Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
OTIS.
This should be the scariest time of my life.
But instead, the past week has been the happiest of my life.
Even as the danger of our mission edges closer, I won’t let it burst my bubble of happiness.
The tension in my gut has been overridden by the love blossoming in my heart.
Love. Yes, even after such a short period, I am certain of my feelings for Clem.
We orcs are romantics by nature.
A future with Clem is all that I wish for, a youngling or two if the gods and goddesses smile upon us.
I am in constant wonderment at the ease of our communication, the fun we have, our passionate lovemaking.
My life goals are modest; a happy home, a family, a loving partner to share my bed.
It’s simple, but profoundly fulfilling for orcs who find such a life.
Seems like I may be one of the lucky ones, after all.
Our evenings after work go like this: We prep dinner together, make love, eat dinner, make love again. Wake in the night and make love all over again.
We’ve also visited Mom twice this week. Each time, she seems to come out of her shell a little more.
It’s wonderful to behold. Two days ago, Clem styled Mom’s hair into plaits, and tied them with ribbons from the market.
Today, Mom asked Clem about her life up in Sparkle City.
Clem hesitated, but then told Mom how her own mother disappeared when she was nine years old.
Mom’s eyes filled with tears, and then her arms came around Clem and they hugged each other close.
I truly believe that conversation was healing for them both.
I had to turn away to hide a tear in my eye.
As we leave the care home now, I say to Clem, “It’s Mom’s birthday next week, I can’t believe it’s come around again. And this is a special one. She’ll be turning fifty.”
She looks up at me. “That calls for an extra special cake then.”
“Sure does.”
“Have you reminded your siblings?”
I shake my head, heave a sigh.
“I’ve let them know about her last two birthdays and they didn’t turn up. They just send a card and a present. Every year, I have to witness the disappointment in her eyes.”
“Maybe this time they will come, being her fiftieth and all.”
I bend and kiss the top of her head. “I love your optimism.”
She looks up at me, and her mouth opens as if she’s about to say something, but then she seems to think better of it.
I hug her to my flank as we walk out. Turn the topic to something lighter. “Want to take a trip to the orchards?”
Her face breaks into a beaming smile. “What, now?”
I nod.
“Ooh, yes, let’s go get berries,” Clem exclaims.
And so instead of going home, we head to the south side of level one. As we pass the elevators that head down to the lower levels, Clem looks at them wistfully. “I’d love to go and visit Sammy.”
“Soon, I promise.”
“I want to meet this Traggar guy too. It feels like he’s a stepbrother almost, since he’s turned Jax into a werewolf.”
I rub a finger along my tusk. “I guess there’s a certain logic in that, not that anything that happens in the Labyrinth is really logical.”
“Or up in Sparkle, for that matter, when you start to unpack it.”
“How d’you mean?”
“Well, it’s no more logical that humans should be living in a domed city full of constant entertainment than it is for thousands of monsters to be living in tunnels underground, manufacturing everything we buy. I guess whatever we’ve gotten used to, we assume it’s normal.”
“Yeah, which means it could one day be normal for humans to mix with monsters.”
“And work with monsters,” she adds.
“Marry monsters, even…” I reply.
She doesn’t say anything and I kick myself.
It’s too early to even think of that kind of commitment.
Shut your big mouth, Otis Cane.
I pin my lips, my tusks tight on either side of my mouth, and focus on driving. The road starts to wind between high rock walls as we leave the main trading area of level one.
After a moment, her hand sneaks across and lands on my thigh, and her fingers give a little squeeze.
I look down at her pretty human fingers on the rough material of my jeans. It feels like she isn’t rejecting my words, that maybe, with that silent squeeze, she’s telling me she might like the thought of marrying a monster.
I curl my big fingers over hers, and we drive like this, in companionable silence, her little white hand resting on my leg, my big green orc hand engulfing it, and my mind buzzing with the possibilities of what the future could hold for us both.
CLEM.
When Otis draws up the jeep, I look out the window and gasp.
There is an oasis of greenery in front of us.
Trees. Fields. Flowers.
Looking upward, the rock wall is barely visible, covered as it is in trailing grapevines.
“Welcome to the orchards.” Otis lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it.
“They look like they go for miles.”
“They do. This area has to feed all ten levels of the Labyrinth with fresh fruit and vegetables.”
“And berries,” I add.
“Yeah, at this time of year there are loads of berries.”
“How do the berries know what time of year it is?”
Otis scratches a tusk. “I dunno. Vibrations from Earth’s crust, maybe? No-one really knows for sure, we’re just happy to have berries.”
We hop out of the jeep and walk along a gravel pathway.
The air is full of the heady scent of flowers and ripening fruit. I hear buzzing.
“Bees!” I exclaim.
“Stripys, we call them. You’ll see why,” Otis replies.
I do see, as one lands on a flower nearby.
I go over and gaze at it in awe. Yes, it’s stripy, but the stripes are a bright iridescent turquoise interspersed with black, except at the neck, where the little critter sports a golden ruff.
