Zaiden
"Gray," Nalea greeted the other man. "I see you both haven't burned my apartment down." Nalea walked over to the counter, leaving the two bags before making her way over to the cabinets.
I take the stool to the left, and Grayson sat on the other beside me.
"I brought food," she announced, turning with plates in her hand, "I didn't make it, obviously, but it's home-cooked." She placed the plates down on the island, and walked to the fridge, "I don't really like cooking, and I think Cydney's family chef has a soft spot for me," Nal rambled, searching the contents of the fridge.
"Nal, what happened?" I asked, but it sounded more like I was demanding answers from her.
"What do you mean?" she asked, biting the tip of her finger.
"I felt your pain Nalea." She paused her search, not moving an inch.
Then turned to face, me, the door of the refrigerator closing behind her. "You what?" Her brows furrowed.
"I felt it."
A smile stretched across her face, one that didn't quite meet her eyes, one that seemed forced, then it somehow morphed into a more genuine one. She walks over to us, hopping on the counter between us.
"Do you think it's some sort of lasting effect from when you took my pain earlier?" she questioned a glint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Maybe- stop trying to change the topic," I kept eye contact with her.
"He's right Nal, what happened?" Grayson asked, his voice gentle and he looked at her with a deep level of concern.
Nalea huffed out, "Funny story actually, um... I almost got electrocuted." Her smile wavers a little before she continued, "I'm... fine."
"No big deal right?" I asked, more sarcastic than ever. "Do you casually 'almost' get electrocuted every day?"
"I'm fine." I nodded, accepting defeat. Nal didn't seem like she'd elaborate beyond what she gave me.
"Are you sure?" I questioned, it was my final attempt. She looked down at her shirt then up again and gave me a nod.
"Was it similar to what happened last night?" Grayson asked her.
"I-"
"What happened last night?"
She winced, hopping off the counter. "This," she said, pulling her shirt off and pulling her hair up in a ponytail.
"Hell, does it hurt?" I asked, scanning the lightning-like branches that sprouted from the middle as if that spot was directly targeted. Silver catches my eyes and I look down at the two piercings in each of her back dimples. Then I notice the black ink below one of the piercings, a tattoo.
"No." She doesn't turn around, "Give me a second." It's then that I notice that she isn't wearing a bra. She strutted down the hallway, to her room.
Coming out five minutes later, her hair in a tight bun, wearing a white T-shirt three sizes too big and black shorts. Her face was bare of any makeup. I don't think I've ever seen anyone more beautiful.
"Uh- sorry I didn't tell you, all of this is still new to me," she explained. I nodded, understanding what she meant. This was new to me too, I'm not exactly sure what a real relationship was supposed to look like, much less one with my soulmate. "I'll try to be more open with you, both of you," she voiced, her eyes moving between us.
"Uh, it was Italian night so, there is..." she stated, unpacking the tupperware, "um- rosemary garlic focaccia bread, fettuccine alfredo, uh- lasagna, baked ziti, and parmigiana. I don't know if I pronounced those right."
Her pronunciation of the words was almost too perfect, her accent made it sound impossibly sexy, even if she was just talking about food.
* * * *
We'd been seat here, eating in silence for about seven minutes now. Nalea, however, hadn't taken an actual bite yet, she'd just been cutting the lasagna into tiny bite-size pieces on her plate.
"Can I ask you a question?" I voiced.
She hums yes, finally taking a bite of the food in front of her. I watch her intently, hesitant to ask what I was about to. I don't think she's ever said much about her family before. Or given direct answers about them.
"Will you tell me about your family?" She visibly tenses at my question. Her fork fell from her hands to the floor.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, bending to pick it up. When she came back up, all the tension was gone from her expression and the only thing left is a soft smile. "You saw the photo," she stated matter-of-factly. I gave her a nod yes in response.
"What photo?" Grayson asked from beside me. I almost forgot he was sitting there. Nalea's eyes snapped to his, her smile growing.
"Hold on," she said, heading in the direction of her room, probably to retrieve it. She came back out moments later, clutching the frame in hand. "Here," she said handing it to Grayson.
He studies the photo for a brief moment, "Are they your parents?"
"Yes." I noted the slight blue tint of her aura before it completely disappeared.
"And the little girl?" he asked, still studying the picture.
"Me," she answered, picking apart the garlic bread.
"But your eyes are brown here," he stated.
"They are, or they were right up until I was seven I think."
"Do you know why they changed?" I asked this time.
"Not really, no," she paused, "One minute they were brown and the next, they weren't."
Her aura changes the slightest. She's uncomfortable, yet she flashes me a smile before picking up her phone. Her brows furrow as she scrolls through the contents of her phone. Her aura flashed a light shade of purple before it dissipated.
Fear.
"You okay?" I asked, pointing at her.
"Huh?" she hummed, confusion clearly written on her face.
"Your aura's purple," I stated.
"Oh? What does that mean? Am I feeling wickedly hot? Cause I am," she joked, tucking a none existent strand of hair behind her ear, a wide grin on her face.
"You're adorable," Sanchez told her.
"Not what I thought you would say, but okay," she replied, looking down to hide the redness of her cheeks.
"Nalea I felt your fear," I deadpanned.
"Oh," she sighed. Her smile wavering. She looked between us, her eyes lingering on me a second longer. "I don't know what you want me to say to that."
"What are you afraid of?" I questioned. Was it something I could fix? Fear was one of those emotions I couldn't always fix, and that scared me sometimes.
"Honestly?" She asked, running her hands through her hair. I nod for her to continue. "I'm afraid of a lot of things. I'm afraid that I might be doing everything wrong. This here, us. School? All of it."
"Nal..." Gray trailed off.
"It's fine. I'm really okay. I think what Z felt earlier wasn't fear. Least not for myself." She smiled, before moving over to clean the space. "Watch a movie with me?"
. . .
Published: 28/03/2023
Word count: 1161
It's been over a month. I'm sorry lovelies, school has been keeping me extra busy. Here's a batch update as an apology.
The next part is out now!
Bye lovelies! <3
YOU ARE READING
The Monster In Me
Fantasi"I'm fine, it was an accident," I muttered. I reached my arm out to take his. "Don't." "Z please, it was an accident, I know you didn't mean to hurt me." He was now backing away from me, trying to put distance between us. "What are you doing?" I was...
