Page 20 of Orange Lake
“My name’s Brynn you asshat!” I fumed. “And I’m not a thing!”
“Well,” he crossed his arms in front of him again. “Well, I’m not dumb like you. I know you’re humanoid. But she’s not a female version of a neko Zirc. There’s nothingnekoabout her.”
Before I can say another word again because he made it sound like I’m a piece of shit he wants to spit out, he added, “And I don’t know if she is ashe. What is alarming about her is her intelligence though. Her brain power might not be fully developed. Could be bordering on retarded.”
I tried to push forward to smack him on the head or kick him between his legs. But Zirc had a firm hold on me. I tried to kick towards the guy but he just sidestepped me, anticipating my action.
Zirc was chuckling. “Ah, that might be why mymistkais behaving wildly.”
“More like rabid.”
I used Zirc’s arm, trusting he will hold me tightly. Damn it, the guy dodged again because my boots almost reached him “Let me go Zirc. Who the hell is he? I’m not going to lie down and take his insults to my face!”
“Hush Brin. Have you forgotten what I told you?” I shivered, feeling Zirc’s breath on my right ear. “You cannot act irrationally and take matters into your own hands. This is Coone. And he can inflict more harm than you.”
Coone? I straightened myself.
“Why don’t we test that theory?” I asked mildly but I’m itching to get my hands on this guy. So this was Coone. The one they are waiting for. How totally irritating! Not that I have anywhere to go. But it’s like everyone’s waiting for him to show up. Hopefully, they will dissect him later.
Zirc sounded amused. “Hide your claws Brin. You will get to him soon enough.”
Coone looked ill. What the hell is he thinking? I know my eyes are blazing. I’m sure Zirc made it sound sexual but I’m looking forward to kick his butt. He probably thinks the same way as Zirc. He’ll be disappointed or joyful that I don’t want him that way. Having Zirc and Roqs are already too much of a handful.
“Don’t make me puke Zirc,” Coone’s face has a tinge of green. “Who wants to be with someone who doesn’t even have the basic sense to not go in the lake without their boots on.”
Who the hell jumps into a lake with one? I seethed internally.
I was about to rant what’s wrong about that when Zirc turned me then pulled me harshly to him. I bumped on his hard frame, his hands digging into my upper arms. His fierce face near my face. I used to get scared when he do this but I realized that he would not hurt me physically.
“You tried to get into the lake?” Behind me I heard Coone strode away from us.
Zirc asked me quietly but I felt his whole body quivering with pent up emotion of violence. It was scary but at the same time arousing.
I nod. “What’s wrong with going to the lake?”
Zirc moved so his face is so near to me I can see the oval ring on his eyes. He really has the most beautiful eyes I’ve seen on this planet. It has different shades of metallic grey and silver. His eyes look the best when he looks fierce. He squinted those eyes further when he realized I really do not know why it’s not safe to go to the lake. Maybe there are monsters in the lake or -
“Is it poisonous?” I guessed.
Zirc’s eyes rounded, his whole body froze. “You seriously do not know? You -”
He stopped and must have realized something. Without letting me go, he stood straight, took a long breath in. Then out. In and out. Then slowly, one by one, his fingers let go of my left arm.
“Come,” he said, dragging me towards the lake. I saw Coone with a perplexed look on his face. So he did not go far. He is probably waiting to see if Zirc was going to kill me. I smirked at him. That wiped off the look on his face but his face turned grim.
Now I looked again at Zirc. He wasn’t slowing down for me so I did brisk walking so that we end up at the same spot I was when Coone found me.
Zirc let go of my arm and turned to me. His eyes serious. “Brin.”
I waited. I can see he is debating something within himself. “Lakes, the sea, the oceans!” he exclaimed. “Fuck. Especially the oceans, they are dangerous. We do not go into any bodies of water without special equipment or clothing to help us breathe underwater. Unless.” He paused and looked at me considering.He brushed his hair away from his face, looking down at me.
“No, we humans do not breathe underwater.”
“Then you do not go near any bodies of water!” he exploded, his arms akimbo.
“But -”
“- No buts Brin. This is important. We cannot breathe underwater. It’s very basic. Do your parents or elders do not teach you this when you were younger?”
