Citrine (Deliverance #3)

53. Eli

53

Eli

Waiting for them to return is terrible, but it gives me more time to think over how Ree looked. I was so excited about people, and convincing them to stay, that I didn't really properly think through just how different she was.

For one, she had a tail, and I am ridiculously jealous. Surely everyone has wanted a tail since they were a kid, and all I got were hair tentacles.

It's not right.

Little suckers that taste things under the water are not a substitute for being fluffy, though I suppose I don't know that I would have been on board with the black scales. Not that they don't look great on her, or anything, but…

Not that it matters. I have the body I have, and I wouldn't want any of those furry males. If I became like them, how could I possibly be with Wroahk?

He drives me crazy, sure, but he's changed so much. I look over at him, and as always, he's watching me. Letting me know with his eyes that I matter to him. No longer a nobody.

I'm proud of all the ways he's changed. My own changes have been hard, but it's mostly been my body. He's had to work against an entire upbringing to embrace any part of the things that are important to me. Hell, to even stop himself from killing me.

Who else can say someone cares for them so much they would do that?

The yellow tentacles, the gills, this skin, these changes are the only reason we work. A memory of just how well we fit together sends heat surging through me, making the water pump faster through my gills.

Then I remember my new responsibilities and glance back to the cove.

I should probably check on Rannek, but if I do, it won't be without a terrifying octo-shadow, so he'd probably prefer if I just left him alone to guard Amethyst. I also barely looked at her, and now I'm feeling guilty about it.

Well, I can change that when Ree and Thivoll get back from gathering their supplies. I'm bouncing in the water, filled with glee to be listing such a long list of people, as Wroahk makes his grumbling clicks.

He wanted to wait in our cave, but I gave him a verbal lashing along with some tentacles whips, and so here we are, floating near the opposite shore, with no real sense of how long it will be before they arrive.

Surely it can't be too long? I settle back into making plans, cataloging where I know useful resources are, even though some of them I can't eat anymore, and shelter above ground isn't something I can use.

My shoulders sink, the reminder of my changes a harsh juxtaposition to my earlier glee. Wroahk has become surprisingly attuned to my mood, and he reaches up a tentacle to stroke it along my cheek.

It's a reminder I needed. We'll make it work.

I open my mouth to thank him but snap it back closed when I hear movement. A moment later, Ree calls out my name. I try to swim to the shore, but tentacles hold me back.

I narrow my eyes at him, then remember that I have to meet a couple more people and give them a Wroahk-can't-kill-you community pass.

When I look back up, Thivoll has moved onto the shore, Ree grinning on top of his back, surrounded by a bunch of bags, weapons, and who knows what else.

From behind her comes… a dragon.

Well, sort of. Big, blue, spikey, and looking at me with amber eyes. That must be Drasuk.

He's adorable.

My eyes dart up to the shock of pink and black on top of him and my eyes widen. She's beautiful, and also one of the strangest people I've ever seen. She's got some of Thivoll's traits, plenty of Drasuk's, but also a lot more I don't recognize, most notably the white spikes coming out of her skull.

She's holding a gun in her hands, scanning around, and looking at Wroahk dubiously.

"You must be Drasuk and Kira. I'm Eli, and this is Wroahk."

"Hello Eli," Kira calls back. "Nice wiggly threads you've got there."

I move up a hand to my over-excited tentacles, feeling self-conscious.

Ree snorts. "Says the woman posing as a bloodthirsty Statue of Liberty."

I dart my eyes back to Kira, just in time for her to let out a guffaw.

She wipes at her eyes, and I could swear she has some sort of other eyelid. "I'm sorry, Eli. I have a terrible sense of humor, but I really am glad to meet you."

Then she's back to clutching her gun, hands moving over it almost… lovingly.

I shiver. Something tells me this woman might give Wroahk a run for his money when it comes to violence.

Which, of course, means we're instant besties. I've become a brand-new woman, and I know good friends when I see them.

"It's okay."

Ree speaks again. "Thivoll's language might be the better one for us, unless you think Wroahk should still be included. Drasuk knows that one, but he doesn't have translation nanites."

I glance at Wroahk, but his expression is just as mulish as usual. "Honestly, I think he would prefer to not have to listen to us, but I do need to pass on a request first."

