Star Eater
Chapter Nineteen

The problem with karate, Kai soon discovered, was that he spent most of it on his back. To be fair, all the beginners spent a fair amount of time throwing each other. But his instinct was to phase out and he couldn’t. He had to keep reminding himself, and Akuma, not to phase out. The demon got annoyed after a while and said, I’m not going to, but I hate this.

Privately, Kai agreed. He made a quick decision that karate wasn’t for him. Link seemed to be enjoying himself, though he topped a lot of the kids in height and strength. Throughout the practice, Kai felt Mason watching, no, assessing, him. Obviously, he knew something.

Maybe our smell has changed, Kai wondered. Akuma grumbled about being tossed about and didn’t answer.

After practice, the whole team returned to the locker room. Kai reflected it was the first time he’d told his dad he’d be staying after school for a sport, and it was true.

“What did you think?” Mason asked. The question was directed at both Kai and Link, who were changing side by side.

“It was fun,” Link said, grinning.

Kai decided not to say anything. He didn’t like it but he also didn’t want to provoke the other boy. Whatever his motivations for trying to get Kai involved, Kai wasn’t going to bite. Unfortunately, Mason wasn’t diverted by silence.

“And you?” he asked.

“It was interesting,” Kai said, politely. “Not really my thing.”

“You’re pretty small,” Mason stated bluntly. “This is a good opportunity to learn to defend yourself.”

“I’m not into fighting,” Kai said.

The stoic mask was back on Mason’s face but Kai saw a flicker—nostrils flaring, eyes intense. Jealousy maybe?

“That’s your own choice,” Mason said finally. “Anyway, a few of us are going to grab some food. You guys interested?”

Link’s face lit up, but he turned to Kai before answering. Kai shook his head. He had had enough of karate and daemons. Akuma was right. This had been an awful idea.

Thank you, the demon rumbled. Can we go now?

“Come on,” Link urged Kai.

“No,” Kai said, refusing to look into Link’s eyes. He would lose the argument for sure that way. “I need to get home. Thanks for the offer though.”

Another flicker, this time obviously frustration, passed over Mason’s face. He looked like he wanted to push the issue but the other members began gathering around and he didn’t. There was a moment where no one said anything. Link and Kai were half changed and the others just stood there.

“I’ll be right out,” Link said to forestall any more awkwardness.

The karate guys nodded and left. There were only a few people still changing in the locker rooms and none in the nook Kai and Link stood in. Kai put his shoes on while Link applied deodorant. Link’s phone beeped and lit up the interior of his locker. He took it out and frowned at it, then his eyes went wide.

“Everything okay?” Kai asked.

Link jumped as if he’d been caught. “Yeah,” he said hastily. “My dad,” he said by way of explanation.

Kai’s first thought was he’s a terrible liar. He felt a stab of jealousy at whatever or whoever had texted Link, but then he pushed it away. Link had not abandoned him at lunch and he’d tried to get Kai to come out. They were friends.

And it’s not like I don't have my own secrets, Kai thought.

As Link stood shirtless, Kai kept his eyes focused sharply on his feet. The showers had been tough enough, now that he was way more aware of, well, other males.

Now that he was more aware and his body parts highly sensitized to the notion of sex, Kai tried to approach it as scientifically as he could. He had spent stolen seconds in the hallways between classes trying to slice open, pin down, and microscopically examine his own sexuality. And he’d found himself soundly stuck on the metaphorical fence.

There were girls he enjoyed almost as much as the guys. The girls, he found, he liked colorful and interesting; weird hair, funky outfits. The plastic Barbie dolls he found intimidating and too plastic. Plus, Akuma didn't like the smell of silicon. After some careful debate, Kai found he liked boobs. He wanted to touch them. They didn't have to be big but they were so… intriguing.

He surreptitiously studied bodies, with their intriguing jiggles and inviting muscles, his fingers itching to explore. He examined the same sex, noting the swagger, the dazzling display of jaws and lips and hair. He watched the opposite sex walk to and from, admiring the way their thighs joined their bottoms, their hips swayed, and the much more pleasant array of smells wafting from them.

