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Aviary/Earth: VIII

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I kept seeing the family in the back of my mind. Hal was holding the woman's hand. They were laughing as their daughter pranced around their feet.


The girls had gone to bed. I sat on the couch with my arms around my knees, hating humans, hating that woman, and hating myself.


Why hadn't I told him? I wondered. Would he have stayed?


I wouldn't allow myself to cry. My eyes stung and my throat seized, but I was not about to allow Dalkon to see tears. He could sense it though. He turned off the TV and faced me.


His eyes were cold and serious. "Aviary, stop it. Get that kid out of your mind right now."


I rolled my eyes. "He's not a kid. He's a man."


"Probably a married one," he retorted. "You're better than this, puella. You shouldn't be giving in to emotions as weak as love."

"But that's what you did, isn't it?" I snapped. "What about Ezra, Dalkon? Didn't he leave you out of fear that his heart will explode? You tried to mask your emotions for him by cheating, but that only made you want him more. We do feel, Dalkon! We can't help falling in love!"


He ran a hand through his red hair. "They call us the anti-cupid for a reason, Aviary. We are not meant to love. We hardly even care for our children. You should know that."


I glowered at him. "Then why do you give a damn about me?!"


"That's different. I spend more time with you than my children."


I stood up, frustrated. "We may be animals, but we can show some sort of affection. That whole story about the cubus whose heart exploded is just a myth brought up by our elders to keep us in line. You should know that! You're just too damn self-righteous to pretend to care!"


"Well go prove it then! I don't care! I thought I raised you better. If you're going to go around chasing a lost cause only to kill yourself, you're as pathetic as the humans. Why don't you just give up your powers like your precious tutor?"


I was in such a rage I couldn't speak. He compared me to those barbaric insects! Without a word, I stormed out of the house.


A flurry of aggravated grunts and curses flew from my mouth as I walked briskly down the street. I had no specific destination. The air just calms me down. Especially now, when the Earth was cooling and I could feel winter's impending chill creeping up on me.


I don't know how I got there. Perhaps it was my conscience luring me to that place just to prove Dalkon wrong. Whatever the matter, I found myself outside of the house where I had found Hal and his family. Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed a hold of a nearby tree and started to climb.


Movies always portray the tree scene as someone sitting gracefully, in an alluring pose, looking in at their love. I never realized how wrong they were. I sat with my back against the trunk of the tree, and my legs along a sturdy branch. Tinier branches poked and prodded me in uncomfortable places, and I later found multiple leaves in my clothing. I couldn't adjust or make any noise, because the window closest to the tree revealed to me my mentor and his wife.


They were in their bedroom, talking quietly amongst themselves. He took her hand gently and kissed her rosy lips, a motion that put a surge through my body. I started to get nauseous watching as she put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. When they parted she whispered something and kissed him once more on the cheek. I bit my lip, angry and embarrassed with myself.


The sun was starting to rise, and I hid behind more leaves, hoping I wouldn't get noticed. Hal handed his wife her purse and they exited the room. I couldn't help myself; I crept down the branch and slipped in to the room.


Don't judge me with those accusing eyes! This isn't why you arrested me you heathen! I wanted to see him again; isn't that good enough for you?


His bed was larger than I had imagined. Hal must have been making a good living for him here. At first I just sat. I ran my hands over the red silk sheets and found myself imagining our garden. The bed slowly turned to flowers, cradling me and catching my head as I lay down.


I curled on my side, waiting. Come here, Hal, I thought wistfully. Take my hand like you did hers. Kiss me with that handsome smile on your face.


I felt my eyes begin to close as the room slowly changed into our garden. Perhaps Dalkon was right. I was foolish for loving him. The flowers started to devour me. They grew and tangled around my body as I lay in wait.


Heavy footsteps thudded outside and the scene vanished. I scuffled out of bed and nearly fell out the window. It was wrong for me to intrude. Hal was finally happy now. He had a wife and a beautiful daughter. He didn't need me. I doubt he ever thought of me.

I quickly retreated to the tree, peering at the room through the leaves. The door creaked open and he walked inside. I found myself examining him as I had done so many times before.


