Of Another Dimension

by Jeanette Lynn

  He made a move like he was going to come towards me, but I put my hand up to stop him.

  My hand shook.

  His face softened as he watched me, worry creasing his brow.

  No.

  A ball formed in the pit of my stomach.

  No, I kept telling myself, wanting to deny it, make it go away.

  "He was going to let you have me? Just like that? Like… Like I’m… Do I mean so little?" I asked quietly, unable to keep the hurt from my voice.

  My world felt like it had just tilted on its axis and not in a good way.

  Is he tired of me already?

  The pain of it was quickly followed by anger.

  What the fuck was he thinking?

  "No! You have his heart! You mean everything to him, chomcharra. He would do anything for you. As would I," he said earnestly and tried to take another step towards me.

  I hopped out of the mud, stumbling about, heedless of my nudity and tossed my shirt on over my mud caked self.

  "If I mean so much, then why is he suddenly so eager to share me?" I choked out.

  "Lil, wait!" Sieren called, "You don't understand! Let me explain!"

  I grabbed my boots and other clothes, running barefoot to the house.

  ****

  Covered in orange mud and a wet clinging shirt, I ran up the front porch and into the house.

  I froze when I saw Kieve in the kitchen peeling those green, potato tasting vegetables for dinner.

  I slammed by boots down and Kieve looked up at me.

  He seemed surprised to see me.

  "Hey, I thought you were..."

  "Did you tell Sieren he could have me?" I asked in a quiet voice.

  Teivel and Teila walked in from the living room when they heard my boots slam down.

  The look on Kieve's face already told me.

  "I..."

  "I thought you had an emergency?" I steam rolled him.

  "What's going on in here?" Teivel asked, walking into the kitchen.

  "Baby, Sieren..." Kieve tried to explain.

  "Sieren what? He bugged you enough and you caved? Huh? Can I tell a female she can have a whack at you if she asks me enough?"

  I'm hurt and I am spitting mad.

  "No! It's not like that! I love you!" Kieve pleaded, making his way towards me.

  Sieren came rushing into the house, his chest still covered in mud, pants on, but undone.

  Teila snickered and gave me a knowing look as she took us both in.

  I felt cheap all of the sudden and I just wanted to scream.

  "Lil..." Sieren and Kieve said at the same time.

  "No," I choked in a quavering voice, "Just… no."

  I walked towards the stairs with my chin held high.

  "See?" Teila called tauntingly, "I told you. You're nothing but a play thing to them!"

  I paused.

  "Jealous?" I inquired in as calm a voice as I could muster.

  "Brartna! How does it feel to know your own deformed mate is already tired of you? Huh? At least he can't give you children. Who knows what those brats would look like!" she shouted, sounding totally disgusted by the idea.

  Teivel was shouting at Teila to stop, but she just kept going.

  "There's only one reason Sieren would deign to touch you," she sneered, "and we all know what that is!"

  Sieren growled at Teila.

  "CHUB!" I shouted.

  He came right away, forked tail wiggling on his cute little ass.

  I pointed at Teila without turning around.

  "Sick her!" I shouted and walked the rest of the way up the stairs.

  I ignored her screams of terror, Chub's snarls and the men's shouts as chaos erupted downstairs. I locked the bedroom door behind me and walked into the bathroom.

  I dropped everything on the floor and stripped off my shirt. I fiddled with the tub until it filled up.

  I even managed to wait until I'd cleaned up, gotten dried off and into bed before I burst into tears.

  ****

  "Baby, please open up," Kieve pleaded from the other side of the door.

  I ignored him and rolled over in the bed, giving the sunny window my back as I wasted a whole day away, lolling around in commiseration.

  I can have a pity party if I want to...

  It's my life.

  "I have to leave in a little while, remember? I have to take the shaxnas to the inlet for auction. I'll be gone for four days... I don't want to leave with you upset. Baby? Lil?"

