by Larisa Long
The four immortals remain standing with their heads bowed.
I wait for one of them to explain. “What are you doing?”
Risq shifts positions. “You haven’t released us yet, my Queen.”
Arc sighs. “Once one of the reigns have ordered us to do something, we cannot stop until another reign gives us new orders.”
I look around the room. “Is this really happening?”
“It is,” Arc says.
“Feel free to grab my necklace again,” Blu hints. “That was incredible. I didn’t mind that at all.”
“You mean you’d just stand there with your heads bowed until I …” I couldn’t say the words. “Asked you?”
“No,” Risq says. “Not ask. Order.”
I grab my stomach. “What century is this? I don’t understand this world.” I look to Blu. “You’d go without sugar?”
He sniffs like the thought is too horrifying. “You could take my mind off the sugar by grabbing my necklace. Just touch it a little. Please. Just once more.”
I walk to Risq. “And you?”
He tenses.
“You wouldn’t threaten? Or harass? Or glare? Or wish I was in your glass?”
He clenches his face until I think it will implode. “I would stand here until you ordered me otherwise.”
Zash drops his head further. “Now you know how important you are to us. You are different. I know you’d never mistreat us or allow us to be mistreated.”
I walk to Zash. “No, I wouldn’t. Not ever. I swear it.”
He slowly lifts his head. His eyes tell me everything. How I can trust him. How he feels about me. How he’ll keep me safe no matter what.
Arc startles me when he clears his throat.
“Sorry, please go about doing what you were before.”
In an instant, Blu devours three cakes and drinks six gallons of fruity punch. “That was close. I thought I’d pass out.”
Arc grabs my hands. “Thank you, Queen.”
“Please don’t call me that. I do not want to be Queen in such a suckfest.” I look at Blu. “That creepy asshole actually licked you. With his tongue. God knows where that’s been.”
Blu giggles then shrugs, but I can tell it shook him. “He’s done worse.” He devours another cupcake then deviously grins at me. “I don’t mind being licked, but I’d rather it be your tongue.”
I try not to blush and glance at Arc and Zash. “What would he have done to you two?”
Zash takes a deep breath. “It’s usually—”
“It’s more of what he makes us do to him,” Arc interrupts.
I hold my hand up. “Don’t want the specifics. How is this possible? All of you are stronger than him. Smarter than him. You’re immortals. He’s only human. And what of your former reigns?”
Arc sits down. “They usually let any of the other reigns do whatever they want or join in.”
I cringe. “Then I guess maybe you didn’t choose the right reign before.”
Zash smiles at me and nods. “No, we didn’t. But we have now.”
Risq sits back down and continues his glare at me. “Don’t think this changes anything.”
I grab my heart. “Still going to be you?”
“Oh, you’ll still end up in here.” Risq motions towards another glass filled with red goo.
I look down at the necklaces. “Which one is yours, Risq? And what would happen if … oops … it broke under my boot and shattered into a gajillion pieces?”
Risq growls.
Zash puts his hand over his mouth to hide his smile. “You are definitely different from the other reigns.”
“So, who the hell was that asshole?”
Blu chokes on his food. “I thought you’d already been introduced to the vampire. That’s Risq.”
Risq grunts. “Keep it up, faerie. Maybe I’ll replace all your sugar with salt.”
Blu grabs his heart and tears form in his eyes. “You wouldn’t. He can’t do that, can he Arc?”
Arc shakes his head.
I return to the sofa and sit beside Blu who has already gone through another dozen cakes.
He shrugs. “I think I’m a stress eater. But that last flavor.” He digs his finger into the frosting and shoves it into my mouth. “Good, isn’t it?”
I jump back. The others tense like I’m going to bolt, but I taste the frosting. “Sweet.” I nod at Blu who smiles at me and winks.
The others relax.
“What flavor would you guess that is?”
I think about it. “Chocolate and mocha and …”
Blu leans in closer to me. “And?” His wings tap together waiting for me to guess.
