Part one of my first hetero romantasy series.
Mason Jones whimpered in his sleep and his fingers gripped the grey weighted blanket with white knuckles, he moaned. “No, no no” the dream was the same as always. No faces, only vague outlines of his family in stark relief against the bright red orange of flames, his big body jerked, and he called, “Mom? Mama? Mama run Mama-” sobbing he tore himself out of the dream, crying into the dark as he sat up and gagged. He looked around in panic, he was too hot and sweating, his bonnet had come off and when one of his locs tickled the back of his neck he flailed in bed and flopped out onto the floor with a hard thump. “Mmmaah-” he choked off the last call for his Mama, it was too late. Every time it was too late.
Mason took a few minutes to sit on the floor breathing heavily, he was in the guest room. He only slept in the master bedroom if he had company, if he was alone, he always preferred sleeping in the small room on the narrow bed, usually he tucked his sheet in enough to at least keep himself from falling out of bed during his night terrors, that night he’d fought too hard, and the covers were a twisted heap next to the wall. He sat there panting for what felt like way too long before he thought he could stand up without falling.
“Fuck.” He finally managed to stumble out and headed for the master bathroom to shower, at his heel his cat meowed at him. “Queen Abigail Maria Jones the first, I know I closed the door I’m sorry.” The cat yowled loud and long while twining around his ankles, “I’m sorry I know, can you please let me go pee first? Come on baby, yeah, I’ll pick you up come on, up up Abs.” The cat hollered louder, standing on her hind legs with her paws on his knees waiting to be picked up like every morning and he smiled, “okay okay. See, I’m going. I’m sorry honey.” He bent over to pick up his huge fluffy tortie cat to cuddle her to his bare chest while she kept meowing, “I know Abigail.” The cat head butted his chin, “you forgive me baby?”
Like most mornings Mason dutifully dished up food for his cat then sat on the floor to praise her while she ate, he stroked her back and murmured, “good girl Abigail. See I promised good breakfast.” Abigail stopped eating long enough to roll her eyes at him and meow in his face. He smiled at her wet food breath and scratched her ears before he stood up to go shower. Under the hot water the last of the bad dreams faded to reeking nothingness. When he stepped out Abigail was sitting at the door howling her fluffy head off again as usual.
“Abby, Abby Abby habibi I’m fine. See look.” He held his hands up and the cat stared at him, she paused then started yowling again “I know, I know look. I’m okay. I promise.” He dried his hands and stroked her back while she yelled at him, “I know. I know why would I do that? I’m a big stupid kitty.” Abigail hated it when he bathed and complained loudly about it the entire time. For once she didn’t jump on his head from the top of the shower.
“I’m almost done hold on baby.” Abigail wailed the song of her people and sprawled in the bathroom sink, she squirmed and reached with one paw trying to knock over the soap dispenser, Mason glanced at her. “Abby, Abigail, Abigail Renee Jones, no ma’am, stop that.” She looked at him, rolled her eyes and grunted at him, he grunted back, “that’s not nice behavior young lady. Now if you’re gonna just lay in there making a mess, I’m putting you out.” Abigail sat up on the word out and stared at him, he pointed at her. “See I told Jess n them you do listen. Now quit it let me finish showering. Behave Abigail. Be a good girl.”
Abigail yawned and settled; she swung her fluffy tail slowly while he lectured. Abby didn’t necessarily want him out of the bath right then, she wanted to eat and be pet then left to her morning patrol and nap. For such a big dumb baby he could be so sweet sometimes, while he finished his shower she washed her face, and ears then snoozed a little waiting for him.
When Mason got out of the shower Abby sat on the sink and as usual sniffed at him, occasionally licking his skin here and there. He used his damp hands to clean the goop out of the corners of her eyes and ran his fingers through her fur, she allowed it then started grumbling for breakfast. Clad in boxer briefs he carried her back to the kitchen as she meowed in his ear and chewed on his earlobe, “I know. I know. It’s my fault, I’m a bad daddy.” In agreement Abigail meowed directly in his face and nipped his nose lightly.
