Page 15 of Wicked Magik

“I speak, just as you. I didn’t speak before because I thought you were going to…” I swallowed heavily and grabbed my neck with both hands.

The monster tilted their head and cupped the side of his jaw with their clawed hand, like it was thinking.

“Ahh.” They raised his finger. “You thought I was going to punish you.”

My eyes widened. “P-punish me? F-for what?”

The monster huffed, and steam billowed out of his nostrils. “For using magik. Humans may not come to this realm and use our fertile soil, it has mana to spark magik they want to wield. It is punishable by death. My lord does not give second chances.”

My mouth opened and closed.

I was drunk.

I had gotten into my mother’s stash the night before, I haven’t even made it to her grave yet and I am just stupid drunk and dreaming of nonsense.

“Eh, what’s mana then?”

The monster tilted his head. “It's energy to fuel magik. It is in many things. Humans do not have it, only here. It is weak in the soil, but it is still there.” They stomped their hoof on the ground like it all made sense.

Right then.

“Okay, well, please, do not grab my boob. I have boundaries and let’s not lay on them either.”

The monstrous creature retreated with a cautious step, lowering himself onto its enormous, cloven hooves. The fabric of his pants was ripped and tattered, revealing patches of fur beneath. Despite their immense size, it possessed a surprising flexibility, folding its powerful limbs as they squatted before me. Their presence was both intimidating and oddly graceful, their empty eye holes keenly fixed on mine.

“Boooobs? What are Boobs?” It tilted his head. “Do I have boobs?” They thrust out its chest and rubbed their pecs.

Before, when I was horrified I concentrated on all the features that were freaking scary but now, looking at them I could see how defined they were. They had the torso of a thick, muscular man, dark gray in color. Dark hair gathered in the middle of their upper abs and dusted all the way down their torso. My body, which was mostly dormant sexually, came to life in that moment and I cursed myself.

Damn, what was wrong with me?

“Will you please stop rubbing your chest like that?” I turned away and ran my hand down my face.

“Why are they not as soft as yours? Yours are more desirable.”

My mouth dropped, and I pointed to myself. “I am a woman, a female. You are a male. At least I think you are. Since you lack breasts, I’m going to assume so from now on, if that is alright with you. I’m not entirely sure what you are.” My face heated in embarrassment.

Is this a Tarzan and Jane retelling? I think I read a book similar to this situation.

“I do not know what I am either. I am many,” he said somberly. The monster lowered his head and the splattering of blood on the top of his skull, his arms and torso didn’t seem so scary anymore. This monster… had feelings and empathy.

But I still couldn’t shake what he had done before he chased me and pulled me off of the tree. He was a cold-blooded killer, a monster that licked blood out of dead people.

I gritted my teeth and looked behind him while he hung his head.

Running away wasn’t an option. I’d have to gain its trust.

Because I wasn’t sure if this was a dream or not, I’m going to lean on the cautious side.

I reached out and put my hand on its upper arm to comfort the monster. “Do you want to talk about it?”

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.