Chapter Chapter Twenty-Four: Kisses and Stargazing with Aivox
“So romantic,” Mariah gushed as she, the twin fairies, and Alyssa joined me for lunch in my personal parlor the following day. “I swear to you that you are so damn lucky right now.”
“I heard that,” Tomeka replied as she reached for a muffuletta. “Phillippe and Claude are planning something similar for our first official date as mates, but it’s going to be in Napa Valley.”
“And Taylor and Terrell are taking me for a hot-air-balloon ride in Sonoma,” Destiny added, popping a potato chip in her mouth. “It’s our second date so far with the first one being a tasting of Chinese food in Shanghai.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Addie and I need to smack our mates on the head,” she grumbled. “They still want to do sports and we want them to be romantic.”
Speak of the devils and they shall appear, Abaddon and Azrael came in (the former still having pink hair) with them bearing roses. “From the boys,” the latter replied as he and his twin handed me the bouquet of yellow roses.
I nodded, taking the accompanying card and beginning to read.
My sweet Sun God Wolf,
The night is for the both of us as I plan to have us dancing underneath the diamond candles in the sky.
I’ll pick you up around six this evening, wear something formal.
P.S: bring the miniature telescope.
-Aivox.
“Mini telescope?” Destiny asked in disbelief.
I pulled out a small telescope that looked like the ones from the gift shop that was sold at the local museum and observatory. “Found it,” I replied.
Azrael whistled lowly. “Wonder what he has up his sleeve?” he commented.
I turned to him and his brother and folded my arms. “He and his brothers, as well as the other mates, are pulling out the stops to make our courtship worth it,” I commented with a Bette Davis attitude. “You two, on the other hand, need to take a page from their books as well as our other brothers.”
Abaddon rolled his eyes. “Come on, bro,” he replied. “Our girls know that we love them and want to make them happy.”
“Then prove it.” I gestured towards Alyssa. “Aly here isn’t the one to ask much and neither is her sister. All they want is for you two to show them how much they are treasured. And you know damn well that other boys would kill to be in your shoes nowadays. Most Alphas these days aren’t as lucky as you two. They more than likely go years without a mate or a Luna at their side.
“And as someone who was feeling the same thing, I know that a mate bond is no joke at all. And unless y’all want me to wreak havoc on your fashion, you’d better-”
At the mention of their hip-hop-themed outfits, my demonic twins nodded in far. “Not another word,” Abaddon said hurriedly. “We’ll plan one hum-dinger of a date night tonight, Malachi. Just don’t wreck our clothes like you did the last time.”
Destiny bit back a laugh. “What?” she wheezed.
I turned to the dark-skinned fey. “When I was in fifth grade, I caught them trying to sneak in a few of my berries from my garden,” I explained. “But the worst part was when I saw their friends tearing everything from the roots. A gallon of bleach and lots of tie-dye can do a lot of damage.”
“Damn,” Mariah said. “You’re really vindictive, kid.”
“And very convincing,” Azrael added. “Never let it be said that Malachi can’t find good ways to get revenge, especially when it comes to his snacks and the garden.”
Abaddon nodded.
“Well, gentlemen?” I asked. “What’s it going to be?”
“We’ll make our girls happy with a banging first date,” Abaddon replied. “And we’ll be gentlemen from now on.”
“Thank you,” I replied as I extended my hand. “Cough it up.”
“What?” both demonic twins asked. “We didn’t go into your-”
“I know you’re lying,” I said plainly. “Hand them over.”
Abaddon cursed, reaching into his jacket to extract five honey buns while Azrael looked like he was more guilty as he handed me two sodas.
I took them back and handed them to my future siblings-in-law. “Nice try,” I said. “Now, scram.”
They didn’t have to be told twice. Thye bolted out of the parlor as if hell was ready to claim their souls.
“You’re such a beast,” Mariah remarked, tearing open her honey bun. “You can give Bette Davis a run for her money.”
“Don’t I know it,” I drawled. “And they’ll think twice if they don’t woo their girls right. I have a can of spray paint and my computer on standby to set off their car alarms if their plans fall flat.”
Alyssa beamed. “This is why I love having a fellow Omega as a future in-law,” she chirped. “Thanks, Malachi.”
“Hey. Omegas always stick together.”