While Abby finished her breakfast he got dressed and made coffee, when the computer on the dining room table started yelling, he sighed, “coming coming.” The incoming video call was from his sister-in-law, her ring tone was her hollering “Mason Jones!” When her camera focused, he smiled, she was very pregnant and grinning at him. “Morning sweetie. Where is your husband?” Anita smiled at him, resting her hands on top of her big round belly, “at the gym or something. You know how early he gets up. How are you feeling honey?” Mason had gotten injured a few weeks prior and she looked worried, he flexed at her. “I’m fine. All healed up. How is your back?”
Anita groaned, “why did I let that man get me pregnant?” She was fanning herself and had a remote in her other hand, “oh baby what’s wrong?” She opened her eyes and glared at him, “nothin’ I’m great except that I feel like my butthole is going to fall out for no reason, and my fucking tits hurt. And I can’t sleep. And your brother smells bad. Anyway, I called for a reason I need a favor.” Mason sat and waited for Abigail who came running from the other room. She jumped into his lap and climbed onto his chest.
“What you need girl?” Anita grinned at him, “well I know my husband probably told you we’re meeting in Atlanta this weekend, right?” Mason nodded, “yes and I already sent your linens out to be washed in that detergent you like, I’ll flip the mattress, and your body pillow is coming today. Anything else your majesty?” She wiggled happily, “one more thing. We’re all supposed to go to an art gallery opening but I made plans and I need you to go to the party by yourself and hang out with my friend. And maybe the next day if you do your thot bullshit.” He groaned, “Anita last time you said something like that, I wound up spending your whole wedding weekend with your cousin Lisa.” Anita pursed her lips and tried for an innocent expression.
“Okay that was a bad idea. But this is different. This is my friend Eli. Even if you two hate each other you’ll have a good time. She’s amazing and loves eye candy. And she is so hot. A real baddie, I sent you her instagram.” He gave her an incredulous look, “so the assignment is be eye candy for your friend?” Anita nodded, “yes and keep her entertained for the night and maybe a dinner. I promise I’ll reward you later.” Mason knew he was going to say yes of course he would, but he had to make her suffer a little more first. “I don’t know, I mean I was gonna hit up Bar Diversion on Saturday for Dancehall night and Giddy is djing-”
Anita’s bottom lip quivered, the tears made her eyes shimmer and he had to stop, he couldn’t even look at her. “Don’t, no don’t do that, don’t cry. Come on girl.” Anita’s chubby tear-streaked face broke his heart, she was so cute and pretty and with the fat tears rolling down her her round cheeks she was pitiful. He couldn’t tell her no. “Mason, you can’t blame me for that. Lisa and you should have worked out but you’re Captain Fuckity Fuck Boy.”
Mason let his cat climb up behind his neck to burrow in his locs, he frowned at Anita. “I am not. I told her like I told you, I wasn’t looking for something serious. I was honest with her. I told y’all.” Anita dabbed her tears away and glared at him, “you weren’t looking but she was so good for you. Don’t worry, this time you don’t have to think about anything like that. Eli is not that kind of girl.” Her tone changed from the adorable weepy wavy whimper to her matter of fact I won’t argue about it tone.
“Anyway, you owe me. And all you have to do is be interesting enough to keep her occupied for the night and I’ll handle everything else. Mason, don’t you give me that look, she’s hot and you’ll be into it and thank me.” And so, the argument began. “Anita I already said yes why are we still fighting?” She had long stopped crying and was angry at him again. “Because Mason, I love Eli and I love you and I don’t want you and your ho tendencies to ruin it. Don’t be the social media guy she’ll hate that and be mean to you.” She knew him well enough the threat of a pretty woman being mean to him would convince Mason if he wasn’t already. He changed the subject.
“So how many more weeks? Baby move down yet? When do I need to come?” Anita smiled finally; all her tears dry. “No baby hasn’t moved. I’m over it. You can come when we tell you I went into labor.”
Behind Anita the door to the apartment opened and her husband walked in, holding up a hand. “Mason! Why are you bothering my wife?” Mason was leaning forward, holding his cat up to the screen, both staring at Anita intently. “Come on girl, lemme see.” Abigail crawled down off his neck to settle on his knee and stare at Anita, “why is your cat looking at me like that?” He smiled, “she wants to see too. Come on, get that thang out girl.” Anita stood up and unbuttoned her shirt to show him her big round belly.
