Wicked Souls: A Limited Edition Reverse Harem Romance Collection

by Rebecca Royce

  She also writes as J. A. Cummings.

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  Everwood Academy

  JE Cluney

  One

  The monster was back again. Most people would scream or cover their eyes, but I knew it was pointless.

  Only I could see him.

  That slender, tall shadow blocked the doorway, its red eyes glowing as horns protruded from its head. Its spindly arms were outstretched, blocking my exit.

  “I’m guessing no work today then,” I said coolly, annoyed since I’d just made my lunch too.

  If he was blocking the door, then there was no leaving the house today. Standard procedure. Trying to get past him would result in him shrieking at me and clawing my arms. The gashes healed quickly, in merely minutes, although no one else ever saw them.

  Just like they didn’t see the four monsters that terrorized me.

  The monster just stared at me, watching me as I sighed and dumped my bag on the shitty couch.

  “Fuck you, mate,” I growled as I collapsed on my crappy blue couch. I played with the hole in the arm, the frayed threads frustrating me.

  I barely earned enough to afford this rental. And taking days off like this had already lost me a few jobs.

  What was I meant to do though? Ring up and tell them the truth? ‘Oh, you know, the monster won’t let me leave the house today. Oh, yeah, don’t worry about it, he’s been around since my mother died. Not just him, there’s three others. No, I’m not crazy, I swear.’

  I blew a raspberry at this.

  Hell, maybe I was crazy and seeing things.

  Schizophrenia.

  Maybe triggered by my mother’s death. I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to go and get diagnosed.

  I flicked my eyes to the monster still blocking the doorway.

  “You suck, you know that, right?” I muttered.

  He just growled softly and crossed his arms.

  I’d named him Jack. Short for Jackass.

  To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if he was a he, but judging by the way they all acted, I assumed they were all guys.

  I pulled out my phone, ignoring the massive crack across my screen as I shot a text to my boss, informing him I was sick.

  “You know, I’m going to end up on the streets because of you guys,” I groaned as I lolled my head back on the couch cushion.

  Well, a day off from tolerating dickheads in the McDonald’s drive-thru wasn’t something to be upset about.

  Fast food. That was the only kind of job I could get now, and if these assholes kept up with keeping me from leaving the house, I’d struggle with even that.

  I heard some shuffling, and I looked over to the kitchen doorway, finding Chumley hovering there. He was smaller than Jack, his horns thicker and more curled, and he was sturdier and more built than Jack.

  He hung around the kitchen mostly, and I’d grown used to seeing them all around my house. Never speaking, just grunting or growling.

  My mother died when I was just fourteen, and that was when they’d first appeared.

  I never really knew why, but strangely, I found their presence comforting. Not many people would say that about shadowy monsters.

  But I always felt oddly at ease with them. Except Jack. He was the main prick, barring me from leaving the house. And he was the only one who ever hurt me. Clawing my arms when I fought him.

  “What do you think, Chum? Netflix day?” I asked him. I’d named him Chumley after a TV show my mom used to watch, some pawn one. He kinda reminded me of him. In a shadow monster way.

  Chum grunted as he headed over soundlessly, practically drifting over the vinyl flooring to perch on the arm of the couch on the other end.

  “You’re lucky I did shopping already,” I muttered as I reached for the remote on my stained coffee table. Too many times I’d knocked drinks over or left them sitting on it, but I’d picked it up for free from Craigslist, so I didn’t care.

  Most of my furniture was free things. I couldn’t afford anything on my shitty wage, and the money I’d inherited after my mom died wasn’t going to be released to me until I turned eighteen. In three days.

  Not that it was much. I knew that, but maybe I could try to find somewhere better to go.

  I put my legs up on the coffee table, ignoring the ringing of my phone. I couldn’t come in. Jack was going to make sure of that.

  I was probably going to lose my job.

  But right now, some Netflix sounded good. Something to fry my brain, as my mother used to say about TV.

  “What were we watching?” I ask Chum, glancing over at the smaller shadow monster on the arm of my couch. Sometimes, he even sat on the couch next to me. But I never touched him.

  They were hot to the touch, as if they were burning a little inside.

  I’d discovered that the first time I’d tried to get past Jack.

  Chum grumbled something in his beastly growl.

  “Right, we were watching ‘The Punisher’,” I murmured. Chum seemed to like the show. As did I.

  I flicked it on, turning my phone upside down on the coffee table when it rang again. Work. Guess I was going to get fired.

  I groaned, sinking into the couch and shooting a sideways glance at Jack. Why did he do this anyway?

  Asshole.

  I sighed, folding my arms as the episode started. I’d have to make up for my lost pay. Once Jack let me out again.

  It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that the tall shadow monster stepped away from the doorway.

  I’d spent the morning binging on Netflix with Chumley, then cooking up some noodles for lunch. I’d exercised, listened to some music, and was pretty much bored to fucking death until he moved.

  “Finally,” I muttered as I tied my long brown hair up in a bun.

  Jack just blinked slowly, his red eyes glowing softly as he cocked his head.

