A to Z Challenge 2013 - O is for Opened

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

If you'd like to read the whole tale, please start with A.

O IS FOR OPENED

Erik opened the front door and smiled at Danielle as she stepped into the foyer. He shut the door with a quiet click, motioning her to follow him. No hug or kiss. Not even a "good evening."

They entered the kitchen at the rear of the house. A single light was on its lowest setting and a small television whispered the news. The black cupboards and gray marble counter tops made it appear as if the room were made of shadows.

"Sorry about that. I didn't want Libby to know I have anyone over." Erik opened the fridge and took out two bottles of beer. He twisted off the caps and offered one to Danielle.

"I understand." And she did. There was no point in Libby knowing about them when Danielle didn't even know if there was a "them." Yet part of her was still hurt by him sneaking around with her, even in his own house.

She took the beer with a thank you and downed half of it in a few gulps. "Couldn't find a babysitter?"

"I didn't bother calling one. I didn't want to leave Libby at home." Erik sipped his drink and motioned to the TV. "Have you seen the news lately? Nowhere's safe anymore. An armed robbery of a baby store. How horrible must someone be to do that?"

A to Z Challenge - O is for Obscene

This is part of one story through the month of April.

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

O IS FOR OBSCENE

Abby couldn't sit at the table any longer. Demetrius had all the subtlety of a rampaging ox. Yet for all his dramatic gestures and cliched lines, Myrtle Burrows was enthralled.

Excusing herself to go to the bathroom, Abby breathed out a sigh of relief when she entered the cafe's empty restroom. One of the lights flickered making a soft sizzling sound. She had expected to do all the questioning of Burrows, but the other woman would barely look her way. The fact her hands had glowed when she first met Burrows threw her off, but she hadn't meant for Demetrius to take it all over.

She sat down first of the two stalls. Abby hated seeing him behaving like that with another woman. She hated herself for feeling that way. She knew he was only acting. Besides, he made it clear he wanted her and she had turned him down. It was her own doing.

When Burrows met them in the cafe, Abby's hands didn't glow. She even shook the author's hand. Nothing.

It didn't make sense. The light flickered again and made her jump when it popped. Dark shadows settled in the stall with her. Only the single light over the entry door remained.

Abby shook her head and stood up. She should get back to the others. She was sure the answer was with Burrows. She walked to the sink and frowned as she saw her hands glow.

Looking up into the mirror, a hideous melted face grinned at her from the darkness in the far corner before it leapt at her. Abby didn't have time to scream as she whirled around, dropped low, and let her blades slide out. She slashed at the monster, but it flew up and over to rebound off the wall and come for her again.

She hissed with the pain in her ankle as she twisted and stood, holding her ground against the thing. It laughed lowly; the sound seemingly coming from all around her. A trick for amateurs.

Abby crossed her blades, and when the monster was near enough, she used them like scissors to cut through its skinny neck. The grotesque face fell to the right, but from within the ragged black robes, a second beast kept coming at her. It was like an obscene version of Russian nesting dolls.

It slammed into her chest and Abby fell back onto the tiled floor. She kicked up, sending it sailing to smack against the wall. She threw one sword pin it there, lancing it through one of the empty eye sockets. Abby was ready for the third monster when it launched itself out of the second's robes.

Standing and slipping on the floor, her swing missed and the thing grabbed her wrist with a bony hand. It smashed her hand against the sink, but couldn't force Abby to drop her sword.

"You're mine now. What a tasty meal you'll make." Its voice was a dry rattle, but its teeth didn't look old and brittle. Its mouth yawned, opening wider to impossible angles. 

The blade disappeared from the wall and emerged from Abby's free hand.

"I'm not on the menu." She jammed the blade up under the monster's chin and out the top of its head. No more came forth as it sank into a black mass onto the floor.