“You are such a creepy weirdo Mason.” He grinned at her, “oh look at that. You are so cute. It looks like the baby dropped some.” Anita sat back down after rolling her eyes at him, “no it hasn’t they just got bigger. She, he or they are in there gaining weight and getting ready to get evicted. I feel a little better kind of but not really. It is a different kind of uncomfortable. Why are you like this?” Mason just grinned at her, “I love pregnant folks. Lookin all juicy, you are literally baking a whole Jones, how can I not?”
From behind her the door opened and his brother walked in calling, “bro stop looking at my wife like that god damn.” Mason cackled, “or what? What you gonna do boy? Freddie boy please.” Anita rolled her eyes and fixed her shirt, once the brothers got started, she knew it would be a while before they stopped roasting each other. “You two have fun I have to pee.” Mason loved his little brother, when they reconnected at 30 and 25 respectively Mason promised himself, he’d never let go or lose Freddie again.
“Man fuck you. Why are you bothering my wife?” Freddie kissed Anita when she moved past him and she swatted his hand away from her butt, he flopped onto the couch in front of the open laptop and lounged, “God damn did that cat get bigger? The hell you feeding it.” Mason narrowed his eyes, “not it, she. Her name is Abigail Rosalind Jones, have some respect for your big sister.” Freddie gaped at him, “you need a woman.”
As usual Mason and Freddie bickered, made fun of each other and told each other mostly tall tales for a good forty minutes before Mason jumped up, “oh shit I got a meeting I gotta go. I’ll see y’all this weekend, tell your wife I can’t wait to see her.” He flipped Freddie off and closed his laptop, Abigail tilted her head back to look at him, “don’t look at me like that babygirl, I gotta go. I’ll be home soon I promise, and watch your stories.” He settled her on her favorite pillow with her favorite bird youtube channel on.
Mason like many of his kind worked security primarily for nocturnal supernatural creatures, he’d moved on from just being muscle to owning his own company. He was mostly legit though it was admittedly a large part of why he’d moved to Crete in the first place. He changed quickly into his usual garb for his other job and headed out to the warehouse for the meet up. For five blocks around the warehouse, he spotted the others as he walked.
He’d gone on foot to avoid being followed and it worked, when he wound his way back to the side door to swipe his card, he knew for certain he was safe. Inside men all clad in black milled around the space. A tall red haired white guy raised his hand and hollered, “as-salām ʿalaykum little brother.” Mason grinned, “Wa alaikum assalam, Giddy my big brother.” The enormous red head ran at him, and they collided in a hug.
“Giddy man it hasn’t been that long chill.” Giddy, one of Mason’s oldest and dearest friends glared at him and shoved him away, “last time I saw you, didn’t that rakkhasa almost tear your ears off? That bald patch grow back?” Mason laughed and tilted his head to the left to show the bald patch on the left side of his head, “nah not even a baby hair yet. Yintasha tore that shit out and spit on it, it ain’t growing back.”
Giddy cackled, “and you’re telling me she’s not dangerous lad?” Both men turned to wander towards the snack tables, Mason had his eye on a plate of what he thought were probably his favorite kind of little frosted mini cupcakes. “She’s only dangerous when she’s pissed off.” Mason got to the table and elbowed another guy out of the way, “man move. What are you trying to parallel park your big ass? God damn wide as all outside back up off them cupcakes Hawthorne move.”
Eaton Hawthorne was even bigger than both Mason and Giddy by a good few inches and at least fifty pounds, he was a hulk of a man with a broad dark brown face and gap-toothed grin. “Oh, I’m so sorry little dude. Shit you look hungry.” Mason hugged Eaton as well, “fuck you I’m a growing boy.” Eaton started to laugh, “growing and getting beat fucked by bad girls with claws?” Mason got around Eaton and loaded a plate with two layers of mini cupcakes and a pile of speculous cookies.
“Beat fucked seems pretty accurate. Mavhi beat me for an hour then dragged me to her lair. For a couple of days.” Eaton giggled, shaking his head. “You a better man than me, I can’t with them rough girls, I’m delicate.” The three men carried their loaded plates and moved to sit together at a table to catch up, “how you been Giddy?” Giddy had half of a glittery cookie in his mouth and he was reaching for another, “me I’m fine. Bored as fuck. Last job went over by two weeks and no action. I haven’t worked since last month. Being a banking mule for bloodsuckers who won’t use the internet is boring as shit.” Mason nodded his understanding, “I feel you. After that last round of bullshit. You hear anything else about the Xuchic thing?”
