Spark of Chaos

"I'll be back in an hour," Jack said as I climbed out of the jeep outside my building. I glanced up and caught a grinning Tilly staring at me from her window.

"How should I dress?"

"Casual," he said, and I closed the door, lifting a hand to wave as he drove off.

I climbed the stairs wearily and was entirely unsurprised to see Tilly waiting outside my door.

"Who's the hot guy?" She asked.

It was hard to dispute her assessment, though 'hot' didn't truly convey how attractive Jack actually was.

"My boss," I said. "Just dropped me off to change and he's coming back to pick me up."

"You going anywhere special?" She asked, waggling her eyebrows as she followed me into my flat. I gave her a quizzical look and then glanced at the door but if she got my hint, she gave no indication as she dropped onto the sofa.

I closed the door with a sigh, too tired to argue. It had been an emotionally taxing day so far and I wasn't sure I had the energy to even eat, let alone socialise.

"Headed out for food," I said, dropping my keys onto the ceramic plate on the small table beside the door. "Going to grab a shower."

"I'll wait."

Okay then.

I left her picking over my magazine selection and went into my bedroom. I undressed quickly and showered off the dirt of the day. I stayed under the water for as long as I reasonably good, enjoying the feeling of the heat against my skin and the silence of my bathroom, where I didn't need to think, or worry, even if just for a short time.

Eventually though, I finished up and towelled off before heading back to my room, brushing my hair as I considered what I would wear.

Was it a date?

I had no idea.

He'd said to dress casually, but that didn't mean he wasn't thinking about it being more than just dinner. He wouldn't be the first boss to try and sleep with an employee, after all.

So, matching underwear or not?

I mean, it wasn't like I was some chaste virgin. I'd had boyfriends before. I'd had sex before.

Just never with a werewolf, and the things I'd read about them was… well… eye opening.

Werewolves had the vitality of youth far longer than most. They were naturally inclined to good health, and that impressive physique that Jack had would have come far easier than it would for any human.

Stronger, faster, and with a hell of a lot of stamina, they were considered to be a great lay by those who had made a study of such things.

I was currently none of those things. A weak, neurotic mess, with more baggage than an airport luggage carousel.

Hardly a great catch by any measure.

"You okay in there?" Tilly called, knocking on my bedroom door. "You've been a while."

I sighed and wrapped a large towel around me. It was large enough to cover me from chest to mid-thigh, and I tied it tight before pulling open the door.

"No," I said to a smiling Tilly. "I am really not okay."

"What's up, chick?"

She followed me into my bedroom, and I explained the situation as best I could to a human. The werewolf chase through the forest became a friendly race. The emotional breakdown, due entirely to a family history I didn't want to disclose.

I explained his compassion, his kindness, and his apparent interest. I didn't need to mention the strong jawline even his thick beard couldn't hide, or the way his shirt clung to the muscles of his chest and stomach.

Even though that was all I could apparently think of right then.

"So," I said. "What do I do?"

"You're joking, right?" she scoffed. "He's hot as hell. You jump him as soon as you get the chance."

Well, that was no help at all.

"I'm not like that," I muttered. "He's, my boss."

"Who cares?" She laughed and crossed to the wardrobe. "Look, it's the nineties. Go get what you want, girl."

"Casual sex isn't really my thing."

All of my sexual relationships had started as firmly committed boyfriend-girlfriend relationships first. It worked for me. I was comfortable with both of those boyfriends before we'd reached that stage, and that was what I needed.

There was so much else in my life that was full of chaos. Comfort was vastly underrated by people.

Tilly pulled out a dress and looked it over critically before hanging it back on the rail. She clucked her tongue as she sorted through the few items I had in the closet and turned back to me with a look of displeasure.

"You need to update your wardrobe."

"He said, casual," I pointed out. "Jeans and shirt are fine."

"Even so, you seriously need to go shopping."

"Aye, when I get paid."

"No idea how you can live with such a small selection," she tutted, and turned her critical look on me. "I think most of my tops will be a bit loose on you, but I have a couple that could work."

