Under cover of night. I lurk, watching, creeping, slowly moving from the shadow of one tree to a boulder. Crickets were making a matting sound, burning in the fire of the mating season. The sounds of the night. I must avoid the dry leaves on the ground, but they are everywhere. A crunch, crunch that is sure to come, will attract unwanted attention. A knife, is it sharp enough? It doesn’t matter. 

Under cover of stars, lovers kiss, touch, lick, oblivious of the jaded one, me. They don’t know I am watching. They don’t know I can smell that rancid musk of cheap perfume Asher calls his potion number 9. Kisses and then they are lost, blind to all around them. 

Waiting, I am waiting for the perfect moment. They reach the point of no return. I take my gun and let it go. I hit my target. I hit again. They are asleep. I walk in slow motion. It does not matter if I step on the leaves. This part of the forest is only lived by the Fae that guards it, and it’s animals. I am next to them. My knife is ready. They are asleep. Perfect targets. They hurt me badly, but I am better than them. I take my darts. I should, do it. Asher dumped me right before Junior Prom. I know I can, do this, but I don’t. They must live and experience the pain I live. I must plan.

Under cover of night, under cover of starts, I wait no more. I go home to a peaceful sleep. I let two enemies live. But they will live with pain soon enough.