Drops of Veracity

Humans aren’t naturally greedy; it’s birthed from embarrassment and insecurities. And every sapien has their insecurities. It’s in what they wear. The words they choose and the words they don’t say. It’s how they react, especially when they think no one is watching. In every action or inaction--they reveal the type of person they are. 

Humans are fascinating in that way. So, incapable of hiding their nasty little traits. Desperately trying to emphasize their so-called good qualities they fail to see their true selves.

I quite like humans for this. They can’t help themselves. They simply can’t hide who they are. That’s what makes them so intriguing and why I can never seem to get enough. 

But unfortunately, humans have a difficult time seeing this for themselves. Be it their partner or a stranger they can never reveal the others' intentions. 

I’m sure humans know this. They’re breakable little things and they’re messy.

Yet, it’s no matter. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to serving them; helping them find the truths that their little minds desperately try to keep from everyone else.

It’s cute.

However, this bloody steak they so love is anything but cute. The smell of human food- fruits, meat, and anything else they consume reeks of bacterial habitants.

Concealing the nauseating storm brewing in my intestines is no easy feet. But a professional must not show unpleasantries to the lower-realm folk. 

Instead, I wipe and wipe the wooden stained table. The smell doesn’t fade but I can’t expect much in a place where the substance surrounds me. Still, I keep wiping- moving my vibrant green hair to inspect the wood. Each particle clean and clear of meat remnants.

“Hey, are you deaf? Get away from my table.” A man's voice echoes. 

As I turn I catch a sight of four youngsters. One of them- the one who speaks- stands with his chin up. His imperfect nose, freckles around his forward, and those unmistakably deep brown eyes seeking into his face leaves me without a doubt. That’s Minx Holtin, the head of Holtin City. A short but greedy man with a knack for lying, stealing, and cheating. 

My heart jumps at the overwhelming sight of him. “Of course, my apologies, I’ll leave immediately.” I cry, feeling my cheeks heat under his presence.

“Get us four glasses of water.” He says, clearly ignoring my previous statement.

I nod my head with a gentle smile. My face now brimming with anticipation.

“Four waters,” a whisper slips between my teeth as I fill their cups. Each glass is perfectly equal to the others. I shine the edges-examining them with my remarkable eyes. Much better than any humans. And although I can see minor differences- the water stains, a chip so small and weak not even my lips would be able to tell- they were unnoticeable to any known sapiens.

I can’t help but smile for a moment. A moment I take to pull out a small vial. It’s clear, better than the flimsy glass humans can make, and exactly what I need. The contents in the glass are three drops of veracity.

“Excuse you, busser, Mr Holtin is waiting. Hurry it up with those drinks.” A man sighs in a large extravagant suit. A bright purple suit at that and a bow tie that’s only worn by the top managers in the city.

I can only assume he’s this person's supervisor. 

I slip the vial back into my purple vest pocket and give a weak smile saying, “ Yes, sir, my apologies, sir,”

The man motions towards the table with widening eyes.

I grip the platter in my small human hands and head to Holtin’s table.

“My apologies for the wait, here are those cold drinks you asked for,” I say in a calm voice.

“I asked for no ice, are you stupid?” Holtin says, violently throwing his freezing cold cup at me.

I gasp under the pressure of the liquid hitting my vest. The water soaks into the fabric of my clothes leaving me shivering. I close and open my eyes, careful to release the strain in my neck as I collect myself.

“I understand now, sir. I’m sorry-my apologies for the mistake it will not happen again.” I say hearing the shake in my small voice.

His table laughs like grade schoolers while I slowly clean the mess he made.

By the time I get back to the employee-only side of the restaurant my clothes and my hair stopped dripping and are now sticking to my face. 

“Just clean up and go home,” The man in the purple suit says.

I purse my lips but comply by gripping my vest and heading towards the front of the restaurant, where the door is but, more importantly where the bathroom and my next target await.

The outfits that the waitresses wear aren’t my style; it’s tight, curvy, and made of black sequins. Nonetheless, I make due, this time shoving the old waitress into a bathroom stall and not into a storage closet in hopes that she won’t have to wait long for someone to undo her binds.

