Chiva & Chupa 2

I fumbled with my phone half a dozen times before I finally hit send on her number. As the phone rang a hundred thoughts crossed my mind. I became increasingly nervous with each ring. What if she did not pick up? What if she did but did not remember who I was? She probably gave guys her number all the time. I was willing to bet she was on a date right now and I was just intruding by calling her before noon. The line clicked and I heard her sweet latin accented voice.

 

  “Hola?”

  “Hi, its the guy from yesterday. The pepper man.” I cursed myself for saying that last part.

  “Oh yes! How are you?” She sounded excited.

  “Good... uh... you?”

  “Happy to have most of the day off. Market is closed early on sunday and uncle said I could take a couple hours off.”

  “Ok... cool...” I shook my head. “So would you like to get some lunch?”

  “Definitely. You know where the Adobe apartments are?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I'm in number seven. Give me an hour then knock on the door.”

  “Ok sure.”

  “See you then! Bye!”

 

        The line clicked again and she had hung up. That was far quicker than I had anticipated for a date. I rummaged through my closet finding a neutral shirt and a pair of clean jeans then I made sure I looked clean and decent. My stomach was full of butterflies as I got ready.

       

        I'd never really paid attention to monsters before but they had been in the public for awhile. Some of them had been accepted quickly but some of the other more grotesque ones were still politely shunned. Sometimes incidents happened and monsters had to be deported. That's where the Monster Immigration and Customs Enforcement stepped in. I'd seen it happen once a month before when a Lamia got into an altercation and ended up destroying a lamp post. She was deported much to the lament of her significant other.

 

        My thoughts snapped back to my task and hand and I stopped my car a couple blocks away. I'd driven from my apartment to near hers and still had half an hour to kill. Switching around radio stations I did not find one to my liking so I shut the radio off. Reaching back behind my seat I grabbed my backpack and pulled out my Ocarina. It was a small rectangular thing with holes on both top and bottom. Not at all like a traditional one but it produced loud and gentle notes. I played a tune from one of my favorite fantasy games to pass the time. The melody consumed my as I played and the minutes melted away. Before long it was time for me to pick her up. I stowed the ocarina and headed over to the apartments. I knocked on her door a minute after noon and a little Satyr kid opened the door. He was dark colored in hair and skin.

 

  “Hi... erm... Hola.. Don.. de... esta... Chiva?” I tried with broken Spanish.

  “I speak English.” The kid shook his head then shouted over his shoulder. “Chiva!”

  “Coming!” Her voice was from somewhere within the apartment.

 

        From where I was at the door I could see the apartment was not really all that big and there were several Satyrs inside. It looked cramped and I wondered how many people actually lived here. Everyone was speaking Spanish to each other despite what the kid had said. All the others were like him with hair skin and hair. When Chiva came to the door she was the odd one out being white with their dark latin skin. She gently laid her hand on my chest and pushed me away from the door then closed it behind her. She was dressed in a cream colored sundress that really accented her ample bosom.

 

  “Sorry,” She started in. “If you stay they will ask so many questions and we won't be able to leave.”

  “Its ok, you look beautiful.” I said that without stammering. I was proud.

  “Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself. So where are we headed?”

  “Oh... well... there's this great barbeque place down the street.”

  “Ah....” She hesitated then took a breath. “I'm a vegetarian.”

  “Oh sorry I did not know.” I bit my lip.

  “Most people don't know that Satyr's can't eat meat. But I don't mind if you do. We just have to go to a place that can cater to both.” She smiled

  “Ah...” I was completely at a loss of where to go.

  “There's a cafe two streets over that works.”

 

        There was nothing I could do except nod and we both got into my car. I started up the engine and then finally got a good look at her legs. They were thicker and more muscular than I expected. Just about the same size as a Humans but bent differently. Instead of a foot she had a large cloven hoof. It was polished and shone in the light. The fur on her legs was short and white with a slight curl. It looked soft and I wanted to run my fingers through it. I raised my gaze and she was looking at my face. She reached down and pushed her sundress further down her legs.

 

  “Ah no sorry I did not meant to stare.”

  “Lets just go eat.”

 

        Her attitude had gone from friendly to icy and I felt a chill in the air coming from her. This was the moment I was sure I had blown it. I bit my lip again in thought trying to figure a way out of whatever I did wrong. At a stop light right before the cafe I looked back down at her legs and when I raised my eyes again to her she turned quickly looking annoyed.

 

  “I'm sorry I can't help it.” I blurted out.

  “Maybe this was a mistake.” She said coldly.

  “No its not. I'm not... I mean... “ I took a breath. “Your legs are...”

  “Freakish?” She quickly turned her head to me, her blue eyes narrowed.

  “What? Not at all!” I loudly exclaimed. “They're pretty. I've never seen legs as beautiful as yours before.”

