Chapter songs:
i can't breathe-Bea Miller
Memories- Conan Grey

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Eleia (El-ay-uh)

I hurried down the dark street as I made my way to the small library I liked to call home. I knew better than to leave my headphones on as I walked at night. Even though these were the human sectors, nowhere was truly safe for my kind. Shifters, vampires, fae, witches, even mermaids were a threat to our rapidly shrinking numbers.

I walked past the familiar flickering lamppost as I reached the small hidden library. Moss and vines had begun to grow on the old brick outside the small place, but I felt like it added to the appeal. I didn't know much about the owner, but she was happy to have someone who didn't ask about her personal life, from what I could tell over her vague letters. Humans were disconnected from any form of technology after the Great War. Our kind is seen as less, but it was deserved after what we had committed in the past. I didn't know of an age where we had technology, but mom and dad did, I think deep down that's what has caused a rift in their marriage.

I flipped through my ring of keys before I found the rusted, ornate golden key for the equally as ornate wooden door. I pushed it opened, breathing a sigh of relief at the familiar creak of old wood. I set my grey bag down and flipped through it, searching for the romance novel I didn't get to finish last night cause of the yelling. The sun hadn't risen yet, but any minute now I would see the soft orange and pink hues filter through the library.

I flipped through the pages soaking in the characters I had grown to love; I don't know when or how long I was reading before my eyelids began dropping as the lack of sleep caught up with me. I could just rest my eyes for a few minutes, no one was going to show up this early anyway.

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I jolted awake at the sound of something heavy being dropped in front of me. My eyes widened in shock as I glanced up.

"Why are you here?" I looked into the woman's unfamiliar golden eyes.

I swallowed down my nerves before opening my mouth to speak.

"I work here?" I questioned softly. Why did that come out as a question. I can't with myself.

"Not today." She snapped, baring her pointed teeth slightly.

"Who are you?" I questioned hesitantly, trying to discreetly push the romance novel I had been reading out of eyesight.

"To think I hired someone so incompetent." My eyes widened and my whole body froze, causing the book I had been discreetly moving to slam against the hardwood floors.

"Miss Dalaris." I jump up sweeping imaginary dust off of my black leggings. "I am so sorry, I got here earlier than I should have—" She raised her hand effectively cutting me off. Her pin straight black hair, flowed down her back, her face stoic and void of any emotion, well except for the anger directed towards me. She looked younger than I expected her to be, but then again so did all immortals.

"I told you not to come in, I thought my instructions were simple enough." She growled out, her pointed teeth still on display.

"I-I will leave right away." I muttered. She raised her hand again stopping me from gathering my belongings.

"Upstairs." She snapped. My eyes widened in shock.

"I-I what?" I questioned at a loss for words. I didn't have time to question her more when she snapped her fingers. I felt like I left my body for a few seconds before an unfamiliar room surrounded me. What the actual hell?

I don't get paid enough for this.

I stayed sat on the dusty wood floors for longer than I should have. I could hear voices coming from below me. I moved to my feet, taking a step towards one of the water damage holes in the floor. I peeked through the small hole to see several people standing around Miss Dalaris, they were all wearing long black coats as they made their way to one of the back rooms. I quickly got up and scurried that direction up here. I cursed myself out as a loud creak echoed throughout the space.

"What was that?" I heard one of them mutter.

I took in a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Probably another rat, I will go up there and rid myself of it when we are done here." She gritted out through her teeth. My eyes widened impossibly larger at that. I need to get out of here. I tiptoed towards the door. These people were definitely not human, I don't know what exactly, but I would rather not find out. I carefully twisted the doorknob, it creaked slightly but it definitely could have been worse.

Nope. Nope. I lied. Definitely couldn't have been worse as I stood in front of the entire group of them. I loosed a nervous chuckle.

"Ha-Don't mind me. I'm just going to—" I pointed at the room before quickly shutting the door again and backing as far as I could into the room.

The door flew open nearly snapping off of its hinges. Each of them stormed in cornering me. Well, this was pretty fucking unfortunate. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, accepting my fate.

"You have a new pet, Dalaris?" One of the men asked, his eyes raking over my body. I nearly gagged out of pure disgust.

He took a step towards me, closest out of everyone in this group.

"G-Get a-away from me." I snapped pushing myself uncomfortably closer to the wall.

"Leave the girl alone." Miss Dalaris snapped at him. "She belongs to me for the time being." I nearly glared at her, but for once, chose life.

He chuckled, the smell of smoke and something I couldn't quite pinpoint. It made me want to gag all the same.

"You are done for the day, go." She growled so low; I almost didn't hear it. I rushed past the group and sprinted down the stairs before shoving my way through the entrance. I walked as fast as I could down the street, I probably should've run, but it takes a lot more than threatening my life to encourage me to run. Once I got to my house, I let out a shaky breath I hadn't realized I had been holding.

I went to pull out my keys, but then realized I had left everything in the library, I nearly screamed out in frustration before I hesitantly lifted my fist to the door. I held it there for a few seconds before letting it connect with the chipped wooden door.

I could hear the shouting from out here.

My mom's angry face filled my vision, she quickly masked it when she realized it was me.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work still?" She spoke checking her watch.

"She let me leave early today." I sighed walked past her into our small house.

"Is that Eleia?" Dad yelled from the kitchen. I inwardly sighed and prepared myself for what was to come. His face was still red from anger, as he walked towards me.

"Hey Dad." I spoke softly.

"Your mother thinks that I cheated on her! Can you believe it, with all the fucking shit I do here all the time for all of us, you think she would be more grateful and less of a bitch!" He roared, spit flying from his mouth.

"How fucking dare you!" Mom screamed equally as loud at him.  I just stood there as I felt every emotion wash away into nothing as the numbness took over again. "I do things too! Does that give me the right to go fuck whoever I want!?" She roared. I don't know how long I stood there, emotionless as they screamed back and forth. I don't know how much time passed since the door slammed so loudly, that the walls shook around the house. I don't remember how much time passed since I heard mom screaming after him in the street. I don't remember when I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.