Eaton had his mouth full, and his eyebrows shot up, “no that got cancelled nobody told you?” Giddy looked between them and shook his head, “fuck that whole thing. I heard it is done with already, I ain’t goin.” Mason rolled his eyes, “why are you so sensitive? Shit happens, enjoy the party. That’s all that’s left.” Giddy grunted and shifted, “enjoy the party my ass, I ain’t gettin’ paid for that. I’m a professional I don’t need to get paid to go to a fucking party.” Mason got distracted by a commotion at the back of the room, a tight group of hooded men surrounded a small figure.
“What is going on? Who is that?” He pointed his lips at the men and his friends looked, Giddy made an ugly sound. “Rogue ferals. I dunno but they’ve been bringing them in left right and center.” Mason frowned watching the men handling the small person. “Seriously? Ain’t that a Cynamisia? Ferals my ass. Feral, they mean just not under their control or identification. Mother fuckers.” Mason looked up at mention of the Cynamisia, he sniffed but shrugged. “I dunno man. I haven’t seen a Cynamisia since I was a kid.”
Speaking of the draconian race known as Cynamisia made Mason think of his sister-in-law, she wasn’t a dragon, but she always reminded him of them for reasons he never delved into. “If that’s a Cynamisia, why she ain’t burned this whole shit down. Please. And if that is one he got to go, Mason, can you tell?” Eaton jerked a thumb at Mason, Mason sighed and got to his feet. “I’ll go see.” He meandered towards the back where the hooded men were still struggling to hold the woman in place, he smiled at them. “Need help with the little lady fellas? Nice perfume.” He spoke to the woman and heard her snort, “thank you.”
The soldiers trying to hold her were surprised to find one of the men speaking to them directly and it showed. Two of them let go of the girl and she let out a noise and then disappeared into the party. Mason loved a scrapper, and he held his hands up in apology, “sorry fellas. You want me to uh-” the guardians all shook their heads and scattered to hunt their quarry. Mason walked back to his friends, “nah not a Cynamisia. Human probably a witch. You know how they be acting with witches these days.”
The other men laughed, and they continued eating, when Mason’s head started to tingle, he reached up to feel and looked around the room, “who the fuck.” He started to stand on seeing a tall thin white man fleeing the room, he followed and started bellowing. “Anthurium Foggyfall you fuckin asshole stop it leave my glamour alone.” Other men moved to close the exit Ant was almost running for, as Mason lost control of his voice he bellowed long and loud, Anthurium stumbled and fell laughing.
“You do fuckin moo man.” The tips of Anthurium’s pointed ears started to flush a delicate pink as he laid on the floor howling with mirth. Mason did moo, loud. The last sound a body might hear wandering across the pasture of an unfriendly angry territorial bull. Several of Mason’s locs got caught on his horns, he could feel it and it was irritating as was how his ears flopped against his cheek. Before he could get to the elf Giddy grabbed him around the waist, “no no no. I know you hate elves leave it alone. You know the rules big boy. It ain’t like America over here, they are protected. Come on. Deep breath buddy.”
Giddy calmed him down enough for Mason not to stomp the cackling elf and not to reach up to touch his horns. He spent so little time without his glamour he almost forgot how he looked. As they sat back down up front the four men started intoning the opening prayer. Unlike many breeds of shape shifters Mason and his brother had no fine control over their shapes. Without using a glamour, they were clearly inhuman and without magic most minotaurs couldn’t leave Crete often. When Mason glanced back at the still giggling elf on the floor he shook his head, “fuckin elves. It ain’t funny, it wasn’t funny last time either. I see you on the street, I’m beating that ass.” Up front four robed figures stepped onto the dais.
“Gentlemen if you please, we must begin the opening prayer.” Mason took a deep breath; he’d have to calm down so his glamour would resettle so he could get home. Giddy patted his back and murmured, “it’s okay. It ain’t that bad come on man, not worth the bullshit.” Mason wanted to stomp Ant out but wouldn’t, he’d been disciplined before and didn’t feel like being put in the labyrinth again.
