Only Human

“No, no, that’s quite all right, Enkidu, calmness, calmness,” He approached the bed, and sat down. “May I? Thank you.” He folded one leg. “You’re quite mouthy, aren’t you?”

Enkidu released the back of my neck, and sat behind me, pushing me toward Gilgamesh a little, which I resisted.

“Poor little, are you very frightened?”

I didn't answer.

I felt Enkidu gently nudge me with one hand behind my back.

“Yes.” I replied.

Gilgamesh smiled. “Excellent! Bring her to the arena, I want her to see off her fair O’o as he joins the river of death.” He was positively brimming with glee, something he didn’t look good in at all.

I turned, and looked at Enkidu, hissing quietly. “What did you grab me for?”

Enkidu rubbed the back of my neck, and kissed it gently. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to grab you that hard. I was only trying to create a façade for Gilgamesh; are you in very much pain?”

I sighed. My neck ached, but it didn’t really bother me anymore.

Enkidu rest his chin on my shoulder then tilted his face down, and kissed my skin. “I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “I know,” I turned, and faced him. “What’s the arena, and what should I expect to see?”

Enkidu explained as we walked. “Gilgamesh forces the O’o to earn his freedom through combat.”

“He’s survived up to this point, hasn’t he?” I felt a spark of hope well up inside me.

“So far.” Enkidu said pointedly. “Although every fight, Gilgamesh declares Samael will die.”

I shook my head. “Not if I can help it.” I declared as we entered the arena.

A large almost throne-room like setup, with a gigantic chair where Gilgamesh sat, two females sitting very un-feminine-like at his feet.

“I don’t see Samael.” I whispered.

Enkidu gently urged me forward. “You will.”

“Hello, my dear!” Gilgamesh raised his arms, greeting us from on high in his throne. “Welcome, to the show. Would you care to place a bet?”

The crowd grew uproarious, and all turned toward the opposite side of the room.

Two of the spider guards held Samael by his arms, dragging him into the room while the room echoed with cheers and shouts.

The whole spectacle was sickening, the longer I watched. I turned, and looked up at Enkidu. “What sorts of bets to people place? Food and water?”

Enkidu shook his head. “No. Their lives alongside one fighter.” He said. “We have…nothing else.”

I thought about that then walked swiftly away from Enkidu, toward the throne. “I want to place a bet!” I shouted, though my voice hardly carried over the din. “HEY!” I shouted.

The nearest spiders turned and looked at me.

Gilgamesh raised a hand, and roared something that made all go quiet. He stood up, and with a smirk, said softly. “I’m honered, my dear,” His voice oiled around me as he circled me slowly. “To what do I owe this,” He leaned down, and said to me. “Interruption.”

“I want to make a bet.” I said.

Enkidu ran to the bottom of the three steps leading up to the throne. “No.”

Gilgamesh turned to Enkidu, and arched his brow. “No? Do you care what happenes to this creature?” He slowly descended toward Enkidu.

Enkidu scoffed. “Of course not! But she is my property, and thus I should have say in her fate.”

Gilgamesh laughed. “My brother does not want to lose is strange,” He looked me over in a way that made me very uncomfortable. “fleshy, toy.”

“Too bad!” I snapped.

Gilgamesh clapped Enkidu on his back. “Well then brother, lay claim to your plaything!” He grinned, and walked back up to his throne.

Enkidu watched me, his face frozen, but his eyes pleading me not to tempt Gilgamesh’s twisted hand.

“I bet my life along side Samael’s. If he survives, we both go free.” I said. The congregation laughed.

“And what is your life in comparison to the O’o of Pandinus?” Gilgamesh waved a hand as he sat down.

I shrugged. “Nothing, I suppose, unless you fought the O’o.”

The room went silent.

Gilgamesh squinted his four eyes at me. “Why would I fight for you?”

I made an indifferent gesture, although inside I was screaming for this to work. “Surely a commodity like me is worth more than the Pandinus O’o; how many times have you had him? Can he give you children?”

Gilgamesh scoffed. “If I wanted children, I have females to give them to me.”

I shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

Gilgamesh looked at each of the scraggly, unwashed females pawing at his feet. He shook them off. “You are much cleaner, I’ll give you that.” He considered agasint the protests of the females at his feet, and guards around him. He roared at all of them. “I will defeat the Pandinus, and then I will simply kill you when you become useless to me.”

