Page 47 of Their Fierce Little Monster

“Almost there,” she continues and lifts a small jar filled with something red and viscous. She splatters it over the dish, and now the meal resembles a bloodbath. My throat locks up as I try not to heave in front of the girl. “This is my favorite meal. I really hope you like it too, as it comes from my home planet.”

I swallow hard, staring at the tiny beetles crawling amid the noodles. Then I shake my head as she pours me a drink the color of a stormy sky into a bubble glass. She stares at me expectantly while revulsion claws up my throat.

“I’m sorry, Insy, but I-I can’t eat this. I have only ever eaten human food.” My stomach turns at the sight of the beetles.

“It’s because they’re moving, isn’t it? Not many like that, but I promise they’ll calm down.” She sets a fork in front of me. “Please try it, for me.”

Because, of course, the crazy follows me everywhere, yet the way she pleads with me, almost pouting, I start to feel guilty. I stare at the bowl and pick up my fork, deciding, What’s the worst that can happen?

“The sauce is made with cherries, so you might like it, as they are human fruit.”

I dip the ends of my fork into the sauce and taste it. It’s slightly sour, but survivable. Next, I poke at a loose noodle that’s far from the bugs, and using the edge of the fork, I cut a tiny bit off. It jiggles and reminds me of the sausage skin used back in the village. Then I lift it to my mouth. It’s just sausage skin, nothing else. Inhaling deeply, I place it into my mouth.

And instantly, I regret everything. It’s cold and slippery, almost like a living worm, and tastes of dirt. My whole chest heaves. Quickly, I snatch the napkin and wipe my mouth, spitting it out. Then I grab the drink and gulp it down to wash away the gross taste. Except, somehow, it’s worse because it tastes as though I’ve just swallowed grass clippings, and it’s extremely bitter. I instantly cough, convinced I’m about to die.

“Oh no!” Insy is there, smacking a palm against my back. “Did you choke on it?”

“No,” I wheeze, pushing her hand away, trying to catch my breath.

And she flops down in the seat at the table. “You hate it, don’t you? Do you know how hard it is to find another person who likes this dish, so I have someone to share it with?” She sighs, and I’m about to hurl the whole thing off the balcony.

“It’s not you,” I begin. “I’ve only ever eaten bland food. This is too… too rich for me.” I hate lying, but seeing her sitting there deflated because I didn’t enjoy her beetle noodles affects me. I’ve always been one to please others because I know how much rejection stings.

Her head pops up, and her smile returns as those needle-thin teeth line up perfectly. “Never mind, I’ll arrange human food.” She’s on her feet and hurriedly collecting everything from the table onto her trolley. “Come on, then. Join me in the kitchen. Let’s go.”

I’m up with her because I like her and she’s promising me real food. Plus, I don’t want to make an enemy here on my first day.

She pushes the trolley out into the hallway, and I rush after her. “I can’t have you starving, as I’ll be blamed.”

“Oh, I won’t tell anyone a thing,” I start.

“And when they find your body on the floor from starvation, I will be the one held accountable.”

I smile as I move quickly alongside her, adoring her passion. “Thank you,” I say.

We move fast, and I figure this is my chance to explore more of the compound and maybe even find a way out when the time comes.

We move through hallways and doors, then windows overlooking the city, until we emerge near beautiful gardens with all kinds of plants I have never seen in my life.

“These are the Whispering Gardens, and never go near them at night. They are toxic and will spit venom at you in the moonlight that will make you sick for weeks.”

“Oh, should they be out in public like this, then?” I ask, staring at one particularly large flower, its petals spread open, with a stunning smaller purple one within the middle. And apparently it’s deadly.

Insy giggles and glances over at me. “You say the funniest things.”

I blink at her, unsure what she’s talking about. Then we stroll past an aviary filled with half a dozen golden birds the size of my fist perched on branches. They sing the most beautiful songs.

“I wouldn’t linger near them too long,” Insy suggests.

“Are they venomous too?”

“Of course not. But they like to spread gossip, and half of it is slander. Once, I heard a lie about myself from them, and mind you, I started it, but I have no idea how they learned of it. Oh, and over there,” she says as we pass through an arch and enter a courtyard, “are the springs. The water comes directly from underground and is hot enough to boil an egg, or a person.”

I glance around, noticing that behind the pool are lofty gates patrolled by two guards, and beyond that, the rest of the city sprawls out, with people everywhere.

“Do you ever leave this compound?” I ask, moving quickly to keep up with Insy as we enter another part of the compound.

“Why would I leave when I work here? I sleep downstairs in the lower levels, all of us who serve here live there. It’s a real privilege, you know, to have a room in the royal compound. So many would kill for my job.”