Shiksie was on her way to Martinez's apartment so they could study tonight. The evening temperature was just above freezing. Her breath steamed out of her lips with each step through the frosted streets of Draun. This was the first frost of the upcoming winter, which was a shame. If the first was this early in the autumn, it would likely be a particularly frigid winter.

Hopefully, it was more pleasant than last year, when there was a meter of snow on the ground only a few weeks after the equinox.

Shiksie shifted the heavy backpack on her shoulders, not used to bearing this much weight. The slick ground made her usual jovial traversal of the bustling streets slow and arduous.

Shiksie had spent an exceptionally long time the previous night collecting all her notes for Martinez, ensuring she had the ones he would need on hand. He was doing well in the Interspecies Nursing Program, but he was staring down the barrel of his midterms in a few weeks, and those were a whole other animal than any test he had so far.

However, in this case, calling them midterms was a bit of a misnomer because Martinez’s midterm was covering half a year's worth of lessons that Shiksie had taken. So, essentially double what she had while within the Nursing Program.

The Director, in his infinite wisdom, had decided to truly put Martinez through a trial by fire with the modified version of the course the Human was strong-armed into enrolling in. It varied greatly in every way from what she had; it was self-study, with no classes and just weekly tests. Oh, and if all of that was not enough, instead of the average two or three-standard year-long course of study, Martinez’s course was only a year long.

That he was keeping up with the study tempo was mind-boggling. Shiksie doubted she could have done it without going insane. Mainly because, on top of the Nursing Program, Martinez has a full-time job.

He had been doing well, having made it almost a quarter of the way through the program the Director had cruelly devised just for him. Shiksie still did not trust the Director, saying that he was giving Martinez this opportunity to make the Human into an asset. Shiksie had known the Director long enough and had worked in the GU Medical Services for too long to be that naive.

The Director had to be playing from some angle or have some long con planned. He likely wanted to use Martinez as some political tool to propel his career forward. Shiksie just could not understand how he planned on using Martinez because she lacked the Director's perspective on the matter.

The fact that Shiksie could not find a reason had weighed heavily on her mind. She was worried about Martinez because of that. If she did not understand the Director’s goals, how was she to keep him safe from any fallout? Or if the Director tried to screw him over? She was his mentor; Her job was to keep her mentees safe and guide them to prosperity.

However, that was not the only reason Shiksie was worried about Martinez. Shiksie also felt concerned about Martinez because she finally admitted that she liked him as more than just a casual friend or a coworker.

Too bad he shot her down—somewhat.

When Shiksie finally admitted to Martinez, she had taken the only approach she understood, that relationships were mutually beneficial in some way. She had not had any form of a relationship that was unconditional since her parents died when she was a kit. It was always that way, be it in Draun public orphanage and college— someone always wanted something.

Despite her trying to be honest and explain how she would not leave him in his time of need as Lysa did, he rebuked her, saying she did not understand that relationships were complicated. She did not see what was so complex about it. If you like someone, and they like you, you spend time together, giving effort to one another.

What could she possibly be missing?

She considered herself attractive, with an athletic figure and a healthy gray coat of fur. She knew Martinez at least thought she was somewhat appealing, having caught him glancing at her bust or rump while on their morning jogs or during their post-workout stretches.

Martinez had even complimented her clothing several times whenever she purchased something for the encroaching winter. She needed an opinion, and who better to ask than the male she only recently realized she wanted to court.

Ever since he told her to wait and see what happened with Lysa, Shiksie had been patiently waiting for Martinez to give her an answer to her feelings. She waited, hoped, and stewed in anxiety every day.

Then that damn Aveix started lingering around him again.

When it first resumed, Shiksie hoped she was mistaken about the smell on him, but after a few days of her bloody-lemony scent on him at all times, she knew they were back together. The thought of it put her hackles on end.

Why could Henry not see that she cared about him? She supported him by exercising together, helping him at work, and coaching him through schoolwork–not Lysa.

Shiksie grumbled, shifted her bag on her shoulders, and sidestepped some of the aliens lingering outside Martinez’s apartment. Not wanting them to spot the scrunch on her brow or hear her grumbling about that foul woman under her breath.

Being back here brought back some memories. Shiksie and Dr. Harnsis had spent several days moving all of Martinez’s furniture and other decorations into his apartment before he arrived. She had not seen it in several months.

The idea of seeing what changes Martinez had made to his apartment itched at the part of her brain that wanted answers. Perhaps getting to see how he lived might help her piece together some amount of an answer to what he meant by that relationships were complicated. After all, people’s homes were them expressing their most honest selves, at least so long as they were not putting up a front.

