Made to Love

by DL Kopp

  I put a hand over his lips. “I know. Let's go home.”

  He brushed my hand away and lowered his mouth to mine.

  It felt, oddly, like I was already home.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  The trip back was a lot less eventful than the trip away.

  Rich had a car waiting nearby. I had to say, I was a little disappointed. I wanted to ride him all the way back, but I conceded mentally that he was conspicuous in unicorn form.

  Besides, a silver BMW with a leather interior? Probably more comfortable.

  The landscape whizzed by us, and I went through all the climate zones I'd hit in several weeks' time in just hours. Of course, it would take a couple of days to return to Oregon, but it was still considerably faster than I'd been traveling. It almost made my head spin.

  We pulled up to a Holiday Inn the first night we stopped. It had been so long since I'd used indoor plumbing that it was beyond a luxury; it was downright odd. But efficiency hadn't left me; I showered within a few minutes and found Rich stretched onto the bed.

  The only bed in the room.

  “I guess I'll be taking the floor,” I said, grabbing for a pillow.

  He laughed. “Are you nuts? After what we shared?”

  I flushed. “This is different. It's...a bed.”

  “What if I promised not to lay a finger on you?”

  “No!” I cried. “That's even worse!”

  “So...you want two beds, but you want me to touch you.” He rolled his eyes. “I'll sleep on the floor.”

  “It's okay, I've been sleeping--”

  “Look, I can do it comfortably.”

  He stepped off the bed and slipped off his shirt. I reveled in the sight of his chiseled torso, then watched as he changed into a unicorn again. I had to laugh; the room was a lot more cramped with a full-sized horse-like creature inside.

  But soon, he folded his legs under him, and he sat on the ground like he was born to do it. Which, when it came to it, it seemed he was.

  “Are you honestly comfortable like that?” I asked.

  He tossed his head in what seemed like a yes.

  “What if someone comes in? What if you have to use the bathroom?”

  He whinnied quietly in what sounded like a laugh, and I reluctantly smiled. Of course, it was probably a small thing for him to change back. I'd just forgotten.

  “Never mind, I'm shutting up,” I said around a yawn. “I'll go to sleep.”

  I climbed into bed and closed my eyes. I felt human lips against my cheek.

  “Sleep well,” Rich whispered in my ear.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  My mom greeted me by collapsing on top of me and sobbing. My dad was rigid behind her, his arms folded, his face drawn into a stern mask. When my mom finally released me and I could breathe again, his mask cracked, and he too fell on me.

  “I am so sorry you felt you had to leave!” he wept. “We will never lock you in your room again!”

  I patted his back awkwardly. “That’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

  Dad stepped back and took Rich’s hand, giving it a hearty shake. “Thank you so much for finding our daughter where the police could not,” he said.

  “It’s no problem, sir,” Rich said. Even as a human, he was dazzling. I could have stared at him for years.

  My mom leaned in close and whispered, “This one’s much better than the other one.” Meaning Octavius, of course.

  “I agree completely,” I said, although I wasn’t really sure. Now that I was back home amongst the oppressive sound of the ocean, the drafty stone walls, the moist lawns and orchard, I kind of wanted to see him again. I missed what we had shared, if not the lies.

  But he didn’t come to see me immediately, and Rich left me to my parents before long, and so life returned to what I knew as normal in Coos Bay.

  I completely missed that I had turned eighteen during my flight back to Georgia, so the first order of business – aside from making up with my teachers and trying to make sure I could graduate – was apparently a huge birthday bash. Rita was thrilled to see me back, even if Jana was so upset by it that she all but projectile vomited across the cafeteria, and insisted that we had to have a massive bash.

  “I don’t know about that,” I said, poking at my breakfast pizza with a plastic fork. Rich’s arm around my shoulders was warm and totally comfortable while I was trying to not eat. “I don’t know if I’m ready to fling myself back into the social grind just yet.”

