrontation's even a Matriarch's concern about safety, the hell does that entail for me?

"Worst that can happen is if she kills me," I rolled back my sleeve, replicating that same comforting smile Ash gave me, "And she can't kill me, so..."

"But... other things...?"

"Look, if I'm not back by sunrise, then feel free to check up on me if you're that worried."

"Sunrise..." Adalia sat completely still for a moment, misty eyes blinking, thinking, and then, "Okay... sunrise... promise..."

I sat there a little taken aback by it. I was just making a light joke there, and now I can't tell if she was doing the same.

Think she was serious...

"Man..." Tyler walked the sad walk all the way back from the pantry room, gloomy-eyed and indignant. "Fool me once, shame on you. Ain't gonna fool me twice, you hear?"

"Yes."

He folded his camera shut. "Does this redhead chick even exist, or were you just fucking with me?"

"Yes."

I have a feeling he doesn't believe me. Couldn't possibly tell you why, though. I'm an honest guy... there is a redhead that lives here.

She just... ain't around right now, is all. Not like I lied, did I?

Soon enough, and when I say soon enough, I mean five minutes later, Ash and I were finally walking out the front doorstep.

I haven't seen past that doorway in over a week and a half, aside from letting Tyler in earlier today, and even then I was a tad bit preoccupied dealing with his nonsense to truly appreciate the sights.

Thanks to that, the outdoors looked like alien country to me. Trees rustling, wind blowing, flowers swaying... the countryside-side of me was shedding happy tears being reunited with dear mommy nature once more.

I blame my sentimental self for not catching onto the problem at hand right quick.

Regardless though, I still did.

"Hey Ash..." I called out to my shoulder-leaning companion. "How exactly do you plan on getting us there?"

A silly question, indeed, spoke her face towards mine. Being polite, Ash tried to hide it, backfired, and ended up only making it more obvious.

"Why, the same way we always have, Master," She answered. "The buses remain ever as dependable as they are punctual."

Okay... yeah... I had a feeling...

"And say... if they aren't as punctual tonight as any other time?"

Ash continued to look befuddled. "I fear I am not understanding the question."

"Like... there aren't any buses now."

Bigger frown now. "No... buses? Forgive me, but why wouldn't there be any?"

Few moments later, Ash had learned that buses are not forever. That even they have their ends. In this case their ends happen to be from 11PM to 6AM.

In hindsight, maybe this was information I should have relayed to her far earlier.

Someday we really need to set some time aside for just a whole day's worth QnAs...

For now... Uber anyone? Please? I'm willing to pay good money, please accept our request. No? Too far? Too late a time?

Understandable, have a nice day.

Welp, desperate times call for desperate measures. Let's see if Amanda is still awake here...

Her phone number was just a finger swipe away when I heard a creaking at the porchside.

"Oh, lookie here? Ain't gone yet?" Tyler walked down the steps, hands in his pockets. "Don't mind me, just gonna have a quick smoke."

He pulled his hand from his right pocket and out came a pack of cigarettes, then he pulled his left from his left out and dropped something that jingled.

Car keys.

"Oh, clumsy me," Tyler chortled, bending over to pick it up. "One of these days, man, one of these days... gonna end up hitchhiking, know what I mean?"

Alright, I get the message... Jesus...

Fast forward a few moments, I found myself, for the first time ever, sitting in the epitome of backseat comfort of a luxurious sports car.

I'm no fine connoisseur of the vroom vrooms, but not even I could resist the allure of the slick shiny wheels, and the glossy red finish.

Ash tried her best to keep herself reserved and professional - stayed strong until about sixty seconds in when Tyler turned on the ignition and the revving of the engine roared the roar of a mighty mechanical beast.

Heavy breathing could be heard throughout the course of the ride from front point A to point B.

Speed limits were blatantly ignored, all in the namesake of impressing Ash. Got honked at every intersection, and I'm pretty sure there's a few curses to my name now...

All the while, Tyler's over there, eyes on his phone perched atop the dashboard documenting it all with a newfound fervor in his voice.

In a weird way, I find the constant blaring quite comforting. The town's moved on from the incident... and it's like nothing's ever happened.

Fingers crossed it continues to stay that way.

"What we going for anyways?" He said to me from the rearview mirror. "Pretty sus going out this late if you ask me, you know?"

I had my seatbelt buckled, and handlebar clutched onto for dear life so it took me a while to find my words.

"Not your business," I said, hoping a crash wasn't imminent. "Just focus on the road."

"For an entertainment guy, you ain't so good at it. Thought we'd be driving to a club or something."

"I'm going alone, you're just dropping off."

"Wait what?" He looked to Ash. "And your uh... other other other girlfriend here?"

"Going home with you." I said.

"Kay now that's real sus right there, where you going off to solo that no one can know? I am questioning everything right now and..."

The look in his eyes wanted to say more, but the look in mine said no more.

Miraculously, we made it to our destination in one piece.

Dizzy, perturbed, on the verge of throwing up, but in one piece.

There were no lamp lights at central park - the beam lights of the cars were the only thing illuminating the gateway entrance.

Deeper in, it was still dark. The trees swaying high... the bushes rustling with the wind.

The Fey always had a thing for lush flora. Considering her backstory, it makes sense that she'll be here...

Sera Nas...

Let's see what you want with me.