From the look of relief on his face, which is so subtle only I could detect it, he agrees.

"Actually, why don't you ask them, Wroahk?"

He shoots me a look that promises later retribution, but all he gets is a grin in response.

One of his tentacles squeezes my ankle, and he shocks me again by actually speaking to the two women. "The gray slimes. I want them all dead."

Kira's eyes light up. "Oh, Wroahk, you are speaking my language."

"No, you are the one using my voice, Kira," he clicks back at her.

She looks over at me. "Another one? I hope he isn't worse than Drasuk or I'm going to need to leave to kill something."

I'm not sure what she means, and she doesn't give anyone a chance to respond before she keeps speaking. "I delight in killing the slimes, Wroahk. We all do, well I guess not Ree, but she has other uses."

Ree rolls her eyes.

Wroahk is looking pleased now, and he speaks up again. "Will you drive them toward the water, then leave so they feel like they are safe? It will make their screams so much sweeter when I rip them apart and scatter them to the Many Teeth."

Ree is looking a bit sick, but Kira has an even wider grin on her face. "Wroahk, Wroahk. I think you and I are going to be very good friends. Let's get everyone settled, and then we can figure out a way to make them scream."

I've never seen the look he has on his face right now. Like he has been given a shiny new toy, and he's not quite sure how to use it, but jumping up and down in excitement, nonetheless.

Except it's Wroahk, so to everyone else, he probably just looks like a shark considering his next meal.

He gets control of himself a moment later. "Deal, Kira. You are community."

Whoa, what? I didn't even have to give them a pass or make him swear to me in words not even the trickiest seelie could wiggle out of.

He even said her name right. Should I be jealous?

My face hurts from all my grinning, which lets me know I really have lost my mind if two people bonding over being murdering psychopaths makes me feel this much hope.

"Well," Ree breaks in, sounding nauseous, but just as in charge as usual. "Is that all you needed to ask, Wroahk?"

"Yes."

Ree winces, then changes over to the growling, harsh tones of her cat-man. "This language is Manticorid, which is Thivoll's species. Drasuk is a drakonid. We'll pass on Wroahk's request later."

I glance back over at Drasuk and give him a big smile.

He doesn't return it, and my tentacles dip down a bit, but then I realize he doesn't really have lips.

"Greetings, Eli," he says. "Are you ready for us to swim across? I would like to return to killing hunters."

Another male with a one-track mind, it seems.

I switch back to Wroahk's language for a moment to let him know what Drasuk said, then answer the dragon man. "Hi. Yes, we can go now, but do you want us to hold some of that above the water?"

"That would be great, Eli," Ree responds, her smile making me feel warm inside.

That dissipates pretty quickly after having to yell at Wroahk for a few minutes until he agrees to be a pack-kraken.

I could swear he doesn't look mad, though. More like… excited?

Weird.

My good mood comes right back when Ree, Kira, and I share a knowing look as he grumbles and waves four different packs above his head as we all swim behind him.

Then we all start laughing and none of us can stop the entire way across.

It feels so good to be around people, especially women. There really is no substitute for being around people who share similar life experiences.

Plus, anyone would be a better conversationalist than Wroahk.

Drasuk looks around the clearing when we arrive, then he and Thivoll head out to set false trails and gather a few more items, Wroahk instantly agreeing to escort them, his tentacles almost dancing as they slip into the water.

I show Kira the way to the cave, my mouth endlessly droning on about all the edible plants, which rocks will create a spark, and a few dozen other things. When I take in a long, ragged breath, my lungs already starting to dry out, Ree interrupts me.

"You've been lonely, haven't you, Eli?" Ree asks, empathy heavy in her voice.

Tears spring to my eyes, and I blink them back, not able to afford the loss of liquid. "Yes. I really need people. It has been hard."

Both of them move in to embrace me and I revel in the feeling, but hiss out in pain when their scales shift against my rapidly drying skin.

Ree's eyes sharpen. "You don't look very good. What's wrong?"

"I got his skin, which means I can't leave the water for long."

"Let's get you into the pool in the cave, then," Ree says. "And check on Rannek to see if he's still having a Wroahk-induced panic attack."

