Under Foreign Skies (MG) 4

“Hey Johnno?”

 

I pull myself away from the screen at my cousin’s voice.

 

“Yeah Kyle?”

 

“Package for you mate, pretty sizeable.”

 

I frown in confusion “You sure it’s for me? I’m not expecting anything.”

 

Kyle rolls his eyes. “Unless there’s another John Walden living here mate. Gerroff the computer and come get it.”

 

I sigh, hitting save and unpairing my PC from the screen and keyboard, before following Kyle downstairs.

 

“So what are you working on? You’ve been smashing away at that for a couple weeks now.”

 

“Something for school. My History teacher thinks it’s a good opportunity. Open some doors and that.” I give Kyle a light elbow, grinning at him “You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, fuckin’ stonecutter?”

 

“Lay off cunt.” Kyle snickers.

 

I walk into the front room to be confronted by a fat packing tube, probably as long as I am tall, and a solid couple of feet in diameter.

 

“The hell?” I murmur, bending down and pulling open the connote strapped to the side.

 

‘Found something when I was going through the storage unit. Thought you might be able to get some use out of it there. Call me sometime.

Love, Dad’

 

“Huh.” I chuckle, a smile coming involuntarily to my lips.

 

“Should I call the bomb squad?” Kyle chuckles

 

“Nah, it’s from Dad. I wonder what it...” I murmur, opening the end of the tube.

 

Wait.

 

It can’t be.

 

It is.

 

My smile becomes broad and eager. “Ohhh fuck yeah...”

 

“Whazzat then?”

 

“I’ll show you outside... Kat is gonna be thrilled.”

 

---

 

“Fucking hell, you sure you know what you’re doing with that?” Kyle exclaimed incredulously

 

“Trust me, I could do it in my sleep.” I assured him.

 

“Well... Guess Kat’s there to bail your arse out if you get in too much mischief.”

 

“I knew she was good for something...” I quip

 

Kyle snickered, “I’m gonna tell her you said that, mate.”

 

Oh shit.

 

“You wouldn’t!” I exclaim

 

“Dunno mate, make dinner and I’ll think about it.” Kyle drawled.

 

“Bribery! Police Corruption!”

 

Kyle gave a half hearted swipe at the back of my head which I easily dodged. “Get on you. And don’t put the whole fucking jar of chillies in this time, I was shitting fire for a fucking week last time.”

 

I set the meat to browning as I chopped the vegetables. Katherine had come over for dinner recently, and I decided to regale her with my cooking. I didn’t realize that harpies had avian tastebuds, and that chillies didn’t affect them as much as they did humans, so my constant “What do you think?”, offering her a small spoonful was met with “A little bland” up until the damn thing could likely dissolve steel.

 

Kyle and myself spent the majority of the rest of that evening with streaming eyes, guzzling milk as Katherine laughed at us.

 

She’s gorgeous, but god damn does she have a vicious streak to her sometimes...

 

“Oi! Quit fantasizing and pay attention!” Kyle barked, jerking me back to reality.

 

“Shit!” Damn mince is smoking, I turn the heat down quickly. Good, haven’t burned it.

 

Kyle gives an amused shake of his head. “You’re right keen on her, aren’t ya?”

 

“What gave it away?”

 

“Don’t be a clever cunt.” Kyle drawls, before his look turns serious. “Just... be careful yeah?”

 

I sigh. “Kyle, they’re not all like...”

 

“Don’t.” He interjects shortly. “Don’t even bring her up. It’s done. I’m not wasting any more good beer or bad feels on her memory.”

 

He walks into the backyard. “Lemme know when tucker’s on, yeah?”

 

I murmur affirmatively. I guess getting left at the altar is something that sticks with you...

 

---

 

“You sure you don’t want a lift?” Kyle asks, hopping into his patrol.

 

A screech from above me

 

“Not sure I have a choice!” I yell as the ground disappears.

 

“Hi Kyle! Bye Kyle!” Katherine cries, soaring upwards in lazy circles.

 

“Hey you...” I chuckle, stroking the rough talon holding my shoulder

 

“Hiya!”

 

“You busy this weekend?” I ask, looking up at my wedge-tail girlfriend.

 

“Yeah, busy spending time with you, I hope. You’ve been so busy with that thing for Miss McGazy you’ve barely spent any time with me!” comes her petulant reply, her head peering down over her cleavage at me.

 

I grin. “Of course. I’ve actually got a surprise planned.”

 

I let my gaze linger... Harpies usually aren’t exactly ‘endowed’ but Katherine definitely leans towards chesty.

 

“Oi, are you staring at my tits?”

 

I give a lewd chuckle “Of course”.

 

Katherine snaps her head up, blushing furiously, before diving towards the school and planting me ignobly upon the ground.

 

“Hey! No need to get rough honey.” I chide, brushing the dust off my pants and sliding my arms about her waist.

 

She avoids my gaze, mouth set in a mock pout.

 

“You are adorable when you sulk...” I murmur, kissing that pouty mouth.

 

Katherine makes a small noise, almost melting into my arms. This is nice.

 

A cough from behind us.

 

“This will be a rare occasion for Miss Lefleur to actually be on time to form... Please don’t let my hopes be dashed, Mr Walden.”

 

I turn to see Mr Reiner’s cadaverous face staring slightly disapprovingly at us.

 

“Yessir.”

 

“And do keep the fraternization to a minimum, if you please. St Patricks has a certain reputation to maintain.”

