Chapter 10
Vesper
He had two hearts, and he couldn’t tell me where those had come from.
A tail of a dragon.
Tongue of a serpent.
Fangs of a vampire.
Claws and horns of a demon.
Torso of a thick fae woodsman.
Lower half of his body, a bull.
He bore the face of a bull. Once soft with fur, it had petrified in the instant his spirit settled into the vessel.
Because of lightning. I didn’t ask questions.
After just those details, I was overwhelmed.
There was so much more to him, fragments that were beyond understanding, and perhaps his as well.
I was almost certain there were two hearts, but doubt crept in.
The erratic rhythm of his body's beats left me confused, unable to grasp the full picture.
I was torn between wanting to uncover the truth and fearing what I might find.
How did I know about these heartbeats?
Because he held onto me for the past three days while we slept.
Three days I’ve been in his protection and in the arms of someone else.
It was Oryx's vessel, yet it had once belonged to another soul. Now, Oryx possessed it, but the history of its former owner lingered. His Lord had constructed him from fragments of other vessels, pulling Oryx’s soul from the… Under Shadows to restore him to the living plane.
Which I have decided is like the Underworld of Greek Mythology. That was the only way I could describe it.
I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Was this ethically… okay?
It was absolutely insane, yet strangely compelling.
On one hand, bringing back a spirit to inhabit a body seemed impossible, even unnatural.
But on the other, wasn’t Leo attempting just that?
In my world, don’t psychics regularly try to contact spirits, seeking answers so the living can find peace?
The boundaries between life and death felt blurred, and I wasn't sure whether to question it or accept it as a part of our reality.
I remember when I was so distraught over my mother’s death I thought about seeing a psychic but thought better of it. She was dead, and some psychics were out to get money anyway, right?
Could Oryx be lying about all of this? I shook my head internally. I don’t feel like he is lying to me, I don’t feel like there is an underlying cause of him bringing me here. He was so… innocent
You know, besides the blood bath earlier.
My little monster had grown on me. He liked his head pats, late night talks, making me food and to be completely honest I liked his company. I don’t remember the last time I’ve had an enjoyable vacation with someone I liked talking to other than my mother.
Learning about him had been an experience. The traits he possessed were all much like the animals that created him. At least, that was the only way I put it to some of the strange things he did. Such as, his wanted to make his den comfortable and beautiful at the same time.
One might assume that a person would desire such decorations, but Oryx elevated this inclination to an extraordinary degree.
His walls were adorned with an array of gleaming objects, including polished silver dishes, ornate plates, and even gold and silver jewelry that caught the light.
The walls were also graced with exquisite paintings depicting serene meadows, vibrant scenes of nature, and cascading waterfalls that seemed almost alive.
Oryx cherished the idea of sunshine, yet during all the days I've spent here, gazing out the window, the sun's rays never managed to pierce through the glass and fill the room with their warmth.
So his dragon side? Dragons like a hoard of pretty shiny things? Or so I’ve read.
The blankets he possessed were luxuriously soft, woven in deep, rich hues that seemed to capture warmth.
Each day, he meticulously cared for them, ensuring they remained pristine and inviting just for me.
His dedication extended to washing the same sets of clothes for me with diligence, as if engaged in a sacred ritual.
Despite my efforts to remind him that I was a human being, he continued to regard me with the gentle care and attention one might bestow upon a beloved pet.
He still put the chain on my ankle, and I wasn’t happy about it. But the only way I could ever get out of this and go home was to earn his trust. I felt I could do that in a month anyway. Patience, I had that.
Oryx was fiercely possessive. Whenever his Lord summoned him, typically during meal times, he would be forced to leave. Each time we heard his Lord’s voice, Oryx would emit a low, menacing growl, his claws unsheathing, and his entire body would tremble with a dangerous energy.
It was as if the demon within him was clawing its way to the surface. I had never encountered a demon before, the sheer malevolence radiating from him was unmistakable. It made me feel hot all over.
Like, unnaturally hot, between the legs.
And when he would gaze at me, if only he possessed eyes, I could almost imagine them softening.
He would nudge his cold, bony skull against my cheek, a chilling contrast to the warmth of human touch.
