《Primal Devotion》


 Chapter 1: Queen Bee

    Bees.


    These automated transit buses always reminded Kalen of bees. Perhaps it was the bright yellow safety bars the office workers clung to like drones. Bumping and shuffling against each other, swaying in time with the shifting of the ponderous vehicle. Or maybe the hum whenever a bus pulled away from the curb, it''s powerful, electric engine whirring to life. But now, more than ever, he thought of bees when he looked down the rows of seats to find her.


    His Queen Bee.


    Kalen stared at her between the collar shirted drones as they slid up and down the aisle, leaving the mobile hive to flit about, disappearing into the darkening city streets. She sat reading a book. Another of her trashy romance novels judging by the worn and tattered cover. Just another thing that he found fascinating about her. While everyone else sat or stood, faces glued to digital pads or plugged into virtual web-space she poured through an antiquated paperback.


    A overweight woman slumped into an open seat, immediately obstructing his view. Kalen''s heart beat rose, his skin prickling at being denied the sight of her. He craned his neck, leaning over slightly. Trying to catch a glimpse of her again. The man on his right cleared his throat grumpily as he invaded his personal space and Kalen shrunk back with a weak apologetic smile.


    Damn it. She would be getting off soon. He closed his eyes and bought up her image in his mind. Her silky, chocolate colored skin. The way she nibbled on her lip as her amber eyes danced over the pages. Her chestnut brown hair, streaked with a few blonde highlights.


    Kalen balled his hands into fists. It was a risk but he had to get closer to her. His breathing slowed as he concentrated. Senses stretching out, nostrils flaring. The stink of humanity nearly caused him to gag. Sweat, grime and the pungent sting of perfumes and deodorants mixed together to assault his nasal passages. He sifted through them, determined to find her.


    There she was.


    Her skin smelled of coconut and honey. He took it in. The scent of her drowning out the world. Kalen sighed audibly and relaxed, bathing in her presence, losing himself in her. His other senses heightened unconsciously and he listened to her breath, the slight rustle of her clothing as she shifted in her seat.


    A sharp pain knifed through his left hand causing Kalen to grunt loudly.


    "No." he whispered, covering one hand with the other, feeling the bones shift and crack beneath the skin. A few of the drones glanced in his direction, but, not wanting to get involved, turned away just as quickly. He lowered his head not daring to open his eyes as his pulse started to race. Muscles in his back tensed, pulling him upright in the plastic chair. His thumb popped audibly, and in a panic, he shoved the hand into his pocket wincing as razor sharp nails tore through the denim material like tissue paper, opening a gash on his upper thigh.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    An electronic ping sounded, signaling an approaching stop. Kalen sucked in a lungful of air as the bus slowed, turned, and finally halted with a pneumatic hiss. There was chime when the doors slid open and he stood up immediately, shuffling from the seat. Kalen kept his right hand rubbing at his forehead to shield his eyes, pushing past passengers and out onto the street.


    "Watch it, jerk!" someone said.


    Kalen didn''t bother to look back as he strode forward, ignoring the angry protest, oblivious to the direction he was headed as his sneaker clad feet splashed through shallow puddles of dirty rainwater. He collided into what felt like a wall made of studded leather, bounced off it and fell back onto his ass.


    "S''up, meat?" A deep voice boomed.


    Kalen kept his head down as he clambered to his feet. The smell of tobacco, cheap alcohol and illicit drugs bombarding his overtaxed senses. Multiple pairs of steel capped boots, decorated with glinting chrome chains and studs shuffled around him.


    "Sorry." he said trying to step back, instead bumping into another of the gang. A shove from behind sent him stumbling forward.


    "He don''t seem to sorry to me. He keeps doing it." someone said, a chorus of laughter following.


    Kalen grit his teeth, muscles continuing to tighten like steel coils, the coppery taste of blood filling his mouth as he struggled to keep himself calm. With a mechanical whir a steel blue hand griped his jacket and pulled him forward, lifting him off his feet.


    "Give us some money, bitch. Maybe then we''ll accept your apology."


    This one was obviously the leader. A monster of a man dressed in a tattered synth-leather jacket, the right sleeve torn off at the shoulder off to expose a bulky, menacing looking cybernetic arm. Kalen''s skin felt like it was on fire, adrenaline flooding his bloodstream, his heart jack-hammering in his chest. He looked up into the face of the brute holding him.


