Artificial Mates - Chapter 17

The moment I entered my apartment my bracelet chimed. I swapped over it and peeked at the sender. It was a mail from SolTec. Grant noticed as my body tensed.

“Something wrong?” I looked up with creases on my forehead.

“They… SolTec said that my sanction is lifted and that the Jay guy will face punishment shortly,” I paused to swallow my concern. I should rejoice, yet I couldn’t. “They said I can take two more days off. However, it will be deducted from my salary,” I turned back to the chunk of text on the screen. “I don’t think I can take more offs,” I hesitated.

“It’s not so bad. At least, you won’t have to deal with that guy,” Grant smiled. Somehow, he managed to see everything from the bright side. “We should celebrate. What’s left in the fridge?” I laughed at his enthusiasm. Since I had a good day, my good mood came back easily. Demos approached me as Grant inspected the fridge’s content.

“Don’t worry, I’ll accompany you to work and will pick you up at three pm sharp. Use EWink whenever you feel unsafe,” he squeezed my arm lightly. “I’ll do my best to be there for you,” my knees almost melted as he said it against my hair. I like that Demos, the caring one not the jerk.

“Guys!” called Grant from the kitchen. We turned to him in alarm. What now? “I have bad news! The fridge is empty…” he sighed in frustration. I grinned, I thought he would announce a disaster.

“Aren’t you an elf? Can’t you work your magic or something?” I teased. His eyes lit up instantly.

“Elf//Noun// A supernatural creature of folk tales typically represented as a small, delicate, elusive figure in human form with pointed ears, has magical powers, and a capricious nature. That’s what Google says. I can’t do miracles, though. And your fridge IS empty for real. There’s nothing there,” he pulled the door wider for us to see. I gasped, then burst with uncontainable laughter.

“Let’s eat out,” I threw my arms in the air. They both frowned at my sudden flurry of inappropriate joy.

“You can’t, there thirteen days to go before the end of the month,” scolded Grant. “How much do you pay for rent and utilities? What about food per month? And not to forget two hundred units for Sognare,” I thought they were here to lift my mood not kill it. I knew I was in a hell of a messy financial situation. No need to rub it in my face. I pulled on a long face.

“You said WE’LL find a solution so don’t worry about it,” I tried to play dumb to escape reality. I can always pretend it doesn’t exist and forget at it. Just as I did when I placed the order at Sognare. He sighed and Demos crossed his arms over his chest, both remained silent.

“That’s why I need to know how much you have left in your account,” he took a step towards me. “So I can work something out,” I stared at my sandals. Why did the conversation take such a drastic turn? Now they are even asking me about my money. He stopped in front of me and tilted his head. “Trust me, I’m only trying to help you,” our eyes met. His cloudy silver eyes were sincere. I sighed giving up, I needed help but my ego was getting in the way. I reluctantly checked my bracelet. I’ve been trying to ignore my situation so bad I haven’t checked my account for a while. Somehow, I was scared it would be negative.

“So?” pressed Demos when I took too long to answer. I gazed at him with a smile.

“There are twenty-one units left,” I laughed, surprised there was anything at all. “My salary will be credited on the twenty-eight. That means we have twenty-one units for ten days,” I answered jumping up to celebrate. Grant gave a nervous chuckle and gave a quick glance at Demos who pressed his lips into a hard line. He was not happy at all.

“Let’s hope nothing major happens,” Demos added with a bitter smirk. I poked him in the ribs with my index. There was no reaction. His eyes dropped down at me. His chest was as hard as steel.

“Where’s your positivity?” I giggled. He narrowed his copper eyes at me. Then a slow smile stretched over his lips.

“Are you trying to tickle me?” he rose a menacing index at me. I took a step back and pretended I was scared.

“You wouldn’t dare,” I tried to keep a straight face and failed. He swiftly grabbed my waist with one hand and tickled my side with the other. I laughed to tears. I twisted and turned but couldn’t break free.

“Cut it out, you’re bothering the neighbors,” we both acquired a new target and dashed to Grant. I tickled him until my fingers hurt. No reaction. Demos did the same. No reaction. I took a step back, gasping for air.

“Why doesn’t it work for you?” I glared at Grant. He rose one eyebrow at me. They both grabbed me and tickled me until I sunk to the floor rolling with giggles.

“Stop! I-I can’t take it anymore,” Grant stopped, but Demos didn’t. “I swear my heart will burst!” Demos stopped instantly. He had a weird look on his face. Grant helped me to my feet. I took a moment to recover. I almost pee my pants.

“We can buy pasta and lentils, they are healthy, lots of protein,” Grant placed a finger on his chin. I didn’t know where that came from. Was he thinking about what to buy during the tickling session? “Grains are good too, and cheap. At least, it will fill your stomach. The thrift shop we visited last time had an alimentary section on the first floor. We could get a bargain,” I held my stomach as I laughed.