 

“Yessir, sorry sir.” I apologise, Katherine mumbling an affirmation and shifting her wings in slight embarrassment.

I smile at her. “C’mon, we should get in.”

 

Katherine pop-skips alongside me. “What’s the surprise?”

 

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

 

She gives a groaning screech of protest “Joooooohhhhhnnnn! C’mon!”

 

“Nope.”

 

“I’ll suck your dick!”

 

“Kat!” I exclaim, taken aback by her forwardness.

 

Katherine grins, giving me a light smek on the lips. “Gotcha... See you in class.”

 

---

 

“Is this a History lesson or a propaganda lecture?” Naomi quips. Miss McDavidson turns an appendant eye to look at the human girl.

 

There are two problems with being looked at by a Gazer’s tentacle. One, they display no emotion, so you can’t tell if you’re in the shit or not. Two, that’s where things have a tendency to shoot from if you are in the shit.

 

“Do go on, Miss Altelange...”

 

“Well... You seem to be focusing an awful lot on the twenties, and even then you’re only telling it from a Mamono perspective.”

 

“Of course I’m telling it from a Mamono perspective. I’m Mamono. Do you expect a Boer to tell the story of South Aftrica from the viewpoint of the ANC?”

 

“I expect you to be Impartial, Miss.” Naomi retorts.

 

“If you find anything which I’m telling you to be factually questionable, please do bring it to my attention... Of course for your sake I would encourage you to have plenty of substantive evidence to back that up.”

 

Miss McDavidson turned to face the class. “I’m not blind to the kind of misinformation that’s been spread about my kind. Most of it coming from your father’s office, might I just point out, Miss Altelange.”

 

Naomi bristled slightly at that.

 

“My point being. I know what you think of me. I know that there’s a running bet going on if I’m sleeping with Mr Walden or just fattening him up for lunch.”

 

The Fuck?!

 

“Y’all better keep me the hell outta that!” I exclaim.

 

“Don’t be such a prude John. I’ve got a lobster on that she’ll try and eat you.” Katherine snickers from beside me.

 

“Kat!” I burst incredulously.

 

“Oh hush.” Katherine muses, winking at me and blowing me a kiss.

 

“Don’t pretend I don’t see you hovering at the window, Miss Lefleur.” Miss McDavidson retorts. “And don’t think I haven’t seen you mantling him on the oval...” She bares her pointed teeth in a grin. “In fact some of the teachers had a bet if the bite marks on his neck were purely... unintentional.”

 

Katherine screeches, putting wings to flaming cheeks as the class snickers.

 

She did have a thing for biting, Miss McDavidson had a point.

 

“If we’ve all finished playing. To return to the original point, to be impartial, one must take into account the existing bias of the data. There is no Mamono bias. We have one singular organization which is focused on Mamono rights...”

 

“The most well-funded NGO in the history of the planet...” Naomi mutters.

 

“And that makes a difference how? Actually thank you Naomi, let’s use that segue. Going back to the 2016 Federal Election in the USA...”

 

“Can’t stump the Trump!” Came a voice from the back.

 

Titters from the class at that old catchphrase.

 

---

 

“So, do you have something for me?” Miss McDavidson asks eagerly.

 

I sigh, rolling up my sleeve and tapping at the interface on my PC. Miss McDavidson’s terminal beeps as the file is received.

 

“Hmmm...” She murmurs, scrolling through the document. I wait with baited breath.

 

“I see you didn’t take my advice about cutting the segment on neuroplasticity.”

 

“Naw. It ties into the later bit when we’re talking about the illusion of self-maintenance on production machinery.”

 

Miss McDavidson nods. “I see, and I have to admit that you’re right. It would look odd without it.”

 

She continues scrolling, before reaching the end of the document. She sits back in her chair, wincing slightly as a tentacle is accidentally squeezed.

 

“Ouch... I’ve been around you humans too long.”

 

“We’re just as weird to y’all then?”

 

“Oh, you make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Some of you are kind of cute though.”

 

“I’m spoken for, Miss McDavidson.”

 

The Gazer gives a peal of laughter. “Oh, oh no. You’re not my type Mr Walden.”

 

It was exactly the answer I was hoping for, but it still stung a little. Ego eh?

 

“In any case, this is, for want of better word, brilliant. I can tell you’ve put a lot of work into it.”

 

“That’s one way of putting it.” I drawl. I had gotten no end of snarky comments from my friends over how often I had passed up the opportunity to hang out to work on this damn thing.

 

“I think it’s a good contender. I’ll submit it now, and get back to you.”

 

I sigh. I’d spent weeks working on it, and to finally have it finished left an odd feeling in my chest. “Thank you Ma’am.”

 

“No problem. Oh... Just out of curiosity, your cousin Kyle, does he work weekends?”

 

I frown slightly “No, why?”

 

“No reason... Have a good weekend Mr Walden.” The Gazer mused, waving me away.

 

---

 

“So what are we doing tomorrow?” Katherine demanded, flapping her wings in anticipation, throwing up a cloud of dust.

 

I tap away at my wrist, pulling up a map on my PC and showing it to Katherine.

 

“Meet me here?” I ask, holding up my wrist.

 

Katherine looked at the satellite image, her golden eyes blinking once like the shutter of a camera.

 

“Got it.” She assured me. “But what are we doing?”

 

“You’ll see...”

 

Katherine grumbled slightly, before fixing me with a sly look.

 

“Wanna go to the beach?”

