by JK Ensley
“You shouldn’t, you repulsive girl.” He growled then, showing off most of his sharp teeth. “Just go! Leave me in peace.”
Jenevier smiled sweetly. “As you wish. I hope you enjoy yourself.” She nodded and turned to go. “Merry meet and merry part, I always say. Good day then.”
“What?” He tried to stand. “Are you truly so heartless as to just leave me here… to die?”
She sighed, rolling her eyes as she turned back to face him. “This is turning into a grand old play of ridiculousness,” she grumbled under her breath. “Tell me, hound. Is this not what you want—to be rid of me so you can die in peace?” She put her fists on her hips. “Well? Make up your mind. I grow tired of your whining drivel. Die or speak up. Some of us have things to do and places to go.”
He chuckled. “Testy, testy. Keep up that snippy little sass, Maiden, and I might just take a liking to you yet.”
Jenevier rolled her eyes again.
“Oh, stop acting like you wouldn’t love it.” The foul beast chuckled again as he rolled over, exposing his swollen, mud-caked shoulder. “Here’s the wound, Sassy. Now, just extract the venom.”
“And why should I? You ask me for help. Yet you said you would have eaten me were you but whole.”
“And… if you save me, I may eat you yet.”
“Ugh. That doesn’t really prove a very convincing case for my help, you know.”
The dog just laughed again. She walked closer to the creature, scrutinizing the swollen snake bite. Cupping some water from the stream, she tried to wash off the mud.
“Careful, you fool!” the dog hissed. “That hurts!”
“Oh hush, you big baby. You were ready to die valiantly in the mud only a moment ago. And now you cry because I but touch you.”
“Stupid girl.”
“Smelly dog.”
The dog just laughed.
Jenevier carefully cleaned away all the mud until she found the two small puncture wounds.
“Here it is!”
“Of course it’s there, you enormous dumb troll. Now, extract the poison.”
She snorted. “The poison in your tongue? Or what the snake left in your shoulder?”
The dog turned his gleaming golden gaze back toward her. “You tell me, Sassy. Which do you think would be easier for you?”
“Shoulder it is, then. But… I don’t have a blade.”
She looked around for something sharp with which to puncture his tough hide.
“You don’t need a knife, you lame pig. Just bite through the skin where the wound is and suck out the venom.”
“I don’t think I can do that.” She gagged a little. “Disgusting.”
The dog chuckled. “Yes, it is. And not only that, Madam Sass. When you withdraw the poison, it will make you gravely ill. That cannot be helped. But if you swallow any of it, even the tiniest drop, you will surely die.” He chuckled again. “And that cannot be helped either. Are you ready then?”
“Are you trying to convince me to help you, or to leave you?”
“Your decision, Troll,” he replied, nonchalantly.
She leaned down as close to his head as she dared to get. “Just so you know… I do not like you, Hound. Not even a little bit.”
He snorted. “As if I care what my supper thinks of me.”
Jenevier tried hard to swallow back her last meal—which was desperately seeking escape. The stench from this decrepit creature was gut-wrenching.
She mustered up her nerve and bit down, hard. The sound of the tearing flesh, mixed with the hound’s howls, almost made her stop. Then her mouth filled with the fiery venom. She spat it out and went back to the wound.
As she continued to suck out the poison, she began to feel dizzy and nauseous.
“More, Sassy!” he yelled. “There is yet more.”
When she finally withdrew the last remaining drop, she collapsed in the mud beside the dog and began throwing up her stomach’s entire contents.
“Wretched human,” he growled. “What took you so long?”
She felt like she would soon pass out—die right there in the mud and filth—if her near constant retching hadn’t been keeping her conscious. She tried to rise, catch her breath. Instead, she caught a glimpse of the putrid dog as it ran toward her, snarling. She saw his enormous fangs part wide then snap shut—biting down, sharp teeth piercing the twisted black heart on her hand.
…Bloody dog…
She didn’t even possess the strength to scream. She could feel the wretched canine dragging her through the mud. But her eyes were fast closing for what she knew would be the last time. She felt the icy cold water on her face and arm.
“Drink, you idiot. Drink!” the dog demanded.
She opened her eyes just enough to see she was half lying in the little stream.
“Drink now!”
The dog bit down again, this time through her left forearm.
She opened her mouth, weakly, letting the water gush in. She drank as fully as she could. With every swallow, her senses were slowly returning. And with every tiny ounce of strength she regained, she vowed to choke the very life out of the vile creature she had only just saved.
Bloody dog!
When she had recovered most of her faculties, Jenevier sat up, looking around for the hound. He was gone. She was all alone.
Crawling out of the water, she collapsed onto the soft grass on the other side—more than just a little thankful for the warm sun beating down on her ice cold body. Her breathing was slowly returning to normal. The dizziness started to dissipate.
Ugh… bloody dog. The next time I see you I swear I—
She felt a sharp prick on the tip of her finger, as that of a thorn. Jenevier barely opened her weary eyes.
What now?
Before she could even register what was going on, her hair was violently pulled—several strands ripped clean out of her head.
