Batty

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

It had been a bad night. I don’t know why the capricious beast chose not to finish me off. Perhaps so I would suffer this agony on waking, my torn skin and-

“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY HOUSE?? GET OUT!”

“Ehhh?” I squint and lift my unbroken arm to shield my face against the sudden light. Not sunlight, thankfully.

The thundering figure backlit by dingy LED does not falter. “Don’t try anything, you creep! I’ll be calling The Council about this!”

Oh joy. If I’m lucky they’ll dust and scatter me for breaching the Treaty. If I manage to explain I’ll be cursed with eternal humiliation.

“I didn’t-”

“How did you get in here?? Who invited you?”

“The flame-touched beast.”

“The…?” That gives her pause.

My eyes now adjusted, I gingerly peep past my hand to scrutinise her. Short. Plump. Good ruddy complexion and hair which almost matched that of the monster. While I’ve never gotten the “onesie” thing I can hardly criticise a stranger’s choice of pyjamas. Clearly she was as unprepared for this encounter as me.

“I… take it you didn’t instruct your familiar to capture me?”

“Familiar?” She scoffs, lowering the metal bat to prop one fist on her hip. “Do I look like a witch to you?”

“I’ve not met enough witches to notice a ‘look’.” I let my hand flop to my chest and, since she’s no longer threatening me, turn my attention to the mess of my left arm.

Broken in two places, shredded to the elbow, and missing chunks. Somewhat distorted, too; transforming after injury had that effect.

“Oh. Shit. Are you alright?” Her voice is still rough with sleep but fear and anger has shifted to confused concern.

“I, uh… I’ll be fine.” Can I stand? I’m not sure I can stand. FFS.

A proud chirp makes us both jump. I shudder and drag myself backwards, away from the ginger terror twining around her legs. “You!”

“Louie?” She blinks and looks between me and her cat like I might be insane. “How could Louie do this to- oh shit.” She bites her lip as understanding and chagrin dawns. “You were a bat, weren’t you? He loves bats.”

“There was nothing loving about it!” I glare warningly at the monster. Who has the audacity to look smug.

“No, no, I mean… um. Anyway. I’m so sorry.” She puts the bat down on the counter and gently nudges the cat towards the hallway. “Is there anything I can do? I could call the blood bank.”

“That…” I try sitting up and wince as my body screams. “…I would appreciate that. Thank you.”

“Least I can do!” She moves towards the hall, then turns back to add “I’m Caroline, by the way.”

“Xavier.” I manage a smile. Careful not to let my lips part.

Louie sits in the kitchen doorway watching me. I swear he looks gleeful.

Prompt was “Write about a meet-cute that goes well for your protagonist.”

[Did I do this right? I feel like I didn’t do this right. Ah well. It was fun to write.]
Part 2 here.