  I didn't respond, just silently wiped at my nose and sniffled to myself.

  I could hear his heavy sigh from the other side of the door.

  "Go away, Sieren! It's bad enough she's upset with me, you aren't helping things any!" Kieve snarled.

  "I can be here if I want to! She's mad at me too!" Sieren growled.

  "I said you could ask her about it!" Kieve growled, "What part of ask did you not understand?!" Kieve seethed.

  "I didn't do it on purpose! It just sort of... happened! I wasn't thinking! She was naked, in mud! I lost my head, okay! And stop shoving me!" Sieren shouted.

  "Maybe if you were thinking with the right head, she wouldn't be upset with me! She thinks I don't want her anymore! What the moons did you tell her?! And if you don't like my shoving, tough shit!"

  "Stop!" Sieren roared.

  "Make me, you bald old gartnack!!" Kieve roared back.

  There were odd scuffling noises and thumps from the other side of the door, followed by the occasional harsh thud.

  "Get the fuck away from that door! You two have done enough! She'll still be here when you get back!" Teivel roared, rattling the windows with the vehemence of his outburst.

  Growls erupted and something smashed.

  I'm surprised Teila isn't shrieking away again...

  Another smash and then a crash.

  Come to think of it, I haven't heard her all day after she stopped screaming last night.

  A couple of harsh pounding sounds erupted... someone hit the ground.

  Hmph... Maybe Chub ate her.

  I snickered at the thought.

  Nah, I could never be that lucky.

  It sounded like someone was getting their butt whooped in the hall and then there was a loud thud against the door.

  I jumped and stared at the door, a little wide eyed.

  What the hell are they doing out there?

  "You go too!" Teivel snarled.

  "But..." Sieren started.

  "Now," Teivel snarled in a low guttural voice.

  The sound of boots clomping down the stairs was followed by the slam of the front door.

  I flopped back down on the bed.

  Chapter 16

  As dinner time rolled around, my stomach started to growl. I grunted and tried to ignore it.

  There was a knock on the door.

  I ignored that too.

  A scraping sound started coming from the door and I rolled over to glance at it.

  The door knob rattled and jiggled a little.

  There was a 'snick' and then the door opened.

  Teivel walked in and flipped the light on.

  Like a true child of the night, ha ha, I hissed and covered my eyes.

  "Get up," Teivel ordered.

  "Fuck off," I quipped.

  "You can pout and feel sorry for yourself with Sieren and Kieve all you want, but they aren't here and you need to get up," he demanded.

  "No." I rolled over.

  "Yes." He rolled me back.

  "No." I slapped at his hands.

  "Quit being difficult," he growled, "get up, get dressed and come downstairs. You're acting like a spoiled youngling! You heard them, they're stupid males that lack the communicative skills required to appease a female! Now get off your round, pink ass and go downstairs!" he bellowed.

  "Fuck you! Chub!" I yelled, glaring at him.

  "You little..."

  Chub came running in and hopped up on the bed.

  "This isn't over,"
Teivel warned.

  I made a fake whimpering noise and Chub growled a warning at Teivel.

  Heh. Heh.

  Teivel pointed a finger at Chub.

  "You ungrateful little mutt! I saved you from those assholes that were trying to terminate you and this is the thanks I get?!"

  Chub nipped at his finger.

  Good boy!

  Teivel pulled his hand back and stomped from the room, slamming the door shut behind him with a jarring thud.

  I stared at the closed door for a few minutes.

  I settled once I knew he was really gone.

  Contemplating all that he'd said, I groaned and pushed my hair off of my face.

  Face it, Lil, ol’ girl, you are being a little dramatic...

  ...you could have at least talked to them before they left and sorted it all out... or shouted at them... maybe smacked them around a little...

  But nooo, what happened?

  Hiding in the bedroom under the blankets like a spoiled... youngling.

  "Alright, Lil, you have four days and then you have to put on your big girl panties and sort this all out," I coached myself.

