Daydreams And Nightshade (DaN #1)

Chapter 42: Ladies will be ladies (pt. 2)

She passed by a wall with another anti supernatural message and stopped to stare at it. So cruel. She frowned and looked down at her bracelets. Those harmful words had spread lately. It's not like she couldn't understand the fear of supernatural beings, she'd faced the danger of them on numerous occasions, but there had to be a way for everyone to at least compromise. Perhaps total peace wasn't possible at the time but she'd like it if people at least made an attempt.

Of course, there were some who tried to accommodate them by staying open all night and tailors like Mr. Tucker who'd design clothes specifically for werewolves. Then there were the worse rumors about people who'd gather up humans in order to make a business out of selling their blood, but that definitely made things worse between the two sides.

"Pretty distasteful, isn't it?" a voice said behind her, and Luna looked around to once again see the man from the BBT's kitchen. His tawny skin had a rosy flush to it due to the cold weather, and Luna figured it was only a matter of time before her cheeks would turn red as well.

"Oh, uh, good day... Uh..."

"Shyen. Shyen Wise." He smiled. "Good to see you in good health, young Lady Hargreaves. Things turned quite ugly yesterday, after all."

"Yes, it... It sounded pretty bad at least." Luna didn't want to think about the crunching sounds she'd heard during the incident at the harbor. "Not that I can't handle myself in situations like that."

Shyen tilted his head, cheek landing against light brown fluff. The fur lining his hood looked awfully comfortable in the cold weather.

"I... wouldn't have expected that. I thought you had a bodyguard?"

"You know, it's odd." Luna found herself staring him down. "I can't remember seeing you around town but you sound like you've been here for a long time, since you know about me and work at the BBT mansion occasionally."

"Oh." Shyen chuckled. "Yeah I've actually lived here my whole life. I just don't really stand out in a crowd. You wouldn't have noticed me if you didn't know me, so... now that you've at least met me maybe I'm easier to notice? Though I believe it's always been me approaching you."

A thought suddenly struck Luna.

"Oh. Oh yeah it all makes sense! You work in the kitchen of the BBT occasionally because that man you hang around with has some kind of connection to the BBT as well, don't you? Who—Who is he anyway?"

Shyen frowned and folded his arms but laughed, still upsettingly with his mouth closed.

"You really like jokes, don't you?"

Luna only stared at him until he stopped smiling. Then his eyes widened and he leaned forward.

"Oh, you're not? Wow, I... You'd think Lord Hargreaves would have mentioned him at least a couple of times?"

When Luna shook her head he smiled through a troubled frown and leaned back. "That's... I suppose I'll be offended on his behalf."

"He's part of the founders, isn't he?" Luna asked, considering the man's portrait hung next to the other founders. "I guess I haven't asked about the ones I haven't grown up with. I just assumed he wasn't around since I've never met him."

"Ah, well..." Shyen shrugged. "He's been busy with his own things."

"But who is he?" Luna clenched her fists. "And if you won't tell me who he is I'll just go ask Damien."

Shyen held up his hands.

"Derek Kilgrave," he said. "It's not like his name is a secret, I just forgot to say it while I thought you were joking."