 

        She gasped and stopped breathing. Her entire face had turned red and I pulled the car into the cafe parking lot. Turning off the engine I got out and opened her door for her. She swung her legs out then stood up and wrapped her arms around me in a very tight hug. It lasted for a full minute with neither of us saying anything. I couldn't really move nor did I want to with her pressing against me so tightly. When she pushed away I could see tears at the corner of her eyes and she wiped them with her fingers.

 

  “Are you ok?” I asked gingerly.

  “No one's ever said they're beautiful before. All my life I have been made fun of because of my legs, horns, ears and tail.”

  “You have a tail?”

  “A short one yes. To hear you say they are beautiful makes me very happy.”

  “Oh... uh....”

 

        She laughed and slipped her arm into mine. The two of us walked into the cafe together and headed to a booth along the wall. When she let go of my arm I was reluctant but she sat down on one side and I on the other. Her fingers plucked two menus from the holder against the wall and she sat one down in front of me. I already knew what I was going to order. I knew what I really wanted but she was not on the menu. Not yet at the very least. After a bit the waiter came and took our order. She replaced the menus then clasped her hands together on the table and looked at me with a playful grin.

 

  “I want to ask you something.” She leaned in slightly.

  “Ask away.”

  “The time is not right. I'll ask that later on. Right now I want to ask why you had a pair of pliers on you yesterday.”

  “Oh my multitool?” I patted the pocket it was in. “I always have that on me. You never know when you'll need something fixed and it came in handy yesterday.

  “And you found my charm in your bag of peppers?” She leaned back and raised her eyebrow.

  “Yes. It was there at the bottom of the bag.”

  “That's the strange part I can't get my head around. Yesterday morning when I put on the bracelet everything was in good condition. For the charm to come off in the bag then for you to return it is too... coincidental.” She pursed her lips together in thought.

  “Coincidental?”

  “What do you know of Bacchus?”

  “Not much...” Her question had thrown me for a moment. “Its an old Greek god that is a goat and likes to drink.”  

  “That's mostly true but there's more to it. Satyrs pray to Bacchus for guidance.”

  “Oh like Jesus?”

  “Not exactly.” She shook her head and laughed then softened her voice. “In a way... I'm...”

 

        She choked on the words and started rubbing the charm bracelet with her hands. Her eyes lowered to the table and I could see her shoulders slump. Something was definitely wrong and I reached out with both of my hands across the table and put them over hers. She stopped fiddling with the bracelet and looked up from the table to my eyes. I could see some deep pain in them. The kind that I was well familiar with.

 

  “I'm from a small mountain village down south.” She took a deep breath then nodded and continued. “The people are so poor down there that... my... I... came here to work and to find... a... Uncle said I could stay with them but there are so many of us in the apartment that its hard to be there. I'm not used to living with a large family. I don't really fit in there at all. They are all desert Satyr and I'm half desert and mountain. They don't really want a mountain Satyr around even if she is family.”

  “Do you work enough to afford your own place?”

  “I can't get one. The special visa I was issued requires me to stay with someone. Right now that's Uncle. I love them as family but I don't belong with them. I prayed to Bacchus this past week for an answer to the problem.”

  “Did Bacchus answer your prayer?” I patted her hand.

  “I believe he did.” She canted her head to the side and smiled.

 

        At that moment the food arrived and we busied ourselves with eating. She asked simple questions about where I was from and what I did. I told her that I went to college in the great plains but came back to the desert after it was over. I'd been living in the city ever since and did not see myself going anywhere else. This place was home to me. After the lunch was done I paid the bill and left a tip then we climbed back into the car. This time when I looked at her legs she only smiled and put her hand on my shoulder. I started the engine and drove back towards her place.

 

  “Do you live far from here?” She asked.

  “Only a couple streets away. I'm at the Red Rock apartments. Number forty two.”

  “That's a good area. I should be getting back before we have to go and shut down the market for the evening.”

  “Alright.” I said with a soft sigh and in no time we were at the apartment.

  “Thank you for the date.” She offered another smile then leaned in.

  “You're wel....”

       

        I never got to finish the word as she kissed me harder than I'd been kissed at that point. Her lips were firm against mine and I tasted what I can only describe as peach nectar. She pulled back and turned to get out of the car then stopped and turned back to kiss me a second time. This one much lighter than the first and now out of my shock I returned the kiss. After a quick moment she pulled away and hopped out of the car.

 

 “Chiva!” I called after her and she stopped. “If you need a place to crash for a few days call me or drop by. I know how cramped it can get with a lot of people.”

  “Thank you, I will. See you soon.” She beamed.

       

        I watched her go to the door of the apartment and she turned at the last moment and waved to me before going inside and closing the door. I took a deep breath. I put my hands on the steering wheel. I let out a long sigh. That was the final straw. Two days I'd known this woman. Well not even two full days at that. Less than twenty four hours really. It was too late though. I'd already fallen in love with her. With my heart pounding in my chest I drove back to my place.