Changing my face was simple. Humans have the same basic structure. Bones, muscles, veins, and skin. Getting the foundation right made it that much easier to mimic them. As long as their face appears similar and the voice is close the humans hardly question it. 

Although in their defense a believable lie made things easier and no one believes in the supernatural; let alone a supernatural creature spying on them. It was next to impossible for their fragile minds to comprehend. Yet, another reason why I love them so dearly.

“Sorry, just let me borrow your identity for a moment,” I say to the waitress while sliding out of the restroom. 

Over at the pickup counter was the targets’ meal. Another red steak topped with herbal gravy and a side of vegetables.

“These are all for Holtin’s table, yes?” I ask the plater.

“Yeah, don’t forget to give them a side of our house-made ranch.”

“Wouldn’t dare.” I grin, pulling the platters away.

At the sauce station, I wipe the ceramic containers. Filling the sauce to the top was another simple task for someone like me.

This time I pull the vial out, fast but smooth, careful to not cause a disruption.

Three drops drip into the creamy gravy. There’s no smell. No change in color. Leaving no trace of tampering.

As I get to the table, Holtin laughs. It’s rich in voice almost as if he were compensating.

I smile, “will there be anything else I can get you?” Holtin shakes his head, never glancing up from his plate.

“I’ll be back in just a moment to check on you all.” I swerve into the drinking station. Watching closely as he devours his food.

He gets about halfway through by the time I reappear. I brush my lengthy black hair behind my ear as I study him. His dark brown eyes covered in a glossy film is enough evidence for me.

“How’s your food Mr Holtin? To your liking, I hope.” I say, lacking a smile and instead lowering my voice.

“It’s splendid.” He exclaims with a goofy grin.

“Wonderful, we aim to please the richest most honorable man here at the Caverns three-star cuisine-”

“Oh no, I’m not the richest-” silverware clanks against the ceramic plates.

“How silly Mr Holtin. Perhaps you’ve had a bit too much to drink. After all, everyone knows you are the richest and most valuable man here in city.” I say.

“No, I hold no power. I’ve gambled it all away.” He laughs, pulling away from his atrocious dinner.

“You’re joking?” The woman across from him says.

“No, I have nothing. I own nothing.-”

“What about the contract with Grabes?”

“Unfortunate but I have nothing to give them. In a few weeks, they’ll take everything from me. My home, my car, my land-”

“Your land is this city” The woman yells, slamming a fist onto the table. 

“Yes, and they’ll take it all.” His slimy laugh echoes throughout the room. 

People from far corners stare at him. Listening to the onslaught of truths. Their ears burning at every word. A heat so hot I can feel it drowning me completely.

The room swarms towards him as he continues his deranged confessions. The others begin to scream and yell at this revelation. Their dinner--now ruined along with their uncertain futures.

As they release their emotions onto him--surrounding him as they speak-- I slip behind each person. Smoothly and slowly. Holding onto the best, shocked face with furrowed eyebrows and a slightly open mouth as I fade into the back rooms.

Outside, the city lives untouched. Humans walk, talk, laugh, and drunkenly stumble around the buildings.

In a small apartment building, I pull my sequin black heels off.

“How did it go?” Keeper's voice travels through the wall.

“About how’d you expect,” I say, tossing the heels at him as I skip into the library.

“Here’s all the proof you’ll need,” I say, handing him an SD card.

“As always, you’re efficient.”

“What can I say, I love interacting with humans. They’re silly little creatures.”

“Until next time, Addora,” Keeper says while I skip away.

The breeze outside is soft against my skin. I stretch with the air, pulling each limb away from the other. 

The sapiens outside slow to a stop when the large televisions on every corner change black. I release a long breath. My heart is pounding with a video that begins to play. A video of tonight's restaurant escapade.

A small giggle trickles from my teeth as I walk away from downtown.

The humans are quick to react. Talking and yelling about what they see on the screen.

Humans are careless. They’re clumsy and they let their temptations get the better of them. They fail to see their flaws. But that’s what makes them so wonderful. They’re uncontrollably them. Authentic even at the worst of times.

That’s why I love humans. 

They’re everything I could never be.