UNHOLY (GxG)

Chapter Nineteen: The Vapor

"I—"

She was very attractive to me.

I hated to admit it, even just to myself.

Her slender body. Her long, pale fingers. The way her short crop of her pale hair accented her fine features, androgynous yet delicate.

It didn't seem fair that the gods would make someone so beautiful yet so… infuriating. Like a very pretty poison, in a very beautiful glass bottle.

"I find you unpredictable and troublesome." I told her.

She lifted her hand up and ran her thumb across my bottom lip. I parted my mouth in surprise and she slipped it into my mouth.

"Troublesome, hm?" She hummed.

I went to protest and pushed it further into my mouth.

"Hmph!"

"Yes, I quite like that." She said, "Maybe suck on it a little bit?"

I slapped her hand out of my mouth.

"Keep it up and I'll have you suck on the toe of my boot when I kick you in the mouth."

She pushed my forearm away, and quickly flipped over so that she was the one on top of me, my back hitting the wooden floor with a loud thud. I blinked up at her, my eyes wide.

"I now know that the whole reason you came with us so willingly is that you believe you will remain human if you chase a fairytale all the way to The Far North." She said.

"And I will. It is my one wish, Greta, and there is no reason that you should be so hurt by that."

"It's part of your child like naiveté." She said, "I admire your hope, but you're wrong. You won't stay human."

"Greta—"

She leaned in, and drew her face so near to mine that I could feel her breath washing over my face.

"But it's okay—because when you're dying and in pain and you come to me begging  me to turn you, of course I will still oblige you. I'll say, 'Here Judith. I've got you. Please suckle ever so gently at my wrist and you'll feel better soon, my pet'."

I leaned forward and I took notice of the way she held her breath and closed her eyes. There was expectation in it.

I closed the distance, and bit her shoulder as hard as I could. She yelped and fell backwards off of me, and onto the floor herself.

"Ah— you bit me!" She said.

"I will do it again." I said. "Don't test me."

The handle on the door began to twist, and I pulled myself up from the ground and tried to smooth my hair. Greta stayed where she was, arms crossed like a petulant child.

Ayla and Quen entered, and haphazardly stepped over the wood that scattered the floor.

"What are you doing on the floor?" Ayla said.

"That feral thing bit me." Greta said.

Ayla did not look sympathetic to her cause.

"Get up." She said. "We need to check the traps for dinner."

Greta groaned and stood up.

"Fine." She said.

Ayla turned to me.

"Would you like to come?"

"Sure." I said, "But the two of you can go ahead. I'll catch up."

She nodded, and they turned and left. I walked across the room, and gathered my journal from the floor and returned it back to my bag.

I noticed Quen awkwardly pacing by the table.

"Are you alright?" I asked him

"I'm nervous." He said.

"About the tattoo?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"About the ship?"

"Not that either." He said, "It's—I'm nervous about seeing other mermaids, on the ship and once we arrive. I've never been around them, and I know almost nothing about my own culture."

"Are you nervous about fitting in?" I asked.

"I guess that's it." He said. "It's going to be uncomfortable. Being a stranger among kin."

"I was raised by foreigners." I said. "I do not even know where my parents came from, and if I were to go back there, I would be much the same. A stranger among kin. I know we are little more than strangers to you as well, but we will be there for you."

He gave me a small smile and looked away.

"Thank you."

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I followed the path behind the house into the woods, towards where I had helped Ayla set the traps early in the day. It was nice to be by myself for a moment.

It wasn't long before i heard voices. Although I recognized them instantly, they weren't those of Greta and Ayla. My heart sped up, and I slowed my pace. I stopped at a tree, and peered around it.

Patrice and William were down the path, carefully inspecting one of the traps.

"They must be nearby." I could barely make out what he said.

Patrice's voice was much softer, and I couldn't hear her reply.

It was strange, seeing her now.

I once had a visiting priest tell me that life was like vapor. It was here for a moment, lingering in the air, and then it was gone. Almost as if it never was. I guess friendships were too.

Now, I found myself feeling no longing or happiness or even a vague, melancholy longing at the sight of her.

Now, I only felt hate.

Extra update this week since I was late on the last one. Here is a sneak peak of Friday's chapter. 👀