3I had to get out of there and regroup. Across from the library was a park with a picnic table I beelined for. Okay, Plan A didn't work…
"What on Earth was that?" A voice called from behind me.
"Why are you even here?" I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Only one Immortal sounds like an irritated teenager at all times. She took up the seat across from me. Her overabundance of eyeliner was slightly off-putting, but I was mainly used to it.
"I'm on an observation assignment from Herald," she stated matter-of-factly. "Apparently, that spinster librarian has something I need to return to the management's good graces."
I smirked. Cupid always had an interesting view of people.
"Did you know that woman could see me?" Cupid asked. Her dumbfounded tone almost made me laugh. "For a second, I thought I had made myself visible by accident, but no one else reacted to me. There were some old people in there that I would've given a heartache if they could see me."
I just nodded to acknowledge her statement. Why would Herald send her to observe Tawni? Does he want her to get caught?
"You made yourself visible to everyone," she pointed out. I met her eyes and saw the curiosity trying to prod me into the conversation.
"I have an assignment from Herald as well." It is the truth. She didn't need to know the nature of the assignment.
"An assignment that required you to make actual contact. Wow, Herald is seriously testing our skills, isn't he?" She scoffed and looked over my shoulder at the library. She shrugged and stood up, "Well, I am off to report absolutely nothing to Herald," she sang and then vanished.
Okay, time for Plan B… I looked at the library like the building would inspire the perfect plan. The facts were simple:
1. She has to accept the ring pop from me.
2. I can not get touched again.
I looked around the small, antiquated town for anything inspiring. I caught sight of a movie theatre. Her file said something about her family owning and refurbishing a retro theatre. The marquee read, "Classic Horror Double Feature, $5 entry for anyone in costume."
"How do you make a profit with deals like that?" I was glad no one was around. One of the movies was Frankenstein…What is today? It couldn't be. The scrolling text on the bank's LED screen announced it was October 13th. Of course, he would send me to clean up this mess on the 20th Anniversary of the day it all started.
The line outside the theater was filled with teenagers sporting some classic monster costumes. From what I could gather, they would plan for events like this and go all out. It sounded like there was even a prize for the group with the best-coordinated costumes. I looked around at the different portrayals and thought I would vote for the identical twins playing Jekyll and Hyde.
Come on, Bogey! You are here to do a job. The girl behind the counter giggled when she saw me.
"You make a great Crowley, but I don't think he counts as a classic monster," she explained. I looked at my outfit and then gave her a questioning look. "Oh, umm, you know, the demon character from Good Omens. The one played by David Tennent?"
"Sorry, I'm not familiar with it. I will look it up later," I grinned. She handed me my full-price ticket and my bowl of popcorn. I caught her attention when I leaned in, "I am looking for Tawni Montgomery. Has she come in yet?"
"Oh," she giggled, "The boss is always the first in the theater, so she is in her seat and waiting for the show to start." I don't know why I expected anything less. I winked at my informant and moved to the theater.
She sat with her feet up on a railing, her face lit up by her cell phone.
"Excuse me, Miss, is this seat taken?" I pointed to the seat on her right.
"Not at all," she gestured, "Did you bring your ring pop?"
I smirked, "Of course," Maybe this will be easier than I thought. I fished out the ring and offered it to her. She inspected it from afar and then turned back to the screen.
"No thanks," she announced. Of course. We sat in silence for a minute or a hundred; I really couldn't tell. She finally turned to me again and asked the dreaded question.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"What do you mean?" I knew the innocent act wouldn't fly, especially when I looked like some pop culture Demon!
She wanted to say a hundred different things as I watched a slew of emotions flash across her dimly lit face. When she finally opened her mouth, she simply said, "Happy Anniversary." It was quiet and delivered as more of an obligation than a celebration.
For some reason, that hurt more than an "I hate you," "Get the hell away from me," or even her taking back the ring probably ever could. She knew it was me. Even after twenty years, she had remained faithful to her mythical fiancé, and when he finally returned, it was only to sever their connection as quickly as he possibly could. I hadn't even said "Hi," so I completely understood her attitude. But COME ON! I'm the Bogeyman. I shouldn't have to sympathize with the whims of a hormonal human!
"Want to try that again?" She spoke up. Her voice was cold and biting. What? Did I… SHIT! She turned to me with a fire in her eyes. Without saying a word, she grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the theater. She took me to a little office behind the concessions counter. My new friend behind the counter shot me a concerned look, but I didn't have time to address it.
She locked the door behind us and demanded I sit. "Twenty years," she sneered. "Twenty years of waiting and believing in you. And when you finally do show up, all you can say for yourself is you don't need to sympathize with a HORMONAL HUMAN!"
"Okay, in my defense–"
"SHUT UP!" Okay, she could give me a run for my job. Her angry pacing was unsettling. "I was so excited to see you this morning at the library, and then you presented the ring pop, and my happiness crumbled. You weren't even going to acknowledge our history, were you?"
"No."
"You weren't expecting I would recognize you."
"No." Even admitting it hurt. "I hoped that you were still the snappy romantic, that a piece of candy from a charming stranger would disarm you enough to get you to take the ring."
"Why do I need to take the ring back?"
"To break our engagement."
She blinked. I could tell she hadn't been prepared for the truth. Honestly, I don't think I was either.