Gianni sighed and reached for a second bag I hadn’t noticed before. He opened it and removed a purple onion. He handed it to me.
“This. You can get it at any human grocery store. That’s all they eat.”
I stared down at it in disgust. The thought of even storing human food in my apartment made me sick.
“I’ve got to go. I was just dropping him off before I went back home. I have to report everything to Dad.” He turned to leave, but I put my hand out.
“Wait! It’s a he? What’s his name?”
My brother paused and raised an eyebrow at me. “I didn’t name it. Why would I?” He went to the door and grabbed the handle. “When you have your girlfriend back, call me. I still want to talk to her. Especially now.”
“Why? Is she related to the High Priestess?”
“I have gotten some new leads that she may be interested in.” He ignored my question. “Who knows, little brother,” he paused to look at me and grinned. “You may just get the ring and approval from the Amato family yet.”
The door opened and shut quickly, leaving me alone with a fig and the bird.
There was an awkward silence as I took in my new situation. I went to the couch and sat down to get a good look at the animal.
“Why, hello,” I said, sticking my fingers through the cage. The inky black blob scuttled forward. I smiled and was just about to click my tongue at him when I felt a sharp sting as he nipped me!
“Ouch!” I yelped as I pulled my hand away. “What was that for?” A tiny drop of blood spilled before my skin could heal.
I frowned and stood up, fig in hand. “Maybe you’re hungry. I’ll feed you, and then we’ll figure out your name.”
I went to the kitchen and grabbed myself a bottle of blood. I cut his food up and then brought my drink along with me to feed him.
Carefully, I unlocked the cage and stuck the fruit in quickly. I scrunched my nose up as the smell of bird shit, and moldy fruit wafted over to me. This was why I didn’t do animals.
“Let’s think.” I took a sip of my drink. “What would Scout name you? She likes movies. Horror, mostly. You are a Dracula bird, which lends itself to many a joke.”
I stared at the tiny little bird pecking at his dinner. He didn’t respond. I sighed and leaned on my knees. “I wish she were here to see you. She’d have something to call you in an instant.”
I stood then and looked around. I saw the bag Gianni had left me. There were only a few figs in there. I grabbed my keys and left then. Maybe the bird would be good for me, I thought. I was finally getting out of the apartment.
As I walked through the overly lit aisles of the human store, I thought about Scout and the bird. She really would love it. I could see her now, face lit up with excitement when she saw him for the first time. I wanted to give her lots of those moments.
I wanted her to come home to an all-new world. Everything she ever wanted, I would give to her. I got the bird, but now what?
Art school.
Before we went to Tully’s, she had her heart set on getting a formal education. Comics. I was going to make sure she got to school if I had to carry her to and from class each and every night. She would get to do it.
I found the figs and put all of them in my basket. I wasn’t sure how many I needed, but the fewer times I came here, the better. I was getting weird looks from the late-night humans shopping.
Fuck ‘em all. My parrot needed these figs.
I couldn’t figure out how to self-scan produce, so I had to see a cashier. It was a whole big thing, and when I was done, I decided I would have someone else do my shopping for the bird from now on.
I reached my car and got in, tossing the bags on my passenger side. Just as I reached for the wheel, something bright flashed in my vision, and I froze.
How was this happening? I wasn’t asleep!
Suddenly, I was taken from my car and transported to… a locker room? Green lockers ran along the walls. There were benches and a few sinks off to the side. I was in a gym, maybe.
The familiar sound of Scout in the throes made me jerk to find her. I groaned, and my stomach knotted as I found her with her legs wrapped around the blonde guy once again. His pants were pulled down just enough to get his cock out and plunge it inside her.
Scout’s eyes were closed as she hung onto him. She was gasping and panting, and he was whispering things to her that I couldn’t hear. Which was fine because usually, it was cheesy bullshit that he probably said to any woman he was fucking.
