It wasn’t as hard as he’d expected it to be. The sun was bright and there were few clouds in the sky, which left Malcolm with a well-defined shadow. He walked slowly, turning with the speed of a tank in order to give Rose time to change directions with him.
He stopped by the grocery store first. Malcolm wasn’t sure what Rose had in mind for dinner, so he made a show of pulling out his phone and talking into it to disguise their conversation.
“I forgot the list, honey,” he said. “What did you say you wanted again? Pork chops?”
“Let’s do chicken,” said Rose, keeping her voice low. “Chicken stir fry. I’ll help you pick out vegetables.”
He smiled, and together they gathered vegetables and a few other items Rose insisted he needed. They paid for the food, brought it back to the apartment, and then, at Malcolm’s insistence, set out again.
“I’m not going to be able to do this forever, you know,” said Rose. “At least not without getting a recharge from my focus activity.”
Which is sex.
“I love it when you talk dirty,” said Malcolm. “And don’t worry, we won’t be too much longer.”
He headed downtown, and then into a woman’s clothing store. It was surprisingly busy, and nobody paid much attention to him as he started down one of the aisles.
“So,” he said, with his phone out again. “What’s your style?”
“You… want to buy me clothes?” asked Rose.
“Feel free to reject my generosity if you can’t handle it,” said Malcolm. “Just thought you might be more comfortable in something other than ratty yoga pants and a boy’s t-shirt.”
“I mean… that’s really sweet,” said Rose. “I’m just surprised. It’s been a while since anyone has been nice to me like that. From what little I can remember.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” Malcolm winked at his shadow.
He slowly walked through the aisles, stopping now and then and thumbing through the clothing racks. Rose took longer than he ever would have imagined to decide, and he was almost beginning to regret his offer when she finally told him to bring the clothes to the dressing room.
Malcolm glanced around the shop, waiting until nobody was looking before stepping into the dressing room. Rose materialized out of his shadow with a cute, appreciative smile on her face.
“Let me try these on and see what fits,” she said.
“Right.”
Malcolm waited just outside, feeling a little awkward. It didn’t seem like anybody cared all that much about him being there, but it was still a little hard to feel comfortable in the feminine space.
“Alright,” she whispered. “You can come back in.”
He stepped through the curtain, and his jaw dropped as he looked at her. She’d had him grab a set of expensive, black lingerie that was a little out of his price range. She was wearing them, the see-through garments tight and suggestive against her pale purple skin.
She was also wearing fishnet stockings, complete with a garter belt. Her nipples were visible through the material of the bra, and her hair fell loose across shoulders. She grinned at him and spun in a circle.
“Well?” she asked. “What do you think?”
“It’s… I mean… wow.” Malcolm blinked, trying to focus enough to form a thought.
“I just thought I’d try them on,” she said. “You know, to see what you thought.”
What I think is that the temperature in this tiny dressing room just went up ten degrees.
“The fabric looks soft,” said Malcolm.
“Here,” said Rose. “Feel it.”
She took his hand and pulled it to her breast. Malcolm stepped in a little closer. Rose licked her lips and kissed him, one of her legs lifting slightly as she pushed her crotch into his.
“Excuse me?” A shrill voice came from just outside the dressing room. “Sir?”
Malcolm swore under his breath, turning around just as the curtain opened. Rose was gone in time to not be seen, but one of the store employees was gesturing for him to leave the dressing room, clearly displeased.
“Sorry,” he said.
“Our policy doesn’t allow for anyone to bring more than one article of clothing into the… dressing room?” The employee glanced at him, and then behind him. Malcolm realized what had happened after a couple of seconds.
Rose brought the clothes into the shadow with her. Clever girl.
“I didn’t,” he said. “I don’t have any clothes that don’t belong to me. You can strip search me if you want.”
The saleswoman flicked her eyes down, and Malcolm realized that he was still excited from seeing Rose in the lingerie.
“I think you should leave,” said the saleswoman.
Malcolm grinned at his shadow as soon as he was outside of the store. He waited until he’d passed by a crowd on the sidewalk before whispering down to her.
“That was amazing,” he said.
“You just turned me into a shoplifter,” said Rose. “Just because I’m a spryte doesn’t mean I don’t have morals!”
Malcolm laughed, but her words gave him a moment of pause.
Rose does have morals. And empathy. And a sense of right and wrong.
“Bring me back to your apartment,” she said. “It’s hard for me to use my powers like this. The extra clothes were tricky to bring into the shadow.”
“Right away,” said Malcolm. “Though I think it makes me an accessory to a robbery, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, you just wait,” said Rose. “I’m going to get you back for this.”
CHAPTER 26
“Hold on a second,” said Rose.
They’d been walking for a couple of minutes, maintaining the slow pace the ruse required. Malcolm glanced down at his shadow on the sidewalk, and then around the area.
“What is it?” he asked.
“That bar over there,” said Rose. “I remember something about it.”
The sign out front was made of painted wood and read “Terri’s Tavern”. Two lantern lights were placed on either side of a staircase that led down to the entrance below. Malcolm frowned, trying to think of whether he’d heard of the place before.
It’s not one of the popular spots in town. Though, I still can’t legally drink yet, so I’m not exactly the most up to date on something like this.
“What can you remember?” asked Malcolm.
“It’s related to sprytes and demons,” said Rose. “I know it is. I’m not sure how, though. It’s just… fuzzy when I try to think about it.”
She sighed, and for an instant, Malcolm’s shadow flickered as though she was losing her form. He glanced around nervously.
“Let’s get you home,” he said. “I think we’ve overdone it a little for today.”
They made it back to his apartment about a half hour later. Rose hopped out of Malcolm’s shadow once they were inside, still wearing the lingerie, arms full of clothing. She changed into a much more practical outfit consisting of jeans and a loose black blouse, and the two of them sat together on the couch.
“Do you think it might lead me to the monster I’m looking for?” asked Malcolm.
Rose frowned at him.
“Maybe,” she said. “Though, I feel like you shouldn’t use that word around other sprytes and demons. I don’t mind it, but… it’s not the word they would choose for themselves.”
Malcolm nodded slowly.
“Just how much do you remember?” he asked. “Has more been coming back to you over the past few days?”
“Bits and pieces,” said Rose. “I’m not sure how I feel about it. It’s like trying to remember a dream. I just get these flashes. Some of them… aren’t fun to think about.”
Malcolm reached over and set his hand on top of hers.
“Would it help to talk about it?” he asked. “I don’t want to force you if you don’t feel comfortable.”