she'll let you deep inside
But there's a SECRET GARDEN she hides


She sat in the little chair, a cup of tea in her palms, warming her hands. She watched the steam rise up from the tiny white cup and noticed the swirling patterns that they made. Odjit’s eye just remained transfixed on it because it kept her mind off of how incredibly drafty it was. Or maybe that was because she had taken her father’s advice for date wear? He had said in his lovely baritone voice that less was more and had given her a lot of selections to choose from. And well, he had far more experience in the area than she did, always out with someone or another. His favorite recently seemed to be this little ringmaster named Marbel or something? Either way she had gone with a simple white dress that rested at just tolerable level somewhere between her knee and thigh. It had no sleeves so her shoulders were bare, exposing the top half of her tattoo. She had even listened to dad and went with the lacy see through underwear, which was probably why everything felt so drafty.

At least she had gotten the eyes that she wanted. Two lovely blue eyes that looked purple in certain lights, that now rested quite peacefully at her apartment. Placed in lovely jars and waiting for the light before being transferred to their new owner. It had been such a wonderful time as well, luring her out from the club with her singing, and all the time she kept thinking of Clive. How the woman’s hands were just hands and nothing compared to his perfect warm ones. How her fingers were heavy dull useless digits not even worth saving. Not like Clive’s, she remembered how they had felt so right cupping her chin. She smiled softly to herself, not used to this feeling. It had started then in the hospital hallway when he had asked to spend time with her later and it had only grown since she had left. She had even worked quickly to take the eyes out, it was a good thing she had not messed anything up. Eyes were such fickle organs, all the muscles had to be just right or the transplant would not work. Normally she would work slowly, taking her time to preserve every part/fiber/muscle, but not today…today she had wanted to get ready for Clive.

She fidgeted in her chair as a breeze blew against her shoulders. From the doorway or from the fan over head? She did not know, but she smiled when she looked up and saw who was approaching with all the perfect parts of his body.

“Clive!"

she'll let you deep inside
But there's a SECRET GARDEN she hides


She wondered what this giddy feeling was when she had seen him approach? It was the same feeling that had appeared when he had asked to see her later, his cell held comfortably in his hand. It was not a bad feeling, it was just unexpected every time that it occurred, and that only made it have more of a hint of excitement. If she saw Clive everyday would she always feel this way? She pondered these thoughts as he came over, walking with that ungodly doctor grace and aura they all had. If it had been a carnival game to pick out a doctor from the crowd Odjit would have left with the biggest stuffed bear on the racks. They always had a way about them as they moved, a grace that must have come from all the skill they needed to help their patients. Either way, at that moment she was positive that Clive had to be the most graceful of them all. Besides her father of course who was beyond comparison.

She fidgeted nervously under his inspecting gaze, not nearly as bad as that first encounter she had with him. Hard to believe that it was only earlier today? “I am though I think it is more from the draft than anything else.” She normally did not mind showing off her skin, or her other body parts. She enjoyed her body and normally did not mind others seeing her, and knowing what a body should look like. But it was something about Clive that made her fidget in her seat. Or it could have been the underwear, she certainly was not about to tell him that! She flushed a bright red and looked away from his two perfect eyes to stare back into her tea. The steam had stopped rising from the liquid. She would have to get a refill soon. “But that is what the tea is for, to keep me warm.”

She could think of some other ways to stay warm but they were so unlike her normal thought process they made her stop breathing for just a second. It all came back to him. Why was he so different? Why was he more than just skin, veins, organs, and blood? “I wonder why your so different to me? I see you differently than everyone else…it’s …nice.” She finished the sentence off with the only word that she could think of to describe anything. Though nice did not seem right at all. She almost cringed when she heard her father laughing at her efforts. Beyond complimenting body parts she wanted to harvest, she had little experience otherwise. Did Clive notice?

she'll let you deep inside
But there's a SECRET GARDEN she hides

“Your attractive of course.” She said it like it was the silliest thing to ask, and in her mind it was. How could he not see that he was an epitome of the human anatomy? Right down to the clothes that he wore? She knew that he knew that as well, how could he not when he woke up every day in the same body? She let her displeasure at such a statement show in the slight frown that marred her face. It was always easier to lure and kill than to stay and chat just for this very reason. Everyone always said the most obvious things like others had no idea. Or maybe he meant something different? She really could not tell and it frustrated her. She picked the cup up and sipped out the lukewarm liquid to help calm her nerves.

