Chapter 2

2

TANNER

I don’t fear monsters, at least not those legally classified as such by the Organization for Monster Enhancement. I’ve worked with zombies in the past―they don’t talk much or ask for sick days, which make them the ideal co-workers. Gorgons, mummies, vampires and the like don’t frighten me. I pass by them and other shifters after I’m done setting up my measly dorm room in Poe Hall. I’m heading to my first shift at my new campus job here at Creepin U, I mean Creelin U.

Approaching the dorm lobby, I spot a mirror on the wall and check my look one last time. The scar on my left eyebrow is barely noticeable, and I’ve got the same freckles as always. My blazing red curly hair is trimmed nice and neat. Maybe I can pass as a fire demon shifter . No, that’s appropriation, and monsters can sense other monsters.

Heading out the door, I power-walk my way through the quad toward Creelin Library. I pass the massive gothic castle structure known as the Student Union and walk further to the neighboring building. It’s easy to get lost on the intricate campus, but the massive belltower guides my way. As I stride, I gaze at happy students of all kinds―harpies flying down from above, werebears wrestling in the grass, and scorpion shifters chatting with naga girls. The scene is an eclectic one, that’s for sure.

Honestly, I’m not scared of them; I have no opinion on tentacle creatures, or even the shifters with claws and fur. The only thing that frightens me is the massive forest I had to drive past to get here. It’s irrational, but big trees scare the soul out of me. I shudder and try to suppress my childhood nightmares. One minute, you’re a carefree kid, and the next, vines and branches engulf you…

I shake my head as I enter Creelin Library. While the school is ancient architecture allegedly erected by ghosts and zombies, the insides are modern and tricked out. The floors are clean ivory tiles, and most of the silver load-bearing columns carry bulletin boards. I can’t believe I get to attend such an advanced institute of learning for free!

Well, almost free. Most of my stipend comes from working enough hours a week here in the library. The first floor houses a coffee shop, and I follow the sound of espresso machines whirring not far from the entrance. I don’t make it far before I notice the glittering, gilded, square archways of my destination.

Mummy Mocha is exactly how I pictured it; the yellow-and-blue motifs extend from the tables to the walls. Painted-on hieroglyphics and plastic sarcophagi adorn the inside of this caffeine-supplying establishment. Some seating areas are littered about the main library area, but otherwise, it’s like a coffee shop was implanted inside the lobby.

Very few students are here at this hour, likely due to the move-in day hustle and bustle. Or maybe they’re all attending that humans-only mixer. As much as I’d love to meet my own species here on campus, it sounds like an awkward time. I’m thankful my one-day orientation at Mummy Mocha conflicts with it.

I step to the service counter. “Hello?” I ask, looking around. In the distance, two students leave, and a zombie buses their table. He’s wearing a yellow apron, and I’m glad his appendages seem to be in place. Monster parts detached so many times at my old job, Zombie Pizza, and I’ll never get used to seeing blue fingers fall off during work.

Turning to my left, one tall dude strolls in from the back entrance with a backpack over his shoulder. He’s wearing tight blue jeans and a fitted green polo. He doesn’t wait by the pick-up counter for two seconds before another guy walks out of the kitchen and meets him. The second dude is wearing a yellow apron―presumably my co-worker?―and an easy smile. He chats briefly with the first guy, then hands him a to-go cup before they fist bump.

Damn, these dudes are sexy. These two bros are trim and lean in all the right ways, and my libido wakes up at the sight. The zombies I worked with do nothing for me, and it’s not like I have much time to hook up with humans. If these are what monster undergrads look like, then I made the right choice working here. I haven’t gotten any action in so long it’s a crime. They all look delicious, especially the dark-skinned stud in the green. He’s got toned arms under that polo, and his jeans frame his glutes like two orbs of beauty. He could be a friend of mine…

Focus, Tan . You’re here to work and get a degree―no time for boys.

My heart sinks when homie in the green shirt walks away. I crane my neck to see that chiseled back saunter down the back entrance. Maybe I could go ask him for a personal tour of campus. And then, we could get coffee, and I could ask him for his number, and we could―

“Good day, sir!”

“Ack!” I yelp and startle at the voice in front of me. I nearly topple backward, but regain my footing. The man in front of me―good-looking guy number two―snorts at my weirdo behavior. He stands at the counter grinning, and I straighten up and approach.

“How can I help you?”

“Hi, um, I’m new here. I’m supposed to meet my manager, Sethem.”

The guy beams. He has short, brown curly hair, ochre skin, and a grin that spells trouble. “Is your name McGregor?” I nod. “Perfect! You’re the human work-study. Welcome, human!”

I look around, afraid other monsters are going to jump out and run me off campus. I’m perfectly fine not being a shifter, I just don’t want to advertise it here, especially since we’re the first cohort of non-monsters. “Please, call me Tanner,” I say in a hushed tone.

“Nice to meet you, bro. I’m Sethem Adham, former benevolent pharaoh turned mummy, turned handsome college student, turned your new manager.” He beams and grabs my hand, shaking it up and down with vigor. “Let’s get you an apron and get started.”

Four hours later, I feel nearly as dead as my zombie coworker. Sethem took me through the café protocols for an hour before the patrons really started pouring in. I’m no stranger to lunch rushes―a pizza place on a Friday night is no easy feat―but Mummy Mocha is different. I was tasked with taking orders and whipping together drinks, a skill I have yet to master. Now, with the rush done, I collapse in the chair by a small table and check my phone. One text from my grand aunt awaits me, but otherwise no notifications. That’s fine, it’s not like I’ve ever had luck with friends anyway. Maybe college will gift me a social life or friends.