I suppose that was as good as anything.

Gilgamesh stood up, grabbed my arm, and threw me down where Enkidu caught me. “The human is the prize!” He moved down, and approached Samael. “Well, O’o, will you fight for your precious He…na!”

Samael turned his gaze up to Gilgamesh. “There is no reason to fight…”

“Oh?” Gilgamesh smirked. “And why is that?”

“She has renounced me as her mate.” Samael said softly.

Gilgamesh stood. “Oh? Then this shall be a short fight.”

Enkidu moved away from me, and picked up what looked like a blade of some kind. No one tried to stop him.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

“Ending this.” Enkidu whispered back.

I covered my face, but heard the gasps, and shouts, and the crunch of bones, and flesh. “No, no, no…” I repeated over and over, shaking my head with my hands over my eyes. “No, please, no, please.”

Someone lifted me, and then they were running, carrying me through a tunnel. Behind me was only Enkidu, though the crowd was shouting behind him. I looked over, and saw the stinger near my face, and the pincers poised protectively above me.

“What happened?” I shrieked.

“I have slain Gilgamesh.” Enkidu said matter-of-factly.

“You what?! How?”

Enkidu looked startled as he climbed up behind Samael toward the gray haze outside. He didn’t answer until Samael set me down on soft sand, the bite of early morning air stinging my naked skin.

“Here,” Enkidu wrapped a kind of tattered cape around me.

Samael grabbed my shoulders, and pulled me away from Enkidu, growling.

“Stop pulling me all the time,” I jerked out of his grasp. “Enkidu, how did you slay Gilgamesh? I was…trying not to look, but whatever you did, you saved our lives.”

“He removed Gilgamesh’s head with a slade.” Samael explained softly.

I started. “You – you what?”

Enkidu slumped. “What was I supposed to do? Let Gilgamesh kill the O’o, and then enslave you in his bed?”

I hugged the cape tighter around myself. “No.” I shifted. “No, so thank you for saving us.”

Enkidu looked like he wanted to say something, but instead stood tall, and bowed. “Goodbye, Kate.” He turned, and bowed to Samael. “Farewell, O’o. You will not see or hear my people again.”

Samael didn’t reply.

“With my brother’s tyranny gone, I shall take his place.” Enkidu nodded.

I could only nod, and shift my feet.

“Yes.” Enkidu said abruptly.

I started. “yes what?”

“Yes, I was a father.” Enkidu let that sink in for a moment then nodded, and returned to the caves.

Samael hesitated then said softly. “He’na.”

I turned. “I’m going home, Sam.”

Samael nodded.

“No, you can’t!” Daisy screamed as I packed. “You can’t go, ah-ah’ll glue you to the wall with Goki berry juice!”

“P’kor~!” Samael growled.

“No, papa! You can’t let her!” Daisy stomped her feet.

Azalea and Pansy just sat on the bed, munching a sweet bun, and watching me pack, although Pansy kept taking things out of my purse (wallet, phone, keys, lip gloss, etc;).

“Pansy,” I groaned, reached over, and took my lipstick from under her leg. “Please stop taking things out of my purse.”

Pansy cried when I moved the purse out of her reach.

“See? Pansy doesn’t want you to go, either!” Daisy stomped a foot.

“I have to go. I have my own child, and people who need me at home.” I replied calmly as I zipped up the suitcase, but there was more tension than when I’d come.

“Buttercup’s in there.” Daisy folded her arms.

I took a deep breath, unzipped my suitcase, and sure enough, big googoo magenta eyes stared up at me from between folded clothing.

“Buttercup,” I sighed, and lifted the white baby pandinus out. Her tail caught on one of my t-shirts, and as I jerked it loose, Buttercup climbed onto my shoulder, and sat there. “No, no, I’m sorry, but you can’t.”

Samael approached, and helped dislodge the baby, although Buttercup screamed with all her might. “Hush.” Was all Samael said to her, though it failed to quell her.

I double-checked four little girls still stood in the room then closed my suitcase.

“Pansy took your little pack.” Daisy’s face pinched at me defiantly.

Pansy sat there with my empty brown fanny pack, trying to figure out how to open it.

“Here,” I took it gently then strapped it around her waist, tightening the belt. “Now you have a proper place to put all of your little stolen things.”

Pansy looked at it then looked at me, face pouting.

