make a meal outta me

The population of Mystic Falls was relatively small compared to most places in America, but Mikey couldn't help but find himself overwhelmed by the people. People everywhere. On the streets, in the shops, in the bars, and if one of those people drifted too close, he found himself tensing up. His body grew rigid as their presence threatened his personal space. His probation officer told him he would take some time until he adjusted to his new surroundings, and it would be a whille until the taught behaviours of prison disappear.

He knew it was going to be hard, but not this hard.

It was weird, almost as though he missed prison. Life on the inside was easy to an extent. Someone there telling him what to do. When to eat, when to work, when to sleep, even when to shower.

Mikey had been chewed up by the penal system and spat back out into society 20 years later, barely resembling the 18 year old who went through those gates. Everything had changed since he had been inside, but the biggest change had been technology. There had been cell phones in prison, but he never bothered with them. The hassle of hiding them when the guards come round to do a sweep wasn't worth it for a few extra phone calls and text messages, though some of the other men used them to send interesting images to their partners on the outside.

Soon after he arrived in Mystic Falls, Chase helped him to get a cell phone and showed him different bits such as social media apps and music streaming services. It was mainly there for 'emergencies and so his probation officer can check up on him.

It was hard to keep himself entertained during the day whilst his brother was at work. There was only so much daytime TV a person could hack. Realistically he needed a job, but who in their right mind would help an ex-convict with zero years experience. Having gone straight into jail at such a young age, Mikey had never actually had a job.

Instead of moping around Chase's apartment Mikey got dressed and went for a walk. With every step he took, he waited for a guard's voice to come bellowing from behind to say he was out of bounds, and get back inside, but the voice never came. Soon the town grew quieter as he found himself heading out towards the woods.

This was better. Tranquil, almost silent, something which Mikey was still growing accustomed to. The sound of nothing bar his own breathing and a few animals scattering around the woodland area. He pushed on through the woods, not sure where he was heading. Apparently, there was some kind of electronic map on his cell phone that could help him get back home if he became lost. For now, he was relishing in the ability to just walk as far as he wanted. Hell, he could walk to New York if he wanted to.

He was free.

It wasn't just prison he was free from either. He was free from the Agnellis and every person connected with that rotten family. He had finally broken loose from the tight leash the gang kept on him, but that didn't stop Mikey worrying they would come looking for him as though he hadn't paid the price already for the death of Georgie.

As his feet carried him through the leaves, a fox suddenly bolted out in front of him, causing him to jump a little, but the small animal came to an abrupt halt, looking up at him. "What?" Mikey spoke with a slight frown on his face, looking down at the fox, but then the animal morphed into something else. Right there in front of his eyes. A woman, without a stitch of clothing on her body. Not even a pair of socks.

"Oh shit" Mikey stepped back quickly, diverting his eyes away from her naked body, not wanting to look for too long—though it had been a long time since he'd seen a real-life naked woman.

He was more concerned about the fact the woman was bare, rather than the fact she had just transformed from a fox into a human. This was nothing compared to the scale-like creature that took over his body once a month. He would give anything to be a cute little fox running around the woods.

The naked woman's sharp tone caused Mikey to glance back at her "A please and thank you wouldn't go amiss" Still, he slipped his jacket off and tossed it towards the stranger.


ROXANNE BRASCHI

Why didn’t he get to turn into a petite innocent-looking fox, rather than a snake? Glancing at the naked woman, with her harsh demand of a coat, she appeared to be anything but innocent. Mikey still hadn’t got the bottom of his whole Kanima curse, despite years of trying. The Agnellis told him it was related to trauma but there was a lot of that to unpack, even at the young age, he was bitten.

Now he was released he was hoping to figure it out, though any connection with the supernatural lay in New Orleans— a place he would never return to.

But then maybe this naked female could help him? Clearly supernatural herself.

He freely handed over the jacket that didn’t belong to him in the first place. It was Chase’s. Mikey owned barely anything. The next few months, possibly years, were going to be an uphill struggle for him. He'd been out less than a week and he understood why so many people chose to commit crimes again. Either lack of money or a part of them missing being infatuated. He’d seen it happen plenty of times over the years. You bid farewell to someone and they end up behind bars again a few weeks later.