Speaking of friendly peers, Sethem approaches with a cautious smile. “Tanner?”

I sit upright. “Oh, um, I thought I was on lunch. You need me to refill the creamers or something?”

“No,” he laughs, taking the opposite seat. Barely anyone is around, and the one zombie busses a table on the opposite side of the coffee shop. “I thought you could use a sarcophacoffee and a werebear claw.” My shoulders relax and I grin. “A gift for a first day well done. You survived your first coffee lunch rush.” He passes the paper cup and small plate across the table, and I happily accept.

“Thank you, Sethem.” Taking in the aroma of coffee beans, I hadn’t realized how hungry I was. Fortunately, the werebear claw is like a regular pastry, no actual bears included, so I dig in. Sugar and cinnamon burst on my tongue as I all but inhale the flaky pastry.

“Please, call me pharaoh.”

“Okay…pharaoh,” I say. He snickers, and I roll my eyes. “You’re messing with me.”

“Guilty.” He raises his hands and we share a laugh. “Call me Seth. I thought it would be cool to make friends since it’s your first day.” His smile drops. “Not because you’re human or anything. I think it’s totally cool that CU now accepts humans. And I don’t think you’re weird at all for not being a monster.”

He cringes, and I chortle. Seth seems chill, but as good-looking as he is, I don’t think I want to get with my manager. Besides, he’s right―I could use a friend on campus.

“It’s alright. This school is…a lot to take in.” I gaze around, and Seth follows my eyes.

“Yeah, I guess so.” He folds his hands in front of him, and I notice small, tenuous markings on his skin. Either he’s done horizontal henna lines all over his arms, or…

“So…you’re um, a mummy,” I mutter between bites of pastry.

“Yup.” He beams and looks around. “I actually came up with the idea of Mummy Mocha. I pitched the concept and the dean loved it. My homies in the OME gave us funding, and voila!” He snaps his fingers. “Now, we students have a chill place to get coffee during and after studying. And I have my own brand!”

“That’s awesome.”

“Yup. Despite my handsome human looks, this is my second form. Wanna see me shift?”

I gulp. The pastry is done, and now all I taste is nervousness. Be cool, Tan, you go to school with monsters now .

“If you…want.”

In a flash, off-white and gray fabric wraps snake forward from behind Seth. The stripes engulf him, and his skin and clothes are soon obscured. Seconds later, he’s completely wrapped up. His upper chest dons a rusted gold neckpiece with hieroglyphics. He’s a mummy, alright.

“Yeah, this is my true form.” His voice is hoarse under all the wraps. I don’t know which to focus on, his dark red eyes under his face patches, or the bony fingers between wraps on his hands. “And it makes for excellent branding for Mummy Mocha.”

“Ah.” I nod and look away, knowing it’s rude to stare. Or is it rude to avoid his gaze? I haven’t spent much time conversing with monsters with so much personality.

“You can relax, man.” With a whoosh, his wraps disappear, and he’s returned to his human form. Seth chuckles and leans back. “We shift pretty regularly, but it’s easier for most of us to talk like this. My jaw and teeth are intact.” He touches his mouth and wiggles his chin. “Plus with humans now on campus, it’ll be more comforting for everyone to meet them in this form.”

“That makes sense.” I nod and sip my coffee, trying not to show how nervous I am.

“Am I the first monster you’ve met?” He smirks at me, and my pulse rises.

“Are mummies mind-readers?”

We share a chuckle. “No, dude. If I could, I’d know which of the boys I hook up with are cool, and which are clingers.” I laugh in relief; the campus is gay-friendly, got it. “You just seem more on edge than the usual freshman, and I read in your employee file that you’re human.”

I shrug. “Well, I did two years at community college, so I’m no fresh-faced teen. As for the monsters...” I bite my lip and tap the table. “This is technically the longest conversation I’ve ever had with one.”

“I’m honored, Tanner.” Our attention turns to two students, both with giant wings, approaching the counter. We get up, and Seth promptly takes their orders while I pull out cups behind him. He tells me their orders and watches as I assemble ingredients. Content with my work, he continues to gossip as I heat up the water.

“So listen, later tonight we’re having our first big bonfire by the riverbank. You should come.”

“Really?” I pour the drinks out and hand them to our patrons. When I turn back to Seth, he’s leaning back with his arms crossed. “I don’t…like, have money. Hence the job.”

“No worries, it’s my treat! We’ll have plenty of Boowery Beer, or Ghosta Cola if you prefer sobriety. It’ll be good for you to meet other monsters. That way you can look us in the eye when we shift.”

We share a smile. Making friends would be a nice change of pace. Hooking up with my boss sounds too messy, but Seth sounds like he could be my buddy. “I guess, since I’m not working, and classes haven’t started yet...”

“There you go!” He taps my shoulder. “You can meet my suitemates. They’re cool, and we’d love to show you the ropes. One of them was here earlier when you came in.”

“The guy you gave that bag to?” The dude with the nice ass?

“Yeah, he had a gift card, so he cashed in for a dozen werebear claws.” Two more students approach the counter, and Seth diverts his attention to them.

While he takes their order, I lean on the counter. Despite my sore feet, I can’t wipe the optimistic smile off my face. A new mummy friend and a party to meet his sexy suitemate? I know boys should be off-limits―my life should be all about earning my tuition―but tell that to my hormones. Maybe studying at Creelin U is the start of things finally looking up for me.