Chapter 9
Inkiri carried me back to our room. I was half-asleep, and he kept making all the best clicking noises, so I knew there was no reason to be fully awake.
I dozed off again with him cuddling next to me on the floor bedding, keeping me warm in his arms. His clicks faded when he drifted off as well.
I came to probably a few hours later, but it wasn’t the next morning. It was still dark out, and Inkiri was fast asleep, spooning me. All was well, basically, except I needed to pee.
I wiggled out of his arms as carefully as I could, and he didn’t so much as stir. I smiled at the sound of his deep, even breaths. Worrying about me all this time had to have taken its toll on him, even if he wasn’t one to show it much. He definitely deserved to rest.
I rolled off the bed and got to my feet.
The faint outline of the windows was all I could see, so I felt around the room by touch and memory.
I was super proud of myself for making it into the bathroom, and when I slid the door shut behind me, I actually found a light switch in there. This place was really great.
The light was milky, but it was still too bright for my drowsy state. I got my business done, hit the switch again, then headed back to the main room.
By the time I got there, I didn’t feel like lying down again. Maybe I’d slept too much, or maybe there was some kind of jetlag happening between here and Earth.
Whatever the case, I decided I’d go and get some fresh air.
I felt for the basket of clothes and found it with my big toe in the kind of slapstick way that made me glad it was dark in the room and my monster with night vision much better than my own was still breathing slowly and steadily with sleep.
I tried to find the right clothes, but it was difficult in the dark. I ended up with Inkiri’s, going by the length of the sleeves. It was his shirt, which easily reached to my knees, but it would have to do. So attired, I felt my way to the sliding door that led outside.
The night air was cool, and I took a deep breath after closing the door behind me. The scent of the blooming moors was heavy on the air, heavier now than it had been during the day, and when I stepped up to the railing of the porch, I gasped.
The moons were clustered above, three bright, perfect coins the darkness, and their combined light made the pale purple and bluish flowers in the garden stand out like a mirror of the starry sky. It was so pretty; prettier than anything I had seen in a long time.
“You look like a ghost, you know.”
I let out a muffled yelp and nearly fell on my ass when I spun toward the speaker, and my heart thundered, pouring the fear I knew so well after running from monsters for two years straight into my bloodstream.
A shadow to my left moved; horns, head, bright eyes.
I froze, and it took my brain a moment to recognize the false alarm.
It was just Vergis. Maybe not entirely a false alarm, then.
I had to tell my lungs to breathe again. “You effing scared the bejesus out of me.”
He cocked his head, the moonlight scattering across his horns. “Did you pee yourself?”
“What? No! Of course I didn’t pee myself.”
“Then I didn’t really scare you.”
“What the heck kind of logic is that?” I said that, but honestly, if I hadn’t just been to the bathroom, he might’ve made me pee myself.
“What the heck kind of dress are you wearing?”
“It’s not a dress. This is Ink’s shirt, not that it’s any of your beeswax.” I took a moment to compose myself. “So, uh, you guys got back, huh. You changed into your old clothes.”
Vergis snorted. “Yeah.”
I could have been wrong, but I thought there was something in his voice. Something sad, or maybe…something wistful?
Keeping my fingers crossed that he wouldn’t gut me for it, I asked, “You okay?”
“Look at you, a precious human worrying about poor monster me.”
“I… Sorry. I mean, I don’t think you’re a monster, just… I’m sorry, okay? For caring. Forget I asked.”
Heavy silence fell between us, and the minutes ticked by. I was back to watching the pretty flowers sway in the night breeze when Vergis sighed and stepped up next to me.
“You’re difficult to hate, you know? It would be easier if you were as much of an asshole as all the other humans are.”
“I, uhm. Okay. Sorry, I think? I can try to be worse.”
“You sure you’re not Canadian after all?”
“Yeah. I mean, yes. I really didn’t mean to pry. I’m glad. That you don’t hate me. I don’t hate you either.”
Vergis leaned on the railing and looked up at the sky.
“I’m happy he’s happy with you. But it’s not easy to remember that sometimes.
” He turned his head toward me. “Especially when you’re this twink.
It’s really half a miracle you made it as long as you did back on Earth.
Someone like you should’ve been eaten a long time ago. ”
“I told you, I’m not a twink, and the monsters probably figured I wouldn’t taste good and wasn’t worth the effort.” Then I considered the events of the day. “I may be a princess though, and apparently everyone’s decided I’m hangu now, so maybe it doesn’t really matter if you call me a twink.”
More silence fell, but eventually Vergis sighed again. “Whatever you say, princess. I’ll respect your twink wisdom.”
He was just the worst. “Better my wisdom than yours. I mean, how does it make sense that unless someone pees at the sight of you, you didn’t scare them?”
“Funny, princess. Oh, I didn’t get a chance to mention this earlier, but just to remind you; if you hurt him, I’ll gut you and string you up by your intestines.”
Vergis didn’t have a lot in the social graces department, but that was okay. He made up for the lack in the effectively delivering threats department.
“That thing with stringing me up is new. You didn’t say that before.”
“Didn’t I? Must’ve slipped your tiny human brain.”
“Excuse you, but I will have you know my brain is just the right size for my hornless skull.”
He chuckled. “Fuck, you really are a weird one. I’m still not totally convinced you’re playing with a full set of cards, but whatever.” He paused, then: “Congratulations, I guess.”
“Thanks. You were a decent bridesmaid.”
“You’re aware I carry several knives on my person at all times?”
“Fine. You were an awesome bridesmaid. Sorry I didn’t throw a bouquet of flowers at you or whatever the custom is here on Aer.”
“Dude, you’re just asking to be knifed.”
I could tell he was smiling when he said that. That had to be a small miracle. Too bad it was too dark for me to really witness it.
We watched the flowers and the moons together in silence for a while longer, and I was pretty sure Vergis was a little less bitter when I left him there to sneak back into bed with Inkiri.
I’d stolen him from Vergis without even knowing it, before Vergis had ever gotten a chance with him.
I had my happiness now, but I hoped Vergis would find the same, knives and all.