They are far more beautiful than the cultivated bees we have back in Sparkle, which live in plastic hives.
The stripy takes off and hovers near my face, its little gossamer wings fluttering fast, and the bags on its legs stuffed full of pollen. It has a cute snub-nosed face, and huge dark blue eyes.
“Oh, you are so cute.” I turn to Otis. “Do they sting?”
“No, they’re totally harmless, and their honey is delicious.”
I smile as the stripy zooms away to another flower, and we continue to wind our way through the fields. Monsters carrying baskets pass us, their mouths stained dark red from eating berries.
“Folks come and pick fruit here on weekends,” Otis explains. “Or if they don’t feel like doing the work, they can buy them at the stalls.”
As if to prove the point, he strides over to a stall and buys us a punnet of mixed blueberries and strawberries from the vendor, a little mouse-like critter with big papery ears.
“What species are they?” I ask him when he returns.
“Trilby mice. They’re the workers here. They’re small and agile and pick fruit real fast, so they get to have first cut of the profits.”
“You’re gonna have to pinch me,” I laugh.
He reaches down, smiling, and instead strokes my cheek.
“Maybe I’ll spank you later instead,” he murmurs huskily. My body lights up recalling our recent make-out sessions. We’ve been having fun with bondage. I stand up on tippy-toes and whisper back, “Yes, please!”
We keep walking, sharing our berries, and I’m aware of the curious but friendly gazes of passing monsters.
“Our orchards in Sparkle are nowhere near as verdant as these.”
“Yes, because although we taught humans how to farm, and supplied fertilizers, we kept the best soil for ourselves. I guess it’s a little act of revenge. To grow healthier and even more delicious food, despite being kept prisoners.”
We sit on a bench in an arbor. Peaches and other stone fruit hang heavy on branches above us. Before us lie more fields of fruit, and the light is soft and warm, like an early summer day.
“So this is your favorite place, huh?” I ask.
“Other than One Moonbeam Lake.”
“Where your mom said you used to go for picnics as a family, right? Can we go there too, Otis?”
“With you being human, I wouldn’t risk it.”
“Why not?”
“There’s been a rock fall recently, and there’s a hole that opens straight onto the Earth.”
It dawns on me. “Is that where Sammy breathed Earth air and then got really sick?”
“Yep. I can’t risk that happening to you.”
“I could wear a mask.”
“It wouldn’t guarantee your safety.”
“That’s a shame.” We’re both quiet for a moment. “So you think Sammy and Arlo’s baby could breathe air?”
“Yeah, that’s why the human authorities want to get her back so badly. That youngling’s genes could unlock exactly what they’ve been searching for…”
I shudder. “Neither Sammy or I will ever go back to Sparkle.”
There’s a moment’s silence, then Otis takes my hand. “Clem—”
“Yes?” I look into his eyes. They are soft and full of emotion.
“I want you to stay here too. Forever. By my side.”
OTIS.
Shit, have I come on too strong?
For a long moment Clem says nothing, her eyes wide and unblinking, and I rush on into the space, lumbering around like the clumsy orc I am. “I-I know it’s early days, but… when I met you, a flame lit in my heart, and day by day it’s grown stronger. I love you, Clem Summers.”
And finally, oh gods of the Labyrinth, hallelujah, she says softly, “I love you too.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do. Otis, I’ve never felt this level of connection, physically and emotionally to anyone before. It’s blown my mind, to be honest.”
I scoop her into a huge hug. I must squeeze too tight, because she lets out a little squeak.
“Sorry, that was a bit enthusiastic,” I growl. “It’s just, you’ve made me so happy.”
“You make me so happy too. What is happening, Otis? I mean, first Sammy with Arlo, and now me and you. Is there some magic bringing us together?”
“I don’t know exactly, but I do know the evil bonds that tether us below ground are weakening. Now that monsters can mate with humans, that is a sure sign.”
We sit holding hands, digesting this together.
But most importantly, I’ve declared my love for Clem Summers.
And she loves me back.
I feel so happy, I want to weep like a youngling.
I stroke her fingers. “I wish I had something tangible to show my commitment.”
“That’s easily fixed.” She bends downs and picks some flowers from around our feet and quickly turns them into a bouquet.
I take it from her, get down on one big knee and hold it out.
“Will you, Clem Summers, do me, Otis Cane, the honor of becoming my mate, my lifelong partner? Even marry me one day? Not this moment, but you know, down the track when all this is over…”
Clem places a finger on my lips to stop me rambling. “Don’t spoil it. It’s an unconditional yes, Otis. To all of it.” She places her palm against my cheek. “I never really believed in love at first sight, but maybe it was love at first cookie.” She giggles.
“So the way to a woman’s heart is through her stomach, you reckon.”
“Absolutely… and maybe a few other places.” She dimples.
I sweep her into my arms and kiss her hungrily.
Am I the happiest orc on all ten levels of the Labyrinth right now?
Dead set I am.