Alejandra was wrapping up at the cafe, and the main lights were off, giving the place a drowsy feel. The last customer had already left and it was only her and one other girl tending to the tasks of cleaning the espresso machines, boxing the pastries and putting them in the fridge, and sweeping and mopping the floor. Usually it was a playful and chatty time, but tonight, like almost every night since Silas' change, she was silent. She knew that Silas was dealing with a lot, but she didn't know how to help him.
She still cringed at her comment from yesterday. "the prettiest girlfriend in the world"? She was trying to encourage him, but it was a total miss. On one hand she thought it might be good if he started accepting his new body. He can still be pretty and still be himself, right? Pretty is a good thing. It doesn't stop him from playing video games, or working on his car, or backpacking with the guys. It's just different, and it's good, and it can be a lot of fun. On the other hand, what type of guy would want to hear that? Sure some guys might like it, but not a 'Silas' type of guy. She groaned and buried her face in her hands.
Her coworker glanced up from mopping, with a concerned look, but Alejandra just smiled and told her she miscount the cash while closing the register. Usually she couldn't help but sharing her own emotions, but this... Well.. This was Silas' emotions, and she didn't want to talk about him behind his back like this.
She gathered her things, as well as a few snacks that were about to expire, said farewell to her coworker and started the drive home.
The truth was, she was starting to miss her boyfriend. She could be supportive, and kind, and loving indefinitely, but Silas wasn't even receptive to that. Silas had bottled himself up since the change. Every kindness was treated with a perfectly polite, perfectly impersonal response, and every faux pas, like yesterday, only seemed to drive him further away. It was worrying. She wasn't sure what to do, but she knew she had to do something. The passive strategy wasn't working, so when she opened up the door to their apartment, she put together a plan.
As she walked in, she saw Silas was playing games, as usual.
"Hola mi amore, How was your day?" Alejandro hung up her purse by the door, and made her way to Silas and started to rub his shoulders.
He smiled. "Hey Ali, Pretty good, I finally finally got that loot I was grinding for."
Not good. Alejandra thought. He's using my nick name, and video game talk? We need to reroute this conversation stat.
"I was able to bring home some of those cranberry turkey sandwiches you liked."
"That's great, thanks, I haven't eaten yet."
"Aren't you going to thank me?"
"I... Uhh.. Just did?"'
"Not like that, like you used to." Alejandra sat next to him and smiled gently then, leaned closer, waiting.
Silas flustered, but sat up and paused his game. "Oh, uhhh..."
Silas smirked, scowled, then smirked again all in the space of a second, then leaned in and kissed her nervously.
"Thanks, babe." He purred.
Alejandra smiled, "That's better." she said, then pulled him in for another kiss.
It was electric, making her flush with excitement. She'd never kissed another girl before, much less a goddess. It was different. Frankly she'd never really thought about it before, and the only way she'd made it this far was by just not thinking about it, and committing. This was Silas. Not just 'another girl'. They'd been dating for 3 years. This was Silas... But quietly she had to admit that it didn't feel the same. She didn't feel attracted to him. Not yet.
Their lips parted, but they stayed close to one another. She could feel Silas' heart beating in his chest, and he smiled.
She smiled too. Mission accomplished.
Kayla smiled at herself as she walked by the mirror. It had been over a week, but she couldn't believe she'd gotten such a killer transformation. It was a bit out there, and frankly her slanted black eyes and fuzzy antennae styled eyebrows were a bit alien and took some getting used to, but her usual chubby cheeks, and round lips were totally recognizable as her own, so she didn't look too different. On the whole, It was Incredible. A Lunar moth. Those things were rare enough in nature, and as best as she could find, she was a one of a kind among the transformed. There were other moth girls of course, but always dusty and brown, none had the mane of white fluff that traced her collar bone, and ephemeral green wings. Wings! She had wings! She hadn't tried flying yet, but the doctors at the clinic had told her it was probably possible.
Of course, Beauty had its trade off. Her transformation definitely fell in a more high maintenance category. Grooming had been a pain in the ass. She had to use a mix of sponge baths and soft brushing, which took way more time and deliberate effort than usual, and her hair was more wispy, and refused to be styled, causing her to get it cut to a shorter pixie cut a few days ago. All her tops had to be be off the shoulder too, thanks to her wings and mane, which severely restricted her wardrobe. She had been wearing a lot of flowing blouses that tied off in the front for pure practical reasons.
Kayla filled up an electric kettle with water and set it to boil while she prepared a cup of tea and continued to reflect.
She had been a bit nervous about going to the clinic, but when all her besties decided to go together, she had to join in. It turned out pretty good on the whole, with some cat girls, and feathers, just more common stuff. Only one girl got a bad change and ended up with a beak. Poor girl, she was so ashamed and kept hiding her face. But her feathers and eyes were still really cute, and she didn't end up like the harpies who lost their hands, so it wasn't a total loss.
The kettle clicked off, and Kayla poured her cup of tea, grabbed latest book in the "Shatter Me" series, then sashayed over to her couch, delighting in the feel of the wind flowing through her wings. (Wings!) and settled in. She perched herself high on a pile of pillows, and draped her wings over the back of the couch. The doctor said it should be fine for her to lay down on her wings, but, like, NO. There's now way she's going to crush her gorgeous wings beneath her. The book really had it all, romance and mystery in a dystopian future, and she couldn't wait to pick up on where she left off, but just as she was about to settle in, the lights went out.
She yelped, and started to look around, only to see a spinning light appear before her... She blinked, and stared at it... and couldn't look away... It was just some stupid light... but...
Before her swirled a spiral of brilliant color, like she'd never seen before... Hotter than red, more iridescent and liquid than a steady glow. It... it was like nothing she'd ever seen... It cut through the darkness, but didn't seem to light anything else up around her... The light itself was all she could see in the darkness.
The light was so entrancing, she didn't feel as her legs were gently pulled together, and her arms held to her side. She didn't notice as her body was squeezed tighter and tighter, she hardly noticed as her breath was stifled and her mouth was covered.
And then the lights flipped back on. Standing in the living room, holding spinning ultra-violet light bar was a gorgeous Asian woman with grey skin, and black lips laughing. "I cannot believe that worked." Kayle tried to scream, but suddenly realized her mouth was covered by something. She tried to stand, and hold up her hands in defense, but she was completely bundled up in white thread. Only her wings were free, so she started to flap frantically, not knowing what else to do.
"We'll have none of that." The grey woman stated, and a moment later threads erupted out from the surroundings, and finished Kayla's encasement.
"Target is secure." The grey woman said to a voice in her earpiece.
"Affirmative..."
"No... She's completely immobile so we can take our time, the fewer witnesses the better."
"Yeah, I'll stay with her. Just keep your distance until 0200."
The woman smiled at the wiggling silk cocoon, picked up Kayla's tea, and book, sat down beside her, and started to read.
