Charlene
Romero turned me towards him, his lips locked with mine. I didn't feel like kissing him, so I pushed him away. "Charlene… I know you are scared. But it is over. The worst is over, I promise… And I want to tell you everything. And I will… Can we please concentrate on us? Just for these few days, we have left." His veins turned purple as he cupped my cheeks. I pulled away from him. It was late, and if I was pent up when I slept, Kubra would not survive. Never before did I have to decide who I would sleep with. My head darted up to Sirrah to see how far she was in the sky. She was already on their horizon. My eyes came back down to the view in the valley below.
There were so many different herds of beasts running around. Shallow water pools had formed instead of a river. A waterfall fed them from a flat, elevated landscape in the distance. It didn't fall hard or even far. The sand was as white as the rest of the planet's deserts. Spiked-like dark rock formations stood out from the ground to one side of the valley.
I picked Romero up and traveled us into the water, right in underneath one of the falling streams. I lifted my face so that it washed away all the dirt. Ran my fingers through my hair. It was a tangled mess. I missed conditioner. I rinsed my mouth as much as I could and drank water until I felt like bursting. I missed my toothbrush. I could do with beer and a cigarette. I laughed because I sounded like Juliet, who was pregnant. I didn't even know how she was doing. I haven't even told Romero about Miné. "I have a daughter," I blurted out softly as the water trickled over my lips.
Romero had taken off his shirt, rinsing it in the stream. His hands stilled for a second. He stepped out, shaking the material into the air, water spraying everywhere. He draped it over a rock. I followed him. "I said I have a daughter." He still didn't turn around. He rummaged through his pack and took out sticks. It had bristles. He held one out to me over his shoulder. I almost grabbed it out of his hand, scrubbing at my teeth. "You could have told me you have a toothbrush."
"You could have told me you had a child." His tone was clipped.
"Does it change how you feel? Do you want me to leave?"
"Is it Kubra's? Did you lie to me?"
"No. Miné is not his."
Romero's shoulders slumped even more if it was possible. His chin fell down on his chest. His hands ran over his face. It seemed that it did change things. "You will have to go back." He said flatly. I snorted. So he was going to be that guy. "You will have to go back."
"Yes, I heard you!" I took off all my clothes and did the same as him. Romero wasn't turned away from me anymore. He was watching me. I scrubbed the fabric roughly against a rock and rinsed it in the stream, got up, and hung them over the same rocks as his. His eyes followed me everywhere. I manifested and teleported to all the different types of beasts, smelling them to see what would be the tastiest. I killed one as the others scattered away, taking out all my frustration on the twitching body. I took it back and dropped it at his feet. "What do you want to eat?"
He pointed to a herd in the distance. I did the same and tossed his meal at his chest. He stumbled, trying to grab onto the dead ugly thing. A chuckle escaped his lips. Romero placed it down on a stone surface.
"I don't see any trees. How will I make you a fire."
"Do you see those dark rocks?" My eyes drifted to where his finger was pointing. Water and lava formations. I drew in a breath. I was going to have to move our camp all the way over there. As I went back and forth, Michael crossed my mind. He had been human for far longer than me. Had turned into this and was going through everything I was. He had saved us all that day on Palmyra. Juliet wouldn't even have made it if he wasn't what he had turned into. We didn't even have a name for what we would call ourselves.
My last trip was taking Romero. I placed him down and came back to human in front of him. His eyes were still roaming my body. "Can you put your clothes back on?"
"No! I'm walking around like this until they are dry. You should've packed better." I picked up his sack and dropped it again. "Insufficient! For what we had to go through. Not even bread wrapped in cloth. Extra water? How could you not bring one set of extra clothes? Or, at least clean panties."
"Panties…?" I flung my hands in the air. "Our journey was suppose to be three days. Not ten…." Romero protested.
"That's not my problem. A guy should provide better."
He spun away from me in a huff, pulling out his sword, skinning and gutting his beast. I grabbed mine and ate it as is. Who was I kidding… I was a creature and had to get used to it. After I ate, I went back to the waterfall and washed off in the water. I sat there for a long time. The moon that was so close in the desert, had risen on the horizon. It was further away from us. Did we really travel that far? It was even more beautiful. Almost translucent as the sky behind it illuminated. I didn't want to leave. I couldn't even bring myself to think about it.
I went back to Romero. He had hung up the clothes close to a pit filled with boiling lava. Or whatever it was. It bubbled and made small explosions on the surface. I picked up my crop top and wanted to put it on. Romero grabbed my wrist and took it from me. I had a flashback of Kubra doing the same thing and cringed. His fingers stroked up my arm. His thumb grazed my side boob, and my nipples responded in kind, perking and betraying me. His eyes flickered from my chest to my lips. He wanted to but didn't. "I don't want to leave," I whispered.
"You have to leave."
"F- You." I was finally in a relationship where my emotions drove all my actions. Controlled my tongue and made me act irrationally.
Romero's pulled me closer, lowering his lips onto mine, roaming every part of me but where I wanted him to. His other hand had not moved my top still in his grasp. "I said you have to leave." He whispered in my ear, pressing me close to his chest.
