Nyctophilia

Chapter One

Why is there always something happening? The last couple thousand years, it seems to be an ongoing trend, people always need to make a commotion. Maybe its the passing of time that makes them dramatic, or perhaps its the fleeting wisps of deaths breath on their napes that makes them rush. Never the less, there will always be a commotion, as long as there are people. Drama and intrigue are the bread and butter of the 21st century, I suppose. I don't necessarily mind the raised voices, its the smells and tastes in the air that tweaks that nerve in my brain, the one that makes my eye twitch. Maybe its old age speaking, but if everyone could just get along, I truly believe that the world would be a better place. As if.

"Excuse me, Sir." There's someone speaking to me, perhaps I should pay attention. "Excuse me, do you want to order anything?"

I let out a slow breath and drag my eyes away from the commotion at the cash register of the small diner I sat myself in not even fifteen minutes prior. "Maybe." I find myself shaking my head back and forth, a habit I picked up from my many years alone, thinking about something I could maybe stomach at the moment. "I'll take a tea, please. Chamomile." I finally look up at the boy speaking to me, quite young, no older than 17 I would say. He smiles a thin smile and drifts away to the counter to grab my drink. Hmm, where am I again? I wonder to myself, taking a quick glance out the big bay window I seated myself by, I see the Massachusetts license plates filling up the parking lot. What a wonderful state, truly magnificent. And even better, I'm in Salem. I smile to myself, glancing at the newspaper in the booth next to me. It's been a few years since I've been here, wonderful little town, full of history, good and bad. I grimace as I think about the bad, but the people here are so interesting. They're always so open to different people... Well... Now they are.

"Here you are, Sir." The young boy sets the tea onto the table in front of me, "is there anything I can get you?" He smiles at me with half moon eyes.

"No, thank you." I pull out my smart phone, human witchcraft at its finest, and start to scroll through realtor listings in the area, might as well make myself at home. I don't feel like making my way back west just yet. I grimace at the thought, the blood mages in California are quite... enthusiastic. Excited at the thought of getting my blood and my thoughts on their extra curricular activities (read: demon summoning), I had ran as far and fast as possible. Mages were always more excitable than their lesser cousins, Witch's.

I have to take a deep breath as I read though the listings, which are few and far between. It's an awfully expensive place to live, not that I'm hurting for money, but none of the houses so far have suited me quite to the level I require. Well then... I take another deep breath and hold it for a second. Wolves... interesting development, they weren't here the last time I was. And here they come, walking in the front door of the diner I just came into, that can't be a coincidence. Poor mutts always were so drearily territorial. I gulp the rest of my tea, ignoring the light burns on my tongue and drop a twenty dollar bill on the table. Ah, and they're making their way to my humble little booth, must be my positive vibes and sunshine attitude that attracted them to me. Or it's the fact that they can't comprehend a shared space in their mutty little brains. I can't help but wrinkle my nose in distaste at the thought of their holier than thou attitude, bleh, dogs and their bones.

The three wolves have sat themselves at my booth, no "Good Afternoon" no "My name is..." Nothing. They're all tan, semi-tall around 5'7" and 6'0", with good builds. They look more like runners than fighters but that's what wolves are good at, running around, chasing their little tails. "All Creatures are required to announce themselves to the Alpha's of the Territory." One of the three stooges stated, sounding angry on behalf of the "Alpha's", which, woah, two? Since when?

I look at the brown eyed man with a raised eyebrow, "excuse me, but your manners are quite atrocious for one so far into their life." He looked to be in his late 20's at least, "first you must greet the stranger, allow me to demonstrate." I clear my throat and stand, reaching a single hand to the still seated man, "Good Afternoon, I am Elyan Lace, and you are?"