Up front the men began to intone the opening prayers. “Blessed Mother, protector of souls, I need you now in my time of need. Kindle my inner fire so I may illuminate the darkness. I beg this of you in your eternal light, o all-powerful god. Strengthen me with your holy wisdom. Gentlemen give thanks.”
The assembled men joined voices. “Thanks to our divine mother.” With the prayer done Mason sat still shoving cookies into his mouth, he could hear the elf still giggling and he wanted to stomp him. “Gentlemen, thank you all for coming on such short notice.” The man at the podium smiled at the group of men, human hybrids and others. He began droning about the current situation of a problem with rogue creatures.
“We must remain ever vigilant. The safety of one is-” the men answered, “the safety of all. Our secrets must be kept.” Mason always attended but he didn’t want to, he didn’t like it. Giddy elbowed him and whispered, “these Euro guys like the long sermon.” Mason had to stifle his laughter; it was true. Back home the meetings were generally only held quarterly and tended to be more for general attendance taking and to see who was still alive.
After another ten minutes Mason was out of cookies and mini cupcakes, his beer was empty, and the guy was still talking. When they were finally allowed to stand, he stood and stretched, “Mason hey man. I thought that was you.” The petite man in front of him grinned, Mason took a half step back ever conscious of his size. “Remy my friend.” Remy clapped his hands, “hello Mason Jones. All the way from Atlanta Georgia United States.” Mason and Remy sat together catching up until the smaller man gestured, “why can I see one of your horns but not the other? Are you drunk?”
Mason grunted and reached up, sure enough his glamour was still not right. “God damn fuckin elf.” Mason took his phone out and scrolled through his notes app, “I can’t remember the incantation.” Remy snorted, “you would make a terrible witch.” Remy turned his head, his nose twitching. “Fuck is that smell?” Mason shook his head a little, “dunno. Hold on.” He took a deep breath and read the note, “By the divine light of the stars, grant me the power to shape myself. And show only with my own consent.”
His scalp tingled followed by the same strange tickly itchy static in his skull. He did not understand how glamours worked only how thankful he was for them. Remy was still sniffing, muttering under his breath about big cats and the reek of what he said might have been a vampire, Mason didn’t know nor was it any of his business. “Hey Remy, I gotta go, Abigail needs her meds.” Remy laughed, “you still have that creature?”
Mason turned to show his phone, his background was Abigail on her little pink couch wearing her tiara on a fur blanket. “I thought you was old school, I got one of Bast’s babies lookin out for me. I don’t have her; she allows me take care of her. Get it right. You going to the hunt in Atlanta next month?” Remy thought about it, “I might. Depends on what the wife says. You heading back to the states for a while?” Mason shook his head, “nah. just a couple of weeks, see my brother and sister-in-law.”
Remy and Mason talked for a while longer before a man in a dark suit tapped Mason on the shoulder, “Mason Jones, your assignment is ready.” Mason stood and he and Remy hugged before he headed to a small room with four men at a table. “Gentlemen.” The men all stood and the eldest of them, a tall thin man with a German accent stepped forward. “Mr. Jones, we appreciate you coming. Please join us.”
The men represented a worldwide supposed council who managed and looked after nonhumans everywhere, they made Mason nervous, but he smiled anyway. “I was told my assignment is ready.” The man Lasse Schutz was as tall as Mason but far thinner, he sat after Mason and opened a manila folder. “It is Mr. Jones; we are very pleased to see you staying in your ancestral home. It isn’t often we see our Black brothers, welcome home Mason.”
Mason hated that speech so much. He hated hearing it every time he was out of the US and yet he smiled politely, “I’m glad to be home.” Lasse looked pleased and began looking through the folder, “good news Mr. Jones. Your ward has been identified.” Mason frowned slightly, “identified not found?” Lasse shook his head a little, “well there have been a few complications unfortunately but, i have it on good authority that when you arrive back in the states, someone will be in contact. We’re close.” Part of Mason’s life and freedom was tied to whomever he was set to protect.
