Bleak Devotion by Gemma Drazin Page A

this monster living with you? You discuss it so normally. These things killed my family and my friend right in front of my face! You all are talking about it like it's something I'm going to just get over and forget. Stuff like that you don't get over. You never forget!”
    Deborah nodded and responded in a quiet tone. “We've all been there. My daughter was your age and so full of life. You remind me of her. She was killed first as I looked on, unable to do anything about it. My husband and I were married twenty-seven years. Twenty-seven. He died in my arms, a painful death. I thought I could fix his wounds, but nothing worked. He screamed and screamed and screamed.”
    Deborah closed her eyes, hiding the tears shining within them. The hand that was propped up on the counter beside her clenched into a fist. “I truly do feel your pain. The aliens that took my husband's and child's lives are the worst creatures I have ever met. I pray every day that they get their penance.”
    No one said a word. Jessica had closely controlled the emotions in her world since the nightmare began. This continued assault on her senses was almost more than she could bear. She staggered against the wall behind her, gasping for breath. Zach reached over and held her arm, supporting her.
    “Most here have stories like mine,” Deborah continued, the venom gone from her voice. “We do feel your pain, Jessica. The thing is, Blade does too. He's not like the rest. If you choose to stay, and I hope you do, you will have to learn to get along with him like the rest of us have. When you do, you will see what the rest of us see.”
    Deborah looked intensely into Jessica's eyes for a moment and then turned toward Julie. “Best get on with your chores. The day's a-wasting.”
    Julie smiled at her, but it looked tight and forced. “I'll take off then.”
    “ I'll be in the barn if you need me.”
    Jessica kept her gaze down as Deborah left the room. The woman had somehow managed to make Jessica feel bad about the situation. It wasn't fair. She wasn't the one running around killing people. Whether it was fair or not, guilt pricked at her for losing control like that. They could have all lost their lives. Her throat felt thick and uncomfortable. She forced a swallow, trying to get rid of the sensation. It didn't help.
    “Are you okay?” Zach whispered.
    Jessica closed her eyes for a moment and nodded. “I'm fine.”
    Ben snorted. “Welcome to the cabin, kid.” He turned around and left the room.
    Julie bent over and pulled a giant pan out of the cupboard and began singing softly to herself. Jessica felt like the alien. Though she was human, she was the outcast that didn't understand. To have someone close by banging around pots and pans like the invasion never happened made the sharp feeling more acute. Zach hovered over her, scuffing his foot lightly against the tile.
    Steeling herself, Jessica attempted to thrust her anger aside to be dealt with later. It was directed at one person in the cabin, and the monster wasn't in the room, Julie and Zach were. They didn't deserve her wrath, even she didn't understand their keeping a pet monster. Months of training concealed the anger within her like a tightly wrapped birthday present. The only problem was the gift inside jumped around, threatening to break through the wrapping paper.
    Turning toward Julie, she asked in the most civil tone she could muster, “What do you need me to do?”
    Julie beamed at her with a genuine smile that sent a forgotten warmth through Jessica. “Do you have much experience cooking?”
    “ Yes, but only in ruining food.”
    “ Why don't you wash the potatoes then? They'll be an easy one for you to start on. You'd better get used to them anyway, we eat a lot of them around here. It's best if you like them.”
    “ I do.” Jessica walked over to the sink.
    Zach chuckled and went to the counter to work next to Julie. “I hate them. This has only made me hate them more, but