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“I didn’t like the way he looked at you,” he says, staring at the body and tossing back his third drink. I take a sip of my own unsure how he can stand to do what he’s doing. This stuff is so strong that my limbs are tingling and my brain already feels a bit woozy. “He threatened you with…” he waves his hand, “you know.”
I smile. He can’t even say it. I like him. A lot. There is honor in him and the longer I’ve been around him the more I see it. The more he seems to come to life. It’s as if the man I met at first was but a hollow shell and I’m uncovering the real Bhoja, one layer at a time. The best part is, the more layers I unbury, the more I like him.
“Thank you,” I says, staring into the dark liquid in my glass as I steel my own courage to take another burning sip.
“No need,” he says then he sighs. “Once…”
He trails off and I wait for him to continue but he doesn’t. He remains silent, staring at the body.
“Once what?”
“We are the First People,” he says and there is so much remorse in his voice that it makes my heart ache.
“What does that mean?”
“We are the first born of Tajss,” he says. “Our histories teach us this. We were her first, an almost perfect creation. For one of us to act with so little honor, to threaten… that…” he growls so low and dangerous that it makes a chill run down my spine. Then that same chill hits into my core and I shiver for an entirely different reason.
“You were here before the Zmaj?”
“Bah, lizards,” he says. “They aren’t of Tajss. They were brought by Star People. They helped to destroy Tajss.” He shakes his head and looks at me for the first time in a while. “But this is not the time for debate or history. We must deal with him.”
Almost as one we turn and look at the Maulavi relaxing on the couch. A cold chill traces its way along my spine. When did death become so casual for me?
The crash. I can only feel bad for so many for so long.
It’s true, probably for all of us. I was young when the ship crashed and at this point death has been a constant in my life for almost as long as it wasn’t. If there is one truth about life on Tajss it’s death. People, things, everything here dies. Sooner or later.
What a depressing thought that is. No wonder people cling to love so hard and fast. You never know what tomorrow is going to bring. Or if it will at all. I dart a glance to Bhoja and something stirs deep inside. I can’t label it but it’s definitively there.
“Any bright ideas what to do with a dead Maulavi in your living room?” I ask, trying to make it light-hearted.
Bhoja frowns and rubs the back of his head.
“Yeah…” he says thoughtfully.
“Oh?”
He nods and a slow smile forms on his face. I really like the way he smiles. It not only lights up his face but the way his tusks turn as his lips curl is beautiful in a very strange and unique way.
“Yeah, a cart,” he says excitedly. “Of course, a cart. Cover him over with garbage and then I can then haul him out into the tunnels. Take him to the dump.”
“That won’t be suspicious?”
“No,” he shakes his head. “There is a pit we use for refuse. It goes way, way down. Been used for years. It’s done all the time, won’t raise any flags if we’re lucky.”
“Great, how do you get a cart?”
“That is more difficult,” he says. “I’ll have to borrow one.”
“I’ll come with you,” I say.
“No,” he shakes his head and I think it’s ruefully. “We can’t risk it. I have to talk, deal with someone directly. Too much chance of them noticing you, seeing something is wrong. My orders are to keep you under lock and key, if someone says they saw you out with me, it will attract attention.”
“Oh,” I say, unable to hide my disappointment.
He shifts his gaze to me but I’m staring at the floor. I don’t want to be alone. There are a lot of obvious reasons, but I’m not oblivious to the fact that what I really want is him close. Really close. The dregs of my dream about his cock come unbidden, drifting across my thoughts and causing a surge of primal, needful energy.
He raises his hand, moves it towards me and my heart leaps at the thought of his touch but then he drops it to his side. I see him shrug in my peripheral vision and shift his weight from one foot to the other.
