No rest for the wicked

I kept serving customers for a while longer, but kept glancing at Claire. She was smiling slightly, Allistair doing a good job at cheering her up, apparently. I didn't know him well, but I was glad that he was here to support her. She needed reliable people around her.

As I worked, I also spotted a face I hoped I wouldn't see ever again walk in, a pale face with dark makeup, wearing a thick leather jacket and leather pants. I froze for a brief instant as my eyes met with Aurora's... before almost immediately regaining my composure and approaching her, fully immersing myself in Angela's personality to hide my now growing nervousness.

What is she doing here...? She's following Claire around? I wondered.

I smiled at her. "Welcome, would you like a table for one?"

"Yes please. I'll simply take a black coffee." She replied, her gaze still focused on me.

"Alright, I'll bring it to you in a bit." I said, leading her to the counter, where a few stools were free.

She glanced at Claire briefly, but mainly focused on me as I was making her coffee. Dahlia told me she was most likely suspicious of everyone due to our abilities as skinwalkers.

As I served her her coffee, she spoke. "You seemed surprised when I entered this place, why?"

I giggled, not betraying my surprise. "Well, goths aren't common around here, you know? But I really like your style, it's very stylish. I'm Angela, by the way."

"Aurora. And thanks." She simply replied, smiling back.

I had a hard time discerning whether or not it was a genuine or fake smile, she was good at that. But she wouldn't fool me again, I knew just how dangerous she was now. I left her and kept working a bit longer, still feeling her gaze on me.

When Claire and Allistair were ready to pay and leave, I returned to see them. "Was it good?" I asked with a smile.

Claire nodded. "It was. And thanks again for the latte."

"No problem. Don't forget to text me later so we can plan our evening, alright?"

"I will. Have a good afternoon, Angela."

"You too."

I saw them leave, ready to get back to work, and I did the same. Aurora left shortly after, thanking me but not talking more. I didn't know whether I had fooled her, but I had to stay alert. She was clearly suspicious of me, I couldn't let myself slip up in any shape or form, I had to fully embody Angela at all time.

At around three, I received a text from Claire's number, adding her to my contacts and replying to her. The movie Angela wanted to see was an adaptation of a popular novel, and she was excited to see it, as she heard a lot of good things about it.

I explained it to Claire, asking to meet at around seven to maybe eat together before the projection started. She quickly replied, confirming that she was fine with that.

Once I was done with my shift, I quickly went back to Angela's home, as she lived a few minutes away from the cafe. I traded the heels I was wearing for a pair of ballet flats, but otherwise kept my black camisole, tight skirt, and my dark pantyhose. They gave me an elegant look I was quite fond of.

I kept observing my reflection in Angela's bedroom mirror, the mesmerising greenish eyes I stole staring back at me. Angela was truly a beautiful woman, her soft and silky blonde locks falling around my face. Today, I had put a purple lipstick and eyeshadow, a colour Angela quite liked, and I had to agree with her. While a tiny part of me still missed Carmen, I didn't get short-changed in the slightest. Angela's skin was just so incredibly comfortable.

"I am truly stunning~" I muttered with my cute voice, grinning at my reflection. "I will take good care of you while I'm in your skin, Angela, I promise."

I didn't want to cause her any trouble, she was a good girl, and her attraction for me only reinforced my will to treat her well. This attraction did cause me to feel slightly more narcissistic than when I was Carmen, though. The evening I skinned her, I spent what felt like hours just observing my new figure.

I shook my head and tried to regain my composure. Don't let this newfound narcissism get the better of you, Ed... You're only doing this for Claire's sake, nothing else...

I had time to kill before meeting Claire, so I grabbed a drawing I had started last night and resumed my work on it, drawing as Angela would, skillfully using her pencil. I should have been used to it by now, after teaching French as Sarah and acting as Carmen, but it kept amazing me just how I could take everything from someone and make it my own.

"I understand why Aurora wants to hunt me down, we have terrifying abilities..." I grit my teeth. "But I won't let myself be killed, no matter how many times she tries..."

I had to think of something in case she were to discover me again. A way for me to deal with her without killing her, something I'd be able to carry without raising suspicion.

Angela's father is a hunter and has a few guns and accessories, maybe he'd have a strong flashlight in store? I wondered, using Angela's memories. Blinding her for even a few seconds would be enough to knock her out and flee...

I had an advantage in case we were to fight again: I was wearing Angela. I hoped it would make her reconsider using lethal **** right from the start.

She wouldn't risk killing an innocent, would she...?

I went to my father's bedroom, opening the door and searching through his belongings until I found a tactical torch, the kind you placed on rifles. I turned it on, smiling when I saw how strong it was, and put it in my handbag before making sure to hide any trace of my presence and leaving the room.

I then left, joining Claire at a nearby burger shop, one Angela liked to go to. She was there, gloomily staring at her phone. She did seem to try her best with her clothes, though, wearing her cutest outfit: a long denim skirt and a white and pink shirt alongside a pair of flat ankle boots. I rarely saw her in this back when we were still living together, often prefering comfier and more practical clothes, but I had to admit that she looked really pretty in this, even if her lack of confidence led her to believe otherwise.

I smiled my brightest smile and called her. "Hey Claire! You look beautiful!"

She blushed, looking at her feet. "T-thank you..."

I giggled. "Such a change from your police uniform, right?"

"Y-yeah."

"I dunno about you, but I'm famished." I said, caressing my stomach.

"Me too." She replied, smiling shyly.

We walked inside and ordered our food, chatting a bit more while we waited. Since Angela wasn't supposed to know much about Claire's personal life, I decided to focus on that, asking about her hobbies. Despite her sadness, she still talked in length about her love for video games and comics, sometimes mentioning me, and how I was partially responsible for her interests.

It was hard not to break my facade and stay in character, but I did my best, despite me wanting nothing more than to hug her and reassure her right now.

"You truly love your brother, don't you?" I said when we started to eat.

She stayed silent for a moment, staring at her fries, before finally speaking. "I do, yes... All I've ever wished was to stay by his side... I was happy as long as we were together..."

I gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure he feels the same way, but even if I'm an only child, I'm also certain that he wouldn't wish for you to keep lamenting. Believe in him, he's a strong man, he'll be safe."

"I just... I don't understand why he didn't tell me... I could have helped... or was I just a liability...?" She wondered dejectedly.

"No!" I said, breaking character for a brief instant. "I-I mean, I've seen how he treated you. He loves you deeply, it's clear as day. I don't know what he got into, but what I'm certain of is that he simply didn't want you to get in danger because of him."

She smiled weakly at me. "Thanks, Angela. I... I shouldn't doubt him, not after everything we went through..."

We resumed eating, but Claire stayed mostly silent while I talked about myself, sharing my hobbies and interests with her. I invited her to go to the pool someday, and she gladly but shyly accepted. We went to the cinema afterwards, enjoying the movie together, even if I could see she wasn't fully focused on it. She was a lot less tense than when I saw her during lunch, which meant that my strategy was paying off.

"I-I had a lot of fun, thanks for inviting me, Angela." She shyly said as we left the cinema.

"Thanks for accepting, Claire. It was fun for me too. See you later, and be careful on your way home, alright?"

She smiled and nodded. "You too. See you."

I watched her walk away for a moment before walking towards my place. On my way there, though, I saw the person I dreaded meeting again, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette.