The Twisted Vine

by Alyce Caswell

  She never thought she would enjoy talking so much until she met him. And she never thought she would enjoy being silenced so much until he did it for her.

  Eventually the song wound down and Kuja escorted her over to the drinks table. He chose to sip some carowaol juice, but Fei was after something a little stronger. She knocked back a fruity concoction in one go and immediately tripped sideways, giggling.

  ‘That might be enough,’ Kuja said, catching her in his arms.

  She turned a grin up at him. ‘I was trying to relax. I’m scared. I think. Or I was. Just so you know, the alcohol is going to make me feel very warm down there in a second or two and we’re going to have to do something about it.’

  Kuja hesitated.

  ‘Kuja, don’t pretend you’re stalling because I’ve had a drink — it’d take more than one to lay me out, I promise.’ Fei pressed a finger to his lips. ‘It’s not that. No. You’re afraid this will mean more than it does.’

  ‘Can you read minds?’ he asked, frowning.

  ‘No, no — I just…I just know you,’ Fei said and moved her hand to his cheek. ‘And we both know this can’t be forever. But that doesn’t mean we can’t experience a little bit of happiness before we go our separate ways. I think we need this. And I also think that if we don’t go through with it, we’ll be too distracted for the rest of my trip to have any meaningful conversations about Bagara and I…’

  ‘Come with me,’ Kuja said, then led her away from the noise and the lights.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Kuja hooked an arm through Fei’s as they walked towards his hut, pleased that a woman so amazing had agreed to share his bed. She reminded him of a quivering leaf that was shielding the vibrant soil beneath it, where secrets lay in wait, ready to surprise him and make him more in awe of her.

  Fei stopped dead when he opened the door to his hut. ‘Kuja. Are you sure you want to do this?’

  Kuja nuzzled the side of her neck. ‘Very sure. I intend on seeing you satisfied. I won’t join in, since my limited experience has shown me that there’s too much going on in my mind for me to find release. So this will be completely about you.’

  She extracted herself from his embrace and danced towards his bed, green eyes gleaming. ‘Well, what woman could refuse that offer?’

  Kuja rushed to help her when she had trouble wrestling the tight dress over her head, but his efforts only caused her to overbalance. She laughed helplessly and fell back across the bed, him on top of her. Grinning, Kuja untangled her arms from the fabric so that he could roll the dress off her, then did away with the bra band. He stared down hungrily at her breasts as they fell to the sides, unhindered and beautiful.

  ‘Could you…’ Fei bit her lip. ‘Could you…could you kiss them?’

  Kuja brushed his palm over her cheek then moved down her body. Each nipple sprang to life beneath his eager lips and she sighed with pleasure, stretching her arms over her head, a smile cascading over her face. Kuja drew as much of one breast as he could into his mouth, suckling gently, his tongue dancing over her slick skin. She made enthusiastic sounds, her hips rising off the bed, only to grunt in disappointment when he detached himself from her skin. But then he had her moaning and writhing again when his open-mouthed kisses found her other breast.

  After a couple of minutes, Kuja sat up, grimacing.

  ‘Something wrong?’ Fei asked, an uncertain frown appearing.

  He looked down at the tent his member was forming in his pants. ‘I appear to be getting hard. Don’t worry. It should go down. It always does.’

  ‘Oh.’ Fei blinked. ‘You weren’t kidding about this being completely about me.’

  ‘No, I wasn’t,’ Kuja said softly.

  ‘Don’t let me stop you.’

  He played with her magnificent breasts a little more before answering her unspoken request by skirting his fingers along her thighs, raising goosebumps as he went. Her underwear he slid off slowly, his lips following the fabric down one leg to her ankle. He threw the item of clothing haphazardly across the room, drawing another laugh from her, then spread her knees and exposed her to his gaze. When he began to tease the edges of her labia, she reached down to guide him, impatient, but he seized her wrist and pinned it at her side.

  Using his other hand, Kuja pressed one finger to her clitoris and began a circling motion, light and teasing. When her breathing quickened, he swiftly dipped into her wet heat and then withdrew, lathering her folds with her own moisture.

  ‘Oh, oh…’ she moaned. ‘How do you…how do you know what I like…’

  Kuja firmed his touch and she bucked, her lips parting, her wrist wrenching around inside his grip and her thighs shaking beneath him. Fei’s expression became transported and his name escaped her lips as the orgasm claimed her. He drew out her pleasure, continuing to wind his touch around her sensitive nub until finally she gasped, ‘Stop!’

  It took several minutes for Fei’s eyes to lose their glazed look. When she refocused on him, she grinned. ‘Kuja! You’re blushing.’

  ‘I can’t help it,’ he said defensively, lying down on the bed beside her. He saw Fei’s gaze travel down to his pants, which felt like they were about to split apart.

  She raised her eyebrows.

  ‘I’m sure it will go down, it’s supposed to go down,’ Kuja fretted, patting his crotch.

  Fei rested her hands on her abdomen, giggling at him. Unable to help the smile, Kuja abandoned his futile attempt to control his desire and instead chose to wait it out by embracing her. A strange heat smothered his heart as Fei snuggled into him.

  ‘The Creator God doesn’t deserve you,’ he murmured.

  ‘And Bagara does?’ she asked.

  Kuja hoped he didn’t look as serious as he felt. ‘Yes. Because he will only bring happiness to you.’

  ‘I only want the happiness you can bring me, Kuja,’ Fei whispered, closing her eyes.

  When her face slackened and her breathing deepened, Kuja rose from the bed and went to the window. Across the galaxy, people were speaking Bagara’s name, waiting for him to come to them, to guide them. Their demands on his time were stacking up into a great, seething pile that was swiftly growing more unsteady and threatening to topple. He couldn’t let that happen. He had to leave. Now.

  Casting a quick eye at Fei to make sure she was asleep, Kuja flattened himself into a puddle of leaves and soil which then vanished, leaving no trace of his human form. He divided his presence into countless fragments and sent them across the surface of multiple planets in under a microsecond. He could hear them all — old followers, needing reassurance that these changes would not alter their relationship with Bagara too greatly; new followers, wanting to know his measure; undecided souls with burning questions trapped beneath their ribs, fearful of the judgement of their peers.

  And then there were the urgent prayers, from those who were in immediate danger. Kuja went to them, as he always did, but now instead of simply dealing with the problem and leaving without a word, he took his time. On one world, he kept a significant but still invisible part of himself beside a man while a rescue party was being assembled for him.

  The man had begged him to stay. And so Kuja did, for one moment and then another. The man spoke of his life, his goals, his failures, and then asked that Bagara keep watching out for him, because a footographer’s life was a lonely one, always wandering the stars in search of that perfect image, that perfect angle. The thought of having someone out there, someone who cared if he lived or died, would be a great comfort to him.

  ‘This fall I took has really rattled my confidence,’ the man admitted. ‘Not that I had much to start with. Plenty of people say I’m mad for being a footographer. But I love it too much to quit.’ He hesitated, his teeth gnawing into his lip, helping him deal with the pain. ‘This…this feels weird, because I feel like I should have done something to deserve your help.’

  Deserve? Kuja tempered his anger; it had no place here. No. I gave you my protection b
ecause you pass through my worlds and I would keep all people in the galaxy safe if I could.

  ‘Isn’t that going to take up all your time, looking after everyone?’ the man asked.

  If everyone turns out as pleasant as you, I don’t mind.

  ‘Oh, you’re going to change your mind real fast, Bagara.’

  It’s a good thing I helped you before speaking to anyone else then, Kuja returned.

  They shared a chuckle. Soon a ship was descending from the sky, coming to bear the man to safety. Kuja watched him go, then focused on the other parts of himself that were flying into dangerous situations or creeping in when more caution was needed.

  Kuja felt wired, ready to take on the entire galaxy’s problems if need be. And he might have to, he realised. He had opened his arms to everyone — and they were all flooding into his embrace. Many of them were victims of GLEA, an agency that had prioritised money and expansion over the physical and mental needs of vulnerable beings.

  Father has a lot to answer for, Kuja thought. And so do his Chippers.

  The next voice that called for him was surprisingly familiar. ‘Bagara? You there? Don’t want to waste my time if you’re not actually listening.’

  Kuja returned to Bagaran, filling the shelter belonging to Gerns with his presence and appreciating, not the first time, that the Jezlo had chosen to use bare earth as the floor of her home.

  Standing beside one of her trays of plants, her entire body trembling, Gerns spoke again. ‘I’d like you to be listening. I consider myself one of them casualties you were talking about and I’m a big fan of plants and things, so I figure I have a better than even chance of attracting your attention.’

  I am listening, Kuja assured her. And it would not matter to me, if you didn’t like ‘plants and things’.

  Gerns froze, her tentacles resembling the branches of a petrified tree. ‘Well, just saying.’

  What can I help you with, Gerns? he asked.

  ‘I want to help you, actually,’ Gerns said, swinging her gaze around the room, as though she could see him if she peered long and hard enough.

  You do not owe me anything; even if you do not worship me, you will always be under my protection.

  Gerns released a series of clucks. ‘You don’t get us mortals at all, do you?’

  I have seen the sense of obligation destroy people.

  ‘Nah, it’s not obligation.’ One of Gerns’ tentacles danced over the glistening fronds beside her. ‘It’s called working together. Common goal and all that. You want to help people, I want to help people. You might think you can do everything, because you’re a god, but you still need instruments. Any good scientist needs her tools.’

  Kuja allowed amusement to infuse his words. You would know this better than most. What can you do for me?

  ‘Not entirely sure yet,’ Gerns answered. ‘Now me, I got nothing but time and nothing to do with it now that I’ve quit my job. When you find something that fits, let me know.’

  I will.

  Kuja only left once Gerns had safely wobbled into her bed. There were countless worlds to visit and innumerous conversations to have — all before dawn swept into the village. He intended to be there when Fei woke up, to watch the smile spread over her features, to speak to her not as a god to a mortal, but as a man to a woman.

  Bagara? another voice called.

  Kuja immediately followed the thread back to its source, surprised to find himself within Bagath’s wooden walls, tantalisingly close to where Fei was sleeping, her naked body free of the sheets. Kuja wasn’t sure if he was annoyed or pleased that his plants had distracted him with this image, however briefly.

  Inesh, he greeted, keeping his tone solemn.

  ‘Bagara,’ Inesh returned, seated cross-legged on the floor of his hut. His words were slurred from the alcohol he had consumed, but his mind felt clear and determined. ‘You accepting that TerraCorp scum now, are you?’

  I will not abandon the people I have promised to help just because you do not like it.

  Inesh’s face creased. ‘Don’t expect you to. Just saying…I can’t accept it right now, but I want to. I do. So I guess…help me do that. If you can.’

  Kuja gauged the truth in Inesh’s words. The man would never apologise for what he had done, but here was a chance for Inesh to move past his old ways.

  If I wish to create plants or animals or anything else in my domain, even I must obey the laws of science, Kuja told his follower.

  ‘Look, I don’t really care about all that,’ Inesh said with a dismissive wave of his hand. ‘You’re telling me that those scientists and any other newcomers are just as worthy as me in your eyes. It’s not fair.’

  Kuja was tempted to retake human form just to display the grimace he was feeling. He still wasn’t entirely sure how to deal with Inesh, but he had to come up with something to placate the man — and fast. As a god, Bagara was supposed to have all the answers. Think of it this way. If I accept these newcomers, then that means there will be more people following me — and fewer people for you to fight and get annoyed at. You could channel your energy into something more worthwhile.

  Inesh deflated. ‘I guess. I’ll have to think about it.’

  Please do.

  Kuja scrubbed his presence from Bagaran after this, trying to resist the urge to watch a drop of sweat that was apparently wending its way down between Fei’s breasts.

  He really needed to have a stern word with the plants in his hut.

