The moment the lid on the box opened, I felt something mechanical activate inside.
The bottom sprung up, and the grayish powder sitting inside was laughed up.
Directly into my face.
I reeled back, coughing as it got into my nose and mouth.
Ugh, it got in my eyes too.
I rubbed them and they watered.
I did my best to glare at Macaque as everyone but Wukong started laughing.
Wukong grabbed onto me and helped wipe the dust off my face.
He gave Macaque a withering glare.
“It doesn’t seem you know what kind of gifts are appropriate for a new couple.” Macaque waved him down.
“It’s fine brother!
Remember, I said it’s a gift for both of you.
Give it some time to work.” “Time to work?” Wukong asked.
I think.
I didn’t have anything to drink right?
But I felt so woozy.
And hot.
“Wukong?
I don’t feel good.” Macaque chuckled.
“Well, the man said it worked fast and it seems he was right.” “Macaque, what the hell did you do to my wife?” Wukong was even more pissed, reaching out to help steady me.
“Relax, it’s just something to make her obedient.
She should be a lot more responsive in bed tonight.” Wukong stiffened up at his words.
He jerked up from the table, knocking it back.
“You gave her a fucking aphrodisiac!?” He whirled on Macaque, well and truly pissed.
Macaque put his hands up.
“Whoa now, it’s just a joke brother.
Besides, I figured you’d appreciate this kind of gift.
She probably hasn’t been much fun since you got her right?
This will help break her in.
Right guys?” He looked around the table to the others who nodded in agreement, except for the Bull Demon King.
He pushed back from the table, eyeing Wukong warily.
He looked angry.
Angrier than I’ve seen him.
He breathed in deep, his words short, clipped.
Restrained.
“Out.
Everyone.
Now.” “Wukong, it’s—” Wukong cut Macaque off.
“It is not fine!
Now you all need to leave so I can take care of my drugged wife.
Banquet’s over, all of you, get out!” His staff was suddenly in his hands, and he slammed it into the table.
It cracked in half, and fell into the middle, all the wine and food tumbling off.
They all had to yank back from the table to keep from getting crushed.
About four of them wasted no time, rushing for the exit.
Macaque tsked, and reluctantly turned towards the exit, heading out without sparing another glance at me.
Only Bull Demon King lingered behind, watching them leave before turning back to Wukong.
“Please forgive him.
None of them understands a wife is different from other women.
I’ll talk to Macaque.” He turned and left, all of them finally gone.
“Oh, yeah, because the problem is that she’s my wife.” Wukong sighed and rubbed his forehead.
He turned back towards me, kneeling down and steadying me again.
“Yue, how do you feel?” “I’m so hot.” I was beginning to slur my words together.
I felt so hot.
This stupid dress.
I tugged at it, but Wukong quickly grabbed it to stop.
“Whoa there!
Let’s keep our clothes on.
Damn, he really fucked you up.
Can you stand?” “Theoretically?” I continued staring up at him, swaying.
He waited a moment, then sighed.
“Let me rephrase that.
Can you try and stand up?” Hmm.
I tried to put some strength in my legs.
Nope.
I shook my head.
“Of course you can’t.
Fucking Macaque!
The next time I see him…” His staff was back, and he growled as he slammed it into the table again.
I gasped, fear coursing through me at the sudden movement and loud noise.
I withdrew from him, hugging myself, hunching over and turning away.
He realized he scared me, and his staff vanished again as he brought the hand holding it up to his ear.
“I’m sorry Yue, I’m not angry at you.” I sniffed, on the verge of tears.
“You’re scary.
You’re scaring me.” A devastated look crossed his face.
“I’m so sorry Yue, I promise I won’t scare you again.” “I want to go back home.
I miss everyone.” My family flashed through my mind.
He swallowed.
“I know Yue.” He glanced back down at my legs.
“Yue, I need to take you back to your room.
Do I have permission to touch you?” I turned away from him.
“No!
You promised!” He groaned.
“I assure you, I’ll only be touching you for locomotion purposes.
Once I get you to your room and into bed, I’ll happily not touch you for the rest of the night.” I sniffed.
I felt awful.
“You promised.
You can’t hurt me.” “I’m not going to hurt you.
And I won’t touch you without permission.
But how do you suggest I get you to your room?” “Ummm.” I didn’t want him to touch me, but maybe it was okay if I touched him.
“Turn around.” “Okaaaaay.” He turned around.
I reached up towards his shoulders, but he was too tall.
“Sit down.” He sat and I was finally able to reach.
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
My legs refused to move, but Wukong got the idea.
He picked up my legs and stood up.
