Part 9 (1/2)

Refreshed, I was sliding back into the Kitchen area, connected to the living room. The little creme and lemon fox was sitting on the counter while I whipped up some food for both of us.

My bangs and any of my red hair not behind my ears were pulled back into a high ponytail, while letting the rest tickle against my shoulders, and I wore a pair of baggy brick-red trousers, with large pockets, thinking of the fox for later.

I still felt immensely awkward without my cloak surrounding me. And even though I had a crimson poncho to wear later, it couldn't replace my hooded mantle.

”You seem sad, Dori.” Kit stated as the little fox yawned and sprawled out on the kitchen counter with a bandaged paw out front.

”Yeah, What's got you beat?” I heard Ettie ask, which caused me to glance over my shoulder while stirring a pot of creamy soup. Her entire tall frame was leaned against the doorway to the kitchen. My eyes fell back to the wood-powered stove as I pushed around the broth in silence for a trice.

”Nothing. I'm a ray of suns.h.i.+ne.” I mused with a bored notion before hearing Ettie s.h.i.+ft into the frame more. ”Where's your brother?”

”Sniffing things out.” She said simply, you could almost hear the shrug in her voice. She continued with a drawl. ”Nothing huh? Smells like Faerie Fudge to me.”

”No it's broth I think, but I could understand the con-” I began, but stopped as Ettie had pa.s.sed the short distance from the doorway to grasp her heavy hands upon my shoulders and spin me around.

”-fusion.” I finished while looking up toward her face.

”You know what I mean, Dori. It's the cap isn't it?” She prostrated, still holding my shoulders. Her dark eyes glared with gentleness down at me. The soup was completely lost to my mind then.

I couldn't say anything, she had hit the spot.

”Everyone always says you are just a total bada.s.s, and that nothing ever gets to you. But I see you, always hiding in that cloak. So that no one else can ever see you. You don't just look low, Gnidori. You look exhausted, and worried, and scared. And I've only ever seen you scared once before now.” Ettie said a mouthful. I could feel her eyes never wavering from looking at my face. Yet I said nothing and didn't look at her.

”I know how you used to be. I've seen you change over so many years. But you have always had that d.a.m.ned hood. It kept you safe, like no matter what you did you would be fine. Probably why you never bother to think of the consequences to what you do.” She added. Still I was silent and not holding her gaze.

”But your safety isn't there anymore. And I can see you fully. You were never good at hiding things from me Riri, you just had your hood to hide your face. And that helped you keep your distance. But I don't want to see that distance between us. It's actually nice to see the real you, to see Gnidori for once, and not Red.”

One of her hands slid from my shoulder and caressed my nearby cheek with the back of her digits. My eyes closed, leaning into her fingers. It felt like I hadn't seen her in years, when it had only been a few months. I sighed and finally opened my eyes and looked up at her, ”I'll let you know what's wrong when I figure it out, alright?”

It was strange thinking of someone who rivaled half-breed giants in muscle, ma.s.s and height could be so gentle and sweet. Ettie was a good friend. Too bad I couldn't say the same about myself.

She had a tender smile as she stared directly into my blue eyes. I loved that smile. Just a s.h.i.+mmer of laugh lines with her cupid bow lips, it was soothing to the soul, and actually made me feel safe for once.

She must have realized how I was looking at her, because she pulled her hand away from my cheek. She's always trying her hardest not to make me think she was leading me on, since she said she wasn't interested. That's what always made it so hard to come see her, though.

I could see her lips part to say something. But her voice didn't come out, instead it was Kit. ”Reynard wants to know if you two are just going to kiss and get it over with?”

My eyes hardened to diamond instantly and narrowed to look around the ivory tower of a woman in my way, to the fox. Ettie pulled completely away from me. I could have sworn she was blus.h.i.+ng profusely, but she had turned so fast and headed out the kitchen that I didn't get the chance to really see.

”Hey, it's not me. Reynard wanted to know. He said you should.” Kit added despite my unhindered glance and Ettie storming out. If it hadn't been for the smell of smoke and the puff of fumes curling around my body from behind me, I probably would have said something.

