...
Connie watched as Nora was about to finish reading the book series she had spent so much time convincing her to read. Of course, Connie already knew that the ending wasn't what she expected; she didn't even like how the author sidelined the socio-political plot to focus on an unfounded love story between the protagonist and her familiar pet. It was a shame her favorite saga had to be ruined like that just because it became more popular.
Leaving Nora alone to finish the last pages, Connie turned her gaze to Adrian. Things with him had been calm on his part ever since he decided to be honest about everything—well, except for the obvious nonsense and supernatural things that sometimes happened around him. She even learned about the time travel Nora caused when she briefly mentioned it. The craziest part was how Nora described Adrian becoming more and more abstract in a place where he effectively seemed like a god.
Yes, he always told her he wasn't a god, but come on—if he's not a god, then what is he? Something superior? Something so different that he couldn't put it into words? Connie didn't want to think about it because she knew Adrian's answer would be the same, so she just moved on. How strange is it to have a supernatural being as a friend?
She had to admit that, given this scenario, things had been normal. The strangest thing in these two weeks was that Adrian hadn't locked himself away in his home lab. Heck, he even gave them his address when she said she wanted to see the lab.
When her eyes landed on him, she found him lying on the floor writing in a book whose binding looked like a pulsating labyrinth of flesh; the leather of the book blended with metal on its corners like the claws of an animal. Every so often, it throbbed like a heart while Adrian wrote. It seemed as if he were transcribing supernatural truths. In her own words, it wouldn't be surprising if that were true.
What was he writing? No idea. But Connie was mesmerized watching him write—the sound of the ink pressing on the paper, along with something more than just words… until Nora's voice pulled her from the daydream.
"You know it doesn't take all that theatrics just to write, right? Or are you just trying to be the 'mysterious gentleman' in front of two lovely ladies like us?" Nora teased, eyes locked on Adrian as she gestured at them.
"Of course not," he replied with an intellectually mocking tone, barely looking away from the book. "For that, I'd need the constipated face, to shine under the sunlight, and to have a werewolf as a romantic rival."
We smiled with hidden mischief. The words were out of my mouth before I even thought them.
"You say that as if your appearance didn't look like it was ripped from a supernatural romance novel. You just need to walk shirtless in the rain with a melancholy expression."
"Hahaha, she's right!" Nora exclaimed, dropping the book and pointing at Adrian.
"Touché, you caught me. I was always trying to be the mysterious gentleman in front of two beautiful ladies," he said as the book floated around him and he struck a pose that could only be described as exaggerated. A couple of illusory clouds became real, Adrian's shirt disappeared, and water fell over his body. A single tear ran down his cheek, blending with the drizzle as his voice shifted into a mix of melancholy and mystery: "Woe is me, my dark secrets discovered, but alas, I cannot have you." His melodious, mocking voice faded as he spoke.
With that, he collapsed onto the floor, one hand raised upward, the other on his bare chest, as if reciting a tragedy penned by an overly dramatic playwright.
Nora and I burst into laughter while Adrian raised an eyebrow before speaking, as if the joke weren't over.
"But if I'm the vampire… then Connie should be our dark-skinned werewolf, right?" he said, looking at her with a mischievous smile. Damn, that damn smile was terrifying. "Well, a she-wolf in this case. And of course, the love interest has to be Nora. Who else but the protagonist?" he said to the void as if answering someone not there.
Before my expression could change and Nora could protest, the air shifted—an unmistakable supernatural sensation flooded everything.
She felt something covering her skin, growing on her back, sounds became louder, scents intensified. She was being changed at a fundamental level so easily.
"WHAT THE—!?" she started, but her voice now echoed—deep… wild.
Meanwhile, Nora's naturally pink hair began blackening at the roots as if teenage depression were contagious. Her clothes turned black, gothic, and matching makeup outlined her eyes as if she was about to cry.
"What the hell—?" Nora muttered as a gothic-looking mirror conveniently materialized before the two of them.
Connie saw herself—wolf ears and a tail now part of her, as if they had always been there.
Adrian turned toward them holding that supernatural book, his voice melodiously annoying as he said:
"Excellent. We have the main cast. Now all that's left is the prom dance, a jealous fight, and a scene in the rain with melancholy, drama, and me dead. Who wants to cry first?" He spoke as if it was the most normal thing in the world, but his expression betrayed a grin about to break out.
There was a moment of silence. Then Connie threw one of her saga books at him.
Adrian didn't dodge the book flying at his face at terminal velocity; he just continued his sly performance, twisted yet so perfectly him.
Laughter erupted from the three of us as the overwhelming energy in the air slowly faded from reality. The oddities began to disappear—though some remained, like Nora's hair color and my wolf ears.
Amid the laughter, a pink light began to emanate from Nora.