An Absence of Truth

An Absence of Truth Chapter 4

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An Absence of Truth

Chapter Four

The world looked like a sepia toned picture the moment I stepped out of the forest. The sun was setting, casting shadows over the surrounding trees. There was a slight bite in the air, but due to my korowai, I was cosy. 

Toa had trotted off into the forest when I was ready to depart, assuring me that if I called, he'd come. I missed my dog already. 

Beside me, Rakau scanned his surroundings. He'd never been this far from the forest. His eyes lit with wonder when he spotted my car and I smiled at his enthusiasm. Perhaps he would thrive after all. 

A panel opened near the drivers door the moment I got close. All our cars had biometric scanners and it recognised my presence. However there was the tedious chore of activating the thumb print scanner, which burned your finger causing you to lose your fingerprint until it regrew and then inputting the 12 digit code. 

The windows and tyres were bullet proof and antigravitic shields protected the car from serious scratches.  I thought it was overkill, but considering the amount of firepower we stored in company cars, I understood the security measures. Hell, these cars even had the power to fly, and the capability to take us into space, which we did often when heading to HQ. 

Our think tanks even had a type of paint preventing our transportation from showing up on scanners, and since ADAMA had been a very busy AI, many of our cars had its own AI installed. 

The car I was currently using was one of our older models since technically I was on vacation. So no fancy AI to drive or guide me and the flying capabilities had been deactivated in this car, which sucked royal ass!

I had spare clothes in my bag in the back seat. The trousers were a little too long, perhaps one size too big for him, but they didn't fall down his ass. For modesty's sake, that would have to do. With a t shirt he looked like he could have come from any college campus. 

The last rays of the sun caught his auburn curly hair and there were sparks of light that flashed and faded as the sun sank beneath the horizon. It was disconcerting to perceive a similar effect my hair did, reflected from someone else. 

I opened the passenger door for him. "Hop in." 

Rakau's look of terror and wonder made me laugh and hug him before I told him to sit in the seat. I then buckled him in explaining how to un-clip and clip it for future use and soon we were heading back to Nana's house. 

It was as I moved away from the mountain heading onto the main highway that the korowai faded. I pulled over to the emergency lane, frantically looking around me, then Rakau tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to my chest. 

The remains of my cotton shirt could not hide the red glow that pulsed like a heart beat beneath and I ripped it open to gaze down at two feathers floating right between my pecs. I hissed in pain as a burning sensation seared my senses. The glow faded, leaving a perfect tattoo of two feathers crossed at the quills.

"Well that's handy," I muttered, "Fucking sore, but definitely handy."

Rakau reached out, almost as if he wanted to touch it. Then hastily drew his hand away. I grabbed his hand and placed it on my chest. His startled eyes locked on mine. There was a toothy smile on my face as I kept his hand on me.

"I don't mind if you want to touch me." I leaned closer, "In fact I encourage it."

I sensed his heart race increase and his eyes dilated. His fingers splayed over both pecs before he curled his fingers. Small claws grew and then he pulled his fingers inwards, those sharp claws digging in enough to cause red welts to rise but not sufficient to draw blood. 

I moved in closer, our lips so close that a deep breath would have us kiss. "If you keep this up," I growled, half tempted to bite into his neck and mark him, "I will finish this and to hell with the consequences."

He shuddered, his eyelids shuttered closed and he slowly pulled away. "Your emotions are intense. The night beckons and I hear it's call."  

I laughed, "It's called being horny. I have a high sex drive too." I suspected once this innocent was inducted into the pleasures of the flesh there would be no stopping him, he was a Patupaiarehu after all. I felt a possessive curl of heat within. I intended to be the first man to teach him all carnal aspects and how much fun it could be.

I pulled a sweatshirt from my bag, the last item of clothing I had. I dressed once more, turned off the emergency indicator and signaled to return back onto the highway. I needed to clear my head, because as much as I wanted to fuck this Patupaiarehu, I'd do it properly and not in a car like a damn teenager. My hair pulsed agreement, small lights flashing and then fading as I willed it to behave. Surprisingly enough, my hair went back to normal and I could think. Side effect of the korowai I wondered?

My boss, Aidan was going to have a field day with my young friend. Which gave me pause. I glanced at Rakau before returning my stare to the road. His eyes were lit with wonder, constantly looking around. His hair, normally a rich brown with red tints, now looked black due to the darkness we moved through. Like mine, his hair appeared to sway and dance to its own tune.

