Page 55 of Black Mamba

“I see that your water bucket is out and it wasn’t full when I walked by. Is that it? If you need water, I can get that for you now… You don’t have to rely on him if you don’t want to. Levy and I are fine retrieving your water while you heal. We’ve taken some trips already today.”

“I don’t—I mean, I do need water—but I’m not afraid of coming outside. And I’m hoping that no one will have to retrieve my water soon, him or you guys.” I rub my shoulder. “Let me put on some shoes and I’ll join you.” Maybe leaving the ship will lure Lukys out.

What do I say to him? I’m sorry I fingered myself in front of you. Or… Why did your cock emerge from your tail when I was barely keeping myself together? Feeling my blush deepen, I shift on my feet.

Greg looks at me surprised. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

“I’m ready.” If anything, I need to breathe in some fresh air.

“It’s wet out here, just so you’re aware,” Greg shouts after me as I walk to the hatch.

Wet? I don’t care that it’s wet. I care that I debased myself in front of Lukys and it’s all because of his pheromones.

I spend the better part of the day foraging with Greg and Levy, joining them as they collect water for me, and exploring the area between our ships, even going so far as wandering along the shoreline to stare at the water in awe with no sign or indication of Lukys. In fact, the day is peaceful altogether.

In the evening, I help Levy and Greg collect fresh wood for the firepit, leaving the branches out to dry in the sun for tomorrow’s fire.

The next morning, there are no clouds in the sky, and the weather is entirely back to normal. Shortly after breakfast, I’m outside again with Levy and Greg, collecting more wood and searching for Lukys. When morning comes and goes and he still hasn’t appeared, I explore the area in front of my ship up the mountain, discovering a trampled spot behind the deeper trees and brush. Something gleams on the ground and I reach down to find a black scale. I pocket it when I realize it’s one of his.

Facing my ship, I see how he views me from the outside.

Worse things can happen than being with one’s stalker… like the utter and complete destruction of a colony ship and losing my parents.

But Lukys doesn’t appear the next day, nor the day after that.

Worry fills me, wondering what could have happened to him—and if something has happened. He was always there until he wasn’t.

I’m outside and he’s not here.

Where the hell is he?

I’ve lost my parents, my sister, and now Lukys? I run my hands over my head.

Can I survive without his help?

Yes. You can. Because you’ll have to.

Either way, I’m past being hurt and fighting everything through avoidance. Wanting answers, wanting more than that, I turn for the mountain. I’ve been frustrated for days—no, weeks—with no answers of any kind.

Lukys isn’t allowed to come into my life, infect me, then leave.

He isn’t.

Not with everything that’s happened. I deserve more than that. I finally get why avoidance doesn’t work.

Gritting my teeth, I storm up the slopes in search of his cave.

TWENTY-SIX

WANDERING

Elena

It’s harder than I expected, locating Lukys’s home despite always having a good sense of direction. But directions out in the wilderness are different than those on ships… I pass the boulders it’s hidden behind several times before recognizing them. Circling the bigger one, I soon find myself in front of his cave, eyeing the vines shielding it from view. I hesitate upon seeing them.

Slowly approaching the entrance, I take in the stakes on either side and the animal skulls resting atop them. I failed to notice them the times I fled.

Ominous… Though I’m not completely against them. They’re a warning sign for potential intruders… like me. They’re working.