I figured, why not share a story I'd been hiding away...let me know what you all think! (and if there's any errors)

...***...

The rakshasas were coming.

I could sense it. A whole heard of them, rumbling across the forest, wrecking trees and stirring up a dark storm of dust, destroying the serenity of the environment.

A lesser hunter would have to fight off the nerves to go meet them in battle, but I wasn't fazed. I mean, the heard was nothing special, just your garden variety rakshas spirit, always eager to cause some trouble.

At the foot of the hills the little rasclas were scrambling around, devising a plan. Their goal was to get to the shrine at the top of the hills, to find the heart, a gem that gave the forest its life and greenery, a source of immense power. And it was my job to protect it.

The big obstacle to their goal was the gorgeous waterfall that split the hill into two parts. The smart choice would be split up your forces, attacking the shrine from both sides.

The rakshasas could barely think for themselves, they chose to go together, from the right. As they advanced, the Yaksha in me grew restless, so I pounced on them as soon as I got the opportunity. I was camouflaged, hidden in the foliage behind me. This gave me the high ground. I lunged at them from behind with my spear, immediately taking out about half of them.

The key to killing them was targeting the point between the neck and the head, as it would kill them instantly . (In he human body, its where the medulla is located). Rakshas will instantaneously regenerate if not cut in this exact place.

The stubborn few who refused to die beforehand were dealt with...exept one. This one seemed to be the leader of the group, seeing as it was maroon in color instead of the usual blueish green. The  most peculiar thing about this creature was the gigantic green amulet around its neck.

It weirded me out at first for how long this rakshas was sustaining my each slash, in fact it seemed to be growing in endurance the more I hit it. Eventually, I realised the amulet was doing it.

It was freaky as hell. Mostly because I had a tool just like the amulet, my secret weapon, the mask.

I was honesty tempted to use it on such a minor rakshas, it was usually reserved for fighting beasts.

Well, what did I have to lose anyway? I had built up a lot of energy simply fighting with this creature that refused to die, so why not experiment.

I stood, arms apart, for a moment, conjuring up every ounce of energy inside me. Then, I summoned the mask.

Dark particles swirled around my right hand like a vortex spontaneously materializing the mask out of my energy.

I put the mask on. Its enormous energy shook the earth around my feet, re-energized me in an instant. Now with every strike of my Polearm, the air  around me would shine a magnificent teal color as a representation of this absolute force.

Immediately, I slit the point in between its neck and head. But peculiarly, a light  blue, ice-looking substance covered it's most vulnerable region. I slashed it multiple times but It would not break! It was some sort of shield!

As I sparred with the rakshas, it began to falter. After all, it was a weak spirit, and whatever power that amulet could give it ran out.

My phone beeped. I figured I could deal with the rakshas later, so I took out my phone.

"Change of plans." I said to the poor rakshas.

"I have to go" I squatted down, to its level. "So, you give me this amulet and never come here again, and I'll let you live. Is that OK? "

I was talking to it slowly, like one would to a stray dog. How could I not feel pity for it, seeing it scurrying away into its little cave, probably traumatized for life. I remembered to take the amulet and place it in my pocket.

Turns out had to end my demon hunting session early because was late for my job, at the cafe.

I used what remaining energy I had from the Yakshas mask to take myself to the cafe, rapidy jumping from branch to branch, I was there in no time

I had to stand outside the front door for a minute, putting on my apron and gathering my hair into a ponytail.

When I opened the door, the place was deserted.It didn't look like anyone was coming in soon so I made myself comfortable on one of the sofas . It reminded me of that time when I came into work drunk and passed out under a table in the middle of a coffee shop, just because I couldn't find any more space to lie down or sit. That had been the longest time in my life I'd ever stayed in one place.

"Is that seat taken?" a young woman asked, walking up beside me.

My eyes shot up from where I'd been looking. I hadn't realized I was staring, I hadn't realized anyone else was in the shop with me until she spoke. She had long, light brown hair, with a wholesome look to her. I had the slightest feeling that she resembled someone I knew, or had seen before.

"I'm sorry miss, I'm actually a waitress. I didn't notice you...would you like anything to drink?."

, I asked, handing her the menu.

How could I have not noticed such a beautiful girl? How could I even go around being unaware of someone so tall? And beautiful. She looked gorgeous, really, and very young too.

She read over the menu before giving it back to me.

"No thank you, I already ordered something but if you don't mind-"

"I can get you a drink," I offered.

She gave me a smile and a small nod. I couldn't shake the feeling that she reminded me of somebody.

I got to my feet and went towards the counter.

Inside, Micheal—our one and only barista, was playing Candy Crush on his phone for the third consecutive hour.

"Heads up. We got a customer."

I pointed to her. "Wants a...caramel macchiato."

"Holy hell Aditi.Where'd she come from. She looks like she hasn't eaten...like ever."

"I don't know,  she kind of just showed up."

He passed me the drink.

"You want a burger with that too? She looks like she could use one."

