Several of the men leaned in, trying to get a better look at it but it was Dane’s hand that shot toward it, likely to pluck it from my arm. A hiss from Cursed stopped Dane’s hand mid-motion and we all watched in horror as a noxious fluid leaked out from the bugs legs.
“You’ve scared her.” I informed Dane with a frown, trying not to breath too deeply while the noxious odor arose like a miniature toxic cloud from my arm. “Thanks, that’s likely going to stain.” I told him with a wry grimace.
“Tis the Queen’s Gardener.” Amras informed the group and Lira and Royal nodded agreement.
“Does it prune the hedges too?” I joked, thinking the title a bit grandiose for even this oversized ladybug. What little I knew about these bugs was little indeed, but I was pretty sure they were harmless unless you happened to be an aphid. I hadn’t seen any roses growing in the Sidhe. “Must be a garden around somewhere, otherwise what was the little thing doing here?”
Amras placed his hands behind his back and actually leaned back a bit. Obviously he didn’t care for the smell any more than I did. Yet the thought of my flicking the bug from my arm seemed wrong. “Not that I’m aware of.” He responded with a smile. “We must be close to a pelenlotaure or your little friend there is lost.”
“My thought exactly.” I replied watching as the bug started turning left and right again on my arm. When it unfurled its wings I thought it would fly away, yet it fluttered them several times, sending mini waves of fumes floating outward from my arm.
“While we’re waiting for the bug to go back to where ever it came, what are we going to do about finding the Keeper?” Gareth asked, his question or perhaps the rumble in his voice causing the bug on my arm to fan its wings again.
I was about to suggest we just start walking and was thinking about putting my arm down in spite of my passenger, when a second and then a third ladybug darted into the room, around and between the men and promptly landed upon the same arm. Great now I had three of them.
My men glanced at each other and I opened my mouth to comment but before I got any words out, five more zipped down the hall and alighted on my chest and shoulder. I now had ten beady eyed bugs starting expectantly up at me. “Umm.” I started flicking my eyes at the others then around the room as dozens of the winged bodies suddenly filled the hall all headed toward me.
“Nae!” Dane yelped as I raised my other arm to ward off the newcomers. His words stopped me mid flinch and I froze in place. If one smelled bad, how awful would dozens smell? Then silently thanked Dane for his timely reminder.
Grimacing while standing my ground, I closed my mouth lest one of the beasties land within it. In mere seconds I was covered in red and black spots and beady eyes. Miniature bodies pressed in on me and I could feel what seemed like thousands of feet where they touched my skin. I wasn’t sure if I should run screaming but they showed no aggression, just an absurd need to land on me. Soon the only place not encased in spotted shells was my eyes and nostrils.
“Do something!” Jace growled, though I couldn’t tell who he was talking to. Across my body hundreds of wings lifted and began fanning softly. Around me my men began arguing but I could only vaguely hear them and was unable to make out the words. The faces I could see, reflected back at me the horror and dismay I myself was feeling. When one of the bugs on my face slipped and slid off my eyebrow toward my eye I instinctively closed my lids and felt a weird soul wrenching sensation.
Inside me Goldy reared up on all fours though she made no sound. Her tail lashed out sharply. The ghostly whip of it hitting my inner rib cage causing me to grunt and snap my eyes back open.
“Beware.” She whispered. Her warning startling me so, it split my attention. My eyes widened and I stumbled backwards in shock. Oh crap! I thought, as I tripped over something behind me, and promptly landed on my backside amidst a pile of extremely long silky black hair, feathered pens, yellowed parchment and…Tootsie Roll Wrappers?
Chapter 13
“Ooofff!” A distinctly feminine voice grunted, the sound coming from the person standing bent over at the waist in front of me. I struggled to gain my balance and ended up flopping backwards and whacking my head on what felt like a marble floor.
I did my own silent version of an ooofff and watched as the circlet flew off my head, bounced once and rolled into the pool of hair at the foot of the stranger who appeared to be ignoring me.
