9:
I got up during the night and went to the restroom.
The window gave me a way out. I took my time wandering to Cass's hut. I passed Miz along the way. He sat up and greeted me. I whispered to him, "Don't let anyone know I'm out. I'm going to see Cass."
Miz nodded and rested his head back on the ground. I quietly sneaked into Cass's tent and found him lying awake on his bed. He reached out to me. I climbed into his bed beside him and I hugged him close. He told me, "I am not used to this."
"What? Cuddling? Well, get used to it, it's a big deal on earth," I said.
He laughed and squeezed me more tightly. He whispered softly into my ear, "Tell me more of you."
I tried to think of anything that Cass didn't already know about me. I told him stories about my life and my past. He ran his fingertips along the trail of my arms and across my scar. When I finished, I asked him, "What about your life? Why don't you tell me more about you?"
Cass became tense, saying, "You already know my life. It is simple; uneventful."
I scoffed and replied, "It's not simple. Your features are a little different from the others. Your blue eyes, especially. Do they judge you for it?"
Sighing, Cass told me, "I have learned to ignore the prejudice of my people. Unlike earth, our planet rarely showed diversity. When it does appear, it is believed to be a sign of weakness in the genetic link. I have proven myself to the others and those who challenge me know they will be met with my strength, but Sami is not as strong. He is the most diverse looking that we have seen in many generations. It is unlikely he will ever maintain a higher status in our community, despite the knowledge that he will surely provide many offspring."
I argued honestly, "I hate thinking that Sami will be an outcast. He's a good man."
Chuckling, Cass responded wisely, "It is ironic that he is so hated by his own people, but he resembles a man of earth enough to be accepted by a planet that is not his own."
"I still wish he could be understood. It's not right his son will suffer no matter what."
After a short silence, Cass told me, "Let's speak of something else."
I could tell he wanted Sami's safety as much as I did, but it was impossible in the compound. I remembered something else I wanted to ask Cass, "What did you think of my scar?"
He brushed his lips across my forehead and replied teasingly, "Did I not tell you, already?"
"I want to know what you thought of its taste. Really," I said.
He was quiet for a moment. I felt a knot forming in my stomach. I wondered if his silence were a sign he didn't like what he had tasted. Then he said in a husky tone, "You were delicious. I want to taste you, again."
He urged me closer and I asked him, "Does this mean you are mine, now?"
With another quiet chuckle, Cass answered, "I suppose I am."
:-:
We made out for a while before I had to return to the facility. Cass reluctantly let me go. I went back through the bathroom window and shuffled my way into my bed. Shelton and Fandango didn't move from the other side of the room. I knew Fandango's sleeping habits well enough to be certain he hadn't heard me. Shelton I wasn't so sure of.
The next morning, I was up early and outside even before Shelton had eaten breakfast. I wanted to be up so it didn't look like I had spent half the night kissing Cass. I also wanted to see Cormund for an update on Sami's progress.
As always, Cass and the other humanoids had gathered around the facility to watch me work. Cormund came moments later and sat opposite of Cass to enjoy a game of cards. I hadn't realized how much of the testing was unfinished until I sorted everything out and found that without Fandango, Steph and Hunter, all of the outside work was my responsibility. I had to admit I was not performing as well as possible.
I worked to organize things when I heard the door of the central facility open. Assuming it was just Shelton, I continued with my business until I heard Cormund stand up like a shot and ask, "What is he doing outside?"
I turned to see where Cormund was looking. I saw that Shelton had come outside...with Fandango just after him.
"What's going on?" I asked, confused.
Shelton put his hand up to calm the murmurs from the humanoids. He explained, "Fandango has shown outstanding behavior since his confinement, so I have decided to allow him some outdoor time as a reward."
Once he finished, Shelton looked right at me. I had the feeling this was not about Fandango's behavior, but about mine. Shelton was angry with me for defying him, and he was not about to let me get away with it.
Cormund started for Shelton as he roared, "We were told he would be confined! We will not allow a withdraw of your agreement without prior consent!"
Fandango hid behind Shelton. His cowardice was downright ridiculous. Shelton took a step back but tried to stay calm as he explained, "There is no reason to be upset, Cormund. Fandango cannot roam far, nor can he be anywhere without my constant watch. He is of no consequence to you."