  “How can you not be?” Rita shrilled. “I mean, if anything, you’ve only gotten more beautiful and popular since you left!”

  It was true. I hadn’t seen any hint of the Queen thing Rich had told me about, but people seemed to like me even more. Strangers hurried to hold my umbrella when I was walking down the street. I probably just looked like a wet rat or something and they just couldn’t bear to look at me.

  “I don’t know…”

  The door to the cafeteria swung open, and it was like the world shifted into slow motion as Octavius entered.

  He stood by the door and stared at me. I stared back at him, helpless to his beauty. If I had grown more beautiful, then he had grown even way more beautiful. His skin was glistening, his hair even straighter, his lips even fuller. Snug leather pants hugged his hips.

  And he looked at me with total revulsion. Hate.

  “Octavius,” I whispered.

  With a ragged sob, I fled the cafeteria, so fast that even Rich couldn’t follow me.

  What had I done? Hadn’t Octavius just been lying to protect me? I still loved him so much, and I wanted nothing more than to let him wrap his arms around me and smell the seaweed scent of his sweat.

  I ran for the bathroom. Even through my tears, I was mildly surprised that I didn't make for the exit, but I had the feeling that I didn't need to. Actual escape, after all, had proven useless. I was barely even aware of the people in the halls, or how they grew fewer in number as I approached the furthest girls' bathroom from the cafeteria.

  As the door came into view, there was only one figure in the hall. And that figure was in front of the door.

  “Calliope,” Octavius said as I stopped in front of him, his voice as beautiful as ever. “What are you doing?”

  I answered him with tears. To my surprise, he pulled me into his arms, and I marveled through my cries at how well I fit there.

  “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I did something I shouldn’t have…”

  He sighed. “I know all about that, dear. I meant, what are you doing here?”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. He couldn't see them, pressed to his chest as I was, but I just couldn't bear the thought of however he was looking at me. Cruelty would kill me, but kindness? Kindness was even more deadly.

  “School?” I said in a muffled voice, confused.

  “At the bathroom.”

  “I...”

  Octavius took my arms and pushed me away. I felt the cold chill of death touch my insides. He slid up the sleeve on my left arm, and I knew without looking that his eyes took in every healed indentation and raised scar.

  “You don't seem to know it,” he said in a whisper, “but I know for what purpose you came to this bathroom. Why didn't you trust me?”

  “I don't trust myself,” I choked out.

  He laid his lips lightly on my wrist, and I shivered. He looked at me, showing me the heat in his gaze purposely, and drew back.

  “You will never cut yourself again,” he said firmly. “Never, you hear?”

  All I could was nod. I never could resist his power. “But...”

  “But?”

  I turned my head and looked at the ground. “Me, and Rich...”

  Octavius hugged me tight, mashing his face against the top of my head. “It’s not all lost. You’re not Queen yet and you don’t have a King. We can still be together.”

  “But I… I…”

  “You can’t just mate and have him be your King. There’s a ritual.”

&
nbsp; I gazed up at him, nearly blind through my tears. “Really?”

  “Really,” he said, and he kissed me passionately.

  When I came up for air, I said, “I want to do the ritual with you.”

  “You don’t know what it entails,” Octavius said. “You could end up… bearing my young.”

  “I don’t care,” I said, “I want to do it.”

  “No. Not now. You don’t deserve to birth a siren.” He gazed into the distance. “We’re monsters.” Then he smiled down at me. “You might have forgotten, but it’s coming up in a few weeks. Will you go to prom with me?”

  I gasped. “Yes! Of course!”

  We kissed, and I forgot about Rich. Life was okay again. I had Octavius. I didn’t care about Rich or Byron.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Unfortunately, both Rich and Byron still cared about me.

  I saw Rich's face when I returned to school the next day, complete with Octavius's arm around my shoulder. Pain, hurt...and love. He replaced it all quickly with his most winning smile, but I could tell he was miserable.