“How long is the contract?” Lasse tried to look a little sad but instead looked like a pale gleeful troll, “until death. She’s marked it won’t long, your role this time is less involved as you requested. Low to partial daytime contact once we eh-” he trailed off muttering something Mason couldn’t understand, “you know I don’t speak German Lasse, what’d you just say?” Lasse gave him a bright fake smile, “I was just saying we all know how fond of cats you are.” Mason was confused but not confused enough to want to keep talking to the man. His oh shit alarm went off on his phone and he jumped to his feet, flop sweat flicked off his nose as he started patting himself for keys and the sandwich baggy of fancy lamb he had in his pocket, “I gotta go, my baby needs her meds.”
Lasse stood as well, rolling his eyes. “Now your cat has you on a schedule?” Mason smiled, “she’s diabetic she needs insulin twice a day.” Lasse just shook his head, “go on go home to your bossy cat wife. Check in when you get back to the states.” Mason made the appropriate sounds and felt sure his facial expression was right, it took almost another ten minutes, but he finally made it out of the meeting and to the waiting taxi.
As soon as Abigail heard his footsteps she started wailing, she threw herself on the floor in front of the door yowling as loud as she could manage. First the bedroom door was closed then he was late? Abigail was a very bossy lady and she had to train her Mason. Mason dropped his keys, his neighbor stood just inside her door listening and trying not to laugh hearing the huge American next-door coo at his cat. “Abigail, don’t cry honey I’m coming I’m sorry baby.”
For the few days following Mason got a flurry of communications from his handlers. He couldn’t think of the council as his bosses, by the time he boarded his flight to New York life was set for the next few months. Abigail was safe with her favorite neighbor, Mason had shipped gifts for his brother Anita and the baby ahead and his LA apartment was cleaned, refreshed and ready.
The car started ringing and Mason heard his brother, “Mason where are you. You’re late Anita is gonna freak out.” Mason looked around, “uh, Wilshire just passing the tar pits. I’ll be there in fifteen if nothing else happens.” Freddie sounded annoyed, “man hurry the fuck up. Anita wants approval before you head out to meet her friend.” Mason chuckled, “so how bad is it gonna be? You been real quiet about it.” Freddie was quiet for a moment, “I mean it ain’t like she’s ugly or anything.”
“So what is it?” Mason was starting to worry a little. Freddie sighed, “look I just don’t love her is all. Fuckin cats.” Mason started to giggle a little, “she’s feline?” Freddie was terrified of all feline animals and hybrids, “I dunno for sure man but she makes me nervous. Look I gotta go. Look at her socials man, key is in the spot when you get here. Anita needs help in the bath.” Freddie hung up.
It only took Mason another ten minutes before he was walking into their apartment, he unlocked the door and called. “Y’all nekkid?” He heard Anita cackle, “come in Mason. Make yourself at home we’ll be out in a couple of minutes.” Shoes off, house slippers on he got into their fridge and found a bucket of leftover chicken and pulled a bottle of beer from the shelf before he washed up and settled on their couch.
He could hear Anita splashing in the shower and laughter, he opened instagram to look at Ms. Eli. Eli Mohamed was as gorgeous as advertised. The first photo he saw was of a dark skinned Black woman wearing braids and looking gorgeous. He was careful not to like any old images but he was still looking when Freddie walked out shirtless and damp. “if I ever mention getting Anita pregnant again.” Freddie flopped into his recliner and rubbed his eyes, “why you smiling like that?”
He was right, Mason was looking at one of Eli’s photos, she’d gone to some event with barnyard animals and it was an image of her riding a donkey, head thrown back, mouth wide open laughing. He turned his phone, “I like her. She looks like fun.” Fredcdie rolled his eyes, “come on Mason don’t do your bullshit. Just go to the party, be cute or whatever, tell her she’s pretty, don’t drool on her or touch her. Eli ain’t nice like Anita or Lisa.” Mason shook his head, “y’all got no confidence in me.”
Once Anita exited the bedroom dressed, hair and make up done she pointed at Mason. “Go get ready, I’m not introducing you to anybody lookin like that, get cleaned up.” He stood up and pulled a little silky purple bag from his pocket, he presented it to her and bent so she could kiss his cheek without getting on her tiptoes. “Yes ma’am.” She kept glaring at him, sniffed. “You smell like airport. Go wash Ferdinand.” Freddie laughed from the livingroom, “he ain’t that friendly baby.” Anita giggled, pinched Mason’s arm and turned him, slapping him on the ass to get him moving. “Let’s go, move it Sir loin.”
