Page 28 of Zombies, Satyrs and Vampires, Oh My!

chapter

four

Harriet

Since my bestie moved here permanently, I’ve been visiting regularly. So often that I’ve rented a room at the local hotel, The Sunnyside Motel, and I just keep it reserved and ready for me for whenever I come into town.

A fact that I am extra grateful for now that I know Professor Jace is in town. What are the chances of that?

My mind has been spinning a hundred miles an hour ever since Atticus worked his hacking magic last night and revealed that Professor Jace … my Professor Jace … lives in Screaming Woods.

What does that mean?

Does that mean he’s a monster?

Probably? I don’t know.

Most residents are “monsters” … normal humans who were affected by the accident that happened here all those years ago and were somehow transformed in the aftermath of that event.

Most, but not all. And there’s been an influx of human residents in recent years. So it could be that the reason he keeps such a low profile is because he’s a “monster” or it could be that hiding out in a town full of monsters is the perfect hiding place for a recluse who doesn’t want to make excuses about why he’s a recluse.

The weird thing is … I’m not actually that surprised.

I’ve felt the lure of this town since the moment I learned about it. I’ve known in my gut that this was where I belonged. That this is where my destiny lay. That the great fortune cookie maker in the sky was guiding me here.

So, yeah … it makes perfect sense to me that the man I’ve been drawn to since the moment I met him (online, via a video lecture, but still…) lives here in this town that I’ve also been drawn to.

Is there a slight chance I’m letting my romantic fantasies get the better of me?

Yep. Probably.

That is a risk I’m willing to take.

Which is why I’m going to stay in Screaming Woods until I can track down Professor Jace. And, why I’ve come to the town coffee shop to do a little discrete sleuthing.

Besides, I really do need Jace’s help with my brother’s lawsuit! So it’s not like I’m sleuthing just for my own selfish reasons.

Lucky Beans is the local coffee place. Roan, the owner, is an invisible man. Aside from the fact that you can’t see him, he's pretty awesome.

And, you know, somehow he found his happily ever after with a human. Did I mention that he's invisible?

Lucky Beans is the de facto center of town gossip, and also, Melinda, the porcupine lady that works the counter, makes a mean matcha tea latte.

“Harry, your tea is up,” Melinda says.

I walk up to the counter to grab it.

Before she can get back to work, I say, “I have a question.”

“Sure.” She grins, completely unafraid to show off overly long rodent teeth.

“I have a friend on-line who I think might live in town.”

“Hmmm.” She makes a non-committal noise.

“He’s a professor. My favorite professor, actually. Music theory. And we chat sometimes. And …” I keep hoping she’ll jump in with Oh, yeah, I know just who you mean. But she doesn’t. Instead, her normally friendly expression grows distant. “Anyway, something he said in a chat made me think he might live here. And maybe you’d⁠—”

“He said he lives here?” Her tone is suspicious.