  I got up, went to the bathroom, stripped down and hopped into the bath tub.

  I really don't think I'll ever get used to calling it a bathing bowl...

  I soaped up my hair and let it sit for a minute. I leaned forward a little to 'shoo' Chub away from the tub when soap got in my eyes.

  "Ow! Shit!" I closed my eyes and tried to wipe the soap off of them.

  "Oh, great, you're up!"

  "Get out!" I scolded, eyes still shut and burning like hell.

  "Hurry up!"

  "Why are you still here?" I shrieked.

  "Oh, right."

  There was a snick and the bathroom door shut.

  I let my legs slide down so they weren't hiding my good bits anymore.

  "Stupid soap," I muttered, scrubbing at my eyes, "Stupid Sodradens and their stupid boundary issues."

  I held my breath and ducked under the water.

  Sinking to the bottom, I ran my fingers through my hair and made sure all the soap was out.

  I blinked my eyes open a couple of times and relief washed through me.

  They don't sting anymore!

  I looked around under the water and glanced up at the ceiling.

  A red face peered down at me from over the rim of the tub and I screamed under the water, bubbles rushing up to the surface as I raged at 'T'.

  He reached a hand down into the water and pulled me up by my hair, yellow eyes regarding me steadily.

  I spluttered and coughed as I surfaced. Reaching up, I tried to pry his hand off, but it didn't budge.

  Thrashing around, all I managed to do was tug on my hair as he held me captive.

  I cussed and spit at him, spewing expletives any potty mouth would be proud of.

  Didn't faze him.

  "You can't kill yourself now," he said impatiently, ignoring my tirade, "I told Kieve and Sieren I'd watch over you."

  He let out a long suffering sigh and glanced down at my breasts.

  "Besides..." he murmured distractedly, leaning forward to try and get a peek at me under the water, "I'm hungry and everything I try to make always comes out burnt. You need to feed me."

  Oh! I'm going to kill him! I raged.

  "Chub! Chub!" I called out, splashing water at him.

  There was a snarl and a thud from the other side of the bathroom door, followed by a few more.

  Teivel grinned.

  I glared.

  "Get your other half to cook for you," I snapped.

  He let go of my hair and waved his hand on the plate that drains the water.

  I tossed the soap container at him.

  It hit him in the shoulder and bounced off.

  Once again, he was unfazed.

  Stupid bastard didn't even flinch.

  He rummaged under the sink and popped back up when he found a towel, tossing it at my face.

  "Hurry up!" he called out cheerfully, "Time's a wastin'."

  "I hate you," I grumbled, my voice muffled from the towel.

  I tugged it off and saw his retreating back as the bedroom door shut behind him.

  "This is gonna be a long four days," I groaned.

  "You should have kissed and made up with your men!" Teivel called out gleefully from the hall. "Now you're stuck with me!"

  He cackled maniacally.

  "I am soooo spitting in his food," I growled.

  "I heard that!"

  "You were supposed to!" I bellowed back.

  ****

  "What happened in here?" I asked dumbfounded as I gaped at the kitchen.

  This is madness!

  Pans and pots were strewn everywhere and ingredients were scattered all over the counters, trickling down onto the floor.

  Unidentifiable globs and liquids were on the floor and the table.

  Ewww!

  "I told you. Everything I try to make, I burn."

  He shrugged and walked over to a blackened pan, sniffing a little at the contents.

  He gagged and cupped his hand over his mouth, holding the pan out in front of him.

  He rushed to the backdoor and opened it, swiftly tossing the pan out.

  "What the hell did you do in here? I can't cook in this... insanity!"

  I turned around to leave, but he grabbed the back of my shirt, holding me in place.

  "Where do you think you're going?" he growled and yanked me back.

  "Where do you think I'm going, satan?! I'm running for cover! I want to be protected when one of your creations tries to eat you! Release me!"

