Kraken by M. Caspian Page B

overhead blocked most of the moonlight, and without Cy to follow, Will knew he would soon be lost. Still, Will seemed to be developing a body memory for the forest, and it took much less time now. He could almost anticipate that little hillock, this dip, that fallen log. What had once seemed an unbroken line of plants and trees now showed him clear criss-crossing tracks and flattened ground cover.
     
    Once they reached the development they circled around the cleared ground, walking quietly to the far side, where Aiden’s house marked the meeting point of forest and clear ground. The lack of trees let the light stream down on them. Cy knelt, just inside the tree line, and pulled Will down with him.
     
    “You see?” said Cy. “There’s no way I could sneak in tonight. And he won’t bloody go to bed. I won’t wait another day. He’s been sitting there reading for hours.”
     
    Will could indeed see Aiden seated on his very tasteful cream sofa, legs curled up, a glass of something amber-colored on the side table, and a paperback book in his hand. Occasionally he turned a page. Will caught a glimpse of the cover.
     
    “ Childhood ’s End ,” he murmured.
     
    “Go in there and keep him occupied.”
     
    “Excuse me?”
     
    “I have to get up into Aiden’s bedroom. Distract him. Get him onto the other porch.”
     
    Will looked down at himself. His belly itched, and with one hand he tentatively felt the flaking, crusted residue of his release.
     
    “Cy, I’m not even dressed. And I bet I stink.”
     
    Cy turned Will to face him, and kissed him softly. His hands smoothed the messy hair back from Will’s forehead, as he gently extruded a tentacle and placed it at Will’s lips.
     
    “You look beautiful, love. Now suck me.”
     
    Will opened his mouth and suckled, receiving Cy’s sticky sweet gift.
     
    “That’s it. Such a good boy.” Cy’s arm pushed in further, and Will swallowed, feeling the arm snake down the back of his throat. He gagged, and Cy pushed in deeper, holding Will tightly as he began to struggle. As Will quieted again Cy quickly withdrew, until only the tip remained inside. “Now go in there and get Aiden out onto the far porch. Or ask him to show you the development.”
     
    Will mumbled around the tentacle playing with his lips. “Can’t you just . . . walk in?”
     
    Cy laughed quietly and kissed Will’s forehead. “He’s not an islander. He’s linked with too many people on the mainland. There are other alternatives, but I think I like having him around. Just in case. A backup, as it were.”
     
    None of that made any sense, but neither did visiting a neighbor in the middle of the night.
     
    “He’s going to think I have no sense of acceptable social behavior,” said Will. “He’s probably right.”
     
    “Then you’ll have to make him believe you have ulterior motives, won’t you, my love.”
     
    He pulled Will to his feet, and gave him a little push towards Aiden’s house.
     
    When Will stepped onto the porch Aiden started, looking up from his book. Will waved tentatively through the wide glass door panels. Aiden leapt to his feet, opening the door, and putting one hand on Will’s shoulder.
     
    “Will, my god— are you okay?”
     
    “Um, yes?”
     
    “It’s two in the morning! What are you doing here? Are you sure you’re all right?”
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “Is Cyrus all right?”
     
    “He’s fine. Sleeping. Can I come in?”
     
    “Ah . . . sure.”
     
    “I was hoping you could . . . show me the development.” He thought for a second. “Again.”
     
    “Will, are you on something? I can call Lou. She won’t make trouble. She’s good people.”
     
    “What? No! No. I don’t do drugs. I don’t do anything. I barely drink.”
     
    Aiden laughed. Well, I know that ’s not true. You went through two bottles of wine all on your own last night.”
     
    “I just . . . I thought we had a connection. I like you. I thought—