"You've got the entire grocery to yourself, Gobshite! What are you shopping for at this late hour?" The words escape my lips before I can stop them, my Irish accent thickening with irritation. The fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting everything in an unnatural glow that makes my eyes ache. I shouldn't be here - not now, not when I'm feeling this restless.

The store is nearly empty, just me and the kid restocking shelves in the cereal aisle. His head snaps up, eyes wide like a spooked deer. I can hear his heartbeat quicken, smell the sweet fear rolling off him in waves. It takes every ounce of my self-control not to step closer, to let the centuries-old predator take over.

I force a tight smile, adjusting the hood of my jacket to better conceal my face. The bell above the door jingles, and I stiffen, instinctively calculating exit routes. Another customer. Perfect. Just what I need to complicate things further.