Two Hearts too Many

Warning: as per the title, there is warm and fuzzy demon love ahead. Feel free to delve in without caution.

Note from author: I wrote this as a side piece stemming from a work-in-progress in my Ryker Chronicles series, which is why you never meet the 'vampire' Xov'uchtreth speaks of (if you want vampires, read my other stuff). This is about the creation of Descendants, which is a particular species in Amy Ryker's world.

Enjoy!

*

Xov'uchtreth stormed from the beach front, hating that he'd gotten involved with the earth-bound demon in the first place. If he wasn't on the prowl, he might have crushed the insipid leech for wasting his time. Instead, he let him go with a warning.

He brushed his hands on his fine slacks, but the stench of murder wouldn't be so easily banished. He'd actually touched the thing, and he shouldn't have. It wasn't his role to judge on this floating speck zooming through space. He was here to hunt.

But that stench lingered on his human body suit, and he had to rid himself of it.

The ocean strip was aglow with nighttime activity. Bars and restaurants were open and lively with patrons. Xov'uchtreth chose an unassuming white-and-red-striped diner and ducked as he entered, waiting for the hostess to see him, who startled pleasantly when she did.

"Excuse me," he said. "Do you mind if I use the restroom?"

The hostess' eyes slid over his formidable human suit, and he sensed that feminine warmth building inside her, that deep, sensuous lust he was always searching for. She dutifully picked up a menu and waved to the sparse booths, displaying a modest wedding ring that sparkled in the florescent lights. "Normally, we'd ask you to order something, but I think I can make an exception."

"I'm happy to order. I just really need to go, if you know what I mean." He offered a guilty smile, knowing he wouldn't touch the human even if the future of his species was at stake. Which it was. "I promise, I'll be right back."

She smiled in return, the edges of her mouth turning up. "'Round the corner."

He dipped his head in gratitude and slipped into the back, passing several lone patrons nursing coffee and eating the cheap diner food.

One in particular caught his eye.

He saw her, really saw her. She was staring out the window, chin in hand, with tired eyes. Sadness eeked off her in waves. And she was beautiful to Xov'uchtreth. She had a fleshy warmth about her that the hostess didn't, a heft that would survive his thorough passion.

Her crystalline gray gaze met his, and he nearly paused. Her eyes flared at the sight of him, and he knew what she saw. He'd created his bodysuit well, and for that, he often found these sorts of exchanges effortless, for the women were so willing.

She turned her head away, as if she weren't permitted to ogle.

Xov'uchtreth did not pause his step, cataloguing the beautiful sad woman in his mind as he paced to the bathroom to rid himself of the stench. On a hunt, it was imperative to be fresh and smell nice, for humans still had a speck of survival instincts, and they could always smell murder.

That damned vampire, he thought to himself, scrubbing beneath his nails, sudsing vigorously. When he was finished, he checked his chiseled self in the mirror and smiled that winning smile of his.

Xov'uchtreth knew tonight would bring success.

Freshened and pleasant once more, he emerged from the restroom and ran clean hands down his buttoned shirt. Beautiful night. Beautiful people.

But when he searched for the particularly beautiful sad woman, she was gone. Her plate of food was uneaten, her coffee hardly touched next to the day's newspaper. And there was a bill on the table, large enough to cover the cost.

Disappointment seeped in, but he hailed the waitress.

She came as if compelled, looking like she might have applied a fresh layer of lipstick. "Pick wherever seat you'd like."

He slid into the booth across from the missing woman's seat. "I'll have a coffee, please," he said, accepting the menu.

"Coming right up." The hostess put a hand on his arm, the ring on her finger mysteriously absent. "Anything you need."

He offered a genteel nod. "Thank you, kindly."

And she was off, sashaying into the kitchen without a backwards glance.

Xov'uchtreth glanced over the booth to the vacant one. Nobody had come to take the money or food away, and he wondered if he'd get another glimpse at the gray-eyed beauty, or if she was gone for good. She'd have been a perfect hit.

The coffee came out, and he dutifully ignored the hostess' gentle hints and advances. She was pretty, sure, but married, and had children, if his sharp nose was any indicator.

No, she would not do.

He swirled a shot of cream into the coffee, half-heartedly panning the menu for something of equal value to a handwashing, and found nothing. He sighed and took a sip of the caramel liquid, finding that it only served to excite the fashioned body's nervous system.

