Seeing the way she was checking me out, the player inside took charge. But this evening, I didn’t want to play. I wanted to feel this woman – whatever that meant. She was a mystery I didn’t want to fully unravel. I wanted to lose myself to the enigma that Shiera was. But how do you explain that to the player?
While moving towards the dance floor, I let her walk ahead. But the moment we reached close, just three to four steps away from the spot, I dashed ahead and halted. I turned, facing her, and lightly grasped her slender fingers. With mildly-tapping feet, I stepped backwards, drawing her along, to the center of the floor.
One, two, cha-cha-cha. Her hips swayed to the maneuvering of my shoulders. Three, four, cha-cha-cha. Tuning with the tempo beats, I’d spin her, have her breasts and sometimes her back brush across my chest. Five, six, cha-cha-cha. Momentarily, but frequently, I’d hold her close and tight. And whenever our eyes met, we’d exchange big, broad smiles. Seven, Eight, cha-cha-cha. I had her pulsating body groove to the play of my hands.
Soon, the magic of our performance transformed the crowd around into spectators. Now only we were dancing there, just Marc and Shiera. She noticed this only when I ended the dance, gracefully lifting her in my arms. She seemed to have lost track of place, people and time. We exited the floor with power-packed applauses and cheering. I bet the player, hidden in plain sight, took a bow with pride.
A few minutes later, we stepped out of the bar. We were walking so close that our arms kept rubbing each other’s. It was time to kiss and decide – my place; her place, some place nearby - or keep things for another time.
The last time I’d taken the fourth option, I had fallen in love. It’s tough to helplessly watch the love of your life get old and wither away, leaving you alone. So I had a self-made rule. Either have fun or say goodbye.
Shiera waited to be kissed. Even tactfully leaned forward a couple of times, throwing subtle hints. I couldn’t stop thinking, no matter how much I tried to ignore them, about how those wings, that night, had seemed very real. However, I’d never seen any of her kind with black wings, ever. They were always white, like white doves. The second point of confusion was the absence of the KILL alarm. Usually, whenever her kind is around, an unknown instinct takes over me and my people. We know for sure that the same happens with them too. It’s an eagles-versus-snakes kind of a deal. For them we are snakes, and for us . . . We are meant to kill and only kill one another. But then with her, there was simply no alarm. And she, too, seemed calm around me.
Nah! This could get out of hand. Need time to think this through, I argued with my longing and my desire. A first-time is luck, a second-time is coincidence, and a third-time is a sign – I had picked that from my mom. So, if Shiera and I were meant to be together, then there had to be a third-time, a sign. Destiny, on its own, had to make us meet for the third-time.
“So, how long are we going to stand here?” Shiera asked.
4. YOU CAN’T KEEP SECRETS FROM SHIERA
“So, how long are we going to stand here?” I asked.
“Look, don’t take this the wrong way… but I just remembered… I have got something urgent to take care of. I’m extremely sorry but I’ve got to… I’ve got to leave now,” he spoke in short-breaths. Seemed as if he wanted to convince himself rather than me.
We had a handshake and he left! Again, no exchange of contact information. What’s the deal with this guy? I had to find out.
Inside the bar, he had not only owned the floor and the dance, but me, too. And now he strolled away into darkness with head hung low. I took a quick glance around. Just three drunk boys, at a distance, hammered into gibberish arguments. In a blink of an eye, like my wings, I went fully invisible.
After walking a couple of blocks, Marc finally stopped in front of a house, fetched out a key and opened the door. I carefully slipped inside, behind him. But probably, I wasn’t too careful, because he immediately turned around and started looking in all directions. Seemed as if he was trying to see me through thin air.
Then he stood calm, and inhaled deep. “Shiera!”
I was stunned. How did he?!
He smiled, and maintaining it, shut the door. He restlessly moved around the house. He headed to his fridge, opened the door, and then closed it without taking a thing. He did that four times.
Then, sometimes he’d just plainly smile, and sometimes giggle.
Next, he plunged onto the coziness of the nearby couch and stayed there for a while. “Shiera.” He took my name again and buried his head in a pillow.