Martinez was not like that at all. As long as Shiksie has known him, he has been generally honest. At least the Human had always been open in ways her keen Farun’se senses could easily perceive. Twitches in his gorgeous brown eyes, the slight pheromones within his intoxicating pine scent, or the subtle shifts in his body language. He was easy enough for her to generally read—save for a few odd quirks she had yet to decipher.

Shiksie nervously approached Martinez’s door, her heart stammering faster with each elegant feline footfall. Ever since she admitted her feelings to him, she kept hoping the next time they saw each other would be when he told her the same. The anticipation was killing her. Maybe he just needed to spend more time with Lysa to see how she herself was more capable, reliable, and better—she hoped that much, at least. What else could it be?

She slammed her fist against his door and waited and waited. Seconds turned to agonizing minutes while she periodically hammered the door yet again. She shuffled nervously and checked her datapads time, wondering for a moment if she had arrived too early. It was the correct time for her to be here.

Where in the stars was he?

As Shiksie was about to message him asking where he was, as if guided by the universe itself, her datapad chimed a happy tune she had set for him. She smiled; he had beat her to the punch.

Martinez :): Hey Shiksie, sorry I ran a little late with other plans. I will beat my place in a few minutes. I am sorry about being late.

Shiksie sighed. That was unlike Martinez, he was usually diligent. But with how work had been dragging everyone down lately, she could understand letting time get a little bit away from you.

Shiskie: It's alright. I had just arrived. How long will you be?

Martinez :): No more than five minutes.

Shiksie: See you shortly.

Shiksie did not have to wait long for Martinez to arrive at his door. Seeing him drew a smile to her lips and had her tail immediately happily swaying. Being around Martinez outside of work sent butterflies loose in her stomach and gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling in her chest.

Shiksie wished she entirely understood what these feelings were, but no one had ever given her this experience before. He was the only being she had ever let her guard down around. Well, that’s a bit of a misnomer; he simply had a strange calming effect emanating from him. She had never known why, but even with violent patients, they just did as he asked. It was odd.

When at work, Shiksie tried to ignore and suppress her feelings about him, along with most of her emotions, just to keep herself safe. Martinez was the only exception among her coworkers with whom she expressed genuine opinions while inside Draun's walls. For everyone else, it was strictly business.

Especially when it came to Therin, that stupid fucking bird. After what he did to Martinez she had to work especially hard to keep her composure around him; just thinking about that bird cowering below her still made her nearly smile cruelly and get a twisted predatory enjoyment. Something about seeing Therin cowering felt right. She still owed him for making Martinez cry. But Martinez asked her to let it go, so she complied; it was what he wanted after all.

Even if, as she saw it, that feathered monster deserved more than just being so afraid he shit his pants. She almost regrets that Harnsis stopped her that day. Shiksie had no doubt she would have gutted him then and there. How dare he do that to Martinez!

“Hey Shiksie, sorry about being late,” Martinez said, awkwardly rubbing behind his head with a slight blush.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind,” Shiksie shrugged. She would have waited hours if needed.

“Right, let's get started,” he said, walking up and opening the door.

The heavy scent of Martinez’s pine cologne poured out of the apartment like a tidal wave and made Shiksie's body ache and bathe in blissful comfort. How could anyone smell so heavenly? By the stars, the urge to grab him and hold him close was so tempting.

Stepping into the lush forest that might as well grow out of Martinez’s apartment, Shiksie carefully analyzed every detail within, wanting to carefully compare what was there now to when she and Dr. Harnsis had set it up before.

To her pleasant surprise, the vast majority of what they had used to decorate the apartment was still there. The odd stacking dolls she picked out and the little wooden cutout birds were still perched atop the cupboards.

There were some minor additions he had made. The once-empty shelves over his sink and stove were now filled with dried foods, cans, and bottles of what she could only assume to be alcohol. But she was not sure about that.

Shiksie could not consume almost any ethanol, so she was not a connoisseur by anyone's imagination—she would stick to studying medical journals. She regrettably could not even partake in the drinks Martinez, Sursee, Ivorn—or Lysa enjoyed. Even Jurtoi would hospitalize her. Because of her lack of knowledge, the bottles were just a mix of colorful poisons, even if the blue twisting bottles were stunning.

Scanning the rest of the entry room and living area, Shiksie also spotted a collection of books on a shelf. Both she and Harnsis had not collected them for him.