I did a stupid thing. I traveled to Juliet. She was sleeping in her bed with Louis. He had jumped up, gripping my throat, squeezing. I pushed him off me. Louis hit the glass with force. I was fast picking her up, and traveled back to Romero. Her arms clung to my neck. "Oh, Charlene. I missed you. I was so scared that I did something wrong." I came back to human. Her eyes drifted down my body, and she licked her lips slowly, "So this is happening then?"
I hit her shoulder, walking over to Romero. "You did almost get me. But he stopped you." I pointed at Romero, who stood gaping at us. I ripped my top out of his hand and put my arms through the cloth. Juliet and Romero stood regarding each other. "Oh, Charlene." Juliet's voice was husky. He was a honey. Beautiful. I laughed lightly. "No wonder you don't want to come home."
I hit her again. "Stop staring. Mine!" I growled.
"So a threesome is out of the question?" Juliet's eyes ran up and down his person.
"Oh yeah! You going to tell Marcus."
"Urgh!" She rolled her eyes and moved away from Romero, taking in the place. "You know. Every time I think I've seen the most beautiful planet. Another one comes up that trumps the previous one."
"Believe me. You don't want to live here."
She eyed me skeptically. "Why am I here? Seems like you are doing just fiiinnne." Her eyes scanned my clothes as I pulled up the pants. "That is pretty. I want one."
"Can you focus, please…" Juliet nodded militarily and saluted me. "He is my Louis." Juliet's chin and lips pulled together in an understanding way. Her eyes were misty with tears. I wrapped her up in my arms. "But he wants me to leave because of Miné."
"He what?!" She stopped crying just as fast as it started. She walked over and hit Romero in the face with a fist. Fully manifested. White eyes and strong. Romero planted in the ground. He felt his split lip. Her head darted to the lava. His leftover meat was still on the rock. She walked over and sunk her teeth into the flesh.
"What is wrong with her?" Romero barked and stood to his feet. "Are you insane?" He spat at Juliet, who ignored him.
"She's pregnant. She has four husbands, and this is her third baby. And we are the same age."
Romero's eyes were wide.
"Oh, and don't forget the Chadari baby I stole."
"You what?" Romero turned to her.
"I… am… not… giving him back." She muttered between bites of raw flesh. Blood dripping down her chin. "So, what's his name?" She nudged with her chin.
"Romero."
"You're an idiot, Romero. You won't have another chance with her if you let her leave."
"I don't want her to leave. But she has to."
"What does that mean? Don't tell me… He's lying to you."
"Mmmhmm," I countered. "Like I said… He's my Louis."
She shrugged her shoulders, cleaning her teeth with her sharp black nails. "Well, if I were you, I'd run in the opposite direction. If I can go back in time. I would kick Louis to the curb."
"You don't mean that."
"No, but still. That's how it will be from now on. He will hurt you. Disappoint you, and you won't be able to do anything about it."
"Why are you angry at the poor man today?"
"Oh, Chars. So much has happened since you've been gone. Hey! You're all three." We both jumped up and down in one place, clapping our hands. She gripped mine, and we did a little dance. "How do you feel?" Her hands ran down my arms.
"Too powerful! Juliet, you have to go easy on Michael. It's so much to take hold of." She was guilt-ridden, nodding softly. "Coupled with everything he had to go through. It's a wonder he's not in a mental asylum."
She bit her bottom lip nervously. "Okay, but let's stay focused. What do you want me to do? I can't make him want to take care of Miné. If he's going to be that guy that can't accept your child. You have to let him go. Run."
"Of course, I can accept Miné." Romero's voice broke through our conversation.
"Then what's the problem, dog?" Juliet pushed.
"I can not say."
"Urgh." She countered. "Ladies and gentlemen. We have another coward. You should sleep with Kubra and leave this guy here." Romero didn't like her words. The scowl was back around his eyes. "You know what… In our world. You have to take what you want… Or someone else will do it for you. And Charlene… Kubra is going out of his mind." I slightly shook my head. Her eyebrows raised. "So he's not the only one lying."
"What is she talking about?" Romero confronted. My eyes fell to the sand. My hands wanted to reach for my back pockets, but I had none.
"Okay! I will sort this out for you both… Stay until you guys are at a place where you know what's going on. It is a relationship, after all. No need to do anything too hasty. If you haven't slept with Kubra yet. You get to decide who will have the honor. I'm voting for Kubra."
"No!" Romero yelled loudly.
Both our eyebrows raised at him. "That's not really how this works." Juliet gestured between him and me. "What do you want her to do? She had a life before she got pulled out here. Kubra will always be in the picture. And not to mention that Carl is still waiting."
Romero's eyes got a red tint. His veins looked like blood flowing back up his arm. The black shadow followed and consumed him. "I take it… He's not human?" Juliet whispered.
"No," I whispered back. "Maybe I should take you home."
"Okay…" She said hesitantly.