    "Let go of me." he snarled, his eyes shining golden red in the glow of the flickering streetlights.


    The linebacker sized cyber-ganger flinched as if jolted by an electrical shock. He recovered quickly, no doubt bolstered by the presence of the other gangers surrounding their prey. An amused snort escaped his wide, flat nose.


    "Nice optics you is sporting. Can''t even see any scars." he grunted, "Set like them must have set you back a bit."


    A skinny Puerto Rican woman wearing a studded dog collar poked Kalen in the ribs. "So, what? You rich, white boy?"


    Kalen glanced around at the others, taking them in. To his right were two more gangers. The first''s forearms so covered in wristwatches Kalen couldn''t see his skin beneath the bands. While the other, twirled a metal baseball bat in his hands. The scratches and dents covering its surface a clear sign he wouldn''t hesitate to use it.


    Kalen could tell the money was just an excuse. His nose twitched at the rank smell of their unwashed bodies, the amphetamines in their bloodstreams seeping from their pores. These lowlife scumbags were jacked up and looking to hurt someone. His senses expanded tenfold at the impending danger. The creak of leather as the linebacker shifted his weight. The clicking of a metal stud as the woman waggled her tongue over her teeth. And then something else. A tapping on the cracked pavement as someone drew closer.


    The sweet scent of coconut and honey.


    "Hey, you! Leave him alone and get out of here!"


    * * * * *

 Chapter 2: Stacy

    Kalen''s heart leapt into his throat and his panic rose, his sternum popped as his ribcage expanded, his loose shirt growing tight against his chest. The thugs didn''t notice. They were all turning toward the woman marching toward them, a book held out above her head threateningly.


    "Did you hear me!'' she said storming closer. "Stop harassing people and do something productive with your lives."


    The gang sneered and chuckled as she walked a few more steps and stopped, hands on her hips defiantly. Kalen fumbled in his pocket pulling out a few crumpled bills and held it in front of the huge thugs line of sight attempting to distract him from her.


    "Here! This is all the money I have. Alright? We don''t want any trouble." Kalen tried to back up as he pushed the credits into the brutes coat pocket.


    "Looks like your bitch has more balls than you. I like it when they is feisty like that." The big thug released Kalen''s shirt and then shoved him with the massive metal hand. "Pretty little thing too. Tell you what, meat. Forget the money," he said, removing the bills and holding them teasingly toward Kalen with two fingers, "I''ll take her sweet ass inst--"


    A knee slammed into the linebackers stomach, foul breath whooshing out of him as Kalen exploded into movement. An elbow caught the ganger girl in the chest, hurling her backward to collide into a metal sign post. Kalen grunted as the baseball bat caught him just below the shoulder blade, the impact buckling his legs. His forearm blocked the second blow and he replied with a roundhouse kick that sent the bat wielder crashing into his wristwatch adorned partner.


    Kalen dashed toward his Queen Bee, grabbing her wrist and knocking her book from her hand as she stood there dumbfounded, spurring her into action with a yell.


    "Run!"


    * * * * *


    At the end of the alley neon signs painted the rain slicked sidewalk in hues of pink, purple and blue. Tucked far back in the darkness Kalen crouched behind a dented dumpster, his golden, red tinged eyes, scanning the alley''s entranceway. Car horns blared and people chattered away on com-devices as they bustled about on the street, but, he no longer heard the sounds of the pursuing gangers. Nothing. He turned his head to look at the panting woman behind him, leaning over with hands on her knees, eyes shut tightly. The white camisole top she wore now damp with perspiration, painted onto her toned form. Fear had only heightened her scent, threatening to overwhelm him. Her chest heaved and Kalen forced himself to turn away when the top slipped and hung open. Instead, he listened to her as she gasped for breath. Heard her racing heart beat gradually slow.


    Kalen shook his head, angry at himself. Twinges of pain clearing his thoughts as he felt his muscles begin to relax at last, bones clicking and popping as they straightened and realigned. She eased herself upright looking in his direction, trying to find him in the shadows as she fanned her face with her hand.


    "God, you''re in good shape..." she panted, "You aren''t even winded."


    Kalen felt his cheeks flush at the compliment, glad that she couldn''t see him. "I ... I like to run." he replied.


