Her Scent

Chapter 3

"Nick, how many days are you going to spend like this?" Casey asked.

"I don't know Cas. I've nothing to do."

"You could apply for a job you know," Chris stated.

"I'm not interested in any if it." I could choose any profession I wanted and get a job. But I liked none. I had a degree of literature to a degree of law. I didn't want a job where I have to wear formal clothes and go for work. I don't know how humans can even do it. I mean it's so..boring. Moreover, no one would believe that I had graduated. I mean I look hardly 18.

It was different for Chris and Casey. They were computer science students. They work from home. They make some software's and programs.

"Maybe you could try something different," Cas said.

"Like?"

"You know, work in a shop, cafe, library or something you know."

"I guess I might give it a try." Nothing goes in trying right.

I got ready and headed to the town. I crossed the library. No way! Then I passed that cafe. It was less crowded. I couldn't smell her, so I knew that she wasn't in there. However, I wouldn't risk working there. I passed several shop but none of them made me feel like working there.

Then I saw the supermarket. Maybe I could give it a try. I went in and saw a fat bald man sitting at the counter.

"Excuse me?"

"Yes," he said on his tough voice looking at me.

"Umm...I had come here apply ask for a job."

"Hmm..I see." He didn't continue after that.

"So, are there any?"

"Yes, we always need more people."

"So, I get the job?" I asked uncertain.

"Yes. You will be working from 10 to 4. Is it alright?"

"Perfect. When do I start?"

"Today?"

"Okay then I'll get started."

"Wait young boy, you don't want to know the pay?"

"Yeah. How much is it?" Actually it didn't matter. I didn't have to work for money. It was just to spend time.

"$10 per hour."

"Cool." I smiled at him and started going through the market. I had never been to one before. Maybe when I was a human. What was I supposed to so? I went back and asked the manager.

"You have to help people in their shopping. Check that all things are in their place and that it looks presentable. You'll also have to place the new good whenever needed."

"Okay." Now that I knew what to do, I started placing some articles in a straight line. I saw that I was the only salesman over here. Where are the others?

"Hey, where are the others?"

"Well as you have just moved to the town let me tell you. The population is very less over here. Some teenagers work here but as they have school, no one else is there."

"Okay. What should I call you?"

"Mr Cooke."

"How come you didn't ask my name or any legal proof?"

"Kid." Seriously. I was elder than his father. "You are Nicholas Turner. You moved here with you sister and brother in law. You have a law school degree. What else do I need to know?"

"How would you know that?" This was the story we made up. It was creepy that he knew everything.

"This place has no secrets you see," he said. Yes, just one. We were vampires not humans.

I started my day. It was something different. There were so many articles. I didn't know many of them. There were hardly any customers. Maybe two or three. I roamed the shop and became familiar with all the sections.

It was already four. I saw four to five students entering the market. Maybe it was their shift. I asked Mr Cooke if I could leave and he said that I could. I went out and could breeze struck me. It was raining. It didn't bother me. However it bothered the humans a lot.

I started walking towards my house. I didn't get my car. I had to drive slowly in town which I hated the most. I walked past the cafe. The smell was a bit stronger. Maybe she was in there. I held my breath and walked fast.

"How was your day bro?" Chris asked.

"Much better than the last week." He smiled at me and went to whatever he was doing.

"Where's Cas?" I asked.

"She was bored sitting in the house all day long and working. So she went to the town."

"Okay then."

"Where are you working then?"

"A supermarket."

"Which one?"

"There's only one Chris."

"Ohh...." I turned and started walking towards my room.

"Nick"

"Yeah."

"I wanted to talk to you about something." I started walking back and sat on the couch.

"About?" I asked.

"Well you know about that girl." I knew who he was talking about.

"Okay."

"Look Nick, I know you are worried about killing her and all. But I know you won't. You just have trust yourself more. You are one the fastest learner. You stopped killing humans very fast. It's because you are good at heart. The monster inside will try to take control but you can't let it win."

"I guess you are right. I won't kill her."

His eyebrows ceased. "I thought I would need to talk to you for a long time to make you believe it."

"Well...something happened. That's why."

"What?" Chris asked. Confusion written on his entire face. I narrated the entire incident to him.

"She hugged you? And you didn't kill her?"

"Yeah. I don't know. I mean no one would possibly know I had done it. But I just didn't want to become the monster I was."

"You were never a monster Nicholas. I know that you yet regret for killing some people. Just remember that it wasn't you who did it. You had no control over it," he said in a serious voice. He had told me this several times. But it didn't decrease my guilt.

"Thanks for the pep talk." I smiled and went to my room.