∆Samuel's POV∆

Samuel looked up at the finally dark sky. Beside him was Sammie, his current toy to play with. She was lasting quite a bit longer than any of his others. Which he found amusing.

He always destroyed his friendships. He found it fun to see how far he could push people until they broke. Before they snapped at him. Sammie, however, was different. Maybe that's why he took so long with her. He looked west to the forests, he could sense one not too far from there.

They always were talking nonsense on the roof of Sammie's apartment, one that she shared with her roommate Alex. Samuel wasn't fond of Alex, who was a slob, a mooch, and a nerd. Spending all his time on his bed with his laptop.

Samuel looked over at Sammie, who was deep into telling him a story. Her jacket sleeves sliding up a bit whenever she angled her arms upwards. She would occasionally brush her wavy black hair back behind her pierced ear.

"I swear I never smelled anything that nasty in my life!" Sammie giggled, blushed as Samuel looked at her. She probably had a crush on him.

Thatwasn't unusual, most people crushed on him because of his green eyes, and messy blond hair. He knew he was attractive, not that he cared unless it can be used to his advantage.

Prehaps now would be the best time to test Sammie. Make sure she really was the one he was looking for. His eyes wandered up her body, wide hips, her big bust, perky nose, big brown doe eyes, and her shoulder-length wavy black hair.

"Sammie, we're friends, right?" He asked, running his hand threw his blond hair. He noticed her warm blush spread across her face.

"Of course," Sammie exclaimed, before he even finished the sentence. "Why is something wrong?"

Samuel smiled at her. "Nothing, I'm just glad," he said, running his fingers through his blond hair.

Sammie smiled back. He found that she needed reassurance like flowers needed the sun. Ever since he met her two months ago she clung to his friendship like she did any others she had. Which was probably two, not including himself or her older sister. She desperate for affection. It was always a good button to push, one he liked to use often.

"Um..." She said, after a minute of oblivious silence. She was shivering slightly. "Is something on your mind? Because I'm an amazing listener."

"As a matter of fact, Sammie, yes. There is something on my mind. I was just thinking about how amazing you are."

"Really?" Now this really had her attention. Now she was really blushing hard, and smiling uncontrollably. He figured as much.

"Yeah. I feel really safe hanging out with you," Samuel said, already knowing what to say to her, what lines of dialogue to feed her to get what he wanted. "You wanna know a secret?"

Sammie nodded furiously. Her enthusiasm practically radiated off her. She was a sucker for secrets, and mischief.

Truth be told, he would have expect the opposite from such a sweet, innocent face. She was a regular sweetheart in public, but underneath she was different. She was darker. She just didn't know it yet.

He looked up thoughtfully. "Did you know I wasn't always this way?"

"What way is that?"

"There's a reason nobody likes me, ya know I thought I was just too powerful of a person. Nope, I'm just too much to handle I guess. But thanks to me being me, I can sense stuff nobody else can."

"What on earth are you talking about?" Sammie asked, pushing her face near his when he refused to answer. She tilted her head to one side, a habit he hated that she had.

"Sam, chill, there's no need to freak," He said, gesturing for his friend to settle down, which she did. Sammie always listened to him. He wished he had her before he had Ann- Oh well, she was his toy now, and that's all that matters.

"So you'll never guess what I can do. I was born into a different situation, one that allowed me to get magic.."

She was back to hanging on his every word. Secrets, stories, and, if he'd play his cards right, she'd be all his. His to play with.

Honestly, she would have been on the edge of her seat if she was on one. She had no life, so she thrives on whatever attention she can get.

"Well?"

"You won't believe me. I need to show you," Samuel grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet. "Get on my bike, I'll just show you."

She looked over to him, wearily. She was never fond of his motorcycle. It didn't help he'd pretend to lose control a few times.

"I don't know," she muttered.

"Come on! We'll be back before your roommate notices. I promise Samitch," he smiles sweetly. She beams back, she could never resistant his smile, or his nickname name for her. Samitch because she was so cute that he could eat her up.

☆☆☆☆☆

Samuel kind of liked how she lived at the thinner part of town with her roommate Alex. The town of Misaburn was in the middle of a large forest. One Sammie loved to go camping in, Alex not so much. That lazyass.

"Don't freak out, okay? Or we can't be friends," he whispered. Pulling her with him when he finally spotted the monster. It'd probably be a good five feet tall if it stood, and it's furry as hell. It was rolling on the ground like an over grown puppy. It must only be weeks old.

She shook her head dumbfounded. If there'd been any kind of a brain in there that it'd be getting scrambled, Samuel mused. He dropped his bike to the side.

