Chapter 6
Oryx
This female touched my arm, willingly.
I lowered my head and inhaled deeply, my nose brushing against her arm.
She was clad in clothing similar to mine, yet hers was in far better condition, unblemished and intact.
Her entire presence was enveloped in that unmistakable aroma.
The delightful sweetness of honeysuckles lingered richly in the air, mingling with the calming fragrance of jasmine.
She wanted to talk about what I am, well, rather, what I was made of, which was many creatures put together to create me. I had no name, I was no particular species.
I was a monster.
I grunted and rubbed my snout on her extended arm. I didn’t want to talk about me, I wanted to savor how someone, a living creature, did not run from me. It was a first and I would forever remember this moment.
Then an idea struck me.
I could have this moment for always because she will not run from me ever. Because I would keep her.
As a pet.
I leaped to my feet with a surge of adrenaline and wrapped my arms around her waist, hoisting her over my shoulder with a forceful swing. Her scream pierced the air as she instinctively clutched onto my horn for balance. But that didn't faze me. Not in the slightest.
My horns were unyielding. I was strength incarnate, a fortress of muscle and bone that could withstand anything.
“What the hell are you doing!?” She pulled on my horn harder as I bent down to pick up the bloodied spell book.
“We travel, it will take time to return. I cannot run for fear of hurting your tiny human body.”
She scoffed and wiggled in my grasp. I put my hand on her backside to steady her and found it to be quite soft as well. I liked it.
“Excuse me! You can’t touch that either!” She yelled.
I pulled my hand away. “I’m sorry, I did not know. What else should I not touch?”
For now.
I walked in the direction back to the estate. It would take time to make it there, perhaps not until tomorrow noon time.
“Nothing at all would be preferable. You stink and you have claws, and I would rather walk on my own. I need to get back!”
I chuckled and held up one of my pet’s tiny feet. She would not be going home. The portal had already closed, the moon already past its highest point. She would be with me in this realm forever now if my Lord would let me keep her.
I paused and grabbed the side of my horn. He would not deny me, would he? I destroyed everyone else, I brought them punishment, their death.
I gently set my pet down on the ground before me, her long hair cascading over her eyes like a curtain. With a sharp exhale of frustration, my pet flicked their head back to clear her vision, then firmly pressed her palm against my chest, her fingers splayed out as if to emphasize her irritation.
“Do not do that again.” My pet wagged her finger at me. “I will walk on my own, you big brute.”
If I had lips to smile, I would. My pet was not scared to scold, scratch or bite. Yes, my pet was the perfect pet.
“Come now, pet. I need you to answer a question for me. It’s important.”
They narrowed their eyes at me and fixed the material around their waist. “Pet? Did you just call me pet? That is not my name, its—”
“Did you partake in any of the spell casting?” I stood tall over her, my voice dark and menacing. Even if she smelled divine, my body reacted to her and I wanted to scoop my pet up and keep her in my dwelling so I could have her always. My Lord will not let me keep her if she partook in the magik.
My pet blinked several times. “What? What Leo did back there? The whole circle and chanting and stuff?”
I nodded and growled.
“No way! I was trying to get them to stop! He wasn’t even doing it right, he was calling on random spirits. Leo was an idiot!”
I stood right in front of her. My pet’s voice was unwavering and her heart was still the same rhythmic beat.
As my Lord had taught me, she wasn't lying. In fact, I could not smell fear from her either. I liked her more and more.
“Good.” I went to reach for her to put my pet over my shoulder again and she dodged my hold.
“I’m going to walk, you bone head, and as I said before, I need to get back. I don’t belong here.” My pet rolled up her sleeve and pinched her arm. My pet winced and growled, continuing to pinch harder and harder.
I snarled and opened and shut my jaws with a snap.
“My pet is being naughty. You do not hurt yourself.” I pulled on her arm and tugged it away from her.
Do pets normally hurt themselves like this?
“I am not your pet. My name is Vesper and I can do as I wish. I’m trying to wake up from this dreadful dream and find myself in my cold dark basement and go back to my job. Not here to deal with you.”
I winced.
Even my pet knows words to hurt me.
But it isn’t enough to give her up. Not when she smelled so lovely. She cannot go back to her job. She is here, with me. At least until the next full moon.
“Pet Vesper, you cannot leave. Not until the next full moon, the portal is closed.”
My pet rubbed her arm and jerked her head up at me. Her mouth opened and closed and glanced down the path she had just ran from.