I pondered how my young Patupaiarehu would fare in the real world. How he adapted and learned would determine the best way to work with the other, older and rigidly set members of our people. Human and Patupaiarehu both. Fortunately we were imprinted so Rakau had an advantage over the others. 

Since Rakau and me were connected, Aidan needed to know that there was only so much studying and testing I'd allow and absolutely no fucking needles. We needed to be careful and ascertain if Patupaiarehu would be severely affected to technology the way the Faery kind from Europe seemed to be. Syntheices and technology had hurt and weakened the western fae. I didn't know if it would do the same to the Patupaiarehu that weren't linked to me. Although the western fae were now thought to be extinct, Aidan would be thrilled to realise that New Zealand had a treasure trove of what we considered our own version of faery kind. As far as he was concerned, faery kind and the many myths of old were the missing link between the original meta's and the evolution to the metas we have today. I would keep Toa to myself for now. 

I may trust Aidan with my life and since he'd allowed me to scent his emotions and enter his mind I understood him on a level not many people had access to. But, these were my people, not his. I may be under his employ but I was my own entity and that meant I needed to put my people's welfare first. So I would allow Aidan to study Rakau as long as I was in the room while it was happening and with our link I instinctively knew that should Rakau come to harm or any discomfort I would be notified and my anger would not be pleasant. I'd let my team know to keep an eye on the process too.

Aidan understood me on the visceral level, because he had his own version of mind reading. It wasn't as advanced or nuanced as mine, but it gave him an understanding about my primal instincts. I had a compelling instinct to protect those under my care, which is why I vetted potential boyfriends, girlfriends and fuck buddies for my team-mates. They hated it, when I first started doing it. But, as time went by we never knew if the people we randomly met were there by innocent intent or honey pot decoys' for something more nefarious. 

My radar hadn't been perfect in the past, and sometimes potential hook ups disguised as decoys never knew they were intended to be bait. We'd lost a man that way, and I swore it would never happen again. If a fuck buddy or something more significant made it past my first initial scan, I escalated it and passed it onto Daniel, our resident meta hacker and technological guru who would do a deep background check on them in merely minutes. If he gave the clear light, then there was an understanding that their hook up for the night was only allowed to go to designated hotels or homes that CSK personally owned. Aidan knew the teams on the ground lived a hard and dangerous life, with a high fatality rate. Our team was considered the 'A' Team because we'd survived longer than any unit out there. So when we had down time we partied hard.  

I'd also hunted down the people responsible for killing any of my team-mates. The last group I'd hunted, I'd tortured them long and slow making sure I sucked every bit of information from them. I left them drooling vegetables. It made the news because FBI had been monitoring them for a while and they were supposed to be the small fish that would lead to bigger. No one could understand what happened or how it had been done. Even their meta's on the payroll were confused how anyone had managed to sneak past all surveillance. Of course I couldn't claim all the credit for getting in and out undetected. That's how good my team was. When Aidan told me that the President of United States had asked for his help to find out who the culprits were, I'd laughed long and hard. 

My smile of retribution had filled me with glee. It was the first time I'd seen a grim look pass over Aidan's face when he saw I'd enjoyed my work.   

He then warned me that if I continued down this path I would become the very thing I was hunting. Not long afterwards he gave me vacation time and said to go home and find my roots. And here I was.   

I was on the road that led to Nana's house when the full moon, a beautiful silvery orb, almost as bright as daylight appeared behind the clouds. The presence of the moon hit me in the stomach with a punch that made me gasp and wobble slightly. I quickly pulled over to the side of the road. 

Beside me Rakau's heavy panting told me he'd felt it too. His hand rubbed his belly.  At first I thought it was a psychic attack. I flung my senses outward trying to detect anything. With the window down, I inhaled deeply to make sure that if they could hide from psychic senses they wouldn't hide from my Patupaiarehu abilities.

Rakau touched my leg and sexual heat so blinding seared through my senses. He hissed and his body shook. The green tint on his skin began to shine like phosphorous. His hair moved and curled towards me. The silky strands brought more pleasure, enough to make me grit my teeth and my hips jerked uncontrollably. 

That's when it dawned on me even in the haze of pleasure my body was being swamped with. It was night time, but more importantly the call of the moon was a time that Patupaiarehu were known to come out and play in the forests. I should have known better. It was part of the reason I'd gone clubbing a few nights before the full moon. It helped to ease the sexual craving that bubbled out during this phase of the moon. However I'd never had this visceral need, this craving, so severely during any full moon before. Another realization dawned as I stared at Rakau, we were connected, imprinted, with a new plateau of power to work out.

