The Odyssey of Scylla

Chapter 12

I rolled over in bed stretched. Humming drew my attention across the room. Death stood in front of his window, watching as the stars passed us by. He looked relaxed and content, something he'd always lacked before.

"What are you doing?"

He turned around and smiled. "Thinking about what comes next."

I sat up and stretched more. "Well, that could be a lengthy process."

Death came back to the bed and pushed me into the mattress. He nuzzled my neck and ran his limbs down my body. "What comes next for us is the most pressing."

I squeezed his bicep. "I don't think that is much of a mystery."

"No, I suppose it isn't." He kissed me, and I let the sensation overtake me.

---

Death held me against the wall, trying to figure out a comfortable way to keep me there.

"What's wrong?" I wrapped my arms around his waist.

"I don't know what to do when it comes to this." Frustration bled into his brow.

I kissed him and squeezed him tighter. I pulled back again. "I guess it depends on what you want."

"I want to make you mine."

I didn't know why his words caught me off guard so much. We'd been meeting secretly for months, and in my mind, the next logical step was sex, but we didn't talk about it.

"Um, how do Kukunda have sex?"

"We breed when females are at the height of fertility. You're human; I do not know what to do with a human."

"Well, maybe just pretend I'm a Kukunda female?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"No, I will figure it out, but please help me."

"Ok. Well, let's get on the bed first. I say start there."

"The bed is for sleeping."

I chuckled. "The bed isn't just for sleeping."

---

Death and I collapsed around each other. It was a sensory overload from before. Every touch sent electricity through my body. Finally, I understood why Dr. Traverse said to take it easy regarding procreation. We could kill ourselves from the intensity.

Death picked my hand up and kissed my fingers. "We need to start practicing again."

I let out a breathy laugh. "Practice! I think we know what we're doing."

He rolled over on top of me again. "You feel different, and even though you're moving this body, it moves differently too. I was trying to be with the human you, not the half-life you."

I put my fingers over his mouth. "Can we think of something different to call me other than half-life? It sounds like I'm dying."

He moved my hand. "Half-life means half of one life, half of another. So you are whole, simply half Kukunda and half-human."

"That makes it a little better." I wrapped my tentacles around his and pulled his face close.

"I suppose we could use a little more practice."

He chuckled. "We have all the time we could hope for to practice. I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

"Is that a promise?"

He kissed my lips softly. "That's a promise."

"Good. I like that promise."

"Me too."

---

I stood silently as the alien Death walked circles around me. He'd sent the other people away, and I felt foolish for addressing him. He flipped my hair with one of his tentacles, and I pulled my head away.

"Don't like to be touched." It was a statement where most would have questioned it.

"Not really."

"You'll fit in with my squad. Most don't like to be touched. My assistant doesn't at all, too intimate."

I squared my shoulders and regained my composure. "Maybe Hokuto's never known a touch to teach him the difference."

"Why don't you like to be touched?"

I didn't look at him. "Maybe I wasn't shown affection, and touching was taboo."

"I suppose it's a good thing I'm not offering you a position where you have to touch anyone. I simply want you to come with me to announce who I am before the conquered masses." He stopped in front of me.

"If that's the experience you're giving me."

He stepped closer to me but kept his body parts to himself. "I'm giving you more than an experience. I'm giving you a new life, one where you will be important and revered."

"Will you throw me aside like the other guy?"

"Other guy?"

"Yeah, the one you threw."

"No, that was my assistant. We've been searching for a new announcer. I promise he landed on his feet."

I took a deep breath. "But you didn't answer my question."

He picked up a lock of hair and ran it between his fingers. "No. I don't think I will."

Death turned and headed to his ship. "Come along. Let me show you how vast space is."

Space. Leave Earth behind and go on the most epic space odyssey known to man. Don't mind if I do.