Xairin asked. "So, there is like, another me, out there?"
Topher shrugged. "It really doesn't work quite like that. Sure, there are some that mirror each other, and then there are hundreds that don't."
"Either way, you need to say something about the Cthulhu, and what memories you have," Topher added.
"You said your people came here two thousand years ago? Right?"
Topher nodded.
"Then it goes back to the same thing, the same idea, what if someone has already taken those alien squid fuckers out?"
Topher shrugged. "I mean, I suppose it is possible. Who knows? The Universe, especially this one, is large, far larger than the others, which likely means this one is the oldest. So yeah, I suppose it is possible, but…" Topher looked at him. "Pictures of the Cthulhu have floated around on social media since Facebook was created, and possibly before that when everything was just written down and typed out instead of streamed. Those pictures, match the details of what my mother, and my grandfather, for that matter, say the Cthulhu looked like."
Topher explained. "Some man named H.P. Lovecraft wrote some wild ass fiction about them back in 1928. That guy had to have either encountered them or maybe was a psychic and had visions of them. Most of your lesser bloods have always been accused of being witches, psychics, and so forth. So, if he was a real psychic, he could have had visions of them. Or… He somehow encountered them and lived to tell his wild tales."
Xairin paced. "You know about lesser bloods? Like before I even told you about me being a Dhampling?"
Topher nodded. "Most psychics, people with true psychic power, before sensitives evolved, were nothing more than people carrying a dormant gene from the Immortals created from your Aeon Strain. My mom dated a guy once back in 1709 that she was certain was likely the 20th generation of lesser Aeonian heritage. I remember her telling me about the blood she took from him and analyzed back on Earth-19."
Topher shrugged. "My kind, we have our technology also. Granted, it all went to Earth-19, but we have studied humans for a while. It is why we decided to interbreed with humans. Humans were the most genetically compatible with us."
Xairin smirked. "Please tell me your people are not the aliens known for abducting humans by those crazy-ass conspiracy theory types?"
Topher frowned. "As I said, we can teleport. We have taken humans. I won't lie. My people had to repopulate."
Xairin crossed his arms. "How many other alien species are there?"
Topher shrugged. "More than you or I will ever know."
"But I will tell you this. You know those aliens in fiction that look like grey-skinned bald people?"
Xairin slowly nodded. "Yes."
"Zeta Reticulans. They are like us. They took over Earth-86. They are interdimensional like we are, able to teleport and go out of phase as you Immortals can. Now those guys, yeah, they have been taking humans for who knows how long and interbreeding with them."
"Okay, so, everything from fairies to werewolves, we are all aliens?" Xairin asked sarcastically.
"Apparently, so man. The ancient gods' humans worshiped, to you vampires, thropes, my kind, every single bit of it, all different types of creatures created by either Galactic pathogens, or alien bioengineering, or are just aliens in general."
Xairin smirked. "Okay, great, we're all one big galactic jigsaw puzzle. So, are you going to let me make some more thralls here? Or do I need to go elsewhere? Because, yeah, sure, aliens, but that hasn't changed the fact that there are some people I really want to see just how many pieces a human being can be ripped into."
Topher sighed. "I'm not comfortable with what you did, Xairin. Essentially you did to those fifty people, what those people you want to rip apart, did to you. You spiked their drinks and enthralled them without them even knowing. I mean, yeah, Albert Morgan, that twink that you made ass-spray that other douche on stage, yeah he is an ass, but he didn't deserve to be made into a human skunk."
Xairin put his hand up. "I don't even want to hear the word skunk right now."
Topher rolled his eyes. "Xairin. You shouldn't go around turning people into, what that Ethan guy calls, biological surveillance cameras. It is wrong man. People don't deserve to have their drinks roofied with vampire blood."
Xairin was getting frustrated. "I appreciate you being a voice of reason and at times, a conscience for people, but Toph, today is not one of those days where I need a check, in my moral code. These people are KILLING GAY MEN!"
Xairin threw his hands up in the air. "THEY KILLED RORY! THEY RAPED ME AND LEFT ME FOR FUCKING DEAD! HOW MANY MORE LIVES IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE INTER-FUCK, FINALLY CATCHES THEM?!"
Topher sighed. "So, going around on a killing spree is the answer?"
Xairin scoffed. "If there is one thing I have learned as an Immortal, some humans deserve to go extinct."
Topher scoffed again. "The Xairin I knew six months ago, would have never thought like that."
Xairin became sarcastic. "The Xairin you knew six months ago, hadn't been raped, left for dead, and then, oh yeah, turned into a fucking killing machine by." he pointed at Topher. "By alien bioengineering…"
"I just think you are letting all this power you have now, tempt you into doing things that are not you Xairin," Topher added.
"I really hate that word, tempting…" He looked at Topher. "After Rory, I can't look away from this. I tried. I really tried to make peace with what happened to me, but after Rory, these people are not going to stop Toph. They may have for now, but once they grow their balls back from what that thrope did, they will start killing again. If Interpol can't stop them, then who will?"