Hal appeared weary and much older. His blue-green eyes were dull now and his golden hair had faded a few shades. But he was still handsome. He traced his fingertips over the dresser and picked up a small key that I didn't notice before. With a groan, he squat down and unlocked the lowest drawer.


I leaned closer and nearly fell from the tree. Hal rose with a leather-bound book in his hand. Familiarity dug sharp claws into my heart as I saw the title.


"You kept the books…" I whispered.


Hal spun around and I shrunk back to the trunk of the tree. He came to the window and looked around, but couldn't find me. As he wandered over to his bed I let out a sigh of relief. I smiled as he kicked his feet up on the bed before laying back.


His eyes traced over the pages quickly, and every so often he would add narration, mentioning something about illusions and mind tricks. He gave a sad smile and rolled over, placing the book on the pillow.


We noticed the green at the same time. Hal reached under the pillow and pulled out a magnificent tiger lily. For once, his eyes glimmered in a way I hadn't seen for so long. I had to cover my mouth to keep from saying anything. Hal's eyebrows pinched together and he stood up, still holding on to the lily. He moved over to the window and leaned outside.


I could smell his essence now. The wind brought the sweet scent right to me. My body shuddered and in an instant, I was hungry. Hal was undoubtedly human.


"Avi?" he breathed my name so gently I could have sworn I felt something move in my chest.


My cheeks heated and I bit my lip. There was that name again. Nobody quite said it like him. I wanted to show myself. I wanted to climb out of that pokey tree and embrace him, but I couldn't. I knew better than to ruin a family like that.


"Just tell me why you left," I urged softly.


I didn't expect him to answer. Hal took a long look out the window before turning back to his room. My old tutor lifted the flower to his nose and closed his eyes with a sigh. I watched as he left the room once more.


"Aviary!"


I turned at the sound of my name. Civil and Kioni were at the foot of the tree, calling to me. Civil waved frantically, but Kioni seemed to be shouting only for the princess' sake. I hopped down from the branch and pulled a few leaves from my hair.


"What were you doing up in that tree?" Civil asked, her eyes gleaming.


"I…um…" I looked up at Hal's window, wondering if he was back in the room. "I wanted to see an old friend."


Civil couldn't suppress a smile. "Was it him?!"


Kioni's expression also changed. "Him?! Does that mean that there's someone you love?!" The imp shook me so hard I grew dizzy.


I placed my hand firmly on her collarbone and shoved her off of me. "Forget about it, Kioni. He's a lost cause."


Hal's voice called out to me. At first I thought it was my imagination, but when I turned around, there he was, standing in the doorway. All the heat of my previous meal rose to my cheeks. He took a hesitant step forward, casting cautious glances at my company.


"So it was you," he muttered, more to himself than to me.


I nodded. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come."


Hal shook his head and took a few steps closer. "No…I'm glad you did. I've missed you terribly." His face was almost pained.


I couldn't look at him. My words came out faster than expected. "I have to go," I said and turned away from him.


I walked through Civil and Kioni, ignoring their pleas. I didn't speak until I had lost the scent of Hal.


"How romantic!" I heard Kioni swoon behind me as they tried to keep up.


"It's not romantic, Kioni," I snapped. "I'm hopeless. He's married. He has a child. I can't just show up uninvited."


"That's the beauty of it!" She ran up behind me and put her hands on my shoulders. "Long lost love, swept away with time itself, shall reunite young lovers despite the harsh restraints that keeps them at a distance! Forbidden love is the best kind!"


Civil smiled softly. "It is quite a story. Everyone likes a good romance," she agreed.


"Everyone but me," I muttered. "I could feel my heart beating irregularly. What if the myths are true?"


Civil's emerald eyes were stern as she moved in front of me, blocking my path. "Do you want them to be? Nothing should hold you back from happiness."


"Yeah," Kioni chimed in, "even though you're a horrible, soul-sucking fiend, you deserve happiness too."


I snorted. "Gee, thanks."


"I mean it!" the imp shrieked.


"Your voice is worse than a harpy," I murmured. "Could you keep it down? I'm not in a good mood."


