Chapter 45
Accessories, A Taboo Encounter, and Monogamy
Today is Saturday, or at least the Endarian equivalent of a Saturday. Rayquel and I needed to get a few things from the city, but we didn’t want to be hassled. So of course, now is when we came up with the idea of Covering our abnormalities. For Rayqel it was super easy, she just had to take her wings and wrap them around her front in some form of super bustier. You know one that wrapped under her arms, and accentuated her curves, hoisted the girls up, then left a runway strip of flesh that showed off her stomach and belly button. Yes, Endarians do have belly buttons, and you guessed it, they look perfect.
How do I know this? Simple, my bonded partner is an exhibitionist. That or she finds a particular form of enjoyment from torturing me, with my morals. Still, metal bodices, such things should be illegal, even if they are just personal wings.
Finally, we came to an agreement. She would stop flaunting herself, if I would go into the city with her to get supplies and other necessities. We were getting closer and closer to the end of the year, and the time when we would need to make our Gemini Temple run.
We found out early on that hair dye would just get burnt away by the glowing effect of my hair. I guess this would be like painting a light bulb, then letting it burn brightly for a long time. The paint would evaporate and peel, hopefully. Otherwise, you could also see the paint catch fire and burn down your house. You know what, let's just assume it is a bad idea and leave it at that. I am not responsible for the painting of light bulbs, nor the subsequent electrical damage caused by turning on said painted light bulbs. There, I said it, be stupid at your own risk.
Once Rayquel helped me clean up the mess from a random electrical fire, don’t ask, she also helped me whip up a disguise. In the end we went for a short wig, contact lenses, and shades. Why contact lenses and shades? Well simple, even with contact lenses my eyes still glowed brightly. In order to dampen the effect of the light still shining through, we went with shades as well.
Looking at myself, I had to admit that for the first time in a long time I felt and looked like myself. Well like the normal me, not the one all cooked up on Temple juice. I had to say, it felt sort of nice.
With that we, like most of the students on the base were out and about. Going here, checking out the sites there. Basically, just enjoying our time away from the Military Academy.
It was almost too easy to spot the other cadets who were out, at least the male ones. They all wore black shirts, jeans, and their military running shoes. Looking down I realized I was dressed in the same exact way. Then I realized this was exactly what I was going for, as I didn’t want to stick out.
“See. No one can tell you are, you.” Rayquel said.
With that I relaxed a little. As I began taking in all the different sites of the city. Endarian cities are simultaneously different, and the same as human cities. They both have traffic, shops, and intricate structures that all sort of blend into each other. Where they differ is on the types of items they sell.
“Oh, can we go here?” Rayquel asked, while pointing to a crystal shop.
I had seen a few of these types of shops back in human space, but to compare the two would be wrong. For starters, the human shops had buckets and troughs of specific polished gemstones laid out. In the Endarian shop, there was none of that. Instead, the gems were laid out in rows, based on conductivity and resonance rating.
The shop was divided into halves, the left half was for crystals that could enhance magical resonances. While the right side of the shop was for crystals and stones that could enhance Psychic resonances. The effects were minor, but they could be felt.
I picked one of the psychic stones up and was about to test it, when Rayquel put a hand over top of the stone.
“Don’t.”
“What?” I asked.
“Don’t try it.”
I looked from her to the sign on the wall that clearly said, “Feel free to test out each crystal.”
Seeing where I was looking, she shook her head. “This is a base crystal. If you try even a minor event you will crack the crystal open, and we will have to pay for it.”
Hearing that I lowered my head.
“That would also draw attention to you.” She said.
It was with this statement that she won, as I sighed and put the crystal down. I felt a sort of smugness pass over our bond from her. Sad part was, she was correct so I couldn’t refute her.
“You could always check out the mage stones and see if any of those resonate with you.” She offered as an olive branch.
I looked to the other end of the store. There were a few other customers in here. For a shop that sold rocks, this place was surprisingly active.
The mage section of the store seemed to be a bit larger. In a way this sort of made sense as most crystals formed on planets where mages would be the most effective. That did make me wonder about the psychic stones, were they from space rocks? I would have to ask more, as some of the items that were up for display were wholly unique to me.
Even in the mage section there appeared to be a few different varieties that were not available on any of the human planets. Some were back lit by dark lights, while others seemed to be kept in dark corners so stones' natural radiance could draw people in.
I was so lost in checking out the different magical stones that I completely lost track of my surroundings.
“Got you.” A feminine voice cried out in victory.
I paid the voice no mind, despite their proximity to me. Well, I paid no mind at first, until I felt a hand grab me by the shoulder and spin me around.
Not wanting to cause a commotion I went with the motion, figuring someone likely thought I was stealing a stone. I was touching quite a few of them, seeing how they all lit up to my touch. I didn’t take any and was sure to make sure to leave the stones in place, but still I felt something like this was unavoidable.