  He came up to us, but he spoke only to me. “Calliope,” he said. “Where'd you go yesterday?”

  I pat Octavius's hand. “He wanted to apologize for treating me the way he did. It was just so sweet, I couldn't say no.”

  “What if I said I was sorry?” Rich asked.

  “For what?”

  He shrugged. “Did I do something wrong?”

  I pat his arm. “Of course not. I just think me and Octavius were meant to be.”

  “Uh-huh,” he said. He didn't believe me. I wondered why.

  He looked over my head at Octavius. “You haven't heard the end of this, siren,” he muttered.

  “I'll take you any time, horse,” Octavius replied. His voice sounded bright and cheerful.

  A huge grin spread on Rich's face. “Just name the time and place.”

  To my surprise, Octavius stepped in front of me and pushed me behind him. “How about the shore, after school's over?”

  “Sounds good,” Rich cried. “You want a crowd, or should I kick your ass in private?”

  “I don't need an audience,” Octavius replied.

  “Neither do I.”

  “Guys!” I yelled. “Stop it! Don't fight over me, it's not worth it!”

  They ignored me.

  Rich stepped away. “Get ready to die, siren.”

  “My name,” he replied, “is Octavius. Horse.”

  “I'm a unicorn,” Rich hissed, then flounced away.

  I clutched Octavius's arm. “Don't fight him! He'll kill you!”

  “Or I'll kill him,” Octavius said brightly.

  I sniffled. “I may not love him like I love you, but I couldn't stand it if you killed him.”

  “You'd find a way,” Octavius said.

  “Please,” I cried. “I can't lose you both!”

  He kissed the top of my head. “You won't. Now, let's go to class.”

  My three classes and lunch were agony that day. I considered ditching, since all my teachers said I was fine and my homework was done, but I needed the distraction and the closeness of Octavius. I could probably convince Octavius to leave school with me that day, but it would be all too easy for him to sneak to the beach.

  I felt like I was going to throw up by the end of the day, but I held my scant lunch down. Octavius couldn't leave me.

  I thought I'd have more time to convince him not to go, but as we started to leave the school, Rich Coos reappeared.

  “Ready to die?” he asked.

  “I was just about to ask you the same thing,” Octavius shot back.

  I clutched his leather jacket. “You have to take me to prom, remember? I'd just die if you got hurt!”

  Rich's eyes flicked to me, and I saw a crease over his forehead. Apparently, someone did care about what I thought. Why wouldn't Octavius listen to me?

  “I will fight to the death to keep her safe,” Rich said, and I felt a tingle run across my skin. “She isn't safe with you.”

  “I have fought to keep her safe,” Octavius yelled, and I remembered the feel of the tentacles and suckers on my skin. Ugh, what a memory. “Both our lives were on the line. What have you done?”

  “I found her, when you were too scared to even leave the town!”

  “I can't leave, and you know it!”

  “Guys! Stop!”

  Again, they ignored me.

  Octavius stepped so close to Rich that their noses were almost touching. “I will end you.”

  “No, I'll end--”

  I pushed between them and pushed them apart, although I was now crying so hard that I could barely see. “I will leave,” I said. “I will leave, and damn the consequences! Things are spiraling out of control, and I need you two to help me!”

  They looked completely and utterly gobsmacked.

  I fell to my knees and wept. I wept for all the days I was away and missed Octavius, and Byron. I wept for my destiny, and whatever it was. I wept for the possibility of prom slipping away from me when it meant so much.

  Lips kissed the top of my head, and I smelled the musky, masculine scent of Rich. He stroked my hair, then broke contact.

  “Truce for now,” Rich said. “But we will finish this later. Take her home.”

  I watched his feet move away from me, and I hugged Octavius's leg. I was so tired, tired of life, tired of problems, and tired of everything around me.

  Octavius picked me up like I was a baby and kissed me like I was a woman. Which I was. I could feel it in every cell of my skin, my femininity.