Xov'uchtreth pushed the mug away. He didn't need the jitters tonight.

As he was about to set a five on the table, a bus boy came to take the plate of uneaten food from the vacated booth.

"Wait!" came a feminine shout. "I'm still here."

Xov'uchtreth faltered upon seeing her again as she stopped the bus boy, looking frazzled. Her gaze panned the near-empty diner, freezing when it landed on him. He cocked his head and offered a friendly smile.

She tore her focus away and took her seat, her cheeks reddening as she picked up the newspaper. She looked to be hiding, flipping the pages with a rustle as her food remained uneaten. The human only once grabbed her coffee cup and took a sip.

Xov'uchtreth smiled to himself this time, realizing he did not have to come up with another plan for the evening, if she was willing.

He left the five beneath his coffee mug and stood, stretching.

The gesture made her look again, then quickly to the sports section. Was she scared of him? He'd created this suit with the utmost care and consideration. No way the human could have noticed anything out of the ordinary upon first glance.

The hostess was poised to descend on him, so instead of heading towards the exit, he slid into the booth occupied by the beautiful woman, taking up much of the cushion.

The newspaper tilted down, and accusing red-rimmed eyes met his. "This booth is taken."

He did not shy away, leaning in and tilting the newspaper further, so he could see more of her. She'd been crying, likely the reason she'd left her booth in a hurry. "I know," he said in return. "Is it okay if I join you? I don't think a beautiful woman should be out at night all on her own."

Surprise lit up her face, then her shapely lip rose in disgust and she snatched the newspaper back, hiding behind it once more. "Don't make fun of me."

Xov'uchtreth was stunned. Did she not know how radiant she was? "I'm not making fun of you. I'm sorry if it came across that way. Really, I am."

She did not emerge from hiding, sneaking her hand out to claim her coffee cup, then zooming back behind the newspaper. "Just go away."

Xov'uchtreth blinked, shocked that he was being rejected by her. Stiffly, he stood from the booth, straightening his shirt to keep his hands busy. "As the lady commands," he said with the utmost respect. "My apologies for wasting your time."

He ran a hand through his hair and turned, shellshocked and a little disappointed. Maybe he needed to brush up on human etiquette again. Xov'uchtreth wasn't entirely sure what he'd done wrong to warrant such a response, but the woman was emotional. And emotional humans tended to do unexpected things.

He resigned himself to deflecting the hostess when that musical voice called out again. "Wait. I'm sorry. That was rude."

Xov'uchtreth pivoted with a spring in his step. The newspaper was down, and the beautiful woman was swiping a tear from her cheek.

She smiled a miserable smile, eyeing him with fading caution as he returned. "I'm not used to- I don't know, people caring. I'm kind of having a rough night."

"Tell me about it," he said, scooting back into the booth.

Her smile turned down. "You don't want to know. It's ridiculous."

He did not tear his gaze off her, taking in all of her bountiful curves. "Try me." Xov'uchtreth wanted to reach for her hand, but stayed himself. She didn't trust him, not yet.

The human's smile widened as she shook her head, her gaze unfocused. "It's been a year, I mean, who can't get over their ex in that time? It's not like we, you know-" She paused as her cheeks reddened again. "-did it, or anything." Her face reddened further, so that it crawled down her neck. Then she folded her arms and put her head down, burning with embarrassment. "Oh, god. Just let me die, now."

He laughed under his breath, then mimicked her folded arm posture to be at her level. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about. My name's Trent."

She peeked up at him, her expression still miserable, dampened only by curiosity. "If you run now, you won't have to listen to me moan."

He rested his head on a shoulder and grinned again. "I don't think I'd mind hearing you moan."

The human's eyes flared again, and he realized she must often be surprised and caught off-guard. Or maybe it was just him. "No, I know what this is." She sat up, her former familiarity gone as she snatched her newspaper. "This is one of those recruitments, right? A pig party? I'm not an idiot and I refuse to be made a mockery of. Good day, sir."

She marched out of the diner with her head bowed and the newspaper tucked under one arm.

Xov'uchtreth tore from the booth and pursued. He'd never had to work so hard before. He zoomed past the hostess who was offering him a fading smile and a good evening, trying not to lose sight of the woman. If he couldn't even get her name, what sort of demon was he?