Thank God he had Chase. Without him, he'd be screwed. He was grateful his brother didn't turn his back on him like his parents did, otherwise he would have given in to the darkness so long ago. Chase kept him going.

The fox lady offered him an apology for her cutting tone to which Mikey shrugged. Ironic the first woman he happened to interact with after prison was naked. At least she was attractive. Naturally, his eyes drifted back to her bare body as she put Chase’s jacket on, not bothering to pull it closed over herself leaving the middle section exposed. “Nice tattoos” He commented, nodding towards the leaf etched into the center of her chest, though he’d obviously noted the others printed along her skin.

Mikey narrowed his eyes at the brunette, “How can you tell I’m a Kanima?” He didn’t think it was obvious? Though his knowledge of Kanima’s came from the family who destroyed his life, so no doubt there was a lot they left out when giving him the 101. He arched his brow as she asked if he could change at will, “What’s this? Some show and tell shit?” He sighed softly, “But yes I can” It had taken him years to gained some kind of control over his shift, but he was still a slave to the full moon. When that came round there was no controlling his shift, no matter how hard he tried. It was easier to give in. Mikey raised his right hand. Slowly the grey scales started to cover his hand, and his nails grew longer into a sharp point. After a few seconds, he lowered his hand again, as it faded back to normal, “Are you some kind of shapeshifter?” Truthfully he’d never heard of someone turning into a fox.

ROXANNE BRASCHI

Being a Kanima was something Mikey kept to himself, even with other supernaturals. It was something he was ashamed of. The wolf bite didn’t have the desired effect, instead, it turned him into a slave. Every full moon he was reminded of that, but now this stranger was also reminding him. Sparking unsettling memories in his mind, the ones that had forced him to take on this scaley creature. Ones that he needed to deal with otherwise be tied to a master until he drew his final breath. He frowned when she told him she could sense it. What the fuck did that mean? Whatever, she’d called him out of it now, there was no point denying what he was.

She had already shown hers though. The cute fox that leaped in front of him moments ago. He didn’t particularly want to show her his scales, exposing that vulnerable part of himself that he tried to cover up, but she struck him as the type of person who wouldn’t take no as an answer. Plus, there was no one else around to witness the skin on his hand and face change slowly to mirror that of a snake. He would give anything to have his skin transform into fur. Something that was soft to the touch, rather than cold and abrasive. There was nothing attractive about what he could become. The fox, however.

Mikey’s heart rate started to increase as the female stepped closer. Part of him wanted to jump back, the other part was longing to feel her touch on his face. His body craved affection from another, yearning to be embraced. His body firmed up as her hand met his face, brushing over the scales which covered half of his face. His gaze drifted off into the distance, as she inspected his appearance. His voice had become lodged in his throat as she spoke. Her scent mixed in with his brothers as his coat hung from her naked body. Only inches between her bare tattooed chest and his own. It made him uncomfortable but also a rush of excitement.

He shook his head at her question, “No” His voice was quiet as he drew his eyes back to hers. He didn’t want to go into the details as to why he couldn’t, assuming the woman already knew what it meant to be a Kanima. The scales disappeared from his face, but the stranger’s hand remained.

His heart rate only increased more as she slowly ran her thumb over his cheekbone. Mikey wanted to step back so badly, telling her to stay away. His body was faced with a fight or flight response, but he stayed put.

“You woke up like this?” Mikey asked, sounding like he wasn’t convinced by the stranger’s explanation. He was amused by the female’s comment but didn’t crack a smile. His expression remained serious, as always, “Okay, I’m not a weird snake. I’m a—” A what? “I would say I’m more of a lizard than a snake” He paused, his eyes still on her, “At least an eagle can’t swoop down from the sky and carry me away” The faintest of smiles appeared on Mikey’s face as he teased the female back. In his Kanima form, there weren’t many animals out there capable of taking him down, so in that respect, he felt pretty safe. He was at the top of the food chain, as such, whereas a fox would be towards the bottom. Yet, it didn’t make him feel any better about being a Kanima.

“You can control your shift then?” He would be immediately jealous if she could as if he was given the choice he would forever remain in his human form. The scales would be kept away forever.

