That One Book I'm Writing

Maya

Maya woke up in someone’s bed unsure how she got there. She remembered eating the first man with the gold tooth and taking his car uptown. From there she vaguely remembered eating another drunk who might have been a hobo. She remembered an ally. Then she ended up in central park somehow. Ate someone else and was pretty drunk by then. That’s when it got really fuzzy for her. She looked around to see where she was. The brightness from the light escaping the black out curtains covering the windows let her know it was definitely daylight. ‘Won’t be leaving here anytime soon.’ She thought. She checked herself and saw she was still dressed in her jumpsuit. ‘That’s a good sign’ she thought. She slid out the bed quietly not to wake whoever she was sharing a bed with. She walked to the bathroom to look at herself. She was clean enough, her jumpsuit was covered in silver fur. ‘What is this?’ she thought to herself trying to brush most of it off. When she was done she assessed the space she was in, it looked male. There was brick everywhere, a dart board on the wall. A worn-out couch, a box full of records next to a turn table. It was a studio apartment, everything out in the open. Maya didn’t mind that. She’d be able to see whoever this was without them being able to hide from her. It was spacious. From the position of the windows she figured they were in a basement apartment.

The body on the bed shifted rolling over to look at her. Glowing eyes met hers. Maya took him in, he was a huge hairy man. His chest and arms bulged as he positioned himself to look at her. One fang slipped from his top lip. Maya didn’t move, unsure of what she was looking at. She could see him clearly, but she couldn’t place the scent.

“Relax luv, you’re safe er wit me.” A British voice answered her. He shifted up sitting on the edge of the bed. Clawed toes placed on the floor. His ears were pointy and his hair was a mess of a mane. Locs cascading down past his shoulders. Silver and black mixed together. He gave his head a shake letting his hair fly every which way. Maya watched still on guard. He stood up naked body covered in thick hair. ‘Did I fuck a werewolf last night?’ she thought in disbelief. ‘No, he’s no werewolf, those things just kill on sight. And he smells different.’ 

He made the bed then walked to the bathroom, he didn’t bother covering himself. He peed loudly in the toilet groaning in relief. Maya had shifted out of his way and was now on the other side of the bed still watching him. When he returned he let out a fart and smirked at her. He found some boxers and put them on. “You’re a hard lass to catch, you know that?” he said to her. “Er I am, taking a piss, mindin me business, when I hear some wanker screamin at the top of his lung, ‘help! She gonna eat me! Save me!’ and I’m like this bloke maybe in real trouble” He said mocking an American accent. “So, I ‘ed off in the direction following the pavement and I get of whiff of somethin.” He paused acting out sniffing the air. “When I finally get there, this poor mate is deader than a door mouse in a cat’s mouths. You give me a cheeky grin, wobble a bit and take off like you stole me last bit of Quid.” He chuckled to himself remembering. “I think to myself I thinks, she looked pissed, and I knew the sun would be rising soon. So, I decided if I couldn’t save the bloke, I’d try to save the Vamp.” He smiled at her making sure she was still with him in the story. 

Maya blinked at him, trying to understand him through his accent and remember the events from the night before. “So off I trot over the cobbles and threw the woods trying to hunt you down before the sun comes up, and you’re zippin around like the bloody road runna. You know from the telly? Wit no care in the world. I had to get my brethren,” he said it bruv ren. “to help me slow you down. When we do corner you, you jump on my back like I’m sorta trick pony here for shits and giggles. You did ride me good and proper. Do you ride ponies professionally?” He asked curiously. Maya shook her head no, still trying to follow the story. “Ahhh, I see you fancy yourself a rider in a different way?” he said wiggling his eyebrows and laughing. Maya tried not to laughed but his laugh was infections. A wolfish smile presented itself to her as he took her in.

“I’m sorry for the trouble I put you through last night. Thank you for trying to save me.” She apologized. He waved her off. “Wasn’t no trouble at all. I won’t lie I was knackered when we finally got home. Passed out right next to Ya.” Maya nodded amazed at the story he told. She remembered bits and pieces.

“So… Did we?” she asked hesitantly. The wolf man laughed loudly with his head back.

“You think I’d take advantage of an unconscious woman I just rescued? HA! No, I was a proper gent I was.”

“So why were you naked?”

“I like to be comfortable in own flat, thank you.” He answered. “So what’s your name?”

“Maya,” she answered still watching him. He nodded, “pleased to meet you Maya, I’m Tobias but you can call me Tobi.” He said pointing to himself. Maya sat back on the bed relaxing some. “So, where are we?” she asked. He shrugged, “Somewhere in Brooklyn, I haven’t learned the area yet. I can get to where I’m going, I just don’t know technicalities.” Maya nodded looking around the studio. “I have a show tonight.” He said breaking the silence. Maya turned to look at him slightly puzzled. “I’m a disk jockey,” he said pointing to his music set up. Maya didn’t pay too much attention to music. The styles changed so quickly over the years, Classical, Brass Band, Ragtime, Blues, Jazz, Rock, Funk, Disco. She stopped trying to keep up. She gave him an ‘ah huh’ smile.

“Not much into music huh. Well, we have a few hours before dusk so you may as well have a listen.” He said walking over to his setup. He went through his records trying to decide what would best fit his audience. “You seem to have an old soul, no pun intended seeing as you are a vamp. Let’s see what I have.” He put on some swing music Maya found vaguely familiar. She remembered the swing clubs; women being tossed into the air like acrobats. She had tried it a few times and enjoyed herself. She tapped her foot to the song. Tobi bobbed his head watching her. “Ok, we have a toe tap. Let’s build it up.” He added another record an electric guitar joined the music blending perfectly. Maya found herself not hating the music. She bobbed her head along with Tobi feeling the energy in the music. He traveled through the years with his music mixing old and new. It wasn’t before long Maya found herself dancing to his mix. When he finally stopped a few hours had gone by and the neighbors above him had started hitting the floor.   

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” He said with a prideful smile. He removed his headphones and checked the time. “It might be dark enough for you to head out now if you like.” Maya checked the curtains and saw the blinding light had faded to what would be a normal cloudy day.

“Thank you, Tobi,” She said still feeling the high of the music. She smiled widely at him. “Where is your show?” She asked. Tobi smiled an excited smile happy to have a fan. He rushed to get his flyers. “Here’s the address, some small pub. But you have to start somewhere.”

“DJ Wolfy Love?” she asked an eyebrow raised.

“It’s a work in progress,” he said slightly embarrassed. “So you’ll be there tonight?” he seemed so happy. Maya could have sworn she saw a tail wag. Maya folded the flyer up and put it in her pocket. “Yeah.” She said smiling. “Brillant!” he said excitedly. His wolf features beginning to deepen. Whiskers began to grow from his mustache his arm and chest hair was turning silver. He also seemed to be growing. Maya took a step back from the wolf man in front of her. In his excitement he had transformed partly. He stood up right his head brushing the ceiling.

“What are you?” Maya asked, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. Tobi looked at his arms and chuckled in a deep husky voice. “I guess I got too excited, Dire Wolf.”