Mortal Coil

PROLOGUE

I stood numbly beside the gravesite as they lowered his coffin into the ground. Snowflakes were covering my hair. Cold wind froze any tears that threatened to fall. The priest gave me a single nod as he moved off down the hill. I stayed watching the men shovel dirt on to the coffin with heavy thuds.

“Miss,” a gruff voice called and I blinked slowly pulling my frozen eyelashes apart.

“Yes,” I muttered keeping my eyes locked on the flinging dirt.

“You’ll freeze if you stay much longer miss,” he replied. “Do you need a ride somewhere?”

“No,” I said shaking the snow from my hair. “Just making sure he’s dead.”

“Pretty sure he’s dead miss,” he stated darkly.

“Yeah we’ll see,” I grunted staring them pat the ground firmly. I set off down the hill leaving the perplexed caretaker in my wake. 

He'd better be dead this time.

Shadow

PROLOGUE
Thunder rumbled in the distance threatening to bring an early night to the city. I glanced up at the sky nervously watching the dark clouds roll closer. I opted to cut through the city park to shorten the distance back to my apartment.
I strolled past cuddling couples as they hurried back to their cars to avoid the upcoming storm. I picked up my speed keeping my eyes toward the dark skies. I entered the archway of trees and was surrounded with the chirps of crickets eager for the rain. The path split to curve around a large oak tree. I slowed my pace as the sounds of nature stopped swiftly.
Apprehension heightened my senses as I glanced back behind me. I saw a shadow jump the path and my back tightened. I went left moving through the denser forest as twigs snapped and popped around me tauntingly. My eyes searched the woods but I couldn’t see anything. I exhaled heavily but picked up my pace.
“Maya,” a deep voice whispered and I stiffened glancing into the darkest part of the woods to my left. I saw five shapes move through the woods shifting in the early shadows of night.
“Miss,” a sharp voice called and I whirled toward the man running up the path. It was a police officer I realized with a sigh of relief. “Miss there is a bad storm coming you shouldn’t linger here,” he warned stopping a few feet from me.
“Just on my way out officer,” I assured thumbing over my shoulder to the apartment complex.
His black stern stare gave me a look over and I suppressed a chill. “I’ll walk you,” he said firmly stepping towards me.
“Uh thanks,” I breathed moving up the path quickly with him at my side.
When we reached the front steps of the apartment I pulled out my keys clenching them in my fist automatically. “The park isn’t a safe place for a short cut,” he advised and I looked back at him hesitantly. He was tall and good-looking in a rugged cop kind of way. He had a strong chiseled face and firm set jaw. The only thing that softened his face was a pair of full lips.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied backing up the stairs from him.
“Delgado,” a hoarse voice barked and I glimpsed past him to the cop car pulling up. “Move it,” the large driver growled.
The man in front of me turned glancing back at the cop holding up a single finger. “I’m Jared,” he breathed stepping up the first step so we were eye to eye, “and I don’t usually do this but would you like to have coffee sometime?” he asked cautiously.
“Delgado I’m not waiting around for you to pick up some chick,” the driver snapped irritably. I saw a slight tint of pink brush his cheeks briefly.
“You should probably go Officer Delgado,” I murmured and he nodded briefly. Disappointment flashed in his dark eyes. “Maybe when you’re off shift we could have that coffee,” I offered and his lips twitched slightly.
“Yeah,” he nodded turning and walking back to his car. He stopped at the door tossing a glance over his shoulder at me. “What’s your name?” he called and I smirked.
“Maya Frost,” I replied and he nodded jumping into the car. The driver left squealing the tires and I couldn’t help the smile that tugged my lips. I turned back unlocking the door and sliding in making sure it locked firmly behind me.