The glass dome of the library floods the reading room in the central lobby with afternoon sunlight, dyes the plants golden in the corners and the dust in the air. I sit at one of the central tables by the railing, which offers a perfect view of the lower levels and the entrance. It may be naive and futile to expect her to appear so soon, but since I have no other clue, gotta start somewhere. In the meantime, I'm flipping through the cookbook in front of me. From my birth, I have been fascinated time and again by the fact that all creatures other than my species use their teeth to grind the food, which is then digested through their stomach and intestines, thus nourish their organs.

Focus on the task.

Someone laughs. The sound came from a young woman at the door of the Audiobook and Music section with a tall man wearing glasses. Suddenly she falls silent, puts her hand to her mouth in remorse, then continues to laugh softly. The tucked shirt accentuates her slender waist, the black trousers cling to her slim legs and firm, round bottom. Her freckled face is slightly flushed with cheerfulness.

Reminds me of Lili. Except that Lili was ashamed of her freckles and did her best to hide them. But this girl doesn't seem to feel that way, she radiates confidence. She even pulled her sand blonde hair back, revealing her round face. When she manages to pull a serious face, lowers her hand in front of her proportionate mouth. I watch as she speaks. As her lips form the words. I imagine her eating the meat pictured on the page in front of me. Slowly, with pleasure. Just like Lili ate the fries dipped in blood. A sight that I couldn't get enough of for years, even though I saw it day after day. There is something inexplicably exciting about the way others eat. Bringing food to their mouths, chewing, swallowing... Always tempting me to get my teeth into their souls and take them in...

Enough. This is not why I'm here. This book is a distraction, time to look for something else to read before...

"Mushroom-stuffed chicken breast with sweet potato puree?"

The voice of the laughing girl. Up close, behind my back. As she leans over my shoulder, I inhale the aroma of her rosewater perfume.

"I'd love to taste it." She whispers.

Okay, I'm done. The last shred of my self-control dissipates. A shiver runs down my spine, blood rushes to my loin.

I once had an elf friend who could control the autonomic functions of his body with his thoughts alone. I would give much for that ability now, so I could stand up, drop the conversation with an evasive answer and take the book back. But unfortunately I'm not an elf, so I remain seated, cross my legs and wait for the awkward posture to dissipate the problem. It makes me angry to be nailed to the chair, helpless. My face is burning.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Devin, right?" she smiles and sits down in front of me - thank God.

"I'm Emma. Emma Langston." She extends her hand across the table.

I shake her hand firmly, making sure I give the impression of a man who is measured, calm and definitely not struggling with an erection.

Her grip is unusually firm for a woman, her palms are cold and clammy with excitement.

"Excuse me, have we met?" My voice is so composed, I've surprised myself.

"The whole staff talking about the white-haired guy with three degrees who came here to pack books. I was curious too; it's rare that they hire someone so overqualified. I decided to ask you on Monday why you applied here, but now I saw you and thought..."

What, that you come here and flirt with me? Her happy freckles are captivating.

Lili...

No. It's not why I came here. She's just holding me back. I have to get rid of her. How simple it would be if I could be honest with her! If I could tell her that I applied for the job to kill someone. That the job interview went so quickly and smoothly because the director is a human agent for the Alliance; a Watcher. Or I could tell her the price I paid for my multidisciplinary knowledge. That I am the reincarnation of the Dragon of Death's half soul. That I grew up in perpetual terror and contempt because of it, and for the first years of my life I was allowed to exist only as a severed head, carefully locked away lest someone could try to use me to take Alden's life. That I would remain alive as a decapitated energy vampire, after all, my hair is where the drained souls are stored. Yes, I feed on souls, which are then consumed and never reborn. And at the moment I desire her lovely grey aura as much as her body.

Ultimately, I say this:

"I have always loved to read. Books are intelligent and discreet. They do not force their unnecessary ideals on me. When I open them, they share what's inside, and when I close them, they keep quiet. There is no resentment, no expectation of reciprocation. I think I prefer their company to that of humans."

"Cookbooks?" She keeps pushing the envelope.

"I like to cook."

"Just for yourself or for someone else?"

"That depends..."

The door to the adult section swings open and a girl with a pink aura rushes out, running behind Emma, down the stairs. Like a thief caught in the act. Downstairs, she brakes suddenly and joins the queue snaking up to the lending counter.

"Pff, the youth of today! Always in a hurry. Zero tolerance. Just like my brother... " she talks and talks. I listen politely, nodding occasionally, but from the corner of my eye I look at the girl hurrying along.

It's her. She must have come in when I was distracted. Her hair is floppy, her face flushed with haste. Jev was right; she is indeed fuller than shown in her Facebook profile picture, though the well-worn black men's sweater hides her seemingly proportionate figure. I'd love to rip it off. It's a shame that women of similar body type often have low self-esteem; they might even find it suspicious if they were called to a room straight away. I would lose my chance with this introverted girl. That's why I applied for the job; it will probably take several meetings to gain her trust.

With a nervous, fidgety movement, she pulls her brick-sized smartphone out of her bag and glances at the screen. Again and again, every second. As if she should already be somewhere else.

No, this is not the time to talk to her. I'd just embarrass her. Just like Emma would be if I suddenly left her. If only I could...

"...do you also have a brother or sister?"

"No, I don't."

No family, no children. I only know the dictionary definitions of these terms and what I've seen of them in the worlds, but I've never experienced it myself.

And I never will.

At the mere thought of infertility and loneliness, my blood runs cold. The gaping hole in my soul cries out more and more urgently for another pleasure to fill it with. Even if it's only for a short time...

"Are you all right? You look tired."

"Maybe I am" I smile bitterly.

"Rest up for Monday! You're assigned with me. " She winks. "I'm looking forward to it."She stands up with the triumphant momentum of a winner.

"I also..."

...look forward to see you again, Talia.