"Well maybe if you stayed," Civil pointed out. "He seemed like he wanted to talk."


"And he was so handsome!" Kioni squealed.


"Quite," a deep voice growled.


The three of us spun around so fast Kioni nearly fell over. My stomach rose to my throat. The man before us was my father.


"Aviary Gage," his voice was as commanding as ever.


There's something I should note here about my name. A cubi's surname is determined by their father's first name. To further our title, the number of our generation follows. Some have middle names, but the whole act is foolish and human. My full title is Aviary Gage of the Twentieth Generation. If an incubus becomes Alpha, he drops his generation and simply becomes Alpha—insert name here.


My father is a strong and commanding man. Cubi from his generation told me he wasn't always that way, but he changed the moment he found out he was in charge. He had medium-length light brown hair and dark eyes to match. He never showed any emotions besides pride, lust, and hate. Gage didn't need to tell me he hated me and everything I stood for, I could see it in his eyes.


Kioni immediately ran to Civil's side and hid. Civil met my father's eyes fearlessly. She could be so stupid sometimes. I kept my head down.


"I knew you would be here. You always were attached to Hal." Father grit his teeth. "I had to lie to the elders and tell them you were searching for your mother. They would have murdered Hal if I didn't."


I was nervous, but I swallowed hard and met his eyes. "Why does it matter to you? If one more accident happened on my account you would have put me in confinement! I can't help that I grew up the way I did! If a male shows early signs of power, you praise him and make him Alpha, but if I show off my power you reprimand me! I thought you would be proud of me."


"We are not monsters, Aviary. Your actions are that of a beast," he growled.


"If we're not monsters, what are we? We are demons, Father! Why are we punished for listening to our instincts?" I shouted, my voice returning to its confident boom.


"You've been around Dalkon far too long." He grabbed my wrist and squeezed hard.


I let out a short gasp, but wouldn't let him know he was hurting me. Civil approached him, ready with some sort of moral argument.


"No." I stopped her sternly. "This is my fight. I'll be back, don't worry."


Father's grasp tightened and I cried out in pain. Civil and Kioni gasped.


"You will be in Ambiance for the rest of your life," Father snarled.


But I knew that was not the truth. My father was an idiot. I knew I would get out again, and Dalkon would be the one to help me.

In the morning, Ambiance was always in a hurry. Young cubi, known as nymphs, were rushing to their classes like mindless schoolchildren. I hissed at one who had stopped to gape at me. He yelped and scurried away.


Poor fools, I thought bitterly, they have no idea how maddening their hunger will be.


As my father pushed me through the halls I found myself veering toward my own wing of classrooms. Almost immediately, the Alpha grabbed my shoulders and pushed me up another flight of stairs.


"You are not allowed to join your generation any longer," he hissed. "You will board with the Elders and me. You will feed when we feed, and I will assign to you one incubus to care for your hunger. You will study under Allura; we have already discussed this. You are not to go downstairs or anywhere near the golden door."


I listened with deaf ears, already planning my escape. I kept looking around, waiting for Dalkon to show up and take me away. But I left him on a bad note; I'm sure somewhere in my mind I knew he was still on that couch in the house.


The Elders greeted me with cold eyes. They knew who I was, and why I was there, and none of them liked it. My elders were exactly that: cubi from generations and generations before my father's. Not like any human would notice. The beauty that surrounded me was almost intoxicating. Creatures bred over three centuries ago stood with such rare elegance any mortal would think them gods.


Among them was my new tutor, Allura. She was tall and beautiful with luscious locks and enchanting eyes. I had seen her around before. Some of the older cubi told me that the succubus was an incredible teacher. Since she was the only one actually smiling at me, I was glad she was my tutor. Still, she wasn't anything like Hal.


No one spoke to me as I passed. I could hear them murmuring amongst themselves. I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly chilled. There was that damned temperature again.


Father threw me in the last room at the end of the hall. It was much larger than my old room, but that didn't matter. Ambiance was a prison. My life was a hell.

So Aviary finally confronts Hal. Hooray.
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