  • • •

  Fei jolted awake then fell back against the bed, groaning. She’d been gripped by an erotic dream in which Kuja had tied vines around her wrists, binding her to the bed so that he could walk his fingers all over her. The ensuing burst of pleasure beneath her abdomen had been wonderful — until she had woken up, alone and in need of attention. But that wasn’t all she wanted from Kuja. She wanted more, so much more.

  ‘You’ve had your fun,’ she told herself. ‘Just be happy with that and stop thinking about what you can’t have.’

  Shaking her head, Fei pulled on the mud-smeared dress she’d worn the night before and glanced around. Kuja was nowhere in sight. She stood still for several seconds, trying to decide if she needed to cry or if she just wanted to.

  ‘It’s not fair!’ she exclaimed and stomped her bare foot onto the earth-packed floor.

  ‘What’s not fair?’ Kuja asked as he walked out of the tiny kitchen that was divided from his bedroom by a single board of wood. Balanced in his hands was a metal tray containing a small bunch of purple flowers, an array of fruit and a tiny metal teapot with two matching cups.

  Fei smothered her face with her hands, equal parts delighted and mortified. ‘You remembered that I like tea instead of coffein.’

  Kuja set the tray on the bed and walked over to the window, where a vine was hanging over the sill. He gently nudged it outside then turned back to her. ‘Fei, I don’t, erm, usually do what I did last night.’ His expression grew as dark as the storms that sometimes claimed the village. ‘I’ve got good reasons not to.’

  ‘Oh.’ Fei looked down at the tray, then up at him again. ‘I’m sorry?’

  He grinned and swooped over to her, the shadows fleeing his eyes. Wrapping his arms around her and pulling her flush against his chest, he said, ‘Don’t be sorry. I had more fun last night than I’ve had in…well, years. Are you hungry?’

  Fei licked her lips. ‘Yes. For many things.’

  Kuja raised one copper eyebrow, smirking, and threw her back onto the bed, alarmingly close to the tray. She shrieked with laughter as he bore her down, his lips whispering over her skin, then began to gasp and groan as his sure tongue and firm fingers played her to completion yet again. She was glad he hadn’t bothered to make her a hot breakfast because they were able to enjoy it later, lying side by side while a breeze drifted in through the window.

  The tea, however, needed rescuing.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Sipping a cup of tea that Kuja had lef
t out for her, Fei read BozzMed’s latest message on the Webchat feed for the third time in as many minutes. I am currently researching this latest rainforest god resurgence. Anyone witness the speech Bagara gave to his people?

  Fei ran her finger over the text displayed on her techpad. It had been some days since she had bothered to check the Web and many more since she had thought about BozzMed and the answers he could give her. This time she was the one with the answers. There was a certain thrill that came with that.

  She typed three small words: I was there.

  CC, where have you been? BozzMed asked. Hope those questions of yours didn’t get you into any trouble.

  Fei’s heart hammered across several ribs. She closed her eyes, shutting out the faint shimmer of pink hair in her peripheral vision, and tried to even out her breathing by thinking of Kuja and his frequent kisses. His mouth tasted like freshwater. She could only imagine what he tasted like elsewhere and she intended to find out — when he managed not to distract her with his confident touch. He seemed reluctant to see to his own needs.

  Clearing her throat, Fei held her techpad up in front of her face, forcing herself to focus on the small screen of her device. I did get in trouble, BozzMed. I nearly lost my job.

  I’m sorry to hear that, BozzMed replied. You should have become a mediaist, like me. I get paid to ask questions.

  You’re a mediaist? Fei asked, startled.

  The profession was a lucrative one, given that mediaists with particularly large viewerships could charge outrageous fees if a company wanted a shout-out during a Webcast. And the best mediaists didn’t just ask questions — they poked around until they found the answers they wanted. Having exclusive content was the best way to gather viewers and sponsors, after all. Mediaists might be motivated by coin-chips but Fei was more likely to trust them than GLEA, whose leaders were not so transparent about where their money came from.

  Yes, BozzMed said. It was impossible to tell from that one word if he was proud of what he did. So I’m sure you’ll understand if I ask you what exactly went on at this event. The impression I got is that everyone’s supposed to spread the word.