Symbiote Boyfriend: Sonata 2 (special preview)

Arsinoe laid out the whole story for me; her sister, the explosion, meeting Ghost and everything that has led us up to this point. To be honest, I’m overwhelmed. Just a few short hours ago, I had been trying to shop using a gift card. Now, I’m in the center of some sort of action movie plot. Apparently, this Rabid is hunting down other Symbiotes, these creatures from a planet called Heltith. Sonata and I just happened to be his newest target.

“I don’t know the specifics, all I know is that he’s hunting down any and all of us he can, which is why he caused the explosion at the lab, which then caused my sister to change.” Arsinoe frowns and fidgets with her hands. “It’s a sticky situation, I’m sorry you had to get pulled into it, Julio.”

I sigh heavily and feel Sonata tighten around my shoulders. “What are you talking about? You didn’t cause this.” I try to put on a smile. “You saved me, I should be thanking you.” I touch Sonata’s head as he peeks out from my shirt. “You saved us.”

Ghost coils and floats around Arsinoe’s neck like a scarf. She shifts and shimmers like a gemstone, looking very much like her namesake. Arsinoe is very pretty, her skin is a deep, warm tone, while her eyes are wide and bright. She has several scars along her face and on her hands, probably from the explosion. Her long hair is tied back and held up in a bun at the top of her head like a crown. Her cheeks darken and she smiles shyly.

“I only did what I had to do. As long as I have my eye on Rabid, I will hopefully find my sister. I was just lucky to find you too.” Her smile brightens even more.

Sonata rises more from my shirt, shifting to a very faint purple. “You’re an assassin, correct?” 

“Sonata,” I scold gently.

“No, he is right,” Ghost replies cooly. “My main role back home was an assassin, but since I was born with my sister attached to me, I was her handler as well. It was my job to make sure she didn’t go too far on her missions.”

“Which she did?” Sonata asks gently.

Ghost goes silent and nudges up against Arsinoe’s cheek. “We found out that Rabid had been using us and sending us out on undisclosed attacks. She became volatile with that information, joining with Siti has only helped to sow that hatred into something extremely dangerous. They’re a powder keg.”

“What will you do then?” I inch closer to Arsinoe. “If they’re so bent on killing Rabid that they can’t see reason-” I stop myself, realizing it may be a question too far for even them to answer. 

Arsinoe looks into my eyes. “I’m not sure,” she murmurs quietly. She presses her full lips into a tight line. “I have a lot of hopes, but I do not like to think about what I know I might have to do.”

I nod my head solemnly. “I’m sorry.”

She is silent for a beat, then she tilts her head to the side and tries to smile. “I like your music. You’re very talented.”

My heart flutters a bit. “Wow, thanks.” I pet the top of Sonata’s head. “I can’t take all the credit, this one here makes the magic happen.”

Arsinoe looks closer at Sonata. “I’ve never heard of a Symbiote with such a gentle name,” she says. “I know there are others out there like Beast and Rabid, along with someone called Spite.”

“It’s not a name I’ve heard of either,” Ghost says softly. She comes closer to Sonata who ducks back under my shirt only to peer out. “Why are you here on Earth?”

Sonata shakes his head. “No reason in particular.”

Ghost’s eyes narrow, but she slips back to Arsinoe and leaves the subject to rest. Sonata keeps himself hidden.

“We’ll take you home in the morning,” Arsinoe says gently. “Until then, I think it’s safe we hide here. After that, Ghost and I will keep an eye on you in case Rabid shows back up again. And don’t worry! Ghost and I won’t get in your way at all, we’ll stay out of sight.”

I’m not sure why this bothers me. “What for? Wouldn’t it be better if you stayed close rather than stalking around me?”

“It would be better that we didn’t disrupt your life,” Ghost replies.

I shrug. “But my life already is.”