Chapter 10 #2
They must be used to seeing the Vyastil around. Quilliyn is one of us, and he is always here. Though he does seem more human than I feel in this moment. I am very out of place, even wearing my very human pink jacket.
“Hey, Brody.” One of the guys with brown hair and a yellow shirt turns to look at Breanna. The tiny bars are clasped in his hands as he grins.
“Hey, Bre. What’s up?”
Then his gaze moves up to me as I linger behind her. His eyes widen, and he fumbles with the irons, nearly dropping them, but I’m faster. My hands fly out, and I grab onto them, balancing them in one palm to hand them back.
The humans stare at me, and I feel my ears start to flutter in embarrassment.
“Dude, he’s holding both of them with like one hand,” the man with red hair says.
I stare down at the bars and realize that I am. Glancing back up, I blink, unsure if I did something wrong.
“Whoa. They must be so fucking strong,” the one with the black hair says as he adjusts his glasses on his small nose.
Brody seems to come to the realization that he’s staring, so he jolts forward and nearly tramples over his sister. I pull her out of the way with my tail, making the four of them gasp in surprise.
“Jesus, he moves fast,” the red-haired one says.
“So fucking cool,” the black-haired one says.
I stare at them, and then Brody holds out his fist. “Fuck, you must think humans are so weird. Sorry for that. I’m Brody. This is Tyler, and this is Chadwick. What’s your name?”
I stare down at his outstretched fist and place the weights in it.
He nearly falls over as I do this, and I quickly reach out and set them on the ground for him, not wanting to injure the weak humans. It only makes Breanna laugh.
“Sorrreeee,” I say as I stand back up, my tail wrapping around my waist again. “Cielo.”
“Cielo,” Brody repeats, and Tyler and Chadwick nod, stepping a little closer.
“By the way, you’re supposed to bump your fist against his, but that was fucking funny,” Breanna says with a small giggle. Then she turns her head toward her brother. “Anyway, Cielo wants some help with the machines. I don’t think the Vyastil work out much, so can you show him what to do?”
“Fuck yeah, I can,” Brody says and then nods to Chadwick and Tyler. “We totally can help you, dude. This is so awesome.”
“You guys are the best.” Breanna nudges me, and I stare down at her. “I have to get back up front. Holler if you need something, okay? I’m here to help.”
And then she’s gone, leaving me with her brother and these two men, each with different colored hair.
My mind moves to Dante’s pink locks, but I force myself not to go there.
Not right now. Instead, I focus on the three men before me.
They blink up at me, and I stare down at them, unsure what I’ve gotten myself into.
“Love the jacket. It suits you and shit,” Brody says.
My ears flutter, and they grin at me.
“But maybe take it off when you work out. Don’t want it to rip or anything. Or you know, if you sweat. Which I don’t know if you do.”
I nod and slip it off, holding it in my arms.
“So, what do you need help with? Like, do you want me to show you how to use some of the machines, or do you want to lift weights with us?”
I stare at the rows of iron bars and then back at the three humans. I find that I’m much more comfortable with these humans than the ones staring at me from the other side of the gym.
I point to the weights.
Chadwick and Tyler smile widely as their hands meet in a slap, and I stare at them for a moment.
Brody lifts his hand toward me and points to it.
“It’s called a high five. Go on. Hit it.
” My palm meets his, and he bobs his head with a smile.
“Totally awesome, Cielo. I’ve always wanted to hang with one of you.
” Then he’s moving to the largest irons and points to one.
“Alright, stud. Impress us. Show me how much you can lift.”
Humans really are strange creatures. They’re impressed by such small, menial feats of strength that I’ve been able to do since I was a hatchling. But I can’t deny how their cheering makes me feel…well…
Good, in all honesty. It feels good. It’s so much kinder than the way other Vyastil have spoken to me.
I can tell these men are well cared for. They have enough money to support themselves and their families and stay well-fed. They are rested and happy, unlike most of the Vyastil in the villages of the Outerlands.
Perhaps they would not be so kind if they knew who I was or where I came from. Perhaps they would look down on me for the same reasons Rathyn used to before Everest came into his life.
I have seen humans mistreat each other.
I have seen the cruelty firsthand.
I have drawn blood and taken the life of one who hurt Everest because he was different from them, and I would do it again. I would do worse should someone ever try to harm Dante in the same way.
