Page 4 of Of Serpents and Ruins
"Is anything ever going to fit?" I murmured. "Maybe I should just give up."
Something splashed in the artificial pond.
I turned. My eyes widened.
One of the red and black speckled koi had splashed up on the shore, its massive body flailing. Bits of mulch and mud flippedup around it. And somehow, it was going in the wrong direction. It was heading farther up the bank. It was going to die!
Clumsily, I flung myself over the edge of the railing and fell on my butt. My sneakers skidded on the slick earth. Huffing, I struggled back up, knowing I’d probably stained my leggings and triceratops hoodie but not really caring.
The red and black koi flopped farther and farther up the bank, halfway over the earthen bridge. I scuttled up to it, hands outstretched as it inched along. "Come on, baby. Imma help you."
Almost slipping, I managed to scoop up the koi. It smelled like algae and fish. My nose wrinkled as it wriggled back and forth in my arms, as slippery as a…as a fish. Bits of leaves and streaks of dirt clung to the front of my fuzzy grey hoodie.
I almost turned to deposit it back in the pond it leaped out of. Then I stopped, catching sight of a white and gold koi in the pond on the other side of the separator.
A pang of realization struck me. Had this one been trying to get there? The black and red fish flailed harder, its mouth gaping and its black eyes bulging. Its tail nearly slapped my face as I staggered.
"Don’t worry. I can help." I carried the koi over to the other pond. Just those few steps and twice, I almost fell, but I finally lowered it clumsily into the water.
The gold and white koi glided in tightening circles around the newcomer, seemingly delighted. Then it flicked under and against the red and black fish as the black and red fish mirrored its movements.
"You found your friend." I cupped my hands over my mouth, tearing up. "Oh!"
The two fish swam away, side by side, disappearing beneath the bridge and into the darker chasm of black waters, hiddenfrom prying eyes and the assault of the neon lights and pale moonlight.
I'd almost put that poor fish back into the wrong pond.
More tears rolled down my cheeks.
This was stupid.
Yes, I was being totally ridiculous, but tears traced down my cheeks nonetheless. Dammit, I hated my life. Why couldn’t I find the right pond for me?
"Crying over a fish? Can’t say I’m surprised, Bug. You always were soft-hearted. It’s good to see you haven’t changed in all your time here."
The warm, earthy voice startled me. A spike of familiarity stabbed me. Not just the voice but the name. No one had ever called me "Bug" before, yet it felt as if someone had. If anything, it sounded like something a big brother or a cousin or someone like that would call you.
I turned, sniffling and scrubbing away the tears.
His eyes bored into me.
I froze.
Gold eyes.
Actual gold eyes. Almost like a hawk’s or a snake’s but so warm and friendly.
Contacts, maybe? No. Somehow, I knew that. Why did they seem so familiar?
The man's face brightened when I looked at him, his pleasant mouth curving into a broad smile. He had a lean but strong body with a triangular face, and there was a sharpness in his gaze that might have seemed menacing if not for that smile and all his warmth. Azure curls framed his face, almost too perfect to be real. He wore loose light-blue robes with a braided cloth belt around his narrow waist. Indigo serpent tattoos coiled up his forearms and disappeared beneath the sleeveless tunic and robe. Dark-blue gladiator sandals completed the ensemble.
He spread his arms wide, his smile a touch more tentative and his brow a little furrowed. "Come on, Bug. You remember me, don't you? Kine!"
I wiped my hands on my colorful leggings and backed away from him, nearly losing my footing again. "Never seen you before in my life."
Strong arms clamped around my waist, coming up behind me and pulling me into a tight hug. "Stella!"
I squealed, swinging my arms and legs. A warm scent engulfed me, but it wasn't familiar. Vanilla and raspberries and cedar.
