I was pretty high up in the rigging, so I didn’t have a very good look at what was happening. I could see Lex pacing, agitated, on the side of the deck with Barrett. I could hear his voice, though not what he was saying, as he argued. Ran his fingers through his hair. Then he went belowdecks.
Most of the crew was up and around the ship. Rat and Francis were sparring, Ana was still reading that gigantic book. Now was my chance.
—
He was holding that little ugly turtle-idol when I slipped into his cabin. His thin shoulders were slumped under his shirt.
I tapped on the door. “Lex?”
He looked up. I had been a little nervous about seeing him again, worried that he wouldn’t want to talk to me again, or see me again. Especially after Rat raked him over the coals.
So I was relieved, when he saw me and a genuine sweet smile was his first reaction.
“Just wanted to talk to you once, before you left, I mean.” I plopped down next to him, holding a small package I had wrapped in rough brown butcher’s paper. “I saw this, when we were at the last port, and it reminded me of you.”
He seemed a little startled that I had gotten him a gift. When his eyes widened like that, it made the pattern of iridescent scales around his eyes wink and sparkle. He looked damn pretty when he was surprised.
For once, he seemed speechless, so he just untied the twine around his package and opened it.
A long scarf of thin indigo fabric unfolded in his hands, flowing and soft. It had small charms of white cowrie beads at the ends that clicked quietly as he ran the cloth through his fingers.
“You ruined the last one, when you had the bad sense to get hit with an axe.” I joked.
“But… But I don’t have anything for you…” Was he blushing? He looked a more vibrant shade of purple, certainly.
I scooted closer to him on the edge of his bunk, and I kissed him on his smooth scaly cheek. “You gave it to me already.” I teased. I certainly wasn’t going to tell him how much the scarf cost. He wrapped it around his waist and got up, I had to admit it looked amazing on him.
“I’m glad you came.” He murmured, sitting next to me. “You know how to make me feel better.”
I was going to ask him what was wrong, but the bell started ringing like crazy, drawing us from the bowels of the Antelope to see what was happening.
My heart sank when I saw just how close we were to the island. This was going to be goodbye. It was just a one-night thing, I was sure. But he had been perfect.
I got roped into roping the ship to the dock. I was barely able to say goodbye.
Rat was the first one down the gangplank. Brusquely pushing past me so hard I nearly fell overboard. Then it was Lex. He smiled at me, twirled the end of his new indigo scarf. But instead of saying goodbye, he said.
“See you soon.”
I was so surprised that I had nothing to say as he walked down the gangplank.
“Did you think we wouldn’t be back?”
I jumped. The bossy pretty half-elf was leaning against the rail, grinning like the cat that got the cream. She gestured to her own neck, and I tucked my chin sullenly, hiding my hickeys.
“We’ll be back.” She chirped. “Lex just wanted to stop off here because he’s been getting visions of a bloodthirsty demon who’s been trying to kill him since he was a baby. Y’know, his mom. We’re going to find a wizard who will see if he’s been cursed by that idol or not.”
I stared at her.
She waggled her fingers at me. “Be back soon. Tell us if you start getting any frightening visions. They seem to have spread to Rat, she’s been getting them as well.”
Then she cheerfully skipped off the deck.
Leaving me to wonder what the hell had I gotten myself into.
THE END
*
*Update of other works
Maybe as a punishment for that wonderful burst of productivity I had back in May, I’ve been making almost zero progress on all of my stories since then. Just lately I’ve been making some moderate advances on Onus, and my two other projects.
One will be titled ‘Not Good People’ and the other will be ‘Blue, Like the Shell of the World’.
Onus is my lesson. I am not as fast or reliable of an author as I once was, so from now on, stories that I upload will be much more ‘complete’ before I upload them. I WILL NOT leave that story unfinished, but it’s been a lot harder than I thought it would be from the outset. Never shop hungry, and never upload an unfinished story just because you’ve been making good progress.
As an apology for Onus, when my two projects are finished, I will upload them one chapter per week. ‘Fingering the Idol’ was just a fun little side project that I did for a few of my friends, it did not take time or effort away from Onus. I hope that you enjoyed it.
Kisses and Spanks,
–Cruel*