I let his lips rest on mine, letting the perfume intoxicate me and his touch set my skin on fire above my clothes. My bones moved beneath the flesh as his hands explored my body, taking my breath away.

His fingers trailed down my back slowly and held me against his body before parting our lips to catch air. I looked into his eyes, barely able to make mine work. He took me by the hand and we walked down the alley hand in hand, leading me to what I assumed would be his home.

The conversation had been more than I expected coming from a frequent bar customer, and he seemed genuinely interested in me. I had to stay calm so my eyes wouldn't change color. The last thing I wanted was to go home without anyone, where only gnawed and rusty furniture awaited me. And my enraged family.

I picked up my pace as we crossed central street, listening to the owls once more. I already guessed what they would tell me, but I needed more time. And frankly, I wasn't interested either. It had been like this for so long that I no longer worried about keeping score. It was not worth it.

"Hurry?" He asked smiling.

"Should I?" I joked to hide my nerves.

"I'm not that savage," he replied, pretending to be offended.

"Oh, and I thought that..." An owl cut off my words and took flight.

"What about that?" He asked looking at the tree from which the bird flew out.

"It's just a bird." I wanted to believe the lie, but I knew the signs well. Time was running out. "Are we going?"

He didn't say anything as we continued walking the streets in silence. The warm summer breeze ruffled my hair, and he gently tucked it in before my rosy cheeks. Another owl screeched, and another.

Get out of here. I took a deep breath not to yell it out. I didn't want to look insane one more time.

"It is very far?" I asked feigning anxiety.

"Just one more block." His smile shone under the full moon. And I heard another owl. Get lost!

They had been like that all day. I could barely ignore their constant screeching as I worked. I needed to keep up appearances as the hours passed. I hadn't prepared for that night. I expected to have to find someone else for the next week, but my opinions didn't matter.

Family comes first.

Once we got to his house and he locked the door, his hands moved under my clothes, caressing every inch of skin I could touch. I pulled his shirt off with clumsy hands.

This time only I could hear the owls, which made it difficult to pretend I was enjoying anything. He took off his shoes and pushed them against the stairs like they were trash, while I kept my clothes in place.

My body wasn't responding as it should, my reactions were late, even the moans sounded strange. I just hoped he thought it was the nerves as he pulled down his pants.

The animals raised their voices in a single cry, demanding attention, and my back straightened just when I was supposed to get to my knees.

"Something's wrong?" He asked worried.

"No, nothing." I got up suddenly, and slammed his head against the wall. I couldn't delay it any longer. Always the same. My fingers took his throat and squeezed hard, until his breath was cut off enough that he lost his balance.

I broke the doorknob and pushed it wide open. The three desperate owls came in, digging their nails into his face, his torso, his arms, and anywhere else they could.

"Enjoy it," I said when I went to the kitchen.

"Don't take that long for the next one," my brother said, human again, with his mouth full, "the first one was yours but..."

"Let me know in advance for the next time" I cut him down.

"Don't complain, it gets cold," my mother said, brushing her hair back so it wouldn't get stained with blood, "and be more careful, your neck is disgusting."

Who likes cold food?

That would already be my last year. For the next Samhain, Dad would take care of getting dinner. I went to get something to eat before I became an owl along with my mother and my brother. The last human supper until it was my turn to hunt one more time. There was chocolate in the fridge, and I smiled as I took it.

I would miss chocolate.