Oh. So he’s talking to himself.
Watching him stay flat on the couch, I took time to scan the house. The walls had an elegant touch of green – cactus green – paint, much like his eyes. Each window had its own cactus plant. Cactus lover? There was a large, laminated poster of an antique motorcycle, carrying an embossed label: 1907 Harley-Davidson. At the bottom of the poster, there was a small handwritten note: GUESS WHAT YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT IS!!!
I kept walking around. No picture frames. And nothing else around that gave a hint of anyone else living with him. The place had very minimal furniture and everything was neatly stacked; too tidy for an alone guy.
Suddenly, Marc got up from the couch, reached for a bottle of whiskey, made a glass and then headed for the fridge. I silently observed him. He put two cubes of ice in the glass and then stood there, staring at it, for more than a minute or two. Once again, he smiled, and without taking a single sip, he just put the glass in the fridge and walked away. He came to the living room and now stood there staring at the main door. I wondered what was going on with him.
“Should I?” he said.
I waited for more words.
“Third-time, Marc, third-time. No meddling, no meddling,” he said, fisting his forehead.
I was quite curious, and the easiest way was to simply tap into his brain. But that would require a bit of physical contact. He’d feel my touch and then he’d also feel dizzy – Not much harm. So should I? I moved closer to him.
But before I could make the next move, he growled, “Screw it!” Within seconds, he grabbed a helmet and rushed out of the house.
I followed.
Riding fast on a beast of a motorbike – a Harley-Davidson Nightster®, he headed straight for the bar. I was right above him, all the time, flying invisible. He reached the bar, searched the whole place and even checked with the bartender. Later, he went to the beach, where we had first met, and wandered among the people scattered all around.
Marc the Mysterious. When I’m with him, he rushes away; when I’m gone, he comes searching for me!
I shredded off my invisibility. “Are you looking for someone?”
“Nah! Just taking a night walk,” he said, trying hard to control a gleeful smile.
I just nodded my head, expressing a casual ‘ok’.
“But, hey, it’s great seeing you again. What are the odds, huh?” He waited for a response.
“Yeah, same here. What a fun surprise on a night walk.” I tried to help the conversation gain some momentum.
“Sorry, what?” he said.
“I said…”
“Can’t hear you. Can you come a little closer?”
The beach was windy, yet I could easily hear him. The distance between us was barely five-feet or so. Still I moved closer to him. To my surprise, he took a step forward and kissed me. He licked the edges of my lips, then gently nibbled, and slowly guided his tongue in my mouth. Our tongues swirled, mingled from mouth to mouth; igniting hot, liquid passion. And just then… My wings… I always needed a certain conscious-control to keep them invisible. Beginning to lose myself to this passionate kiss, I realized, my true form was about to get exposed, and so I pushed him away.
5. HOW ABOUT THAT FIRST KISS
Boy! I was so lost in that kiss, that I didn’t realize my canine teeth had started to stretch into fangs. They were barely a few millimeters out – nothing that instantly noticeable – but one could probably feel a
little something during a smooch.
I was about to cook an explanation, but she gestured me to stop.
“Sorry. But we can’t do this,” she said, breathing hard.
Even I hadn’t recovered from her lingering taste, still fresh in my mouth.
“Shiera… I”
“It’s not you. I… I can’t do this with you. You don’t know anything about me,” she said.
I assumed she wanted a window to reveal her identity, so I decided to be as honest as possible. “Same goes for you. You don’t have a clue about me.”
“What if I tell you that those wings – you saw that night – weren’t fake?” With wide eyes, she waited for my reaction.
“Obviously, we have a lot to talk about. And I know I might regret what I’m about to do. But, please, please, just give me time to explain, after I do this.” I took a careful look around. Very few people were staring at us and they were quite far away. I opened my mouth and let my fangs free.
“No. No.” she shook her head. “No. No. This is not happening. Not possible. No, no, no, no. I know all the forty-nine and you are definitely not one of them. Who are you?”
