Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

MONROE

"Monroe get over here so I can do your makeup!"

I paused with my hand on the doorknob. "My makeup?"

"It's the zombie crawl, dude. You forget?" Dawson said with a laugh but I heard the concern in his voice. "You know, one of your favorite events of the year?"

My jaw dropped. I turned toward the sound of their voices and found them in my office. Dawson sat in my chair facing me while Pickles was applying his makeup. I couldn't see her face, and I hadn't seen it when she first got here because I'd run up to my room to change into clean clothes so I could go find Chip and Sylvester.

"Monroe? You okay?"

I scrubbed my face with my hands. "I did forget it was zombie crawl night. I was going to find Chip and Sylvester."

Pickles half turned toward me and my eyes widened. Her face was painted up expertly with makeup and fake blood to make her look like a zombie. She grinned. "Chip took our sisters and some other sirens to the crawl already. She's got Sylvester with her."

"She brought my seal to the zombie crawl?"

Pickles giggled and nodded.

"Okay, that's interesting. Um . . . okay?—"

"So get your butt over here and let me do your makeup. I'm almost done with Dawson's." She used a makeup brush to point to the sofa in my office. "Sit."

I hurried over and sat as she instructed. "Colette usually does our makeup?—"

"I know. Dawson told me."

My cousin shrugged. "Pillow talk, right?"

I glared at him. "I wasn't aware you'd managed to share a pillow this week."

He rolled his eyes which looked cool and creepy with the makeup. "We haven't. I told her last weekend."

Pickles tapped on her wave necklace that Peggy made her like she was checking to make sure it was there. Then she grabbed the tube of fake blood and expertly dripped it from the fake wounds she'd painted onto his skin with eyeshadow. "Colette and I are friends now. Remember, she's been helping me and Chip get Chickles running. So yesterday I called and asked if she could do ours today. Chip and I went just us so she could show us how to do it, then we went back and did all the sirens who wanted to join the party."

"Oh . . ."

She grinned and stepped back from Dawson. She blew him a kiss. "Now scoot. We have a party to get to. C'mon, Monroe."

Dawson and I swapped seats. The second my butt hit my chair she was swatting at me with the makeup brush. "You're in a hurry."

"Yeah! It's my first zombie crawl! I've wanted to go to this for years." She picked up the little tray of eyeshadow. "Now don't talk so I can do this fast. Don't make Sylvester wait longer."

I mashed my lips shut and closed my eyes.

"Monroe, wake up."

I gasped and flinched. "Whoa, did I fall asleep?'"

They laughed and nodded.

"Damn. I didn't even feel myself falling asleep." I went to scrub my face but Pickles swatted my hands and hissed. "Sorry, sorry. Thanks. Right. So we ready to go then?"

"Yeah, let's walk zombie man." Dawson squeezed my shoulder then skipped toward the front door. He held his hand out for Pickles. "Come on, my love."

My love.

My chest tightened. I was happy for my cousin and Pickles. Honest and genuinely thrilled for them. Everyone should be so lucky to find their literal soulmate. It wasn't that I was jealous of them having a mark, because I knew better than to expect one for myself, I just wished I was in better standing with Chip. I was excited to see her, we'd come a long away in my time under the water and I thought we'd been on the verge of a relationship and then I got dragged out of town. It wasn't like I could say no to the king. But something in my gut told me something was off.

I pulled out my phone and sent her a text message, ‘ Hi! I'm home. Headed to the zombie crawl with Dawson and Pickles. Your sister says you're there with Sylvester so let me know where and I'll come find you.'

I watched as we walked, waiting for the three bubbles to pop up saying she was responding but they never showed. With a nervous sigh, I shoved my phone in the back pocket of my jeans and tried to enjoy the decorations of each house. Luckily, my house was close to Main Street so it only took us about five minutes to get there. A quick glance at my phone showed Chip hadn't responded. My stomach was in knots before we reached the barriers put up to block off the road for cars.

The zombie crawl was an event that had started a few years back as an unofficial party that the Vauntero family then became obsessed with so now all of Main Street was blocked off and set up for one hell of a party. Each year the crowd grew bigger and bigger and it was already obvious this year was even bigger. We walked out to the middle of the street and my jaw dropped.

