Inhumans Pt. 02

"He said he had a contact in our team," I finally said.

"Yeah," Angel said. "And we still don't know what he wanted."

"Didn't he say his goal was to kill the slime and Janes?" Sarah asked.

"If that was it, he wouldn't have drawn me out," I said. "There's something else going on."

"Do you think it was a trap to get us away from Crystal?" Sarah asked.

I sucked in a breath and floored the accelerator as Angel quickly dialed Mia, leaning forward between the front seats so I could talk to her.

"Hello," Mia answered. "Are you on your way back?"

"Did anything happen while we were away?" Angel asked seriously.

"No," Mia said. "There weren't any jobs, no one raped anyone, and Alicia and I have been helping Crystal study different monsters all day." She dropped her voice as I forced myself to ease up on the gas in order to not get pulled over. "I really wish you'd hurry up and get home, though. Alicia and I haven't fed since you left because we've been around her, so Alicia's getting a bit fidgety."

"We're almost there," I said. "Twenty minutes tops."

"Okay," Mia said. "See you then."

She hung up, so Angel put the phone in the cup holder and sighed, sitting back and leaning on Sarah's shoulder, Sarah wrapping her arms around Angel.

"I love you," Angel said.

"I know," Sarah smiled, kissing the top of her head.

I glanced at Angel in the mirror, but she didn't seem bothered by the fact that Sarah didn't say it back. I returned my attention to the road and a few minutes later, finally, we were back. I parked the vehicle and made my way to my room to shower, Angel heading for her room as well while Sarah went to look after Crystal for me. I showered quickly but thoroughly, then pulled on clean clothes and headed to the library. As Mia had said, Crystal was pouring over a book, several more piled around her on the desk. I nodded to Sarah, who returned it, and she left. I walked over to Crystal, checking her current choice of reading material. It was a book detailing the hierarchy of Slime nobility.

"You fed," Crystal said, glancing at me.

"Uh, yeah," I said. "I didn't really have much choice after the way the job went. How'd you know?"

"You smell like Angel," Crystal said.

I grimaced, stepping away from her slightly. "Sorry. I thought I got it all washed off."

Crystal shook her head. "I don't think it's a literal smell. That's just the closest word I can come up with."

"Oh," I said. "You're probably starting to sense sexual energy."

Crystal nodded. "Do you love her?"

I hesitated for a moment. "I think part of me might."

Crystal nodded. "I can't read any of these names."

I glanced at the book and nodded. "They're in the native language of the slimes. Since slimes are the only ones who can speak it, they all choose a name from other languages to identify themselves as to other species."

"I see," Crystal nodded. "And I assume these symbols are the written language?"

I nodded. "Technically anyone can learn to read it, but the characters are usually as different as the length of one line, so it's nearly impossible to learn."

"Can you read it?" Crystal asked.

"Sort of," I said. "I can recognize specific names, but only a few. Otherwise, no."

Crystal glanced at me, seeing me staring at the book, which was currently open to a page about the royal family. "Do you recognize these?"

I nodded. "The king's chosen name is Cain. The prince was named Sludge. He thought it was funny."

"What happened to him?" Crystal asked.

"He was the slime that attacked me," I said. "The one...The one the slime I was in love with killed to protect me."

Crystal nodded, following my line of sight to the page. "Do you know the princess's name?" She paused. "Was the princess the slime before?"

I stare at the princess's name for a moment longer before heading to the door and pausing. "You should get some rest. We're doing cardio and strength training in the morning."

Crystal nodded, putting the books away before heading to bed. I walked back to my room, closing the door before leaning against it, pressing my forehead against the door. I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep this up. I needed to tell her everything. And yet, I couldn't. I could try to give hints. I could try to jog her memory slowly, but there was no guarantee. And if it didn't work, it might legitimately scare her away. I sighed, pushing off the door and collapsing onto the bed, kicking my shoes off and pulling the covers up over myself. Sleep never found me.