Studs, page 2
“My, that went well.” At his confused glance, she added. “I’m kidding. Have you forgotten my sarcastic wit? What now, Rici?”
Even while her words were light, the disappointment in her tone covered his heart, weighing it down. “I don’t know. Perhaps we should try again.”
“You mean we should try, try again?”
The twist of his sister’s words brought a smile to his lips. “Yes, try, try again. Quitters never win and winners never quit.”
“Good one, Rici. I like it. Did you make it up?”
“I did. Do you think it’ll catch on?”
Her brilliant smile did more to renew his hope. “Definitely. But it needs a little work. Maybe say ‘losers’ instead of ‘quitters.’ Losers never win and winners never lose.”
Leave it to Charissa to try and change his very words. “No. Then the saying wouldn’t fit the circumstances.”
“True.” She nodded, letting his inventive phrase stand. “Well, then, you’ll have to try again, won’t you? If only to prove your phrase correct.”
“Try, try again.”
Together they readied themselves, looked skyward, and counted to three as they’d done before. Once more the earth trembled around them and, once more, the chamber reverberated. But this time, instead of the twin’s hands stopping at the shield, the wall splintered, letting a gap open above their heads until the golden wall above them crumbled away.
Riciseon shouted in triumph as he and Charissa continued their push through the earth, channeling a path to the world above them. “We’re free, Charissa! We’re free!”
“Fly high, Riciseon!” Charissa burst into the sunlight with her words singing behind her as her body lifted into the air.
Riciseon, close on the heels of his sister, rejoiced as the wind whipped by him. Stretching out his arms, he looked around him, over him and below him, taking in the lush green of the land and the vibrant blue of the sky. “Charissa, look around you. See how beautiful the world is. I know it’s not proper to feel or speak of these things, but I’ve missed everything so much. I don’t care if the Elders send us back because I’m experiencing this emotion. It’s worth every second of the enjoyment. If this is emotion, then let me have it.”
He followed Charissa, letting her laughter lead him as he twisted this way and that to see the horizon, the sun, and the small lakes dotting the ground. “Do you see anything of the Elders?”
“No.” Charissa turned back to him, her body floating in the air. “But I see a building, a structure. And I see people.” She spun in a circle, checking all around her. “Do we dare go among the humans? Or will the Elders snatch us away if we try?”
“Puh on the Elders! Let’s go.” Rici dashed ahead of his sister and wiggled his bottom at her. “Catch me if you can, little sister.” The exuberance rushing through him was unlike anything he’d ever encountered. So this was what he’d been missing all these years? No longer! The odd emotion threatened to fill his being, restricting the air in his lungs and putting pressure on his chest. As he’d done so many times before, he shoved the emotion down and out of his mind.
The twins raced to the north, alternating between who was in the lead. As they drew closer to the humans, they dropped in altitude, staying close to the tree line.
“Rici, we need to check out these humans first. They and the world may have changed.”
“I think that’s a good bet. The structure appears more developed and made of different materials. I guess they’ve managed to learn and improve their miserable lives.”
“Probably with Matlantian help.”
Riciseon landed in a tree near a pleasant green meadow. A large platform, cupped on one side with curved panels, stood in front of a boisterous group of humans while various strange box-like items littered the platform out of which a raucous sound emanated. The people, most of them appearing to be young adults similar in age to the twins’ outward appearance, bumped against each other in strange twisting and jerking motions, some listening to an odd-sounding music performed by unseen musicians while others had tiny black or silver objects attached to one of their ears.
Charissa landed next to him and sat on the limb, pulling on his pant leg to urge him to sit down, too. “Looks to me like the natives have developed a lot more industry and social customs since we were last on the earth. I wonder how long we were in the chamber? Their clothes are almost as nice as the average Matlantian’s clothes—although quite odd, yet interesting—and they’re definitely able to get along with each other better than before.”
“But what are the things they’re placing against their ears?”
