Moon of Claiming

Chapter Nine: Accalia

        The street was quiet as we walked down towards the park. I don’t really know how Niall had managed to get me to go to the park with him, but he did; and if Niall was talking to me as we walked, I didn’t remember that either. My focus was just on making it through the night without incident. As we went past The Wolf’s Den, a few females came out and practically stopped in their tracks when they saw me walking with Niall. They whispered among each other, as if trying to decide what the best course of action would be. Niall held my hand tightly in his as he tried to walk past them. The females wouldn’t have let him pass if their lives depended on it; they held him back by a hand on his shoulder, his arm his chest, trying to keep him there. I quietly slid my hand out of his and continued walking, trying to seem oblivious to his protest. Whatever Niall was acting like tonight, like he actually wanted to be with me, wasn’t the Niall that I knew from the past few years. During my entire high school career, he couldn’t seem to get away from me fast enough; so why the sudden interest?

          This sudden fake interest, I thought bitterly, hugging myself tightly as I kept on trekking towards the park. The park was in the middle of Main Street, a small circular patch of green that covered less than half an acre. It had six benches and a fountain that kids waded in during the summer, and teenagers went skinny dipping in when they thought that no one was watching. I took a deep inhale and smelt willow and oak. The park was empty, silent except for the sound of the fountain gushing out water. I let out an unsteady burst of air and sat hesitantly on the edge of the bench, clasping my hands together in my lap as I looked down at the gravel. My nails dug into my palms as I tried to fool myself into thinking that Niall would be along sometime soon. For all I knew, he was pushing the females against an alley wall right this very minute. I grimaced at my own thoughts; Niall would never do that…Would he? I sighed.

          “Who am I kidding?” I mumbled to myself. “He took me to out to ice cream out of pity; nothing more.”

          “That’s a shame,” a deep baritone voice pointed out.

          I jerked my head up in time to see a good-looking blonde approach me. From his scent, I could tell that he was purely human in every sense of the word. His eyes were baby blue, his face tan from being out in the sun too long, and his hair was disheveled, like he just got out of bed. He was wearing dark jeans and a leather jacket with Nikes covering his feet. He sat down next to me and leaned back, crossing his legs.

          “What’s a shame?” I asked stupidly, watching him warily. The human smiled at me.

          “That he didn’t you out because he really wanted to,” he replied kindly. He held out his hand to me. “I’m Ethan Caldwell.”

          I shook his hand lightly, knowing I could break his hand if I really wanted to. “I’m Accalia Childress.”

          He nodded in appreciation as he let go of my hand. “Nice name.”

          I granted Ethan a small smile. “Thanks.”

          “Do you live here?”

          “I used to,” I replied, a bit unnerved that he was going straight for, what I considered, more personal information. “I’m only in town for a few days.”

          “Why’s that?” he asked immediately.

          “Just wanted to say my ‘goodbyes’ to my family and friends before I move to Scotland,” I supplied instantly. “Why are you in town?” I questioned, hoping for a switch in the subject.

          He shifted a bit, seeming uncomfortable. “It’s a bit embarrassing,” Ethan admitted, looking away.

          “Trust me,” I laughed quietly. “My job is probably worse than yours.”