Lila Throne's Point Of View.
The bell above the bookstore door tinkled as the last customer of the day pushed it open to exit, while the sound echoed through the nearly empty shop. It was another hectic day in the cozy corner of Light Haven's only bookstore, "Arcane Reads."
I started my usual night routine before calling off for the day as I rearranged books on the shelves. Mr. Thompson, the owner of the bookstore, had a way of letting the shelves get completely out of order. Alphabetizing was a concept that seemed to elude him, much to my endless amusement.
I reached up to adjust this stubborn book on the top shelf, trying to get it to sit right. All of a sudden, my foot slipped and I found myself stumbling but, I managed to turn it into a bit of a dance move and landed on my feet instead of my face. A mere stumble instead of a catastrophic fall.
Ofcourse. There should never be a doubt regarding the following !!!
"Lila, are you alright?" Mr. Thompson's concerned voice cut through the haze of my thoughts while his wrinkled face was filled with worry as he hurried over to where I stood.
I grinned, waving off his concern as if nothing had happened. "I am fine, Mr. Thompson, just a little stumble, that's all."
He gave me a skeptical look, clearly not convinced by my nonchalant demeanor. "Are you sure? You had me worried there for a moment."
I nodded, while trying to reassure him. "Yes, It was just a clumsy moment as usual, there is nothing to worry about. I am as sturdy as a rock, you know."
He let out a gruff laugh, though I could see the tension easing from his shoulders. "Well, just be careful, alright? We can not have our sweet star employee getting injured on the job."
I nodded in agreement as I spoke while my voice was dripping with saccharine sweetness. It's amazing how easily people fall for it., "Of course, Mr. Thompson. I will try to stick to safer tasks from now on."
I was grateful that he seemed to accept my explanation without further question and, with a reassuring pat on the shoulder, he returned to his spot behind the counter, tallying up the day's sales with a furrowed brow, leaving me to finish arranging the books.
The bookstore was my sanctuary, a place where I could blend in and play the role of the sweet, unassuming girl next door. No one would suspect that beneath my charming exterior lay a much darker truth.
As the day wore on, the customers trickled in and out. Each one greeted me with a cheerful smile and helpful demeanor. Light Haven itself seemed to have been sucked dry of life, the constant mist wrapping the town in a cold, eerie embrace. It was a town of whispers and shadows, where each and every corner seemed to hide a secret, and it seemed to be perfect for someone like me.
"Closing time already?" I remarked, while glancing at the clock. "Seems like the days get shorter every time I blink."
Mr. Thompson chuckled softly, while the sound echoed through the quiet shop. "Ain't that the truth, Lila? Ain't that the truth."
I could not help but smile at the old man. Despite his gruff exterior, he had a heart of gold. He was like a father figure to me, especially since I did not have one of my own, but he did not need to know that.
As I placed the last book on the shelf, I turned to face him, while leaning casually against the nearest bookcase. "It was another lovely day in Light Haven, wasn't it?"
He let out a hearty laugh, while the lines on his face deepened with amusement and said, "Lovely, if you enjoyed the constant threat of mist and gloom."
I let out a light laugh, shaking my head. "You know, I think the fog adds a bit of charm to the town and keeps things interesting."
"Interesting, sure. Spooky, definitely," Mr. Thompson said with a grin. "Did you hear about Mrs. Caldwell swore she witnessed a person shifting into an animal by the old mill last night?"
"Oh, really?" I replied, feigning surprise. "She really needs to cut her daily dose of alcohol."
We shared a laugh, and I went back to arranging the other set of shelves and asked, "So, any plans for the evening, Mr. Thompson? Besides locking up the store and having a clueless alcoholic paranormal conversation with Mrs Caldwell, of course."
He let out a hearty laugh again, while the lines on his face deepened with amusement. "Well, now that you mention it, I reckon I will have a quiet night in with a good book and a hot cup of tea. Can't beat that, can ya?"
I nodded in agreement, with a mischievous glint in my eye. "It sounds positively thrilling just don't let those paranormal conversation keep you up too late, or you will be seeing specters in your dreams."
He chuckled again, while shaking his head fondly. "You always did have a knack for spinning tales, Lila but I would not have it any other way."
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Poor Mrs. Caldwell. I am sure the monsters, or whatever they are, are more afraid of her than she is of them."
"Probably right," he said with a grin. "Still, I will make sure to double lock the doors tonight. Don't want any of those specters sneaking in."
I walked over to the counter, helping him with the last of the closing duties. "Do you think the ghosts would even bother with books? I am sure they have more, you know spirited activities."
He groaned at my terrible pun and said, "That was awful, Lila."
"I know," I said while laughing. ".....but you love me for it."
"That I do," He said in a warm tone. "I don't know what I would do without you around here."
"You will survive," I said while patting his arm. "Barely."
With a final sweep of the shop, we finished closing up for the night. As I followed Mr. Thompson to the door, I could not shake the feeling of excitement bubbling beneath the surface. The night was young, and Light Haven held endless possibilities, at least for me.
"Goodnight, Mr. Thompson," I said, offering him a warm smile as he locked the door behind us. "Stay safe out there."
"Goodnight, Lila," he replied while returning the smile. "...and on a serious note, don't let those shadows get the best of ya."
I nodded and watched as he disappeared into the night, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance. Alone in the darkness, I could not help but feel a thrill of anticipation. Light Haven may have been a town of secrets and shadows, but it was my playground and tonight, like every night, the shadows would dance to my tune.
The town was alive with whispers, and the mist carried with it the scent of mystery. To everyone else, Light Haven was a place to fear but for me, it was home, sweet home.
I glanced at my reflection in the glass door. Long dark hair, bright blue eyes, and a smile that could melt hearts. I had perfected this facade over the years, crafting an image that was irresistibly kind and approachable. I had to. It was necessary to keep my very dark and dirty secret safe.
People saw me as Lila Thorne, the friendly girl who always had a book recommendation and a warm smile. They didn't see the monster lurking beneath, the one that came out under the cover of darkness and that was just the way I liked it.
Growing up, I had quickly learned the art of deception. It was a survival skill, really. I had to be careful, had to keep the beast within me under control.
Yes, a beast. Being a werewolf in a town like Light Haven was a dangerous game, but I was good at playing it.