Let’s Talk About Sex
Kit/Kat
“ W hy are you going to see Dr. D again?” Salem asks on a yawn. “You seem like you’re all better.”
I smile as he scoops up Dottie, putting her on his shoulder as I get my things. Oriel is waiting patiently for us to move, but I feel the tension coming off of him at the question. He wants to know, too, but fuck if I’m going to tell them that I’m very curious about their reproduction. That seems like a statement that I can’t walk back, even if I put in a context that somehow attaches to schoolwork.
Though how I’d do that, I have no goddamn clue.
“He wanted me to get checked one more time because of the… thing… and the injuries from class. I think I’m okay, too, but I’d hate to be wrong.” Salem lumbers out of the row and I follow, knowing O is right behind me. “Seems like it’s not a big deal to let the doctor make certain.”
“True,” Oriel agrees. “Since they’re inching us into the training for the Games, I think making sure you’re coming along well is a good plan. It’s just not like the Doc to worry so much. The doc left us to figure out on our own plenty of times, then chastised us for not coming back to check shit out.”
I give him an amused look as we leave the room. “Probably because you’re all too stubborn to listen to him and he knows it. Dank doesn’t seem like the kind of demon to waste his breath.”
“Have we even asked how Kit Kat gets to call the old bastard a nickname and he barely speaks to us?” Salem glares at a group of demons standing by the elevator until they scatter, then holds the doors for O and me to get on. “I’m still wigged out by that.”
“I didn’t know that wasn’t his real name. When he picked me up from the Jamesons’, he told me his name was Dank. We had a fairly peaceful ride after he scared the bejesus out of them, and he dropped me off to Lucian and Jasper once we arrived. Seeing him in that office was a shock, to be honest.”
Oriel scratches his chin as he watches my face. “I know you’re telling the truth, but it’s so damn weird, KK. He’s not like that with anyone here—or anyone in Hell, as far as I know. What the hell did you guys talk about to get on his good side?”
“Just being worried about going somewhere I didn’t know with a weird guy in a plague mask,” I retort drily. “Nothing really but a little advice about being cautious about who I trust and that this place is a shark tank—which it is.”
Notice they don’t argue with that point?
“Well, it's a short jaunt to the admin building, and we’ll wait outside while you get examined,” Salem says firmly. “When you’re done, back to eat and do the Greek review.”
“Planning my entire night, I see.” I arch a brow at them and Oriel has the grace to look sheepish. “I don’t mind if you wait, and I definitely want to have dinner. But I might want to shower and clean up before I settle in to study. I always feel a bit slimy on days where I have Lillabet’s class.”
Salem shivers, nodding at me. “Don’t blame you. She can’t manipulate demons of our level without a lot of effort and prior feeding, so we’re not having as much trouble. Ask Dr. D when you’re in there—maybe it will get easier for you, too.”
It sure as fuck can’t get worse; the bitch still creeps me out.
“I’ll ask him; good idea, Snoozy,” I tease, bumping his shoulder as we descend the steps to cross the campus to get to admin. “I’m glad you’re awake to suggest it.”
“Oi, you were a pain in the ass today.” Oriel gives Salem a sharp glare. “Poor KK had to stomp your foot almost flat to keep you awake.”
“Look, guys. You know I can’t control when it starts, and this stupid Lit class being so late is the fucking worst.” He looks at the kinkajou riding on his shoulder. “Tell them Dottie.”
My girl chitters and waves her tiny fists, making me grin. “I should have assigned her to honk your nose when you drifted.”
“Hey, guys!”
All three of us stop joking until we see X rushing toward us. Their bright flair sticks out amongst the dreary darkness of Discordia. I’m worried they know something by the way they’ve been looking at me since after the dance, but I can’t figure out which of my secrets Xerxes might have gleaned.
As long as he doesn’t know I’m not Kit, then I can deal with the rest.
“We’re taking Kit Kat for a follow up with Dr. D,” Salem says. “You can come if you want. We promised we’d wait in the hall while he gets declared fit for fighting.”
“You know, I didn’t intend for this to be a fucking floor field trip,” I mutter. The more people who join, the more uncomfortable this damn visit is going to be. I know they aren’t coming into the office, but the things I want to know about and why are making me nervous enough as it is. I can’t believe I’m even doing it, to be honest. Sex stuff hasn’t been a blip on my radar since before the attack; I have no idea why my brain thinks I’m ready to think about it now.
Okay, I kind of do—they all make me feel things I didn’t think I’d ever feel again and now I have to know what I’m getting into.
“Come on, then. Let’s get this over with so we can have Purgatory Pizza tonight,” Oriel says as he holds the doors for us. “I’m in the mood for it.”
That sneaky asshole knows food is my new weak spot. I’m going to murder him.
“Master Kit! It is wonderful to see you up and looking well,” the demon says as I come in. “What brings you to my office this evening?”
I smile, my fondness for the first person on this voyage who was kind to me is hard to hide. “I have some questions, Dank. But um…”
He simply waits, his empty eyes and burning visage looking patient somehow.
“Can you… make it so people can’t ‘super hear’ or whatever in here?” I blurt out. My face heats and I have to jump up on the table to keep from pacing in nervousness. “I’d like privacy.”