"I'm fine," I said, laughing. "Thank you though."

"Just looking out for you." She smiled brightly and headed to the door. "I'll let you get dressed."

"Wait," I said as she reached for the door handle. "So… doesn't matter if my knickers and bra match, yeah?"

The gorgeous young woman laughed and shook her head, dark curls almost seeming to shiver. "If he's into you, he really won't care."

With that sage advice, she headed back to the living room closing the door behind her. I chewed my lower lip and pulled open the top drawer of my dresser.

Sure, it didn't matter, but it did. Really. And, as my father had often said, better to be prepared than not.

Decision made, I glanced at my watch and dressed quickly. Jeans and a plain black top with a low enough neckline that I showed hints of what little I had there. Knee high boots with a slight heel for my feet, and a quick application of makeup before I ran the brush through my almost dry hair.

Once ready, I headed back to out join Tilly who had a beer ready and waiting for me. I took it with a smile of thanks and sank into the armchair.

"Not sure I'm ready for this."

"You'll be fine." Tilly grinned and sipped her beer. "Can always send him my way if you decide you're not interested."

The problem was that I didn't know if I was interested or not.

It was complicated, and there were a lot of complex feelings I was dealing with about the whole situation. I mean, if he discovered that I was the one who killed Kenny then that was bound to change things.

Not to mention my current lack of strength and confusion over just what I was.

Then there was the cannibalism.

Okay, it wasn't technically cannibalism, but really it was.

Would take a lot to be interested in me for anything more than a quick shag.

I sighed and gulped down the beer as Tilly watched with amusement.

"Go easy," she chided. "I know you're nervous, but you still have to be wary. You've only known him a few days."

That was true too. An added extra bit of baggage to add to the ever-increasing pile of it that was a huge red flag against dating me.

"I need another beer."

The distant beep of a horn told me that wasn't going to happen, and I jumped up and headed to the window, looking out to see Jack's jeep far below.

"You need some perfume?" Tilly asked, rising.

I shook my head. Werewolves had sensitive noses and perfume was, apparently, quite abrasive to them. They tended to prefer the natural body's odour.

Or so I'd read.

I grabbed my jacket and purse and shooed Tilly out the door. She laughed and waved from the landing as I descended the stairs, and her good-natured encouragement followed me out the front door as I trotted over to the jeep.

Jack sat inside, one arm resting on the open car window, as he smiled appreciatively.

"I said, casual."

I eyed his plain blue t-shirt and jeans critically. "Sorry if my casual doesn't match your hobo aesthetic."

He laughed, and I lifted my chin, accepting victory in that brief verbal battle, and climbed into the jeep beside him.

"So, where we going?"

"You'll see."

Okay, I hated that.

I set my jaw and folded my arms, pouting a little, as we set off, heading away from the city centre. I glance quizzically at him, but he gave nothing away, though the corners of his lips twitched in what might have been a smile.

We drove out of the less than desirous area of Tang Hall, and into the even less so, Heworth. Gangs of kids roamed the streets, bored and looking for entertainment. The council houses were run down, the businesses we passed even more so.

Graffiti covered fences and walls alike, while rubbish filled the gutters. Washing hung on lines in the front gardens, and stoney-faced people watched us warily as we drove past. Then we were out of the area and heading into the countryside.

After a half an hour of driving, he pulled into paved yard of a farm.

I frowned across at him and he gave me a grin that seemed to say, 'trust me' before he climbed out of the car. I followed after him and together we walked across to the farmhouse, a sprawling building with several storeys built of old stone.

There was a new extension built on the right-hand side, and it was to there we went. I glanced back at the yard and the handful of cars parked there. Battered old clunkers, next to the shiny newest cars off the lot.

A curious combination.

When the door opened, it was held by a young girl, blonde curls and large brown eyes in a doll-like face. She smiled sweetly as she whispered her greetings.

"Reservation under Grim," Jack said, and the girl nodded and crooked her finger, inviting us in.

