The Alpha's Blood Moon Witch

The Clock

-Selene-

Light shone in through the linen curtains creating a haze of yellow light that engulfed Selene's apartment. She always loved the way the light could make anything feel magical. Selene rolled out of bed as the haze of her hangover started to set in. Shifting her thin legs, she turned over and looked at the clock beside her bed, 1:30 in the afternoon. She looked around her small 500 square foot apartment and admire the space that was her own. The brick walls and concrete floor gave it an industrial feel, while plants in every corner and macramé hangers filled with herbs hanging from the rafters gave it an urban jungle feel. She smiled as she walked over to her small kitchen and started to make herself some coffee, this was the first place that was truly hers. Her queen size bed was on the other end of the room next to a big window that looked over the street below. Walking over to the  vintage floor length mirror that hung beside the window, Selene pinched her cheeks trying to wake herself up. Her shift had gone late last night and she stayed afterwards to try a new gin with the bartender Liam. Selene didn't love working in a club, especially one with a reputation like Derek's, but she needed the money and she knew that she could hold her own. As long as she followed the rules, the patrons didn't bother her too much and she managed to make enough money to afford this place and even pay for some writing classes at the college down the way. Staring at herself in the mirror she looked at her pale blue violet eyes and dark red hair and wondered if anyone ever questioned her humanity. She doesn’t remember much about her childhood, all she remembers is that shortly after her 10th birthday she started to show her powers. Her coven had recently been invaded by Mages look for powers to acquire and her mother was afraid for her. Packing her in the car, she remembers driving for what seemed like days. When she woke up her mother was gone and she was parked in front of a fire station. After a week of staying at the fire chief’s house she was put into the foster system. Twenty school and  twenty towns later, she finally came into her full powers at the age of 17. After her ascension she couldn’t take it anymore and ran away to live on her own.

Now at 19 years old she had a place of her own and a decent paying job. Last night had been her first weekend shift, and she had noticed the attention she received was different. The weekend crowd seemed to be a bit more aggressive and she found herself fending off longing stares and grabby patrons. She knew she looked different and her small frame, 5'2 height at 110 pounds, made her look almost angelic with her petite frame. Despite her small size, Selene had large breasts that always seemed to stretch against the fabric of her shirt. Having to wear fishnets and baby doll outfits for work, made her want to wear baggy pants and long sleeves during the day. After getting dressed in boyfriend jeans and a tight black long sleeve, Selene grabbed her coffee and her bookbag heading out the door to her day job. McCleod’s bookstore was just down the street from her east side apartment. A famous shop known for its strange books and even stranger owner, Selene couldn’t help but feel at home here. Mr. McCleod looked at her with his grumpy demeanor “Your Late” her barked at her when she walked in. Selene shimmied past him and dropped her bookbag behind the counter. She turned around and smiled at him sheepishly. Mr. McCleod’s entire demeanor shifted as the corner of his mouth twitched into a half smile as he pulled her in for a big hug. “How was your first weekend shift” he asked begrudgingly. “Do you even want to know” Selene asked hesitantly, knowing very well that he did not approve of her job one bit. Selene sort of fell into her job in the shop during one of the worst nights of her life. She had been on the run since she left her foster home and was trying to get out of the rain for a bit and figure out her next move. She stumbled into McCleod’s looking to escape the rain and after a bit she fell asleep in the armchair at the back of the store. She was startled awake when Mr. McCleod asked if she was going to pay for the book she was reading. Embarrassed the pulled out her delipidated wallet, counting pennies as she tried to get enough cash for the warn paperback. Mr. McCleod had a grumpy demeanor, but what he lacked in people skills he more than made up in with his big heart. He took one look at her and told her to keep the book. Selene was not one to take handouts so she offered to help him in the shop to make up for it. After two days of helping, Mr. McCleod found her sleeping in the doorway of the back alley, he moved a sofa bed into the back room for her to sleep on and gave her a job. In the last two years he had become like family to Selene and she was so grateful to him. Since she turned 19 she had gotten a job at Derek’s and managed to move out of the back room to a place of her own. Despite her new job, Selene still worked with Mr. McCleod during the week in the afternoons. His shop was perfect for her because he not only had an amazing book selection, but he also collected rare books, many of which were about magic. Selene used her time at the shop to study magic as much as possible so that she could control her powers.

After her shift at the shop, Selene hopped on the bus heading towards the college. Looking out the window of the bus, Selene watched as the buildings pass her by. She loves the brick sidewalks and old buildings in this area of town. She gets off the bus and can hear the steam whistle of the old clock located on the corner of Cambie and Water Street, always mesmerized by the clock she wandered over to admire the craftsmanship of the magical device. Selene can feel that the clock is not human built, her body always responding to the power radiating off of it. Watching the crowd of tourists coo like pigeons as they admire the beauty of the clock, Selene suddenly felt eyes watching her as a cold sweat starts at the nape of her neck, dripping down her back as a chill runs through her to her core. Turning around she locks eyes with the most beautiful man she has ever seen. He is impossibly tall reaching far above anyone else standing on the street, his rich brown hair is long and in waves that just reach his broad shoulders, his gray eyes are mesmerizing as they stare into her soul. She feels her breath catch as he takes a step towards her and suddenly she finds herself running.