Page 81 of Five to Love Him
The door opened slowly, and we saw him, his handsome face, the green splinter in his left eye, the light hair we loved running our fingers through so much. He was carrying a tray.
“I made you tea. Fresh mint and chamomile from the garden. There’s honey in it too, and I brought the mochi as well.”
“The mochi are for you,” we said. We’d bought them for after dinner today because it was Friday, and we always stayed up late on Fridays.
“Yup, and now I’m giving them to you. I called everyone. You don’t have to worry about anything today, okay? It’s my turn to take care of you.”
For some reason, the sound of the key turning in that door’s lock, then the door opening and closing behind that human, replayed in our head. We weren’t able to turn it off.
“Sorry,” we said.
“Shh. You did nothing wrong, hive. I love you very much, and I don’t think there’s a single thing that you did wrong, not a one.”
He went to the one who had curled up. It was the one who’d borne the pain as we’d stared down the muzzle of that gun on that very first day of our captivity. We’d forgotten that, until today.
Leo stroked that one, careful as if he might hurt us, but we’d borne so much with that one. A hive was strong. A hive could endure. We couldn’t change that we were such a small hive.
“What was that?” Leo asked.
We blinked tears out of our eyes. We hadn’t been aware we’d been talking.
“Nothing. It was nothing.”
Leo placed that one’s head on his lap and stroked him.
“You’re a little cold to the touch. Hey, don’t go getting frostbite in summer, okay? Come on, sit up. I know you like fresh tea.”
“You don’t have to be here. You don’t have to take care of us. We are…we know we aren’t what you might have wanted in someone like a mate.”
“Hive, I love you. You did nothing wrong. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. I don’t mind telling you over and over, and it’s totally okay to be resting, but please just drink something and let me get you warm. I’m worried about you, so please.”
He was our gleaming one, so we complied, sat up. That one he was still stroking hurt. The other one who’d been in the room as well did too. All of us had at least a headache, but the pain sat deeper, had crept into our joints. It was especially bad in that one.
With a pang, we wondered what would happen if we were only four. Maybe four wouldn’t be too bad. We’d still be able to take care of Leo with four.
Leo kissed that one’s lips, and fire rushed through us, warming and settling.
“I love you. You don’t have to be ashamed. You did nothing wrong, and you are beautiful. Hive, please don’t be ashamed.”
We wanted to give Leo what he wanted. Perhaps that way he would keep us. He had given us so much—a purpose, most of all. We wanted to do everything for him, but we could barely move. It was embarrassing, and we knew we were failing him but were unable to stop ourself.
“Here, come on, you have to try these mochi. I don’t know what it is about that soy sauce filling, but it’s so good.”
Leo was insistent, focusing his attention on the one who had gone limp, maybe like a hand that had fallen asleep or a limb full of poison that needed to come off. We watched as he whispered in that one’s ear, so patient, and held the soft and sticky mochi to his mouth.
That one’s lips were dry, looking cracked. We weren’t sure we felt it.
“Hive. Shit, come on. What do I do, what do I fucking do? Hey, hive.”
He shook the shoulder of another one. We blinked at his fingers.
“Can you hear me?” he asked.
“Yes. We’re really fine. You shouldn’t worry about us, Leo. We’ll be fine.”
“You’re not okay, but I’m going to help you. Look, is there anyone I should call? I can’t believe I’ve never asked you this before, but what about your family? Can I call them? Your dad is a hive too you said, right?”
“Hives are not very attached to their families. It’s just our nature.”
