After a long stretch of bad dates and lukewarm matches, you decide to download Hearts & Haunts, a dating app you've never heard of but that came highly recommended online.
At first, things seem normal. Sure, some profiles have quirky descriptions ("must enjoy full moons" or "not looking for blood ties"), but everyone's got a weird sense of humor these days. So you start swiping, and soon youâve got a date lined up. Oddly enough, when you arrive, your dateâa very charming individual who seems to be more shadow than personâlooks shocked that you're not at all disturbed by their, well, "shadowy presence."
You shrug it off, chalking it up to them being nervous. But the trend continuesâevery date you go on, from the elegant person with fangs to the mysterious figure who never removes their hood, can't seem to believe youâre not put off by their very obvious non-human features. Instead, you just play along, trying to be polite and maybe even a little charmed by the mystery.
But this time, on your latest date, youâre faced with someone who just wonât believe youâre serious. With piercing eyes and a smile just a bit too wide, they lean in close and ask, âAlright, really. Whatâs your angle, human? Is this some kind of joke, or are you actually not afraid?â
You feel a chill run down your spine at the way they emphasize human, but you swallow and offer a casual smile.
âNo joke. Iâm really not afraid.â You shrug, hoping you sound more confident than you feel.
Your date tilts their head, eyes narrowing as they scrutinize you. âSo youâre telling me that you donât findâŚthis...unsettling?â And with that, they let their smile spread wider than seems possible, revealing not two, but rows upon rows of needle-like teeth.
You flinch, but itâs more out of surprise than fear. Youâve learned by now that dates from Hearts & Haunts have a knack for the strange and unusual, and youâre kind of impressed by their dedication to the bit. You lean forward, meeting their gaze head-on, âItâs aâŚunique look.â You try not to grimace. âYou pull it off well.â
For the first time, you see something other than skepticism on their faceâa flicker of genuine surprise. Then, a low chuckle rumbles in their chest. âAlright, youâve got guts,â they say, leaning back in their chair. âEither that, or youâre completely clueless.â Their fingers tap against the table, sharp nails clicking like tiny claws. âSo, tell meâŚwhy did you sign up for a dating app specifically for non-humans?â
You blink, completely thrown. âWaitâspecifically for non-humans?â
They arch an eyebrow, folding their arms across their chest with a smirk. âYou didnât know? Youâre the first human on this app. We all thought you were a thrill-seeker or something.â
The realization hits you like a punch. All those peculiar profilesâthe âblood ties,â the âshape-shifting preferences,â the insistence on candlelit dinners in old ruinsâit all makes sense now. Dumbass.
But strangely, as you sit there under your dateâs amused and slightly predatory gaze, you donât feel the urge to run. Instead, you feelâŚcurious. Maybe a little excited.
âWell,â you say, âif itâs good enough for vampires and werewolves, then I must be in the right place.â
Your date's laughter rings out, low and rich, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. They lean closer, a glint of mischief in their eyes. "Careful what you wish for, human," they purr. "This world of ours has... unspoken rules. And letâs just say not everyone is as, uh, 'human-friendly' as me."
You shrug, still feeling the thrill of the mystery youâve accidentally stumbled into. "Look, I just wanted something different," you reply. "And so far, you all have certainly delivered."
They shake their head, chuckling. "Youâre serious, arenât you?" A strange gleam lights their gaze, somewhere between fascination and hunger. "Tell me, what do you even know about our kind? Or is this just a dating experiment to you?"
You take a deep breath, holding their gaze. "I know enough. I get that thereâs a whole other world here, and I may not understand it all yet, but... maybe I want to." You hesitate, then add with a grin, "Besides, if you're on this app, maybe you're looking for something different, too?"
They consider you in silence for a long moment, like a wolf sizing up its next meal. Then, with a sigh that feels like the start of a story, they lean back, draping one arm along the back of their chair. "Alright, human. Letâs see just how far youâre willing to dive into the unknown."
Your heart pounds, but you nod, feeling the weight of their words settle over you like a pact. Youâre about to get exactly what you asked for: a plunge into a world that, only moments ago, you didnât even know existed.
They give you a lookâhalf amused, half intriguedâas if deciding what exactly to reveal. Finally, they drum their fingers on the table, the pointed nails clicking in a steady rhythm that makes your pulse quicken.
"Alright," they say, voice smooth as silk but with an edge that makes the hairs on your arms rise. "Let's start with a basic question. Do you actually know what I am?"
You hesitate, taking them inâthe subtly too-wide smile, the fingers that end in claws, the shadows that seem to cling to them like a second skin. Youâve read about creatures like this, sure, but you canât shake the feeling that asking them outright might not go well.
"Well," you say slowly, leaning back with a casual smile, "I'm guessing youâre not just someone who enjoys Halloween year-round?"
They laugh, a deep, resonant sound that fills the small, dimly-lit corner of the cafĂŠ. "Good guess, human. But I donât think you understand what youâre dealing with." Their gaze intensifies, those eerie eyes locking with yours as they lean forward. "I am one of the Old Onesâthe beings who roamed this world long before humans had words for fear. I have seen empires fall, mountains crumble, stars die."
The words hang heavy in the air, and for the first time, a chill seeps through your bravado. But you manage to keep your expression calm, leaning in as though theyâve just shared some juicy gossip. "So...you're basically a walking history book, then?" you tease, offering a wry smile.
They narrow their eyes, but thereâs a flicker of amusement in them. "You're...refreshingly different," they admit, sounding almost reluctant. "Most humans would be halfway out the door by now, but here you are, grinning like this is some kind of⌠thrill."
You shrug, feigning nonchalance despite the rapid drumming of your heart. "Youâve got to admit, youâre all kind of fascinating. I mean, the stories aloneâwho wouldnât be curious?"
The creatureâs gaze softens, almost imperceptibly. For a moment, you think you see a flicker of something beyond hunger or amusementâa hint of loneliness, perhaps, or a tiredness that no amount of years can shake.
"Curiosity can be dangerous, you know," they murmur, their voice almost gentle. "Weâre not made to be understood. Humans were meant to fear us, to keep their distance. And yet⌠here you are, sitting across from me, looking like youâd rather keep talking than run."
You glance down, taking in the way their fingers are still tapping against the table, claws leaving tiny scratches on the wood. âMaybe thatâs because I donât see you as some monster,â you say quietly. âMaybe I just see someone whoâs⌠a little different. And maybe a little lonely, too.â
Their gaze sharpens, and for a split second, the mask slips. They look⌠human. Vulnerable. And then, just as quickly, itâs gone, replaced by that predatory gleam. âYouâre playing a dangerous game, human.â
You smile, feeling more daring than you should. âSo Iâve been told.â
They shake their head, something between exasperation and respect flickering in their eyes. "Alright," they say, voice soft but laced with challenge. "If youâre really willing to dive into this world, thereâs a party tomorrow night. A gathering of sorts."
Your heart skips a beat, but you manage to keep your cool. "A party, huh? Is that your way of saying youâre inviting me as your date?â
They snort, but thereâs a glimmer of warmth in their gaze. âMaybe. But be warned, if you come, you might just find yourself face-to-face with creatures far less charmed by you than I am.â
You consider the challenge, your pulse racing with a strange blend of excitement and terror. âSo⌠what do I wear to a gathering of supernatural beings?â
They smile, showing just a hint of those unsettling rows of teeth. âSomething dark. And maybe something you donât mind getting a little... stained.â
âBloodstains, right?â
âPerhaps,â they say, looking far too pleased. "Do you think you can handle it?"
You look them straight in the eye, the adrenaline coursing through you like fire. "I guess we'll find out."
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