  "I'm hungry and I want food. You are going to make it," he demanded, leaning his massive frame down towards me, getting into my face.

  I pushed back, going on tip toe to get into his until we were practically nose to nose.

  His eyes flashed with yellow fire.

  I pursed my lips and held steady when he pushed his chest against mine and growled at me, the warmth of his chest seeping into my shirt.

  I chest bumped him and growled back, startling him.

  Scowl still in place, he licked his lips and glanced down at my mouth.

  I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to figure out what I could do to gain the upper hand.

  Obviously, the whole stand my ground thing isn't working.

  I eyed the yellow eyed bastard and smiled evilly as an idea began to form in my mind.

  Ha! Why didn't I think of it before?

  Kill him with kindness!

  "And to think," I said sweetly, "You were downright cheerful a bit ago. I was just beginning to think you'd finally gotten that pole out of your ass."

  Okay... so maybe that wasn't so sweet. Try again, Lil!

  "What?!" he roared.

  Someone doesn't like to be teased.

  Hmmm...

  "Why, Teivie, my sweet, you shouldn't say things like that," I cooed, batting my lashes at him, "I might think you like me... like, like me, like me."

  He blinked at me and grimaced, deflating a little. He let go of my shirt and backed up.

  Huh.

  It... worked.

  Then why don't I feel victorious?

  My brow wrinkled as I thought about it.

  This is a cheap win... if one could call it that...

  Was it the fake flirting?

  He completely shut off after I did that. It was like a switch flipped.

  Ugh! I get it!

  He's worried I might try to snare him next or something...

  I rolled my eyes.

  Heaven forbid he dirty himself with a human.

  "I don't even understand the last half of what you just said," he grumbled and glared at me.

  "Don't worry, evil eyes, I have no intentions of staining your Sodradenly virtue with my distasteful human-ness or trying to jiggle your... charms. If you even have any. I was just trying to get your goat," I muttered under my breath.

  Teivel looked at m
e with an odd expression on his face, like he was constipated suddenly and flushed blue.

  "You don't know what you're talking about," he said through clenched teeth.

  I rubbed my forehead and laughed bitterly.

  "Whatever. Look, I don't care. Go off and do whatever it is that you do... go play with your intended or something. I'm sure she would just love that. Maybe she'll stop treating me like a damned leper." I let my hands fall to my sides and took a deep breath. "I'm tired of arguing and fighting with you all the time."

  I dropped the tough act and looked up at him, letting the gamut of emotions I was feeling seep into my countenance.

  He appeared to take note of that and studied me intently, his eyes taking everything in, like he was truly looking at me for once and not Kieve's human mate.

  "It's actually kind of depressing that we can't even be in the same room for ten seconds together without threatening or insulting each other."

  I gave his face a scrutinizing stare and saw the same tiredness and weariness in him that I'd begun to feel creeping in on me.

  "Ignore me." I waved my hand around flippantly, going for a light tone. "I'm being silly. Your mate trying to swap you around with his brother will do that to a gal."

  I sighed and marched back into the kitchen.

  Now… to business.

  Guess I'm gonna have to brave the danger zone if I want to eat tonight.

  "Sieren cares for you as deeply as Kieve. You know this as well as I do," Teivel said quietly from behind me.

  "No, I don't know. Sieren and I have never talked about anything like that until recently. Just the other day, in fact, when he was trying to hump me in the mud pit," I argued sardonically.

  "Then let me tell you. You may find this hard to believe, but Sieren is usually quiet."

  I gave him a disbelieving look.

  He gave me a hard one.

  "He teases and jokes with Kieve and me, but he doesn't typically join in on conversations otherwise."

  "You are so full of shit," I scoffed.

  Sieren, quiet?

  The dude never shuts up!

  He shrugged.

  "It's true. You can ask your precious Kieve if you don't believe me."

  He turned at that, effectively dismissing me and grabbed a towel, walking over to the table to mop up the mystery liquids he'd spilled everywhere.