"Good morning Seraphine," Silas says from his spot behind the counter.

A dark shadow presides over the right side of his face from the dull lighting inside the store. He's looking down at his lap, most likely reading a book from the back room. He spends most of the day reading and sorting through them, in fact it's rare to see him sitting up front at the counter. There aren't many of us who work here, it's mostly just Silas and I. That's okay though because there's never more than five customers in here at a time. Honestly, some days I don't even know where the paycheck comes from or how this man pays rent, but I don't question. He likes to keep me and the rest of the employees working up front. We handle the customers who are looking for your every day book, while he helps those searching for an escape. There are only two other employees that work random shifts throughout the week, and one of them is my friend Joe, he only works two nights a week in addition to his full time job as a production assistant on Broadway.

"Silas, how are you?" I ask.

He narrows his eyes at me, "Better than you my dear," he says, taking in my appearance.

I might be tired, but I don't think I look that bad today. Sure there are dark circles under my eyes, and my face is a bit drier and more pale than usual, but other than that I think I put myself together nicely this morning. That includes stealing one of Hailey's white designer blouses she purchased at work to go with my favorite skinny black dress pants.

"Is it that obvious?" I ask, coming around the counter to put my things into the locker underneath.

His eyes bore into me as he studies my every move. Silas is very intuitive, and if I believed in past lives I'd peg him as a psychic or someone with great power.

Silas goes back to flipping through pages of the book he's reading. The pages are wrinkled and yellow, and the leather cover bindings are fraying. I don't make it a habit to stare too long at what he's reading. I sometimes get an odd buzzing sensation in my body when I'm near those books, and if I can help it I tend to avoid the back area of the store all together, no matter how tempting it is.

I straighten my body and start for my usual Monday morning task of reorganizing the shelfs from the weekend.

"Uh - Seraphine, I've got a new task for you today."

I whirl around in shock. I've had the same routine for the past seven years and suddenly he wants to change things up, that's not like Silas at all. The last time someone even attempted to do something other than their usual work they were reprimanded for not following the daily tasks. It was Joe of course, he's a breaker of all rules.

"Sure Silas," I say, I try to offer my best smile to let him know I'm not the slightest bit confused by this change.

"I need you to sort through the books in the back room, I seem to have misplaced one book in particular. I need a fresh pair of eyes to find it."

I'm frozen in place as I stare at him wide-eyed. All of us employees have been in that room at least once on our first day, but no one has ever been asked to work in that room. I can't tell if I'm nervous or excited, maybe a little bit of both. Just the thought of going in there creates a strange tingle throughout my whole body.

"Is something the matter Seraphine?" He asks.

He narrows his eyes at me, and for a brief moment I thought I saw a spark of fire in his eye. I swallow hard, as my body warms the same way it did this morning. Fire rages through me and I yell out in pain like it's burning me from the inside out. Maybe I really am sick, there's no other explanation for this feeling.

Silas is on his feet quicker than I've ever seen a man of his age move. Before I can blink an eye I find myself on the ground in a heap with Silas holding me up. This has to be the flu, it feels so much like it only worse. Am I dying?

Another set of hands touch my forehead, and familiar eyes check over my entire body. His long slim fingers gently intertwined with mine. He gives a gentle squeeze and the flames feel like they are slowly being extinguished. I keep my focus on his eyes, they are deep earthy brown, and I can't stop looking at them. They're dark and somehow calming. I know I've seen them before, but I can't remember as they are hidden behind black rimmed reading glasses. It takes me quite a few blinks to make his face come into focus. I let out an estranged gasp and quickly stumble to my feet. The speed at which I'm up is so fast that it feels almost unnatural.

I step back a few inches and my back slams hard against the wall by the door. He and Silas rise to their feet both watching me closely. I start to dig my nails into my hands, and wince when the pain is more than usual. I'm afraid to look down, but when I do I swear the talons reappear. I swing my hands behind my back as fast as I can hoping it was only in my head.

"Seraphine my dear, maybe you should go home and rest," Silas offers.

I shake my head. My whole body is trembling like I've got the chills. Maybe he's right, I should go home and sleep off whatever this is. I don't feel like I can move though, I'm frozen in place just staring at both of them, but mostly the stranger I'd kissed Saturday night with the gorgeous eyes. In the light of day he looks even more perfect than in the darkness of that nightclub. His emerald color button down dress shirt makes his eyes stand out more, and with his suit and tie he looks like he just stepped off Wall Street.

"I'm okay."

I shake off whatever feeling is plaguing me and straighten myself. I make sure to feel my hand before bringing them back, everything seems normal again including my temperature.

"What book was it you were looking for?"

The two of them are not budging, they are watching me like hawks. The man and Silas exchange glances, before returning their attention back to me.

"Rowan here will make sure you get home safely," he says softly.

I feel the need to protest, but Silas silences me with a sharp look that I know I can't fight. Without another word I grab my things from behind the counter and start for the door. I send my goodbyes to Silas, but ignore Rowan.

Outside the sounds of the city hit me like a ton of bricks, a dull throb in my head causes me to stop for a quick moment. I attempt to outrun Rowan by getting a head start, only he's by my side in a matter of seconds silently walking in step with me.