 

“You’re not going to tempt me with you in a swimsuit, are you?”

 

“Harpies don’t wear swimsuits...” Katherine drawled, sidling up to me and nipping at my shoulder.

 

“You vixen” I choke, my heart pounding with anticipation.

 

“Just gotta tell me what we’re doing tomorrow.” She whispers.

 

“Gah... Kat. It’s a surprise!” I insist.

 

“Oh well. Then I guess I’m having dinner with Mum. Bye John!” She cries, launching herself into the air, her brown and gold wings carrying her up and up.

 

Can you call a harpy catty? I don’t care if you can’t.

 

“Women...” I grumble, beginning the walk home.

 

---

 

“You’re sure about this?” Kyle murmured in concern

 

I sigh. “Kyle, I’m good.”

 

“You’ve got the GPS on?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You’ve got the EPIRB app if something goes to shit?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You do realize if I don’t hear from you by four I’m calling in the dog squad?”

 

“Kyle, my own mother isn’t this much of a fucking nag.” I groan.

 

“Yeh well, Aunt Betty ain’t dropping you off the fuckin’ Darling scarp on that thing.” Kyle retorted, pointing to the blue and crimson hang-glider which I was checking over.

 

“Kyle, I’ve already called all the appropriate people, I’ve got clearance. I’ll be fine.” I assured him.

 

“Just keep clear of the airport.”

 

“Kyle.”

 

“Orright, orright... I’m going.” Kyle conceded, heading back towards the patrol. “Oh... How are you getting home?”

 

I smile. “I’ll get a lift.”

 

Kyle swears viperously, stomping back to the car. I hooked myself onto the glider, running through the checks in my mind. I looked at the edge of the scarp... the trees might be a problem if I didn’t find... Ah... There... the shimmering air of a thermal, rising off a patch of barren ground.

 

Taking a deep breath, I grasped the pole, digging my feet in and running towards the edge of the scarp, before launching myself into the air. The wind whistled, and I forced myself to keep the nose down, building speed before pulling up into a glide. Tensing my stomach muscles, I brought my feet up, hooking the crampons on my boots onto the rear of the glider.

 

I aimed towards the thermal, felt the buck on the leading edge as the hot air spilled under it. Sliding the pole to the left, I banked into a lazy turn, allowing the thermal to carry me up and up.

 

The wind began to grow erratic, and I knew I’d reached the upper limits of the thermal, Straightening out, I angled towards the coast, looking out for... Ah. There she was, about a hundred feet below me, her eyes intent on the ground.

 

Pushing into a slight dive, I gave my best impression of a falcon’s whistle. Katherine turned her head upwards, glaring at me.

 

“My mother’s a what?” she demanded.

 

“Oh shit. I didn’t know that actually meant something!” I gasped, pulling out of the dive as I hit another thermal, beginning another slow climb.

 

The glare melted into a delighted smile as she flapped vigorously, pulling herself into a tight circle to ride the thermal with me.

“Nah. I was fucking with you... So this is my surprise?”

 

I nod. “Do you like it?”

 

Her face grew soft, and she side-slipped below me, before briefly inverting herself to kiss me tenderly, flipping over again before gravity remembered she was subject to it.

 

“I love it John... I like flying with you but to have the opportunity to actually fly WITH you?” She gushed. “How could you keep this a secret from me?”

 

“Well Dad only just sent me the glider the other day. I figured it would be something nice we could do together, y’know?”

 

“You’re such a romantic...” Katherine mused demurely.

 

“Yeah well don’t expect much. There’s no way this thing could even come close to matching you in the air... whoops!” I cry, correcting myself as the thermal sputtered out, a rush of cold air knocking the column askew.

 

“I’ll keep you up!” Katherine said assuringly.

 

“No doubt, but I’m talking about flying, Kat.” I drawl.

 

“John!” Katherine shrieked, blushing furiously.

 

“Gotcha.” I grin.

 

Katherine shifted her wings, locking them and gliding in front of me. I'm transfixed by the shapely curves of her butt. You could crack walnuts with that butt, no word of a lie.

 

“Think we can reach the coast?” the Eagle-harpy quipped, looking over her shoulder at me and breaking my reverie.

 

“That was the plan hun.” I admit.

 

“Then why don’t we get to it?”

 

I will admit, there were a few times I thought I was going to be forced aground, but Katherine had other ideas, sometimes physically gripping the leading edge of the glider and hauling me near vertical.

 

“Dive with me!” She screeched, as the houses started giving way to dunes.

 

“How can I deny such a pretty girl now?” I drawled, pulling the bar towards me, angling the nose of the glider downwards.

 

The wind whistled around us as Katherine and I plummeted earthwards. Sideslipping below me, she inverted herself again, this time the kiss was lingering, intense.

 

“Pull up...” She whispered, locking her legs around my waist.

 

I pushed forward, hearing the carbon fiber in the struts creak with the added weight, the pull of inertia on me as we displayed our disdain for gravity, Katherine’s lips still fervently clinging to mine.

 

“Oooohhhhh Maou... That was so hot...” Katherine groaned, releasing me and catching the air once again with her own wings.

 

“Well we’re not done ye... Ah. There they are!” I exclaim, pointing at a line of brightly coloured dots on the beach sand below us.

 

Katherine dived ahead of me, landing daintily at the tail edge of the dots.

 

“Careful John, the sand’s a bit...” She began as the wheels of my hang-glider hit ground... Then promptly dug in, pitching the nose forward in a huge spray of sand.

