Hybrid (Awakening, # 0.5)

Chapter 1

I open the door to the Animal Shelter and enter, money in hand. I need a companion, something to keep me company in my empty 10,000 square foot home since my father's extensive, supposed business trip never seems to end.

His poor excuse for parenting has really started to hit home, more and more each day when I have to wake up everyday alone with no one in the house but the maid, Delilah. I hardly ever know she's there, since she stays in arranged living quarters under the stairwell.

She makes me breakfast every morning, makes my bed, cleans the house. I always feel so alone. My father pays all of the monthly bills and gives me access to thousands of dollars for whatever I may need or want. Most girls would just take the shut-up money with no problem. Spend it on whatever they want. Material things will not always be there. Family will. Too bad I don't even have that. Too bad I'm not most girls.

I make a left down aisle three and walk past the fish and veer right and go to the cages in the back of the Shelter.

A lady in pink and black scrubs- probably a vet- asks, "Anything I can help you with?" 

I smile and nod. "Yes, actually I was looking for a pet."

Duh. Why else do people come to Animal Shelters? I guess I get an A for effort. 

She chuckles heartily. "Of course. Were you looking for a dog or cat, maybe?"

"Let's see what you've got," I smile back.

The vet takes me around the back of the empty cages to the occupied ones accented with the charts describing the animal's characteristics, age, breed, etc. 

Immediately as I walk past the kitten cages, I'm in such shock of how adorable they are. I slowly lift my hand to pet the kitten, but it automatically takes a defensive stance. It's tail is lifted and it's fur and whiskers are on end. And it's hissing at me, with dilated pupils. Yeah, definitely not a good idea to get a kitty, I think to myself.

I turn my head and catch the vet, Melissa as her name-tag says, staring at me with a strange look on her face. 

She clears her throat and says, "The dogs are right over here. We have a variety of different breeds. I'm sure you'll be able to find one that perfectly suits you."

I nod and follow her to the room where they keep the dogs. As soon as I walk in, the room goes silent. I freeze in my spot in awe at how all the barking and whimpering has ceased and the room is just...silent. Eerily silent. I decide to ignore this and I walk slowly and look inside each cage. 

My eyes roam and roam and then I halt. I feel my mouth turn up at the edges.

"I think I found her," I say, smiling.

"It's a him, but as his chart here says, 'Elijah is a very keen, sensitive watchdog. He enjoys playing, running outside, and spending time with his owner," Melissa reads.

I have a goofy grin plastered to my face because finally, I'll have a companion. A dog. I can't wait.

"Great. Can I have the paperwork now, please? I'm paying with cash," I tell Melissa.

"Okay, perfect," She says.

Melissa takes her set of keys from her pocket and unlocks the small lock on Elijah's cage. He's a beautiful dog. His coat looks soft and silky smooth. It is black with undercurrents of dark brown and he has the most beautifully intense blue eyes. I catch myself staring into them, unable to look away. He has some type of vibe coming from him, and it makes me feel safe already, like no one or nothing can hurt me; not now, not ever.

He cocks his head a little to the side and his pupils shrink a bit. Elijah must be highly trained, I've never seen a dog able to hold eye contact for such a long duration and not be distracted by it's nearby surroundings. 

"Here you are. The adoption papers and birth certificate, and all the rest of the things you'll need," Melissa tells me. I break contact with Elijah and feel suddenly lightheaded but I quickly shake it off. I wonder how long she's been standing there.

"Thank you so much, Melissa. You've been such a huge help," I grin and shake her hand and head to the front cashier to pay for Elijah and his collar I purchased.

"Here's your change, um-" she says holding out the bills to me.

"Oh, uh, Violet. Violet Black. Sorry, how rude of me not to even introduce myself," I say, apologetically.

"Oh, no problem. If there's ever any issues, feel free to bring Elijah down, we have 24 hour vet care," Melissa says.

"Okay, thank you!" I say.

I grab the collar and call Elijah to follow me out to the car. I already have the food bowls, bed and toys set up at home just waiting for Elijah and I to get back. I love him already. When we reach the car, I open the back door and it's a little too high for him to get in, so I gently grab his front paws to help boost him up and I feel a jolt of energy rush through my veins causing me to shiver involuntarily.

Pushing whatever that was, I help him all the way into the car and he sits up straight in the back seat. Me being me, I put a seat belt on him and he doesn't protest.

"We'll be good friends, you and I," I grin at him. I walk over to the driver's seat, get in and start the car and make my way home.