Mason had planned for it, he knew Anita well enough to be ready. Usually he would have traveled two or three days before meeting his family but, with the meetings and Abigail had a vet appointment the day before he couldn’t make it. He was vain and planned to enjoy his night with Ms. Eli. “Half hour and I’ll be ready Anita.” Behind him she tugged one of his locs, “you have an hour.”
An hour later Mason and Freddie stood at attention in the foyer, Anita walked around them inspecting their looks. “Freddie baby why are you wearing those shoes? Your feet are going to hurt. Mason, go put some draws on, nasty.” She looked disgusted and annoyed; Mason tried to be cute. “I got some on, ain’t much but what am I gonna do it’s genetic.” Anita rolled her eyes and cut Freddie off with a glare, “if I hear a single dick joke everybody is staying home but me.” Both men hung their heads until she stopped scowling, “Mason your ride is here, we’ll see you in the morning don’t do no ho shit.” Mason hugged her, “I won’t embarass you sis.” She smiled at him, and he turned to go after hugging Freddie.
Mason was dropped off at a pretty art gallery tucked between boutiques he’d never seen it before. He was early as arranged, and the security guy up front held him at the entrance and called someone. “Ms. Mohamed? Mason Jones is here.” Mason couldn’t hear the response, but the meathead stepped aside to allow him in, “just head back towards that wall she’ll be waiting by the food.” Mason smiled, “thanks man.” He looked around, there were some little clusters of mainly women standing around sipping drinks and talking, he could see most of the art was in another room, when his eyes fell on Eli his step slowed.
Eli Mohamed was more gorgeous in person, and he could tell there was some kind of glamour on her, nothing overt, nothing like the walking filters some folks used. Unlike a lot of hybrid people, Mason could rarely see through a glamour even ones meanth only to decieve humans, it just wasn’t his gift. She raised her hand and gave him a little smile, when he got close, she looked up at him by not a lot he noticed. She had heels on, but she was tall, muscular with broad shoulders and when he was close enough, she smelled like happiness and forever. “Hi you must be Freddie and Anita’s brother Mason, I’m Eli so nice to meet you.”
Poor Mason panicked and instead of hello nice to meet you, he mooed. It wasn’t very loud but she clapped her hand over her mouth and trying not to giggle. “It’s okay Beefy, Freddie did the same thing when we met.” Years before when Freddie met Anita, the next day when he and Mason had lunch together Mason spent the whole time questioning his brother, “fuck you mean you just know.” Freddie couldn’t elaborate but he’d babbled about how good she smelled, the way he couldn’t think in human words when they met, Mason very suddenly and unfortunately got it.
Up close all thoughts drained from his brain, she smelled so good. Vanilla, honey, something a little spicy and he bent close sniffing too loud. “You smell so good, what perfume is that?” She just smiled at him, it was the same smile Anita gave him and Freddie the you big dummy smile, she laughed. “It’s called For Elijah.” He started to enter that on his phone then looked at her, “oh it’s bespoke.” She gave him a long up and down look before taking his arm, “oh and you talk good.”
“Is your first name Elijah?” She rolled her eyes, “yeah. I was named after my maternal grandfather out of spite, he was real mad my Mama was pregnant. And I’m a girl.” Mason adjusted his gait to match hers more closely letting her lead him, that close something about her made him feel nervous. He chalked it up to how hot she was, “shit my manners Anita is gonna whoop my ass. I’m Mason and thank you for letting me come. I like this artist.” Eli looked at him, “Zahira Zodhrobut is amazing do you know her work?” Mason couldn’t stop his mouth, “I do now. I followed the links from your instagram. Anita uh you know.” She kept giving him that look, it felt familiar. “I know, USDA Approved M.J.” He blushed so hot he felt like he might faint, “oh I wasn’t trying to be creepy I just wanted to know your vibe.” Eli paused in front of a huge painting of a plains scene of some kind.