 

“Soft.” She finished.

 

I groaned, hitting the release on the crampons. I stood slowly, checking myself over.

 

“Holy shit John, I heard the crack from here! Are you alright?” Chris cried, sprinting down the dune towards us, Vicki slithering close behind him.

 

“I think so... Wait, crack?” I replied, checking the glider

 

Sure enough, one of the primary wing struts had snapped on impact.

 

“Goddammit!” I snarled.

 

“Dead?” Kyle murmured, Emily on the other end of a large blue cooler.

 

“Until I can source a replacement, yeah, she’s fucked y’all.”

 

Kyle gave an off-key impression of the last post, holding his hand to his brow in mock salute.

 

“Let’s do that again!” Katherine crowed, throwing her wings around me.

 

“My wings are broken, hun.” I apologised, gesturing to the damaged glider.

 

“Awwww....” The Harpy lamented, kissing me gently. “At least you’re OK.”

 

She looked up, as if seeing the others for the first time.

 

“What are you guys doing here?”

 

Emily and Kyle set down the cooler they were carrying, throwing it open with a flourish.

 

“Happy Birthday Kat!” We cried in unison.

 

Katherine put her wings to her mouth.

 

“I thought you all forgot!” She whispered.

 

“Forget? John wouldn’t let the fuck up about it for the last two weeks!” Chris snickered.

 

Katherine looked at me, before bursting into happy tears.

 

---

 

“You’re drunk” Kyle snickered.

 

“Shhhh... My cousin’s a cop” I slurred, Katherine giggling in the seat next to me.

 

“Yeah well I’m glad you had the forethought not to fly.”

 

“Wings’re too wet anyway.” Katherine drawled.

 

“Well whatever the reason... Did you have a good birthday Kat?”

 

“Soooo good. John’s the bestest at birthdays!” Katherine exclaimed drunkenly. “Even if he wouldn’t fuck me in the dunes.”

 

“Kat!” I protest. Kyle snickers.

 

“Probably better he didn’t. Sand gets everywhere when you do that, take it from someone who knows.”

 

“Pfft. He was perving on those shark girls.”

 

“I was making sure they didn’t eat Kyle!” I protested.

 

“They weren’t looking for dinner, John.” Katherine insisted, cuddling up to me, her wings cool and damp against my skin

 

“They stole my fucking shirt.” I lamented.

 

“Lefleur residence. All Harpies get the hell out my car.” Kyle drawled, pulling up outside Katherine’s house.

 

Katherine pressed herself closer to me, kissing me sloppily. “Call me.” She murmured, stumbling out of the car.

 

“Kids had a good night then?” Came a voice from the darkness beside the window.

 

“Yeah. Seems so.” Kyle answered, as I blinked owlishly at the window, Katherine’s father coming into focus.

 

Oh fuck.

 

“Mind if I have a word with John?”

 

“Leave him able to walk, yeh Frank? I don’t fancy carrying his arse inside.” Kyle snickered.

 

I swallowed, stepping out of the car.

 

“I’m not thrilled about the drinking, John.” Mr Lefleur admonished.

 

“It wasn’t my idea, Mr Lefleur.” I protested lamely.

 

“Don’t pass the buck mate. Besides, that’s not what I want to talk to you about.” Mr Lefleur replied, waving off my comment. “Kat’s passionate... takes after her mother like that. Takes after most Mamono in that respect.” He cleared his throat slightly. “What are your intentions towards my daughter?”

 

I straightened myself, trying to force the beer-haze from my mind. “I really like her, sir. And you’ve got my word, I ain’t lookin’ to harm her in any way shape or form.”

 

He nods. “Good lad. Kyle told me about the glider... That was... well, her mother nearly burst into tears when I told her about it. You just... You just do right by my little girl now, yeah?”

 

“Yessir. Absolutely.”

 

“Daddy! Stop haranguing my boyfriend!” Katherine’s drunken protest came from where the harpy had sprawled out on the front lawn.

 

Mr Lefleur gave a groaning chuckle, heading over to the grass and helping Katherine to her feet. Clearly, I was dismissed. I hopped back into the car, and Kyle pulled back out onto the road.

 

“You’re gonna end up married to that girl if y’aint careful.” He snickered.

 

“Could be worse.” I muse drunkenly

 

Yeah... Could be worse indeed.

 

---

 

“Orright! Outta bed!” Kyle’s voice shattered through the blissful reprise of sleep.

 

“Urghhhhh” I moaned as last night’s excesses made themselves felt “What time is it?”

 

“Ten, you’re gonna clean the sand out me bloody car.” Kyle replied with an impish glee.

 

“Goddamn...” I groan “...No chance of just letting me die?”

 

“Nope! Since I can’t do you for underage drinking, I’m gonna make you suffer for it.”

 

“You are an evil bastard, cuz.”

 

“Yeah yeah, C’mon. Clean first, then I’ll fill you with grease.”

 

I swing my legs out of bed, trying to ignore the light stabbing its way into my brainpan.

 

“You’re gonna have to... urp... give me a second...” I gulp, before scrambling to the bathroom, retching pathetically.

 

Kyle’s mocking laughter provided counterpoint to my pained vomiting.

 

Oddly enough, the wretched feeling didn’t last terribly long, and there wasn’t an awful lot of sand in Kyle’s car, and the breakfast he put on was expansive as all hell.

