A Home for Misfit Monsters

Chapter 3 - Yearn For The Devil

"What's his name? Where's he taking you? Aye, mami! He's muy caliente!" Xochi squealed as she danced around the kitchen while Rhia swept up the broken glass the werewolves broke.

"Yeah, who was that sexy specimen you were talking to?" Jenny said, picking up a broken bowl.

"His name is Ezra. They're going on a wine tour," Nina sang as she floated around Rhia. "And I think Belle's right. I'm not sure that guy's a human. He said he knew what happened to me."

Rhia frowned. "It's weird he can see spirits and I feel like I know him from somewhere," she murmured, dumping the glass in the trash. His gray eyes were hauntingly familiar, but everything else about him was disturbingly appealing. He was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. She wanted to run her fingers through his midnight hair and climb his tall brown body like a tree.

"What if Ezra's your dream boy?" Xochi giggled, pulling Rhia from her thoughts.

She scrunched up her face and scoffed. "He's not, and the only reason I agreed to go with him is because I want to find out about his sixth sense. It's odd he knew what happened to you, Nina."

"Yeah, I'm sure that's the only reason you agreed." Nina smirked. "Why couldn't he be the man in your dreams or even better the man of your dreams?"

"Will you two cut it out? I just met the guy and he's not from my dream," Rhia huffed. "God, I wish Annie kept her mouth shut about that."

"I'm glad she didn't. It's nice to know you've got someone that catches your fancy," Jenny snickered, tying up the garbage bag. "Is our sexy neighbor invited to the Halloween party?"

Rhia nodded. "Belle invited him, but he's off limits to your little hunting game."

"Oh, we wouldn't dare touch him," Annie said, skipping into the kitchen. "We all saw the way you were eyeing him up."

"Plus, he doesn't smell like a human," Jenny said, scrunching up her nose."Not sure what he smells like but it's not human."

"Mm, that's strange," Rhia murmured, leaning the broom against the trash bin. "Anyway, I need to talk to Mack. I don't understand what's gotten into him." She shook her head. "He knows better than to fight with you, Jenny. Especially in the house."

Jenny shrugged, pushing a brown curl out of her face. "Sometimes he has a residual bite in him after a full moon, but I put him in his place."

"Yeah, I know, but it's still not like him." Rhia sighed. "While I'm speaking with Mack can you start making a list of supplies we need for the party?"

"A party, you say? What have I missed?" A pale-faced demon with tiny spikes protruding from his skull murmured as he shuffled into the kitchen. His long black robes swept across the floor as he turned a page in the poetry book in his hand.

"Well, Pinoir, have a seat my demonic friend, and I'll tell you all about it," Annie said, pulling out a chair for him before she sat on the kitchen table.

Rhia laughed softly as she left her residents to discuss the party while she slipped into the living room to find Mack sitting on the couch. A big bruise over his eye discolored his brown skin, and a bandage covered the slashes on his arm. He looked up at her and brushed his shaggy, auburn hair out of his face. "I'm sorry Rhia," he said with his green eyes full of remorse. "I don't know what happened."

"It's alright," she said, sliding a hand to his shoulder. "Why don't we go into my office?"

"Okay," he murmured, getting up to follow her into the small room tucked away beyond the living room.

Rhia closed the stained glass door behind them and sat in the leather chair behind her oakwood desk. "How are you feeling?"

He sighed, slumping into the jade green couch beside her desk. . "I feel terrible for what I did."