But I suppose I’m not going to turn my ears back at the offer of human friendship.
They do not know signed language, and I still cannot speak well, but they’ve encouraged my presence.
And once we have finished with the heaviest irons the gym has, Brody invites me over to the one place I’ve been wanting to be since I walked in the door.
I’m too easily drawn by the scent of a latte. We have nothing like this on Erethar. Food and drink are for survival only, which is no wonder most of my people are addicted to human cum. The taste cannot be described or replicated.
All I know is that it is both healing and it is good.
The latte, though, I do not believe it cures wounds, but it brings me a comfort I’m unused to.
“Order whatever you want, bud,” Brody says. “A reward for all your hard work.”
I don’t have the heart to tell him the work was not hard at all. Instead, I try my best to say, “Lahhhteee,” and I point to the one I want. The worker behind the counter smiles and nods before she begins to make our drinks, and I stand back watching, fascinated.
I wonder what it would be like to do human work. To enjoy my employment. To be compensated for it in more than a ratty straw mattress on a hard floor. This human seems so happy. So do the humans who taught me how to use the machines.
I wonder if I will ever feel so at ease, I think as she places all the drinks on the counter.
“Alright,” Brody says as he leads the way to the tall tables. They sit, and their feet barely touch the ground, but my claws dig into the floor as I balance myself with my tail on the round stool. “What can you tell me about yourself?”
“Myseeffff?” I try.
He looks over at Chadwick, then back at me, and tilts his head to the side. “Is it a speech impediment thing?”
I stick out my long tongue and curl it, then shrug. “Harrrd.”
“Word. I tried to take Latin last year, and bruh, I barely scraped a C, and I think that’s because the professor felt sorry for me.” He wrinkles his nose, and I take that to mean something bad, though I don’t understand most of the words he’s saying.
I believe it has something to do with human education, but that isn’t anything I studied before being assigned to Earth.
“Languages are hard, bro,” Chadwick says. “I learned some Spanish when I had that job at Guido’s doing dishes. But, like, I don’t remember anything except cállete, pendejo.” He gives me a quick look. “Don’t repeat that to anyone. It’s not nice.”
I wince and nod.
“Sorry, dude,” Brody says, then he leans over and squeezes Chadwick’s shoulder.
Perhaps they are lovers. Mates. I’m not entirely sure of human breeding dynamics except that they often choose one partner and procreate, then raise their younglings together.
But I don’t pretend to fully understand. They are so different from us, and I was not selected as breeding stock. When my time comes, I will retreat to the caves so I do not attempt to waste my seed on Vyastil or humans who cannot create eggs.
I still feel a small pang of guilt for letting Dante have it, even if that also gives me a thrill because I wish no one else to have what is so sacred.
But I also want to place it inside of his body. I want to know that it is marking him with my scent.
I quickly shake my head of those thoughts and turn my attention back to the table. “You,” I say, pointing at Brody. Words are coming easier now. “Loooffff. Himmm?”
“Uh, yeah. I love him,” Brody says, then his brows fly up. “Oh, I mean, I don’t love him love him. I mean, shit. I wish. I really want to want his dick, you know? Because he’s my platonic soulmate. But yeah. Nah.”
I blink at him. I don’t understand what he’s saying, but Chadwick seems to because he puts his fist out toward Brody and they knock knuckles.
“Same, bro.”
I nod anyway, then lick the last of the latte out of the cup and give a happy sigh.
“You like that? Do y’all have coffee and shit through the portals?” Brody asks.
I shake my head sadly.
“Bummer.”
I think bummer is bad, and if so, yes. Though I suppose it doesn’t matter now that I won’t see my home world again. But I would give anything to bring coffee back to my family.
I think it would bring them joy in a world that gives them so little.
“Hey, bud,” Brody says in the silence, and I glance up at him. “You got plans tonight? Maybe we can grab dinner or something?”
Grab dinner. I frown as I try to form a response because I enjoy their company, but I wish to be with Dante.
As I think of his name, something pushes against the inside of my temple. It’s a familiar tug, and one that only happens when Dante is near.
And then a voice sounds directly behind me.
“He’s not a fucking circus animal for you to play with.”
Tyler and Chadwick stiffen as Brody holds up his hands. “Bruh. Chill. We’re not being dicks. We like him.”
