Taming the Beast

The melon slid over her tongue and she bit the fruit with her perfect white teeth. As she chewed the cantaloupe, she closed her eyes and let out a little moan.

“That’s so good,” she said.

“If you think that’s good just wait until you’ve had the rest,” he said with a smile.

“I can’t wait.”

James continued fixing up his breakfast and when he was done he had freshly prepared waffles with sliced melon and maple syrup. Scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and shallots, and extra slices of crispy bacon. He set it all down at the table in the breakfast nook. He and Matilda sat in their fuzzy red flannel robes sipping coffee and orange juice while eating their delicious breakfast. Matilda gushed over nearly every bite, as if she had barely ever eaten before.

“Everything is happening so fast with us and I feel as if we have a tremendous connection now,” James said, shoving a piece of bacon in his mouth.

“I feel it too,” she said.

“But we never had the chance to get to know each other that well before. Why are you on Fate Mountain cleaning houses?”

“I’m trying to save money for college. I spent the last two years in the valley working for my boyfriend’s family at a meatpacking plant. It was really horrible work, and I never ended up saving any money. Then I broke up with my boyfriend and had to move back home and work for my mother.”

“What happened with the boyfriend?” James said darkly, his voice growing thick.

“He was terrible. He treated me like crap, cheated on me, and stole my money. I had to put an end to it. I was ashamed to come home because I had nothing to show for the last two years, but I couldn’t go on that way.”

“I’m proud of you.”

“Plus, I think Tim’s family was involved in some shady activity.”

“Shady activity?”

“I don’t know exactly what, but it was part of the reason that I left him in the first place.”

“Well, that’s all over. Now that we’re together, I can protect you. And you can help me,” he said, looking up at a candlestick on a counter across the room.

It was not currently moving, but James knew it was just a matter of time before he saw it again.

“James, I think you’re blowing this all out of proportion. If we’re both seeing the objects move, it can’t possibly be inside your head.”

“We have to find out.”

“Maybe we should just move,” she said, taking another sip of coffee.

Moving had not occurred to James. He had believed that no matter what he did, his growing madness would follow him anywhere he went. He finished his breakfast and for the first time in as long as he could remember, he cleared the table, straightened up the kitchen, and washed the dishes. Matilda watched him with surprise before giggling and hurrying up to the bedroom to change.

When he was finished cleaning up the kitchen, he walked through the house and glanced out the window, looking out onto the front drive. At that moment he saw two black SUVs pulling up into his driveway. He had never seen these cars before and was not expecting any visitors or deliveries. He walked toward the window and stared out at the men who climbed from the car. They were all wearing black suits with a gold stripe down the arms.

Matilda came running down the stairs in a fresh outfit with her hair still wet.

“It’s him,” she gasped, clutching her chest. “Why is he here?”

“I’m about to find out,” James said with a growl.

There was a knock at the door and James flung it open.

“Can I help you?”

A young man with sharp features and a tall, slim build peered through the door and u

p the stairs at Matilda. She stood gawking at the visitors.

“Why are you barefoot and why is your hair wet? Are you screwing this guy?”