    "Apparently." she said with a smile that caused his mouth to grow dry.


    "That was pretty amazing back there." she said, her fingers delicately brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Do you have, like, a martial arts synth-chip or something?"


    "Yes." he lied.


    She shuffled closer, hands running along the wall as she blindly felt her way through the darkness. Her fingers found his arm and she visibly relaxed while his pulse quickened.


    "Are you sure they aren''t following us?" she asked, a little fright still tickling at the edges of her voice. Kalen''s heart melted. He wanted to pull her close. To comfort her. Take away all of the lingering fear she still had. Promise her that he would never let her come to harm.


    "I''m sure." he finally replied. He took a breath to steady his nerves. "Here, follow me." he said leading her out of the alley. Blinking, he willed his vision to return to normal. His eyes shifting to their usual light brown coloration.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    She stopped and peeked about cautiously before stepping out onto the busy sidewalk.


    "Looks like you were right. I don''t see any sign of them." she looked back and forth reaffirming her statement before turning her attention back to him. "They must have thought better than to try follow us here. Too many people around for them to try anything, I guess."


    Kalen nodded.


    "Though. I think I''ll be taking a different route home from now on." she said, still breathing a little heavy, "I''d rather walk the extra couple blocks then risk a repeat of tonight. You know?"


    Kalen frowned at the thought of not seeing her anymore. Unsure of what to say his mouth hung open as his mind searched for words. He wanted to agree with her. But how could he? This had been the best night of his life. She smiled at him. A smile he had memorized ages ago. Her full lips parting slightly. Her left hand extended.


    "I''m Stacy." she said.


    He knew she was a southpaw, of course, and he had to force himself not to tremble when he took her hand in his own.


    "Kalen." he replied.


    She shook it lightly, her skin smooth and supple. His eyes met hers and his smile widened even more, and in response, hers did the same.


    "You don''t say very much do you?" She asked, a bit of a humor in her tone. Caught off guard he thought about it for a moment before he simply shrugged.


    The non-committal answer must have amused Stacy as she started to chuckle, before she glanced down. Her eyes went wide. Kalens breath caught in his throat as she snatched her hand back from his as if burned.


    "Oh my god!" she said, staring at her blood smeared palm. She stepped closer and he froze as she looked down at the large dark red bloodstain on his thigh.


    "They cut you!" she said, "You''re bleeding!"


    Kalen shrank back from her. "It''s nothing. I''m fine."


    "Don''t be stupid, Kalen," she said glancing around to make sure she had her proper bearings, "Come on. We are only a few blocks from my apartment." she gripped his tightly hand and pulled on him to follow.


    * * * * *


    Stacey threw open the door to her apartment, guiding him inside, the lights clicking on automatically as they crossed the threshold. Concern creased her face. It had been building ever since she''d seen the bloodstain on his faded jeans and now she practically threw him onto a overstuffed chair in her living room.


    "Wait here." she said, pulling off her light brown jacket, tossing it over a metal barstool as she raced through a doorway and into another part of the small home. The sound of clattering bottles and plastic pill containers bouncing and spilling in a sink quickly followed.


    Kalens head swung back and forth, uncertainty creasing his brow. A stuffed purple tiger stared up at him from the floor, seemly just as confused at being knocked from its resting spot when Stacy had forced him to sit.


    Reaching down he picked up the toy.


    Kalen didn''t need to enhance his senses any further. He could feel Stacy everywhere in the apartment. The home was small but functional, with a certain, lived in feel. Not overly neat, yet, not messy either. Easing himself out of the chair Kalen took a few steps over to one of the faux wood bookshelves placed in the corners of the room. A smile crept across his lips at the collection of paperbacks crowding the shelves. Romance, mysteries and adventure books all competed for space, standing upright and even piled on top of each other when there was no more room.


    Stacy reappeared, a jumble of medical supplies cradled in her arms. Dropping to her knees she swept a remote, some holo-vid sticks and a green bra onto the floor as she dumped the first aid materials on top of a coffee table in the centre of the room. Not looking in Kalen''s direction she started sifting through bottles and bandages.


    "Take off your pants." she said


    "What!" he replied, dropping the tiger.