ROXANNE BRASCHI

Mikey winged a brow at the female’s explanation. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe, rather it sounded far-fetched, which was ironic coming from the man who was controlled by another. Or perhaps it was his distrusting nature, forever thinking people were being dishonest to him. Lies seeped through their pores as they spoke to him. A pretty woman approaching him half naked in the woods? It was questionable.

Pressing his lips together for a moment he let out a short laugh to the woman’s quip, “I think if I was to pop my tail off it would kill a bird” Or so he assumed. Every full moon was the same. Waking up the morning with no reconciliation of the night before. Prior to being sent to jail he would wake up in various places, sometimes alone, something with Georgie. Mikey begged for Georgie to tell him what happened, but he always refused. It was just another thing to hold over Mikey, another way to control him. But in jail he woke up in the same space. In a cold disused cell deep within the jail. A place where no one could find him.

Mikey simply shrugged in response to her comments about lying, but her next actions took him off guard as she grabbed his hand, forcing it to press against her bare chest to feel for her heartbeat. Her skin felt so delicate beneath his palm, warmth radiating through although he wasn’t sure if that was from his own skin. His jaw tightened as she held his hand in place. Her heart was beating at a normal pace, but that indicated nothing to him as his was racing. Slamming hard into his ribcage with each beat, as his mind was trying to process what was happening. She glided her thumb over his cheekbone, causing him only to tense up more.

Affection. His body craved it.

He wanted to run. Run back to Chase’s house, to somewhere familiar and safe. Even as a teenager he never bothered with girls, all his attention on the gang. The only person who had come close to him in that respect was Gianna, and that fell apart the moment he was sentenced to 15 years. No woman in their right mind was going to wait around for some on and off boyfriend.

Mikey glanced down at the fox, trying to remain calm and collective. He didn’t want her to catch on that he was panicking internally. This was the first woman he’d touched, in this way, for two decades. There was that part of his brain that was yelling at him to rip Chase’s jacket from her skin, tossing it aside as he pinning her up against one of the trees, but he was so ridgy, unable to bring his free hand to touch her.

After what felt like an eternity Mikey spoke, clearing his throat before he did so, “Don’t worry, I believe you” His voice was low, but more words stuck in his throat as he wanted to ask what she was looking for. Why was she bothering with someone like him?

ROXANNE BRASCHI

Mikey had never been a fan of small talk with strangers. In fact he wasn’t a fan of talking in general. The amount of words he spoke per hour was bordering zero at times. He was more of an observer. Silently absorbing everything around him. The thought of a cashier asking how his day was irritated him. Luckily there was none of that shit in prison. Everyone was straight to the point and no one really cared whether you were having a good day or not. It was about the only thing that suited him. So when he was faced with making ‘small talk’ with the female in front of him, it unnerved him. He wasn’t even sure what to say to her. Clearly she wasn’t having a good day, being caught naked in the woods by another.

He wanted to know her name, but cute fox was better. It was unforgettable.

“Good.”— Her words cut through the thick tension like a knife.

The actions that followed thereafter were a surprise. A shock even. She stepped forward, pressing her lips against his. His mind hadn’t comprehended what was happening, but his body took control. It was like riding a bike. She placed him on her body, though he didn't need the guidance. It was already wandering in that direction. The palm of his hand was aching to touch her bare skin. There was a warmth to it, brought by the coat that was now discarded on the floor.

His mind was still scrambling.

The female pulled him to the floor, her lips returning to their original position. On his. There were so many words just stuck in his throat. Who the fuck was the woman? Why was she on top of him? No words left his mouth though, just a quiet groan as her lips met his neck as his hands remained firmly on her body. A squeeze in his grip as she trailed down.

Removing his hands from her lower body, he placed them on her shoulders, pushing her off him slightly as he sat up. As soon as he sat up he removed his t-shirt, tossing it aside. Next to his brother’s jacket. As soon as the fabric left his skin his hands were back on the female. Hands snaking around her neck, through her hair as he pulled her back to the ground. Longing to feel his chest on hers.

He forgot how exhilarating it felt to be close to another. He stopped overthinking the situation and allowed natural instinct to take the wheel.

ROXANNE BRASCHI