 

“Fucking hell man, you should have been a chef!” I murmur from around a mouthful of food.

 

“Pay’s shit and you’ve got to deal with Holstaurs.” Kyle replied.

 

“What’s wrong with Holstaurs?” Mick replied from the kitchen. He and Carly had dropped around that morning because... reasons, I guess.

 

“Dunno... I think it’s the ankles... Just weirds me out.”

 

“Nothing to do with the acres of titflesh filling your field of vision?” Mick snickered

 

“What’s wrong with boobs, Mick?” Carly asked sweetly

 

“Nothing, so long as they’re yours babe.” Mick cozened.

 

“Smooth.” I murmur, shovelling eggs into my mouth.

 

A noise was intruding

 

“You’re ringing, Johnno.” Mick pointed at my wrist.

 

“Fuck, I didn’t even take it off? How wasted was I?” I exclaim.

 

“Pretty monged mate.” Kyle snickered.

 

I tapped the answer button, once again having no idea where my earpiece was.

 

“Hello?”

 

“Mr Walden?”

 

“Yeah, who am I speaking to?”

 

“It’s Miss McDavidson. I’m sorry for calling you on the weekend.”

 

“Oh, Hi!” I exclaim. Kyle looks at me with an odd expression.

 

“Dry off, it’s my teacher.” I shoot at him.

 

“I know.” He murmurs, His expression unchanging.

 

“I’ve got some good news. Your submission has been accepted for the New Horizons symposium. I hope you can make yourself available for next weekend.”

 

“Oh! Shit! Wow!” I stammer. “I really wasn’t expecting...”

 

“Uh huh. Look, I’ll give you the full rundown on Monday, but essentially, It’s being hosted at the Rydges over two days, so they’re paying for rooms for the entrants to stay overnight. Any immediate questions?”

 

“Just one.” I reply, a slow smile spreading across my lips. “Can I bring a date?”

 

---

 

“Come on mate, we’re gonna be late!” Kyle’s voice rang from downstairs

 

“Gimme a minute!” I replied, frantically fussing with my tie. “This fucking...”

 

“Hang on...” Kyle groaned, and I heard his footsteps on the stairs. Opening the door, he walked over, turning me by my shoulders and fixing the tie with expert hands.

 

“You are really gonna have to learn this mate. It’s an essential fuckin’ skill.” He admonished, giving it a final tug.

 

“Yeah yeah.” I grumbled, rolling my eyes.

 

“There. You look faaahbulouth thweetie.” He snickered, affecting a camp pose.

 

“Thanks dear.” I chuckle.

 

“Bit odd that Kat wants a lift. Usually you can’t keep her out of the air.” Kyle remarked as we hopped into the car.

 

“Yeah... Who knows?” I reply.

 

We drove in relative silence to Katherine’s house. Pulling up onto the driveway, Kyle gave me a slight shove.

“Go on mate, do it proper like.” He snickered.

 

“I was going to anyway!” I protested, opening the car and heading towards the front door. Before I could knock, it opened, and there before me stood a vision of heaven.

 

Katherine was dressed in a gold, strapless gown which hugged her figure, splitting down the sides of both legs and ending in a tassel above her talons.

 

“What?” She demanded, shifting her wings self-consciously as I stared slack-jawed at her.

 

I clear my throat “Do you remember the first time I met you, how I mistook you for an Angel?”

 

Katherine’s mouth pursed, her lips moist and achingly kissable. “Yeah...”

 

“I was wrong, the heavens themselves are renting bad movies and binge-eating icecream over how far you’re outshining them tonight.”

 

“Smooth!” Kyle’s yell came from the car.

 

Katherine gave a delighted giggle, blushing adorably, before leaning in to kiss me lightly, pulling back as I moved to put my arms around her.

 

“Uh uh handsome...” She admonished. “No mussing!”

 

“Some bullshit right there...” I muttered, regretfully allowing her to push my hands away with her wings.

 

“Have fun you two, good luck with the presentation, John!” Came the voice of Katherine’s mother from somewhere inside.

 

“Thank you Ma’am” I called.

 

“Ooh, he sounds just like Elvis!” she cried. Katherine rolled her eyes and closed the door.

 

I opened the door for her, before getting back into the car myself.

 

“You look nice tonight Kyle!” Katherine remarked.

 

“He’s Miss McDavidson’s date.” I snickered.

 

“Am not!” Kyle protested. “She asked me very nicely if I could chaperone, and free drinks at a five star hotel aren’t easily passed up.”

 

“Sure son.” I chuckled.

 

---

 

The room where the presentation was due to take place was absolute chaos. Katherine quickly gave the milling crowd a cagy look, before excusing herself to ‘freshen up’.

 

Damn. Forgot about her and crowds.

 

I went to try and talk to a few of the other entrants, but they were less than congenial, some of them outright turning up their noses at me.

 

“Old money.” Came a voice from behind me. Turning, I saw Chris’s grinning face.

 

“What are you doing here?!” I exclaimed, clapping my friend on the shoulder in delight.

 

“I’m Vicki’s date, didn’t you know she had entered as well?”

 

I shook my head. “I thought you guys were just... You know.”

 

Chris laughed. “Nah mate, she’s been hammering it at least as hard as you have.”

 

Sure enough, Vicki slithered over next to Chris, her ebon hair artfully made up, framing her delicate golden face, offset by the burned sienna of the wrap-around dress she wore which trailed down past her ‘hips’, her black-and-gold coils sashaying beneath it.

