Scales and Tales

Part 4

I must of slept for over 12 hours.

There is no sun here, only a dreary red sky and nasty brown clouds, so I couldn't tell if it was day or night. The blankets were pulled all around me in a cozy, warm nest. I must of messed it up as I dreamt. I yawned widely, shivering as I stretched out my arms to shake off any sleep. I felt like I had taken the worlds best sleeping agent, refreshed and mildly moody. I didn't want to get up, the bed seem to accept that decision as the more I moved, the more comfortable it became. As I battled my laziness, the door cracked open.

"Finally awake Darling?"

Great, it got worse. I glared at him from the bed, tilting my head to the side to look at him. He wore a simple blue button down shirt and gray pants today, the sleeves of the shirt cuffed at his upper arm. More tattoos lined his skin, a simple rectangular pattern trailing up his arm with a unfilled triangle inside it. He was dressed in a more relaxed manner, nothing like the busy suit he wore before. 

"What do you want." I groaned, forcing myself to sit up. 

"If you want something to eat, Dear, then I need you to get up." He said cheerfully, a light smile on his face. I sighed, getting up from the bed and walked slowly to the doorway. He let me past with a smile and lead me down to the kitchen. It was very simple, and oven and flattop stove with white marble counters and cupboards, a sink and a drying rack to one side, and a black  marble island with stools on one side. The smell of berry puree and sugar wafted into my nose, and a plate of crepes greeted me as I climbed up to sit on one of the stools at the island. Picking up my fork, I poked the side of the crepe, watching the sugary red liquid ooze out. It made my mouth water just looking at it, but I was still wairy. Was it drugged? I shuddered at the memory of the disgusting red vials.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, rubbing it gently with his thumb.

"There's nothing harmful in it, I don't want you drugged while my friend visits." He told me, sitting on the stool next to me. Hesitantly I brought a forkful to my mouth, trying to not shake under his gaze.

It was delicious. I ate as quickly as I could, savoring every bite until only a red smear was left. I clearly wasn't very pretty to watch while eating, but he never averted his gaze, smiling at how much I enjoyed his cooking. I hopped off the stool, plate and silverware in hand, and headed to the sink until he stopped me in my path.

"What are you doing?" He asked, taking my plate and placing it on the counter.

"Washing dishes?" I replied back, raising an eyebrow. He raised an eyebrow back at me, his grin growing wider.

"And how are you going to do that? The counter is taller than you."

I open my mouth, ready to make a smart retort, but faltered. He was right,  I could barely climb up onto the stool, how could I reach the sink?

"I just need a step stool then." I answered back, feeling a little embarrassed at the idea. He laughed a little and shooed me out of the kitchen. Instead of wandering, I stayed in the livingroom and sat down on one of the couches, fiddling with the seams on a throw pillow. I traced the embroidered edge, following the twists and turns of a red thread until I heard the faucet stop running in the kitchen.

I looked up at him walking in, drying his hands on a fabric towel that he set to the side. He sat on the couch opposite of me, staring at the door behind me intensely.

"What did you mean?" I asked "That a friend would be coming here?" He lowered his gaze down to me, covering his mouth with his hand.

"I told Miranda about you last night, and she had an idea." He voice gave away how annoyed he was, like Miranda's ideas never ended well. I shifted in my spot, moving my legs under me.

"What's her idea?"

He sighed heavily "She wants to set up a playdate, her words not mine, with you and her boys."

"Her kids?" I asked nervously. I was never good with children, and kids the same height as me sounded like a nightmare.

"No no," he chuckled "They're a pair of males she bought a couple years ago. I think they're both 29 now." That  didn't sound better.

"She does realize that we're not kids, right? We're adults." I stated, mortified by the idea of having a playdate with 2 grown men. He shrugged it off.

"By our standards, all humans are children. You only live for about 80 years, which is nothing compared to our millenias."

"Wait, how old does that make you?"

"I-" he didn't finish his sentence as a several loud knocks banged on the door. He quickly stood up and strode over to the door to let the person inside. She was a very tall, skinny lady, her body curved neatly under her dress, the neck lined with fluff. Her hair long and silver, skin pale as paper, with deep brown eyes. She held a pair of leashes in her hand, each connecting to a man dressed in white suits and a white leather collar. One was of Asian descent, with his angular eyes and dark hair, the other was African with Vitiligo, his hands and neck lacking any dark pigmentation.

"G!" She exclaimed "Where's your little doll, I have yet to see her!" She waltz into the house, with little respect to G.

Was G a nickname? I pondered for a second as she looked around the room for me. I sat up higher, trying to catch her attention.

"I'm not a doll ma'am." I stated as respectfully as I could with a fake smile on my face. She gasped when she saw me, running over to lean above me. She's shorter then G, by a good foot, but still towered over me. The fluff on her dress tickled my nose as she hugged me. Bleh.

"Aren't you the most adorable thing?" She cooed, cupping my face with her hands. "And what beautiful eyes. You chose well, G, and she's a rescue?"

I glanced at G, unsure what to do. I wasn't comfortable with this, I don't like people holding my face and staring at the details of my face. He placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her off of me.

"Don't smother the poor thing." G said sternly "I just got her yesterday, I don't need you suffocating her." She giggled, covering her mouth with one hand.

"Alright G, Boys, come meet..." she trailed off, a finger on her lip. "What's her name?" I wince.

G hesitated, not sure what to say.

"I've been calling her Darling but-"

"Darling!" Miranda exclaimed "That is  adorable, just like her." The boys stood next to me by the couch, right next to the arm. They stared off in the distance, not speaking a word as Miranda clipped off the leashes.

"Have fun! Me and G are going to chat in the study, behave." She said in a sing-song way, waltzing off holding G's arm. I glanced at the guys, unsure what to do.

"You have any names?" I asked. They didn't answer, just stared into nothing.

"Great. This will be fun. " I muttered sarcastically.