Chapter 38
Vesper
The teacup clinked against the metal sink as I set it down, still warm and smelling faintly of whatever liquor Benedict had been sneaking into our evening tea lately.
I was softening toward Veylor.
Veylor left a bouquet of flowers outside our door one morning. The next day, it was pastries… still warm from the oven. I began taking walks with him around the grounds, letting Oryx trail behind us. It was a silent signal that I was beginning to trust the lich.
And the sexual tension…it was infuriating.
I was drawn to him, and I couldn’t understand why. It was always there, even in the beginning when he was an ass.
He always insisted on holding my arm as we strolled through corridors and along outdoor paths. He gently tucked stray strands of hair behind my ear when they fell into my face. The way he gazed at me from a distance was filled with longing, and it was tearing me apart.
Oryx was trying his hardest to make me see the good in Veylor, but he didn’t need to anymore. I was seeing it and hearing it in my own way. I just had to open my heart, just a little.
Even now, as I stood in the kitchen, Oryx and Veylor were in the laboratory arranging limbs and organs across the metal tables. Soon, Veylor would perform the ritual that would call souls back to these constructed vessels…giving new life to those who had perished because of his mistakes.
If I were on Earth, I would consider it unethical to revive a soul, believing that fate had decided their life was complete. However, here, my perspective shifted. I was more open to the idea, particularly because Oryx was the result of such a revival.
My sweet, innocent, and dirty talking monster that was infatuated with me.
Pieces of Veylor's past have been falling into place…fragments about the massacre he blames himself for. Oryx lets details slip during our conversations. Something about a ritual gone wrong, an unexpected fae appearing at a court gathering, chaos erupting before anyone could stop it.
Getting rid of the evil, bringing a new beginning.
The so-called "court system" remained a mystery to me, though Benedict had mentioned it wasn't worth my time to learn. According to him, the courts were merely a fancy name for territories that ruled over fae that had money and power. Now they weren’t ruled by anyone in particular; now there were elected officials.
The names of the territories have just remained the same out of tradition.
I wasn’t one for politics. I wouldn’t worry about it since it is now taken care of. But I did want to know what caused this big… massacre and what Veylor is fixing exactly.
I looked through the big window facing the rear of the property.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed something near a large tree that resembled an oak, though this one had large blooms of black and gray flowers.
A bright orange creature emerged from behind the tree’s dark bark, and my attention was instantly drawn to the striking contrast in colors.
I watched as an orange tabby cat stumbled into view.
While the cat came toward the window, its mouth opening and closing, like it was meowing, calling to me, the large primordial pouch swaying, reminding me of…
George.
The orange cat from the funeral home.
I squinted my eyes, watching the feline come closer and closer until it went out of view. Suddenly, the cat clawed its way up the stone and I saw two paws appear on the stone window’s ledge.
Big eyes stared at me and meowed helplessly.
This. Cat.
I wrestled with the rusty latch until the window finally gave way with a groan. The morning air rushed in, carrying George's desperate meows as he wriggled his plump body halfway onto the ledge, front paws scrambling for purchase while his eyes pleaded with me to complete his rescue.
“George is that you?”
It meowed again, looking completely defeated as I held him at arms length.
Yup, this was George.
I held him to my chest and petted his head.
How did George get here?
George’s tail flicked back and forth while I walked out of the kitchen. Do I talk to Veylor about this? Would he know how a cat from earth came here? Is the portal broken?
When I stepped into the main entrance of the home, I saw Benedict coming down the main stairway. “Vesper, how are you… Shadows around us, that is a brightly colored feline.”
George meowed again.
“This is George, he’s from the funeral home, where I used to live. I want to know how he got here. Can cats cross through a portal? Is it broken now? How did he find me?”
Benedict's smile was reassuring as he lifted his hands in a placating gesture. "No need for alarm, Vesper. The portal remains intact. Cats possess a unique sensitivity to magical thresholds. They've always been able to slip between realms with remarkable ease. Quite the clever creatures."
Benedict approached cautiously, extending his hand toward George.
The cat sniffed once, then pushed his head against Benedict's palm.
"Cats have always been creatures between worlds," Benedict said, his voice dropping to a reverent tone.
"Legend says they once thrived here in great numbers until they discovered Earth's portals.