    "That''s a lot of blood, Kalen. The cut must be deep." she bit the edge of a packet, ripping it open with her teeth. "You probably didn''t even feel it with all the adrenaline as we ran from those assholes." she shuffled over to him, walking on her knees, a SlapPatch? in her hand. "We''ll get you to the hospital but first we need to stop any more blood loss."


    "Take off your pants." she said.


    " I don''t need to--"


    Stacy stared up at him, her face contorted in worry and anger. "Damn it! Kalen!" Do as I say!"


    Not waiting for his compliance she reached out and gripped his waistline, tugging at it insistently. Backpedaling in alarm Kalen grabbed at his jeans. This had gone too far. He should have never come. There would be no way to explain how the gashes on his thigh were now little more than scratches, especially with the amount of fresh blood wetting his leg. Medical technology was good, but not that good.


    "Don''t touch me!" he said, snatching her hand and shoving her away roughly.


    Stacy yelped as she toppled onto the floor. She looked up at him, worry twisting her features.


    Kalen''s heart dropped. What had he done? She was only trying to help. But, if she ever found out. He knew she wouldn''t... couldn''t accept him.


    Shoulders slumped in defeat Kalen retreated to the door.


    "I... I''m sorry." he said, fingers reaching toward the handle.


    He stood there. Tried not to look at her. Hands shaking, tension knotting his shoulders. Doubt scratched at his brain. If he opened the door, whatever this was, would be over. Maybe he could explain it to her. Get her to understand an impossible secret. There was something between them. He could feel it, like electricity in the air. Could she feel it too? His knuckles turned white as he gripped the handle.


    No. He couldn''t take it if she rejected him for the truth. And he couldn''t lie to her anymore. Kalen yanked the door open and risked a fleeting glance in her direction.


    He saw bewilderment, then alarm in her eyes.


    "S''up, meat?"


    * * * * *

 Chapter 3: Meat

    Kalen groaned, tasting thick blood in his mouth. He coughed and it welled up along with bits of teeth and bone to splatter onto a metal floor. One eye cracked open, the other had been crushed and leaked from the socket. He was in some kind of van with his arms cuffed behind him.


    Hands gripped his shoulder and rolled him onto his back, a weight dropping onto his waist. The ganger girl from before sat on him, grinding on his pelvis as he groaned in agony.


    "That''s it. Wakey, wakey, white boy." she said giggling and leering down at him. You ready for some more fun?" She leaned on his chest and Kalen bit back a scream as she pressed on his broken ribs.


    "I think he likes you, Skeeze." Another voice jeered.


    "Stacy..." Kalen managed to wheeze through smashed lips.


    "Looking for your little girlfriend?" Skeeze mocked "She''s Tanks property now. Oh, he''ll take real good care of her." she laughed and gripped Kalens chin. The action sent another lance of pain through his jaw. "He said I could have you though."


    The van suddenly lurched to the left as it went around a bend and she turned to slap her hand against the wall of the vehicle.


    "Hey! Watch it, Zip! Where the fuck you learn to drive!" In response to her complaint the van swerved again and she toppled ungracefully to the floor and off of Kalen, the gang all laughing and hollering.


    Kalen ragged breaths wheezed through his broken nose. It took all of his concentration to not let It out and heal. Hurt as he was he knew there was no way he could pull It back, to keep It under control. He had to bear the pain. He had to find Stacey.


    What the hell happened? The last he remembered he had opened the door. Then a metal fist. Blackness. Pain. A whole lot of pain. Kalen had heard a booming voice between the blows, laughing about an address written inside a book cover. More pain. He had almost let It out then. It was raging. Smashing itself at the mental bars It clawed for release. It would take the pain away, but Stacys voice had fortified his resolve as she screamed at the gangers to stop hitting him.


    Kalen forced it back into the cage. He wouldn''t let It hurt her.


    Tires squealed as the van it slid to a halt. The gangers piling out and pulling him along with them. His vision swam, it was dark, deafeningly loud music screeched through what looked like the parking lot of an old tenement blockhouse. There were a few rusted and patchwork cars parked haphazardly as cybered up punks lounged, drinking and pumping drugs into their bodies. A small group huddled around the trunk of one, pulling out boxes.


    "Yo, Skeeze! Where Tank be at?" one yelled as Kalen was dragged past. "I need him come take a look at this score."