My lips shouldn't quirk at her teasing tone, but they do. Now that some time has passed, the image of his wet, purple furred body flying through the air is kinda comical. I doubt he would agree, poor guy.

When we get to the cave, I'm shocked to see that Rannek has Amethyst raised off the ground onto a surprisingly attractive, though rough-hewn, table. Her body is covered in some sort of fabric made of woven reeds draped across the glass.

He's done nothing to make himself comfortable, but he made sure she was and she's not even conscious.

Okay, I definitely feel bad for making fun of him. That was incredibly thoughtful.

My throat shifts to speak his language. "You are amazing, Rannek. How did you make all this so fast?"

His fur ripples and he darts his eyes away. "I will be better equipped in a few days, but it will be fine for now. She deserves better than such hasty work."

Kira's eyebrows have disappeared under her brow plating, and all three of us share a look. If that table is hasty work, the male must make masterpieces.

Ree speaks up first. "She would love it, I am sure, Rannek."

He wipes his three-fingered hands down his fur, his three eyes blinking at the praise.

Oh my, we are going to have to find this cutie another woman, stat. A glance over to Ree and I can see she's thinking similar thoughts.

Kira has moved on to checking out every nook and cranny of the cave as I slip down into the water, a sigh of contentment leaving me as the itching goes away.

"How deep does that go and is there a way in from the lake to there?" Kira asks.

I'm not sure, so I go investigate. I assume Wroahk would have mentioned it, but then I remember that he's let me stumble into Many Teeth nests before.

He's still transitioning from being a solo hunter.

My heart's pounding as I swim down, but after careful checking, it seems there is only a small opening. It must lead to the lake because the water is flowing, but there's no way a predator can come in.

When I report my findings, Kira relaxes a bit, then moves to sit cross-legged facing the cave opening. "You haven't seen any threats on the island?"

"No, but I haven't explored the whole thing. There are these giant alligator things in the lake Wroahk calls Many Teeth, though. They are pretty horrific, and I almost died to one of them my first day here."

"And Wroahk can't exterminate them?"

I hadn't considered that. "Well, probably, but they are also part of what will keep us safe, plus Wroahk, of course. Unless you dump a bunch of blood in the water, or one of them starts hunting you, I think they'll leave us alone. Just don't… well I was going to say don't go into the deep water, but I guess you can't. Nevermind."

Ree speaks up again. "We could always build something out in the water to make sure they can't come up into the cove, plus along the shore edges. The cliffs make this naturally defensible."

Rannek's fur ripples, I assume in excitement. "I can build that. I'll start right away."

He starts to move out of the cave, but Kira holds up a hand. "No. You should wait until Wroahk is back so he can protect you."

His purple fur spikes out, nearly doubling his already massive size.

I come up out of the water and place a hand on his arm, soaking his fur. "He won't hurt you, I promise, but I'll be there with you the whole time, so you aren't scared."

"Alright."

"You can tell me all about your home and I'll tell you about mine. It'll be fun."

His fur settles back down, and I move back into the soothing water.

"Good," I say. "Now, on to more important matters. Such as how you two got tails, and I didn't."

They both laugh.

"Jealous much?" needles Kira.

"Shush," Ree tells her, but there is a similar wicked look on her face. "I'm not going to lie, I wasn't a fan of my new tail and venom at first, but it… grew on me."

She looks at us with a silly look on her face, and I can't help but laugh at her attempt to further lighten the mood.

"I'm a marine, Eli," Kira says while she rolls her eyes at Ree. "Do you know how many genali I would kill for your gills? It's fucking cool. Not to mention I'm pretty sure you could strangle all kinds of things to death with those tentacles."

I pull them forward and up out of the water where they were floating, constantly sending me information about the water I'm in.

They've gotten progressively longer and thicker, and I realize she's right. The ones on the top of my head are smaller and shorter, but the ones near the base of my skull are as thick as my arms and reach even farther.

I haven't been thinking of them as a weapon. I tell one to pick up one of the scrap pieces of wood Rannek left lying near the pool of water.

It's thick, well beyond what I could break with my hands. With just a thought, one of my bright yellow tentacles wraps around it, easily splitting it in half.

"Fuck yes, Eli," barks out Kira, a manic grin on her face.

It's weird. All of this is weird, but that sort of excitement and acceptance feels really damn good.