  “Where are the other two?” I asked him as I pulled on a hooded jacket.

  The other two shadow monsters. Who I had named Bug and Creeper.

  As if I summoned him, Creeper appeared, crouched on the wall near the doorway.

  Yes. On the wall. He fucking stuck to everything. He’d scared the shit out of me one time when he was standing on the ceiling, just hanging there with his arms crossed, his horns nearly touching the foot of my bed.

  Creep.

  “Hey Creeper,” I greeted him, and he just grunted. He was lean like Jack, but shorter. Chumley was the shortest of the lot.

  Bug still hadn’t shown. Maybe he wouldn’t. I didn’t see them every day. Well, I saw at least one of them each day, but days could pass where I wouldn’t see two of them at all.

  “Because of you, I need to make up for my lost pay. Otherwise I can’t pay my bills, dickhead,” I growled at Jack, who was leaning against the wall with his arms folded. His shadowy figure was like the others, wispy and seeming alive as it swirled around him.

  “You coming, Creeper?” I turned to said monster, who was looking ready to go with me. He always came with me on ‘extra pay’ activities. Bug normally showed up too.

  “Well, let’s hit it, the pawn shop will close at five, so we’ve got a few hours to find something,” I sighed as I pulled on my gloves.

  Time to get to work.

  Creeper followed after me as I walked through the crowded city street uptown. Lucky folks. Living up here in the better part of the city. I’d lived downtown for the last few years, ever since I got brought over here to the States. Mom and I had had a good life in Australia, but when she died, her sister was named my legal guardian, and I was shipped overseas.

>   Didn’t take long before I was on my own at barely sixteen. I lived on the streets for a while before getting into the fast food industry, which had helped me get my first shitty little apartment. The work wasn’t amazing, but it was manageable. Not that I’d lie and say I didn’t miss the old way of keeping food in my belly.

  Creeper grunted behind me, and I smirked over my shoulder at him.

  “What’s up? Don’t like the crowd?” I snickered. I didn’t care that people were looking at me, probably thinking I was crazy and talking to myself.

  Maybe I was. But this was me.

  Creeper grunted again, and I rolled my eyes as I focused on the people around me as I carefully slipped through them.

  I kept an eye out for the guys in suits, wearing their precious Rolex’s and chatting away on their earpieces.

  There, just ahead.

  He looked like the perfect hit.

  I adjusted my hood, making sure my face was downcast as I walked into his path.

  As he bumped into me, I gasped, grabbing his arm to steady myself and grabbing onto his suit with the other.

  “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there,” I said as I quickly moved on.

  “Watch where you’re going,” he snapped. He muttered something nasty as I continued on, my hands jammed into my pockets.

  Creeper just made a soft growling sound of approval as he stepped up beside me. I’d learned what their different sounds roughly meant. He was pleased.

  “I know, I’m good,” I smirked at him.

  Creeper’s red eyes flashed as he ducked under a low-hanging sign to avoid hitting his horns on it.

  “Wish you guys could talk, would make my life less lonely,” I stated as I continued at a brisk pace.

  Creeper just grunted in response, and I sighed.

  Lonely. Yeah. Guess that was me.

  I’d never made friends when I’d moved here. I didn’t want to let anyone in. I had been friendly with some people on the streets, but that was only to serve a purpose.

  Friends.

  Who needed them anyway.

  Creeper just made a soft growling sound, like he was content as he walked quickly with me. I was glad he always tagged along. It made me feel slightly safer.

  Two

  “Lily, you’re back again. What did you happen to come across this time?” Lionel asked as I made my way through the jam-packed shelves in his tiny pawn shop.

  It was empty of customers, thank God, and I smiled at the old man watching me curiously. His pawn shop was tucked into a small gap between a dry cleaners and a Chinese takeaway shop.

  It always smelled musty and like cigarette smoke, thanks to his bad habit of smoking inside his shop. He clearly didn’t have smoke alarms, which I’m sure the city was mighty happy about.

  I reached the counter, smiling at the old man I knew so well, who gave me a knowing, thin-lipped smile.

  I was positive he knew what I really did. But he never said anything. As he’d once said, ‘my business is to buy and sell, not ask questions’, which I was grateful for.

  “A nice man gifted me this when I helped him out of a tough spot,” I smiled brightly as I slid the Rolex onto the counter.

  “I’m sure he did,” Lionel chuckled, the smile reaching his eyes as he pulled his reading glasses up and then moved his magnifying glass over the watch.

  He squinted, and I took in his receding grey hair. He was a nice enough man, never caused me any drama, and never sold me out.

  “Well, he certainly must’ve needed some help, this is a fine piece, Lily,” he mused as he turned the watch over in his hands.

  I glanced back at Creeper, who was standing on the other side of the store, looking outside. As if he was being my lookout.

  My eyes shifted to the new form to my left.

  Bug.

  So he’d finally showed up.

  And as per usual, he seemed to be fidgeting.

  Hence his name. Short for jitterbug.

  “I can give you twelve Benjamins for it,” Lionel finally said as he sat up straight on his stool.

  “Just twelve?” I hissed.