Shiksie walked over to peruse the old-looking books. She had never known that Martinez was much of a reader, having always assumed that he enjoyed movies more than any other entertainment.

When she was a few meters away from the books, Shiksie shuddered as a horrible bloody scent accosted her senses, making her ears defensively fold. It was not just the bookshelf; now that she was further into the apartment, she realized every surface of the room had the subtle scent of blood. She instantly knew they had been marked by what was lurking inside the lush pine grove.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

A life-sucking shade that reeked of blood and lemons.

Shiskie was well aware of the appalling scents Lysa gave off. Regrettably, she was also well aware of the scent of Martinez and Lysa’s more erotic concoctions, with Martinez often having their infuriating mixture clinging tightly to him. To her dismay, the scent of that was also chokingly thick in the air.

Her claws begged to be released, to fight off who she knew was not currently here. But the mere reality that the woman’s scent was within a territory Shiksie’s confused brain, for some reason, claimed as hers set fire to her instincts to defend Martinez.

“Hey Shiksie, are you ready to get started?” Martinez questioned while he sat down at the table.

His sudden speaking ripped her attention from the collection of tomes written in Aviex and drew her mind from the beast lurking somewhere in the woods of scents.

“Yeah,” Shiksie said, stifling a defensive hiss. “Just let me get some scent blocker on.”

“Oh, sorry about the scent. When I’m not at work, I don’t use that blocking soap. It feels horrible on my skin,” Martinez apologized, his soft eyes genuinely concerned.

If only it was his scent, then there would be no problem. But that vile woman who was trying to steal away her apprentice was the issue.

What gave Lysa the right to weasel into her territory?

The fact Lysa had been here upset her, but the worst part was that Martinez was complying. He had to be. It’s not like Lysa could just enter his home uninvited. That bugged her; she was always right there, eager and waiting. Why would Martinez go for another woman? Why? Why did he let her over? Martinez even allowed Lysa to move her books and undoubtedly countless other things into his house.

Did they become more intimate since she had confessed? Had Lysa moved in with him or something?

A grim thought crossed her mind as she watched Martinez pull out his books. Had he completely forgotten she had even requested an answer?

Shiksie settled next to Martinez for the worst few hours she had experienced in years. Nothing could have prepared her for what tonight would reveal.

No matter how much they studied or how warmly he smiled while succeeding in practice tests, she could not settle. It was odd, she loved to study and research, but this felt like torture. She was shifting, and fidgeting constantly under the table, trying to ensure he did not catch onto how upset she was.

Every second, she lingers in the heavy odors, even though her heavy-duty scent blockers do their best to suppress them. The odor of blood and lemon is always at the forefront of her mind. Each breath causes her to shiver from the haunting feeling of being hunted by that Aviex.

Like she was deep and lost inside that monster's territory.

Shiksie could swear that Lysa’s four dagger-like eyes were looming over her shoulder and that she was one moment away from having her neck ripped open. After about an hour of her heart slamming against her chest, feeling like she was moments from dying, Shiksie needed a break; she craved a short respite.

“I will be right back. I need some air,” Shiksie stammered, pushing back from the table and going toward the door.

“Alright, I will be working on this test. See you in a minute,” Martinez casually replied, not even looking up at her.

Shiksie was in such a tizzy that she had not even been bothered by his short response. Before Shiksie even made it to the door, it parted, and her heart sank, claws extended, and eyes narrowed.

Standing in the doorway, a bag draping off her bare gothic shoulder, was Lysa. She was wearing her usual revealing dress, and his fucking jacket tied around her waist. Her four red eyes narrowed in a silent fury upon seeing Shiksie. The look perfectly matched what Shiksie had been feeling already. She hated that Shiksie was here; her four blood-red eyes looked her up slowly, pausing on Shiksie’s claws for a moment. She locked eyes for a second and silently conveyed, ‘Why are you here?’

A crawling fear shot up Shiksie’s spine, knowing it was not a glare of questioning but of vengeful accusation. After a moment of agonizing silence, Lysa smirked.

“Good evening, Shiksie. I was not expecting you here tonight,” Lysa smiled somewhat cruelly, her rows of dagger-like fangs on full display.

“Hi Lysa, yeah, Martinez and I are studying for his upcoming test,” Shiksie replied, slightly nervous.

“Marvelous, it is so joyous that he has such dedicated friends,” Lysa growled, clearly emphasizing friends.

“Yeah, excuse me for a moment. I'm just stepping out for some air.” Shiksie retorted, trying to not sound as if she was afraid of the Aviex woman.

