Bodies Are Disgusting by S. Gates Read Free Book Online

into a subtle sneer once you've
had a moment to stare. Something that might be amusement (or
possibly disgust) flickers across his features as he returns your
regard. Finally, he says, "I'd been wondering if we'd have cause to
meet. Of course, I had my suspicions, but..." He laughs, though it
sounds more like the cackling of a bird than anything human. "Well,
I suppose now I know."
    His words drip with fake politeness, and you
find yourself taking an involuntary step back. As if drawn by an
invisible string, his feet shift in perfect mirror of yours. Before
you're aware of it, the stranger has you backed up against one
shelf, hands resting to either side of your shoulders. You fight
down the urge to flinch: some part of your hindbrain recognizes it
would be a possibly fatal mistake to do so. Instead, you meet his
eyes.
    They look almost like your eyes at first, a
sort of dull gray-green flecked with brown, but they shift even as
you're looking at them until they're almost like the inverse of
Ori's. They're large and glassy like Ori's, but rather than being a
dead black, they're a strange milky-white that reminds you of
advanced cataracts or creatures whose eyes have atrophied from
living in the depths of caves without light. "What the hell?" Your
voice shakes only a little.
    The stranger leans in–he's taller than you,
and can press his nose to the crown of your head–and sniffs. "You
reek of the Lightless Realms," he says, breath ruffling your hair.
"One supposes that shouldn't be surprising, since you wear It's
mark, but it's almost like you've bathed in It. How... entertaining ," and the way he spits out the word tells you
that he finds the situation anything but. He grabs your left hand
and pulls it up above your head, fingers brushing the silvery band
Ori gifted you. It burns.
    He shifts his weight and drops his head to
rest near your ear. "Were I you, precious pet, I would abandon this
trinket, return to your petty concerns, and forget entirely about
the Sightless One. I can personally guarantee that will
significantly improve your quality of life before the
end."
    You jerk your hand out of his grasp and shove
him back with a firm push to his chest. The ring on your index
finger glints as it makes contact with his shirt, and he stumbles,
milky eyes widening in surprise. A half-smirk, half-sneer settles
on his face. "Cute," he drawls, but he makes no move to close the
distance between you again. "You're adorable. So precious. When
I've ascended, I'll remember you. I want to tear the flesh from
your face and wear your bones. They are so darling ."
    "The fuck , man!" The words come out in
an angry huff, despite the curling feeling of dread that's pooling
in your gut. "You can take your fucked up cannibal bullshit and
shove it. Who the fuck says shit like that?"
    The stranger's expression remains unchanged,
but he shuffles back to sketch the parody of a sweeping bow. "By
your leave, I introduce myself. In other tongues I am known as
First Harbinger, Breaker of the Seals, and the Taloned One. You,
delectable little lamb, will know me as Lucien. It is a most
laughable moniker all things considered, but I wear it as well as I
can." His earrings jingle as he straightens, and he takes another
step back. "I hope that you give some thought to my words, precious
child. While I wouldn't hate to ruin you so soon, it would
hardly be sporting of me."
    Before you can respond, he slips back around
the corner that you'd been about to turn when you nearly ran into
him. All you can do is stare after the stranger dumbly, blinking
twice. It occurs to you to follow him only after you've been gaping
in his wake for several seconds, but when you turn the corner, the
aisle is deserted.
    A part of you isn't sure why you expected
anything different. The stranger was far too over-the-top to
possibly be real, you rationalize, and you still have at least one
more visit with the neurologist before you're in the clear.
Admittedly, you're pretty sure