Clearing the cache and removing the many photos and music clogging her workstation’s computer was driving Samosa crazy. Her eyes were getting droopy and feeling tight. She was so sleepy.
And hungry.
She chose work study at the Hampton Community College because, well- she still wanted some kind autonomy in her life rather than leaning on Stone for everything. She was not a user and would not start now. After the Recycle Bin was clear and she logged off, she smelled Jasmine scented perfume.
“Hey. How’s your day goin’ so far?” Samosa peered up into Kristine Blue’s brown eyes. She had a pinched face and wore her hair straight and to the side.
“I’m doing alright. Just cleaning up this computer and about to go on break.” She slid from her chair and picked up her bag.
Kristine rolled her eyes and puffed. “Okay, okay, me and my friends want to know who he is.”
“Excuse me?”
Kristine stamped her nineteen year old feet. She was slender, the color of mocha and had the attention of many males including professors. “Him.”
“Stone.”
“He puts a smile on your face and you look as if you’re glowing,” Kristine walked alongside Samosa. “I mean I see you eat like a horse but not gain an inch! I guess you been picking up an appetite-know what I mean?” She pat Samosa’s belly. “One wheat donut and I have to do at least one hundred crunches.”
Samosa smiled at the girl. So young. So carefree. Samosa was just…hungry.
They walked in the nearly empty Café Hall where just a dash of students sprinkled the floor with their hopeful, caffeine fed bodies. Ready to transfer to a four year college or go on to their trades.
“He must be doing something right to ya. No doubt..” Kristine said then pointed straight ahead of them. “Speak of the devil.”
“What?” Samosa followed Kristine’s French manicured nails and saw Stone leaning against the wall next to the Men’s restroom. His tall body draped against it lazily, his dark eyes zeroed in on her, his face a chiseled perfection not found among human men.
“Good gods.” Kristine licked her bottom lip. Samosa frowned at the girl. Could she be any more obvious?
But she had to admit. Ever since Lyle showed up at her mother’s house Stone showing up sporadically to the school was a breath of fresh air.
As if pulled by a magnet, Samosa smoothly went to him, forgetting if she ever even walked. Of course, Kristine came too and nudged Samosa in the rib.
“Hey babe.” Stone leaned down and kissed Samosa’s lips then slid his eyes to Kristine.
“Oh, this is Kristine. We both work in the HR office.”
“Hi!” Kristine stuck out her hand; Stone shook it and smiled a killer watt smile made especially for magazine ads. Kristine swooned. “You are so tall!” She batted her eyes.
Samosa saw Stone looking anxious about something, but quickly told Kristine it was nice to meet her. Once they slid into his car, Samosa wondered what was wrong.
“Are you alright?”
His jaw muscle ticked before answering. “I’m not happy.”
A thunderclap scared Samosa right out of her seat, a sprinkle of rain began to beat on the car. She had skipped buying her food from the cafeteria and so pulled out her bag a pack of jerky and her string cheese. Stone looked at her.
“Hungry?”
“I can wait till we get home. What do you mean unhappy? Don’t I make you happy?”
Three full seconds pass by.
“You make me happy, horny, hopeful…but it’s hurting me. Us.”
“I know.”
“A jinni’s purpose is solely to serve the human. Not mate with them.” He slid his hand over to Samosa’s- sensing her need of affirmation of his care. His love. Still, her hand remained cool and her eyes, which have lost their golden hue became shadowed. They hadn’t pulled out the lot yet.
“What are you saying?” Her voice became steely.
“I’m saying we need to go through the ceremony but I don’t have too much faith in it.”
“Korin seems to.”
“Korin is trying to be a holy man.”
“Then we should listen to him.”
“Don’t you get it?” Stone snatched his hand from hers and put the car in reverse to back out, then drive. “We are not men and we are not good!” He yelled, veins popped out in his temple while Samosa shrank back. The car suddenly filled with the scent of smoke and fire. She dared to look Stone’s way and saw that his eyes have gone completely black.
He never yelled at her before.
Never.
Rattled and confused, Samosa was quiet the rest of the ride home, chewing her jerky. Stone had apologized about twenty times on the way to the house but the way he looked, smelled- it was wrong.
It made her rethink what home really was and should be.
Home. Where she would be married to a normal man, with a baby and a decent life of church and going shopping and having Avon parties and all of that. Growing old together.
As they pulled to the curve around the house, she wiped her hands on her jeans to wipe off the jerky bits and slammed the car door.
“Hey wait.” Stone caught up to her, cupped her face with one hand. She felt no tears sting her eyes but her heart was crying. “I said I’m sorry. I’m just-“
“I know. Depressed. Upset.” Samosa tried looking away from Stone’s but his grip was stronger on her chin. He still smelled of ash, but at least the musky scent of him was quickly returning.
“Korin is taking his sweet time with this ceremony thing. You’re acting ugly more and more, Stone.”
He sighed and dropped his hand from her face. “There is a process to this. The other demo- I mean jinn have to drink the elixir for fourteen days.”
“Until then I have to put up with your PMS-ing?” Samosa shook her head and trudged up to the door and unlocked it. Sugar Rocks greeted her with a wet nose pushed into the palm of her hand and she entertained him by patting his head; thankful he was no longer afraid of her.
Maybe Sugar Rocks became afraid for her lately. Who knows what rolls around in that big lug’s head.
“I had to tell you the truth.” Stone closed the door and took her cool hand. “You are getting colder by the day and I feel my powers are slipping, besides making things levitate and puff in smoke.”
Samosa nod her head and went into the kitchen, pulling out fresh steaks that hadn’t frozen over yet. They were raw and bloody and cold. She could smell the meatiness and the sweet irony smell of them. She took the wrapped meat and touched it to her nose.
This was her life: sniffing blood, hanging with men from the underworld and ultimately getting whatever she needed.
Scratch that. Wanted.
Arms came around her waist as she tore open the steak and prepared to fry it. “What are you thinking, right now?” Arms switched to hands moving over her hips…
“You tell me. Can’t you read minds?”
“I can see futures and pasts, but my powers have waned.” His breath was warm against her cheek. Well, at least he didn’t see her thoughts about having a normal family. Those thoughts were long buried after Lyle cheated on her but Stone has rekindled them unfortunately.
“You’re not saying anything.” He gently turned her toward him.
“I have to fix the steak.”
He reached around her, drawing himself closer and she heard the squish of the meat as he took it and held it out to her. While the meat was in his hand, dripping its red ooze down his forearm, she saw tiny sparks skitter up the veins of his forearm and then pop into a small flame in his fingertips. It lasted about five seconds.
“Done.” He murmured and held it up to her lips. She bit into it greedily. One of his arms wrapped around her.
“I didn’t mean to hesitate in the car when you mentioned about making me happy. You make me more than that Samosa.” She finished the steak quickly but did not see Stone’s lips closing in on hers.
Even though her lips were sticky with semi cooked meat and blood, he kissed her long and hard. Her heart drummed and the base of her spine tingled.
“You make me want to be free.” He finally said against her mouth.