I liked her mouth. Pouty, small. Her tongue is smaller, blunt. What would it be like if she licked me on the snout?
My pet was so pretty all over. Her slender neck, the way her chest curves underneath her clothing, the way she held her body. My pet was everything I wasn’t and I wanted to keep her with my treasures back in my den. She would be my greatest treasure of all.
I will feed, bathe, dress, and take care of her.
I will show my Lord just how well I can take care of my pet Vesper, just like he takes care of his pets in his lab.
Unlike him, I will keep mine alive. I can talk to mine.
Perhaps my pet will read to me, and our bond will grow.
I also won’t have to disturb my lord again with such unimportant things.
Yes, yes this would be for the best.
“You mean, I have to wait, a whole month? What will I do until then?”
I stepped from side to side with my hooves. I knew this answer.
I would convince her to come with me instead of forcing. It will make my pet feel she had a choice.
I chuckled to myself while she paced around me.
And during this time I will convince her to stay. She will live at the estate and see how wonderful it is. It will overall make her feel she had a say in all of it.
Win-win.
I lowered my head and shook it. This would work, I felt it deep inside my body.
Without warning, a jarring thwack slammed into the side of my horn, followed by a resonating thud.
I jerked my head back violently, spinning around in every direction, eyes wide with fury, searching for the intruder.
A guttural snarl ripped from my throat, and I huffed with raw aggression, my powerful hooves pounding the soft soil beneath me with an intensity that shook the ground.
Once I realized there was nothing amiss I panicked when I didn’t see my pet, only to sniff and find them on the ground next to me, buried in the fog.
I killed it! I killed my pet, and I only had her for moments!
I reached into the fog, and pulled her into my arms. There was a bump on her head, a scrape on her temple. Yet, a heartbeat still sounded.
I sighed in relief but that blood looked so tempting.
Unable to restrain myself, I let my long tongue ravenously lap up the droplets of blood on her skin. My whole body convulsed violently. If I had believed the taste of her sweat, the intoxicating scent of her skin was divine, then what in the depths of frenzy was this?
Something roused within my trousers and I groaned at the uncomfortableness.
My pet tasted so, so good.
I wanted to drink more of her.
A pet that is also a source of food. This was good, my Lord would be even more inclined to let me keep her.
My tail behind me wagged excitedly as I listened to their heartbeat. Still strong and heavy, same as before.
“Pet Vesper? Are you sleeping?” I shook her gently but my pet did not wake.
I hurt her and I cursed myself for it.
These humans are weak and I would need to make her wear soft blankets on her head to prevent from hurting her brain. Or perhaps a skull, like mine? My Lord can replace her head if need be.
I scooped my pet up into my arms and I trotted down the path. I tried my best not to jostle her. I might bump her arm on a tree branch and it could fall off.
I couldn’t have that. My pet was living and had all her original body parts and I wanted her to stay all intact. I didn’t want my pet to have mismatched parts, she was so pretty. Like a flower, but more.
I scratched my skull. No, I should not replace my pet’s head to protect her brain. I would miss the skin on her face.
So soft.
My claw ran down her cheek as I continued our journey. It was slower as we traveled and as expected it was near noon when we arrived.
The estate was overgrown with old brush and trees.
Deep dark flowers overtook most of the garden.
My Lord used to have a staff that took care of the grounds, but he never has told me a timeline of when this occurred.
It has been only me and my lord for a long time. We only had each other for company.
I do my best to be his companion but even some days he has trouble looking at me.
I carefully adjusted my pet in my arms and slowly approached the towering, shadowy mansion looming ahead. The spires could not even be seen from the fog blanketing the higher rooms. The day had more light than normal, but I attributed that to my pet in my arms.
I could hear the birds flap their wings over head, the snarls from a nearby predator that would never come near my monstrous form.
My Lord’s home was an intriguing blend of materials, with sections constructed from sturdy brick and weathered stone, while other parts are crafted from aging timber.
In its prime, this mansion was beautiful.
The painting hanging in the ballroom captured its original state, depicting the stately dark grays and deep reds that captured every part of this side of the world.
I wonder if my Lord would be happy if I helped paint? Would my pet want to do such projects with me? I do not like to be alone.
I pushed the doors open with my shoulder and they creaked as the rusted hinges gave way. Dust fell from above and the wooden floors moaned under our combined weight.
A loud crash came from the basement, my Lord’s work space.
I winced when I heard more glass shattering. Now was not the time to show my Lord my pet Vesper. The question was, when was the right time to show him the pet I could not let go?