Micheal laughed at his own joke, as he always did whenever I talked about customers who were attractive.

"She does look hungry. We shouldn't interfere  ,though."

I grabbed a few napkins off of our tray and glanced  over to our customer.

She looked up at me, smiling slightly.

I gave her a little wave.

And suddenly, all the feelings of resemblance made sense. That woman was Mohini Kai, from my high school. Only now she was a lot paler, taller and thin as a stick. The worst part was, I knew exactly why she would want to talk with me.

"Hey Micheal, why don't you leave early today. You're shift ends in like, ten minutes anyway. Besides... I think our guest has some business with me especially. "

Micheal raised his eyebrows.

"Ok. Whatever"

Micheal removed his apron, opening the back door to leave, throwing me the key.

"Oh, yeah and don't forget to close the fan in the kitchen, it's still running.", he said before leaving.

And then I was alone in the cafe, with Mohini Kai.

I remembered her, from high school—She usually sat quietly in her corner of the class. Teachers and students barely acknowledged her. She hadn't spoken to me once. I didn't know what her voice sounded like. And yet I knew so many things about her just through plain observation.

She was the captain of the senior volleyball team for three years until she had to drop out in twelfth grade because of declining health. I remember, she would always avoid getting her weight checked during health checkups at school.

I once overheard some girls making fun of Mohini's weight.

They called her a B-O-A-R behind her back. Which doesn't make any sense since Mohini is dramatically underweight, not like a fat boar...

Those words kept dancing in my mind.

Boar...shit

The weird thing is that I never really thought of her as a "person"...you know? She had her sports, she had her people and she had exceptional grades, And yet she stood out among her peers. Or rather, it was like she disappeared amongst her classmates.

Despite this, she was quite popular, but like a pseudo-idol, like the type of person to be adored from a distance but never to be approached.

And as if a switch was turned on, the moment Micheal closed the door, Mohini immediately got up from her chair.

She walked towards the glass shelves full of pastries to her right, carefully observing each pastry.

The only noise in the room was the buzzing of the fluorescent lights and the sound of my heart beating loudly against my rib cage. My palms began to sweat.

This was a mistake. This was all wrong. Maybe I should have called in sick to work.

Mohini turned away from the glass case full of pastries and headed for me.

"Hi!" ,she greeted me.

I tried to respond, but my brain couldn't seem to function properly anymore, so I nodded instead.

We stood awkwardly in front of each other, neither saying a word.

She tilted her head to the side, looking at me intently while trying to keep her expression neutral.

I thought that it was cute, her way of trying to communicate with me.

Her dark brown hair fell gracefully down to cover one of her chocolate brown eyes.

Her cheeks were flushed red. I felt my heart clench painfully again.

I forced a smile.

"Would you like something to drink?

"...Let's not beat around the Bush, shall we. I know you know me."

she said, with the meanest goddman smile anyone had

ever given me.

I gulped, feeling the heat rise into my face once again.

"I..." I stopped, not knowing what to say next. I could feel my palms beginning to sweat more.

"Do you like cats? Like

cats?"

She asked, sounding genuinely curious.

I shrugged.

bluffing, I could tell she wanted something from me. Her mouth was going on and on but her eyes were locked, staring right at me.

"And what about your last name?", she asked

"My last name... Now, why would you want to know that?"

"Just wanted to know"

She checked to see if anyone was there and then proceeded to flash her knife at me.

She was sitting so close to me, I never even noticed that she was hiding a butter knife in her right hand.  She probably stole it from the counter.

"My last name?", I ask again to confirm.

"Are you deaf?"

I was stalling.

I understood what she meant by "last name" but I was desperately trying to keep this conversation-friendly

I had the urge to say"My last name is Iyer...what about you?" but, I decided against it especially because I had no idea what she was planning to do with that knife.

"My last name is Iyer," I said, anyway

"Tell me...your true name, Iyer"

****.

"I don't feel safe giving you that information, I don't even know you"

"Don't lie to me. I saw you at school, you're like a loner.", she said

"I don't know how you would get that impression from me."

I was joking, but the way she said 'loner' left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Why do you need my last name anyway?"

She sighed and said, " You're onto me, aren't you"

She brought her butter knife up to my mouth, positioning it like a drill in front of my left cheek.

"I'll carve your teeth out"

"Jesus Christ! What do you want from me?"

"I need you to stay silent about this situation"

"I'll do that"

She slowly brought her knife down and set it on the table.

I took a sigh of relief

"That's not enough!"

She swiftly brought a stapler up to my mouth and... well

"Ka...ah", I yelped

She had stapled my cheek.

A Stapler!... I was so distracted by the knife in her right hand I never anticipated a stapler to be in her left.

"You'll also need to cut the crap and give me your true name now", she said

I was writhing in pain and bleeding out of my mouth, doing anything in my power to not scream.

****.

...Now she knew I was a Yaksha...

...***...

A/N: New chapter every few days! Be prepared!

...Also: rakshasas is plural, rakshas or rakshasa is singular and rakshasi is the female one....