Rakau had been isolated in his forest, rarely anyone went into his forest during the night. They enjoyed the set hiking trails during the day, but the areas he considered sacred and out of bounds were deep into the forest far off the beaten paths and hidden within a dimensional pocket that only the residents of the forest could access. A pocket dimension I suspected Aidan would want to research.

Prior to meeting me he'd never wanted to venture into the human world. Without the connection of a human, the moon wouldn't have had such a strong pull the way it did.

Now, his first taste of what it was like when the moon ruled my sexual urges, tied with our imprint, and lust roared through our veins with potency. The moon a demand and lure to respond.

Urgent lips clashed with mine, teeth grinding against my mouth. It was inexperienced but I didn't care, his enthusiasm and desperate need buoyed me. I growled and threw him back into his chair.

"Hold on," I warned coming up for breath. This was not where we were gonna fuck. I peeled away from the curb heading the last few blocks towards Nana's place. I hastily threw dampeners around her home, they would break with the slightest provocation, but I was barely thinking. I parked haphazardly on the front lawn, pulled Rakau out and raced up her driveway, heading towards the granny flat installed behind the back of the house. Distantly, the doors automatically shut and locked behind me, and the car shut itself down.  

My old bedroom and a place I once was proud to call mine loomed in the darkness. A bastion of independence in my youth, grew as I dragged and half raced Rakau towards it. 

"Wait here!" I compelled Rakau. He resisted my command until I kissed him, rough and needy. "I mean it!" I growled.

I raced towards nana's back verandah, the spare key to the granny flat was underneath the porch hidden on a hook. I grabbed it and raced back unlocking the door and shoving Rakau ahead of me.

Coloured lights splashed around us when I pulled Rakau to the bed. My hair was so bright I could see the look of wonder and delight on his face as he saw my hair doing its light display. I made quick work of his clothes.

I'd try to ease into this with him, this was his first time and I wanted to make this as good as possible for him.  His hair curled around my biceps, gripping and teasing and it was like they had a direct connection to my dick and surprisingly, my prostate. I shouted and shivered. 

Not to be outdone my hair raced towards Rakau, turning into sturdy vines, raising his hands above his head and spreading his legs apart. They left him trapped and held him tightly. His hair slid over my vines and mana rose around us like blue mist. 

That's when I sensed it. Minds, so many minds around me. Nana's was the first I sensed, but oddly, my senses slid over her mind the way water rushes over a seashell. I was relieved because this sexual hunger and connection was one thing I would never want to share with her. Instead, I sought couples of all ages as long as they were strong and healthy minds. 

Ever since the connection to Pirongia Forest, my reach spread, covering over three blocks comfortably. I knew I could go further, Pirongia Forest proved I could. But this was easy and comfortable without me consciously monitoring every mind in my grasp. 

Rakau's glee and wonder filtered into me through his hair. He was piggybacking onto what I was doing and therefore he could sip and drink from the humans too. It was instinctual knowledge on his part. 

I moved into Rakau, lying atop him, my sweatpants the only barrier between us. I locked lips with him and just like that, knowledge flowed through him. I was startled to realise that he was drawing the knowledge of kissing from me.  

His kiss that was once inexperienced soon softened and deepened. I moaned as he deftly stroked my mouth, his hips thrust upward to tell me how much he was enjoying this too. Humans everywhere around us moaned and rubbed against each other. 

Horny couples headed towards bedrooms, the adventurous stripping where they were up against walls or furniture. I latched onto their minds, even though I was drawn into the lust of the moment I knew enough to make sure the humans would believe it was their own arousal leading to this unexpected moment. A playful romp fondly remembered.

A group of friends meeting for dinner were soon in an orgy, food and hands everywhere. I tried to prevent the lust spreading to couples with young children, and to those who needed their faculties about them. If my power sensed dark taint within them, it would latch on regardless of who they were and damn the consequences. It was a burden weighing me down as I read the dregs of a persons deepest secrets and darkest desires. Normally this was the struggle I endured and I feared with the amount of people I now held in thrall, my power would get away from me and strike out, causing destruction in its wake.