  “Sorry love, it’s the best I can do. I’ll have to price it cheaper in order to move it, just in case it’s hot,” he winked at me.

  “Fine, thank you,” I gave him a small half-smile. I was hoping for a little more, but he was right. It was hot, and he’d want to move it quickly. I understood that. Even if it was frustrating.

  “Tell me, how’s that day job going?” he asked as he pushed a few buttons so the crummy old register would open. It jammed, like usual, and he grumbled as he fumbled with it.

  “Probably won’t have it for long. Not with my demons,” I sighed, giving him a charming smile as I thumped the back of the register, causing it to open.

  “You don’t talk much about them, your demons. You got yourself in some trouble?” he asked softly as he counted out the notes, peering at me over his glasses carefully.

  “No, nothing bad. Just up here,” I murmured, tapping my head as I looked over at Bug, who was now pacing.

  “Been to see someone? Maybe get some medication?” he asked, his voice gentle and warm.

  I saw Lionel more than anyone, which would tell you something about me.

  “Can’t afford that, even with all this help from strangers,” I chuckled, tapping my fingers on the glass counter.

  “Well, might be worth it if it’s costing you your day job,” Lionel murmured as he handed over the notes. I jammed them into my pocket, right next to the wallet I’d lifted from the same man. It had a few notes in it. I’d hand the rest in somewhere local. They’d call the guy, return all his cards. I only wanted the cash. I wasn’t that much of a dick.

  “They keep me company,” I admitted. “It’s what I know, and since mum died, I don’t like to stir the pot.”

  Lionel just gave me a sad, fatherly look of worry.

  “Don’t stress about me, old man, I’m fine,” I chuckled, trying to make light of the moment.

  He chortled at the term old man, but those eyes softened as he sighed.

  “I won’t lie, I enjoy seeing you, Lily. But I hope one day you never have to come through that door to make ends meet,” he smiled softly.

  “Yeah, maybe one day,” I murmured. Maybe I did have a friend.

  Cause I’d miss him if it came down to it. Guess I’d grown soft and let him grow on me.

  Figures.

  Creeper grunted and then growled, and I peered over my shoulder at him, frowning as a man pushed through the door with his own hood up.

  Someone else needing to offload some hot goods?

  Creeper growled as the man passed him, and then he fell into step behind him as the man strode our way quickly.

  I flicked my eyes to Bug, who was making his eerie chittering sound now and pacing, his eyes focused on the man coming our way.

  Something was wrong.

  I knew before I even saw the gun.

  “Hand over the money,” the man snapped as he raised the pistol. He didn’t seem to care that I was still standing there.

  “Please,” Lionel begged, holding his hands up non-threateningly as he shot me a look that begged me not to do anything rash. His hands were shaking, and my heart squeezed for him, even while it was hammering like crazy.

  How was this going to play out? My mind was going over the scenarios, many involving spilt blood, while my body remained frozen.

  I blinked as I focused on what was going on rather than the horrid slideshow in my head.

  Creeper was still growling behind him. It was strange, hearing the sound but seeing no mouth. None of them had mouths.

  Why I was even thinking about that right now was beyond me.

  “Don’t make me shoot you, old man,” the man snapped again. He noticed the Rolex still on the counter, and he smirked as he snatched it up and shoved it into his pocket.

  Bastard.

  He was African American. God, he gave them a bad name, doing this shit
. I glanced over him, at the ugly grey hoodie that he was using to hide himself from the cameras, at his ripped jeans and worn shoes. I felt sorry for him, that he had to resort to such lengths for money.

  But threatening someone’s life, someone as kind to me as Lionel, that was wrong.

  “Okay,” Lionel gasped as the man thrust the pistol closer. His shaking hands attempted to open the register, and the man took the moment to glance at me.

  “You best do nothing, girl. Or I’ll shoot you too,” he growled, his voice low and gruff. I gritted my teeth as I met those dark eyes of his. Fear and panic were flickering in them I realized. Two emotions that made this situation even more dangerous. People did stupid things when they were scared. Why was he scared? Not that that mattered right now. Probably owed someone.

  Creeper’s growling intensified, and I just swallowed, refusing to budge as I dared a glance at Lionel.

  “The safe too!” the man barked, waving the pistol at the safe behind the counter.

  “I… I don’t know the combination,” Lionel whimpered as he finally opened the register.

  And it jammed.

  “Bullshit. You’re trying to waste my time old man! How about I show you what happens to people who fuck with me?” the man snarled, raising the pistol threateningly.

  Creeper snarled, and I saw out of the corner of my eye as the monster slammed his leg into the back of the man’s knee, causing him to start to collapse with a bewildered cry.

  I don’t know what came over me, but I acted instinctively.

  I thrust my hand under the pistol, slamming it upwards towards the ceiling as it went off, firing into the roof.

  The gunshot rang out in my ears, but I continued, slamming my other arm into his elbow and forcing him to loosen his grip.

  The next thing I knew, I had the pistol aimed at him, my finger on the trigger and ready to fire.

  The man stumbled away, limping as he looked around him wildly before focusing on me.