Xairin smirked. "Who is going to do something?" He cocked his head. "What if they killed your new boyfriend? Would that make you feel any different?"
Topher got angry at that insinuation. "Are you kidding me, Xairin? Really? Do you not think I want these people stopped? I do, I really do. They killed my friend too Xairin. They have killed humans, that I value. They need to be stopped. I just think you are letting your newfound power go to your head. You need to be working with Interpol and not going all vigilante, that is all I am saying."
Xairin sarcastically nodded. "Okay, fine. I get it."
Topher looked at him sincerely. "Xairin, you are like a brother to me. I care about you a lot. I don't want to see you go down a dark path, and if you go out there and hunt these men down, what do you think that is going to do to you once you kill the last of them?"
Xairin shrugged. "I don't know, give me some closure?"
"I may not be fully human, which is a secret I expect you to keep, but I have seen what happens when power gets in the way. I have heard stories from my own people about how power can corrupt, and playing judge, jury, and executioner alongside being an immortal, Xairin, you need to calm your tits."
"Fine, I will take it under advisement," Xairin mumbled.
Topher went over and hugged him. "You have a date tonight, right? With that werewolf, you were telling me about. Go and have some fun, Xairin. Live a life of light, not darkness."
Xairin looked at him with a sarcastic smirk. "Light, huh? Knowing what I know now about you, that's pretty funny coming from a fairy." He smirked again. "I mean, Bori." Xairin rolled his eyes. "I can't believe I slept with an Alien and didn't know it."
Topher scoffed and playfully announced. "Best Alien dick you've ever had."
Xairin rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh. "You would bring up sex, wouldn't you?"
Topher laughed. "Hey, you set yourself up, just a few seconds ago, you said you couldn't believe you slept with an alien and didn't know it. I can't help that you fell onto a dick joke."
Xairin's mood elevated a little. He smiled. "Okay. I deserve that. I guess I'm just glad you didn't go all glowy while we were doing it when we were doing the friends with benefits thing." Xairin pointed at him. "That would have been weird."
Topher laughed. "You have no idea how hard it is each time, not to glow when I go…
If you know what I mean."
"T M I !" Xairin said.
Topher giggled. "Hey, I can't help that I'm a half-alien little brother. It is what it is. But I can say since I started dating another Bori, it has been so nice to not hold back."
"They guy you're dating is another alien?"
Topher nodded. "We Bori can sense our own. He came into the club, and we hit it off. Adam and I have honestly, well, I think I love him Xairin."
"Is he from Earth-19?"
Topher shook his head. "Adam was born here like I was. Most Bori are usually part human or half-human now, the reason we can look human until we sprout our wings and glow. A full Bori is pink-skinned at all times, and unable to hide and absorb their wings."
"What does Adam do?" Xairin asked.
"Adam is a financial advisor for Global Bank. He's forty-three, and a good guy."
Xairin got inquisitive. "What's his last name so I can Facebook stalk him?"
Topher rolled his eyes. "I don't need you to be protective over me, Xairin. Most Bori are peaceful, it is a trait that most of us share, but if you must know, his last name is Caulfield."
Xairin shrugged. "You're protective over me, so I don't want to hear it."
"Adam is great, Xairin. I never thought I would meet another Bori, I'm happy."
Xairin managed to smile. "Being happy is what's important."
Topher smiled. "Now that's a little bit more of the Xairin, I know. Now you go and text that Jason guy you mentioned earlier and have some fun. Hell, howl at the moon with him if you need to but have some fun Xairin. After everything you laid on me today, you need to calm down."
Chapter 7
Monday, July11th
Ezra dressed in a solid black t-shirt, cargo shorts, and white sneakers. The black watch on his left arm had a direct feed to Marine's tablet. The glasses he was wearing, functioned as an earpiece, as well as a digital scanning device. Tonight, he was going undercover.
Grace Tomlin had decided to attempt her first undercover gig as well, posing as a lesbian. She had dyed her blond hair, solid black, with blue tips. She had picked out a blue dress, dark blue, that had spaghetti straps on the back. The high heels she was wearing matched the dress. While no women had been targeted, Grace was going as another lookout. Her glasses were like Ezra's, with the exception of her earrings, golden hoops, having a built-in receiver that fed directly into the ear.
They were trying a new club tonight. The Twisted Mango.
The Twisted Mango had just opened. Tonight, was their opening night, and for a Monday night, they were packed. They were four blocks away from the Haze. The owner, Marissa Bubblestock, was hoping to give the Haze a run for their money. She had invested over two hundred thousand, just in the decor. While the club was a little smaller, it was laid out with a ritzy feel.
Ezra and Grace figured since it was opening night, it had a good potential to be a target given how well the grand opening had been advertised. Plus, Marissa, the club owner, was a known sensitive and sensitive activist. She had publicly called out Bastion City twice now for the number of gay sensitive murders. Meanwhile, Agent Polanski was leading his own undercover teams on the dating apps.