“You… you sound like a housewife,” he glared at me. “Oh, my stomach hurts, you’re so funny,” I haven’t laughed this hard all my life. My ribs hurt, Demos joined me.

“I have to agree with her,” he added. “Does that mean I have two wives?” he wiggled his eyebrows at Grant, who fumed, I’ve never seen Grant angry before. I stepped between them to calm the situation wrapped my arm around Grant’s shoulder. It immediately pulled him from the staring contest they were having. His cute smile came back.

“Let’s go shopping,” I squealed doing the eel arms dance.

“Who are you and what have you done with our Liliane?” asked Grant with fake concern.

“More like what was in the bottle of juice, you were drinking all day?” said Demos in a sarcastic tone. We all laughed and I was happy. I was really happy.

The trip to the thrift shop had more giggles on the way there. The huge shop was about to close when we got in. A tired female voice over the speaker reminded us there were only fifteen minutes before closing.

“Liliane check EWink I’ve added a list of what we need. Each one when you get your hand on the said item crosses it off the list. We’ll use as little as possible from the twenty units,” I nodded at Grant.

“Yes, honey,” Demos puffed with laughter. Grant’s silver eyes shot lightning bolts at Demos

“Liliane, stop with the housewife jokes. It’s not nice,” I pulled the front of his shirt and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before running away while giggling.

“See you later, honey,” I waved, then checked the list as I disappeared behind canned cheese, stacked into piles reaching the ceiling. There were six items on it. Noodles, rice, lentils, soya beans, frozen veggies, and eggs. My bracelet rang. I looked at the EWink interface.

Demos: Eggs got them

Grant: Rice and noodles ok

Damn, they were fast. Somehow, I got in the wrong section. I was facing the stairs to the second floor. A cold breeze seeped under my light shirt making the hair stood at the back of my neck. I sprung around to find only an empty alley filled with diapers, oversized napkin packs, and electrical supplies. I had a bad feeling. I looked up the second floor, it had a few customers. I dashed to the stairs and almost knocked in an old lady when I reached the top. My bracelet chimed.

Grant: it’s good we’ve got everything.

Demos: where are you, Liliane?

My heart was racing. It was stupid to scare myself like that. I looked around, remembered being here the last time. It was the bathroom alley where Demos bullied that poor rubber ducky.

Liliane: Can I add something else to the list?

Demos: No!

Grant: I don’t think so.

Liliane: Pretty please!

Demos: No!

I grabbed the ducky anyway, it was under one unit. We could survive with twenty units. It was only ten days. I won’t starve. I made my way downstairs peeked around the diapers section, bolted to the front when something stood out in the kitchen section. A wide smile spread on my face.

Liliane: Guys, Please two items.

Demos: Where the hell are you?

Grant: you can’t

I grabbed the second item and joined them by the cashier. They both glared at me, I gave them my most innocent smile.

“What is the useless crap you were dying to get?” asked Demos, I ignored him and hurried to the girl waiting at the counter with my treasures in my arms. The tired girl gave me a weak smile, I swapped the two items with a grin.

“What’s that?” Grant peeked over my shoulder.

“Liliane, come on,” he threw his arms in the air. “We are trying to help you. Don’t sabotage our efforts,” I gave him my most pitiful puppy eyes. He sighed at how ridiculous I was.

“But it’s only one tiny unit. And I’m the one paying, so shut it, honey,” I waved the pink apron with honey written in white on him. “It was so cute, I couldn’t help myself,” Demos barked with laughter, making the cashier girl looked up in alert. She quickly swapped the other items.

“Th-that’s I don’t have a word to express…” Grant nervously gathered our purchase and placed them in two canvas bags that he took with him. Demos patted his back. I quickly paid the seven units for the transaction. We exited as the speaker announced the clients the shop was closing.

“What was is the second item?” Demos asked when we got on the street. The air was cool against my skin and I could see faint stars in the inky sky. I fished it out of my pocket.

“Give me your hand?” he narrowed his eyes at me then did as I say. I placed the yellow rubber ducky in his large palm. He instantly pulled his hand away, stopping in his track. The poor thing slammed onto the pavement, given a dying quack on impact. Grant rushed to us with alerts.

“What happened?” he asked. Demos growled at the rubber duck with his eyes flashing blue. Grant’s gaze followed to the immobile plastic toy. I knelt and picked it up. What was that all about?

“It’s just a toy. See!” I squeezed it and the quack… well, the sound was far from the real thing. Not that I knew how a real one sounded. I’ve never shown one in the flesh. Grant cautiously approached Demos and gently rubbed his back to calm him. Grant’s silver eyes seemed to glow in the gloom. I frowned at those two. What the actual hell was happening?

“It’s ok, Demos. It’s not dangerous. Just… relax,” he blinked and his eyes reverted to his usual copper color.

“What was that?” I held the poor duck against my chest. Grant shook his head and gave me a friendly smile.

“That was the wolf,” they resumed their progression, leaving me behind.

“Wait, guys?”