Kaede looked almost human.
His eyes were neon-green with a thin black pupil down the center—much like all the pictures I’d seen of snakes on Earth. He had no eyelashes, and I watched his eyelids close ashe blinked. Above his eyes were eyebrows the same blue-black as his hair. His nose was small, with an angular point at the end, yet it was human. His lips were like mine, but thinner and black. Two long, thin fangs were visible at the upper corners of his lips.
I could feel lines beneath my fingers. It made me curious. I tilted my palms away to reveal thin scars bisecting the beige skin covering Kaede's angular cheeks. My eyes roamed his face, as my fingers traced the marks of the injuries done to him.
He shuddered in my hands and closed his eyes.
I paused. “Are you okay? Am I hurting you?”
“No. I’ve just never met someone who wasn’t repulsed by how I looked. I’m both shocked and relieved, but I’m afraid to make any sudden movements for fear of frightening you.”
I placed a finger under his chin to lift his face, forcing him to look at me. Using my free hand, I brushed back his hair—the strands thick and silky as they ran through my fingers. Curious about his horns, I traced the knobs and ridges along their length, feeling the coolness and rigidity of the bone.
He shuddered again from my touch.
I wondered if his horns were sensitive, or whether his shudder was an emotional reaction. Not wanting to test him, I refrained from touching his long pointy ears—though I was tempted.
Brushing his hair back once more, I whispered. “Kaede, look at me.”
He squeezed his eyes shut harder and blew out a breath before opening his eyes. His neon-green eyes traced over my face before they locked onto mine.
He looked fragile in my hands as if his soul was begging me to accept him—asking for me not to be afraid and for his appearance not to ruin the beginnings of a friendshipbetween us. Kaede reminded me of myself, wanting to be seen and valued as a person, not by how he looked.
Another kindred spirit.
“Kaede. I don’t know why you were so afraid to show me how you looked.” My voice was low and gentle as I tried to soothe his worries.
He jerked away from me as if I had shocked him.
I removed my hands away and clasped them in front of me.
“Are you serious? You aren’t scared of me?”
I shook my head. “Didn’t my actions tell you that? To be honest, I think you’re quite attractive even with all of your scars.”
His mouth dropped open in shock, and I caught a glimpse of his long, thin, black, forked tongue. Following the direction of my gaze, he snapped his mouth shut.
“I don’t believe it.” His eyes hardened and his expression closed.
I noticed my knees were getting stiff from kneeling, and I was getting chilly again. I decided he also probably needed space to process everything. I stood and took half a step toward the couch only to stumble, throwing out a hand to try and catch myself on the table.
Before I could even reach it, hands wrapped around my hips and caught me, setting me upright.
I gasped, unable to credit the speed with which Kaede moved.
Afraid he’d scared or hurt me, Kaede yanked his hands back and put them in the air.
“It’s okay, Kaede. You just surprised me with how fast you moved. I’ve never seen anyone move that fast.” I looked straight at him, staring into his eyes to show I was telling the truth.
“I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Rolling my eyes, I walked around the table and back to my seat, tucking my legs next to me on the couch. Kaede hurriedly tucked the blanket around me again and handed me my tea.
I took a sip of the cooling tea and studied him.
He returned to his spot on the couch but kept shifting in his seat, staring fixedly at the table. He was clearly uncomfortable.
“Kaede. If you’d feel more comfortable putting your visor back on, it’s okay. But you don’t ever have to wear it around me. I’m being honest when I say I’m not afraid of you. You have a unique beauty all your own—much like I see in both Xylo and Odelm. I truly don’t see the big deal.”