 

“You scrub up well John.” The Lamia smiled.

 

“Damn Vicki, could say the same about you.” I replied.

 

“Flatterer. Where’s Kat? I think I saw her talking to Miss McGaz... Er, Miss McDavidson, but I think we’re about to get started.”

 

“Not sure... You know her and crowds. I’ll go find her.”

 

“Don’t be late!” Vicki called after me, taking Chris’s hand familiarly in her own.

 

I scanned the room, spotting a gazer in an elaborate Kimono talking familiarly with a distinguished looking man.

 

“Miss McDavidson?” I ventured, approaching the Kimono-clad Gazer.

 

“Mrs.” The Gazer corrected sternly, turning towards me.

 

I nodded apologetically “Oh. I’m sorry Ma’am. I mistook you for someone else.”

 

The gazer studied me for a moment, her cyclopean eye widening. “Oh! You must be one of Akemi’s students! I was so pleased to hear that a couple of them would be featuring entries tonight.”

 

Akemi... Yeah, Miss McDavidson’s name did have an ‘A’ in front of it on my timetable.

 

“I guess so, Ma’am. I’m John Walden.”

 

“A pleasure. I am Ume McDavidson, and this is my husband, David.” She replied politely, gesturing to the distinguished looking man at her side.

 

“Gudday mate.” David replied casually, holding out his hand.

 

Oh fuck I’m shaking hands with a Fortune 500 director. Don’t spill the pasta. Don’t spill the fucking pasta!

 

“It’s an honour, Sir, Ma’am.” I offered sincerely, shaking their hands in turn. I noticed a few of the other entrants were giving me death glares, and I allowed myself a slight feeling of smug satisfaction.

 

How’s that old money treating you now, faggots?

 

“Are you headhunting my students already Dad?” Came Miss McDavidson’s voice, where she led Kyle and Katherine through the crowd towards us. “And abandoning your date, John? Really...”

 

“Don’t blame him Miss, I told him I was just heading to the bathroom. I don’t do crowds so well.” Katherine interjected.

 

Ume gave a sympathetic laugh. “I know the feeling entirely, my dear. Still, we must grin and bear it sometimes.”

 

“Honestly, I’d prefer to just watch from the air.” Katherine replied, rolling her eyes.

 

“You and me both, though I suspect you’re a better flier than me.” Ume murmured conspiratorially.

 

“Mum!” Miss McDavidson protested “Stop giving my students ideas.”

 

“It’s all in good fun, Akemi.” Ume chided gently.

 

David looked over towards Kyle. “And sorry, We’re leaving you out of things, Mr...” He trailed off, holding his hand out.

 

“Kyle Cavendish. I’m helping Akemi with the chaperoning tonight.” Kyle replied, taking the man’s hand.

 

“You teach at St Patricks as well then?” David ventured. Kyle shook his head.

 

“Hah, no, don’t have the patience for teaching I’m afraid.” Kyle admitted with a short laugh. “I’m with the WA Police.”

 

“Ara Ara... Akemi always did have a thing for a man in uniform...” Ume mused with a slightly naughty smile.

 

“Mother!” Miss McDavidson cried, blushing furiously.

 

Ume laughed, followed quickly by the MC’s instruction for us to find our seats.

 

---

 

Vicki took a small sip of water, waiting for the chuckles to die down. “Forgive me the levity on what is indeed a serious topic, but we have a lot of fine speakers left, and it would suit none of you, ladies and gentlemen, to be too deeply in your cups from heavy thoughts.”

 

A ripple of concession from the crowd.

 

“So.” She continued. “In demonstrating this need for ethical reform, we need to consider if the morals which guided the practitioners of the past still stands today. The Hippocratic Oath has been held to as bedrock for nearly three millennia. If you would forgive my impudence, I would suggest that be reviewed.”

 

A murmur of confusion.

 

“In the face of Medically certified home analysis programs, genetic sequencing, nutritional modification... Let’s throw in Holstaur milk while we’re at it...”

 

Another chuckle, knowing from some corners of the room.

 

“I would say that the admonition for the physician to do no harm has been well and truly superseded. In this day and age, I would encourage, in closing, given the range of topics we have gone over this evening, that he consider a new oath, to ‘Strive for Good.’

Thank you all for your kind attention.”

 

Vicki slithered from the stage, navigating the small step with a practiced drop, the gold and ebon of her serpentine lower body tracking behind her in an undulating ‘S’ as she returned to the table followed by the sounds of appreciative applause.

 

“You were brilliant babe!” Chris mused softly as she coiled back over her ‘chair’, in truth a rough fibreglass curiosity which supported her serpentine build much more comfortably than the standard biped style.

 

Vicki smiled at him gratefully. “Thanks Chris. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t given me those jokes.”

 

“Well, I am willing to be versatile on how you choose to compensate me for co-authoring.” Chris snickered lewdly.

 

“You maou-damn Satyr...” Vicki giggled, blushing slightly.

 

“Children.” Miss Davidson murmured warningly, an appendant eye glowing a pale green as it focused on them.

 

I don’t know what green does, and I don’t want to know. Clearly neither did Chris and Vicki, who reluctantly separated.

 

The MC resumed the stage, shuffling his notes.

 

“A wonderful start to the evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks again to Victoria Sassella from St Patricks for being our first cab out of the ranks. How about another round of applause?”

 

The audience complied with good grace, some turning and smiling their encouragement at Vicki, some shooting foul glares at her which gave away clearer than words that she had stolen some of their thunder.