Carter and Ria had stepped this up several notches. The usual bar crawl was more like a block party now. They'd set up cars on the street to look like they'd been abandoned and rusted out, crashed into street poles and buildings. Yet each of them were drink and food stations with all kinds of neon glowing drinks that smoked and sparkled and easy snacks that could be consumed while walking. The shops on Main Street were all closed and boarded up to add to the zombie apocalypse vibe. The only things open were the restaurants, for the most part. And those were all packed with people. Windows and doors were open so the flashing lights and music spilled onto the street. There were even mini bonfires on every other corner.

"This is like . . . movie set level decorating."

I whistled under my breath. "This is wildly impressive."

"PICKLES!" We all looked to our left just as Colette rushed up, though she was almost unrecognizable in her zombie gear. Even her pale blonde hair was covered in blood and fake dirt. She'd committed. Hard. She stopped in front of us with wide green eyes. "Oh my God, Pickles did you do their makeup?"

"Yes, I did." She beamed.

Colette clapped and I realized she'd put gauze bandages around them. "Excellent work."

Pickles blushed. "Thanks to you."

"Happy to be of service. I saw Chip and the girls a little while ago?—"

"Oh, where?" Pickles stood up on her tiptoes and looked around. "None of them are answering my text messages."

My eyes widened. So it wasn't just my text Chip hadn't answered. That gave me hope.

She giggled. "Oh, down by Bowlicious. Connor and Caleb have really outdone the rest of the street in true Bow family form. Ten out of ten recommend it."

"Chip is there now?"

"Well, last I saw, the Vaunteros were fawning over Sylvester down there so I'd say it's a good bet -" she gasped and her words cut off. Those green eyes of hers locked on something over my shoulder. Then she shook herself and refocused on us. "Sorry, I've got to run. But check down there."

We waved bye as Colette scurried down a side street like she was hiding from someone. I glanced behind me to see who it might've been yet there were no obvious answers. Mostly because everyone wore zombie makeup. Megelle Island residents did not mess around when it came to Halloween and Christmas. They committed hard. They went big. While there were plenty of residents who didn't partake in events like tonight, since it wasn't the kind of calm subtle party suitable for everyone, but those that did partake didn't mess around.

"Well, that was weird." Dawson chuckled. "C'mon, let's go find Sylvester and Chip."

Sylvester. I smiled and nodded. I missed my seal buddy. I was excited to see him again. The three of us hurried down the street and through the crowd until we reached the corner Bowlicious sat on then we slid to a stop.

Because between us and the restaurant was a massive crowd that stood in a big circle like there was a fight happening in the middle, or a street performer of some kind. Everyone was clapping along with the beat of the pop music blaring through the stereo that sounded like boy band songs from twenty years ago. Not that anyone was complaining.

A girl in a ripped up white dress that had blood stains all over it turned away from the crowd and walked towards us. She seemed to be the only person on this corner that wasn't laughing and cheering with the others. She flicked her bright pink hair over her shoulder and shook her head.

I jumped forward into her path. "Hey - hi?—"

"Yeah?" She stopped short and scowled up at me with dark eyes that looked familiar but I just couldn't place. Then again, she had on heavy zombie makeup. "Can I help you?"

"Do I know you?"

She arched one pink eyebrow. "That is not why you stopped me, is it?"

"No. Sorry." I waved my hands in front of my face then pointed to the crowd. "What's happening in there?"

A small smirk pulled at her lips. "A siren brought her pet seal to the party and - well - you kinda have to see for yourself." She chuckled and shook her head some more then hurried away from us.

Dawson scowled. "Who was that?"

"No idea. Seemed familiar though." I pointed to the crowd. "We need to get in there but how?"

"I got this." Pickles cleared her throat then she sang softly, " just stay calm and step aside, so we may see what you hide. "

Without even looking in her direction, the people right in front of us slowly stepped aside, leaving us a narrow tunnel to the center of the crowd. Pickles skipped ahead, sliding right through and dragging Dawson with her. I followed behind them. When we came out into the center of the circle my jaw dropped.

Sure enough, there was Sylvester in the center of the action but he wasn't alone. There was another seal there . . . a seal with teal fur on top of its head. Torren. Her and Sylvester were in the middle of what could only be described as a dance off.