A familiar arm wraps around my shoulders, and I don’t need to smell him to know that it’s my Dante. But the familiar scent of his soap and his skin is almost overwhelming, and it takes everything I have not to lean in and lick him.
“Well, he’s busy tonight,” Dante says. Then he stops and looks down at me before pulling away and lifting his hands. ‘Sorry. Do you want to have dinner with them?’
‘No. I wish to be with you for the evening meal.’
Dante’s entire body softens. “Good,” he says aloud, then turns back to the guys. “Like I said, he’s busy.” His hand curls around my wrist, and although he has no real ability to strong-arm me into doing anything, I get up easily and allow him to pull me away from the other humans.
We make it several feet before I hear footsteps, and Brody reaches out, tapping my shoulder.
Dante and I both stop as Brody meets my gaze.
“Hey, if we did something shitty, we’re sorry,” he says.
Chadwick nods furiously, and Tyler blinks at us behind those glasses. “Yeah. Seriously. We liked hanging out with you. You’re a cool dude.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Dante’s lip quirk, but he says nothing.
I suppose I’m meant to handle this conversation.
I take a step away from Dante and put into practice everything I’ve learned from Everest. I collect Chadwick, Tyler, and Brody against my chest and squeeze them in a hug.
“Friennnnd.”
They gasp before I let them go, and Brody clears his throat, adjusting his hat and then rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. We’ll be here tomorrow at this same time if you want to come back.”
I look down at Dante. I know I’m free, but it feels like I need permission.
His eyes go wide when he realizes I’m searching his face. ‘Of course! You need friends.’
I need friends? Is that a human thing? Vyastil do not normally need the company of others to survive, but I must admit that I have felt so…so different since Everest came into my life.
Maybe it is one more thing those in power have lied to us about.
“Yes,” I say.
Brody offers his fist, and this time, I bump it the way he’d done to Chadwick, then his friends and I do the same. They seem happy, which is…odd. I don’t know that my presence has ever made anyone happy before.
“See you!”
Dante takes my hand, and I’m careful to keep my claws tucked away so I don’t harm him. He tugs me out the front door, and when we make it to his car, he wraps me tightly in a hug. This is different than friend hugs.
This is more.
My entire body seems to relax at his touch.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs against my chest.
I pull back and frown, but he’s not looking at me, so I use a single, carefully placed claw to tip his chin up. “Whhhhy?”
“I was jealous,” he murmurs. “Which is ridiculous. I just got home after work, and you weren’t there, so I was a little worried.
Thankfully, I know the only places you’d really go are the coffee shop or here.
But it got me in a bit of a panic. And then I saw you with those guys…
You’re totally allowed to have other friends, though.
You can even go on dates if you want. I mean, I don’t know if monsters date, but…
” He freezes. “Sorry. Vyastil. Shit, I need to not call you a monster even when I’m alone. I know you’re not one.”
I tilt my head to the side as I take in the flush in his cheeks and the way his eyes dart back and forth. “Dannte,” I say, clearer than ever.
He looks up at me.
I point to myself. “Monnnsterrrr.”
“No—”
“Yessss.” I lick my lips. “Monnnnster. Vyastil. Sammmmme.” I sign same in case he doesn’t understand. ‘You don’t think I’m bad,’ I add on my hands.
His eyes go very wide. ‘Never. Never bad. Never.’ His fingers are trembling.
“Cielo.” He whispers my name like a song to the gods, and a shiver runs down my tail.
“I’m not trying to be possessive, okay? I just…
this is all new and kind of weird. But it’s not like we’re dating.
” I don’t know the meaning of all those words, but before I can ask, he says, “And anyway, it’s hypocritical of me because I’m going to have to go to the clinic eventually, so—”
I react before I’m aware of it. I have him pinned to his car by the throat. I can feel his fragile little human heart beating in his veins against my fingertips.
There’s a humming growl rising in my chest, rippling along my throat, and before I can stop myself, I’m leaning in.
My fangs graze the exposed skin where his shirt falls off his shoulders, and then I lick along his neck, along that pulsing vein, along his jaw, over his lips. He breathes out roughly, but I can feel what he feels, just for a moment. Like a little flash inside his head before it’s gone.
Then I hear a whisper that doesn’t come from his lips.
Cielo.