Cormund stood his ground, replying acidly, "Tell that to the one he nearly killed!"
Staring Fandango down once more, Cormund left the testing grounds and went out of sight. I started to follow him, but Shelton suddenly grabbed me by the arm and whirled me around to face him. He asked roughly, "Where do you think you're going?"
"Get off me!" I shouted.
The other humanoids and Cass were watching closely. I didn't want Cass to step in and be the next target on Shelton's list. I knew it would come to that since Shelton was not letting me go. I did something stupid and kicked him right in the groin.
He dropped to his knees and his face turned ten shades of red. Most of the humanoids burst into fits of laughter at the sight. Fandango stared at me in shock.
My mind was racing. I had basically ended all respect Shelton had with the Moonstone species. I had sealed my fate as the number one target on Shelton's list. I had alienated myself from my own people after becoming one of the elite of the Moonstone species. It was a stupid, stupid move.
All I could think of to do was try and save some face with Shelton. I leaned down to help him, saying, "I'm sorry, man, that was reflex. I didn't mean it."
I reached out for him, but he suddenly threw his arm out and shoved me. I landed hard in the sand, but I had tried to stop myself with my hands, including my broken hand that was still in a flimsy cast.
I didn't cry out, but my eyes widened with shock at the pain that shot up my arm. The cast split in half on impact with an exposed rock beneath the sand. I didn't want to move. My eyes watered and I blinked automatically, sending tears streaming down my face as I slowly picked up my broken hand with my good one and cradled it against me. The laughter of the humanoids had stopped, and I was suddenly aware of the thick tension surrounding us all.
Shockingly, it was Fandango who lunged at Shelton full force and they both fell to the ground. Fandango started punching Shelton in the kidneys while Shelton tried to block it. Fandango was yelling at him, "You shoved my husband, you son of a bitch!"
I stared at the fight without saying a word. I was too shocked. Fandango had told me that he was a good fighter, but I assumed it was just an ego boost for him and he wasn't really the destructive type. Watching him against someone as well trained as Shelton and he wasn't so bad.
It was shocking.
Fandango was battering Shelton with sheer, unexpected force. Shelton never had enough time to anticipate Fandango so he could fight back. The humanoids seemed equally surprised, watching like a paying audience while Fandango brutally bombarded Shelton. Finally, I gathered my bearings enough to shout, "Stop!"
They didn't hear me. Blood was spurting from Shelton's mouth.
"Stop! Fandango, stop!" I was trying to get up to get near him so he could hear me more easily.
Shelton's eyes were rolling up and he was fading fast. Fandango continued to beat him, and I was sure he was going to kill him.
I turned to look at Cass. He was already one step ahead. Cass took a clay container from the testing table and came up behind Fandango. Cass smashed the container over the back of his head. Fandango passed out on the ground before he knew what had hit him. Shelton passed out as well.
I looked at Cass and told him, "Thank you."
He nodded and stepped aside, acting as though I did not affect him so the other humanoids wouldn't catch on. I played along, asking Cass like I would anyone else, "Please help me get Fandango and Shelton inside."
Cass called to one of the humanoids, "Find Cormund. We may need emergency medical help."
The humanoid left and Cass picked up Fandango. He brought him inside and came back out for Shelton. Cass lay Fandango down on one of the regular beds and Shelton was put on the hospital bed in one corner of the room. I had very limited medical training. I looked Shelton over and relayed to Cass, "I'm not sure how bad off he is."
"We will use saltpine. It will heal him quickly and he will not suffer," Cass informed me.
"I can't believe it. This is so fucked up," I mumbled randomly.
Cass put his hand on the small of my back and whispered, "Everything will be fine."
Cormund burst through the door and Cass stepped away from me. We both turned to face him and we noticed Sami coming in as well. Cass became alert, asking, "Sami? Why are you here?"
Sami waved at us and replied, "I'm here to help."
"You should be resting in your hut," Cass informed him.
Cormund replied just as quickly, "He was the only one who extensively studied the medical literature we were given."
Cass nodded that he understood, and Cormund placed a bowl of liquid saltpine by Shelton's bedside while Sami took strips of bandages and began soaking them in it. Shelton opened his eyes and looked at me. I leaned into him and said, "Everything's gonna be fine."
