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After all of the parts that could be salvaged were dragged to the tree line, Zotom used his device to get some people to help bring the pieces to a place called Calusa. He said it was close and safe and had plenty of space for her to work where she would be protected by his people.
She felt very out of place, but also comfortable and safe at the same time. It was definitely odd, but nice to feel that she didn't have demands on her or was disappointing anyone.
The girl called Saber gave her something called "jammy pants and a tank top" to sleep in that night after another shower. The pants were luxuriously soft and had tiny pink hearts all over them. Zotom was waiting for her in the kitchen of the home she was going to sleep in for the next few weeks or so, the Cortez Sister's home.
"You look lovely," he told her when she came in the room.
"I feel very odd," she admitted and tugged at her clothing.
"That's okay, we are all odd around here," he smiled and took her hand. "Come, let me show you what people in this day in age do for fun in the middle of the night."
"Don't they sleep?" Melina asked honestly as they entered a room full of people on various couches, chairs, and giant cushions scattered around. There were two spots remaining on the couch, so Zotom tugged her there to sit with him.
"Sometimes, yes. Other times, there are things like this," he pressed a button on a slim device and a box with light flashed in front of her eyes. She was mesmerized.
"See? She's already American. Welcome home, Melina," Zotom chuckled.
"Oh hush, you," she giggled and then settled next to him. "Oh, I didn't realize I was so close." She blushed and went to move away slightly.
He lightly touched her arm. "No, please stay. It's okay to sit close to someone now. I promise I won't bite you. Tonight." He smiled as she settled again and pretended to be comfortable with his leg and arm touching her. He knew it wasn't proper in her time to do that, but he wanted to have her close to him.
"Thank you for not biting me. Earlier I was very nervous about such a thing," she joked and the girls all giggled.
"Who's making the popcorn?" Zotom yelled.
"Keep your panties on, I'm working on it," Audire bellowed back from the kitchen.
"Tonight we rest. Tomorrow back to work. Deal?" Zotom asked Melina.
"Deal."
Read more about the Cortez sisters in Grip of Mortality by C.L. Foster
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
C.L. has lived all over the world and has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, minoring in Psychology and Forensics. Which means you don't want to cross her because she knows how and where to hide a body so it's never found! She proudly admits to hearing voices in her head, but at times, her characters' impromptu visits can be rude and annoying. Thankfully, she has adequate patience for their shenanigans and can out ninja them any day of the week. Visit her at https://www.authorclfoster.com/ or follow on Twitter @CLFoster1
Always Be Yourself
A new adult paranormal romance by Delphina Henley
Unicorns Are Everywhere
Always be yourself—unless you can be a unicorn. Then always be a unicorn.
The saying on the menu board was a bit silly and whimsical to most people who read it as they looked for today’s coffee special, but to Scout, it was just one more unicorn reference to weigh her down. It felt to her as if the world knew Grandma Nora had passed and wanted to torment her. A young girl had a unicorn doll in her hand while riding the bus. The store where she picked up the last of the things she thought she needed for college had novelty unicorns, that apparently farted candy corn, sitting on the counter. The bookstore had an end cap devoted to them. Her social media was flooded with unicorn memes and even ads for cans of unicorn meat. Really, unicorn meat? It even claimed it tasted like chicken. Goodness, the pizza place she stopped to get a bite at last evening had a unicorn-themed party in full swing upon her arrival. They were everywhere. A small part of her knew it was no coincidence. At least this “silly” sign gave her hope.
Grabbing a cup of her favorite coffee, Scout quickly found a seat in the back of the shop. She really needed to be alone in the company of strangers. While she wanted to go unnoticed as she opened the letter her Grandma Nora had left for her, she did not want to be alone in her house. For some reason, her favorite coffee shop seemed like the ideal place. After reading the sign, she wondered if there was more to her decision than met the eye. Scout knew she was not like other people, but she had learned the art of fitting in. She had to. After the school started pushing her parents to seek “professional” advice over what they considered her inability to tell the difference between her fantasy world and reality, her grandma had pulled her aside. She told her she had to pretend not to see the things she saw, pretend she did not feel the things she felt, and to not share the “coincidences” that seemed to occur in her life on a regular basis. Grandma Nora always believed in her and, even at eight years old, Scout understood that she had to heed her grandmother’s advice. She was sure the abundance of unicorns that popped up around her was one of those things she should probably keep to herself. Not that she had anyone to share it with.
In many ways, Grandma Nora had been her only friend. Sure, she had people from high school who she hung out with. It saddened Nora to the point of tears that none of her high school friends were truly friends. How could they be? No one had ever actually known her but her grandmother, and now she was gone. Even her parents did not know her. They did not want her to pretend to be normal—they actually wanted her to be normal. Something that Scout knew she would never be.
It had been two weeks since her grandmother’s passing and a week since she had found the letter. She had tried to read it numerous times, but could not bring herself to open it. Something always stopped her. She kept telling herself she was just not ready, but it was more than that. She knew that it would change everything. Now was the moment of truth. Looking back up at the sign, Scout sighed and took out the letter. It was time.
Ignoring the noise of the afternoon rush, she broke the wax seal on the back of the envelope. Grandma Nora was nothing if not old fashioned. Slowly removing the contents, she took a deep breath. She could do this. In less than twenty-four hours, she was on her way to New England to start college. If she did not do it now, she would carry the weight of the unread words with her as she tried to start anew.