More confused than ever, Jack held the door for me, and I stepped into the dimly lit interior. A handful of round tables were set about the plain wooden floor, the people sitting at them talking quietly amongst themselves as they ate their meals.

We were led through a curtained door, and I stayed close to Jack, his hand briefly touching the small of my back as he guided me confidently to a separate room, small and wood-panelled, with barely enough room for the two of us to sit. The table was set with placemats and napkins, cutlery and empty glasses.

"What is this place?" I whispered as the curious young girl handed Jack a menu and then departed without a word, closing the door behind her and leaving us in the gloom of the candles that flickered and danced on the table between us.

"It's a place designed for people like us," Jack said, glancing at the menu briefly and passing it over.

"Which means, what?"

Jack smiled and leant back against the wall, watching me. "That all diets are catered for."

My eyebrows rose at that. It was not at all what I'd been expecting.

"So, I could…"

"Yes," he said. "Whatever meal you order, will have your… preferred… choice of meat."

"Wow."

I whistled softly. That was not at all what I would have expected to find. Not just a place that would cater for the many and varied supernatural races, but one that was inclusive of those of our kind that had more specialized diets.

A thought occurred to me, and I glanced around the small room. "We're in here because of my dietary needs," I guessed, not wanting to even say what those needs were out loud.

 "Yes." His smile was gentle and knowing. "Not all of our community are welcoming of them."

Which I could understand. It wasn't like I was exactly welcoming of them. In fact, I only ate what I had to, because I had to. The alternative being far too unpleasant to consider.

"Thank you," I said, eyes shimmering. "I can't tell you what it means that you would do something like this."

He shrugged, and smiled, his eyes sparkling as he watched me.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, needing to know that I wasn't wrong, that there was something going on between us.

"Because you're interesting," he said, his voice soft, and gentle, and so low that I had to lean forward to hear him clearly. "I won't lie and claim to not be attracted to you."

That was bold, and I blinked, before swiping at my eyes with my hand. Must be a werewolf thing, that blunt statement of attraction.

"As soon as I saw you, I felt it," he said. "Didn't you?"

No, I was far too exhausted and scared, and thinking of nothing more than finding a job to ensure I could survive another week.

Not that I could say that.

Instead, I smiled and reached out, taking his large hand in mine.

"I definitely feel an attraction," I said. "But there's any number of reasons this won't work. Not least of which, you've only known me three days."

He laughed at that, shoulders shaking as he shook his head, and I gaped at him.

"I'm not asking to marry you," he said, shoulders still shaking with his amusement. "I'm not asking you for anything more than you're willing to give. I just like you; I find you attractive and I want to spend time with you."

There wasn't much I could say to that.

"Now," he said. "What do you want to eat?"

I smiled and glanced back at the menu. The meals were all pretty straightforward, but my eyes moved down the menu looking for the vegetarian options.

"You're going to hate me," I said, and he lifted a brow in surprise.

"Oh, why's that?"

"I don't need to eat… that, just yet."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not something I choose to eat." No matter how delicious it was when I actually tasted it. Where it came from was just too off-putting. "I hold off until I absolutely have to."

"Oh." He seemed genuinely surprised at that. Pleased too. "That's fine. They have vegetarian options." He paused. "We can ask them to prepare some cuts for you to take home to your freezer."

"We can?"

"Sure." He rubbed at his chin as he thought. "How much do you think you'll need? How often do you have to eat?"

"Maybe once a week, if I stretch it as long as possible."

"So, it would be good to have some stored in the freezer for emergencies. When did you last eat?"

"Friday," I said, without thinking and a line appeared on his brow for the briefest instant before it was gone. So fast, I wasn't entirely sure I'd noticed it.

But he'd noticed something.

That I'd last eaten on the day when Kenny went missing. The same day I'd been at the pub when he was there.

He wasn't showing any reaction, keeping his face calm and still, but the smile he wore wasn't as easy, and there was the faintest of creases in the corners of his eyes.

Jack was suspicious.

I was in trouble.