Seen

Finding Octavia (Atlas)

The house is quaint, I can hear her feet padding in the quiet of the house. I found myself a branch outside of the window I am sure is hers, while I contemplate this woman. I hadn't noticed her when she got on the bus, that was my first mistake. Her delicate features were framed by loose copper curls, her eyes remind me of the vines in the garden at home, but there was something different from her than the other humans. She could see me, her smile had surprised me in more than one way, but I admired her determination. The way she talked herself up in her mind before she spoke, the way she held up her chin like she wasn't afraid of me, she was more than interesting. Plenty of exceptional creatures walk through this realm, I have been in the presence of many, but if I didn't want to be seen I wasn't. Today should have been no different, but whatever she was, was different than I have encountered in this realm. Usually, we can't hide from each other, but we also have no problem picking each other up from miles away. If she was a demon, I would know. Besides, she didn't look or smell like a demon and she is settled here. She roams about her room reading and seemingly talking to herself, pausing to write and then moving again, opening books and leaving them in random places to seek out another. She is intriguing. I sit and watch for some time. She wonders in and out of her room, picking at her dinner between notes she jots down in the margins of her books, eventually she puts everything aside and turns on her music. Soft ballads play as she types on her computer. She seems sheltered and simple, she shouldn't be interesting. She seems like she is rather ordinary, but something tells me she isn't. I should wait, wait to meet her again, take my time, and watch her. Discover who she is, but I want her to tell me who she is. Another hour goes by and she remains at her desk, bobbing in her seat as she types, the rest of the house is dark and silent. No time like the present. Her window is unlatched, opened outward leaving me the perfect entrance, for someone who was obviously spooked by me earlier she isn't very cautious. I land silently behind her taking one step forward and bending down until I am close enough to her ear to whisper. "What are you working on?" before I finish my whisper, she proves she wasn't as unaware as I had thought. I am still leaning over her shoulder, but she has turned to me holding the letter opener to my throat with a look of determination. "I guess you are more aware than I thought," I say turning to her, forcing the sharp point into my skin."I could smell you from the tree you were sitting on." She whispers back.I smile. "If you knew I was there, why didn't you invite me in?" "I am not going to welcome my stalker in with open arms." I stand and she follows holding the letter opener out, it looks like a small dagger, I smile wider."I don't think a few hours qualifies me as a stalker.""A few hours?!" her mouth drops open"Ah, so not as observant as you would like me to believe." I push the blade away from my neck, but she continues to hold it up ready to use it. "You can put that away, I'm not going to hurt you."She scoffs, "Yeah, right. Why did you follow me if it wasn't to kill me?"I cross my arms over my chest and lean down to her height. "I told you, I want to know how you can see me."She stiffens, I swear she almost rolls her eyes, she has an attitude. It's cute. "I can see you because you are just a person.""Is that so? Maybe we should go visit your father downstairs, I doubt he can see me.""I am not going to lead you to my father so you can harm him too.""Fine. I'll prove it another way." "Fine, but if you can't I get to stab you." "Promise?" I smile down at her and watch her eyes widen as I disappear before her. I reappear in the street right outside her window, just as a car driving up going right through my vaporized form. The letter opener falls and her hands clap over her mouth. I don't wait to reappear in front of her. "How the hell did you just do that?" I laugh at her choice of words. "One of my many talents," I say taking a seat at her desk, turning to look at her computer screen. "That's private." She reaches around me to close the laptop. I toss my hands up and nod."Alright, just trying to get to know you.""Why? I don't know why I can see you or anything about what you are so maybe you should just go."I stand and look down at her, my hands filling my pockets. I can hear her heart rate speed up, but I don't smile."Is that what you want? You want me to leave?" Her eyes stare right back at mine like she isn't afraid, or really like she is trying to convince herself not to be."Why would I want you here? I don't know you and you are a bit...creepy." She says her voice steady. I'm impressed."Creepy? I think you mean interesting and if I leave how will you get to know me?""I don't want to get to know you." She says "Is that why you asked me to coffee? Because I said yes, but you left without leaving your number. That was very rude of you." I say cocking my head."Well, you seemed to have no trouble finding me anyways." She tosses her hands up, looking defeated."Why did you ask me to coffee?" I shouldn't care, but her first instinct when she saw me was to ask me on a date, I can't let that go."Because... I was trying to be bolder...adventurous. Look where that has gotten me." She looks down, the flush racing up her cheeks makes me want to reach out and touch her soft skin. She really has no idea what she has gotten herself into."You seem pretty bold to me, Love. As for adventure, I can help with that.""I don't want your help, you need to leave. If you truly aren't going to harm me, then you have no reason to be here." She steps away from me, seemingly providing room to exit back out the window. "Aren't you curious? Even just a little bit?" I ask holding my stance."Why would I be curious?" she looks back at me, her gaze almost throwing me off, almost.I gesture around me, "All of these books," I glance around "about fantastical creatures and people leading exciting lives. You just saw a car run right through me, you are curious. You are a curious person Octavia."She follows my gaze around the room, evaluating my words, but when she turns back she looks even more pissed."Look, I don't know what games you are playing with me but I am not falling for it. Go, before I make you." She pushes her small hands against my chest, but the force is barely noticeable. Even cuter, she is trying to face down a demon. "I may linger if only to force you to follow through with your threat." I tease. Stepping into her before walking towards the window."You can't force me into anything."I straddle the window, noting the hitch in her breathing. "Oh, Octavia I don't think I'll have to." With a wink, I am out of view. Discreetly hidden from view, I watch her from the shadows. As curious as I know she is of me, I am more curious of her. She doesn't know it, but I won't be leaving here anytime soon. Not unless she sends me away, for good.