Page 31

five

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We’re nearing Donella’s front door when I get a seatbelt arm swiped across me.

“Someone’s here,” Donella whispers.

I feel the buzz before I hear it and, for a moment, I am mesmerized by the sprite-like stars that dance between her horns making both a tinkling sound with a sort of low-pitched hum underneath it.

I never considered that her music therapy was fueled by an actual power she had, but it makes so much sense now.

It’s beautiful, and the fact that this magic can be both healing and dangerous is alluring.

I feel silly, and slightly aroused, but maybe that’s because of her crouched stance, the crease in her brow, and the knowledge that it’s all to protect me.

“Wait here.” Yes thaddy .

Donella slowly makes their way to the front door and brushes her hand swiftly across the pane.

Light from inside sweeps across their face slowly before they stand straight up and swing the door open.

“Maven! You scared me, what are you doing here?” Donella waves me over and holds the door open.

I am greeted with my first sight of a living blob.

Maven looks like jello, both translucent and green, and I notice she bounces when she speaks.

“Nell, who is this?”

“This is Lellies, from Earth. Put your foot out,” Donella instructs me as she does the same and Maven’s body squishes down so that she can run the bottom of her body over our toes.

“Nice to meet you, Lellies. I came to see if you still had that book on conflict theory and if I could borrow it,” they direct toward Donella.

“Sure,” Donella pads over to a bookshelf in the corner, crouches down and begins sifting through the cabinet below.

“Anything else I can do for you while you’re here?”

“No, I’m good.” Maven’s eyes close and roll through their body to the other side to face Donella again.

“But if you had some type of spell on that box over there, I’d check it if I were you. There were some bugs in there chittering for help when I got here.”

Donella’s arm stops moving, right in time with my heart.

“Don’t worry, I let them go. But it seemed like the box was keeping them trapped in there, so you might want to look at that.”

The slow blink Donella gives me is like something out of a tv show when a character breaks the fourth wall.

I put my hands on my hips and cock to the side like right?

It’s just for a moment but that silent connection keeps the hysteria at bay.

How are we supposed to find two bugs, the right two bugs, before tomorrow morning?

Even if they haven’t made it outside the neighborhood, how do we explain that?

Knock, knock.

Excuse me, I’m looking for two bugs that are actually murderous witches on Earth.

Mind if I do a quick check under your cupboards?

The out-of-control, your-fate-is-in-someone-else’s-hands, you-might-die-right-now feeling is trying to take hold on my lungs but, across the room, Donella’s relaxed posture gives me a little relief.

She knows just how important this is to me, and what’s more, it’s clear their arrest was very important to her from the beginning, so if she’s staying calm, I can attempt to do the same.

At least until Maven’s gone.

Having found the book she was looking for, Donella makes a quick matter of lending the book to Maven, agreeing to meet to compare data, and shooing them out of the door.

When the snick of the protective boundary closes, it only takes seeing the slow curve of Donella’s lips and her puffed out cheeks to let out my nervous belly laugh.

Pretty soon my sides are hurting and Donella’s hands are on her knees.

“If there was ever a time for context clues …” Donella’s vibrant laugh fills the room again.

“It was right there .” I make my way to the couch and Donella follows.

“Maybe we gotta label the box next time. ‘Criminals inside, ignore their screams’.”

Donella chuckles, holding their hand out for the box.

It spins towards us, wood chips falling away after it.

I wipe some tears of laughter away so I can see it clearly.

‘Criminals’ is underlined and ‘ignore’ is in red, the full phrase taking up all the space on top of the box.

“A mistake I won’t soon make again.”

I smile at it—and her—but I have to know, “So what do we do now?”

Donella sets the box down between us before explaining, “Some magic is traceable, depending on whether you acquire the skill or use something that comes naturally to you. Since I used magic that I was born with, it carries a sort of pattern, similar to a fingerprint, that I can follow. So finding them won’t be a problem, it’s the ‘where I find them’ that might be an issue.”

“Where we find them, right?”