The rowdy crowd made so much sense.

I glanced around and found Colette was right, the entire Vauntero family appeared to be there cheering on Torren and Sylvester. Josiah seemed like he was some form of dance- off referee, waving his neon orange boa around like a flag. Queen Vauntero sat on the curb to my right, directly in front of Bowlicious restaurant, with her twins sitting on the ground between her legs. The rest of her young children sat around her with their legs crossed and wide eyes.

And then I looked to my left and my breath left me in a rush.

Araqiel stood there cheering them on. Araqiel, the angel who was the right hand to the Creator, was watching my pet seal dance battle a jinn in seal form. He still wore his all white suit as usual and his white angel wings were in pristine condition. All that sharp white really made the tone of his brown skin shimmer.

Araqiel threw his head back and laughed. He tried to clap then realized he held two tacos in one hand so he snapped his fingers instead. "Who put that seal in zombie makeup? Who did that?"

Chip stepped through the crowd to the front then raised her hand. "I did, Sir. I asked Nash, he said it wouldn't hurt him?—"

"Hey, don't bring me into this." Nash laughed and slid behind Constantine.

Araqiel marched up to Chip and I felt everyone suck in a deep breath. Then he handed his tacos to her. "These are for you. Eat them while they're hot, I'll get more after this."

"Oh, thank you, Sir?—"

Araqiel threw one hand out and water poured out of the fire hydrant at the curb. It flooded the street with about two inches of water, but only inside the circle. Araqiel lowered his hand and the water shut off. Everyone cheered as Torren and Sylvester were able to dance more freely. sends a little pool of water under Sylvester's feet so he can slide around easier.

My Sylvester hadn't even noticed me yet but I didn't blame him. Torren and him had definitely bonded in my absence this week. But then you add in Araqiel and now a puddle to dance in . . . I wouldn't be noticed for a while. It didn't hurt my feelings, it was actually super adorable. I'd have to thank Torren later.

And Chip.

I frowned. Where'd she go? I looked around at the people watching my seal play with Torren-seal and the angel Araqiel but I couldn't see Chip. And then King Vauntero stepped into my line of view holding an apple cider doughnut. He grinned and met my stare, then nodded his head to my right and winked. I glanced in that direction — and found Chip standing over a garbage can eating the tacos Araqiel gave her. I glanced back to the king but he was gone.

Smooth. What it must be like to move like a vampire.

I slipped through the crowd until I came out on the side by her. The garbage can was about ten feet away from the crowd so it was close enough to be in the action but far enough to hear yourself think. And my thoughts were entirely on Chip. She looked fantastic in her zombie gear. She wore a purple dress that had been shredded and chopped in places, showing off more leg than I'd ever seen from Chip. I would've been lying if I said the sight of her toned legs didn't make my pulse beat faster.

How did I miss this feeling as attraction?

I was laughing at myself and my foolishness earlier this month when I finally stepped up to the garbage can. "Hi."

She jumped and stepped back then sighed when she realized it was just me. "Sorry. I was in the zone."

"I can see that." I laughed more. "You don't have to eat them that fast?—"

"He told me to eat them while they're hot. I have to obey, it's Araqiel?—"

"Here, give me one. I'll help." I held my hand out. She didn't hesitate to give me the other taco she hadn't started on yet. My stomach growled as I took a bite. "Ya know, I get it. Tacos are delicious."

She giggled and licked her lips as she nodded. "Thanks for taking one."

"Here to help."

Her cheeks flushed, which only added to the zombie makeup. "Hi."

"Hi." I smiled then took another bite.

"Welcome home," she said softly, her eyes hadn't left mine.

"Thank you." I took another bite. "Did the rescue mission go well?"

"Very." Then she frowned. "Though I feel like we may need to go down there and set up some kind of signage if sirens are gonna start swimming outta here."

"That's a good idea. Got any ideas?"

"Not at all." She giggled. "I was hoping you'd have one."

I smirked. How things had changed. "Let me get a full stomach then I may come up with something."

She nodded and took another bite, the taco shell crunching in her mouth. "Did you see your boy?"

"I can't believe you put zombie make up on a seal. It's amazing."

She grinned up at me and her eyes sparkled. "I'm glad you like it."