“Please, don’t go away. Look, you are far different from those… others. I don’t feel threatened around you. And I’m sure that’s the same with you. Let’s at least talk ab…” I got interrupted as she kissed me.
I kissed her back. She was so warm and so wild. With my eyes shut, I went on kissing her until I started feeling a little chilly around my ears. I opened my eyes and realized we were no longer on the beach.
What’s that? Snow?
I raised my head, trying to make sense of what my eyes were seeing. We were surrounded by huge, looming mountains covered with large blankets of snow. And the mountain tips were well-hidden by dense clouds. Snow beneath my feet; snow on the trees; and flakes of snow were floating in the air, glistening in the moonlight.
I loosened my grip on Shiera. “Where are we?”
“Someplace far from everyone. Nobody comes here. We can talk comfortably now,” she said.
Alps? Possibly.
“Wow. You guys can do this? No wonder they… Wait. Hang on. So you managed to move us here even while you were lip-locked in a passionate kiss. I had no idea I’m that bad as a kisser,” I said with a sheepish smile.
“Impressive! I say we can talk comfortably, and that’s the first thing that comes to your mind?” she said.
Here I was, waking up from a kiss, in an unknown place, and guess what caught my attention? Shiera’s face. The touch of raw moonlight made her seem so pure and divine. I could easily see my own reflection in her eyes.
“Marc. Marc.” Shiera snapped me out.
“Yes, yes. Sorry, you look so… so… you are so gorgeous. Your face, your eyes.” I was running out of words to tell her how beautiful she looked.
Neither of us blinked, but she avoided eye-contact. I assumed she was shy. Or I was sounding really silly.
“The way I feel with you, I’ve never had this connection with anyone before. I mean I’ve had relationships but it’s just so different with you. And I barely know you,” she said.
“Relationships-ss. Big number, huh?” I joked.
“Seriously?” she seemed a bit taken by my responses.
“I don’t know why, but I’m feeling too light-hearted right now. You know my mind tells me that we are supposed to have some serious conversation. But with this place and with you here, I’m feeling… feeling… high. Sorry, I’m at a complete loss of words here. Give me minute. Let me just compose myself.” I said that, and in the very next instance I found myself kissing her. Taking her lower lip in my mouth, I kept sucking it as passionately as possible.
She didn’t stop me. Instead, she wrapped her slender arms around my neck and hugged me tight. Now there was no stopping. I grabbed her buttocks and squeezed hard. With my mouth and with my hands, I ravished her. In between, somehow, she managed to free her lips, and then that angel started taking small yet firm bites on MY neck! The woman was strong and wild. In that seemingly tender body, she seemed to carry the strength of some mighty beast. And then I heard the flapping sound of her enormous wings. I was on the ground and this hot woman on top, with massive wings, was stripping me off. I was fully naked and she had kept her clothes on. She took charge now. I had no complaints; I knew I’d have my turn soon. This moment belonged to her. Shiera rode me, ruthless, and reckless. She didn’t take a break. She’d bite my lips, dig her teeth in my chest, also suck my tongue deep in, but the action never took a pause. With each hump, I could feel my body thump and drift upwards, as if she was using me to make a trail in the snowy ground. Had I been an ordinary, mortal, either my bones would have been crushed or the seemingly sub-zero temperature would have frozen me. Anyway, I was fully captivated in the joyride. I just couldn’t get enough, and she kept going on… and on… and on. Boy! Impressive stamina – a huge compliment, coming from me.
Then at some point, she calmed down and lay next to me.
“You have no idea how long have I waited to do that. With others I had so many restrictions, limitations. I could never… Wow! Feels so good.” She stressed strong and hard on ‘good’; the word never sounded so orgasmic.
“Thank you,” I said. “Let me know when you’re ready. My turn to get on top and showoff.”
“Marc, I’m not going anywhere. And… It’s not a competition.”
“Yeah, cowgirl, I hear ya.”
I spread my arms and she quickly cuddled in.
“Marc, there are only forty-nine of your kind. I’m dead sure you’re definitely not one of them,” she said.
“Talking business so soon? All right. I’m the fiftieth. The new and the happening one.”
