James had just entered the village gates and drove his wagon through the village toward the market area. He did not notice Corvin or any of his kind around giving him a sigh of relief since it meant that more than not they were in the tavern waiting for the sun to die down as the sun weaken them. What he could not see as he drove his wagon was Corvin and his people watching him from the shadows of the tavern. When he finally reached the market and his stand he saw Leo waiting for him leaning against it as if he had purpose with him. James slowed the wagon to a stop before getting down off it and proceeded to walk over to Leo to find out his purpose.

Before he had a chance to ask, Leo grabbed James’s arm bringing him in closer. “You need to be careful and keep your bright blues on the shadows of the tavern for they are watching you.” he spoke softly and quietly to James.

James turned slightly to see the red eyes glowing among the black. “Thank you, my friend, I’m glad there is one of you that I can trust. I can trust you?” he turned to speak to Leo.

“You have my trust and that of Hera’s because neither one of us want to see another war come to light. We also know that our time for children is coming.” Leo spoke proudly putting his hand out for James to grab which he grabbed sealing their words.

As he pulled his hand away, James looked down to see that Leo placed a silver dagger into his palm. Leo told him to use it before walking away going back to work in the blacksmith shop. James looked down at this simple silver dagger in his hand even though it burned his skin. He weathered the pain as he turned to the black of the tavern as if to say ‘I see you’ looking directly into their red eyes.

He placed the dagger in the back of his trousers concealing it with his shirt right in front of them. So that Corvin could see that he was ready for anything. With the niceties over he preceded to place his vegetables onto his stand not knowing that Corvin stood in the shadows watching and waiting for him to make the first move. While the rest of the walkers went into the tavern to wait. After a while James nearly had all his vegetables ready to sell just as the market opened. While he was busy, he did not notice the crowd beginning to move in as he was trying to focus on his work and not on those watching him.

“James?” a soft female spoke from behind his back. Not knowing who it was James began to go for his dagger until he saw her reflection in a barrel of water near him. He recognized her right away as she is Mya’s closest human friend in the village....Sam. “Are you okay?” Sam asked again with concern in her eyes.

“Yes. Why? Sam” James answered softly removing his hand from his back and the dagger.

“Well for one thing you mixed up your vegetables on your stand, the other thing is that you keep looking over at the tavern as if something was going to happen. I can also swear that I thought you were going for a weapon.” Sam replied jokingly.

“Fuck.” James shouted as he looked down at his vegetables in the stand. He started to organize them while ignoring her other questions all together.

Sam stared at him for a few moments, waiting for an answer but he just ignored her “What?” he yelled frustrated. “Do you want something more?”

Sam put her hand on his not taking what he said to heart and said calmly “Why don’t you sit down and tell me what’s wrong as it is obvious that something is wrong with you.”

“I’m fine. I can do this.” James shouted at her so loudly that most of the people in the market stopped to look at him and Sam. James looked at the crowd with piercing eyes. “Move the fuck on.” he shouted at them. Sam looked at him not knowing why he was acting this way far from his cheerful self. James put his hands against the stand taking multiple deep breaths trying to cool his head. “I’m okay, Sam. I just got a lot on my mind about what I have to do.” he told her quite coldly he turned his head to see the look of fear mixed with confusion not knowing what to do Sam just walked away from him. “Sam, wait I’m sorry but you can’t understand what is happening to us and what I have to do to protect my family.”  He spoke in shame as his head held down in shame. Sam stopped in her tracks for she felt like he was in so much pain. She walked back to him and put her hand upon his back but as she rubbed his back up and down, she could feel ridges on his back right down to his shoulder blades. She quickly removed her hand from his back rather quickly which he did not notice the look of confusion upon her face. As she thought that he may have been injured at some time in the past, but she tried to ignore this to aid comfort to her friend.

“James don’t worry I’ve known Mya for years and she tells me everything. From the littlest thing to when she found out about the baby. Look its normal for you to be nervous about the baby and impending fatherhood but look it’s nothing to worry about.” Sam spoke calmly towards James hoping her calm voice would settle him.

“Not everything.”  James mumbled under his breath as she did not know who let alone what they are.

“What?” Sam asked.

“Nothing, it’s not important.” James sighed looking at her trying to compose himself.

“Look, all I’m trying to say is if you need to talk to someone, I’m here for you and Mya.” Sam replied defensively. “James, you must tell me something because I’m worried about you. Did

something happen to you? Are you hurt?”

James looked at her and calmly answered “No. Why?”

Sam looked at him and saw in his eyes that he wouldn’t tell her the truth no matter how hard she tried. “Never mind, James I have to go.” she sighed somewhat negatively.

James watched as she walked away from the market, he realized what she saw that frightened her so much. What she felt on his back was his true self. Like all humans he knew that soon she would forget what she felt and what she knew as it is all too impossible to be real. James watched her till she was gone once she was out of eyesight; he went back to taking care of his stand trying to forget what happened and move on to get through this day. As the hours passed, he grew more relaxed but at the same time he could feel a storm brewing in the air. He felt this storm coming just as a woman in the black cloak arrived in the village.