"Who started this dance off?"

She cackled. "Torren being Torren, basically."

I shoved the last bite of my taco in my mouth then wiped my hands off on my jeans. She took another bite but the salsa spilled out the side and dripped down the side of her mouth and into her hands. She leaned over the garbage can as some of the meat and lettuce fell out of her last bite. I grinned and reached out to wipe the salsa off her face with my hand.

She gasped and jumped back before I could touch her.

I froze. My heart stopped.

For a moment we just stared at each other.

"What . . . what's wrong?" I looked down at my hand but it was clean. I frowned back up at her. "What did I do?"

Her face fell and my heart sank.

"Chip?"

She cringed and tossed the last bit of her taco into the garbage can and I couldn't help but feel like I was going to be next. My stomach rolled and the taco I'd just eaten threatened to come back up. My heart was pounding.

" Chip? "

The whole crowd gasped so loud Chip and I jumped.

When I looked over even I gasped. Araqiel was the lead angel on Earth, all supernaturals knew that. He was basically God down here, everyone reported to him. He was the law and the rule maker. He was ancient, older than this realm, and ranked as the highest angel even among the angels in Heaven. Or so we were all told. But every leader and an enforcer, a person who was so terrifying and intimidating that all he had to do was look at you and you might shit yourself.

That angel was named Zuriel.

He was nearly as ancient as Araqiel, though no one knew either of their ages. The sole reason Araqiel could be kind and compassionate to all of us was because Zuriel always stood beside him praying we messed up so he could rip our heads offs. He was the big, bad guard dog and followed through. While Araqiel always wore white and looked like the picture of Heaven…Zuriel wore all black. From his black hair down to his black boots. Somehow the pale tone of his skin just made him even more menacing. The big white angel wings didn't help one bit.

" Oh my God, is that Zuriel ?" Someone whispered too loud.

Zuriel narrowed his sapphire blue eyes right at the person.

The crowd parted like he'd thrown them, giving the angel a clear view of the circle. But Araqiel was nowhere in sight. Sylvester and Torren just stood there in their two-inch puddle blinking their big eyes. Torren lifted one fin and waved at him.

Zuriel sighed and shook his head.

"OH MY GOD!" Pickles gasped. She skipped over to Zuriel with wide eyes and a wider smile. "Will you marry us?"

" WHAT? " Chip and I yelled at the same time.

Dawson's eyes widened. He didn't take his eyes off the angel who was glaring at them. "Pickles…what are you doing?"

Pickles, though, that girl was fearless. In an instant I realized why she was best friends with Chip. They made a good team with Chip's ideas and dreams and Pickles' fearlessness.

" What? We said we wanted to get eloped because you only have Monroe and I have a huge family, neither one of us wants a wedding." She gestured around the crowd that was now gawking at her. "Think how special this memory would be if we got married right here, right now . . . by Zuriel. "

Dawson blinked down at his soulmate then turned back to Zuriel with flushed cheeks. "Sorry?"

Zuriel narrowed his eyes. "Soulmates."

It wasn't a question. He already knew. But Dawson held his right arm out to show the anchor and white daisy image. Pickles nodded enthusiastically.

Zuriel pointed to Pickles. "Do you to take him?" He gestured to my cousin.

Pickles eyes glistened with unshed tears. " Yes ?—"

"Do you take her?" Zuriel pointed to Pickles but stared at Dawson.

Dawson nodded without hesitation. "Yeah?—"

"Done." Zuriel nodded his head once. "You're married. Congrats."

Pickles squealed and tackled Dawson, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pressed her lips against his. He held onto her tight and rocked to the music still playing.

"That's it?" Brian Bow pointed to the angel. "That's official? It's legit?"

Zuriel glared at him.

Brian blanched.

And then Zuriel was just gone. Faster than a vampire could move he vanished.

Archer Bow let out a breath he'd probably been holding. He smacked his brother in the back of the head. "Brian, that's Zuriel. Of course it's legit."

"I didn't realize I'd said that out loud." Brian ran a hand over his short dark hair. "Did I almost die?"

The Vauntero family cackled in a way that made Brian and the Bow family seem even more nervous.

Josiah pulled a whistle out of his pocket and blew it. "LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!"