 

A progression of other students were invited up to speak. I’d taken a quick look at the run-list so knew I was about halfway. I relaxed, half listening to the presentations, stroking Katherine’s wing absently where she had curved it under the table.

It was clear from some presentations that daddy’s money bought a fair few of these spots. I hardly think a sweating, stammering demonstration of how to empty spaghetti onto the stage, or some vapid miss universe-esque ‘World Peace’ blurb was the kind of thing to make the grade for this kind of event.

 

“Dear, who chaired the Selection committee this year?” David murmured to his wife.

 

“I think it was Francis Yeoman, love” She replied.

 

David nodded. “Remind me to have him in my office first thing Monday.” He mused after a particularly rubbish entry.

 

“Next up... Oh! Another student from St Patricks. Please welcome John Walden.”

 

Polite applause as I took the stage. I adjusted the microphone, allowing my eyes to scan the room. Katherine holding up the ‘thumbs’ on her wing-joins before blowing me a kiss.

 

“Howdy Y’all. As you may have noticed, I ain’t from around here.” I began, thickening my accent somewhat.

 

That got the chuckle. Always good to lead on a laugh.

 

“Is St Pat’s a School or a Comedy club?” Came a heckle from the audience.

 

“Well Comedy is tragedy plus distance, which y’all would know if y’all paid any attention in literature.” I rejoined, not missing a beat.

 

Chuckles and murmurs rippled across the room, politely indulgent looks became at once more interested.

 

Of course I planned that. Are you kidding?

 

“And tragedy, ladies and gentlemen, is what leads us into the topic I want to explore today. The Failiure of AI, why Kusanagi Keito’s Great Leap Upward was doomed from the outset...”

 

---

 

“Mate, that was something else.” Chris congratulated me, flopping into one of the double beds which graced the room in which we were staying.

 

“Thanks man.” I sighed, sitting on the end of my bed and removing my shoes.

 

“Something up?”

 

I shrugged, “I dunno, I guess I was hopin’ there’d be something more than an overpriced steak and the opportunity to show I could string two words together... Maybe I’m just annoyed I didn’t get to spend more time with Katherine.”

 

“Yeah, It was a bit abrupt. Personally I reckon they wanted to get shot of the youngsters so the Hoi Polloi could get sauced.” Chris chuckled.

 

I kicked my socks off, wriggling my toes in the luxurious carpet beneath my feet.

 

“Pretty sweet digs though.” I murmur, looking at the decor of the room.

 

“Yeah.” Chris admitted, picking up the tv remote “Reckon we can get porn on this thing?”

 

“I am not watching porn with you.” I state simply.

 

Chris rolled his eyes at me. “Don’t be weird mate, I’ve heard stories about hotel porn.”

 

“You’ve got ten times the selection on your wrist.” I insist, pointing at his PC. Chris looked down at the ubiquitous wrist-strap and shrugged.

 

“Yeah, but it’s a thing, ya know? It’s on the bucket list.”

 

I sigh, standing up and heading for the door. “I’m going to see if I can convince Kevin to let us out for a bit. If I come back to find your dick in your hand I’m not gonna be happy, son.”

 

“Why, because you’ll know what you’ll never live up to?”

 

I snicker. Fucker had a wit on him. I turn the handle to open the door, pausing as voices from the hallway spill in.

 

“...Couldn’t have been more than about twenty.”

 

That was Kyle’s voice.

 

“Hahaha... Oh my! The poor doomed idiot.”

 

That was Miss McDavidson.

 

“Chris!” I hiss, gesturing frantically at him. Chris jumps up, hurrying over to stand with me at the door. I crack it a little more to see Kyle and Miss McDavidson standing outside his room, The Gazer looking at him patiently, almost... expectantly? A warmth in her Cyclopean eye.

 

“Well, this is me.” Kyle stated, scratching at the back of his head like a bashful schoolboy. “Look, Akemi. Maybe this is the booze talking, but... and feel free to belt me one if I’m out of line...”

 

“Yes.” Miss McDavidson murmured with a smile.

 

“Ye...Wha?” Kyle blinked

 

She took his hand in her own, pale and delicate fingers around his rough paw. “Yes Kyle, I would love to come in for a bit.”

 

Kyle beamed, pulling out his keycard and opening the door. “Great, come on in.”

 

“Thank you.” Miss McDavidson replied, putting a hand on his chest and leaning up to plant a light kiss on his surprised mouth.

 

An appendant eye flipped around and focused on the door we were peeking through, and a beam of white energy pulled it firmly shut.

 

“Miss McGazy and your cousin eh?” Chris snickered, as I sucked on a fingertip which had gotten caught in the doorjamb.

 

“Goddamn hypocrites.” I grumble. “Getting cozy while we’re segregated. Some Bullshit I tell you what...”

 

“Oi, Johnno. Quit bitching and think about it. Miss McGazy’s in there with your cousin.”

 

“Y’all have a talent for the obvious.”

 

“Neither of them are really going to be paying attention to what us or the girls are doing for a reasonable while yet...”

 

I pause as the realization hits me.

 

“Shoot you for it.” I state quickly, holding out my fist.

 

“Orright. One. Two. Three.”

 

Shit. Bastard led with rock. I lose.

 

“If you don’t seal the deal I’m going to laugh at you until graduation. Just sayin’.” I declare as Chris heads out the door.