"What business do you have with Silas?" I ask breaking the silence between us.

"Silas is my uncle," he tells me.

Rowan walks with his eyes focused straight ahead, I glance over briefly before returning my sights on the path in front of me. I'm uncomfortable with the fact that the same guy I'd been all over on Saturday night is Silas's nephew. Stuff like that doesn't just happen. I don't believe in fate or being at the right place at the right time, but this is just crazy. It's just a coincidence, I tell myself.

"Your uncle? Funny, he's never mentioned having a nephew, and I've worked with the man for seven years."

We come to a stop at a crosswalk, and wait for the sign to change.

"He's my mom's sister's husband, so he's not a blood relative. There was a falling out between my mother and her sister, just before she died. He had no idea I was coming, I just moved here and mom had told me about this shop he owned, so I thought I'd pay him a visit."

Rowan gestures for us to walk. We cross the street and continue down the sidewalk in silence. I've decided to take the long way home as we stroll by the stone wall along the perimeter of Central Park.

"Oh then that makes sense. I'm just a little shocked to see your face again," I confess. "I'm not normally a kiss and run type of girl."

His hearty laugh makes me smile. I think back to Saturday night and how that laughter is what made me want to kiss him.

"And I'm not the kind of guy who just leaves a sick girl at a nightclub, but when I saw that you were taken care of, I figured it was best to leave it at that. Seeing you today though definitely was a shock."

In the corner of my eye I notice under the dark scruff on his face his cheeks turn a light shade of pink. Thinking of the kiss that night does the same for me. Kissing him was like riding a rollercoaster and that feeling you get just before it dips. The sensation returns as I catch myself watching his lips closely.

"I'm sorry I almost puked on you."

The words come out before I can stop them, now I'm the one blushing. Aside from the visions, I've thought about him and the kiss all weekend. I never thought I'd see him again, especially after almost puking on him, yet here he is standing next to me walking me home.

Rowan chuckles and takes a step to stand in front of me. I find myself staring at his puffed up chest and reliving the kiss over in my head.

"I actually did wait for you," he says. "Then your friend came out and told me to skedaddle, his words not mine."

I laugh, because it totally sounds like Joe.

"I know, I'm sorry. I was embarrassed. I seem to keep embarrassing myself in front of you," I say.

Rowan chuckles his laughter deep and throaty. I'm feeling hot again, and it's probably best we keep walking.

"Are you sure you want to walk? I could hail a cab," he offers, noticing my sudden distress.

"The fresh air will be good for me."

I step around him and continue walking. We spend the next thirty minutes engrossed in conversation, allowing me to forget all about the strange events the last forty eight hours has brought. Rowan walks with me up the stairs, I don't ask him to but I think he's doing it out of courtesy.

The apartment is on the second floor so the walk up isn't too bad. As we reach the top the two of us grow quiet. My mind is racing just as fast as my heart. Do I just thank him casually for walking me home? Or do I go on for another kiss? Part of me is curious to know if the visions will happen again, and the other part just wants to feel his lips on mine.

Before we make our way around the corner something feels off. My pulse quickens and it's not from thinking about Rowan. I get the weird sense that something or someone has violated my privacy. I feel it in the pit of my stomach. As we round the corner I see exactly what it is. The apartment door is wide open, and I know for a fact I locked it. I breathe in deep, like an animal sniffing around for its prey. There's something unsettling about the scent that's left in the wake of it all.

"Is that your apartment?" he asks.

I nod, taking small steps towards the open door.The malodorous odor fills my nose and makes it tingle. Whoever was in that room was looking for something important. I reach up towards my neck and grab a hold of mom's necklace, I release a shaky breath when I find it's still there. I've always had this sinking feeling that someone was watching me, or waiting for me to put the necklace down. I thought I was just being paranoid, but maybe I wasn't.

Rowan stops in front of me throwing his arm out so that I can't go any further. My body starts to burn again. In the heat of the moment anger consumes me. I've been on my own since I was very little, even in the system there was only one person I could rely on and that was myself. No one else tucked me in at night or told me they'd keep me safe. I'd been used, abused, and tossed around like it was nothing. I don't like being treated like I can't do things for myself.

With strength I didn't know I possessed I pushed past him and head straight for the apartment. He's not that far from where I now stand, but his voice sounds like he's on the far end of a tunnel. Everything turns muffled, and the only thing I concentrate on is listening for anyone who may still be in the apartment. It's like my hearing has become more intune and from deep inside the apartment I can hear footsteps on the carpeted floor of my bedroom.

I step inside the apartment, the living room looks untouched as well as the kitchen, but something inside of me is telling me the coast is not clear. The door to my room is closed, I did not leave it like that when I left this morning. I take three small steps towards it just as the front door slams shut, it's so loud that it shakes the entire apartment. I whip my head back towards the bedroom and within seconds the door is now slightly ajar. I lean to my left to get a better view, but I can't quite figure out what I'm looking at. Standing straight and tall is a shadowy figure. I let out a scream as it steps into the light and spreads its raven black wings open. They expand all the way across the room with such mass that I'm speechless.

I find myself wanting to be afraid, but there's something deep down telling me that this isn't the first time I've seen a creature like this, and it won't be the last.