“I don’t know.” Charissa licked her lips and Rici knew her gesture wasn’t an innocent one. “But one thing’s for certain.”
“Charissa.” Yet Riciseon knew she wouldn’t heed his warning. “Don’t.”
She patted his cheek. “Are you jealous, brother dear? Some of the males are quite nice. Without all the matted hair and stinky animal fur, they look very appealing. See the one with fair hair?”
The hungry sounds she made sent a nervous shiver down his spine. “Behave, Charissa. We don’t want to get in trouble for mixing with the humans so soon after gaining our freedom.”
She eyed him sending him an unmistakable reply. With the grace of a gazelle, she hopped off the limb and landed easily on her feet.
“Charissa! Come back!”
“Beit uga mep. Ugga!”
The short, blond-haired man, who wore a black shirt with the words “Your place or mine?” emblazoned across the front, and his pants hanging on his hips as if he hoped they would fall to his feet, turned to Charissa, and dropped the black rectangular box he held at his ear. “Are you talking to me?” He cocked his head, scouring his hot gaze over her, and added, “You going to a costume party?”
Charissa paused in her sway toward him and gaped. “Rici! They speak our language now.”
Riciseon dropped from the tree and hurried over to his sister. “I heard. Which means they may have other, less desirable surprises for us, too. Be careful.”
The young man sauntered closer. “Who you talking to now?” Staring past her, he thrust out his chin at Rici. “Hey, where’d toga boy come from?”
“I’m talking to you, big boy.” Charissa twirled in a circle. “Do you like my gown? It’s my favorite.” She shimmied over to him. “You’re not half bad, you know. Which tribe are you from?”
“Uh, tribe?”
“You know. Your people.” Charissa inhaled, enjoying the different aroma of the man.
“Wow, sweet thang. Did I hear someone say something about a surprise? ‘Cause if you want a surprise, then I’m your man.” He darted his eyes down to his crotch and winked. “Trust me. What I lack in height, I make up for in length.”
Charissa’s left eyebrow shot up as she made a face at Rici. Her message of “Did you hear him?” sent a pain into his side. Not even thirty minutes with their newfound freedom and Charissa was already ready for action with the natives.
“Is that so, little man?” She laughed and touched his shoulder with a playful tap, taking the bite out of her remark as the young man tried to comprehend her meaning.
“Uh, yeah. I’m Jason. Did you come to hear Willie perform?” He paused and winked. “Or to see my willie?”
Rici slipped over to his sister’s side. “Let’s keep moving, Charissa. We have a lot to see.”
“Uh, hey, dude, let the bitch stay if she wants.” His toothy grin sprouted through thin lips as he took a step closer to Charissa and locked his hungry gaze on her chest. “You wanna stay. Right, sweet thang?”
Charissa bestowed a smile on Jason before answering. “I realize your people have evolved somewhat, but I believe you’re using the word ‘bitch’ incorrectly. The word refers to a female dog.” She ran a hand teasingly along Jason’s face, making Rici’s stomach clench in a disturbing way. “And, as you can see, I am no dog.”
“Ain’t that the truth, sweet thang.”
Why was this odd little human calling his sister by such a strange name? Wondering at the sickly sweet smell about the man, Rici leaned in closer and sniffed. “You have an odd stench on you.”
“Huh? Like what’dya mean, man?”
Was this human named Jason calling him a human? Surely he could tell Rici was one of the Ancient Beings, a human’s superior. Or was this human inferior in intelligence to the rest of his kind? Rici decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was. “I mean, you don’t smell like the humans we’re used to. You don’t stink as much, but your body and clothes have a different aroma.”
From the way Jason’s demeanor changed, Rici knew he’d said something wrong. But what? He caught Charissa’s attention and shot her a questioning look, yet she was already entranced in watching the crowd milling around them. Irritated, he poked her in the arm to stop her from swaying with the music like some of the other women were doing. One song ended and another began with only a moment’s blessed silence between them.
“Hey, man. Are you some kind of narc?”