The hair beneath me felt almost alive and quickly coated my legs and arms as I tried raising myself. Its slippery mass wrapped about me, as I floundered upon the slick floor, desperately trying to push myself up into a semi-seated position.
Grunting inelegantly, I slowly and precariously managed to lift myself onto my elbows amidst the litter and hair and realized I had traded ladybugs for another type of debris. Inside me Goldy mumbled under her breath while she circled once and gracefully lowered herself back onto her bed. I expected her to close her eyes but they remained open, staring steadily up at the only other occupant of the room, she who was apparently too busy to bother with us. Goldy wasn’t the only one staring.
Based on the sound of voice, curvy figure and hair everywhere, I guessed I was lying prone at the feet of a female of some kind. Though I had yet to see her face, what with all that hair. She, if indeed it was a she, and perhaps I shouldn’t jump to conclusions since many of my men had hair nearly as long, was bent at the waist grasping a pair of golden scissors with which she appeared to be shearing herself. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say she was hacking off her hair. Half of the inky black mass lay in a puddle on the floor around, beneath, and behind the two of us. The other half still seemed to be attached. Looking at all that straight long hair it was a bit weird to see the already cut side of her head covered in a mop of soft curls. Obviously the sheer length and weight kept the rest of it board straight.
The stranger was dressed in skin tight leggings, a top of sorts, and over the knee boots that looked to be made of some kind of scales. The edges looked rather sharp and the scales themselves gave me pause. Under her hair, and upon her upper body was a top that might have been constructed from tied scarfs, or some other filmy material. I was amazed she was able to keep it on her person, considering the back was nearly all missing. Necessary apparently to accommodate the large double set of wings poking over the top of her shoulders.
Her clothing ran in shades of pale and light yellows, and matched the strong aura surrounding her. Hmmm. I sat there for a second or two, taking in my surroundings and the odd woman….creature before me. I wasn’t sure since I still hadn’t seen a face yet. I’d like to think she didn’t mean me any harm, but it was too soon to tell. Perhaps when she finished hacking off her hair, she’d turn her hair whacking skills and those scissors upon me. Not that I’d mind losing a foot or two off my own hair, I thought with a wry grimace! If I thought Kit would let it be, I’d take her scissors and do the deed myself. Fortunately auras didn’t lie, which meant at the moment I had little to fear except perhaps being overwhelmed by a sunny disposition. Of course, that’s the thing about moments; they tend to change rather quickly.
“Uh, hi there.” I offered.
“Please don’t move, Princess.” The stranger cautioned and continued whacking away with the scissors until the hair was a tidy eight or so inches all over. At which point the stranger opened long delicate fingers to allow the remaining locks to puddle on the floor. With another grunt she stood, flipped the scissors onto a nearby table, gave her hair a once over with her other hand, blinked then stood there looking quizzically down at me.
Yep, definitely she was a she, and quite a beautiful she at that. Long black lashes encircled big black uptilted eyes dominating a perfectly dimpled face. Small pert nose, rosy red plump lips, porcelain white skin, high cheek bones, pointed ears and…lacy golden wings, which were nearly as tall as me, in my heels. We two looked each other over in silence for several minutes. And when the thought occurred to me that our silence was anything but uncomfortable, she
flashed a sweet smile and bell like laughter flowed over me.
With one hand she retrieved my headpiece from beneath the pool of hair, while the other literally plucked me up and out of the hairy mess I’d been laying amidst. “So sorry about that, it grows so fast. I thought I’d be done before you arrived.” She apologized with small smile.
“It’s no problem.” I responded politely, trying not to look shocked at how easily I’d just been lifted and gently set on my feet. True she topped my five foot five self by at least three inches, but her overall appearance was delicate, even though she wasn’t as slender as the Elves. Or maybe it was the long tail that flicked out behind her as she placed me on my feet. Something I hadn’t noticed earlier. It looked to be at least five feet long, was covered in very short black fuzz almost to the tip which ended in a black and tan plume of tapered hair. I would have pegged her for an overgrown Faerie though I couldn’t recall ever meeting one as large as she, nor had I ever seen one with a tail before. Note to self; beware of fairies, if that was indeed what she was. Inside me Goldy made a huffing noise of agreement and the woman’s hand on my arm tightened briefly as if in response.