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The spinning caused the air to swim around me. That’s when I smelt it, a smell that momentarily caused me to be paralyzed. The sweet smell of honey and vanilla. I took in that smell and my body froze as if on instinct.
Badump.
My body froze while my heart decided to speed up its pace.
“You know what that means.” She said, then before I knew what happened, she lunged forward and kissed me.
Soft lips brushed against mine, and I felt my pulse racing as hormones that I had forgotten about all came alive with fire in my brain.
Badump, badump.
A tongue swept in, and I didn’t fight the embrace. This felt right, this felt so right. For a second, I was lost as my body reacted on instinct, and pent-up regret. Only after a second did I realize what was happening, what I was doing. I pushed Jess away, that’s who it was as there was no doubt.
“What?” She asked, then she looked at me and I could see the moment realization struck her as her eyes went wide. She too now realized what had happened, what she had done, what we had done.
From our bond I could feel Rayquel coming closer.
“HAH! Found you!” Me, or rather Wizard me called out from behind the startled Jess who just stood there. Wizard me spun Jess around and stared at her stiff body for a second. Fortunately, Wizard me was either unobservant, or just oblivious to the state that Jess was in. She was still caught in a moment of panic, her arms up in the air from when I pushed her away.
I made this moment to turn and make my own exit, only to find Rayquel right there. Her eyes seemed to glow with the rage that only women can muster. The one that speaks of muted violence. She looked from me, where our bond and my pheromones were likely giving me away even now.
My heart was still racing, though now more of the fact that I had been caught more than anything. This was of course worse, way worse than just getting caught in the act. This was effectively a self-confession, signed and delivered. Worse, I still couldn’t settle down the parts of me that were suddenly alive with passion.
Rayquel looked from me, then to the two kissing, and I could almost see the moment a thought of what might have happened filled her. As her eyes grew wider and began to glow with malice. Just before she was about to say something, the couple behind us broke apart.
“What is it?” Wizard me asked.
“N, nothing.” Jess stammered, though she must have turned back to me, as I felt not one but three sets of eyes staring at me.
This is one of those times when you are the victim, but you sort of enjoyed being the victim, if only for a moment. This enjoyment, something you couldn’t even control on your own, was something that in turn paradoxically made you more of the culprit. Or at the very least made you a complicit victim? Complicit Victim? Hmm, that sounds like it shouldn’t be a thing, but I think that is what I am about to be charged with.
“You, what are you doing?” Wizard me asks, me.
I turn, shake my head then try to leave. Though Rayquel is making my ability to leave tough, as she is staring at me angrily taking up a lot of the limited aisle space.
I guess my wanting to leave gave Wizard me confidence that he was stronger, as he grabs hold of me and tries to spin me around. I just hold my body still, not giving into sudden spins, lest he try to kiss me too. You know that whole game they were playing, it was one I remember playing with Jess all the time. Hide and go smooch, or something equally sickening like that. Just a game young lovers play, but still, it is sickeningly sweet to see them at it like this in public. Granted the Endarians would likely encourage such behaviors.
“Why do you look like me.” Wizard me demands.
I turn to him, having a hard time seeing as I am still wearing my shades inside. That’s when I take the shades off and look at him. The moment the glow from my eyes reaches him, he backups as if he had been slapped by my eyes. I wish such a power existed.
“I look like you, because I am you, moron.” I said. Anger filling me as I have had just about enough of this.
It doesn’t help that I feel hurt, betrayal, and jealousy as the three main emotions coming through from my bond with Rayquel. I know I will need to speak with her here too about this same thing. Still, I want to leave, before we cause a scene. Well, more of a scene.
A quick glance around shows that multiple sets of eyes are already upon us.
I make to leave again; this time Rayquel moves out of my path. But it is Wizard me that stops me. Or at least he tries to stop me. He is summoning forth a great torrent of energy as many of the crystals nearby begin to rattle and shake in their display cases.
The moment before his spell forms, I grab it and hold it tight. I turn to look at him and am mildly impressed. He created a wind spell that would have hurl me forward through several display cases. Would have been hard to pick up the fact that I had been pushed.
“You just can’t leave well enough alone, can you?” Wizard me asks.
He is furious, furious.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask as I turn back to him.
He starts summoning another Air spell, again his form is good. The spell he constructed is much better than what I could manage. Though again my affinity with Air is severely lacking, in comparison to his affinity.
“You. You have everything. The power, the grace, the accolades, the Iron Butterfly, and now you are trying to steal my Jess?” He says, even gesturing to Rayquel when he said the Iron Butterfly part. Apparently, her iron bodice getup was not fooling anyone, at least it didn’t fool people that saw her on a regular basis.
I just shake my head. “Wow, just wow.” I pause trying to get my thoughts together. “Of all the things, are you complaining about how my great my life is? My life is a giant shit show, of one colossal fuck up after another. This, this is not my idea of grace.” I say gesturing with my hand to my face and to the wig that is now starting to fall off my scalp. Seeing this I go ahead and pull it the rest of the way off, letting my silver hair shine like a beacon in the store.