    "I''ll tell him." Skeeze replied as she and a few other gangers shoved Kalen through a old emergency exit. He was pulled along, up stairways and down halls covered with graffiti and old faded rock posters. They finally stopped at an apartment, it''s door wide open. Dragging him the last few feet they tossed his broken body onto a ratty old couch. Kalen could hear Stacy yelling somewhere to his right. He twisted around, calling out to her.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Tank!" Skeeze said walking over to a doorway ignoring his mewling. "J-Rokk wants to see you. Says he bagged a good score. Figured you want to check it."


    Tank walked into the room, his armored prosthetic arm and clothes still spattered with Kalens blood. Stacy struggled as he hauled her in by her elbow. Her lip was bloodied and she kept attempting to twist from his vice like grip.


    "Alright, gimme a sec." he said before spotting Kalen. "Hey, meat! You still alive, eh? Shit boy, you can take a beating, I''ll give you that. Your face is looking like ground up dogfood."


    "Let her go." Kalen wheezed.


    "Go? Nah, I don''t think so. You made me look bad in front of my crew. So now you and your girl got to work off that debt." he said, "And I aim to work you both real hard, you get me?" Tank leaned toward Stacy his hand groping her chest, leaving bloody stains on her white top. She pulled back and slammed her forehead into his face. Tank''s nose crumpled, blood spurting to cover his mouth and chin. He squealed like a pig, throwing her onto the floor covering his face as tears welled in his eyes.


    "Oh, fuck. I''m going to make you pay for that shit." Tank raised a foot as if to kick her but then grunted and stepped back, snorting through his nose and spitting a wad of blood at Stacy as she backpedaled away from him.


    " Chuck, Skeeze. Watch these two. Make sure they don''t go nowhere." Tank said as he walked from the room shouldering past a one of his crew who glanced down and then leaned on the doorframe.


    Skeeze plopped onto a ruined chair and twirled the thin chain connected to her collar, a wickedly evil smile plastered on her face.


    "God, Kalen." Stacy whispered as she crawled to him and cradled his head in her hands. "You''ll be alright." She said in his ear. Kalen blinked his one good eye at his Queen Bee. She was worried for him? He could feel It in his mind, pawing at the bars. Not the rage filled release it he felt so often, instead this was... different.


    "Why?" he said as she stroked his blood matted hair.


    "Why, what?" she said pulling back to look at him.


    "At... the bus stop." Kalen managed to croak out, "Why... did you... try to help me?" Stacey blinked at him as if not understanding.


    "Because you were in trouble." she finally said.


    Kalen laughed at that single statement, the gangers looking to each other in confusion. She was so pure. Broken ribs ground against each other as his chest shook. He didn''t care, didn''t feel the pain. She was everything he desired. No more than that, she was everything It wanted too. God, he loved her so much. He couldn''t explain it. He had spent so long forcing his yearning down, thinking he had some sort of ridiculous crush. A silly fantasy from being alive and alone for so long. But it wasn''t that. The love came from something deep. Something primal. Something he couldn''t control.


    Kalen had once read that wolves mate for life.


    It was bonded to her.


    "I could never hurt you." He said looking at his Queen with a grin.


    Stacy smiled sadly at him, nodding. Tears trickling down her cheeks as she took in his ruined face.


    "I know." she said.


    She was trying to reassure him. Most likely thinking he didn''t have much longer to live.


    Kalen shook his head and chuckled some more as his voice strengthened. His dislocated jaw clicking back into place as he moved to sit upright.


    "That was a statement. Not a question." Kalen said, his eye turning golden. "When it happens, don''t look it in the eyes. Keep your head down and don''t run. Okay?"


    Stacy kept staring at him as she knelt at the edge of the couch. Kalen felt his crushed eye socket puff and fill as the skin and bone regenerated, his broken lips scabbing and healing as she watched in a state of utter confusion. Power welled up inside him and he rolled his shoulders, the chains on the cuffs snapping like a gunshot.


    "Sit your ass down." Chuck yelled from the doorway striding forward to smash an old lamp across Kalens back. He stepped back baffled as Kalen barely flinched.


    It stood and turned, gripped the couch with a now clawed hand and sent it tumbling to crash through the wall of the derelict apartment. Tatters of clothing hung from its muscular body. A growl rumbled up from a furred, barrel sized chest and over the glistening ivory white teeth that protruded from Its lupine maw.


    "Sssuup... Mmmeat..."


    * * * * *