“I see you Mal-er.” She said in a sing-song voice while she bent from the waist and placed her face close to the general area where Goldy resided. I wasn’t sure but I thought she was making coaxing noises at my stomach. The tip of her left wing brushed my collar bone, and I found myself admiring the finely veined skin and swirling iridescent designs that stretched from the hardened base toward the outer edge. Meanwhile Goldy eyed her as a snake might watch a hawk. The two of them seemed to be sizing each other up. It was clear my Goldy was considering her options. Something I should probably be doing too.
As the two of them did whatever it was they were doing, I took a moment to consider what she’d said. She was expecting me? A quick glance around the rather strange room led me to the sneaking suspicion that I might have found the Imbra Londra. Or more accurately, the Imbra Londra may have found me.
Inside me Goldy’s tongue flicked out and back in while I stood stock still and couldn’t help feeling like a third wheel in their silent conversation. It occurred to me this wasn’t unlike Areth introduction. I was hoping the woman wasn’t going to disappear inside me. She was quite a bit bigger than Areth and the thought was disconcerting to say the least.
“Mistress Areth is an Elemental. I hardly think I could ride your dragon. Although it might be interesting to try.”
No, not an Elemental. But what exactly are you? I wondered then swallowed and tried not to look alarmed as she stood up and placed a hand on her rounded hip. Her nails were much like the rest of her, perfectly polished. Inside me Goldy grunted and finally closed her eyes. A sure sign she either wasn’t worried or had become bored. Or perhaps she didn’t want to deal with my lack of focus. It was so hard to tell with her sometimes.
“Call me Immy.” She informed me brusquely then raised her hands and clapped them twice. I flinched, not sure what to think when several dozen fist sized spiders raced into the room and converged on the pile of hair. After my recent run in with furry many legged creatures, I had to stifle the urge to jump on the table and scream like a little girl as they swarmed into the room toward me. Unlike the other creatures that had attacked me in the cavern, these were actual spiders with eyes, so many eyes. And they all seemed to be looking at me. I swallowed dryly, and just managed to hold my ground as the creepy many legged monsters flowed toward and around me heading toward the pile of hair.
In silent amazement I watched as the miniature work force gathered up strands and began dragging the silky tresses across the floor toward the doorway from which they had entered. When all the hair and spiders were gone the only thing left was a tipped over woven basket and its likely occupants; ink, parchment, and a bunch of lollipop wrappers. The basket must have been what I’d tripped over. The contents had spread across the floor, mixing in with her hair. She said it grew fast. I wasn’t sure how fast fast was. From the looks of it, the spiders scurried off with a good twenty feet or so. Perhaps I should not complain about my own tresses so much. It seemed I ought to feel lucky that Kit hadn’t been more generous with the length. How amazing!
“Ever hear the tale of Rapunzel?” She asked and her voice sounded amused. I pulled my gaze off the last of the spiders scurrying out of the room with their bounty and looked at her, noticing she was smiling.
Hadn’t Rapunzel been blonde I wondered distractedly, and I think I would remember a tail and wings as part of the story. “You can hear my thoughts?” I asked, not sure how I should feel about that.
“You aren’t shielded.” She replied, tipping her head to the side as if waiting for something. “And there is a reason they call them Fairy Tales. I was perfectly happy in my work till that pesky Persian Prince came along. Look at me,” she demanded in a somewhat scoffing voice, “do I look like I need saving?”
Ah no, no she did not. She looked to me like she could handle just about anything, including me. Evidenced by the fact she’d already pretty much proven it, given my current location and lack of shielding. I did a mental check and realized…hmmm. “Okay how did you do that? And where am I? I don’t feel…” Odd, I didn’t feel the weight I’d begun to associate with the Sidhe. The complete absence of all those minds no longer pressing in on me was rather a relief. But where was I?