At first, he seemed to smile. Suddenly, he jerked forward and tried to grab me like he was going to choke me. I fell back against the table behind me. Cass grabbed hold of Shelton and easily held him down. Shelton screamed at me, "Get away from me, you piece of shit! This is all your fault!"
I swallowed hard. Shelton stopped fighting and Sami handed Cass two soaked bandages, saying, "Wrap these around Enzo's wrist and hand. It'll make him heal much faster."
Cass did as he was told. I sat in a stool and stationed my arm on the table I had fallen against while Cass covered it with saltpine bandages. He was very careful and quiet while he worked. When he finished, he locked eyes with me.
I wanted to leave the room with Cass and find a room of our own. I wanted to confess to him that I needed him and I wanted to be with him. I could see the same look in his eyes. It hit me like a bolt of lightning from a cloudless sky: I was in love with Cass. At that moment, more than any other, I wanted him to fuck me.
"Enzo? Enzo?" I heard Fandango call to me from the other side of the room.
I had to tear my eyes away from Cass and stand up to address my poor excuse for a husband. I took my time walking over to him. Fandango called me all the while. When I reached him, I asked, "What do you want?"
He looked old and haggard lying in his bed, but his eyes were still full of wicked glee.
"You tell headquarters what Shelton has been doing around here! Tell them that I fought him in self-defense because he was abusive to you! They'll have him out of here by tomorrow morning!"
I stared at him. I had plans to tell headquarters, but I hadn't even thought of the fact that Shelton would be charged with abuse. It sounded like the perfect solution to get rid of Shelton. I wasn't sure if being alone with Fandango would be any better.
"Sure," was all I could think to say, and Fandango smiled broadly.
Sami called from the other side of the room, "Fandango, do you have injuries I can tend to?"
Fandango's smile faded and he played sickly, reaching for the back of his neck as he whimpered, "I am in a lot of pain."
"I'll take care of that," Sami said, coming to aid Fandango.
Cormund turned to face me and said, "Enzo, I would like to speak with you a moment."
I nodded and got up to approach him. Cormund walked me over to the far corner of the room and away from the others. Cass was standing alert, watching Cormund closely. Cormund informed me, "When your human headquarters offered to place their researchers in our compound, I was adamantly against the proposition because I was concerned it would interfere with the lives of our species. I chose to allow them to come after I met you, Enzo, and I found you to be very intriguing."
I swallowed hard and allowed Cormund to continue, "We were given specific instructions to not act as ourselves, but to limit our aggressive nature and our capabilities for the sake of the humans that would be coming to observe us. We were told that disobeying these instructions would cause severe penalties throughout the entire compound."
This revelation shocked me. I knew headquarters had put down some house rules, but this meant our research could be considered tainted. Cormund went on, his tone more aggravated, "I assumed that we could cut our losses because you would only be here two months, and it was being done for your safety, but so far, it has been you and your husband and the many replacements they keep sending that are causing chaos and disorder for us all!"
Cass took a step forward from where he was across the room. I could see him clenching his fists out of the corners of my eyes. Cormund's tone grew fierce, "Your kind have fought and battered each other, fought and battered my species, destroyed portions of our compound with your antics and behaviors, and you've taught us lessons about humans that have made us believe you're an irrelevant, idiotic type!"
"Cormund!" Cass warned.
Keeping his eyes only on me, Cormund finished with, "The Moonstone species is spiraling into disaster because of your husband's behavior and your insistence on wandering into the territories of some of our finest and making friends or enemies of them. I ask you honestly, Enzo, are you here strictly to observe us, or are you here as an experiment to test our willingness to engage peacefully with the human race?"
I didn't know what to say. Cormund was putting up a very serious and well pointed argument. In fact, his argument was beginning to make me doubt myself. I thought over our current dilemma, and came to the quick conclusion that going home would be the most promising idea. I opened my mouth to respond to Cormund, when he looked past me and became concerned.
I turned around just in time to see Sami pass all of us as he stormed out the door. His expression was upset and his eyes were filled with tears. Cass and Cormund immediately took off after Sami. I turned to look at Fandango, the last person Sami was with before he stormed out. I was suspicious.
Lying peacefully in his bed, Fandango was staring up at the ceiling with a devilish grin on his face. Whatever he had done, I knew he was satisfied with himself.
