Amber Mikelson

I was in the library, it was Wednesday. It had been more than a week since I joined Liquid Heaven and it was almost perfect, almost, because I realised working two jobs was exhausting.

I had amazing co-workers. It turned out that Terian also worked at the cafe and we instantly clicked. He was friendly, mostly shy but really nice guy. He was good looking and I was sure most of the girls came to cafe in order to meet a Hood member. But he was really uncomfortable about the whole attention thing.

Then there was Josephine, she was woman in her early thirties, plump, kind and mother of two. She was incharge of my training and she made the best lattes in this world or maybe galaxy. She got impatient sometimes but for most parts she was really nice. These two were the only people I talked to.

I was in library because I had only had two weeks to get the project done. I had many photographs of the town but not one of them felt right. I was getting frustrated since I was not able to do the thing I was good at.

Today Anna gave me a day off from office work and asked me to go to library to help me with the project.

"Gerard, where are the books about Westwend?" I asked the old man I knew too well now.

He smiled , "Interested in town history. Not many youngsters are."

I nodded and didn't correct him.

I found a really small collection much to my relief. There were only five books.

I picked up the one with black hard cover that said Mysteries of Westwend. The title and cover was really capturing so I sat down and looked through it. After flipping pages for few minutes, a title caught my eyes.

Vertians

Vertians or you could call them Shifters are the one that guide each city that even had a possibility of supernatural existence. But the first Vertian was born in Westwend. History tells us that Vertians are made to guard the town from evil and for that they do not restrain from shedding some blood if they have to.

They have senses sharper than humans but one cannot distinguish between human or a Shifter. They look exactly alike. As far as information tells us it is they can take form of any animal or bird they want.

They are not like animals that forget who they are once in animal form and take form according to their own will.

Many say they are still here while some say it's just a legend.

What do you think?

The article ended there and I sat there reeling with after affect.

What do I think? I have seen a panther known for being a killer responding to my touch when I was just eight. I have been hearing noises in my dream, I have been almost attacked by a wolf and then saved by a panther or I think so.

But weirdly my dog smell like the panther I met ten years ago. I think this all might not be a legend. I had the perfect idea for the report now.

I was not stupid enough to write about Vertians but I was going to make a report on hidden beauties of the town. And that might include a little information about Shifters as well. This article was definitely worth a read and got me all riled up. I had to find someone to help me look into this Vertians legends.

"Gerard can I take this book with me?" I asked.

"I am sorry dear but the books with Town Seal are not to be taken out of the library." His wrinkled face clearly looked apologetic.

"Don't worry. I guess I will see you every day now."

He laughed adjusting his spectacles over his nose. I left immediately not taking a look at other books because it was time for my shift at Liquid Heaven. And as tired as I might be, I know I will feel better once I take in the fragrance of coffee beans.

The market was quieter and it was evening now, sun leaving the sky with an orange hue.

I entered the cafe and few people were sitting there. Crowd meant business but for me It also meant lot of work. So when there were less people I always felt good.

"Hey Seph, where is Terian?" I asked tying my chocolate brown apron which said Liquid Heaven.

"He is running late, had some band meeting. Wait, I will get you get your favourite." She said obviously in a good mood today.

I always had a Irish Latte made by her. It calmed my nerves like magic. Before she brought me my coffee, the cafe's door opened jingling the bell with it.

My eyes lifted and I noticed Terian walk in. My lips lifted in a smile and he smiled back.

But the smile wavered as I noticed another figure walk in after Terian. Laserian O' Fearghaile walked in his stance slow and graceful like a predator. Cafe buzzed with hushed whispers of some fangirls seated around but both of them ignored it.

For some reason my heart went berserk. I looked away and started making a fresh batch of coconut cookies I learnt from Terian who apparently was a great baker. I was nervous, I know it because my hands trembled as I mixed the batter.

"Hey M, what's up? You are early." He said lightly.

"You are late." I said narrowing my eyes at him and he chuckled.

"Coconut cookies huh, let's see if you have same magic as me."

"Get ready for competition Terian." I said in a pompous tone.

Josephine heard that and laughed at us. She handed me over my coffee but my hand was covered in flour so I gave her an apologetic look.

"I will help you." Terian said lifting the coffee close to my lips.

I gave him a look of gratitude as I sipped the riveting latte. He gave me a small nod with a smile. I kept a batch of cookies to bake and Terian offered me the cup once in a while. As I was done quicker than usual because I was feeling guilty and awkward for troubling Terian , I washed my hands and walked out.

On the counter stood Laserian, anger evident in his amber eyes which looked like molten honey in cafe light.

I gulped and looked away. I swear those amber eyes will be death of me.

"I want to order coffee." He said in a rough tone.

I felt annoyed. Why can't he be nice? How someone with such nice face could be so bad natured.

I immediately moved forward to take the order, after all the cafe belonged to his best friend.

"What will you have?" I asked trying to be nice and calm.

"Anything you can make decent enough." He grumbled, looking at everything except me.

I huffed loud enough for him to hear but he ignored it.

I noticed Terian working on some desserts while Seph was making coffee for someone else. It was my bad luck that I had to give him the coffee.

"Here is your Smoked butterscotch Latte." I said presenting the stuff I was best with.

I didn't want him to hate me more than he did, I can't make him loose my job.

"Butterscotch ." He said and frowned as if was in deep thought about the flavour.

"You should have told me you don't like it. You told me to get anything." I said frustrating seeping in my voice.

He looked up slightly surprised.

"I never said I don't like the flavour." He answered with a gentler tone.