I look up at the ceiling. “What else was that? Blueberry? No. Kumquat?”
Blu gasps. “Why in the realms would a kumquat be in frosting? That’s unnatural.”
“Coffee grounds?”
Blu gives me a look that is a mixture of agitation and absolute fear.
“Sorry. It wasn’t strawberry?”
Blu shakes his head. “Not strawberry or coffee grounds or broccoli or dandelion.” He digs his finger in and comes out with a wallop of frosting. He hovers close to me. “Need another taste?”
I want to say no, but I can’t even think the words. “You are mesmerizing.”
Blu smugly grins at me. “I know.”
Zash sits down next to me. His closeness startles me, but I don’t move away.
Blu’s wing touches my forehead. “Think Mera. What’s the flavor? This is serious.”
I laugh. “Serious?”
Blu nods.
Arc shifts positions. “Anything sweet is very serious for Blu.”
“I think she needs another taste,” Zash hints, as he winks at me.
Blu slowly leans in and then quickly glances at Zash. “Why don’t you do it.”
Zash swallows hard. His hands shake as he takes a cupcake and runs his finger through the frosting. He looks into my eyes and then delicately brushes frosting on my lips.
I quickly grab his finger and slowly and very meticulously suck the frosting off.
Zash grips the edge of the sofa until it starts to snap in two. He takes a deep breath as he moans.
Arc watches us with a raised eyebrow and blows out a breath. “Wish I’d thought of doing that.”
Blu grins. “Was that better than her grabbing your necklace?”
Zash blushes intensely and nods. “Uh huh. Yes. Definitely. Absolutely. Without a doubt.”
Blu pouts. “So unfair. You didn’t do that to me.”
“That’s because you just shoved your way in without warning,” I remind him.
Zash smiles. “That is the closest I’ve ever been to a human without being forced or ordered.”
I suddenly feel guilty. “I didn’t force that, did I Zash?”
He shook his head quickly. “No.” He gently pushes my hair out of my face. “You’d never have to force me to do anything.”
I could stare into Zash’s sad green eyes forever.
He leans close to me and whispers. “They’re not sad when I look at you.”
I’m lost for a few years looking at Zash until Blu’s wing aggressively taps me on the head.
“Flavor?”
I glance at Blu. “You must have been fun as a child.”
He nods before his smirk turns devious. “We can become adult real quick. Would you like to see what else I can do? I’ll give you one more guess before I punish you for making me wait.”
I swallow hard as I try not to think too hard at what Blu just hinted. “Kiwi. That’s the flavor.”
Blu sighs. “Too bad. I really wanted to punish you.”
I stare into Blu’s eyes. “Beautiful.” My head starts to throb, and I’m dizzy. I feel off. “I think you did punish me. I’m allergic to kiwi.”
Arc quickly grabs my hands. He closes his eyes and says something. “There, all better. Kiwi is gone.” He looks at Zash. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you happy.”<
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Zash smiles at me. “She is ours. We’re finally going to be safe.”
I don’t know what is happening to me or why I’m suddenly so comfortable with them.
I look to Risq because I figure he’d make some snarky comment, but the vampire isn’t in the room. “Where is he?”
Blu and Zash jump to their feet.
Arc sighs. “He has him.”
“Who?”
Zash looks down at the ground. “King Pole.”
Chapter 4
I walk over to the door which is still open.
“Where are you going?” Arc asks. “You can’t leave without us.”
I peer outside. I don’t see a road or a town or anything but forest. Only the sounds of birds can be heard. And, of course, the buzzing of bees who have also created an altar on the porch with even larger jars of appreciation honey.
“What are we waiting for?”
Arc steps beside me. “You actually want to find Risq?”
I nod without much enthusiasm. “He’s definitely not my favorite, but I can’t let that creepy King take him.”
“We’ll have to go to town.” Arc glances at Blu and Zash before returning his attention to me. “It will be dangerous.”
“For me or you?”