Yet something was different. Normally my senses were trained to latch onto men and women who enjoyed their depravities. Identify the psychopaths and dangers amongst the smiling throng. My power craved and enjoyed toying with them. It called to the unruly part of me. The side of my nature that urged to punish and tease. Now, there was a light within, one that swirled and danced along the edges of darkness that my power was starting to turn into. A light I sensed came from my connection to Rakau. The two strands swirled around each other, neither winning or losing. Both an essential part of who I was becoming. Who I needed to be. The dark and light aspects of me. Yin and Yang.

I saw the light strands glide along some of its dark brethren and ease its tendrils from the members of society that needed to be alert instead of fucking. Police officers, humanity driving home from work, people among the hustle and bustle, emergency workers, city maintenance crew. It drew my dark threads from these people, but also highlighting potential victims and minds to keep tabs on in the future. A compromise that appeased its darker brethren. The dark strands writhed with determination and warning as it continued its search. It would not be denied. It called and whispered and slithered, spreading it's lure to those who needed punishment, torture, and pleasure in equal amounts. These flavors were familiar friends, and with intent more sentient than I'd ever known, they eagerly spread outwards. 

It was these new strands of light that intrigued me. It searched for those who would make me stronger, and give me allies if needed. Seek to help and heal if I could. It was evolving, changing it's parameters and changing me and Rakau in the process.

The effects of the imprint growing with each caress, lick and moan I drew from Rakau, and from the connection to the people. Oddly flora and fauna were responding too.

A gentleman who'd lost his erection more than a decade ago gasped with joy at the proud standing member in his pants. Women who'd never experienced an orgasm felt the tingling rush of arousal that built until they screamed gloriously. Teenagers filled with angst, loneliness and need latched eagerly onto my power, their fulfillment feeding both strands of light and dark. 

Individuals trapped inside their own minds, due mental or emotional trauma, saw my power as a beacon, one that filled them with heady emotions. The sensation of love, purity and safety enough to drag some of them out of their self imposed exiles. While the dark strands fed and pulled those who'd sunk so far into negativity stopped punishing themselves. With my dark strands taking away their negative thoughts, absolution was possible. There were many more moments, both light and dark strands highlighting people of note throughout their search.

A part of my mind acknowledged these new-found wonders. I could compartmentalize when needed and the dual nature of my power and the mental techniques I'd learned over the years gave me the ability to focus on many things at once. 

Truthfully however, most of my mind was concentrated upon the one who'd given me a light in the darkness. The one I was about to claim.

Rakau moaned and thrust eagerly against me. Human emotions through feeding was a sexual high for Patupaiarehu. As Rakau's first time feeding on human emotions and tied to me as he was, mana pooled between us, building as the humans cares and woes faded with their clothes.

My writhing Patupaiarehu beneath me was too far gone to appreciate slow and easy. I didn't want to hurt him I wasn't a small man and this was his first time. I knew he could heal and linked into the thousands of humans and their pleasure, I knew that he'd only feel pleasure. Besides, I wanted him too damn much to be slow, or gentle. 

He must have sensed my hesitation, because his need and desire flowed over my skin and into my mind, feather-light but unsure. An indication he expected me to reject him. I growled my assurance into his neck, biting and licking. I bit down once more to leave my mark, sucking hard and then tasting blood. Rakau purred his satisfaction. I'd claimed him and his happiness was as pure as the strands of light now stretched out around me in all directions.

Smooth, warm flesh beneath my mouth and hands. Supple and firm, over crevices and valleys. He smelled of the forest we came from. Green saplings, ferns and bark. I inhaled deep, my dick hardening at the scent that I knew was uniquely Rakau. 

He was hard and dripping. My tongue dipped down to capture his essence. I blinked, surprised. He was sweeter than most humans. The smell was different too. There was the scent of rivers and baking river rocks. He was uncut and there was an excess of foreskin to play with. Something I instantly delved my tongue beneath. He moaned, thrusting his hips up. I pushed him farther into my mouth. He hissed, his hands clenched. He tried to move but my vines had him in thrall. He shoved his power into me, drawing on the mana we'd created. His power splashed over my senses like the sun dappled glades in a forest of green. It thrilled me, eased me and made me hungry for more.

I growled around his member and he thrust his dick further down my throat. I could feel what he was feeling. He'd managed to create a circuit so I experienced through his mind and eyes, the pleasure I gave him. I was not used to being in the passenger seat when it came to this type of power play. I was used to being the one always in control and apparently this young Patupaiarehu was not a docile partner. 

Nana's house was only a few blocks from the local hospital. That was where my power was drawing from the most. The light and dark strands intertwining. That was where the most need for contact and connection came from. The other humans in their homes around me were part of my web, and they too were an extension, but my power liked the energies coming from the hospital more.