And soon, the talk gave way to my outfits for tonight’s date with Aivox before it was time for them to head back to school and me for tutoring.
***********
“You look so stunning,” crooned Aivox (now a caramel-skinned and black-haired dude) as I came down the stairs (I chose to be Osirus), dressed in a simple midnight velvet suit by Topman. “Baby boy, you look like you stepped out of a fashion magazine.”
“You’re not too bad yourself,” I replied in my Australian accent since I was Osirus. “You look like a prince in your white-and-gold suit. Tom Ford?”
Aivox smirked. “Armani. Now, I got the limo to take us to our date. And you’ll love this one if you like watching the stars at night with a candlelight dinner and a string quartet.”
“Sounds romantic,” I commented. “Let’s go.”
*************
I once heard that a visit to the local observatory would be spell-binding when it’s done at night. And as I stepped inside the domed building and saw a private dinner for two that was catered by a local Mexican restaurant with a string quartet from UC, I felt like the night was even more bewitching than I expected. “Wow,” I breathed as I let Aivox lead me to our table where a fajitas bar was fully prepared. “This is nice.”
“Thanks,” Aivox grinned. “I loved looking at the stars back in the heavens and I hoped to experience the same thing while on Earth. The skies above are clear for stargazing and an after-dinner waltz. What do you think?”
I beamed with excitement, my hellhound beaming on sight yet keeping us from burning our clothes. “I love it.”
A svelte waitress came over to our table, her breasts sticking out from her unbuttoned blouse with no shame (or even a bra). “Hello,” she said to Aivox in a too sugary accent while ignoring me. “I’m Isadora, your waitress. If there’s anything you need, cutie pie, let me know.”
I frowned. “And me?” I asked.
She sent me a scathing glare. “Who cares?” she said flatly. “You’re just a runt with too many forms and I want to make your friend here a real man.”
“Isadora!” boomed an older woman’s voice as a stout older woman came to our table with anger in her eyes. “You are not to bother Your Grace and Sir Aivox.”
Isadora rolled her eyes. “Mama, I don’t want to let that ratty prince mate with a sex god like his friend,” she complained. “Aivox doesn’t need a faggot. He needs-”
SLAP!
Isadora crumpled to the ground as her mother, who had her eyes red and her fangs dropped. “Leave, whore,” she hissed, snapping her fingers and making the young woman disappear before turning to us with an embarrassed and sad look on her face. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. My daughter has no shame in seducing men, but she took it way too far.”
I nodded. “You did what you had to do,” I replied formally as I saw another waitress (who looked more professional than the first). “All that I ask is that you make sure that the food is perfect.”
“That I could do,” the older woman replied eagerly before turning her attention to the other waitress. “Catalina, please tend to our esteemed guests.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the redheaded waitress nodded. “All right, boys. What can I get you two today other than this fajita bar?”
The next two hours were spent with Aivox and me chatting happily as we enjoyed the fajita bar alongside some other Mexican fare- enchiladas, chalupas, a few burritos, and some imported Mexican root beer (nonalcoloic)- before Aivox led me to the large telescope and showed me various constellations and planets that could be seen at millions of miles away from where we were. But the best part? The older woman (an Alpha vampire and matriarch of the Adobo Coven from Pueblo) offered us free desserts and leftovers for my friends, families, and even the supernatural gods (the latter being picked up by a gleeful Seraphina).
And now, Aivox was leading me into a swirling and passionate waltz to the string quartet that was playing “Beautiful Day” by U2. “You’re enjoying this night?” he asked me as we spun around.
“It’s magical,” I breathed. “Other than that waitress that was hitting on you, tonight was ethereal.”
“Then I have done my job well,” Aivox smiled. “Mother would be pleased with me and Galen. And with that, I can say this with pride: I love you, Malachi Jean-Luc DuBauer.”
I grinned widely, the music slowing to a stop as I let Aivox lead me out to the balcony. “I love you too,” I replied. “Kiss me.”
Aivox nodded. “As you wish.”
And as we kissed each other passionately, I felt like I was on top of the galaxy while my feet weren’t touching the ground. The skies above us were illuminated with a meteor shower as the stars themselves made love to the universe. And as the kiss deepened, it was like Aivox was giving me eternally blissful dreams of desire that would linger in my head.
Tonight...was indeed magical.