She heard the faint buzzing near her ear before she actually saw the tiny pink and purple creatures flying around her.
“You shouldn’t rest here.”
The gentle voice was so beautiful, smooth as the finest music. It seemed more like a warm purr than a voice. It made her smile.
“The Pixies will make sure you’re bald and full of pinholes if you remain there.”
Jenevier turned her head to see an extremely handsome, extremely naked man kneeling beside her. His chest and neck bore strange markings the likes of which she had never seen before.
“It’s not really their fault, you know.” He was still speaking. “I mean, you are lying on the entrance to their Queen’s lodgings.”
She sat up quickly, just as a few more strands were torn from her scalp and yet another thorn was jabbed into her calf.
“None of this is real,” she whispered. “None of this can possibly be real. I ate something that didn’t agree with me. That’s all. Or, perhaps I’m hallucinating from the venom. Yes, that would explain it—I’ve been poisoned. One thing’s for certain—this isn’t real.”
“Oh, it’s real, all right. I mean, they can’t kill you or anything like that. But Pixies can pester you half to death.” He gently touched her hair as he spoke. “And from the looks of it, you’re almost half way there as it is.”
She looked back to the odd man and then quickly averted her gaze. Standing up slowly, numbly, Jenevier heard the tiny little tinkling voices cursing at her.
“That’s better. Wow. You’re just a little thing, aren’t you?” He chuckled softly. “Why are you so short? Here, let me help you. That’s right. Come along now. It’s this way.”
The young man carefully took her by the arm, leading her toward the nearby forest, talking all the while.
Yes… a most curious dream indeed…
She couldn’t help but look back at the colorful little Pixies as they hurriedly dug out their Queen. It put her in mind of ants tending their anthill. She half giggled.
Huh… strange. I cannot recall ever having such a dream.
I mean… how can one dream of things they have never seen before? Odd… truly odd…
Chapter 27
Alissa
(ah-LISS-ah)
Alissa slept through the day and well into the cool evening. After he returned from telling Jezreel the great news, Alastyn sat by her bed and never left her side. It was almost like he was afraid she would disappear if he took his eyes off her for even a moment. She was still so beautiful to him. All he saw lying there was his beloved mother, as elegant and radiant as were his memories.
When her eyes fluttered open, Alastyn’s warm smile was the first thing she saw.
“Am I dreaming, my dear son?”
“Only if I am as well, Mother. Let us not wake, then.”
She returned his warm smile as she sat up, stretching her arms. “I haven’t slept like that in years,” she yawned.
“Do you thirst? Are you hungry?”
She reached over and placed her hand upon his, squeezing. “Both. What say we make some breakfast?”
Alastyn chuckled. “But it’s well into the evening now.”
She smiled. “Breakfast is good no matter where the sun is.”
They both laughed in agreement.
“I’ll leave you to dress and wait for you in the kitchen then. Be ready to cook.” He winked playfully. “The stove is already warm.”
Alissa looked around her familiar room. It was as if she had never left. Wrapping the covers around her shoulders, she sat cross-legged in the middle of her cozy bed—breathing in all the familiar smells, listening to all the familiar noises. She sent up a little prayer of thanks for her unbelievably good fortune.
There was a soft rap at the door and Markus peeped in.
“Rest well, my dear?”
“Oh yes, very well. Thank you, Markus.”
“This is your home, Alissa. As it was then, so it remained. We’ve only been waiting on you to return and make it whole again.”
“I’m sorry I left you. I feared you had found another.”
“You didn’t leave me, my sweet. You didn’t leave Alastyn. And, I could never replace you, my love. Neither of us had a choice in the tragedy that befell our little family. I’m only sorry I couldn’t protect you… it caused you such great suffering.”
He sat down on the bed and gently brushed back her snow white hair, tucking it behind her ear to better see the face he loved so true. This enchanting woman was the most precious thing in the world to him. She always had been.
“Alissa, you are so beautiful. Never has a woman been as you, my love… never.”
“I am not the same woman you fell in love with, Markus.”
He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You are exactly the same woman.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I am used… dirty.”
“You are as pure and beautiful as the first enchanting day I laid eyes upon you. My heart now races… same as it did then.”
His nose brushed her ear as he whispered to her. She turned to him, nuzzling his neck.
“May I kiss you, my lovely Alissa?”
“I have dreamt of nothing but your lips upon me the whole night through. I feared you wouldn’t want to touch me, Markus.”
“If my touch would bring you harm in any way, I will forever restrain myself. As long as you remain at my side, I will be happy.”
“Kiss me, please,” she whispered.
Markus pulled the love of his life close to his chest and kissed her as if it were the first time. Their undying passion rekindled with their first touch. Magic grew in their hearts once more.
“I have missed your arms about me, my love.” She smiled as she kissed him again. “But it’s your enormous heart I have missed most of all.”
“I do not wish to hurt you, beautiful lady.” His voice was heavy with want, weighted with deep desire. “But if you do not cease your play, my love, I will lose what little control I yet cling to.”
She giggled, kissing his nose and then his forehead. “So… you desire me still?”