She'd veered off the sidewalk and was storming down an alley with her head still down. And when he got within earshot, he heard the sobs.

His three oversized hearts ached for her.

She was leaned up against a brick building, muffling the weeping with a fist.

Xov'uchtreth approached carefully, trying his best not to startle her. "I don't know what this 'pig party' thing is, but I had no intentions other than to see you smile. I seem to have a lot to apologize for this evening."

The woman tensed and hiccupped in surprise, then she turned to face him, her gray eyes overflowing with tears, making them almost silver. "You're still making fun of me."

Xov'uchtreth sighed with sorrow for this woman who was so jaded against her own kind, she could not see kindness when it was offered. "I swear, I'm not. I guess... I'm used to Europe. People are so friendly out there. I sometimes forget Americans have more stringent boundaries."

She didn't look as if she believed him. "You don't sound European."

"That's because I'm not. I just visit sometimes." He gave a supportive smile and pulled the passport from his back pocket, flipping it open. "See? I just got back last evening. Dulles. And before that, de Gaulle."

She blinked her tears away as if to see the passport better, her gaze roving over the innumerable stamps which were, in fact, authentic. "You really get around." It didn't seem to be a compliment. "But I'm not buying it."

"Because I am, if you'll let me." He drew closer to her, watching her dour look bloom into cautious anticipation. Xov'uchtreth touched her cheek, swiping away a stray tear. "You didn't eat anything at the diner. Let me take you out."

The woman seemed rendered mute by the gesture, her cheeks reddening again. Then she glanced away and nodded with resignation. "Okay, but don't expect me to go to a 'party' with your 'friends'."

And with that, he was back on track.

"I would never seek to disparage you. On that, you have my word." He offered her an arm and a smile. "But I never did catch your name."

She accepted it hesitantly, her warm fingers squeezing the muscle of his forearm. "It's Melody."

"Melody," he echoed, tasting its flavor on his tongue. "A beautiful name."

*

Xov'uchtreth found a hidden burger joint not far from the diner that seated them without a wait. Melody clung to her wariness but did not turn down the free food.

At least he had that going for him.

When the burgers arrived, she merely stared at it.

He picked up his own and took a hearty bite, watching her with a raised brow to see if she'd participate or simply spectate. "It's not going to eat itself," he said with an easy smile. "Unless you want something else?"

"No, no," she said, shaking her head and poking the burger. "I just- I'm not all that hungry."

He set his own down and leaned back to better observe her. "Does this have something to do with the ex-boyfriend you were talking about?"

She glanced at him fleetingly, then back down to her burger. "No- yes. Sort of. It's- kind of the anniversary of me getting dumped by a faithless jackass, so it's a bit fresh, you know?"

He remained quiet.

"Of course, you don't," she said finally. "I'll bet no one ever turns you down."

"Well," he said, resting his head in his hand. "I did get turned down by a ravishing woman in a diner tonight. Don't know if that counts."

Her gaze never rose. "Stop that."

"What?"

"Calling me beautiful and ravishing and all that. It's mean."

Xov'uchtreth caught her hand and squeezed. "When I see a diamond, I'm going to call it a diamond, Melody. And you are, whether or not anyone else has told you so."

Her eyes flickered up to his, full and reluctant. Then she stole her hand back and covered her face. "Stop it."

He grabbed those hands back, forcing her to look at him. "Never, never. Not so long as you are beautiful to me. I couldn't possibly be so disingenuous."

Melody's face scrunched adorably, but she squeezed his hands back. "I don't know what you're smoking, but I guess I'll have some, too."

Xov'uchtreth's face dropped in surprise. "Well, I mean I don't smoke, but we could get some."

"It's just a joke," she said with a less-hesitant smile. Then she peered up at him, scrutinizing him hard. "You're cute when you're confused."

"Does that mean you'll give me a chance to prove I'm not like those other jackasses?"

Redness burned in her cheeks again and she bit her lip. "I suppose."

"That's all I need," he said, leaning in for a kiss. It was closed-mouth, and sweet, ending quickly as Melody burned with embarrassment. But he made sure to meet her eye, holding her gaze hostage with a fiery look. "You won't regret it."