My mouth formed a 'o'without a voice and I blinked. He walked away taking his coffee. My eyes still followed him. He sat down in well within my view and after a while of looking through his phone , he took a sip from the cup.

My breathing stopped in anticipation and then next moment relief washed over me in waves when a ghost of smile graced his full lips. He closed his eyes as if feeling the flavour of coffee. The smile caught up to me and I felt my own lips lifting a bit.

"What did you give Mr. Hard-to-impress?" Terian asked bringing my baked cookies now.

"Umm..Butterscotch Latte." I said sounding unsure.

Terian looked surprised.

"He told you he liked butterscotch?" His tone was filled with astonishment.

He liked butterscotch, so did I! We had something in common, it didn't matter though, it shouldn't.

"No, just a lucky guess." I said shrugging lightly.

Terian ate the cookie I baked and I looked at him with question in my eyes.

His nose wrinkled and he shook his head making me lose all hope.

He started laughing now and I felt like a fool. He was messing with me, I should have known.

"They are delicious M!" He exclaimed and patted my head like I was a good student.

My shoulder lifted and I squeezed my arms to side of my body hyper sensitive to his sudden gesture.

Suddenly sound of glass cracking shifted our attention.

"Coffee slipped." Laserian said with eerie iciness in his tone and eyes.

I groaned and moved to his table to collect the broken pieces.

"Don't touch it!" He snapped.

This time I turned to glare at him not letting his attractiveness distract me and it was really hard.

"Why, will you clean it?" I said it like a joke without humour.

But he sighed and I noticed his hands were clutched in a tight fist.

And then he bent down next to me and started collecting the broken pieces of cup. There was not much spilled coffee making me kind of happy that he drank all of it!

His actions surprised me but I didn't stop him. I just stared kind of hypnotised watching him even do this mundane task. His roughish look made him look a delicious devil, the grey shirt he was wearing fitted him to well, describing his sculpted body leaving almost nothing to imagination.

He coughed and I looked away from him hurriedly.

"Here, now get a paper bag or something in which I could through this away." He said in a low careful voice.

I nodded and hurried to get a paper bag. His presence was messing with me. I have seen him after quite a while and I had forgotten how much his eyes, his words and gaze worked on me. But I didn't forget how good looking he was.

I gave him the bag and he put the pieces in them and rubbed his hand together to brush off any leftover dirt.

"Careful!" I said impulsively.

His eye brows shot up in surprise.

"I mean, there might be small pieces of glass left." I mumbled not sure what else to stay.

"You are worried that I might get hurt?" He asked as if this was the weirdest thing in the world, like he didn't deserve the worry.

I rolled my eyes and turn to leave, he can't even accept a nice gesture.

Suddenly a rough but undeniably warm hands wrapped around my wrist stopping me.

The shock shot through me where his hands touched and I prayed silently that he didn't see my goosebumps.

"What?" I said trying to be calm about the whole thing.

"Can I get something to eat?" He asked this time not looking here and there but looking straight at me.

His intense look was building a minor tornado inside me chest.

"Umm. Yeah, sure."

He nodded not letting go off the wrist.

"Anything else?" I asked my nerves tingling.

"I want that...something you made... just to check your work." His words were said in a lot of discomfort because he did that running his fingers through that silky sand brown hair thing.

My heart swelled to double size, I know I shouldn't be happy. He was the one who hated me from first sight and even threatened me to leave. But I couldn't help it. He had that kind of alluring charm to him.

I nodded my head in an excited yes and hurried to get him the coconut cookies.

Terian was busy with two girls obviously trying to flirt with him. He gave me a help me look but I just gave him a thumbs up sign.

"Coconut cookies." I said placing the plate before him.

He picked one up and took a bite and nodded in slow approval.

"How is it?" I asked in a tone that showed my emotions clearly which was to know his opinion on my work.

A faint smirk graced his lips.

"It is better than I expected."

"Well so is your response." I counter answered secretly feeling proud.

"Have you tasted it?" He asked.

"No, not yet."

He gestured with his eyes for me to have one. I took one and flavour of coconut burst inside my mouth melting immediately. It was good but little bit high on sweeter side.

I was about to share the flaw with him when I noticed he was staring at me, just staring. And he kept staring even when I looked at him, his eyes didn't have any emotion. His staring should have freaked me out but it didn't.

Instead it intrigued me.

"Laserian?" I said finally making him blink once and look away.

"I heard you don't like the name Laser." He asked sounding amused for some reason.

Shit! Marc told him but he didn't look angry or anything.

"Well..I don't." I said frankly now that he knew.

"Me neither!" He said with a shrug.

Another thing in common.

"But everyone, everyone calls you that."

He gestured his hand in a motion for me to take the sit in front of him.

"I can't, I am not allowed to sit with customers." I said in an apologetic tone and I had no idea why?

"Then I will not answer your question." He said with an evil glint in those magnetic eyes.

"Okay, one minute." I said making sure Josephine or our head Anthony was not in sight.

"Now what do you liked to be called?" I ask really curious.

"Ian, my parents called me that." He said in a really sad tone.

Pain crossed his face. He shared information about his family and it was clearly not easy for him to discuss this topic.

"One minute is over Ian, now order something else if you want to talk." I said lightly and giving him a bright smile I walked away before he could spoil everything by his anger.

After walking at a safe distance from him, I turned to look at him. He was not glaring at me, not even frowning, Laserian just shook his head lightly, a smile flirting at corner of his lips.

This talk was like coconut cookie, I think, according to Ian's standard it was high on sweet side!

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Q: Tell me about your favourite desert and we can Amber make it for Laserian :)

Nickname sweetness...*happy*

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Dedicated to TheEyerift because of her poetry collection :)