Shiksie had dealt with Aviex before at the hospital and held no ill will to the species as many did. But something was so freaky about that smile Lysa kept and the fact that Lysa had paused to look at her claws. Shiksie prayed Lysa did not think this was a fight. Shiksie knew damn well that if Lysa really wanted to thrash her, she would stand no chance.

Much like Humans, the Aviex were physically dense and, by weight, far more powerful and faster than most species. While in a test of raw agility, Shiksie might be able to best her, but in a brawl, there would be no contest. Shiksie might as well be fighting a Machine designed to kill.

“Well, before you step out, shall you be joining Ruh'ah and myself for dinner?” Lysa challenged, crossing her arms under her bust.

“Oh, uh, I am not too sure about—” Shiksie started, but Martinez had to join in. For once, Shiksie would have rather not heard him speak.

“Yeah Ruh'ah, you might as well make three plates. Shiksie and I have a lot to study today,” Martinez interjected, clearly having been attentive to the tension between the two.

“I guess I am,” Shiksie said, both glad and mortified that she had just been pulled into spending time around Lysa.

“Very well, I hope you enjoy kyulon. Ruh’ah and I have been trying to eat more Aveix cuisine to prepare for visiting my family soon,” Lysa calmly boasted to Shiksie.

“Ah, I see. I have never had it, but I'm certain I will,” Shiksie replied, going past Lysa and into the hallway, leaving the awkward tension behind—at least for a minute.

—

The entire time Shiksie was downstairs in the frosty air of Draun’s streets, she was pacing. Passersby obviously picked up on her frustration; they shot her glances and muttered under their breaths, thinking she could not hear them. But she easily could.

They thought she was either on some kind of drug and was freaking out or that she was just some freak. She did not do drugs, other than that one time when they were celebrating Martinez's first test. While it was nice and filled her with a bliss she had not experienced before, that did not make her a junky. Right?

Additionally, Shiksie was no freak. Yeah, she had some issues and knew it. But this was the only way she could rip tension from herself. It’s not like she could talk to Martinez right now, Lysa was right there and would undoubtedly challenge any claim, or statement she made.

As she paced back and forth near the apartment's entrance, questions circled her mind. Trying to figure out what was going on. Why did she feel like she was being hunted by Lysa? Why was Martinez not being forthright with her? Why did Lysa have a key to his apartment? And what in all the stars was the horrible hollow feeling in her chest?

Shiksie felt hollow the moment Lysa entered the apartment; before that, she felt troubled and odd. But now, this was different. It took her some time to recall when she felt this before. It was an old feeling and plucked at a heartstring she had cut long ago.

Loss.

This was the same thing as when her parents died, and she was in the orphanage. Yet Martinez was not gone. He was just a few floors up right now, likely diligently studying. But that Aviex was there.

Shiksie did not understand it; Martinez was her apprentice, her friend. Why could Lysa be so close to him, and she could not?

After nearly a half hour of mulling over the front and digging a deeper hole of whys and what ifs inside her own mind, Shiksie gave up. Her sulking was obviously not getting her anywhere, and Martinez needed her help to study. So she took a deep breath to steady herself and prepare to finish helping Martinez with his exams.

Too bad his preparations were not the issue at this point; it was hers. And no matter what preparations Shiksie had made in her mind, the sight she found upon returning to Martinez’s apartment was unexpected. It was shocking enough that Shiksie froze like a statue and drew in a sharp breath.

Lysa was standing behind Martinez, and she bit into his bare shoulder. Simultaneously, Martinez closed his eyes, smiled, and ran his hand through her raven hair, gently caressing her cheek.

What the fuck? She drinks his blood. Shiksie might as well have screamed in her mind.

Lysa clearly heard Shiksie gasp in surprise. She peeked up from Martinez's shoulder and bit down harder, causing him to groan in enjoyment, rubbing Shiksie's face in the intimate display.

“Fuck, Lysa, a bit enthusiastic today,” Martinez muttered softly to her.

Shiksie watched in stunned silence. Lysa moaned and wrapped her arms around Martinez’s, holding him tightly to her. Her eyes never left Shiksie, staking her claim as clear as day. Time dragged to a crawl. Shiksie had no idea how much time had passed watching the display. Her mind screamed and begged for this to stop, for her to intervene, but her body would not listen to her command.

Before she knew it, Lysa slowly and salaciously licked the blood off his shoulder and moaned one more time before pulling Martinez's shirt back over his shoulder. Without missing a beat, she turned to Shiksie and feigned surprise.

“Shiksie, I am terribly sorry you had to see that! I know most species find that Aviex drink blood revolting,” she exclaimed before whipping his blood off her black coal lips.