And then he put his jacket around her, and then she briefly felt his touch on her shoulders, and then she was overwhelmed by his scent. Odjit had never really paid much attention to smell. When she was working with embalming fluids and body organs it was best to dull those senses. But suddenly she became very aware of what was male and what was female and how Clive smelled simply wonderful. Better than the soft scent of lilac her mom wore and better than the almost campfire smell her father had. She was reminded of their meeting in the hospital but she had no idea how dulled the scent of him had been there. Now she knew. “You’re like a drug you know. No one should smell so good.” She pulled the jacket closer to herself, almost burrowing into the warmth and just relishing the scent of it. Her eyelid fluttered as she shut her eyes, enjoying everything. “Is it just your clothes or skin to?”

The thought had entered her mind and she was overcome by this need to know. It was like when she found the perfect pair of eyes, she had to have them. In this case she had to know. She stood up from her seat and moved quickly, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer as she tiptoed to be taller. She burrowed her head into the curve of his neck, breath hot against his skin as she realized. “It’s just you, Clive.”

she'll let you deep inside
But there's a SECRET GARDEN she hides


She knew she was unusual. She had been hearing that since the moment she was born and then when she had lost her eye…well it was the finishing seal. Stamped right on her face for everyone to see. UNUSUAL. It never bothered her. It bothered her mother, the mother she loved but never understood her. The mother who hated her even when she tried not to. It’s always hard to hide hatred, even when it is covered in love. “I know.” She leaned into his touch and found that even though she already knew that it was just his scent, she still did not move. In fact her fingers played with the fringes of his hair and she nuzzled into his neck more. She could feel his pulse just beneath her cheek, if she turned her lips she would be able to feel it even more.

One beat, two beats, in an endless cycle. She had taken heads before, when she did not have the time to take out the brain or the eyes it was easier to take the head with her than the whole body. She knew how easily that she could cut through the bones of his spine, the arteries, and the veins. She could even see how the blood would spurt from that precious vein, red against her pale skin. So warm. She had not even realized she had turned her head so that it was her lips pressed against his skin, her tongue flicking out to taste him. He tasted better than he smelled. It reminded her of something her mom would cook. Exotic…hot…and home. She sighed, her body relaxing completely against him. She had not even realized how tense she had been, how her muscles had contracted, how her spine had remained rigid, but now it all vanished. Her body accepted what her mind had. Clive was comfort. Clive was warm. Clive was…something different. He was unusual. “You’re like me as well.”

Even her voice sounded more relaxed. It sounded more human to her ears. Hadn’t she always sounded a bit cold before? When all she cared about was collecting parts she saw no reason for warmth but not with him. “I like you Clive but I’m not used to it so I don’t know what to do now.” She muttered the words against his neck still kissing him there, biting down gently with her teeth, and moving back to soft kisses. Her hands pulled him closer to her. She needed this. She needed him and she was not going to let go of this, of him. This was normal in her unusual way and she hoped it was for him as well. “What will you do with me Clive?” She pulled away from the spot on his neck to look at him with her large blue eye, staring up at him while moving her body closer, making up for that lack of contact in other places.

she'll let you deep inside
But there's a SECRET GARDEN she hides

Odjit had always liked the zoo, never because of the variety of animals that inhabited them. She loved the zoo because of the sheer amount of people that flocked to them. For a body collector it was one of the best places to find a wide variety of parts. But at that moment, the tone in his voice that sent shivers down her spine, she hated zoos. Her nails tried to claw their way into his skin, she did not want him to move away. The loss of that warmth, his smell, him…would be too much for her. She was clinging onto him but she didn’t care. Her father had taught her to take what she wanted. She had never applied to living people before, just parts, always parts with her.

“Then let’s go somewhere private. I don’t mind. I would take out their eyes but I have no need for them.” Not with the perfect pair she had tucked away in storage ready for their new owner. She loosened her hold around his neck sliding her hands down his back, and resting them gently around his waist. It was about as much space as she was willing to give him. She didn’t want to give him the chance to escape. Who wouldn’t want to escape from her? The unusual? The weird one? She had no doubt that Clive might get the same idea if given enough time. Maybe he was as fascinated by her scent as she was with his? It was certainly idea she was willing to test.”I’ll pay for my drink and then we can go.” She hated to let go away, missing the warmth already but her hand slid down to curl her fingers through his, lightly tugging him where she wanted to go.

The bill was promptly paid for and she tried to not to act to eager as she made their way to the exit. Somehow Clive was still there. Good luck, fate, or chance she did not care. Surprises were few in her life. “Lead the way Doctor Oberst. I leave myself in your capable hands.” She wondered if she could pull off a devilish look like her father but doubted it. She was too honest most of the time, and so she licked her lips and slowly smiled letting her eagerness show in her one large eye.