“Both.”
“This really isn’t a dream, is it?”
I wait for someone to do something. To say something. To at least suggest something. I shrug and step outside.
Arc grabs me. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Want to? No. Risq is moody and dangerous. He’ll probably end up killing me. Again.” I think about that. Why would I want to help him? I shake those thoughts away. “I promised I wouldn’t let any of you be mistreated. If I can help him I will.”
Zash quickly kisses my cheek and puts my cloak back on me.
Arc narrows his eyes and studies me intently as if he’s trying to figure me out.
I don’t shrink from the witch’s examination. “Still don’t trust me yet, do you?”
Arc nervously glances at Zash and then looks anywhere but directly at me. “I’ll get there.”
Blu rushes to me and kisses my forehead. “Well, I’m there already.” He greedily grins and rubs his hands together. “So, perhaps you should think very seriously about rewarding Zash and I for trusting you implicitly.”
Blu taps his wing against his chin like he’s thinking. “Maybe I should devise the reward.” He nods. “That’s what I’ll do. Leave it to me, Mera, I’ll figure out the proper reward for us.”
Before I can say anything, Blu jumps up and down. “I’ll gather supplies.” He’s back in an instant with cotton candy and suckers. He hands me a cookie. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Zash leaps down the front steps and grabs my hand to guide me down.
Arc sighs. “So, we’re doing this? We’re really doing this?” He runs his hands through his hair and checks his jacket for weapons. “Six knives. Two swords. Various herbs for spells.”
“Where exactly are we going?”
Zash glances nervously ahead. “To town.”
Arc steps in front of me and looks me over. “Just stay between us. I’ll walk in front. Blu and Zash will be at your sides. Zash will know before anyone tries anything. Blu can put them in a sugar coma while I spell them.”
I frown. “What kind of town is this?”
Blu nibbles on a never ending chocolate bar. “Dangerous.”
Arc swallows hard. He looks into my eyes. “I’m sorry for this.”
I freeze. “Why are you apologizing now? The last time one of you apologized, I was ripped from my world.”
Arc quickly shakes his head. “Nothing like that. You’re going to have to be a Queen.”
I look down at myself. I assumed the red and black cloaky thing made me look Queen like in this world. Then, I feel a strange pressure on my head. Seriously? “Do I really have a crown?”
Zash glances up and smiles. “I didn’t make it too heavy, did I?”
I didn’t want to move. “I’ve never had a … What if it falls off or I can’t walk with it?”
“I’ve spelled it so it will stay put.” Arc smooths my hair back behind my ears. “They’ll be looking for weaknesses. Do not ask. Order. If anyone tries to stop us—”
“If?” Blu laughs. “More like when.”
“This world …” I try to figure out how to word my question. “Was it always this way or did humans completely muck it up?”
Zash and Blu tense beside me. Arc hesitates. “Our world used to be better before …” he motions as if saying before humans.
I sigh. I wouldn’t know how to apologize for an entire species. Or at least some of my species.
There’s something in Arc’s expression I can’t read. I’m not sure what it is, but he quickly turns his back to me and clears his throat. “Are we ready?”
Blu and Zash nod.
I follow Arc with Blu to my left and Zash to my right. We only get a few feet before Blu and Zash grab my hands, and there’s a kind of whoosh sound like we’re in a vacuum.
Before I know it, we’re standing in the middle of a town. My stomach won’t stop spinning. “What just happened?”
“Portal,” Arc nonchalantly answers, without looking at me. “We need to keep moving.”
Blu hands me another cookie. “Butterscotch. It’ll help with the stomach flips. Or you can just look into my gorgeous eyes, and you’ll be so in love with me you’ll forget everything else.”
I nibble on the cookie as I walk. This place looks like a medieval movie set. Cobblestone streets snake around out of sight. On one side of the street, tiny shops overflow with fabric, snacks, hats, dresses, toys, fudge, and trinkets I couldn’t describe. On the other side, dozens of cafes offer their specialities.