*

She leaned into him, giggling with a mixture of evening fatigue, fullness of stomach, and good company. They'd eaten their fill at the burger joint and found themselves meandering through the tiny costal city.

Xov'uchtreth kept his eye on her, as if she were going to bolt at any moment. But her caution had waned, and he felt he'd actually ensnared this one. Finally.

"... oh, you have no idea how bad it was," she went on, telling him the story of her ex. "My family loved him. Loved him, even as they tolerated me. When he broke up with me, they offered him my place in the family." She threw her gaze skywards, eyes glittering with tears. "That's when I blacklisted the lot of them. They deserve each other."

"That's cruel of them to say about one of their own. I'm so sorry you had to deal with that," he said, looping an arm easily over her shoulder.

"Don't be. Best decision I ever made."

He thought back on earlier in the evening, when he'd found her crying at the diner. He hesitated to mention it, deciding instead to change the subject. "You never told me where you wanted to go, after this."

Melody nestled under his arm and linked her hand in his, clearly leading him somewhere. "I'm not very good at this sort of thing. I thought- maybe, we could, go back to my place?"

Xov'uchtreth reveled in the rush of victory, thrilled that she needed no convincing. "Only if you're comfortable with it. I wouldn't want to impose."

She squeezed his hand tighter. "Stop being so perfect."

He chuckled and allowed her to lead him through the winding streets, under a land bridge, and into waterfront territory. They came to a squat cement building a few blocks from the ocean.

"It's not much," she said, punching in a door code. "But unless you have somewhere nearby, it's all I've got."
Melody dragged him in by the hand, leading him up the stairs. He was mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the sensuous curve of her spine. Xov'uchtreth wanted to claim her right here on the stairs, but he did have rules.

At the very least, he owed her an explanation.

When they entered her cozy little studio, she turned on him and ran her hands over his chest. He thought it had already begun, surprised that she was so forward after admitting she'd never actually had been with a man.

He leaned in to kiss her when her searching went to his waist.

"No," she said, brushing away the kiss. "I'm checking you for wires. Or cameras."

Xov'uchtreth smiled, stayed her hands, then ripped his shirt open to reveal his dense chest, bare save for a small patch of fair hair between his pectorals, a touch he'd thoughtfully added. "See?" he asked a speechless Melody. "No wires."

She gaped at him, looking ready to retreat again.

He grabbed her hands and pulled her into him, so she was forced to look up or kiss chest. He also stroked her cheek, tracing the line of her full lips before craning down and kissing her again. "I have- a confession to make, Melody. It's only fair you know before."

She was suddenly drunk off the kiss and his irresistible musk. "What? Do you have an STD? Because I've got a box of condoms. Don't ask why."

"No, it's not that." He pulled her to a well-used couch, smiling at her sweet and generous whimsy. "I'm not- exactly what I seem to be. Not at all, in fact."

She mounted him with some awkwardness, settling herself on his lap as she explored his vast chest. "You've tried all evening to convince me of your pure intentions. And now that I get you back to my place, you've got to confess? You'd better cough it up right now."

Xov'uchtreth ran his hands down her soft arms, nudging her for another kiss, maybe their last, depending on how she took the news. "If I'd have told you in the diner, you would have thought I was insane. These things, they can't be spoken without at least some trust between parties."

She pulled back and scrutinized him again. "What are you talking about?"

Melody was on the defense again. He could feel her body closing up, that chance narrowing with every second he held back. "I had every intention of telling you before anything happened. It's your decision."
"What is?"

"My- species, is dying," he said, his voice heavy. "On our world, there are no females. We come to planets like your earth to find strong women who can bear our hybrid offspring in hopes that our genetic material doesn't fizzle out with the last of our race."

Melody's suspicion was frozen on her face, as if she were holding in what she really thought.

"What you see here." He caught her hands and made her feel his chest. "What you feel, it's not real. This is not my body, but I am inside it. I created it to traverse this world undetected."

She took her hands back slowly. "If this is some sort of messed-up role-playing fantasy, you can leave it at the door." She got off his lap and paced to the kitchenette.

Even from here, Xov'uchtreth felt her heat rising again, though not from carnal desire. Embarrassment? Anger, maybe. Whatever it was, it was certainly misguided.

"Melody, wait." He levered off the couch and stood, frozen to the spot. "I'm not lying. I can prove it."