Good.
Now I was touching him, but he wasn’t touching me.
Except my legs.
But I couldn’t move my legs, so it was fine.
“This will work.
Hang on.” He walked out of the dining room and down the hallway, towards my room.
The entire world swayed.
I felt queasy.
I closed my eyes and nuzzled into Wukong’s neck.
This wasn’t as bad.
The world wasn’t spinning anymore.
We reached my room.
I could tell because Wukong opened and closed a door.
“Okay, it’s time to get off.
Your bed’s right here.” No.
His fur felt so soft and warm.
“Um, Yue?
Did you fall asleep?
It’s time to get off.” He poked me in the side.
“Nooooooooo.
You smell good.” “Oh, hell no.” Wukong grabbed my arms and gently took me off his back and set me down on the bed.
He laid me down on the pillow and pulled a blanket over me.
“There.
I’m not touching you for the rest of the night.
Gods know you’re going to be furious enough in the morning.” Ugh, I was so hot under this blanket.
And in my dress.
I grabbed my necklace and stored my dress back inside.
Still too hot.
I began kicking my blanket off, making Wukong’s eyes go wide.
“Nope!” He grabbed the blanket and tucked me in tightly.
“Nopity, nope, nope, nope.” “Ugh!
You’re so mean!” “Something tells me you’ll appreciate it when you sleep this drug off.” “I feel weird Wukong.
I’m so hot.” “I know, and I’m sorry.
They were… a lot worse than I thought they’d be.” He sighed.
“But I told you I won’t let anything bad happen to you and nothing will.
I’ll stay until you’re better.” “I’m scared.” I stared up at the dark ceiling, unable to move.
Dread began creeping in at the edges of my mind.
“I know, I’ll keep you safe.” “I’m scared of you.” Silence.
Then a sigh.
“I know.
I know I can never make things right with you.
I just fucked up too badly.
I’m still fucking up.” “I want to go home.” Tears began slipping down my face.
“I miss everyone.
Dad, my sister, my friend Luvouse.
I’ll never see them again.” “I know.
I took you away from them.
From your family.” “No Wukong, they’re all gone.
They’re all dead.
I’m the only one who made it out.
I escaped to the in-between.” His face was suddenly back.
I flinched away from it.
“What?
Wait, say that again.” “It got them all.
It feasted on my world.” The sickening memories filled my head.
White spores hacked up with every cough.
Tiny white fibers that covered the dead.
So many nightmares.
“Whoa, whoa, stay with me, so you’re saying I didn’t steal everything you loved away from you?
C’mon, this is important.” I began crying again.
“You’re scary Wukong, you’re scaring me.” His face was close to mine, his eyes focused on me.
He flinched at my words and took a step back.
“Fuck, what am I doing… We’re going to talk about this later.” “It killed them.
It got them.
I’m the only one left.” I began thrashing against the confines of the blanket.
Burning, I was burning alive.
Maybe I could join them, join my family, but she never let me.
Lady Ethereal never let me.
“Uh, hey it’s okay.
You’re safe here.
I won’t let anything bad happen to you.” “It took so long.
They spent weeks dying.
They became so quiet.
They could barely move at the end.” It was all so vivid.
It was like I was reliving my final days in my world all over again.
“It covered everything.
There were no more trees.
No more shade.
It blotted out Lunus.” I began shaking.
“Whoa, whoa!
Hey, stay with me!
Yue!” Hands, trying to still me.
She was back, stopping me like always.
Why did she always stop me?
“Stop Lady Ethereal!
Let me go back!
I don’t care if I’ll die!
Let me be with my family!” The hands stilled.
“Yue?” “Chi Devourer, Chi Devourer, Chi Devourer,” I continued reciting its name.
A talisman, a curse.
Both, a memory that would never leave me, never fade.
“This is not a fucking aphrodisiac.
C’mon Yue, snap out of it!
Gah, I’m sorry about this but you might hurt yourself at this rate.” Shifting.
I was being lifted up.
Cradled.
A new smell, someone else.
“Shhhh.
It’s okay Yue.
Everything is okay, please calm down.” I blinked rapidly, and took some deep breaths.
Someone was here.
Someone warm, unlike the cold metal of Lady Ethereal.
They patted me, comforting me in the way she never did.
Never could.
Dad?
Luka?
Luvouse?
It didn’t matter.
I wasn’t alone.
I closed my eyes after one last shuddering breath.
I was so tired.
So tired of just surviving.
Living on nutrient paste, rarely talking to an organic being like me.
I wanted to go back home.
Maybe I could rest.
Just for a little while.