 

Chris grins. “I got this, Johnno.” He assures me, closing the door softly behind him.

 

I flop back onto the bed. At least one of us would be having some fun this evening. I pull up the display on my PC, wondering what Katherine would be doing...

 

A soft scratching at the door.

 

“Did you pussy out already you big gir...” I start, opening the door only to pause as I see Katherine standing there in front of me.

 

“Don’t just stand there, Move!” She hisses, pushing past me and closing the door.

 

I stand there in the small hallway, frozen with surprise. “How did you...”

 

“I saw Kyle and Miss McGazy through the windows.”

 

“How? We’re twenty five stories up... Wait. Sorry, wings.” I chuckle. Katherine giggles.

 

“I was gonna say, for someone who sounded so smart tonight you didn’t strike me as stupid enough to forget that.”

 

Katherine takes my wrists in her wing-joins, pulling me over to the bed. “And I thought, since you’ve been so well behaved in not mussing me, I’d let you do it now, since I’m just gonna get bed feathers anyway.”

 

“Oh, well since you’ve got nothing better to do...” I concede in mock offense, bending to kiss those moistened lips. One kiss turns into several, and somehow her gown has worked its way down around her waist, my hands eager upon her breasts.

 

They aren’t the biggest in the world, but you cannot fault a harpy for supple or perky, I tell you what.

 

Her breathing has quickened, and she’s rubbing my tumescent shaft through my pants with a slender, muscular leg. I slide my hand down her body, over her taut abdomen, the cute divot of her navel, down... down...

 

I’m actually a little shocked when I come to her completely bare mound. Obviously my face gives that away because she breaks with my kiss and looks at me askance.

 

“I was expecting feathers, I won’t lie...” I murmur, shrugging bashfully.

 

“Eurgh... and have to clean them every time I go to the toilet? Are you trying to kill the mood John?” Katherine snickers.

 

“Sorry, sorry...” I murmur, bending to kiss her again, sliding my hand between her legs and exploring gently with my fingers. Katherine throws her wings around me, clinging to me and whispering the secrets of her body through light moans as I stroke her gently.

 

“P-pants...” She gasps

 

“What’s that babe?” I murmur.

 

“Remove ‘em or Lose ‘em.” She demands.

 

I chuckle, undoing my belt and pulling my pants off, undoing my shirt for good measure. Katherine nearly dives at my midsection, trailing her tongue along my torso perfunctorily before engulfing my dick in her mouth.

 

Oh sweet God have mercy... My toes nearly curled inwards with the sensation.

 

“Holy hell...” I groan. “Slow down or I’m not gonna last Kat.”

 

“Give you something to take your mind off it then...” She murmurs, taking her mouth briefly off me and swinging a leg over my head, raising her distinctive, wedge-shaped tail and revealing her firm buttocks and dripping womanhood.

 

Well I don’t have to be asked twice to return a favour. We went at it, both of us licking, sucking, kissing in the inexpert passion of horny teenagers.

 

“I want you. Now.” Katherine groaned, lifting herself off me as my tongue probed somewhere particularly sensitive.

 

“You sure about this?”

 

She paused, looking at me with trepidation. “Y-you don’t want to?”

 

I nod enthusiastically “Hell, I absolutely want to... Just I don’t have any... you know.”

 

“Oh! Don’t worry about that. I can’t get pregnant this week.”

 

“Aroo?”

 

“Heehee, that was adorable...” She giggled, climbing atop me and mantling me with her wings “...We can feel that sort of thing, harpies, I mean. Comes with having a massive egg form in your guts every month.”

 

“As long as you’re sure. I mean... don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind if it was with you.” I stammer, not knowing what to say. Spaghetti starts leaking from the pockets of my non-existent pants.

 

“Shut up and take me.” Katherine demands, lowering her mouth to mine and the heat of her nethers onto my throbbing erection.

 

...I’ll admit, the first time was a pretty disappointing performance on my part, and Katherine seemed to find it very difficult to get comfortable. The second was much better. The third?

 

“Oh Maou!” Katherine shrieked as I laboured atop her, her pert breasts bouncing lewdly beneath me. “John! I’m gonna...”

 

She threw her talons about my waist, claws pricking me unintentionally in the backside, driving me deeper into her. Her look of blank-eyed extacy combined with the knowledge that we had brought her there was enough to bring me to bear once more, and I groaned throatily as my orgasm joined hers.

 

“Oh... Oh wow... So that’s what it’s supposed to feel like.” She breathed.

 

“Yeah... heh... I think I owe you about three or four more.” I chuckle.

 

“Don’t you dare... I can’t feel my feet right now.” She protested, hugging me to her, my length softening within her.

We lay there for a moment, relishing in the closeness and the warmth of each other.

 

“Hey John?”

 

“Yeah Kat?”

 

“This doesn’t mean we’re getting married, you know.”

 

I prop myself up on one elbow

 

“Come again?”

 

Katherine shifted herself, covering me with a wing and kissing me gently on the nose. “Don’t look at me like that. I really like you. Even love you. But I’m an eagle, we fly free, and I don’t want to ever look at you like a burden because you’re holding me back from that.”

 

I laugh slightly. “Kat. We’re seventeen. Let’s cross that bridge if and when we come to it.” I kiss her softly. “Who knows... We might just fly right over it and not even notice.”

 

“That would be nice.” Katherine mused, snuggling into me.

 

Flying forever with my eagle lover.

 

Yeah...

 

That’d be nice.