They chose to stay there, seduced by human affection and regular meals.
Most fascinating though. In our realm, thousands of years ago, they spoke as we do. "
My mouth dropped. “They spoke?”
Benedict hummed thoughtfully. "Humans have made them so simple-minded, now they're just plump pets. Seriously, check out this belly." He bent down to stroke George's tummy, but George wasn't in the mood. He retracted his paw and swatted at Benedict with his claws extended.
Benedict gasped. “You nasty thing!”
“That’s rule one with an earth cat, you don’t pet the belly. If you called me fat, I wouldn’t let you pet my belly either.” I pulled George away and rocked him in my arms.
Benedict wiggled his eyebrows. “You’d let me pet your belly?”
Oryx stomped into the room and snarled. “Not as long as my hearts beat.”
George let out a meowing snarl of his own and jumped from my arms. He scampered across the floor and ran up the stairs.
"Splendid. Another creature shedding all over my furniture," Benedict sighed, examining the thin red lines across his palm.
He dabbed at them with his fingertips, and when he moved his hand away, I noticed the scratches had already begun to close.
"I assume our feline visitor is now a permanent resident? "
Fascinating.
“I suppose?” I shrugged my shoulders. “I still don’t know how he got here.” I stared up the stairs where George was staring down at me, his tail flicking. He seemed awfully comfortable in a place he didn’t know very well.
Or did he follow me here and has been in this realm the whole time?
Benedict sighed. “The ladies will be excited. I’ll let them know so they can make a shrine for him. Women and cats, I don’t see the appeal.”
I held in my chuckle, and Benedict straightened his vest and strode away.
Oryx licked me on the cheek and pulled me up into his arms, not even asking to pick me up. “I want a story time. Come with.”
I rubbed Oryx’s chest with my hand, feeling the off-rhythm beats within his chest. “You do now, big guy? We haven’t had library time in a while, have we?”
With all of us spending our time separately we don’t get the unlimited time we used to. I never thought I would miss that, but I did. If I come to forgive Veylor more, perhaps we can all spend time together, like a family.
That warmed my heart more than I wanted to admit.
Oryx carried me to the library, it’s brightly lit, but instead of it being empty, Veylor is sitting in the chair by the fire.
What’s he doing here?
“I told Veylor about your interactive stories.” Oryx hunched his shoulders and his ears hung. It was a sign that I usually thought of him as being embarrassed or shy. “I wanted him to listen too.”
When reading to Oryx I would change the voices of the characters. I didn’t realize he liked it that much.
Butterflies erupted in my stomach when I watched Veylor close the book that was in his lap and looked up at me and smiled.
A smile, a genuine one.
And it was hot. Like really hot.
Do not get turned on right now. Even if they both want you, that doesn’t mean anything. Veylor is still on the naughty list.
But he has a nice dick though…
Stop it.
Oryx huffed beside me and adjusted himself. I pointed a finger at him not to say anything, and he nodded in understanding.
Thank goodness.
Oryx grabbed a book from the closest table and passed it to me before settling down on the floor. Veylor remained seated, his chin propped on his hand, a smirk playing on his lips.
"I hope it's okay with you, but I offered Oryx several options, and he selected this book. It's a collection of short stories."
I turned the book over and felt the leather beneath my fingertips. “Short Love Stories for the Adventurous.”
Heat flooded my face.
Oryx nodded excited and his tail whipped close to the blue fire that crackled. “Yes, I want more romantic stories to know how to make our pet happy. Know what kind of dates she would like.”
Veylor chuckled and tucked a long piece of hair behind his ear.
I grinned awkwardly. “That’s very sweet. But maybe we should pick…”
Veylor shook his head. “I think this book would be rather enlightening, don’t you?” Veylor wiggled his eyebrows.
Since when did he get all playful? Was he wanting to see me flustered?
I can give him flustered.
I sauntered to the couch with deliberate slowness, then lowered myself onto the cushions with an exaggerated wiggle of my hips. "Well, if Oryx is so eager to hear this particular story," I said, letting my voice drop to a honeyed purr, "who am I to disappoint?"
Oryx wagged his tail and he sat on the floor. Veylor now had a perplexed look on his face.
Yeah, you fucked up.