Hammond, awkwardly enough, was going as a go-go dancer, wearing golden shorts, golden shoes, and a golden necktie. While he was straight as the day is long, he could pull off an excellent gay flirt. He was posing as a sensitive. So far, the entire team had made it into The Twisted Mango. Hammond had taken off to the top floor where the gambling rings were going on. The owner had applied for her casino license on top of everything else. The balcony view Hammond was seeing was tastefully done. Below there were golden plated droids making their rounds as both servers and bartenders. Twisted artificial trees and shrubbery made up some of the decors, while gold colored couches, sofas, chairs, and tables made up the rest.
Above the bar, was a circular emblem, shaped like a twisted tree with fruit, also golden in color. The name of the club was underneath it.
From the casino level, Hammond could see the entire dance floor, the bar, and seating arrangements. The only thing out of his view was the bathrooms were underneath the balcony.
If Hannibal was going to keep his undercover persona, he was going to have to find one of the gold-plated cages to dance in. For a straight guy, Hannibal could twerk rather well.
"You sure this is going to work?" Marine asked Ezra as he scoped out the club.
He turned and looked at Marine. She was dressed in a silky blouse, white, with high heel shoes to match her skirt. She had her hair combed over to the side and tucked into braids to keep it from getting in her way. Ezra smiled at her. "The club is brand new, grand opening. What we do know about these guys is that they're bold. I can guarantee this could be very tempting to come here and try again."
"Just keep your wolf senses peeled in case you pick up a scent from the subway that you went and checked out."
She huffed. "And you better not get sidetracked if you start thinking about that ginger vamp you took out on a date."
She put her hand up. Because he is nothing but trouble for you, Ezra."
"You've been saying that the past couple days Marine. Xairin's a nice guy."
Ezra had no clue that Marine had been summoned by the Grand Alpha of the Yeti Werewolves to talk about Xairin. It was killing her inside that she couldn't tell him, or the fact that she was ordered by her Grand Alpha to erase any details of Xairin's activities should he be suspected in doing anything that could cause diplomatic problems for the Society of Night and the Global Alliance. She looked at him with a frown. "Just keep your dick out of the game and keep your sensitive powers on standby!"
"You know, you've been awfully bitchy ever since I took him on a date, and you found out, everything okay at home?" Ezra genuinely wanted to know.
Marine scoffed. "I've just been worried about you. Damn, can't a partner show concern without someone thinking something else is wrong?"
"You've never talked to me like that before Marine, like ever."
She put her finger up and waved it. "Not true, when you thought you were straight, I totally got all over your ass when you dated that hussy Megan. One, I knew you were gay, and two, she was a flat-out gold-digging bitch from a trailer park, far, far, away." She wagged her finger again. "You needed an intervention before that thing train wrecked your life with the whole trailer park she came from!"
"Oh, come on, she wasn't that bad," Ezra said.
Marine scoffed again, this time getting bug-eyed, "Boy, you, is, crazy if you can't realize what kinda bullet you dodged on that one. Besides, are you happier with men? Or women?"
Ezra shrugged. "That's the thing, I think I would be happier with a guy. I was hoping it would be Xairin, but I've never really been with a guy, relationship-wise, you know that."
"Exactly my point. You got a taste of the real you, so now that temptation to explore the real you is alive, and well, so I stand by my previous statement. Keep your dick out of the game and your sensitive abilities on standby!"
"Fine, fine. I get it," he said, mumbling.
"Boy, don't you be over there mumbling, I got wolf hearing, remember?" She said while still jiving her attitude his way.
Ezra smirked. "I'm just going to come out and say it, you have been bitchier then your usual Marine… Not trying to be racially insensitive, but are you getting ready to go into heat or something?"
“WHAAAAT?!” She said while scoffing. "No, you didn't just pull the bitch-in-heat, crap with me?"
Ezra shrugged. "All I am saying is you have been really on edge the past few days."
Marine rolled her eyes. "First off, yeah, I am due to go into heat, and I won't lie, it's bothering me because now that my husband is an alpha of pack three, he is expecting me to have our first litter and I'm not ready. Secondly, I got called to meet the Grand Alpha of the Yeti werewolves, and it just had me on edge, okay?"
"Sounds like something else is on your mind?" He asked.
Marine
rolled her eyes again. "Fine. Damn, boy, you know me too well, I guess. Yeah, well, my sister, I have to take in her son. She got herself into a lot of trouble. My husband isn't taking it well at all since that means another male wolf will be in the house."
Ezra looked at her with concern. "Why should that matter? It's your nephew?"
Marine looked at him. "I know it shouldn't, but my husband is old school. The pack should raise him, that is true, but my nephew is a mutt, so that complicates things quite a bit."
"Mutt?"
Marine scoffed. "My sister is a werewolf, his daddy was a human, we call our halfbreeds mutts. Plus, with my husband wanting me to get pregnant since it is like an Alpha male's right to have kids and establish the pack further, he's all being testy and an asshole at the moment. That and Kyrone is a new alpha, so it's even harder for him. Hell, we haven’t even bonded yet."
Dark Temptations Page 24