I close my eyes. From the various pungent odors, they don’t eat what I’m used to. “What is that smell? Sulphur casserole? Raw sewer stew?” Nauseating stenches violently counteract the cookie. “Blu, do you have—”
He instantly hands me another butterscotch cookie. “This one is made with some of the bee’s gratitude honey. It’ll help.”
I hold the cookie close to my nose and hope the sweet honey mixed with butterscotch combats the offending stenches. “Is this like a bazaar?”
“No,” Arc says quickly.
I notice his hands hover near his sword like he’s ready for anything. Blu and Zash constantly scan the area.
There are hundreds of people shopping and eating at the various disgusting outdoor cafes. As soon as we get close, everyone stares at us. Even if people are in mid bite, their forks hover in front of their open mouths while they take us in.
I quickly look down at my outfit. “Am I dressed weird or something? Is the cloak too much?”
Zash shakes his head. “You’re beautiful.”
“Don’t look directly at them, my Queen,” Blu shakily says.
“Watch it,” someone barks.
I look down to see a tiny creature with a huge hat and an even larger bright red beard glaring at me.
Blu grabs me. “Leprechaun,” he whispers.
“Faerie.” The leprechaun scowls, spits on the ground and runs off muttering.
A big eared pink something winks at me as it flutters by using ears as wings. As I watch the winged creature float above the buildings, I notice dozens if not hundreds of tiny creatures barely the size of acorns with iridescent wings dozing on tops of the awnings. “What the?”
“Walk faster,” Arc orders.
I can barely keep up as their speed increases. I don’t look at anyone anymore, but I hear whispers, grunts, growls, and questions.
“So that’s the new Queen,” one says.
“She won’t last long.”
Laughter intersperses with threats and loud sniffs and growls.
“Poor soul. She has no idea what’s coming.”
Zash grabs my hand. “It’s okay.”
Arc stops so quickly I almost run into hi
m.
“What do we have here?” Someone says with a growl.
I look up at the ten foot tall beast in front of us. Forest green furry body, dog face, and lizard hands. He sticks out his silver tongue which has to be three feet long.
Yikes.
Blu squeezes closer to me. “He’s a hybrid. Don’t antagonize him.”
The green dog lizard stares at me. Arc is much taller than me, but he can’t hide me from the ten foot tall beast.
The creature throws his wet snout in the air and takes a very loud wheezing whiff. “She smells good.”
Arc shakes his head. “Back off, Raks.”
The beast licks his lips which I hadn’t realized were purple with dozens of thorns like he’s also part cactus. “Can’t I have a taste?”
Arc grips his sword. “No, and let’s not make this difficult. Remember what happened last time?”
The beast grunts. “When you let me have your Queen, and we created beautiful hybrid children.”
I almost pass out. Zash and Blu tighten their grip on me.
The beast laughs a guttural noise that sounds like a sad hyena.
“Blu,” Zash quickly says.
Blu whips around and stands behind me. “Something I can help you with?”
I glance behind me. I hadn’t realized a crowd had gathered. About a dozen humans and other species which I can’t identify push towards us.
“Hello, Queen,” A gruff voice says, and tries to push Zash who pushes back.
A very beautiful woman circles us. Her pink eyes match her hair, and it feels like she is crawling into my mind.
Zash steps in front of me breaking my connection. “She’s a succubus. Do not look at her.”
“Just close your eyes,” Arc says.
Someone pulls my hair and grabs my shoulder.
Zash growls. “Do not touch her.”
Blu backs into me which forces me into Arc. I’m being squished.
“Arc?” Blu asks.
“Do it,” Arc says. “Zash protect Mera.”
Zash whips me around to face him. “Keep your eyes closed until I say.” He sheepishly smiles at me. “Sorry, but not really.” He winks and quickly kisses me.
Zash forces oxygen into my lungs from his kiss. I can hear his thoughts. You are safe. I swear I won’t let anything happen to you. Not ever.
