Creatures

“Where are you going?” Emerald asked the next morning as Karen came into the kitchen. She had forgone her skirts the first day here, but now she was in her favorite skirt and shirt, albeit they were a bit bigger on her now.

“I am going to town. I need to buy some new clothing before I start my job tomorrow.”

“Job?” Emerald exclaimed, “What are you going to do?”

Talon looked up from where he was working on the breakfast dishes.

“Yup. I can officially start a job now that I am done with my initial training.”

“That is great.” Eric stood up and gave her a hug. “Congrats on both. Talon, you should cook something special tonight in honor of Karen’s achievement.”

Talon nodded, “What would you like?” he asked her.

“Oh no. You do not have to go to any trouble for me.”

“Nonsense. What would you like for supper? We need to celebrate.” The others nodded their agreement.

“Well, I, I love Chinese.” Karen ducked her head and did not look Carrie in the eyes.

“What?”

Carrie narrowed her eyes.

“Are you sure it is for you and not Talon?”

Karen nodded. “It is me. Could you tolerate it for one night? I would love to pig out on some crab Rangoon.”

Carrie sighed. “Fine, but it is only this once. I cannot stand the stuff.”

“Yes!” Came a resounding agreement from the rest of the group.

Karen just looked at them.

“We all love Chinese, but Carrie absolutely forbids to allow it in the house and she is scary when she is mad,” Evan explained.

Karen grinned. “Thank you, Carrie.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. I will not do it again, no matter what you do.”

“So... tell me, Karen, where are you working?” Lily asked.

“Um, at the local high school as their new music teacher.”

Talon dropped the plate he had been washing.

“Really?” Evan looked at Talon. “You are going to be our new teacher?” He turned to Talon. “Hey, Talon, why did you not tell us that she was going to be our new teacher. After all, you two are going to be co-workers.”

Karen looked at Talon, who refused to look back at her. “Whatever.”

He finished the dishes and dried his hands.

“Are you ready” he grumbled.

“Huh, what for?”

“Did you not just say that you needed to go to town. I will accompany you. I need a few things as well. I will drive.”

“Oh me too, me too,” Emerald exclaimed.

“Come to think of it. I could use a trip as well.” Eric commented. “I think I will also join you.”

When it was all said and done, everyone decided to go and they had to wait for another fifteen minutes while they got another car.

Soon after they arrived at the local mall and entered into the middle courtyard.

“All right. Let’s split up. Shall we meet back here in say... 2 hours?” Carrie asked. “Will that be enough time Karen?”

“Half that amount would be enough time,” Karen mumbled before giving them a bright smile. “That will be just fine.”

Karen watched them leave.

“Why did you not tell them that you did not need that much time?” Talon asked as he followed behind her.

“Are you following me?” Karen asked.

He shrugged. “I usually just go to the meeting spot and wait.”

“I thought you had things to get?”

“It can wait.”

“Then go ahead... I do not need any help.” Karen stopped short and Talon almost knocked her over.

“Oh shit,” Karen muttered.

“My, my, my what a potty mouth we have on us today.” Talon leaned close to her ear and commented.

“Shut up.” Karen retorted. “I did not realize it was so big.”

“What is so big?” Talon looked around to see what she was looking at.

“The mall. Damn it, how am I suppose to find anything in here?”

Talon grabbed her hand. “Come on. Tell me what are you looking for and I will help you find it.”

Karen stared at their hands, totally lost for words.

“Hey. You all right? I know it is a bit big, but really.” Talon had stopped and was staring at her.

“Huh?” Karen looked up and flushed when she realized just how close he was to her.

“Oh, I need clothes that are appropriate for the school setting but I do not know what I want exactly,” Karen replied, a bit embarrassed.

“Come on then. We will go by some stores that sell girl things and you just let me know when you see something you like and we will go check it out. Will that work?”

Karen nodded. Wait, “WE?”

“You will get lost if I do not help out,” Talon growled, not looking at her. Karen smiled. He really was a sweet guy. She felt her heart do a little flip and she found herself quite happy.

Talon continued to hold her hand as they walked past the different stores. Her hand was small and warm and like a sap, it made him happy. He was such a dork.

“Can we go there?” Karen asked suddenly, pointing to a shop.

“Sure.” Talon shrugged.

Karen took off, dragging Talon along. As soon as they entered the store they were approached by a young lady.

“May I help you?”

“Please.” Karen gave her a smile. “I would like to try on a few things, but I am not sure of sizes. It has been a long time since I have been shopping for clothes.”

“I can see that.” the lady looked her up and down. “I think I know a few things. This way.”