Her laughter rang out again and she waived her hand as if she was waiving a magic wand yet there was nothing there but her fingers. “Magic.” She informed me. “You need not worry about eavesdropping here. We are still within the Sidhe, mostly.”
Okay and what does mostly mean? Completely unshielded yet I couldn’t feel any other thoughts pressing in on me. And no one could hear me? No one other than her…ah…Immy? I couldn’t help wondering while she watched me with that open expectant look I was coming to associate with her. The look made me feel like she was waiting for my next thought.
“Indeed.” She remarked then her smile flashed as she pointed toward the wall. “Sound proof.” She advised while I turned to look at the finely woven multi colored wall paper. “It is not paper.” She remarked and I found my feet heading toward the wall to inspect the mysterious not wallpaper stuff that created sound proofing. Maybe I should get me some of this; it could be helpful back home.
It took several seconds to realize I was looking at a finely woven design. My gaze followed the wall all the way around the sparingly decorated space to the doorway and back to where I was standing, and then up at the ceiling. It seemed everywhere but the floor was covered in the same woven material.
“Though inconvenient at times, my hair does serve a purpose.”
“Your….hair?” I repeated, not sure I’d heard her right.
“Yes that mass my helpers just hauled off. The latest batch will be used to insulate one of the newer repositories. Like your dragon’s den, this work space expands to accommodate my needs.”
“Then why aren’t the walls black?” I asked and leaned in closer to view the weave.
“A very good question. But surely not the only one you have?”
I snapped to attention, my mind jerking back from its obscure wonderings about spiders and weaving and how hair might block thoughts. “Assuredly, what have you done with my men?”
She sighed and walked to the table upon which resided a large bowl. In the bowl was an assortment of colored lollipops. I couldn’t quite get my mind around the sight as she plucked a bright green covered stick out of the bowel, removed the wrapper and delicately stuck the candy into her mouth. The wrapper got tossed onto the table where it lay like a wounded soldier, sort of curled and crushed. “Did you know,” she asked after shifting the sucker to one side, still keeping it between her lips. “It takes an average of exactly two hundred and fifty two licks to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Tootsie Pop?”
No, I could honestly say I did not know that.
“It’s been proven in major University Studies. I just love these t
hings, it seems I’ve been addicted to them since….well let’s see.” She muttered to herself for a moment then announced. “Oh yes, since 1896 when they were first invented by Leo Hirschfield for his daughter Cleo, whom he called Tootsie. Leo was an immigrant with a knack for making confections. He was such an adorable man, as was his daughter. I can’t tell you how happy I was when they started dipping these in hard candy. Would you like one?” She offered and I instinctively wanted to say no but found myself nodding yes instead.
“Orange, please?” I asked and automatically caught the sucker she pitched to me. I looked at the candy as I removed the wrapper, turning it this way and that. It seemed to me that if I spent much time with Immy I’d likely develop a new perspective on things I naturally took for granted. Named for his daughter, who knew?
“Hmmm I would have guessed you for a blueberry or maybe grape. Perhaps it’s the Demon in you.”
“Why is that, because I asked for Orange?”
She smiled and nodded thoughtfully. “Although I admit I have a frightfully small amount of data to base my supposition upon.” She replied with a distant look. “Oh don’t get me wrong.” She informed me quickly, when I raised an eyebrow and looked at her questioningly. “I know all there is to know about you. All there has been to date to know about you. Your every action, every decision you’ve acted upon and every word you’ve ever spoken. It’s all neatly cataloged and recorded for posterity. It’s just that you are the first of your own unique blending so there is no historical data with which to compare you. One of the reasons I’ve taken an interest in you, especially since you have recently shown a propensity toward new and increasing abilities. Rest assured, every act and deed.”
She sighed, waving her lollipop toward the door as she spoke. I could only guess that wherever my every act and deed was cataloged it was through that opening somewhere. The thought was a bit mind boggling. Though I must admit I’d been mulling it over since Mom had informed me of this pending visit. I couldn’t help wondering who and what might be doing that cataloging, chances were it wasn’t the spiders who seemed to be tied up with other duties.
Dragon Envy Page 22
