The Odyssey of Scylla

Chapter 6

Traverse's office was dark, but his plant lights illuminated it enough for me to see. I pulled myself up on the exam table and waited until he came back. It had been challenging to get from the lowest sublevel to his office, but I did it. I wrapped my new tentacles around me and sat in the dark again.

---

Hokuto and I stopped short of each other. "Hokuto! I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "Death's door is a busy place today. I nearly ran into a few others coming to see him myself. He's in an odd mood."

I looked over his head and could see Death pacing back and forth. "Odd how?"

Hokuto leaned in closer to me, so he wasn't overheard. "He's asking about affection. How different aliens show it. Kukunda don't show affection, but many species that have come under their reign do. I'm not sure what he is up to. He may have found someone he is attracted to and does not know how to approach them."

Shrugging my shoulders, I walked past him. "All we can do is answer his questions."

"True, tread carefully."

"Always."

I stopped a little way away and waited for Death to address me. Instead, his pacing slowed, and he turned to look at me. He had his tentacles wrapped around one another, and it gave him a human-like quality I wasn't used to seeing.

"Scylla. Good, you are the last I need to speak to. I assume Hokuto told you what I'm asking about." He motioned for me to sit in one of his chairs.

I smoothed my dress under my behind and sat. "He did. Humans are very affectionate, and really so are many of the species on Earth."

He sat heavily in the other chair. "I don't care about the others; I want to know how humans show affection."

I waved my hands in front of me. Affection for humans was complex. I wasn't sure how to explain to him how complex it was.

"There are different types of affection. Affection for family, friends, or lovers. It really depends on what you want to know." Options give him options.

"I want to know them all."

I closed my eyes and let out a breath. "They're hard to explain."

"Then show me."

"Show you?"

"Yes, let me look into your mind while you think about affection. That way, I can see without you trying to explain."

"I don't understand."

He came over to me and pressed two of his tentacles to my temples. "I can see your thoughts this way. No pain, simply think about how humans perceive affection."

"Ok. I can do that."

I closed my eyes and began to think of all the ways humans show affection. Mothers singing to babies. Husbands and boyfriends surprising their partners with gifts. Children hugging everyone that mean something to them. Teachers praising their students. I thought about the different levels of touching that came with new affection to intimate affection. I recalled the words and images that induced the feeling of love. I did my best to think of it all.

Death slowly pulled his tentacles away from my face. "You're right. That was complicated but helpful."

He stood and moved back to his pacing. I stood and brushed my dress again. "Is that all you needed?"

"Yes. Thank you, Scylla."

I headed to the door.

"Scylla?"

I turned around. "Yes?"

"That color of fabric is flattering on you."

The color rushed to my cheeks before I knew I was reacting. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, songstress. Sleep well tonight."

"You, you too." I turned quickly and left before I could make more of a fool of myself.

---

The door whooshed open, and I looked at it. Traverse stood in the doorway, eyes wide with panic.

I reached out with tentacles and pressed them to his temples. "Traverse, I've been split. Please help me."