A gang of young men were wondering the nearby street and they were caught in my web. A thrill went through a dark strand connected to them. Their intention was to cause as much damage and harm to any who crossed their paths. Now something bigger and deadlier had them in its sights. 

I pushed Rakau all the way down my throat until my lips hit the base of him. His sparse curly pubes tickling my lips. Without mana riding me, there was no way I could deep throat him with such ease. Like I said, I was normally the one on the receiving end of a blow job. I enjoyed sucking my partners as foreplay, but I preferred sucking and licking their asses more. 

He shouted his pleasure and light strands followed my link to the the gang members I was monitoring. They dropped to the ground, rapture on their faces. Except one, he stood, his hands clenched as he fought against us. Rakau didn't like that.

The sound of a whirring bullroarer or purerehua filled the space around us. Rakau's hair hummed with the sound. His eyes were now a solid black and he growled, his voice a harsh susurration blending with the purerehua. His light strand melded with my dark, turning grey. The gang member dropped, arching his back as Rakau filled him with a rapture that had him screaming out his release. 

I slid my mouth off Rakau. Gone was my sweatpants and I was hard and ready. Fluid built at the tip and Rakau looked up at me. He tilted his hips, eagerness evident in his dark eyes. As inhumane as they looked, I found them mesmerising and sexy as fuck. 

I placed the head at his entrance. There was no hair to hide his sphincter from my gaze. It winked eagerly at me. I pushed. His hole was moist and slick as if there was natural lube being produced while I thrust. 

Rakau hissed with a feral smile on his face. There was no pain. I could feel it since Rakau had linked us. It was pleasure and need blended so finely that he could not determine which he craved more. I paused, trying to take a deep breath and prevent myself from spilling so quickly. Rakau's nerves were on fire and it was fucking with my concentration. I did not want this to end before it began. 

As much as I enjoyed knowing how much Rakau craved the sensation of our union, I needed to take control. I took deep breaths, forcing Rakau's drugging presence from my mind. I drew upon the many minds in the midst of copulation, I pulled the sweet smell of lust, love and desire into a shield against Rakau. 

His body spasmed and tightened around my shaft. I had only pushed in a third of the way, but that movement had me growling and pushing until my body was wedged as closely as I could get it into Rakau's. He shouted, already trying to impale himself on my cock. But I held the reins here. He was trapped beneath me under my control and power. The thrill of possession filled me. 

I pulled out, his muscles protested tightening and I bit my lip, the sensation was exquisite. Again, there was lubrication that allowed me to feel the satiny sensation of his chute wrapped snugly around me, and yet no burning or pulling of skin catching skin. I guess this was another Patupaiarehu biological difference. 

Not to be outdone, Rakau latched onto the humans we controlled. With each thrust, the humans screamed and shouted their own pleasure. I bit his neck, a possessive smile curling my lips at the blood and bruising. Dark strands and a single light wound around the young hooligans.

I delved into the gang members minds. Three of them I judged instantly, they would be meeting me one day. I would not destroy their minds right now. The rest I knew were mere followers and one of them had a good heart but was in the wrong group for reasons to do with his family life. Regardless I would teach them all a valuable lesson tonight.  

Rakau was intent on sharing his joy and sexual awakening with these miscreants, and I would allow them to feel Rakau's joy, for now, it allowed me to delve deep into their psyches while they wallowed in a pleasure they'd never experience again.  Soon they would understand terror in its many forms. 

I thrust deep and hard into my eager Patupaiarehu. He groaned, urging me with eager thrusts of his ass. My vine hair had already spread him wide and raised his legs so that they rested on my shoulders. His shaft was long and thick and standing against his belly. A huge smile of wonder and carnal need lit his face. He was a sight to behold. His hair swirled and moved while his eyes shone with exquisite ecstasy, his pupils were like dark spools of obsidian wool. He was beautiful in his pleasure.

I pulled upon the minds inside the hospital and with their help I drowned the gang members in the horrors, pain and suffering that those on their death-beds were enduring. Each scenario I created was tailored for the seven members. I smothered them in the loss of a loved one, watching as they withered away. I led them into the tormented minds of those who had to endure agony and pain that medication could never truly release them from. Some experienced the terror and fear of those on the death's door as their minds finally shut down. I was not kind. Hospitals were riddled with pain and suffering. They may offer salvation, but for many it was a place of pain and terror. 

