Page 48 of Total Lunar Eclipse
“My parents went in and spoke with the principal. I don’t know what they told her; probably something along the lines that stupidity begets more stupidity, and that I really couldn’t be held accountable for mine because of my age. I dunno. Whatever it was, it saved my ass, but my parents forbade me from ever making anything ‘homemade’ again. Even food. That’s how I ended up focusing completely on astrology and tarot. Oh, and I was grounded for like a month,” I finish my tale.
“Please don’t ever make me anything homemade,” Illu commands with a shiver.
“My other products weren’t that bad,” I retort. “Well, my toothpaste was a little caustic. . .”
“Stop!” Illu shouts and Mio laughs.
I’m glad to see he is perking up a bit.
His olive complexion had been looking ashy.
Suddenly, Illu stiffens and *poof*, disappears.
I stare in astonishment at the spot he had been, wondering out loud where the hell he had gone.
“Uranus must have told him something urgent, or else he never would have risked manifesting potentially in front of humans.”
I hope everything is ok.
I begin to worry about what could be wrong, when Mio completely diverts my attention.
“Sunny’s going to love that story, by the way.Vag rashes,” he chortles.
“You have Nyam?!” I screech.
“Yep. Make sure you tell him that story. And make sure you tell him you love him, just as I love you. Tae ickum leevum,carina. Never forget it.”
Before I can say anything to his solemn sounding words, his body dissolves into shimmering particles. By now, I’m familiar enough with the tiny fragments to recognize them for what they are: soul essence. Why the fuck Mio has just burst into a thousand pieces is both baffling and distressing.
Before I can even begin to contemplate and figure out this new clusterfuck of a situation, the door slams open and in strides Mary. Damn, she’s one strong-ass old lady. I could barely get those doors to budge. I bet she could totally take on the Gert.
She’s watching Mio’s essence float around and I bet she’s wondering what the hell is happening. Since I don’t have a clue, it’s doubtful I’ll be able to explain anything to her. Her eyes bug out when the particles coalesce into the shape of a person, and I realize Mio gave up his life to bring back Nyam.
He must have ingested Nyam’s essence and planned all along to give up his life for his brother’s.
I’m not sure what to do and just stand there watching like a ninny, but Mary leaps into action. She jumps into the softly glowing flecks and disperses the material. Fearful Nyam won’t be able to assemble himself, I rush to Mary’s side and begin a haltingly terrible explanation for what she’s seeing.
I stop midsentence when I realize she’s sucking the particles into herself.
“Mary, stop!” I order, fear tripping my words up. “It’s Nyam. I know that doesn’t make sense, but just stop breathing for a second, dammit!”
By the time Mary internalize my words, Nyam’s essence is gone.
“Nooooooo!” I wail in despondence.
I scream over and over again until Mary loses her patience with me and backhands me across the face.
“Shut up, you little slut!” she shouts.
I’m too numb to acknowledge her harsh words, but they feel out of place.
Mary doesn’t speak like that to me.
No one speaks to me like that.
Well, no one but. . .
A petty cuntcushion.