A couple of other men ambled closer with scowls on their faces. Rici didn’t know what a narc was, but he was certain it wasn’t something good. And not something he wanted these people to think he was.
“Of course not.” As he watched the unfriendly faces approach him, he wondered if he possessed any of his other powers besides flying. Maybe the Elders had taken their ability to push emotions away?
“I think you are.” Jason nodded as if agreeing with himself. “You’re not welcomed here, man. This concert’s not for you. Get lost.”
Jason’s friends started to form a circle around Rici and Charissa. Charissa, blissfully unaware, turned to Rici and took his arm. “Isn’t the music exhilarating? Come, Rici. Let’s see what other ecstasies these people hold.”
At the mention of the word “ecstasies” Jason stumbled backwards, bumping into a couple of his friends. “Whoa, everyone! Watch out. These guys are for real. Hey, everyone! There’s a couple of narcs here and they’re scoping us out for E.”
The people around them stopped as if they’d dumped a bucket of ice on them. Yet their immobility didn’t last long. One after another called out the warning as they all turned and ran in the opposite direction.
“Narcs!”
“Cops!”
“Dump your stuff now!”
“Get out of here!”
Charissa’s grip on Rici’s arm tightened as she gaped at the mob running away from them. Even the music had stopped and the people on the large platform had disappeared. “What happened? Where are they all rushing to?”
What was wrong with these people? What did the word “narc” mean? Was it a signal to flee? “I don’t have any idea. Do you know what they’re shouting about?”
Charissa shook her head and tossed her hair over her shoulders. “No, I don’t. But I don’t like it. Should we push them into behaving nicely?”
Rici started backing away, putting more distance between himself and the crowd. “No. There’s too many of them. I think we’d better get out of here.” With a glance at his sister, he lifted into the air and tugged her in the opposite direction from the forming mob.
****
Charissa followed Rici as they flew over the countryside. Yet every time she wanted to land—so many interesting sights to see!—he wouldn’t let her. They flew for about an hour before she finally decided to put down her foot. Literally.
“Riciseon, look. I see beautiful, intriguing creatures. Lots of them. I’m landing now whether you like it or not. I have to get a closer look.” Tipping her head to descend, Charissa headed to the area below where several of the interesting creatures were. Men and women crowded around the animals; some leading them on ropes while other humans watched one of the magnificent beasts in a fenced area. White buildings containing various openings surrounded the people and the animals. Another large, dirt area ran to the east of all the buildings and many small box-like dwellings sat side by side as if waiting for their inhabitants to come home.
As she dropped behind one of the large white buildings, her brother followed her example and landed beside her, sending dust into the air around them. “Shush, Rici. Don’t even start. I don’t care what you have to say. I’m going to take a look at these people and their wonderful animals.” Without a backwards glance at Rici, Charissa stepped around the corner of the building and headed for the main throng of people watching the animals in the pen. She smiled, satisfied of his grudging agreement to join her, as she heard his footsteps fall into place behind her.
Men and women made a path for them as they walked into the crowd. From their expressions, Charissa could tell the women grew envious of her appearance and the men lusted after her. Yet because she was used to such reactions from humans, she merely lifted her head high and strode toward the pen. “See, Rici? They recognize their superiors when they see them. The man we saw earlier was obviously lacking in advanced brain activity.” Smiling in hopes of allaying the people’s concerns, she reached the fence and stopped.
“Sister, dear, I’m not sure this is adoration or respect these humans are displaying.”
Charissa’s gaze was fixed on the animal in front of her and she sent him a low whistle. His deep chestnut coat glistened in the sun as he trotted over to place his massive head close to her face. She touched him and he shivered as if her touch sent ripples of delight through him. His tail, long and glorious, swished back and forth and he stomped his hoofed feet into the dirt as if to encourage her to keep caressing his firm, yet supple neck.