Shiksie fully understood the vile smirk Lysa gave. That was more than a claim or a warning. Lysa was marking her territory out in the open for Shiksie to see.

That was too much. Shiksie could not stay here and look at either of them. She felt like she was on the verge of tears. That hollow feeling twisted and grew into an all-consuming black hole inside her. It was not sadness, anger, confusion, spite. She felt empty, But why did seeing that make her want to cry?

Martinez shot up and looked over at Shiksie. “Shiksie, I did not know you were back. Uhh—sorry, you saw that.”

“No, no, it's alright,” Shiksie lied through gritted teeth, trying to ignore the broken feeling in her chest.

“Oh, Ruh'ah it’s alright. I doubt your friend minded seeing us do that; it’s only natural, right?” Lysa purred, walking her fingers along Martinez's shoulder before sauntering toward the stove where some pot boiled. Her gait was as graceful as a dancer but as assured as any true predator.

Shiskie paused and tried to steady herself momentarily, biting her inner lip and clawing at her pants, but that did not work. Seeing that broke her and any hope that tonight would be the night Martinez confessed was crushed to bits. She could not do this. Lysa made it clear enough that Martinez was hers and that Shiksie was the awkward outsider in their apartment.

“I’m sorry, Henry. I have to go,” Shiksie squeaked.

“Oh, is something wrong?” Martinez asked, his worry evident as he stood and walked closer.

“I am feeling ill from the heavy odor,” Shiksie lied. She just could not bear to see this anymore.

“Oh, that is a shame. Are you sure you don’t wish to stay? Dinner is almost ready,” Lysa said calmly, never turning to face them.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to study at your place later this week? We haven’t even started for my main test this weekend,” Martinez asked, now right up to her.

Being this close to him felt wrong, almost dangerous. Shiksie peeked up and spotted Lysa watching them intently from the corner of her eyes. Waiting for Shiksie to slip up. To step on her claim.

Martinez was correct that they had only focused on his recap of the previous lessons today and had yet to get anywhere with the newest topics. If he had any chance of getting high marks, they would have to move the practice anywhere but here. Not with Lysa rubbing reality in her face.

“Could we please,” Shiksie nearly begged.

“Yeah, that’s no issue,” Martinez said. I will see you at work tomorrow,” he finished with a bright, heart-warming smile that almost made her forget Lysa's glare.

Shiksie nodded before quickly exiting the apartment, scoping her bag up and practically sprinting for icy air.

By the time Shiksie made it home, she was beside herself. No longer having to suffer that looming odor or feeling like she was being hunted was good, but that hollow feeling was still there. If anything, it had only gotten worse.

Shiksie understood she would have to think of a new plan to get Martinez on her side and out of Lysa’s arms.

Was it wrong for her to try and press the issue further? She did not know, but it felt just as painful to let things be.

Shiksie plopped face-first into bed and called upon what little she knew about relationships, romance, and seduction. Desperate to think of some answer to her now far more developed issues, she realized she knew virtually nothing about them.

Shiksie racked her brain, searching for answers to many obnoxious questions. What was different? Why her? What did Lysa bring to the table that Shiksie did not?

Shiksie was not so dense that she did comprehend that Lysa and Martinez were physical, something she was not with the Human. She also understood they performed caring and romantic gestures, having seen several delectable lunches Lysa had prepared for Martinez, along with them kissing, hugging, and now Lysa feeding on Martinez.

“Stars, dammit! What does she have that I don't?” Shiksie groaned to her pillow, starting to sniffle. It was all so overwhelming.

Shiksie gave into the hollow infection spreading from her chest, bawled, screamed, and thrashed. Each sob gave her some subtle catharsis. What else was she to do other than cry like a pathetic kit? The only person she ever opened up to was being guarded by the reason she felt alone. Why was the universe so cruel?

As Shiksie began to relax for the night, she continued to think about how to solve this issue. She had never liked anyone and had no real idea how to initiate anything beyond a hug, not that Martinez would even want that when Lysa was around.

Shiksie decided she would have to do some research on the matter. That was one thing she did know how to do. She prayed taking a more analyzed approach to the matter might help her bring some order to the chaos swirling in her chest. Shiksie also considered asking Miss Luan for some advice. However, it had been a while since they had spoken. Would Miss Luan even remember her at this point?

Shiksie relaxed fully, her wet, tear-filled eyes finally closed; one last thought ran by her again before darkness took her.

Why does her thinking about Martinez with Lysa hurt?