#ayola could step on you and you'd say thank you

[moonshine-nightlight]

👀

@vaya-mernda

thanks for asking about my WIPS!

this is from a short story called "Seen" about a human with healing magic and an ancient being who, the better you know her, the more of her inhuman characteristics you can perceive.

When you’d first met on the train all those years ago and the only inhuman thing about Ayola had been her eyes, you’d still known you’d never met anyone like her before.

You can remember first seeing her sitting her seat, her posture perfect, in crisply ironed black pants and black vest over a white dress shirt. Your eyes had been quickly cataloging who else was in this train car when they’d snagged on the stranger’s bared forearms, the flex of them below her dark skin as she held her book with one hand and a drink in the other.

Your mesmerized eyes had followed the line of muscle to a delicate wrist and sure fingers gripping the glass, bringing it to deep maroon lips for a sip.

It was only a few seconds, but it had taken your friend passing between you two for you to remember to continue sweeping the room, a light flush on your cheeks you tried to ignore.

Later, as you sat in your seat, listening to John’s typical travel brief about taking a break when offered, but not letting your guard down, your eyes had darted back to the woman’s to find them looking in your group’s direction. It was less than half a second before the woman’s eyes met your own.

Dark brown, human eyes had been suddenly replaced by the green, slit-pupil eyes you know today. After a few blinks, they’d returned to brown before the then stranger glanced back down at her book.

You automatically resumed reaching down to pull out your headphones, turning on some music without thought. You stared out the window, telling yourself that you were taking in the rapidly moving scenery and not trying to glimpse the woman’s reflection in the glass.

You briefly entertained the thought the other woman was a succubus or other enchantress of some kind, but no one else was reacting to her. The world was full of supernatural beings who blended in seamlessly with the humans, the majority keeping to themselves, but you couldn’t help but hope this one wouldn’t stay a stranger.