If possible, the music got even louder as the crowd now descended upon my cousin and his wife. I shook my head and laughed. Dawson had never wanted to get married, he'd said it would feel weird to him with just me sitting on his side of the aisle. So I wasn't surprised they eloped. And Pickles was right, this would be one hell of a memory.

I turned to Chip to laugh about it then saw the look of panic on her face. Her skin was pale and splotchy. Her dark eyes were wide. She looked rather zombie-ish, actually. I frowned until I remembered what had happened before Zuriel appeared. She'd flinched away from my touch, and I'd only been trying to wipe food off her face.

She looked up at me with fear in her eyes.

"Chip—"

"Stop." She closed her eyes cringed. "I just . . . I think we need to stop for a second?—"

"Are you . . . are you breaking up with me before we're actually a couple?" My heart had lodged itself in my throat.

She looked to the sky and exhaled a deep breath.

"Chip, talk to me?—"

"I'm trying. Just . . . give me a second . . ." She glanced around at the people around us. "I'm not breaking up with you before we're a couple . . . I just . . . Monroe, we're not a couple."

"I know we're not. I know that's my fault, I got carried away in the water with you and then I was excited to be on land again and I just . . . I'm sorry I ran off so fast. It wasn't a reflection on you or how I feel about you?—"

"I know that." She grimaced. "Well, I realized that. But look, this isn't about that night."

"Okay . . ." I leaned against the garbage can because I suddenly felt lightheaded. "What's this about then? Just talk to me."

"The whole reason we called our truce was to try and get along so we wouldn't lose our best friends. So they wouldn't feel forced to choose between their family and their soulmate. Because they'd choose each other, as they should?—"

"Right . . ."

She tugged on the hem of her little purple dress and I noticed her hands were shaking a little. "If we rush into this . . . this . . . you and me, together . . . and we go too fast we could crash and burn. And then breaking up would be worse than how we hated each other two weeks ago."

"We're not those people anymore, Chip. We see this ?— "

"That's the problem, Monroe, " she cried and tears filled her eyes. She used the tips of her fingers to dab at the tears before they ruined her makeup. "I have too much . . . this . . . inside me . . . it's too much. For you. I feel too much ."

A hot lump of emotion formed in my throat. I just stared.

"It's happening too fast. We have to slow down. We have to stop and breathe and make sure that this is something that can last." She gestured to her right and when I glanced over I saw Pickles and Dawson standing beside each other watching Sylvester with Torren. "They're soulmates. They're forever. Hell, they're married now. While we can't control that we're not, we can try to take this relationship slowly so we don't break each others' hearts."

The world felt like it was going to crash in around me and swallow me whole. She said this wasn't a break up but it sure as hell felt like one. I needed clarification but I couldn't get words out, my mouth was dry and thick.

She pressed her fingers to her temples and took a deep breath. When she lowered her arms, I saw a firmness in her eyes like she'd just made a decision. "We haven't even been on a date?—"

"A date ?" I shook my head. We'd had more than just a date. We'd spent hours talking, I didn't know why that didn't count. I was confused. "You want to go on a date with me?"

"Yes! Please?" She nodded and rubbed her hands together. "Let's start there? We'll go on a date, where we both know that we're in a romantic setting."

"Uh, okay. Yeah, sure we can go on a date if that's what you need?—"

"How about Monday night? There aren't any events on the calendar so we won't be missing anything of spooky season." She gave me a wobbly smile. "Monday night at seven? We can go to that little restaurant down by the beach on the south side? Finnigans? "

I blinked. "Yeah, sure, okay. Finnigans on Monday night at seven."

"Cool. Cool. I'll see you there then." She started to back away from me. "You've got Sylvester, right? I need to go show the sirens around?—"

"Yeah, I've got him. Thanks for watching him?—"

"My pleasure." She blew me a kiss. "Have fun tonight?"

"Thanks—"

"MONROE!"

I jumped and turned toward the sound of my name being yelled by Dawson but then my gaze landed on Sylvester waddling straight for me fast. I looked back to Chip only to find her hurrying away from me, her dark hair swaying back and forth with each step. My heart sank. I swallowed through my emotions and crouched down then threw my arms open just in time for Sylvester to tackle me.