  He broke off, and sighed. “I don't want to cause you pain. I love you. But I will not lose you.”

  I clutched at his shirt and sobbed. He carried me out.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  I took the opportunity that night to make my first visit to Byron in over a month.

  Waiting until my parents were deeply asleep, I took the secret passage down from my room to the back hallway. My parents had found the extra key in my bedroom and taken it back while I was gone, but I had also learned how to pick locks while out riding through the country. It was a useful skill, and as it turned out, I was pretty good at it.

  Moments later, I was heading into the familiar lab, winding my way through the shelves of beakers and refrigerated samples. Byron was sleeping on his table, arms strapped down as usual.

  I woke him up by flipping the lever to open the straps, and he opened his eyes. Byron was relieved to see me, jumping off of the table and wrapping me in his arms. He still smelled a little like decay and chemicals.

  “Calliope,” he breathed. “I heard you had returned, but… but I hadn’t let myself hope. I’m so happy to see you.”

  I let him hug me, keeping my arms wrapped tight around his neck. “I’m sorry I left without finishing you,” I said. “Has Father returned yet?”

  “No. But he’s supposed to soon—within the next couple of days,” Byron said.

  “Darn. I don’t know if I can finish you before then. There isn’t much left to do, but we never did get the last parts…”

  He grew excited. “Your parents went to Portland to obtain the remaining pieces.”

  Byron led me to a storage area with several refrigerators and opened one, pulling out a large, air-tight container. Byron set it on a work table, and I opened it.

  I immediately shut it again.

  “Yeah,” I said. “That’s definitely your missing… pelvis.”

  “So can you finish me tonight?” he asked, his eyes glowing with excitement.

  His mood was infectious. “I can definitely try.”

  He carried the bin for me back to his little living area and stripped off his Tidy Whities, laying down on the table. For the first time, I took a good look at what he had going on in his pelvis area.

  It was actually not that bad. It was like a hole in his body, connected only by spine and metal joiners, with a few modular servos that were obviously meant to be removed so the
cadaver pelvis could be basically snapped in.

  I pulled on a lab coat, closing the flaps around my body.

  “When I disconnect all this, you’re going to temporarily lose the ability to move everything below the waist,” I said, flipping through some of the notes Father had left behind. “It shouldn’t take me more than a couple hours to put you back together, though.”

  “Wonderful,” Byron said. “Then you can power me, at long last, and I’ll be free of my drugs and can live an independent life.”

  I began disconnecting servo motors and the hydraulics, then paused to snap on gloves and a pair of goggles. “This might be a little messy,” I warned him.

  “I don’t care. Whatever it takes.”

  “Great.”

  I pulled the cadaver pelvis out of the bin and set it on the table next to him. It was already conveniently in two parts, which would allow me to assemble it, and then sew him shut with as much ease as snapping a Ken doll back together.

  Despite my best efforts, I had to eye the new equipment he was getting installed. It put even Rich to shame. Obviously, the parts had been selected with exactly that in mind.

  I shifted his lower intestine out of the way – it was in a protective sac that I would have to remove to finish assembling him – and lifted Byron’s lower body enough to slip the bottom hemisphere of his pelvis into place before settling him back down. His tailbone squished as it settled between the buttocks, dark purple from being frozen and over-saturated with blood.

  Some work had to be done to connect the vessels and nerves to the rest of the body, so I worked slowly, meticulously, with an overhead light and magnifying glass. “You know, Byron,” I said hesitantly. “I don’t think I should be the one to power you.”

  “Why?” he asked.

  I didn’t want to explain to him that I had already bequeathed my flower to Rich, so I just said, “Octavius wouldn’t like it.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He’ll have to get past it.”

  It was hard to adjust the hip bones into the proper positions. I had to really put some elbow into it. After a moment, the left clicked into place, and a little fluid spurted out from behind it. Things fit into his pelvis pretty snugly. I had to make sure to get everything in just the right positions.