“I figured you’re fine. You like this piece?” It was titled Botswana Pastoral with family, he looked close and tried to count the lions in the painting. “This detail is incredible, are those female maned lions?” She brightened, “how can you tell?” He pointed, “those are cubs, that is a creche. Males would get torn apart.” She rubbed his arm and he wanted her never to stop, “look at you exceeding expectations. I should apologize to you, I was expecting less.” Mason kept looking a the painting, “I was on Anita’s shitlist for a while.” She laughed again and he wanted to faint or tickle her to make her do it again.
Eli gave Mason a long private tour of the art, she fed him canapes ever careful not to offer him meat, when they came to the last piece Mason looked disappointed, “oh is she not showing the Family Portrait piece?” Eli gave him a strange look but she shrugged, “yes and no. I bought it, come on I’ll let you see my stash.” He’d clocked the prices and followed her into a lavish office, he saw that it was not just a gallery it was her gallery. She pulled a velvet cover off of a bigger than life size painting.
Various cats big and domestic were painted lounging with beautiful Black women in what he couldn’t quite identify beyond a fancy huge bathroom or pool, it was stunning. “The masterpiece. This is my favorite so the second I saw it I bought it and pulled it. This is going right to my house in LA.” Mason made a noise low in his chest, he wanted to stare at the painting for hours finding more details. “This is stunning, the photos don’t do it justice.”
Mason only left her side when the event got going. He watched her make a few opening remarks and let himself melt as much as he could into the crowd. He should have been trying to pin down the feeling he had, he couldn’t tell if she was human or not and it was bothering him. Something about her scent underneath that honey, cocoa butter spice scent was something animalian he thought but, there were other non humans in the space and his sense of smell wasn’t good enough to pick them out except for the werewolf who trailed Eli and turned out to be her assistant.
Around midnight Mason was exhausted, full and even with the light remaining crowd decided he should go. He found Eli outside getting some air and he stood next to her waiting for the car, “thanks again for letting me come, you know how to throw a party.” She offered him a peppermint out of her pocket, “you have a good time beefy? I saw you dancing with those cuties from tiktok.” He blushed and shuffled his feet, “they were so cute.”
They talked for a bit more, Mason feeling strangely uneasy. Then the car pulled up and his driver got out to open his door, “that’s my cue ain’t it.” Eli giggled and put her hands on his actual horns, Mason got so confused he froze. He felt her fingers lightly trace them and he shivered while she whispered, “goodnight Beefy you can DM me.” She hugged him and left him standing there dazed until his driver got him moving into the car, he could still smell her on his clothes.
He was back before Anita and Freddie and got ready for bed. He’d intended on ordering food but didn’t need it. Instead he started looking further into Elijah Mohamed, he shouldn’t have of course. He got too deep into her instagram and didn’t see how old the photos he liked were, it was fine he was sure. Until he woke up to Anita’s voice, “Mason what did you do?”
In his dreams his cat Abigail could speak and she sounded like Anita, “Abigail I just went to sleep, there’s kibble in there.” He groaned and rolled onto his belly, Anita laughed, “Mason you ox wake up.” The sharp yank one of ohis locs got him up and he was blinking in confusion, he squinted. “Abby?” Anita closed her eyes then started yelling, “do I look like a fucking nekojin? NO. For the last time Mason Jones I am not a fucking cat. Now get up and tell me everything she’s being quiet.”
“Yes ma’am. Everything. But first she human?” Anita looked amused then, “obviously no Mason. You couldn’t tell?” He shrugged then scooted over and patted the bed for her to sit, she sat and immediately started playing with is locs. “I had a feeling but that perfume she wears is uh-” he gestured helplessly while smiling like a fool, he could still smell it. “No she’s not but she won’t hurt you I promise. She must’ve liked you, she just liked your pics from the event.”
Mason sent her a follow request and laid back, hands over his face. “She didn’t hate me, tell me she was at least a little into me?” Anita stroked his forehead, “you’d know if she didn’t like you. Did you have a good time honey?” When he checked Insta one more time he liked the last photo she posted and let Anita sooth him to sleep, “goodnight big boy.” She kissed his forehead and he smiled at her, “don’t go into labor tonight.”
When she left him Mason was sleeping peacefully for once. Both he and Freddie suffered terrible night terrors and she worried. Mason did not dream of fire for once, instead he saw nothing in his dreams but darkness and he followed Ell’s scent into it happily. He’d follow it and her forever.
Elijah
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