He pushed her back upon the bed. “You are my wife and the only woman I have ever desired.”
“I love you, Markus.” She blushed. “Do not think ill of me, dear one. But… I want to feel you move within me.”
She spoke not another word. Passionate moans were all she could manage. The man she had desired from her youth was making the sweetest love to her she could possibly imagine. She had to keep telling herself over and over that this was her beloved husband, not just a dream.
He brought her to ecstasy twice before he finally collapsed beside her, a blissful smile across his face.
“Never has there been a woman such as you.” He kissed her hand. “I still cannot believe you agreed to marry me.”
“I am but a pale shadow of her now. I look more like the corpse of your beloved wife, than the vessel herself.”
He gently squeezed her hand. “Is that so? Then, how is it you now blush, Milady?”
She quickly sat up, looking toward her reflection in the mirror of her dressing table. She nearly knocked Markus off the bed as she leapt to her feet, running to get a closer look.
He walked up behind her, placing his gentle hands upon her trembling shoulders, caressing her soft skin.
“How can this be?” she whispered. “I feared I was colorless forever.”
“You are home, my dear. You are in your husband’s arms now, not those of a tyrant. You have returned to where you belong, Alissa, to where you are loved, where you are happy.”
She giggled like a small girl, clapping her hands before throwing her arms around his strong neck. Markus held her to him.
Alastyn came to fetch his mother. Upon seeing their happy embrace, he quietly closed the door and returned to the kitchen.
“I was so afraid you wouldn’t take me back, Markus. I had visions of you throwing me out into the street.”
“I was so afraid you were dead for so very long, my dear. I felt like only half a man for all those years. I was powerless to save you, and completely lost without you.”
“…You never even looked at another woman?”
“What other woman? I cannot recall ever seeing another.”
“Oh Markus, you are the only genuine man I have ever known. You are kind and loving, strong and valiant. I still can’t believe you chose me. You—the bravest warrior in the village.”
“Brave? Not that night.”
“Shhh, now.” She kissed him. “Nothing could have stopped what happened that night. Every soul in this realm knows the truth of that. My dear Markus, I have never felt safe with anyone else, only you. And, I have never felt safer in my whole life… than I do right now.”
They held each other tightly for one long blissful moment.
“As much as I wish this would never end… your son awaits his mother.”
She giggled again. “Yes, you’re right. Will you please tell him I’ll be right out?”
“Of course, my love.” He started to leave, but turned back and pointed to a chest in the corner. “All your things are still there. I packed them well and checked them often. A few of them even still smell like you,” he whispered to himself.
As the door clicked shut, a lone tear streaked its mournful path down her once lovely face.
I love you, Markus. More than I can ever possibly show you in but a single lifetime. You are my world.
*****
When Alissa entered the kitchen, everyone froze. She had brushed out her snow white locks and pulled them back into a long braid. She was wearing her favorite comfy dress and was barefoot with but a tiny strand of beads around one ankle.
She held that favorite old dress out with both hands and twirled around like a little girl.
“So, what do you think?”
Markus gasped. “Alissa, you are so beautiful—a vision from the heavens. You take my breath away.”
“Mama!”
Alastyn ran to her, throwing his arms around her. He was her baby boy all over again. He could finally r
elease all the heartbreaking tears that little lost boy had held inside for so many years. And… that’s exactly what he did.
Chapter 28
Alzeen
(al-ZEEN)
Jenevier looked down and realized—to her embarrassment—the naked man was still holding her arm. Gently pulling free, she stepped a comfortable distance from her unusual savior. She noticed then that his peculiar markings were not only upon his chest and neck, but his arms, abdomen, and temples as well.
They are the same odd color as his hair.
“Are you feeling better, tiny lady?”
She blushed and lowered her eyes. “Somewhat, yes.”
“So, you are Jenevier, I presume?”
“Yes. And may I have the pleasure of your name, sir?”
“My apologies.” The stranger stopped walking and made a low, dramatic bow in front of her. “I… am Alzeen. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Milady.”
She couldn’t help but snicker. He seemed so young and, well, sweet. As he rose, she quickly turned her head.
“Umm, Alzeen. Where are your clothes?”
He looked down at himself, and then back at her.
“Apologies. Does the natural state of humans make you uncomfortable?”
“Well, I have never really thought about it before I suppose. But, yes. Yes it does.”
“My apologies once again, tiny Princess. My intention was never to make you feel uncomfortable, no. I wish only for your complete and utter happiness, Milady. May I?”
Jenevier looked down just in time to see him reach over and rip one of the layers from her once lovely party dress.
“I beg your pardon!”
She grabbed her skirt, checking to make sure she was still properly covered.
“How dare you!”
“What? It was all mussed and beyond repair.” Alzeen sort of rolled his eyes and snorted. “I was only considering your comfort. Where else am I to get clothing in the middle of the forest?”
He hurriedly wrapped the torn garment around his chest and shoulders. When Jenevier looked back at him, she closed her eyes and turned away once more. She couldn’t help but stifle a giggle.