Within moments the lady had helped Karen find multiple outfits and sizes and had her in a dressing room with Talon waiting on a couch nearby.

“If you would just wait here for a moment. I will send your lady out in the first outfit.” The young lady had told him as she had ushered Karen into one of the many changing rooms. Talon sat down to wait. He knew that girls could take forever to change.

He let out a sigh. It was going to be a long day.

“Um, excuse me?” Another one of the sales ladies approached him.

“Yes?” He replied politely.

“Is that woman with you?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, I see. Thank you.” She gave him a small bow and left.

Talon shook his head and leaned back, closing his eyes. A moment later Karen was standing before him blushing, the sales lady standing next to her.

“Really he does not have to see anything.” Karen was trying to explain to the lady to no avail.

Talon opened his eyes.

“I like. Buy it.” Then leaned back again, closing his eyes. She looked good with the black pencil skirt and the Chinese style top with the dragon print. As a matter of fact, she looked great in clothes that actually fit her petite frame. Now if only she would lose the glasses.

Karen put her hands on her hips and sent him a glare before heading back to the dressing room.

The nerve of that man, she thought. He barely glanced at her. He was cold and rude. Where was the man that she had spent the last week with anyways? The least he could do was spare her more than a glance before commenting.

“Shall we keep it then?” the saleslady asked.

Karen took another glance in the mirror. It really did flatter her figure. She nodded. For the next ten minutes, she was dragged in and out of the dressing room to stand before Talon. He would glance up and then go right back into position with a short comment, but Karen noticed that he had a very good eye for what looked good on her and what did not. She ended up buying the clothes that he had liked and soon they were on their way.

“Where to next?” Talon asked as they left the store, loaded down with multiple bags. She had just spent two hundred dollars on clothes. She figured she was good for now.

“I do not care. Can we just wander around for a bit?”

“Whatever the lady wishes.” Talon took her bags and put them in one hand and then used his other hand to take hers and continue to walk along the stores.

Karen blushed as people turned to stare at them. They must present an odd couple with his good looks and her geekiness. Although she had worn one of her new outfits out of the store, she was still not in the same class as him when it came to looks. She was just too plain.

They wandered along aimlessly, merely looking at windows when Karen suddenly took off, dragging him after her and entering a store that sold evening gowns. Expensive ones at that.

Within minutes Karen had asked for a dress and was in the dressing room while he waited patiently on a couch for her to reappear.

He looked up when someone cleared their throat.

“Does it meet with your approval, sir?” The sales person asked as Karen stood before him, looking absolutely gorgeous in a floor-length, green evening dress with a fitted bodice that left her shoulders bare and hugged her curves before flowing away from her hips and landing mid-calf. He could only stare and hope that his jaw was not hitting the floor. She had transformed into a butterfly and he just wanted to take her in his arms and...

“You look... I mean...”

Karen blushed. She had wanted this kind of reaction from him before, but she would take it now.

“You should get it.”

Karen shook her head. “No. I have no place to wear it too but thank you. I am glad that you like it.”

Talon nodded and watched as she went back to change out of it. On an impulse, Talon went to the clerk as she was changing.

“I would like to buy that dress.” He informed her with a smile. She returned him with one of her own and rang it up for him.

“Could you send it to this address and any other accessories that go with it?”

The clerk gave him a nod and smile.

When Karen came back out of the dressing room, Talon was still leaning back on the couch.

“Ready?” She asked.

Talon nodded and stood. “Shall we?”

They left the store and continued walking along, stopping at a music store where Karen found a new piano book and then continued on their way, Karen stopping once more before the lingerie store.

She pulled Talon down onto a nearby bench and looked right at him.

“Stay here and do not move. I will be back in fifteen minutes.”

“Better make it ten. We need to meet up with the others.”

“Fine, whatever, just do not follow me.” He watched as she headed into the lingerie store.

“Just started dating, huh?” Came a voice on his left. He looked over to see an older gentleman sitting next to him.

“What?”

The man laughed. “I see. You are still in the stage where she wants to wait for you to see what she got in the bedroom.” he nodded towards the store. “but she is not confident enough to let you help pick them out yet.”

Talon looked at the store. What was she doing in there anyway? He had been through her laundry. She had enough of those skimping underwear and lace bras to fill its own basket. What did she need more for?

Talon turned red just thinking about her red thongs.

The man next to him just laughed. “You will be having a long, enjoyable evening tonight.”

Talon stood. It had been five minutes, he was going in.

“Can I help you?”

Talon looked at the woman before him, trying not to look at the garments around him and not stand out too much. He let out a snort. Like that was going to happen. He was like an elephant in a china shop.