"I bet you're wondering how a I knew, huh? It's a super big deal, but I trust you. Move closer so I can tell you"

Sammie, eyes still on the beast, obliged to lean forward close enough that he could whisper into her ear.

"My magical soul died."

For a second, he was sure he saw her eyes almost pop out of her eye sockets before they narrow at him. How cute, she thought he was pranking her. Maybe she isn't such a big idiot after all. Only time will tell.

"Crazy, huh?" Samuel said, cutting her off as she opened his mouth to speak. "I should have died, but instead I ended up waking up in a hospital with I.V, and junk in my arms."

"That's awful!" Sammie clutched her jacket around herself. She settled back down on the ground, her eyes not leaving the monster in front of them, which at this point was sleeping.

Samuel's parents had both given him that same look, once upon a time. It didn't piss him off nearly as much coming from Sammie. Even if it was indirectly her fault. Her magic's fault.

"Yeah," he said. "A bunch of thugs came after me when I was just a kid. They tried to beat me to death," he chirped.

"Oh my god!" she gasped, then slapped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes darting over to the sleeping form. "No..."

"Sad, huh?" Samuel drank in the sight of her shaking. Fear, that would be beautiful to see on her.

"That's the saddest thing," Sammie said, fighting back tears, "I've ever, ever heard, but what does that have to do with the mons-"

"Monster?"

Sammie nodded.

"Only the dead can feel them, and vice versa," Samuel lied. "But no worries, we got a secret weapon."

"What's that?" She gasped, noticing it move in it's sleep.

"I didn't believe in fighting back then. I was a nice kid." He said, leaning on a nearby tree. "You weren't my friend yet, but I bet if you'd been there with me, you'd have protected, right?"

Sammie eyed him, but nodded. "Of course. No way would I would let anyone harm you!" She frowned, staring down at the sleeping monster. She was probably wondering where he was going with this, he laughed to himself.

Samuel leaned forward to catch her gaze. "The world is a cruel, cold place, Sammie. Will you be strong enough to survive?"

Sammie had no response for that but to pull her jacket tighter around herself. She felt like she had no body heat to warm herself.

"Could you really have saved me?" Samuel said, dropping his placid smile. "Could you have killed them, or would you have made the same mistake I did by not fighting back?"

"Killing? I could never kil-" Sammie glanced around at everything but Samuel. Her gaze finally landing on the sleeping monster. She always was merciful to a fault. Welp, time to change all that.

Samuel's smile slipped back into place. "Why of course you can, after all it's just a monster."

Sammie cocked her head, a habit she no doubt picked up from the nasty slob she lived with. "I can't do that, it's a living monster."

"Well, I want you to learn the lesson I nearly died to learn." He stretched, his shirt lifting up, showing off his flat stomach. "We're going to try a little exercise, if you don't mind," he said, voice dripping sugar.

Sammie, for the first time, didn't trust Samuel's smile. Ah, so she was learning. Good, then he would keep her around longer.

"I, um.." Sammie backpedaled, and stumbled over a fallen log. She fell on the ground, but she was still backing away. "I think I mind. I'd rather not if it's all the same to you."

He ignored her protests. It felt good to let more of himself out in the open; he hadn't indulged in fighting in a while. "I'm going to have it attack you, Samitch," he said. His neck cracked as he flexed some of the stiffness out of it. "For real. I want you to fight it, and kill it."

While he was talking, Sammie managed to stumble to her feet. She was trembling, but not from cold anymore. "I-I don't want to fight it," she said in a shrilly voice. "What if it kills me?"

"You know I won't let it, Sam," he cooed, but she didn't believe him anymore. "But if you don't fight it, then I'll have to find another way to teach you the lesson."

He stretched, and jumped up catching a nearby maple tree branch, pulling himself up. His arms flexing as he lifted himself up. Sammie would have gawked at his fit body if she wasn't so scared.

"Now, I know you wouldn't dream of running away like a coward, right? That would just disappoint me."

She was shaking so badly. "Please," she said. "Please, don't. I thought we were friends!"

"Of course we are, you silly samitch. You are my bestie, after all." Samuel pulled out his lower lip, and whistled loudly to call the monster to her. "Now, are you ready to fight like your life depends on it? Because guess what? It does."

His laughter was the last straw, Sammie broke down crying. His grin split his face as the monster let out a roar at being awoken.

The roar did the trick. Sammie dropped unthinkingly into a defensive stance, raising a hand wreathed in strange green flame. It makes it way up her arm, burning her jacket sleeve.

"Good girl!" He laughed. He knew it was her. He was always right about such things.

Her brown teary eyes widened as she saw the green flame flicker on her upper arm. Ready to attack, and defend it's owner against the monster.

Next thing she knew the beast lunged, and she screamed.