Page 4 of The Mating Fire
“It’s bulbous, but distinct. National bird of Peru and rather large and chunky. I saw it in a cloud forest at the tree line.”
Jared did not explain how he saw it at tree line. He would materialize wherever he wished, and today he wanted to see a unique bird to share his adventure with Rockstar00.
“Mating habits?”
He spoke into the microphone. “Quite unique. The colorful males make these porcine noises while they dance around and jump up and down.”
“They squeal like pigs?” This followed by several laughing emoticons.
He grinned again. “While they dance. I suppose their females find it attractive, though I daresay it’s the male’s bright plumage that does the trick to find a mate.”
“Sounds like the guys I’ve seen in class when they’re trying to find answers to the exam questions.”
He laughed aloud, the sound echoing deep and guttural in the cavernous hall. “How are your exams going?”
A brief line of text about her studies and how this time of night was the quietest to study, but she resumed talking about the cock-of-the-rock.
“It sounds like a lovely bird. Did you shoot it?” she asked.
Jared reeled back. Shoot it? All these weeks while he’d enjoyed chatting with her online, wistfully hoping they might meet in person someday, wondering if she would be as delightful as her convos, and now this?
Had he stumbled upon a woman with a penchant for violence? A perv, as the wizard Xavier’s daughter called them.
“Why would I shoot something so majestic?”
A smiley face, and then, “I mean, shoot it with a camera.” Then followed by sad faces. “I would never kill birds. You don’t think I’m like that, do you?”
Sighing, he typed back, for using the microphone led to auto correct disasters at times. “My bad. No, I do not. I’m afraid I am not quite familiar with the vernacular you use at times.”
“Sorry. I keep forgetting you’re in Peru and you don’t know American slang.”
Jared paused in responding. Flirting was even more foreign to him. Seduction, no. He was expert on that particular art. But the risk of flirtation might be worth it.
“Perhaps you could teach me some time… in person. A lesson on American slang so I do not screw up again.”
Another smiley face and several grinning devil faces. He reeled back a minute, wondering if she discerned his true nature, then realized Rockstar00 flirted back. Good thing Sonia had taught him a few things about emoticons. She might be only six, but she was damned smart with a cell phone.
Finally, she typed back, “I would love that, if you could come to Florida. Peru is too far for me.”
Heart drumming, he felt an unknown thrill of excitement. Meet in person? He could fly to Florida, not the trad way, but dematerialize in the vicinity of her college… but the meeting had to take place during the day. He wouldn’t risk a night meeting. A simple chat over chai tea in a coffee house, time flying and next thing, the clock struck midnight and…
Pausing over another response, he tapped a claw against one of his curved horns the way he imagined Rockstar00 would tap a Number 2 pencil against her temple while thinking of an answer to one of the endless exams she had in college. At least he knew her approximate age.
What did she look like? During the endless nights when he wasn’t chatting with her online, he imagined her as a plain, but earnest woman, with spectacles perhaps, a long thin nose like the beak of a wading bird, maybe theEudocimus albus, and short brown hair. Jared knew he liked to imagine her that way because it meant few men would be inclined to date her and he didn’t want her dating, didn’t want her starting relationships with them and eventually forgetting him, leaving him to the cold and lonely nights when it seemed the entire world had forgottenhim and he was doomed to spend his life isolated in this castle, only dark thoughts for company…
“Whatcha doing Jared?”
The young, cheerful voice startled him. Jared sat up straight, typed a quick “Sorry, have to run. Good luck with your exams.” He clicked off the tablet and set it aside.
“Sonia.” Frowning, he shook his head at the blonde girl. Sonia was six, precocious and famous for escaping from her immortal parents, Xavier and Ciara.
“It’s long past your bedtime and your father would kill me if he knew you were here visiting.”
“He might toss a crystal or two at you, but he wouldn’t kill you.” Sonia bounced over to him, wearing pajamas decorated with dancing snakes. “He wouldn’t kill me either, but he would yell.”
“Why are you here, pumpkin?”
“I couldn’t sleep. I know you never sleep, either so thought I’d visit and we could play the balloon game.”
