Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Whether you have a significant other or not, enjoy the day! Love yourself, love others, be a friend to those around you.

In honor of the day I have for you a special treat! A Valentine's story, never before published.

Enjoy!

~~~~ Valentine's Day ~~~~

I stick to the shadows, where the streetlights don’t quite reach, as I move down Main Street. I barely notice the bite in the air. Cold doesn’t bother me. Very little does. 

People stroll past in pairs, sealed inside their own little bubbles. Everywhere I look, couples are a tangle of hands and mouths, like they think the other person will vanish if they let go even for a second. It’s been a year since I’ve seen this many people crawling all over each other in public.

Store windows look like someone threw up a mess of reds and pinks. Glittered hearts. Plastic roses. That stupid chubby angel baby in a diaper, clutching a bow twice his size. Cupid. Whoever dreamed him up has clearly never fired an arrow in their life. No way that kid could draw weight.

Love is in the air, I hear over and over, floating out of shops and passing mouths like some kind of airborne disease. Get too close, breathe it in, and you’re infected. I pull my cloak tighter against me and keep moving.

I hate this holiday. I hate everything it pretends to be. It began long ago with some Pope who decided the world needed a day to honor some saint. Now it’s just wilting flowers, cheap overpriced chocolate, chalky heart-shaped candies with lame statements, over-the-top proposals staged for strangers, and cheap cards promising forever at the low low rate of $6.99… plus tax.

The sooner the red and pink can be scraped away and replaced with pastel clutter and stupid smiling bunnies, the better. Not that the bunnies are much of an improvement.

I step around a couple clinging to one another outside a shop that reeks of cheap perfume, the scent so thick it coats the back of my throat. Two more blocks until I reach what I’m currently calling home.

A noise stops me.

I glance down an alley and spot another pair tangled in the shadows. I sigh and turn away—then freeze.

“Stop.”

The woman’s voice is faint, filled with terror.

“What’s the matter, baby?” The man chuckles. “It’s the day for love. Enjoy a little.”

That doesn’t sound like love.

With every step into the alley I take, the stench of alcohol grows heavier. I spot the flickering of their auras as I approach. Hers is bright and tingling with magic. A witch. His is dull and smokey. Dragon.

She shoves at his chest. He doesn’t budge.

“I believe she wants you to leave,” I interrupt, since clearly all the blood flow is being directed away from his brain.

They both turn to stare. The man snorts. “Get lost. This doesn’t concern you.”

“No,” I agree. “It doesn’t. But the lady said no.”

Pain has a way of finding innocent people, and I hate to watch them suffer just because this meaningless life decides to throw it at them. 

“I’m not telling you again, man.” He glares.

“Neither am I.” My sword materializes into my hand. I’ve never had a problem killing a dragon, no matter what they say back home.

Now that my weapon is drawn he decides to give me his attention. He takes a step forward. “You’re barking up the wrong tre—” He stops then pales as he finally gets a real look. “I—I know you.”

“Most do.” I have a reputation back home. And one up here.

“You—” He steps back. “Fucken shadow.” He snarls. “Your handler should keep you on a tighter leash.”

“I don’t have one.” I haven’t had a handler in years. 

I move toward him. Slow. Deliberate. 

 The woman covers her mouth, her fear floods the alley, mixing with his. She finally understands.

“Shit.” He runs.

I dissolve into shadow and race forward. I reform into flesh in front of him. 

His eyes widen as I run him through with my sword.

He chokes on the blood that foams out of his mouth. I pull my blade free and flick the blood from it. His lifeless body drops onto the sticky ground.

I make my sword disappear as I approach the woman.

“Are you ok?”

She stumbles away. “You—Don’t come near me you monster!” She spits the words out before rushing into the street.

“You’re welcome” I sigh.

I give her a few moments to get away before returning to the street. I tug my cloak tighter and head for home. 

I hate this fucken holiday.