Page 55 of It Varies
“I can’t.”
Mik asked, “May I explain?”
She nodded.
Mik’s voice was clear.“The shadow mages made her drink from the dead and dying.She has an unfortunate association with consuming now.”
He recoiled.“Holy stars.You are sane after that?”
Meeda looked at him.“I have my moments.I found my mate once and tried to feed, but he didn’t understand and got away from me.”
Mia gasped.“You didn’t tell me that.”
“It’s embarrassing.I was beyond hungry, and I nearly bit his throat out.He punched me and got back in the water.”Meeda felt her blush.
“Who was it?”Mia asked, “Fuck, whoisit?”
“Don’t know.Just know he smelled like food and sex in all the best ways.I had gone sharky and tried to get blood.”She shrugged.“It was during that last video shoot in the islands.”
She finished her plate and used a small spell to deliver it and the cutlery to their receptacles.She looked at the other male.“Who are you?”
“Xletl.I am one of the four surviving pixies.Well, five, with you.”He paused.“What do you mean,gone sharky?”
Meeda looked at him and let her eyes go black, and her teeth sharpened.“I am a deep-sea mermaid.”
Mia leaned against her shoulder.“Sometimes.She is usually a nice, picture-perfect mermaid.”
Meeda let the sharp and deadly appearance fade.
Xletl nodded.“I think I see what happened there.Did you chase him?”
“No.I was too weak to chase him.”That was partially true.The other part was that she didn’t want to leave Mia.
“Ah.Well, you will have to get stronger if you are to catch him.”
“I don’t want to catch him.I am not chasing any man who runs from me.If he doesn’t want me, I don’t want him,” she spoke softly.
“What did he look like?”
Mia chuckled.“She isn’t good with faces.She’s better with outlines.”
Xletl smiled kindly.“What is his outline?”
“Um, he was like a big merman, but he had tentacles here and here.Two on each side.”
He nodded.“Thought as much.No one has seen him in centuries.He’s mainly a creature of instinct now.”
“Well, he will continue to live on.”She stated it calmly.“His life is not my business.”
Xletl sighed.“No, I suppose it isn’t.If I brought you a willing donor, would you drink?”
She shook her head.“No.I don’t know how to drink from the living.With the others, I went for the open wounds.It’s embarrassing.”
He stared at her.“Holy shit.Right.I will ask Kazuya.He knows some water breathers and might know of one who would do for you.I’ll be right back.”
Mia took her hand and squeezed.“There is no shame in it if they are willing, and it keeps you alive, Meeda.”
“But I look...I should put the glamour back on.”