“Uh, I am looking for a petite, long-haired woman with glasses that came in here a few minutes ago. Have you seen her?”

“Oh yes. She is in the dressing room right now. Follow me.”

There was a knock on the dressing room door just as Karen had finished taking off the first garment.

“Are you done yet? We need to get going.”

Karen let out a gasp and quickly covered her mouth. It was Talon!

“I will be out in five. Go away!”

“No.”

“Now! I promise, if I am not out in front of the store in five, you can come back in here, but please, please, please go away!.”

“Why?” Talon asked. “What are you doing in there?”

“What do you think I am doing in a dressing room. It is none of your business. Now please, just go.”

“Sounds like she wants it to be a surprise.”

Talon looked at the sales lady and shrugged.

“Five minutes and then I am coming in.”

“Fine, fine, now just go please.”

“All right.” Talon headed back out of the store.

Sure enough, five minutes later Karen came out of the store carrying a bag.

“I was just about to come after you.”

Karen blushed. “There was no need. I told you I would be back in time.”

“Yes, but what were you doing in there?”

“What do you think? I was getting a few new garments.”

“Why? You have plenty at home.” Talon shook his head, he did not understand women and did not plan to either. “Would you like me to carry that one as well?”

“No, no. I got this one. Thank you.” Karen was still a bit embarrassed by him coming in after her. To have him carry the bag with the store logo on the front was just too much to think about.

“What did you buy?” Emerald appeared at Karen’s side. She took the bag out of Karen’s hand and peered in. “Oh my! they are so pretty and so... not like you. Is this what you wear underneath all of that? I would never have guessed.”

“What! Let me see.” Carrie took the bag. “Oh, very nice. I had no idea you had such taste. You are quite the naughty little girl.”

Karen blushed and Talon did not know if he should blush too or try and steal a sneak at the contents of the bag.

“Naughty? who?” Lily asked coming up to the group and peering over Carrie’s shoulder. “Pretty, yours?”

“Nope.” Carrie shook her head and pointed at Karen. “Hers.”

“I had no idea that you had such good taste. I will need to take you with me next time I go.” Lily gave her a smile and handed Karen back the bag.

“What the men do not get to see?” Eric asked with a grin as Karen blushed and Talon looked away.

“No.” Came the answer from three women.

“Well... Since we are all here, shall we head back?” Michael asked, changing the subject.

“Alright.” Carrie nodded.

“Wait. Carrie can we please eat before we go back. Please?” Emerald begged.

“That would be so much fun.” Lily agreed.

“I am game, you guys?” Michael asked. Everyone readily agreed and soon they were all seated in a nearby restaurant.

“So,” Lily asked Karen once they were seated. “Did you find everything you needed?”

“Yes.”

They spent the next hour lounging and chatting as they ate food and all too soon they were heading for the car.

“I am stuffed. ” Evan rubbed his stomach. “I do not think I will be able to eat for a whole four hours.”

“Please... you will be heading for the kitchen as soon as we get back home, complaining that you are starving.” Emerald rolled her eyes.

“So sad, but very true.” Evan agreed. “I am a growing boy.”

“The only growing you will be doing is sideways if you do not watch it, young man,” Carrie warned.

“No, I won’t,” Evan argued amiably. “I spend too much time fighting with you guys in training to put on any weight. Just look at how much Karen has lost since she came. She is downright skinny compared to her size before.”

Karen flushed and Lily stepped in.

“Evan. It is not nice to comment on a lady’s weight like that.”

Karen was about to step in when she was suddenly hit with an uneasy feeling in her gut and stopped. Something was wrong. It felt very similar to the way she felt when Mr. Lee had brought her to the mansion.

“Uh, guys...”

Talon stopped as well. “I see that you finally noticed it as well. Took you long enough.”

“What is it?” Karen asked looking around, trying to figure out what was causing the feeling.

“That.” Talon pointed to a shadow in the nearby alleyway. “It is a being.”

“Shall we take care of it or do you want to let Karen try?” Eric asked, suddenly quite serious.

“What!?”

“Karen.” Came the chorus of voices.

“Why me?” Kearn let out a groan. She was not ready for this.

“Because you need the experience and we are here to protect you if something goes wrong,” Talon spoke up. “Do not worry. I will be next to you. As your partner, it would be disgraceful for me not to help.”

He peered into the shadows. “Besides, it is only a level one and you were able to defeat one of those on your first try.”

“That was pure dumb luck. You said so yourself.”

“Buck up and let’s go.” Talon chided.

They headed towards the alleyway as the others stood back and watched.