“I don’t understand, Marc.”
“Maybe, you need to get your database updated. Hello! I’ve been around, like this, since 1907. And I guess I earned fame when I reduced your kinds’ count by five. I’m the one who shrunk your sides’ numbers to 45. One more thing – since we are asking questions, and I have seen almost your whole lot – how come your wings aren’t white?” I said.
“Marc, do you trust me?” she asked in grave voice.
I was in such a joyful spirit and relaxing mood that I couldn’t answer her straight. “You just used me as a plough… or a shovel, if you will. And still, here I am. If this isn’t trust, what is?!”
“MARC.”
“All right. I trust ya. Tell me.”
“I’m going to do something, you’ll feel a little dizzy but don’t worry it won’t harm you in any way,” she said.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Not my first time. Go down and blow my mind,’ I said.
“Wipe that grin out. That’s not what I’ve in mind. At least not for now. I just need to check something.” She didn’t wait for a response. She held the sides of my head in her palms and I began to feel dizzy. In few moments, I passed out.
6. NO LONGER HUMAN
I woke up but I couldn’t feel being awake. Am I dreaming?
“Shiera?” I said that, but I didn’t hear my voice while doing so. Where is she? What did she do?
Everything seemed distorted. My vision was blurry and my body felt lifeless. A bright light streaked in front of my eyes. Now I was riding a motorcycle on a seemingly endless road. This narrow road was fenced by infinite trees on both the sides. It was nighttime, and my only source of light was the headlight of the motorcycle. All of sudden, I realized where and when I was.
That instant, I was about to relive the most painful tragedy of my life. The past was becoming the present.
--------------
The year is 1907. I’m not just some guy called Marc, I’m Corporal Marc A. Nolan – a lively human and a proud soldier – serving the U.S. Army.
Christmas is in the air. Thanks to a last minute, godsend arrangement, I’m on my way to meet my family, chasing the chilly wind on my Norton Big 4 motorcycle. No other vehicle on road, no other human in sight. In a few minutes
, a bright Christmas morning is about take over the darkness of the passing night. I can’t wait to surprise mom and dad. I want to fly my way home, but no matter how fast I ride, the road just doesn’t seem to end. Neither do the trees on the sides. The sound of my motorcycle’s engine is my only company. “Just a few minutes more,” I encourage myself, fully aware that the journey is going to take more than an hour. But that doesn’t matter, as I’m never going to make it home. And the reason is lurking out there, at a distance, waiting for me to get closer.
Unaware of the danger, I keep moving ahead.
Out of nowhere, as a huge boulder comes hurling down from a landslide. Some creature slams into me. The sudden, powerful hit loosens my grip on the motorcycle’s handle. In the blink of an eye, I get separated from my motorcycle, and it goes flinging a few feet away. I’m on the ground, badly injured, unable to breathe properly. My head starts to spin and soon I lose consciousness.
I wake up to a sharp pain, fueled by a burning sensation, on my neck. My sight is hazy. Realizing that I’m lying flat on the ground, I raise my head a bit. I’m not alone; I’m surrounded by strangers. When I move my head sideways, I notice someone – at a distance – walking, probably limping, away from there. Before I can see anything more, I pass out.
I gain consciousness for the second time after the attack. The excruciating pain and the burning sensation has eased. The air I inhale is filled with the smell of rusty metal. A quick glance tells me that I’m in junkyard full of rusted metal scraps.
I check my hands. The skin is pale and green. Instantly, I recall some of the veterans whom I had seen suffer from Hypochromic Anemia – a state wherein the concentration of hemoglobin in the red blood cells turns extremely low.
A sudden chill rushes through my spine.
“Do not worry about that! We can take care of it for you. But, right now, that’s the least of your concerns.” It’s a man’s voice, speaking in a mocking tone.
I turn my head to face the mocking tone. A towering giant of a man – dressed in a black satin tuxedo, with fists clinched at his waist – is standing in front of me. There are others behind him, sharing a certain resemblance in terms of their appearance. But none of them have the physique to match the giant.
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