"But before I do… I have a gift for you." I walked over to Romero and kissed him. His eyes came back to normal, resting on my lips. I whispered into his ear. Romero and I walked over to Juliet. He lifted a hand and placed it on her head. The fog was powerful, and he let it show. Purple tiny veins consumed her whole face, and her head was swallowed by the darkness in between until her eyes darkened. Before she could say anything, I took her back and dumped her on the bed.
***
Louis
I hit the glass, and my head followed, pounding a loud thud. Charlene was big. She was a monster in her Riphath form. I chuckled. Dark fur and her teeth shone in the moonlight. It happened so fast. Michael was there, and they disappeared. When Marcus burst through the door, it was way too late. "What happened?"
I picked up Aries. "Charlene came in and took her," Michael said.
"Why?"
"How should I know?" Michael snapped.
We headed downstairs. "I don't think she's a threat. Not after all this time. Something else is going on." I ventured.
"This house is too small for all of us. Caleb is already living down in Charlene's house. The kids are in with Maya. Kubra is in the last room." Michael said as Kubra came walking out of the hallway.
"Yes, Juliet wants to go back to the compound."
"She's talking to you?" Michael asked.
"I wish. No. Her thoughts are racing at this point. She's bored. Or… trying to keep me off her back."
"Where is Juliet?" Kubra asked sleepily.
"Charlene was here Kubra. She took Juliet."
He let a string of cuss words flow while we all sat down on the couches. "If you want me to sleep back on En-gannim. I can move out. It should be Carl's room anyway."
"Where is Carl?"
We all shared glances. None of us knew. We had not seen him in days. Or thought about him.
"The last time Juliet and I saw him was on Palmyra. He was overseeing the removal of their libraries and searching for any clues on the coordinates of the planets. He's probably helping Liam and Soren set up somewhere." Kubra said. "Should I make something to drink? We might have to stay up the whole night waiting for her."
"What if she stays? She is still so angry." Marcus said softly.
"No. She wants to be here when Chris wakes up. Juliet won't go back on her deal with us."
"Did you ask her about Aries?"
"She says he's staying."
The other men didn't like it either. "We have enough on our plate. If Fahan doesn't have a reason. He might not come looking at all." I stood up. "You know what, Michael. Then you tell her that." I took the little bundle to Maya. She was going to have to take him for the night.
We all sat for a while in silence. The familiar bamf sound of the teleportation came from my room. Charlene's heavy treads creaked and cracked every step down. "Uhhh… I did something." Her voice was so low and gruff. We all stared at her. "She gonna want sex... So whoever goes in there should be ready."
All three of us jumped up, pushing back the other, fighting for it. Charlene eyed us, reaching the bottom stairs together. "What did you guys do? She's not happy… But this will help. So who needs it most." Her eyes darted over us. Kubra was having a cigarette, calmly waiting. His thoughts were a jumbled mess.
We were debating. "Rock paper scissors it." Charlene decided for us. "Michael, you and Marcus first." She said. They did, and Michael lost. He swore and made a dent in the wall, walking down the hall and slamming his door. Marcus and I stood ready. It was best out of three. I was going to cheat. Marcus eyed me. "I don't trust you. Charlene, you play for him. She could play a game with her claws. I still won, thanking the universe. I pushed them out of the way and ran up, closing the door.
"Why are you still dressed?" Juliet sneered and jumped up. My hands went for the hem of my shirt. "There is no time for that." She grabbed the collar of the T-shirt and ripped it down the middle, yanking at my shorts. They stayed around my thighs. Two hands pushed me onto the bed. She mounted me in one thrust. Her head jerked back into the air. "F- Charlene, what did you do to me." I laughed, watching her be consumed as she pulled tight around me. Juliet wasn't in the mood for games, getting off me and pushing my head down her body. My fingers were barely in her… My tongue hardly licked, and she came again. Her moans were a little loud. "Louis, you better behave yourself." I heard Marcus complain. His door slammed just as hard. Like any of it was my fault. She gripped my hair and pulled me up, guiding me into her. I didn't move. "What are you waiting for."
"Say you forgive me," I whispered over her lips, slowly sliding back and forth, urging her to let go of her anger.
"Louis… I'm so close."
"Say you forgive me." I palmed her breast and closed my fingers, deliberately prolonging my thrusts. Juliet swore and muttered incoherently. I enfolded her nipple with two fingers and squeezed.
"I forgive you," she said breathlessly, wrapping her legs around me. Her heels dug into me and thrusted me forward. She shook violently under me, fisting my hair and grabbing onto my shoulder. Juliet's whole body relaxed.
"You know it's always a mission to get you to go. Could we bottle this, please?"
Juliet pushed me off her, stretching out like she always did. "I think I'm done. Thank you, baby."
"What!? That was like one minute!"
She laughed as she turned on her side. I got rid of my shorts and pulled her shoulder over, resting on top of her, spreading her legs wide with mine. "I'm not going to ask."
Juliet met my eyes with a look I had longed to see in them. Her hand gripped the back of my head and pulled down. "I'm not close to done." My length was already burying itself in her heated flesh. Our lips met long and slow. I had never been that glad to feel her melt into me. We needed it. I needed it.