Why did the majority of boys smell so much and so badly anyway?

The fact that Kai came back to was nobody besides Link made him feel so… horny. All these attractive people in their various ways made him fidgety, hungry, curious, but none of them made his body erupt in lust so much so that Akuma had to physically cool him off.

He concluded that it was a combination of Link’s looks and personality that he liked so much. The lopsided smile, obviously, and the openness to his face. His olive-colored eyes and his oversized gawkiness. Kai knew Link was always aiming to look cool, but there was something of a puppy about him, this handsome kid that hadn’t grown into his body yet, that Kai adored.

“I think Mason is attracted to you,” Link said in a low voice.

Kai felt himself flush guiltily, and stared up at him with wide eyes. Link’s comment was a little too close to what he’d been thinking about. Besides, Mason could be categorized as handsome. Okay, Mason was handsome with his dark blonde hair, the tips just a bit curly in the front, and his razor cheekbones and grim, gray eyes. Even the perpetually stoic face worked in his favor. There was a sexy appeal to his grimness, despite the fact that he was a daemon.

Link glanced around to see if there were any eavesdroppers. There were now no noises in the locker room. Everyone else had left. Still, Link kept his voice low.

“He seems pretty bent to get you on the karate team.” So Link had noticed. “Are you into guys?”

Despite all his best efforts, Kai felt his entire face turn beet red. Link suddenly found his book bag super interesting, opening a front pocket and fingering a chess piece. His cheeks flushed.

Geez, he even looks good blushing. How unfair is that? Kai demanded.

Very, Akuma said philosophically.

“I mean it’s not really my business,” Link said quickly. “I don’t care if you are,” he added hastily. “I just…” He didn’t seem to know where to go from there and the statement jumped off a cliff and died.

Kai was wholly unprepared to be confronted by the boy he liked with a question about this particular subject. Because the truth was, Kai was still coming to terms with it. So he coughed, and rubbed the hairs standing on end on his arm, covering his chest self-consciously. He stared down at the floor, looking to his shadow for an appropriate response.

“I hadn’t really thought about it,” he said quietly. Until recently.

Link froze in the act of putting his t-shirt on, then finished. He addressed the locker, perhaps afraid of what Kai might say.

“Do you… want me to find out?” he asked.

For a second, Kai had no idea what he was talking about. Was Link offering to kiss him? Kai’s heart seemed to bounce against his ribs, then his stomach, then his throat.

He’s not talking about you, Akuma said dryly. Kai blinked and snapped out of the running loop of Link kissing him that had nearly taken control.

“About Mason?” Kai hazarded. Link nodded. “No,” Kai said, horrified. “No,” he repeated, more firmly.

Link thought about that then nodded. “Okay,” he said.

Kai stood and closed his locker. He grabbed his book bag and threw it over his shoulder. He wasn’t sure if he should wait for Link or not, since Link was going with the karate kids. The atmosphere was so tense and out of sorts. All he wanted to do was sink into the floor and disappear into the basement. And he certainly didn’t want to go out with the karate kids. Would Link hold this against him? His insecurities made his voice higher than normal.

“So… I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, wincing at how childish he sounded.

“Yeah,” Link nodded.

Relief flooded Kai. “Awesome. See you tomorrow.” Kai realized he’d just said that and swore to himself. He practically ran out of the door and passed the karate kids hanging in the hall. He just wanted to die.

The next day was long. Like ten centuries long, Kai thought. Ava was quieter than usual, darting looks at Kai who had no idea how to handle them, so he didn’t. He couldn't manage a conversation in a locker room; he certainly wasn’t going to try with a girl. He was hands-off today.

After geometry, he considered skipping science, but Mr. Rump would notice and Kai’s father had been, blissfully, MIA all week. Kai didn't want to ruin the chance that Dad had forgotten all about his indiscretion.

