Page 29 of Buckle Up, Buttercup

Off to my left, Lemon looks like Lemon except her vampiric tats are gone and her eyes are a beautiful bright blue. Next to her, Furyon’s a dark-skinned human with white hair and pale blue eyes. Strikingly handsome.

A giant man with pitch-black hair tinged white at his temples stands on the sidelines, looking through one of the hallway entrances expectantly. He’s got to be nearly seven feet tall and hugely muscular, his thighs barely contained by tight jeans and a white collared shirt open enough to reveal salt-and-pepper chest hair.

“Damn, Shroud looks good as a human,” my mom mutters.

Dad slaps her thigh with a little tsk. “Don’t be gettin’ any ideas, woman.”

She barks out a laugh.

Everyone acts normal around us as the giant screens announce the team will be coming onto the field shortly. Shroud brings his hands together, rubbing them like he can’t wait to do whatever’s next. I’ve never been more thankful for field-level seats so I can see what’s going on with the couple.

“There you are!” a small voice echoes up the entry corridor, and Shroud breaks into a huge grin, opening his big arms wide. It takes a few seconds for a human woman to come into view. She’s shortish, maybe five-foot-six; she jogs to him and then hops into his arms. Long chocolate hair cascades down her back in shiny waves. She’s plump with a great ass hugged tight in cutesy jeans.

Shroud pulls her into his arms, closing his eyes as he buries his face in her neck. He says something quietly, but I can’t hear it from this far away.

Someone announces the team, and they come onto the field. I can’t pull my eyes from Shroud and the woman as he sets her down and takes both her hands. They have a brief exchange, and then she steps back, looking around as if uneasy.

Annnnnd that’s my cue. Pushing past Jasper, Jack, and Jace, I walk onto the sidelines and make my way toward the newcomer. When I halt next to her carrying the book, she looks over at me, her expression unsure.

“Hey, I’m Bluebell,” I chirp, holding a hand out for her.

She eyes it, looking between Shroud and me. “What’s going on here?”

“Welllll,” I wave at Shroud, “I’m guessing my friend here just let you know this town is actually a hidden monster town, and he’s not actually human, even though you met him looking like the hottie he is in this form.”

She puts a hand to her forehead, feeling like she’s expecting a fever. “I’m going crazy, that’s it. This is not happening.”

“Oh, it’s happening,” I say again, keeping my tone light. “We can prove it, and Shroud can go first, assuming he’s okay with that.”

“It’s still me, Vela,” Shroud says quietly. “I’m the same man who met you in that bar. The same man who’s been sending you gifts. The same man who asked you to come meet me today for the game. This is my team, and I’m a player. I’m not human; I’m a gargoyle.”

She takes a step closer to me. “No. Monsters aren’t real. This is…a dream. A weird dream. Am I drugged?” She’s starting to look like she might freak out.

The sheriff joins us, his shiny star badge clearly visible on the front of his tan uniform.

“Hey there, Vela, my name is Sheriff Bishop Rygold, and we’re mighty pleased to welcome you to Pine Gulch on behalf of my friend Shroud, here. What these folks are telling you is true. The arena and its inhabitants are glamoured to appear human, but most of us are monsters. Shroud ‘n’ me? We’re gargoyles. But I asked my friend Bluebell there to join us because she’s human like you, although a black magic witch. She grew up here.”

“And I can answer any questions,” I offer. “But why don’t we show you the truth of what we are? It’s so fun, I promise. Makes the human world seem so blah in comparison. My folks met like this, actually. Totally adorable and disgustingly in love to this day." I flash a brighter smile and lift the welcome book. “We’ve literally got a welcome book for newbies!”

Vela barks out a disbelieving laugh, but waves at Shroud. “Okay, I guess. Show me the truth.”

Shroud smiles as the sheriff closes his eyes and whispers the glamouring spell. Everything happens in reverse, a glittering golden line moving out from the center of the arena toward us.

Vela squeaks and leaps over it when it passes beneath her. Then she jolts and shrieks again when she sees Shroud.

He wears the same clothing, but now he’s in full gargoyle form with beautiful dusky-purple skin and long arched horns. His wings are tucked tightly at his back, and he’s got his tail wrapped around a thigh, probably so he doesn’t wrap it around her and scare her to pieces.

“You’re safe,” I remind her when she backs into me with a hand over her heart. “You’re totally safe, Vela. We’re all friendly, and you can leave any time.”

Shroud lets out an unhappy noise at that comment, but it’s something I always say because it's every human’s first question.

Am I a prisoner?

“Shroud?” She takes a step closer to him. “I mean…you look like my Shroud but…am I dreaming?”

He unsnakes his tail then and wraps it around her wrist, using it to pull her closer. “No, my sweet. You’re not dreaming. It’s still me, and I am so, so glad you’re here. Normally, I’d play in the game, but I asked for this game off so we could watch it together. Will you sit with me?”

She eyes the tail around her wrist, then looks up at him. “Can I touch your face?”