The other beast rested his fist on the table and leaned in. This mofo looked mean, but I didn’t flinch. Inches from my face, he said, “You gotta mouth on you, little girl. I don’t like the challenge to my authority or my brother’s. You should listen to your dad and do what you’re told. When you’re ready, Vice will come for you.”
Vice tugged my hand, and I stepped away from the mean mofo.
“Is there anywhere where we can talk in private?” Vice asked my dad.
I ignored them all. “What you ridin’? A bike? You know what, don’t matter, I don’t even need to pack. Let’s go.” I dragged big Vice through our sanctuary, over the gravel yard and right to his bike. I recognized the machine, though I wondered how he’d repaired it already. It’d been only two days since he crashed into a building.
The beasts must have awesome tech, I thought, and ran my hand over the bike’s engine. The metal was smooth and warm from the ride over. I straddled it, put a helmet on my head, and thrust Kickster under my armpit. Maybe I’d get a new skater. Kickster 2.0.
Next to me, Vice looked amused, a smile playing over his lips. The other beast straddled his bike and leaned his elbow on the handle. His lips twitched.
“If she were yours,” Vice said, “don’t tell me you wouldn’t take her and say the hell with the agreement.”
The other beast revved his engine. “Got a firestarter, bro. I’ll see ya, Dewlyn girl.”
I shrugged when he took off. I knew Vice probably thought I was the craziest bitch he’d ever seen, but there must’ve been something about me he liked or else he wouldn’t have spent money on me. These beasts came in and out of the communities, bought themselves nice wives they called pairs, and man, I thought those girls were lucky. Only Hanna would understand. The rest of the women hated the beasts, believed we shouldn’t mix with them. Brainwashed idiots.
Besides, once I left, my dad and mom would have one less mouth to feed, which meant more food for Hanna. We were a family of forty-three. Dad had six wives and many mouths to feed. Finally, I wouldn’t have to ration my dailies. I would gorge on steak and potatoes, chicken wings, and ribs. And this Vice beast. I’d gorge on his big body too.
Or let him gorge on my body. Whatever curled his claws, I’d do it.
His leather-clad thigh pressed against my jeans as he removed my helmet. He kissed the top of my head. “You are perfect.”
“I know.” I didn’t, but hey, I liked the sound of confidence.
“I’ll come back for you.”
“Oh come on, man, don’t be that way. I don’t need prep work, I need out of this shithole.”
“Believe me when I tell you”—his lips touched mine briefly, then he pulled back to continue—“leaving you here is much harder on me than you think, but we have an agreement with your community and your father. Breaking these agreements would have consequences for my people and yours, not just in your community but in all the communities. The pairing agreements aren’t always this pleasant.” He was referring to the pairs who didn’t want to be sold, mostly because they were brainwashed to fear the beasts or brainwashed to hate the alien race.
“I ain’t scared of you, big man.”
“I can’t take you with me now.” He gripped my waist and put me back on the ground.
He really wasn’t gonna take me with him. I didn’t think I could last another month in here. Dad would ground me, put me under lock and key in the preparation house, whatever the fuck they did in there. I was so sick of being grounded.
I wanted to fly.
I wanted jeans.
And chicken.
And I wanted it all in abundance and right now.
Tears clouded my vision, and I gritted my teeth. Dewlyn McJohn did not fucking cry. “Whatever, dude,” I said and stormed back inside to work on my skater.
Inside the shower, I leaned my forehead against the tile. That very evening, Mom and Dad took me into the preparation house, a small white house near the west edge of our community where my aunts had gone before Dad handed them over to the beasts. Inside, Mom explained why they needed a month of prep. It had nothing to do with wanting to please the beasts.
I refused the cup she handed me.
The next day, a woman I’d never seen before came and tried reasoning with me. I refused because I had a mind of my own, and because I did want to please my beast. The problem? My parents and the new woman expected me to accept the cup.
They expected me to embrace their ways, honor them, believe in them.
Fuck that shit. I screamed bloody murder.
But Vice didn’t hear me.
A toilet flushed.