Chapter 84 (1/2)

“Care for a cup of tea?” Stella asked and waved her arm. A teapot that was resting on the table in the corner of the chamber sprouted legs and waddled towards the fairy; two teacups hopped after it. “Have a seat.” Stella gestured at a cushion across from her.

“You’re not going to fight me?” Vur asked as he approached the cushion.

“Why would I? You were the one that freed me after all. If you were someone else, I’d dissect you in a heartbeat,” Stella said as Vur sat down on the cushion. She raised an eyebrow. “You seem awfully relaxed for someone who was expecting a fight.”

“And you seem awfully cohesive for someone who’s supposed to be insane,” Vur said and shrugged as he watched the teapot vomit out a fountain of clear liquid into the two cups. “Why did you imprison Rella and Bella? They helped free you too.”

Stella smiled. “Imprisoning them was the only choice I had. And I’m not insane, not at all. Is that what they’re saying about me?” she asked as she pulled out three green orbs from a bin and dropped them into her teacup. “Would you like some? They’re quite chewy. I call it tapioca. Such a nice sounding word, don’t you agree? Taa-pee-oh-kah.” She giggled as she brought the cup to her lips and took a sip.

“I don’t eat bugs,” Vur said as he shook his head and picked up the cup in front of him. He sniffed it and tilted his head. “What’s in this?”

“The tears of orphans boiled with the crushed dreams of the just departed. It’s good for the soul,” Stella said as she chewed on one of the eggs. A miniature worm popped its head out of her mouth as she spoke, but she slurped it back inside before it got away. “So what made you come visit little old me? You got here pretty quickly considering the fact you were in the human capital not too long ago.”

“I got lost,” Vur said as he took a tentative sip from the cup. “I was supposed to get rid of the worms, but I ended up here instead. I guess that means Aunty got lost too, since she’s not here.”

Stella’s horns glowed red as her eyes narrowed and her body stiffened. The cup in her hand squealed before it shattered. “You really did come here with her then,” Stella said. After a moment passed, she sighed and watched the pieces of the cup crawl back together. “It’s not fair. Why does that backstabbing butt-cow get all the nice things?” She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest as her horns dimmed.

Vur stayed silent as he took another sip of tea. “Why did you attack her? After I freed you, I mean. Even if I was hung over, I could tell you were genuinely happy to see Rella, Bella, and Yella again,” Vur said, his gaze locked on the tea’s surface. “What happened between you two in the past? Is it really so bad that you have to try to destroy the continent to get back at her?”

Stella tilted her head. “She never told you?” she asked as she poured herself another cup of tea. “Well, that’s to be expected. If I was a backstabber, I wouldn’t want my allies to know either. Do you want the long version or the short version?”

“The long version,” Vur said.

Stella nodded. “I’ll need to cast an illusion to keep that wrinkled tomato preoccupied,” she said and closed her eyes. A line of smoke flowed from Stella’s hands out the door. “That should do the trick,” she said and gazed into Vur’s eyes. “You’re a blue mage; Rella told me. I can teach you a truth curse that you can cast on me.”

“You’d go that far?” Vur asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Fairies are notorious for lying,” Stella said and lowered her head as one corner of her lips quirked upwards. “I want you to believe me.” Vur nodded and the two exchanged curses.