In the minds of the gang members they became the people who suffered. I found one man in intensive care, put there by their gang leader, Troy. There were no witnesses to the event. But I knew.

Now, the gang leader was stuck in a loop of what his victim endured. Constantly replaying the scenario of the beating that caused brain haemorrhaging. However for every cycle Troy endured, I made sure to up the pain with each successive cycle.

My thrusts were now faster and harder and if the eager little grunts coming from Rakau were any indication, I was doing a good job of pleasing my partner. I bit his neck on the other side of my claiming mark, enjoying the red mark I left. A low feral growl erupted from my chest. The bed creaking under the strain of my vigorous fucking. 

Every mind connected to us, excluding the gang members, were in the throes of pleasure and it was exhilarating like being on a roller coaster knowing that I held the pleasure and pain of all these people within my grasp. Some were begging and screaming for release and others wished for it never to end. A crescendo of astonishing pleasure. 

I pushed this roiling mass of devouring need outwards, I had more mana than I'd ever gathered before and Rakau's enthusiasm to share was contagious. Rakau growled one more time, staring up at me. A frown marred his forehead and then his hair latched onto my face. The purerehua hummed once more and then I screamed as unfiltered mana flowed into me. I screamed again as my body attempted to convert that mana into human pleasure and it burst out of me in a tidal wave. There was no control, it washed outward spreading past my previous borders moving further until it splashed distantly against a group of metas that tried to grip onto it. Rakau snarled at those meta's and snatched the power back. 

I didn't care, my mind and body was focused on reaching that orgasmic pinnacle, it was roaring up from the base of my spine. The torturous need to breed and fill my sexy Patupaiarehu with seed. Something primal demanding that this faery become mine in all ways. The city of minds were with me in their desperate need for release, and with their encouragement, I grabbed onto Rakau's mind and blasted him with my release as I screamed out a guttural roar. My neck taught and my hips mashed as deeply as I could into Rakau. He howled and arched his back, his white seed spilling across his skin in glistening arcs. Mana causing his semen to glow white between us. 

I collapsed, my arms too shaky to hold my weight off him. Rakau purred as my weight squashed him against the mattress beneath us. My hair receded like the tide. The vines disappearing and absorbing our sweat and seed as they faded away.

I managed to lie on my back, pulling Rakau along with me to sprawl on my chest. I released the minds around me, gently coaxing their sated minds to rest. The gang members were the last released. Their sweaty and shaky expressions enough to scatter them as they ran. Except for one. The one who had no home to run to. I pushed him towards me. I'd talk to nana but I knew she would let the kid stay with us if I vouched for him.

Now that I was sated and sleepy, realization set in and a worried frown marred my face. We'd come across meta's in our explosion of sex. I hadn't met them before and since I'd lost control towards the end I couldn't determine how far out my power travelled. 

Fortunately for me, the New Zealand Government had an understanding with CSK. Although they weren't open about their association with us, we had a working relationship. However, I would not be surprised if some of their Meta's arrived on my doorstep. 

A small smile lit the corner of my mouth. It would be interesting to say the least if they pissed off nana. Beside me, Rakau was sound asleep. From outside I sensed the young man's presence. He was confused and hesitant as to why he was drawn to my front yard. I got dressed silently. I quickly knocked on the back door waiting for nana to open it for me. 

She wore her old ratty dressing gown I bought her many years ago with curlers in her hair and a ferocious frown upon her face. 

"I felt your power bloom and swamp the entire damn suburb, boy." She grumbled. 

"Sorry nana." 

"What or who is in your room?"

I blinked gathering my thoughts. "I promise to explain everything, but right now, we have a young kid on our front lawn wondering why he is still standing out there, and he has no where to go."

"And why do I have a kid on my lawn?"

"He's homeless, but he's a good kid, nana. I figured we could feed him and hopefully I'd find him a place and a decent start at a new life tomorrow when I contact my company."

She peered at me for a few seconds before turning on her heel. I followed her as she strode towards the front door. 

"Boy!" She shouted, her voice perilous in its demand. "What is your name?"

The kid on her front lawn jumped and turned towards her. 

"I'm sorry, I'll leave right away." He muttered.

"I didn't say to get off my lawn, I asked for your name."

His shoulders seemed to settle, until he saw me standing behind Nan. His posture shifted, became combative.  

"I'll just go." He said.

"You're not going anywhere," I growled.

He jerked like he was a marionette and remained rooted to the spot. "What's happening to me?" 

