Tamed Monster

Chapter 1 - Romulus

Chapter 1 - Romulus

I woke up early and sat up in my bed. My sheets were tangled around me and the pale green bedspread was almost falling off the mattress. I always had moved around when I slept.

The sun filtered softly through my window and birds chirped peacefully outside. I stretched and got out of bed to go get the mail.

I walked outside and right in front of my mailbox was the neighbor's dog. I stopped and froze. This dog was mean and I tried to avoid it as much as I could.

The screen door behind me slams startling the dog. He growled at me and started to run towards me. I sighed reluctantly and sat on the ground. As he reached me and was about to bite I grabbed both of his ears and made him look into my eyes. He immediately started purring and laid down in front of me.

I hated doing that. I could calm down just about anyone, but I felt like I was taking their free will away from them. Whoever I would do it to would relax, possible fall asleep, and lose all angry feelings.

Everyone had the right to be angry if they wanted to be.

I grabbed the mail and went inside to make myself some breakfast.

After I put my bread in the toaster I picked out about a teaspoon of a pineapple tea while the water boiled. I preferred herbal tea to other kinds and I was feeling fruity this morning.

I almost tripped on a broom I had left out the day before, but I managed to catch myself although I nearly knocked my phone off the counter. I pushed my iPhone, a gift from my parents, away from the edge of the island.

Speaking of my phone, it began to ring. I picked it up and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey sweetie. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine mom. How are you?"

"Oh I'm good. I just wanted to invite you over for dinner on Saturday. We are having a grill-out for the neighborhood. We a graduation gift for you. There will be a lot of young men there too."

"I'll be there mom, but you know I'm not interested right now."

"I know, but I want to see you anyway. I'll see you on Saturday. Bye!"

"Bye mom."

My parents were always so generous to me. I was an only child and while I had friends I never was really close with them. I think my mom was concerned I would end up a lonely old cat lady after they were gone. My dad was just concerned for his little girl like always.

Not to mention they both wanted grand children. My mom always tried to set me up with the sons of her book club friends. Or a college guy she met in a coffee shop. Or just about any single (most of the time) guy that she happened to meet.

In fact, I had a date this Friday; just two days from now with a grocery store clerk at the health food store my mom shops at. My dad agrees with me that it is slightly ridiculous but neither of us would say anything to her about it.

I just wasn't interested in guys right now. When I started dating it would be because I was ready to be in a serious relationship.

I poured the tea into a teacup and spread caramel almond butter on my toast before going to sit on my back porch. My house was small and brown, but cozy. It was more of cottage really, with one story and an attic, but it was better than any other apartment I could rent in the city.

I could see the stars during the night and the moon never appeared sickly. The air was always fresh with no pollution and overwhelming combinations of food, smoke and people.

I had filled it with as many plants as possible and the garden in the backyard was nearly over flowing. Even in the front there was a mass of flowers and hostas. Hanging baskets were on both of my porches along with a mini herb garden in my window boxes.

I received a degree in botany, but still hadn't found a job that seemed to fit me. I wanted to take this summer off before I really tried to find a permanent job.

My parents helped pay for a lot of my tuition so I wanted to pay them back as soon as possible although they insisted I was not obligated to.

I was interested in taking care of plants, maybe even opening up my own shop with every type of flower and plant I could. I could also hire out my services for exterior decorating or flower arranging if I needed too.

Cross-species experiments were also interesting. I was more nature based, but I had always been good at science in school. Crossing different types of flowers could always prove a good way to spend my life.

I looked around my yard and grimaced. For now, I would need to weed this morning before I finished the skirt I was making for myself. I had ripped one of mine on a rose bush, so I was sewing another to replace it. My sewing machine was from my grandmother so I loved to use it.

I was planning on planting more flowers to brighten the garden up. There were already many shades of green so color was what I was going for. I grudgingly stood up from my green lounge chair and went through the screen door.

I put my dishes in the sink and went into my bedroom to get dressed. I put on a light pair of capris and a short-sleeved white blouse which I tucked in my pants.

I also grabbed a dark purple button-up sweater for in the shade. I almost never wore makeup, but I braided my brown hair over my shoulder in a French braid.

I watered all the plants inside and then grabbed my patterned gardening gloves while I put on my black sneakers. I picked up the flowers from the porch and headed to the flower beds.

I had been tending to my flower beds for only 5 minutes when I noticed. The large shadow tinted the pink, purple and yellow flowers I was planting a shade darker.

I froze, confused.

My mom and dad weren't that big and no one else would visit me. It could be a neighbor, but he or she would have knocked on the gate.

I tightened my grip on the trowel I was using.

I slowly got up off my knees and turned around. My shoulders tensed even more and my eyes widened.

In front of me was a hulking man dressed in all black. He had uneven shaggy black hair and sharp vibrant cobalt eyes. He was at least a foot taller than me and double my size. His clothes covered most of his skin, but he was clearly muscled.

"Are you Sophia?" he asked.

I smiled hesitantly. "Yes, I'm Sophie. What's your name?"

He blinked. "Umm... Romulus."

I dropped the trowel.

"It's nice to meet you. Can I help you with anything?" I held out my hand and he blinked again. He hesitantly shook my hand and I felt the rough skin of his fingers and palm.

"I brought you something to drink because you looked hot. I'm new in town." He said as he handed me a glass of blue liquid. Maybe it was some sort of Gatorade.

He seemed nice although he was a little taken aback for some reason. I didn't have any reasons not to trust him.

I took it from him with a smile and drank it.

"Thank you!"

Even as I said the words my vision went blurry and I dropped the glass. It bounced off the ground before breaking in two. I stumbled backwards and fell to the ground.

As my vision blurred in and out, before it went black, I saw a large pair of hands reach for me and pick me up bridal style.