“I don’t think?—”

“You said you would protect me, right? With your awesome star sound power that you rudely did not explain to me before so I could gush about it. And I’ve already proven to be a very good listener so if you tell me to duck or hide, I will.” I bat my eyes for good measure, “Which means there’s absolutely no reason why I can’t come with you, right ?”

Donella is silent for a moment, dragging her hand in her hair past her horns and likely questioning why she brought me here in the first place.

I stay quiet and let my puppy-dog eyes do the work.

“Okay but we’ll take the board just to be sure.”

After a quick lesson on how to punch in the shortcut to direct the board home in case we get separated, Donella and I are on our way back through the city.

I can’t see the pattern we’re following, but it doesn’t really matter because all of my focus is on Donella.

Donella with tense brows, shoulders bunched, grip firm on the steering bar, racing to hunt down my captors.

Donella who’s tail sways when they're laughing. Donella who’s never had someone brush their hair. Donella who’s a bit of a nerd with a whole lot of heart.

I think I like this demon.

The board jerks to a stop and Donella’s pensive eyes are on me. Does she know I was staring?

“They’re in here. You can come in with me, it’s totally safe, but it’s a burlesque theater and you might see something you’re uncomfortable with. Do you want to stay on the board or go in with me?”

I look up at the building we’ve stopped in front of. It’s emerald green with posters of different people—er, entities, lining one side. On the other, a dark ticket window with a red sign. They must be sold out tonight. Should I take the chance to go into a sold out burlesque show in a realm with completely different bodies and elements of seduction than I’m used to?

Duh!

“Hell yeah!” I grab Donella’s hand and they help me down from the board. They quickly explain our situation to the chimera at the door and then we’re ducking through a blue archway to step onto a green velvet carpet. Donella hones in on her pattern hunting and I am left to take in the beautiful sights and sounds of the theater as I trail behind her.

Attendees dressed in rich tones of gold, green, and black gather in small groups in the lobby, waiting for the doors to open. Feathers adorn just about everyone, but in different colors and lengths. Folks dripping in jewels weave through the crowd, stopping for photos and autographs. There’s a woodsy aroma hanging thinly in the air and soft music plays from somewhere upstairs. It’s warm in here, probably from all the bodies pressed together and I adjust the collar of my shirt as I follow Donella. We walk through a series of doors and hallways, until we come to stairs leading to a lower level.

“We’re almost there,” Donella says over her shoulder. She reaches her open hand back for me and a buzzy static shocks me through our connection. Donella doesn’t seem to notice so I ignore it too, following her down the steps.

At the bottom of two flights of stairs, another chimera stands between us and a dark blue door. A red ball of light bounces up from the floor and a view of the security chimera we met outside comes into focus. They speak quickly in another language and then the chimera in front of us steps aside and opens the door. We both nod our heads in thanks as we pass through.

It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting but pretty soon I am taking in the backstage scene. Robes and shoes are on just about every couch, daybed, and chair. Mirrors line the walls and a few performers hum to themselves in separate areas, likely going through their routines before their turn on the stage. It’s even hotter down here and I’m uncomfortably aware of my body and sweat starting to drip down my back. I know performers usually like to keep both their vocal chords and muscles warm to avoid straining something, but I didn’t realize they might get ready in a sauna. Donella leads me forward, seemingly unphased by the heat, past changing curtains, a mic garage, and what looks like a break room, to the final door at the back.

“They’re in here, you ready?”

“Yeah.”

Donella knocks on the door and it shimmers before sliding open from the middle. A beautiful woman sits at a mirror adjusting her lipstick. It’s burgundy, which compliments her lilac skin tone well. She’s sitting in a pink chair, surrounded by pillows and her black lingerie shows through her pink translucent robe.

“Hello, um, Courtney, is that right?” For once, Donella might be just as caught off guard as I am.

The woman says something in her language but once Donella explains where I’m from, she switches to English.

“And what are you looking for?” Her voice sounds like velvet and cashmere had a baby, but her mouth doesn’t move to form words, it’s just out there in the air.

“Two bugs,” I say, stepping toward her, “they’re about this long and dark brown.” I move my hands to show her the length but her eyes catch mine and stay there. For a moment, I can’t tell what she’s thinking, her stare both intense and somehow blank. Like she’s looking into my soul and staring past it at the same time.