The air in the room feels very tight for a moment as he nods, and I lick my lips while he walks from corner to corner muttering. When he’s done, the elder demon stands in front of me again. “My bubble will keep most beings from being able to spy on our conversation, Master Kit. There is a small possibility of eavesdropping, but without preparation, this is the best we can do.”
It will have to do; I’m not coming back with an entire cadre of assholes following next time.
“Thanks,” I mumble as I clasp my hands together, hoping to quell both my discomfort and my anxiety. “So, I need to ask questions and since you’re the only person who knows me…”
Dank chuckles, the sound a rough, rusty sound. “Yes, I believe I know what you mean.”
My cheeks go from hot to burning at his amusement and I fight curling into myself. I know the old demon isn’t being mean; this is just a very touchy subject for me based on my past. “Yes, well, because of my… past… I have a lot of problems emotionally around this topic. But… I may need to know and I can’t ask anyone else without poking that bear.”
“I vow to be as accurate as possible without judgment, Master Kit. That is my job and I have been doing it longer than your former country has even existed.”
Another factoid I’ll deal with later, it seems.
“Okay. I don’t know… how demons work.” Before he can respond, I hold my hand up. “I’m learning about magic and types and stuff in class. What I mean is… I don’t know about their… parts.”
The room is silent as a tomb for a moment, then Dank clears his throat. “I assume you mean anatomy and the process of reproduction, yes?”
“Unfortunately.” I look away, knowing I have to resemble a tomato by now and my pulse is racing like the blood is going to jump out of my veins. “We don’t have time for everything , but a little crash course would be very helpful.”
“Yes, I understand, Master Kit.” He shuffles to the cabinet, leaving it open as he rifles through things in it. He comes back with a flyer sized illustration that makes my eyes bug out. “Many single bloodline demons will resemble this, but it varies greatly. They will come into maturity by the time they are old enough to attend university. Maturity does mean the ability to procreate, and there are specific things that indicate potential mates.”
Oh, this is… a lot.
Burying my hands in my short locks, I tug on my hair a bit to reboot my system as I stare at the diagram. “Ummm. So, what are those steps? And are hybrids different?”
The rusty laugh escapes him again, and he nods. “Indeed! Good questions, my young friend. You have not fully emerged yet, but as you do, you will rocket into maturity quickly due to age. That phase is marked by increased demon pheromone production and bodily changes that will point you in the direction of potential partners, or if you are very lucky, mates.”
“Plural?” I squeak. “That’s… normal?”
Dank nods. “Very, Master Kit, especially in powerful demons.”
“How is that… demons haven’t… ‘scented’ me yet? I mean, I’m around ones with animal shifter sides, too. Doesn’t that make it easier to give me away?”
“It does, but not at this time.” The doctor pauses, thinking for a moment before he glides over to the cabinet again as he continues. “I can assist you with that when the time comes. Being the royal physician means I can keep magical things others cannot. But as for right now, neither the full blooded demons nor the hybrids are used to human scents. They know that’s what you register as currently, but very few spend enough time on the surface to recognize the different variants.”
Thank fuck for that.
“What about demons who are in the sex business, like Cubi?” I ask, thinking about my least favorite professor and my genderfluid friend’s line. “Would they know?”
“Their magic will sense arousal, yes. Until you fully emerge, it won’t tell them much more since the Cubi are pansexually oriented by design.” The flaming headed demon returns with a large bottle with an eyedropper stopper on top. A label with that damn language I can’t fully understand yet looks ominous on it, but I know that Dank wouldn’t hurt me. Whatever this is, he’s trying to help me.
“What’s that?”
“Ah, yes. This is very special, extremely hard to make, and banned from use by those who are not sanctioned by the royal houses.” I blink as he opens the bottle, showing me the sparkly purple-black liquid inside. “It tastes awful, but two drops daily before bed will assist you in keeping your pheromones from drawing those around you when your maturity begins.”
“It also renders reproduction impossible, no matter what hybrid or full blooded demon is involved.” I open my mouth to ask, and this time the avian skull looks as if it’s grinning. “And many demon species can also reproduce with both female demons and males, so that is important, Master Kit.”
Holy motherforking shirtballs, I have no idea how to respond to that.
The demon continues as I go through about fifty emotions at once. “Hybrids will have special anatomy that corresponds with either their demonic nature or their animal nature. I will endeavor to look for information on the ones I believe might be of interest to you, but it will take some time. Will you be able to return occasionally?”
Licking my lips again, I feel the dryness in my throat as panic grips me. Oddly, I don’t feel anxious about the act of sex like normal as much as my ignorance of their kind and inexperience. This is so fucking strange that it’s like a fever dream. “Um, yes. I’ll… figure out some excuse. Besides, it’s likely someone will take a chunk out of me in some class eventually.”
“I’d prefer the former, but I will send a missive when I have more for you. For now, take my bottle and I will start the process of making enough to last throughout the year.”
This demon is definitely my favorite in the entire realm of Hell, and I have to stifle the urge to hug him. “Thank you, Dank. I really appreciate how kind you’ve been to me.”
“I don’t often get the chance to assist with something this important, Master Kit, nor do I encounter beings who do not immediately fear and revile me based on my appearance. You are quite special in my opinion.”
He’s the first person to think so and I’m going to cry if I think about that too hard.