Something to stop Ettie, but I didn't. I just watched her walk away, like she probably did every time I left.

”Well, tell the fox he should keep his tiny snout shut. I don't care what he thinks we should do. I don't take orders from a fox, ever.” I explained while lifting the pan up to pour slops of creamy soup into two bowls, before setting one in front of Reynard. He sniffed it a few times and coiled away from it.

”Picky, Picky.” I cried, grabbing my bowl and leading back into the living room.

Han was back in dog form, sitting in front of Ettie whom had sat back down on the couch looking disappointed yet focused as well. She nodded a few times, while Han-hound tossed his big brown head over his shoulders and lolled his jaw into a grin.

”Han found something.” Ettie explained, looking up to me with apologetic eyes ”What is it?” I asked, not even sitting down.

”Well, uh... he managed to pinpoint Goldie.” She started, almost like she was afraid of what I would do when I found out the rest.

”Yes?” I baited her on while tracing her movements intently and briefly glanced as Han disappeared into the back rooms again.

”She's near a tower. Not a good one either.” She continued, still wearily.

”So you are saying I really do have to go rescue someone from a tower?” I asked; trying to pull out whatever it was she didn't want to tell me, without demanding it.

”Yes. In a way. But the tower isn't just a tower.”

”Is this a riddle? When is a tower not a tower?” I groaned, before rolling my eyes and setting down the bowl on the table. ”Look, Ettie, just tell me. It's more frustrating trying to guess.”

”She's in the Sleeping Kingdom.” Ettie sighed, and added almost immediately. ”The tower of Bluebeard has her, Riri.”

”Faerie Fudge! Faerie Flinging Fudge!” I cursed through gritted teeth. My eyes returned to look at Ettie's fidgeting body. ”How did she get that far away? It couldn't have been more than a day.”

Ettie hesitated for a moment, as Han came back out, with just huge tan pants on. His stomach boiled over the trousers and jiggled as he slipped around me with hardly any grace at all. ”Are you sure about the time?”

”Of course I'm...” I began, realizing finally at that moment that I wasn't actually sure how long it had been. I only had a.s.sumed it was a day I was out. My eyes went wide. ”What day is it?”

”Gnidori, it's been close to a week since the double attack on the pixie path in Charming's territory.” Han explained, as I looked at him with my lips dropped open.

”I didn't want to tell you at least until you cleaned up and relaxed somewhat. Otherwise I knew you would be rus.h.i.+ng to get moving.” Ettie seemed almost like she was apologizing, which really didn't help any, since I had suddenly gone from thankful to being frustrated.

”You're serious?” My mouth hung open like a fly-catcher while I looked between the twins.

This meant Charming's tip on Gabbi was pretty much useless now. I was getting frustrated with his... ugh... favor, for nothing.

But that wasn't the most important thing. What was truly reason for concern was how I could not remember an entire week transpiring.

”I lost somewhere close to a week of time. And you just decided to tell me now?” I finally voiced my annoyance as they both looked down and away from me like they were filled with guilt. And so they should be.

It was dead silence for maybe a couple of minutes before I heard a yawn from the kitchen by Reynard. My eyes then flitted back to see Han getting his big b.u.t.t up and attempting to leave the room.

”You better be going to get all the gear and supplies ready.” I eyed Han pretty viciously before he sighed and grunted something that sounded affirmative and disappeared toward the wooden hallway he came from.

After that my eyes fell back to the dark-eyed woman across from me. She glanced away from me, just as Kit's voice broke the tension.

”Reynard wants to know if this would be a bad time to ask for more of those Lemon Scotches.”

”No. Terrible time. And I don't have any. Maybe I'll get some for him later.” I said through my gritted teeth, not turning my eyes from looking at Ettie, whom still wouldn't meet my eyes.

”He's hungry though.” Kit continued.

I groaned and glanced up at the kitchen counter. ”I said no. He should eat his soup.”