Finally she smiles and motions to the other side of the room.

“They’re over on the counter in that green cup with the white lid. I’m glad you came for them, they were causing quite the racket.” As soon as she’s given me directions, she turns that intense stare on Donella. I move my feet quickly, wanting to escape this odd interaction.

But once I’ve grabbed the cup she mentioned, and confirmed the two witches are in there, I turn around and am struck again by Donella’s silent beauty. She’s got those eyebrows furrowed again. And her horns are—glowing? She’s saying something to Courtney, her hands gesturing in wide curves. Have I ever noticed how nice her hands are before?

It’s too hot to hear what they’re saying, I’ve got to move closer to her.

Donella’s tail is twitching rapidly, I wonder what it would feel like on my ?—

“You don’t know the circumstances,” the heat around me breaks but, with Donella scooping me to her by my waist, it’s back with a vengeance but in my core this time.

“Let us deal with this on our own.”

I’m just now clocking the anger in Donella’s voice, what happened? My brain has never been that fuzzy before, it was like time slowed down and I was moving through a fog. A very overheated fog, but an out-of-character fog nonetheless.

Donella turns us both around and we are out of the door in the next moment. I get only a glimpse of Courtney, smiling, all her sharp teeth on display as the door snicks shut behind us.

The theater is quieter as we retrace our steps, the patrons likely being seated and waiting for the show to start. I couldn’t care less though because I’m suddenly very interested in the tension forming in Donella’s jaw. Their hand around my waist with a firm grip. The way they use their shoulders to enter each room first. It’s all very protective, and broody, and hot.

I can barely feel the breeze on my heated skin when we make it outside. Only two moons shine tonight but it’s still plenty enough for us to make our way to the board. Donella guides me forward to step on before her but I turn quickly and lean against it instead to face her.

“Donella.” my eyes move from hers, down to her waist, and back up. “I don’t even know what I’m trying to say right now.”

Real smooth.

“I’m sure. Listen, I’m sorry Lellies, I wasn’t thinking before. I shouldn’t have let you go in. This is a succubus club. I can only protect myself so much, I can’t even imagine what you’re feeling right now.”

They’re quiet as those words sink in. A succubus club. Of course succubi would exist. Why wouldn’t they, in a realm of gods and demons and monsters? No wonder I couldn’t think clearly down there. But now that I know what that foggy feeling was like, I can tell it’s not affecting me anymore.

“That was potent in the extreme, and kinda scary, but that’s not this.” I grab their elbows and pull them closer. “I like you, I liked you before all this.” They hold my elbows as well, their grip shaky. “You’re kind and patient and sexy, I just didn’t say anything before.”

Donella looks away, looks back at me, and looks away again. I get on my tippy toes so I can reach her forehead to mine.

“I promise it’s me, not magic.”

When Donella turns her head and her nose brushes slowly against mine, I think it might turn into a kiss but she stays there.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Oh.” I bring my feet back fully to the ground and my eyes to hers. “I was scared. Not like that,” I say quickly to the scrunched up features of her face, “I was scared you wouldn’t want a human, that it would be disrespectful for a human to pursue you. I didn’t want to make things weird between us if you said no and then didn’t want me in your home anymore. I didn’t want you to think I wanted a quick hookup just to say I slept with a demon, or make you feel over-sexualized because of your horns or your tail.”

“What about my tail?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say ‘nothing’, but she’s giving me that look again. The one that says ‘say your full thought, be honest with me’.

“It … you move it really fast.”

Donella chuckles and the lines in her brow finally ease. She let’s go of my elbows and I let go of hers.

“I would never want to take advantage of you in a compromised state. Aht aht!” She wags her finger at me, “but, if you can sit quietly on the ride home, and not touch me or make any advances at all,” that same finger grabs my chin, Donella bringing my face closer to hers, “I’ll show you what this tail can do.”

I almost trip getting onto the board and don’t even make an attempt to hide the goofy grin on my face.

I happen to be an excellent rule follower.