Sitting through math and science with the ungainly atmosphere between him and Ava made the two already unbearable subjects downright torturous. But he suffered through them and managed to take his own notes for once. Akuma had been out the night before for no more than three hours, which meant Kai got nearly six hours of sleep. With the help of a coffee and an energy drink, he made it through the day.

Akuma, himself, was quiet. Kai could feel the thrum of worried energy in the demon. They had made no additional headway on the hydrogen problem and Mom had yet to answer Kai’s text. Kai tried texting again to assuage the demon’s fears, but even Akuma knew how unreliable Kai’s mother was.

Shoving those thoughts away, Kai focused on the night. He was determined not to let these problems affect his time with Link. He had to make up for the awful parting after karate. And he was eager to prove himself a more interesting friend than the karate guys.

No awkwardness today, he told himself and Akuma. The demon grunted. He was just glad they weren’t going to karate. Link had gone to practice to please his dad and they planned to meet afterwards. So Kai went to the secret base. There, he hid the Tupperware container under the table where he kept the rest of his darkroom chemicals. Then he spent time developing his latest round of photos.

When they were all hanging up to dry, he went to the donut shop down the street. He picked up some bear claws for dinner, and water to restock his fridge. Then Kai grabbed his camera, texted Link to meet him at the yogurt shop, and hopped the bus.

Twenty minutes later, he was standing outside his favorite place. Kai went in and got himself a treat and snagged an outside table. He snapped off a few shots of the passing crowd, pleased with himself. He sort of wished he could take Link up on the roof, but it would cause questions.

Kai was fantasizing about what he and Link might do on the roof when Akuma hissed. Kai jerked up, surprised, thinking that Akuma was hissing at Link, but it wasn’t Link who sat across from him.

The middle-aged businessman who’d taken the seat smiled at Kai in what Kai guessed was his most friendly attempt. He looked like a fox. A vaguely familiar fox, though Kai couldn't place him.

He is a powerful daemon, Akuma warned.

Kai felt Akuma coil like a snake, ready to spring. He glanced around and saw more guys in suits positioned loosely around them, facing the crowds. Kai took the spoon out of his mouth, and put it in his yogurt cup.

“Can I help you?” he asked, warily. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNøvel.ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The daemon was watching Kai’s shadow which, Kai belatedly realized, fluttered under the table like a curtain caught in the wind. There was no reason for it. The sun was setting, throwing the shadows around them long, but there were no flags to blame the movement on. Stop that, Kai told the demon. Akuma didn’t answer, but Kai knew he was trying to be still.

“Nice camera,” the man said completely at ease.

“It’s not for sale,” Kai replied calmly, hoping that’s all this was about. It wasn’t the first time someone had approached him about his camera collection. He had a feeling he wasn’t so lucky this time.

“That’s fair,” the man said, “I came to speak with you about another deal you might find interesting.”

In a raised voice, Kai said, “I’m not for sale. Stop hitting on young boys!”

Several people glanced their way and Kai stood for good measure, preparing to leave. The man glared with annoyance.

“I know you’re a fhear dorcha,” he said quietly. “And you’re going to need help very soon or you will die.”

Kai honestly had no idea what the guy was talking about. Was he was talking about Akuma? How could this guy know? But the confidence in his voice chilled Kai. More disturbing was that he might be talking about the star shuddering.

“I think you know what I am,” the suit said, reaching into his suit jacket. “As to who, my name is Joseph Wright.”

Joseph pulled out a silver case from his suit jacket and took out a business card, which he handed over. Kai held the spoon in his mouth with his lips so he could let go and to take the card. He peered at it curiously. He had just heard that surname recently.

“I think you have some talents I could use,” Joseph continued. His eyes lowered to Kai’s shadow, which rippled. “And I have the information and the power to make sure you don’t blow yourself up. When you come to your senses, contact me.”

Joseph stood, readjusted his suit jacket back into place, his face a study in self-control.

Kai left the spoon in his mouth, not trusting himself to speak, until the daemon was safely out of earshot. His minions gathered around him seamlessly like a storm cloud, and they disappeared into a huge black-tinted SUV. Kai removed the spoon and exhaled loudly, but he didn't feel better.

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