The Monster Within

The Great Alaska Province

Hollis gripped her steaming mug of tea, hair damp and fragrant from this evening's shower. She'd spent the afternoon alone, nestled in the freshly dug dirt next to her family. Small stones with names and dates dotted her sister's and father's graves, and she'd set out to make markers for her mother and grandmother, even uprooting wild fistfuls of creeping purple phlox flowers to plant around their final resting spots. She'd done her share of therapeutic crying, slowly coming to terms with her new reality, as resistant as she desired to be.

Covered in dirt from head to toe (a normal occurrence for Hollis) she'd stomped back inside as evening drew near to wash herself clean. Oberon had sat in the kitchen, eyes following her every move as he shoveled copious amounts of food into his mouth. She'd done her best to ignore him, making herself dinner after her shower as he ducked into the bathroom for his turn. She'd eaten and poured herself some tea, nestling into bed with her door cracked, waiting for him to reappear. He'd been in the bathroom for an eternity.

She thought on his words to her, to keep her safe from others. It made her stomach flutter, awakening a side to her that had not yet been given the chance to flourish. The problem, though, was his two-sided nature, and she feared he wouldn't be able to keep her safe from himself. He was a puzzling creature, and she wondered at the marvel he was. These scientists had created an indestructible being, but at the same time he still felt ancient, still spoke as though he'd lived in another era altogether. She wracked her brain, trying to remember what the newscaster had said about him. Something about his DNA and remains being used to recreate human life...

The door to the bathroom opened, steam billowing out and into the kitchen before it dissipated, the golden sunset catching the water droplets and throwing diamonds on the dark wood walls. Oberon ran a hand through his damp hair, wearing not a stitch of clothing. Hollis reddened, heat coursing through her as she averted her gaze, eyes wide at the differences in anatomy her companion possessed.

She heard his footsteps draw near, and she pretended to be looking out the window.

"You are strange," his deep, smooth voice said from the entrance to her room. She glanced his way, eyes fixated at a spot above his head. A tremble of fear snaked up her spine at their proximity and his lack of clothing.

"Can you...put on some clothes, please?" she said, face falling a deeper shade as her eyes dipped to his angelic face. He stood, stoic and austere as he studied her.

"Even virgins know what a man looks like," he said, more to himself than her.

"What are you talking about?" she said, voice a little more breathy than she intended it to be. He frowned.

"You've really never seen a naked man before?"

She shook her head quickly, eyes dipping even lower in her morbid curiosity. When they found his face again, she caught his smug smirk.

"Better become used to it, tiny human. We will be traveling together for some months," he said, leaning against her doorframe.

"That doesn't mean you can't be...polite," she sputtered, eyes still feasting on his perfect form. Heat pooled in her gut, imagining such acts as he wished to do upon her. At least if he committed them, he was attractive...and didn't smell awful...

"Polite?" he asked, heavy brow furrowing.

"Covering up in the presence of a...of a lady," she stammered, hating herself for indulging in his perfection. His cavalier attitude only made it worse. He chuckled.

"You are so innocent. Why do you try to hide that aspect of yourself?"

She bristled, gripping her mug tighter.