There are gasps nearby, as people that were staring at the commotion, we were causing are now paying full attention to us. Still, I don’t care. I wanted to tell this guy off for a while.
“You have it perfect. Literally perfect. The exact textbook life I would have wished for myself. And you know what, you are close to losing it. Right now, this right here, this…” I say gesturing between him and Jess. “This was a mistake, one that she clearly feels sorry for, but here you are barking at me showing your insecurities about me. Look I’ll spell it out for you, I’m gone. I don’t know when, nor do I know how, but I can feel it. My time here is short. I will go back to my universe. But you know what, you will still be here with her. So why don’t you stop feeling sorry for yourself and start trying to do the things she cares about if you are so afraid of losing her.”
Panting.
I am panting at this point, rage, and anger over how stupid he is being is coursing through me.
“Oh yeah, and what would you suggest I do to keep her?” He asks, as if I don’t know.
“Simple, work out more. She likes muscles, almost all women do. Do some speed drills, yeah, they suck, but come on she is worth it. Also learn the violin, it will help with your Dexterity training and will show that you care. Ask her about how she feels. Like look at her, right now, she is clearly feeling guilty, but did you stop to ask what happened?” I say, pointing to her.
He looks back and sees that Jess, his Jess, is close to tears.
Seeing her and the state she is in, Wizard me’s shoulders drop. The anger he had been holding onto a moment ago suddenly released.
“Go to her. Go to her and never let her go. Live the life I could only dream about.” I say, pain filling my words, which somehow gives them more sincerity.
Wizard me, gives me one last look before going over to Jess. There is a brief quiet exchange, where Jess tells him what really happened. After a few seconds Wizard me looks back at me a bit sheepishly and gives a slight nod of thanks. With that the two lovers embrace and kiss.
“WOOO!” Several of the voyeurs who had been watching the drama play out cry out in delight.
“Only at the crystal shop, can you see true happiness like that.” The Cashier calls out, as if this was some sort of everyday occurrence. Then thinking back to Endarian culture this might very well be the case.
Seeing their interaction, I relax a little, then begin to make my own way out of the store. I can feel several emotions flowing from Rayquel. We will need to talk about our own feelings, but I am just drained now.
The moment I make it out of the store, I turn to Rayquel and am about to talk to her about what happened when I hear the first person call out.
“Look it is Grippy!” The tourist says, pointing to me. Only now do I realize that my wig and shades, that had been doing a decent enough job of hiding my identity, were still in my hands. Cursing myself for my lack of foresight to put back on my disguise I turn to Rayquel.
I can tell she feels mostly uncomfortable with our relationship. Truthfully, I don’t know where we stand, or where I stand as a person.
Feeling her discomfort, I sigh inwardly, and hold out my hand. Rayquel looks at the hand, then after a brief hesitation, she grabs hold of the offered appendage. The moment she holds my hand, a warmth flows through our connection to my hand.
People of course call out to us, but most give us our distance. By this point, even with her wings still coiled around her chest, everyone has clearly identified Rayquel as well. Thus, we had an impromptu photo shoot of the newest Endarian power couple roaming down the city streets, on a casual stroll.
“You know I wouldn’t mind you having more than one lover.” Rayquel said, after a time.
Hearing that, I felt a surge of emotions flow through me. But then I shook my head, I could only be faithful to one person. That or I felt I would favor one above the others.
Feeling my hesitation, she continued. “We could always share.”
Hearing that, my mind basically melted as I had a brief image of Rayquel and Mel together. But I quickly squashed that notion. “No.”
All of this was hypothetical anyways. I didn’t want to start fantasizing about what-ifs, and what could-bes. Such lives were never for me. I knew deep down that I just couldn’t do such a thing. Also, I knew that deep down, most humans couldn’t healthily sustain such a lifestyle. Only Endarians and their open view on relationships could view relationships like that. This was partly why I knew Rayquel and I were not meant for each other. That was the unfortunate truth I came to on our brief trip to the city. Sadly, I think Rayquel also felt the same exact way. At least I think she realized my perspective on our status, we were bonded friends and not much more.
Finally, when we were well on our way back to the Academy, in an automated shuttle service she asked the ultimate question that I could not refute.
“So, if I win you over you will be mine forever?” She asked.
I chuckled. “Yes, so long as I knew you would only be mine as well.”
I figured giving her that one comfort was not too much. This wasn’t a lie, if she could prove to me that she was truly my match and that I had nothing to fear from fully bonding with her, she would be perfect.
Hearing my words and feeling my emotions through our bond she nodded to herself.
“Well, it looks like we have our work cut out for ourselves.” She said, as we made a quick stop at the dorms to drop off our supplies we had gathered from our excursion. Then we went right back out to continue our relentless training program.