Nana's sharp elbow jabbed me in the stomach. It was fast and powerful enough that I nearly doubled over from the blow. There was strength in this frail body and I needed to remember that she was more than she appeared. 

"You pay no attention to my grandson here, he can turn into an over protective bully to those he loves."

"I can't move," he said in a trembling voice.

She turned and glared up at me. "Free him right now."

I was too busy staring at the young man, making sure he was aware, who the alpha was here to pay attention. I don't know where her stick came from, but she used it to hit bullseye, centre of my head. There was a sudden disconnect and the kid collapsed to the ground, terror in his eyes. 

This time when her stick headed towards my solar plexus I thought I was ready, tensing to take the brunt of it. Except there was a spark of power before it hit and I went skidding backwards into the house. The front door unceremoniously shut on me. I stared in shock at what had just happened.

Rubbing my now throbbing stomach muscles, I sheepishly moved towards the door. "I just got schooled," I muttered to myself. "Damn nana, no wonder you have held the title of matriarch for so long." 

"If you open that door, Hemi, I promise I will give you the thrashing you should have been given when you were knee high, or so help me!"

I backed away from the door. I could almost feel a pout forming, and with more effort than I was comfortable openly admitting, I refrained from poking my tongue at her. I'd let nana work her magic.

Scratching my head, I sighed. "I guess I better cook some food for Rakau and the kid. I could sense my sexually awakened Patupaiarehu stirring. Our connection was an ever present sensation inside my head. He'd noticed my absence. I sent him reassurance and felt him purr in contentment. He sleepily informed me to come to bed and he'd make it worth my time. I smiled, shaking my head. I'd created a horny monster.

Bacon and eggs were frying when I heard the front door open. 

"Take your shoes off, boy. I don't know where you've been traipsing and I don't want my clean floors dirty."

"Um...I'm not sure I should." 

"And why is that dearie?" I bit my lip. When nana was using her sugary sweet tone like that you better make sure your answer was to her liking.

"I...uh, I haven't showered in a while and um..."

"Hemi," nana shouted.

"Yes, nana?"

"Take Sean around the side of the house to the wash shed and give him some of your old clothes in the garage storage bins. You may as well wash up too, don't think I don't know what you were doing. Hell I'm sure the whole damn neighbours heard you."

This was mortifying. I rushed towards the front door and the hesitant Sean standing there. 

"Come on kid, lets get out of here." 

"I'm glad you still remembered your manners," she muttered, "I can smell the food from here, so I'll take over. Lord knows you'd burn the damn things without me there to watch over it all."

The wash shed was used for many things over the years. Originally it was the laundry room where nana used to keep her ancient washing machine before Uncle decided to expand the house. The laundry room was now on the opposite side of the house with a modern washing machine and dryer. A gift I sent nana a few years ago. 

The wash shed was an open shower set up, one you'd find in any locker room. After drills and the rigorous training uncle used to put us through in preparation for kapa haka, this became our temporary locker room. Now it was used to clean fish and any other odorous foods before nana let it inside her kitchen. 

Sean looked at me apprehensively while I showed him the old lockers still standing along one wall. The door leading towards the urinal and single toilet near the lockers, was shut. It probably hadn't been used since uncle Henare and the Kapa haka boys trained here. Now with the money and prestige they earned, they trained at the local stadium. There were two large stone basins closer to the entrance, but the rest of the room was tiles and five shower heads.

"I'll go get you some clean clothes, and turn the gas on for the hot water cylinder." He nodded at me in thanks.

"And since I know my nana," I continued, "I suggest you throw your old clothes out, they've seen better days."

He looked forlorn, "They're all I have."

I clasped him on the shoulder. I kept my face neutral but this kid was skin and bones. 

"Tomorrow after you've had food in your belly and a good night's rest, we'll discuss legal employment for you." 

He blinked rapidly, his breath hitching. "Why are you helping me?"

His reply gladdened and saddened me. I was pleased that the streets had not hardened him so much that he didn't slap a helping hand away when he saw one. However, I knew this when I read him and his stupid gang earlier, but I was saddened that a gentle soul such as this kid had to endure shit in a damn cruel and hard fucking world. For all of his posturing and bravado, he really didn't like hurting people. It was the gang or lose what safety he'd garnered since he'd been kicked out of his home.

"I know a good kid when I meet one."

His eyes shuttered and he looked down. "I'm not a good person, my parents said I was a sin against god."

I grabbed his chin and made him stare up at me. "Being gay is not the end of the fucking world."

