A to Z Challenge 2013 - E is for Email

I'm posting snippets from a story this year for the Challenge.

You can enjoy the bits on their own, but if you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

E IS FOR EMAIL

No. Absolutely not. Fenn protested. Your job is to help children. Not set up dates for yourself with their parents.

“Oh come on. I am helping Libby.” She tapped the return key and put her name at the bottom of the email. “I always put the children first and you know it. Look at me. I'm a school counselor making a crappy salary. Half the time, I'm just a glorified file clerk. I stay out at night killing monsters. I haven't had a date in over a year. That's whole loads of pathetic. Oh, and yeah, the majority of my time is spent talking with a tiny dog.”

I'm your guide. The vessel I'm in shouldn't matter. Fenn sniffed. Also, your job is ideal for one of the Fearless. We discussed your career when you were—

“Yeah, yeah. Perfect for me. So much better than being a stunt woman like I wanted.” Danielle sighed, glanced around her small office, and then hit send. “It's time I made my life a bit more exciting.”

A to Z Challenge - E is for Exactly

I'm writing a story spanning over all the days of the challenge.

If you're just joining me now, please start with A is for Abby.

E IS FOR EXACTLY

"If you don't stop following me, I will kill you." Abby marched along the dark street. She ignored the fact her body was very aware of him keeping pace beside her, arms nearly brushing. Or at least tried to ignore it. She should have left him in the trunk.

He's going to be hard to get rid of, you know. You should have listened to me. Tawa said in her lecturing voice. Maybe you could let the next monster eat him.

Abby softly grunted wanting to agree, but knowing she couldn't let such a thing happen. Being one of the good guys sucked sometimes.

"No, you won't." Demetrius smiled, breathing in the night air as if they were taking a casual stroll. "I've always wanted to see one of the Fearless in action."

"And what do you know of the Fearless?" Abby couldn't deny her curiosity. Tawa had taught her the history of what she was, but it was suppose to be a secret. Only a few privileged others were suppose to know of their existence.

"The Fearless." Demetrius pronounced the name in a deep dramatic voice and made a grand gesture with his arms. "Chosen by the gods to protect the children from their fears made real. They're given blessed weapons, magical sight, and superior strength and dexterity. They're rumored to be fierce beauties." He eyed her with a smirk. "There's truth in that one. It's also said that since they are fearless, they die young because they lack the wisdom to know when to retreat."

"You never run away." Abby huffed with a shake of her head. Trying to compliment her and call her stupid at the same time. He was the idiot. So he knew a few things, but he didn't know her. She was smart. Yet she refused to think of running away when there was the life of a child at stake.

"Exactly." Demetrius looked smug. "Lucky you have me with you now."

Yeah, lucky you. Tawa snorted.

Abby turned right and headed up the driveway to her second stop of the night. For the longest time, she only fought once or twice a week. Then this last year, the number of monsters had rapidly increased. She had been unsuccessfully trying to find out why. Even with Tawa's guidance, the answers eluded her.

"You want to see one of the Fearless in action? Here's your chance. Just make sure you don't get in my way." Abby went around to the back of the house and scanned the second floor windows. Thick shadows rimmed one in particular. Making sure Tawa was secure, she climbed up onto the roof above the porch and crept over to the window. She paused to peer into the dark room through the slats of the blind and startled as she felt his warm breath near her cheek.

"Nasty beast in there." Demetrius moved to remove the screen and see if the window would open. "Best let me go first."

"And you best not set off the alarm." Abby pushed him aside and placed her hands on either side of the window. They began to glow and the tiny light she had seen blinking in the top inside corner of the window went out. She slid the window up and didn't look at him as she slipped into the girl's room to dispatch the monster in the closet.