Page 62 of Wicked Magik

His ears drooped, and his shoulders sagged, just as they always do when I focus my attention on him.

Bloody hell.

I lowered my voice to a gentle tone. "Oryx, I apologize if I seem upset. I'm truly sorry for not spending enough time with you. I've been caught up with work..."

Vesper sighed and looked down at her nails.

Anger thundered through my vessel.

“For you. I’ve been working for you, a surprise, and I have been wrapped up in it. I did not expect for you to find someoneelse and become infatuated with her. I will do my best to spend more time with you in the future.”

Oryx’s ears flipped up and his skull rose in surprise. If I had my heart within my chest I’m sure it would have fluttered with excitement for the first time in decades.

“Preferably without her.” I nodded to Vesper.

His ears sunk again.

“Some time alone for you two to strengthen a relationship would be good.” Vesper petted the side or Oryx’s face. “I will be around. I can read somewhere, find something to do.”

I glanced at her from the corner of my eye as she murmured into his ear. He snuggled against her cheek, and I turned my gaze elsewhere.

She must have had hidden intentions. Was there someone she loved that she wished to resurrect? Bringing someone back to life from her world was nearly impossible; the Under Shadows existed in this realm, not on Earth. I could never...

But she might not know that.

Before I present that to her, I think I should have a little fun with her.

I cleared my throat. “Are you ready to get started? I don’t have all day.”

Rather than immediately asking her to demonstrate the technique of needling and threading the skin, I first guided her down the dimly lit hallway. The corridor is lined with cobwebs that cling to the corners, casting eerie shadows in the sparse lighting. I instructed her to maneuver the cumbersome metal cart down the narrow passage, its wheels squeaking in protest against the worn stone floor.

She huffed in annoyance, her breath puffing as we reached the end. With a subtle gesture, I waved my hand toward the storage room.

“I’m supposed to help you sew skin together, not be your servant.”

I raised my finger. “Ah, but that wasn’t specified was it? All the parchment said was you were to assist me until I have mastered your art.”

She swore under her breath and I waved my hand over the door. The gears unlocked and the door opened to reveal a room full of body parts. The parts were a wide array of colors, sizes, male, female, vampire, incubus, succubus, witch, goblin, the list went on. The room was large but I knew exactly what parts I needed. She stood there in silence until I snapped my fingers for her to follow.

“How do they not rot?” She accidentally bumped into me with the cart and I turned to glare at her.

“Magik, how else? How do you keep the bodies you sew from not rotting away while you work on them on Earth?” I picked through the fae parts I needed. This one was a female torso and I slung it onto the table.

Vesper gasped as blood leaked from the body but she didn’t dart away from disgust.

Surprising.

“Formaldehydes, and other types of chemicals. Scientific stuff, none of your magik, curses or spells. Wow, this doesn’t even stink.” She leaned forward and gave it a whiff. “Fascinating.”

And she thought magik was below her? Seriously? I rolled my eyes and pulled arms, hands and feet to add to the collection.

“And why would you sew pieces of bodies together in your world exactly?” I faked interest.

Vesper gazed around the room. “So some people could pay respects to the vessel, before they were buried, as closure.”

Fascinating.

I guess we have something similar here, but we don’t reconstruct vessels for that purpose. If you die from magik, they allow everyone to see the magik seared into your chest as a warning to others not to engage with magik users. If you get half-eaten by a bear, you learn not to go hunting for animals bigger than yourself.