“Don’t be sad,” I picked up Pansy, and held her on my hip. “Samael, would you please carry the suitcase?” I asked as I retrieved my purse, and took one last look around to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything then left the room.

Daisy didn’t say two words, but stood next to me, arms folded as I checked out and paid my bills.

“Thank you.” I took my receipt. “And sorry about the screaming baby.”

The insectoid woman just shrugged, and off I went, still carrying Pansy.

“Okay, Pansy, my arm hurts.” I tried to set Pansy down, but she clung to me.

“No!” Pansy whimpered.

“Please.” I crouched down. “You have to let go, Pansy.” She shook her head at me. “You have to let me go.”

Pansy reluctantly let go, and stood on the ground as I stood up.

“Kate!” Hook shouted after me. “Kate, wait up!”

I turned, and looked to where the roach was running toward me, carrying a round, blue box.

“Whew! Made it. Here,” He held out the box. “It’s a traditional parting gift.”

I opened the tall box, and pulled out a twisting orange bottle. “What is it?”

“It’s called a sandtrap.” Hook said. “No one should leave Pompeii without it.”

I let the bottle back into the box. “Thank you.”

Hook nodded. “Sure.”

“Make her stay! She can’t go!” Daisy exclaimed.

Hook patted Daisy’s head. “Kid, sometimes you just have to wave, say goodbye, and go about your day.”

Daisy shook her head, and stuck her tongue out at Hook.

“Stupid kid. Here, I’ll take that.” Hook reached out for the suitcase.

“I am accompanying Kate to the port.” Samael’s words needed no repeating, but Hook still protested.

We caught the large “bus bug” going to the port, but were the only ones on it save for the driver.

“Very important girl you are, yeah?” said the driver. “Pandinus O’o out comin’ this way.” She nodded, but didn’t say anything else.

I didn’t reply.

“She is He’na.” Said Samael. “She is indeed very important.”

I felt guilty for Samael saying that, and sighed.

“Good. You should feel bad, Kate. You’re supposed to stay.” Daisy grumbled, although she hadn’t left my side since Samael and I returned.

The port wasn’t as busy as when I had arrived., but busy enough.

“Hi, I need to change my ticket.” I gave the woman my ticket, and she was happy to oblige me. Only one shuttle came and left from the hub a few hours ride away from the planet.

Daisy gave it one last attempt, even getting Azalea and Pansy to grab my legs, and hold me back, but Samael pried them off.

I couldn't say goodbye any more times, but something still nagged at me. I turned to look at Samael one last time, and asked. “Sam?”

Samael smiled, if not hopeful by the way his eyes glittered in the sun. “Yes, He’na.”

“What does He’na mean?” He’d called me that practically the whole time I was here, and I had no idea why.

Samael pursed his lips then said somewhat reluctantly. “It is…irreplaceable.”

I nodded slowly, feeling my heart swell, and teardrops well. I turned quickly so I wouldn’t start crying again, picked up my carry-on, and with every step out onto the tarmac, my heart cracked a little deeper.

I sat in my seat, next to a window, and watched Pompeii grow smaller and smaller in the distance. I called Shera when I got to the hub, to let her know I was coming home early.

-Oh great, we’ll meet you on Saturday when you get in. Did you get my sandtrap?-

I looked at the blue cylinder box on my lap. “No, but you can have some of mine.”

Seeing familiar ground was a relief as I walked up the tunnel arm, though even after seventeen hours, I still felt heavy with guilt.

“Mommy!” squeaked a wonderfully familiar voice.

I looked up, and running through the throng of people is my two-year-old, Pëyo; Able not far behind. I couldn’t help but burst into tears as I closed my arms around Pëyo, and stayed knelt just beyond the arrival gate.

“Mommy saa~” Pëyo kissed my cheek, and hugged my neck. “No cwy.”

“I’m not sad, baby; I’m so so happy to see you.” I squeezed him, and Pëyo squeaked.

Able approached, and touched a finger to my cheek.

“I’m fine.” I assured the Hercules bettle when he looked from my tearstained cheek to my eyes. I heard the shriek of delight that is my friend Shera as she ran down the carpeting of the terminal toward me, arms open.

“Kaaate!” Shera engulfed me in a hug, pinning Pëyo between us. “Heey, how was your – buh? Why are you crying?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

Shera nodded. “Okay, it’s okay. You’re home now.”

I nodded. “Yeah,” I sighed. “I’m home.”

THE END