Brisk autumn air clung to Pulser and Coco as they made their way down a deserted street. Pulser looked frustrated.

Coco was annoyed he’d even act frustrated when he was the one demanding they go for a walk. She was just thankful she’d be seeing Ray soon. He always managed to calm her down with his smile. She refrained from rolling her eyes when she heard Pulser sigh. She knew he would eventually spit it out.

She was beyond upset with him. Despite her feelings about her birthday, he ignored her wishes and dragged her out on a walk knowing full well she didn’t want to.

It was annoying and all Coco wanted was to be cozied up on the couch with her brother while watching a movie.

“Coco…I don’t know where to begin. You’re nineteen today. I’ve been nineteen for about seven months…”

She side-eyed him. “What are you on about? I know you’re older than me.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He shook his head a few times and took a deep breath. “I’m trying to tell you something important. Something about me that I never shared with you. With anyone. A secret I’ve been hiding…”

Unease swam in her stomach. “Spit it out. You’re making me nervous.”

“It’s not anything bad, Coco. Just. Different. In more ways than I care to explain.”

“Try to—”

Pulser dragged to a sudden stop.

She nearly ran into him. 

He held up his hand, barely breathing.  

Coco’s heart beat loud and fast. She didn’t know why Pulser was acting like this. She could see a vein pulsing in his neck. He was starting to freak her out. She cast her eyes around the deserted street and saw nothing out of the ordinary, though that didn’t stop her heart from hammering against her chest.

They weren’t far from the bakery. This part of Summerville was considered the safest place in the city. Coco didn’t see anyone lurking around the houses or behind trees. It made Pulser’s behavior more worrying.

“Pulser…we should go.”

She lightly touched his shoulder. His body was rigid and he had his hands raised as if to defend himself. He shook his head at her suggestion.

Adrenaline rushed through Coco’s veins, making her edgy. She never wanted to go on a birthday walk. All she wanted was to get her brother and go home.

Slowly, she backed away. The gravel crunching beneath her feet seemed very loud in the sudden stillness.

She was scared.

She hated to admit it, but she was.

Pulser was acting strange. It made her worried he was going to do something. Or that he was caught up in something. Either way, she wanted to leave.

She glanced around the street, nervous. Nothing seemed out of sorts, so why…?  

The air became colder. The sky darker. Sheer instinct told her to run. Told her to hide. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. A dark shadow rose up in front of her. She tried to spin around it, but the shadow was faster. The iron grip on her arm was painful and revealed the shadow was actually a person.

She bit down on her lip to keep from screaming. She tasted blood. The pain in her arm was unbearable.  It burned with a fiery passion and ached like a charred piece of wood. 

Coco tried to pull away from the hooded figure. Or…at least she thought it was hooded.  Her vision was becoming blurry. Everything was fading away. It took all her concentration just to focus on the hand gripping her arm.

“Leave her be, councilman.  She knows nothing.”  Pulser said, hatred dripping from every word.

The councilman smiled. “You were going to tell Coco Teal your secret.  One you took an oath to protect. Humans are forbidden from learning our secrets. Or have you forgotten?”

“Leave her be. She knows nothing. If you touch her—”

“I doubt you have proper discipline to withhold your words. The moment you break your oath, I will know. The Council does not appreciate your interference in this matter.” The councilman’s grip on Coco’s arm was slacking. She struggled to stay conscious. She barely heard Pulser’s last words before she went under.  

“No! She’s only human! Putting that…that thing around her neck will weaken her!”  

“Then so be it.” The councilman growled. 

~~~

Coco shifted uncomfortably in bed. She felt groggy and parched. When she tried to speak, no sound came out. Her eyes were bleary and everything she saw was fuzzy.  She closed her eyes, trying to remember.

Pulser was…she…couldn’t…

She bolted upright in bed. 

The pain in her right arm pierced through her foggy mind. She threw back the cover of her shirt to reveal…pale smooth skin?  It didn’t make any sense.  When she moved her arm, the pain burned like fire yet there seemed to be nothing wrong. 

 “I healed your arm.” Pulser’s voice came from across the room. “Well, just the outside of it. There’s not much I can do about the curse. It’s difficult to heal the damage dark magic creates. You’re lucky you didn’t die. Take off your sweater, Coco.”  

Everything he said confused her, but she obeyed without question. She took off her sweater, revealing a black tank-top beneath.  

“What’s around your neck?”  

She looked down, startled. She saw a smooth, black circular stone entwined in golden vines hanging from a black chain. It was breathtaking, yet disturbing to see. It seemed to cast a black aura around itself. 

 “Try to take it off.” 

 She did as she was told. Coco lifted the beautiful stone in her hand. It felt cold.  Then she pulled, or rather, tried to pull, the necklace over her head.  

It didn’t work. 

“Pulser…Pulser, what happened?” Coco urgently asked, her voice going up an octave. He just stared at her with his strange eyes.

They were in his bedroom on the second floor of his house, located halfway across town from the bakery. He was leaning against the wall near the door.

Coco took a deep breath. “What. Is. Going. On?” When he didn’t answer, she glared at him. “Tell me,” she pleaded. “Please, tell me!” She felt scared, confused…lost. She didn’t know what happened and she wanted answers. A necklace that wouldn’t come off and a stranger attacking them…this was too much for her. She was just a college student trying to provide for herself and her brother. She didn’t want to get caught up in other peoples’ problems. And speaking of her brother…

 “Where’s Raysen? Where is he? Pulser, please! Just…say something!”

“Coco, would you believe me if I told you your life was in grave danger from Evil?” His voice was very soft and very serious.   

 Evil? Coco deflated. She leaned back against the headboard for support. “What sort of evil?”  She felt too out of breath. 

“Not what. Evil is a person. Would you believe me if I told you he did this?”

Coco closed her eyes and let the nausea pass a little before saying, “I think I need to puke.” 

She felt like her mind was going to explode. She made to get up but couldn’t. She wanted water. She needed water. Her arm felt like it was on fire. She shifted her weight a little and leaned forward. Ignoring the burning rage her arm made, she stumbled her way to the bathroom.

Saliva built up in the back of her throat. Unable to swallow, it flowed out of her mouth and down her chin. At the sink, Coco turned the cold water on and cupped her hands to make a bowl. Right before the water reached her lips, some force shoved her aside, and she landed on her injured arm, yelping in pain. 

Pulser silently followed, staring at her with sad eyes. He said something but she couldn’t hear.

With what little strength she had, Coco plunged her head in the sink, letting the still running water seep into her aching mouth. 

She gulped down mouthfuls of it, hoping to ease the burning pain. When she was done, still unsatisfied, she plopped down on the bathroom floor, leaning heavily against the tub.

Pulser came in and sat beside her. “Didn’t work, did it?”

She shook her head. It felt like it was going to split in two. Coco had no idea what was going on or why she felt like this. She wanted to go home and find her brother. She needed to know he was okay.  

Pulser gently touched her right arm and examined it. “We’ll have to get you some professional help. But first, you need to know. Need to know my secret.”