In a voice that seemed to echo from a distant void, he would promise his return, and then, with a sinister edge, he would threaten that no matter how desperately I screamed, my cries would dissolve into the emptiness, unheard by any soul.
Um, yeah okay thanks?
Overall, he was a confusing monster, but it is what it is.
I hated to admit it but I was getting feelings I shouldn’t have for him. He was lonely, just as I was. Kindred spirits is all that we were. The Stockholm Syndrome was real and I was being pulled into this crazy beasts net where one day he will become too hungry and eat me alive.
I rolled back onto the pillows and spread out like a starfish. This has become more complicated than what it should have been.
I had a monster for a friend and my body just hadn’t had a release in a while, that’s all.
The door creaked open, wide enough for Oryx’s horns to come through. He shut it quickly and made sure no one was behind him to come in. I’m not sure why he would check, but he looked so damn guilty.
His Lord didn’t know I was here and I don’t think he wanted him to know either.
Getting home in a month was going to be even harder if that was the case.
“I brought food,” his gravelly voice said.
Oryx’s hooves clopped over the hardwood floor as he came to the bedding. He held out the plate and this time, instead of steak like it normally was, it was a plate of pasta with a chocolate cake on the side.
Which was unusual because I was used to the same thing for every meal.
Did he learn something new?
“We have a new servant at the estate,” grumbled Oryx. “He is in charge of making the meals now.” He huffed and sat beside me.
I raised a brow and held the plate closer to me to inspect it. “Is that a bad thing?” I lifted up the fork and took a bite.
Oh sweet baby… whatever deity exists.
Oryx crossed his arms. “I suppose not. But how will I show my Lord I care for him now? He doesn’t let me do anything else for him. I try to help but he pushes me away.”
My heart squeezed in on itself.
What kind of Lord was this? He sounded like a complete douche. Could he not see that his creation was begging for attention? That he had to steal me to even make a friend?
I squeezed my fork in my hand.
“Oryx, your Lord is a grade A dick.”
Oryx gasped. “You mustn't call him that.”
I growled back at him. “Why not. He’s hurt your feelings, in turn it hurts mine. You don’t want that do you? I can’t stand it... how he treats you.”
Oryx folded his claws together into his lap.
Oryx let out a deep sigh. “My Lord is… complicated,” he murmured, his voice tinged with sadness. “He has his reasons for keeping his distance, for that I am sure. He is very smart.”
I set the plate of pasta aside, suddenly losing my appetite as I turned to face Oryx fully.
“Everyone has their reasons, Oryx. But that doesn’t excuse cruelty or neglect.
You deserve better than this. He made you, doesn’t mean he can excuse your existence.
Just as a mother and father create a child, doesn’t mean they put them aside. ”
He looked at me, his expression unreadable without eyes to convey his emotions.
“I am but his creation, a creation of his will. He put my spirit inside this vessel, with memories of my past life I do not know. I feel I owe him my second chance. To serve him. He is a creator. I should have a purpose.”
I shook my head, feeling a surge of anger on Oryx’s behalf. “You are more than that, Oryx. You are a living being with your own thoughts and feelings. You deserve kindness and respect, just like anyone else. You didn’t ask to be here, he brought you.”
For a moment, there was silence between us. And then, unexpectedly, Oryx reached out a clawed hand and gently touched my cheek. It should be a startlingly tender gesture from someone whose appearance was so fearsome, yet not from Oryx.
“Thank you,” he whispered softly, his voice laced with gratitude. “Thank you for seeing me as more than just a monster. For trusting me.”
I covered Oryx’s hand with my own, offering him a small smile. “You’re welcome. And remember, you’re not alone in this. I’m here for you, no matter what. Friends, right?”
As we sat there in the dimly lit room, an unlikely pair bound by circumstances beyond our control, I realized that maybe, just maybe, there was hope for both of us yet. Hope for friendship in the unlikeliest of places. Yet still somewhat forced.
Maybe mom was working beyond the grave for this. Giving me something else to hold onto rather than sitting in a basement full of dead bodies.
I picked up my plate to start eating again when I noticed Oryx’s head drooped. He snorted and shook his head.
It was hard to read him, I was used to seeing facial features and now I had to learn his body language.