His eyes widened with fear and his lower lip wobbled. "How did you know?"

"It doesn't matter how I know. All that matters is that you believe you're not a sin against god. All that matters is making sure you believe that you were born to be exactly who you are."

"Are you telling me you're gay too?"

A rueful smile spread across my face, I released him shaking my head, "Kid, did you not hear what my grandmother said before I tried ushering you out the door?

She practically heard me screwing a guy, we were not quiet I can tell you that."

He lowered his head, his shoulders shaking and he turned trying to hide his tears. "I've been hiding this from Troy and the guys since they let me into their gang. I was so afraid they'd find out."

"This is a safe place," I said, "I'll bring you some clean clothes and once you've freshened up, food should be piping hot and ready for you." I paused looking at his worn and dirty sneakers, "What shoe size are you?" 

"Size twelve, but these shoes are fine."

Jesus, the kid still had some growing if that was his shoe size already. 

"How old are you?"

He looked down, "I'm fifteen."

I frowned, he was younger than I expected. "We'll discuss if school is the right place for you after you've had food in you."

I left him to clean up while I went about getting him clean clothes and some shoes that would fit. I'd check the clothing storage bins for shoes, but suspected a trip to Kmart might be in order. Hell I'd need to get clothes and shoes for Rakau so I may as well make sure Sean had something too.

Rakau was awake by the time nana called out food would be ready in 15 minutes. Sean was scrubbed clean and I introduced Rakau to his first shower and the toiletries I'd gathered for both him and Sean. Rakau was adorable to watch as he looked enquiringly at me while I brushed my teeth and showed him how to use his. I suspected that our food compared to what he normally ate would challenge how well his teeth stayed as shiny white as they currently were. I wasn't sure if there was an herb or type of plant that he used to maintain his own teeth, but I wasn't going to take chances. Hey, I liked clean smelling breath so sue me and nana was always strict on oral hygiene growing up. 

There was a look that Sean gave the two of us as we entered the house. Rakau was a little more hesitant but followed my lead. Nana had been busy, there was more food than what I'd certainly started cooking, and my belly rumbled at the aroma's wafting from the kitchen. 

I set the table closer to the kitchen. We had a formal dining area with a table large enough to fit twenty people comfortably, but tonight it would just be a small affair so the table close to the kitchen is where we would be. Sean gasped when Rakau finally entered and sat at my urging. The light picked up the green tint to his skin and his one blue and green eye was certainly sufficient to make anyone gasp in wonder. Although saying his eyes were merely blue and green was an understatement. His heterochromia eyes had an inner light to them, particularly when he was content, happy, and at night his supernatural ancestry was more prominent. 

"Who are you two?" Sean asked. 

I tilted my head, "Rakau is what is called a Patupaiarehu, but me, I'm human...mostly."

"You two are metahumans?"

"I'm a meta," I turned to look at Rakau, "But as I said, Rakau is actually a faery."

Sean's eyes widened even further. "You telling me that New Zealand has it's own fairy people?"

"Most countries have their own stories about faeries, and meta's I might add."

Sean turned to stare at Rakau. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He put his hand out waiting for Rakau to shake it.

"What is this young man trying to say to me and why is his hand out like that?" Rakau asked.

"Is he speaking Maori?" Sean enquired.

I'd completely forgotten that there was a language barrier. Ever since I'd joined with the Korowai I'd been given a few extra abilities and understanding different languages was a perk. 

However, I was going to try something with Rakau in an attempt to help ease him into human society. Using our imprint I'd teach him English. Perhaps with the imprint I could also help Rakau understand nuances and everyday things I took for granted that most westernized humans understood. 

"Repeat your question to Rakau again, Sean."

Sean didn't ask why, just repeated himself. I opened my link to Rakau, my memories becoming his. There was no way I could hide any parts of my life this way and therefore he'd see everything I'd done and there was a lot of killing, and black ops. Imprinting was indiscriminate in what we learned, but it would give him an edge in the modern world which was more important.

Understanding bloomed in Rakau's eyes, but with it, I watched as a small piece of his innocence went too. 

He turned and shook Sean's hand.  "Nice to meet you, bud." 

Sean looked at me enquiringly. I shrugged, and headed towards Nana. Soon the two of them were talking like they were old friends.

Thank you to everyone who sent me emails. Life has been very hectic particularly during this pandemic. I hope everyone is safe and healthy, and I always appreciate feedback

monkurchakar@yahoo.com.au

Sincerely

Monkur