Although she heard the gasp of those around her, she didn’t say anything. She was, after all, used to humans’ awe of her and her abilities with animals. “I don’t care what these people think. Pay attention to him.” She reached for Rici’s hand and placed it on the muzzle of the animal. “Isn’t he gorgeous? And so soft.” She continued to stroke under the horse’s jaw, letting the animal rest its head in her hand as if he felt safe with her.
She could hear her own wonder echoed in Rici’s answer. “You’re right, Charissa. He’s amazing. You know, he reminds me of the gliantias that roamed the plains. Remember? But they weren’t as large or as beautiful.”
“Son, what’d you just call my horse?”
Rici and Charissa pivoted together toward the sound of the gravelly voice. An older man stood behind them, his feet planted apart and his thumbs stuck in the pockets of his pants. An unusual hat, pointed in the front and back with ridges on the top rode low on his forehead.
The animal—the horse?—nickered as the people neared the fence. As the crowd grew closer, he whirled and trotted into the center of the area again. Charissa knew the animal was afraid and grew irritated at the people for spooking him as she turned to face the man.
Rici jumped ahead of her to answer first. “Your horse? Is that what this animal is called?”
Chuckles broke out among the group as a small smile tweaked the corners of the older man’s mouth. “Is this some kind of joke, son? Judging by the way you’re dressed, I figure you’ve got to be kidding.”
Charissa made a face at Rici as if to say “a joke?” But Rici wasn’t laughing.
“Do I appear to be playing a prank? And I can assure you, I am not your son. What exactly is wrong with my attire? I’ll have you know I’m considered one of the best dressed Matlantians of my era.”
The man’s smile faltered at Rici’s words and he spat a wad of grayish blob on the ground at her brother’s feet. Charissa jumped away from the disgusting mess. At the increased titters from the humans, all of whom were now staring at her and Rici, Charissa straightened to her full height, threw out her chest, and stared back at them. She’d be torn apart by wild shuyes before she let them intimidate her.
“Damn, if you don’t have a fancy way of talking, s-boy.”
She could sense Rici bristling at the man’s words. “Trust me. I am neither your son nor am I a boy. You’d do well to think before you speak again.”
“Stop, Rici. Don’t speak so formally.” Charissa managed to force out the words even as her brain zeroed in on the gorgeous man walking toward them. This man is different. Different from any Matlantian she’d ever known and much, much more different than any human she’d ever seen. Her body acknowledged the distinction even before her mind could process the details.
At last, her brain kicked into high gear and took stock of all his assets. He had the broadest shoulders she’d ever wanted to clutch and hold on to. Not to mention the strength she could almost feel radiating from his body. Letting her stare slide down from those mountainous crests, her gaze settled briefly on the tight stomach—even with a shirt on she knew his abdomen was lined with row after rugged row of hard, human muscle—and then skimmed downward to the bulge in his pants. For a second, she wondered about the dark blue material that made up his pants and most of the clothing these people wore, but then her attention refocused on the bulge.
“Joe, is there a problem?”
Could a voice sound like a delectable treat? Charissa swallowed, thinking about chocolatiea, the sweet, rich dessert she loved so well. Yes, this voice could and did sound as sweet and rich.
“Naw, no problem, Travis. Er, at least I don’t think so.”
Did his member just move? Charissa fixed on the tightness across his groin area and waited. I know I saw it—him—move. She resisted the urge to run her tongue over her lips. Come on. Move again.
“My sister doesn’t care to answer your questions. And neither do I.”
Hearing her brother broke the magical spell trapping her attention on the bulge and she forced her eyes up to meet the brown eyes of the man in front of her. Brown? Ha! More like the color of a Matlantian hot springs. Dark and velvety and just as fiery.
“Miss?”
He’s speaking to me. Charissa shook her head and smoothed her brow to flash him her brightest smile. “Yes?” She moved closer to the tall man with the russet hair falling over his forehead, the rugged, square jaw and tiny creases around his eyes. He looks friendly. Nice. Kind. And sexier than any Matlantian I’ve ever met.
