After my brief shower, I clumsily pulled on my black leather jacket, a white tank-top, dark, ripped skinny jeans, and my worn, dusty combat boots.
I stumbled my way to the dining area, still not completely awake. My mind of completely sluggish. I was randomly grabbing food from the tables set out when someone breathed into my ear.
"Well, I'll say that your outfit today is more you, but I kind of like the *lack* of clothing you had on yesterday," Puck whispered, his warm breath fanning across the side of my face. But since I was barely awake, all I managed was an intelligent reply of a sleepy, "Huh?" I could practically feel him smirking beside me, but since I was only 1/4 awake, I ignored him, and just kept piling on the food, literally forgetting his comment in a second.
I slowly dragged my feet to the table where Meghan and Glitch were already eating. Puck was loping along beside me. He plucked a fruit off my plate and asked again, "Are you *really* going eat all that food?" while popping it into his mouth.
I scowled, tiredly. "*Yes*, I am. Now stop taking my food," I snapped, holding the plate away from his greedy fingers. Even though the plate was out of his reach, I still felt someone taking food off of it.
I whipped around to find the culprit when what I saw was only Puck with his leering grin. My eyes narrowed. I thought he was on the *other* side of me... I turned to the side I thought he was on, and found him biting into another fruit. I turned around again, and found him chewing on a piece of fruit, but it was a *different* fruit from the one I saw before I turned.
I dropped my plate, scattering the contents to rub my temples. My eyes were squeezed shut as black dots began to cloud my vision.
"It's too early in the morning for this kind of crap," I snarled under my breath, wincing at the headache that was starting to form.
"Ha! I knew it!" I heard two identical Puck voices call out. "You weren't going to finish your food!" I almost growled at their idiocy.
I opened my eyes and stomped over to Meghan. I pointed an accusing finger at her. "You never told me that idiot had a twin!" Her eyes were wide open with shock at my outburst, but when what I said sunk into her brain, the corners of her lips started to twitch upwards.
"Puck doesn't have a twin," she stated slowly, her voice, thick with amusement.
"Then what do you call *them* back there?" I asked furiously, pointing back at the two Pucks. I could feel them wiggle their fingers at Meghan. Her lips stopped twitching and rested at a large smile, showing her even, white teeth.
"Well," she pondered, looking at the ceiling in fake wonder. Her fingers were slowly tapping her chin. "I believe you'd call one of them a clone," she told me innocently while batting her large, light blue eyes at me.
I blinked, taking in the news slowly. The two Pucks walked over to the table to steal some other people's food. I plopped gracelessly into a chair, and dropped my face into my arms that I placed onto the table.
I heard Meghan's tentative voice ask me if I was alright. When I didn't reply, I felt someone poke my arm. I slowly lifted my head towards the person with an emotionless look on my face.
Glitch looked back at me. "I know how you feel first finding out about them," he said dryly. Then he glared at the two Pucks that were ganging up on one of Meghan's guards. One Puck tapped the guard on the shoulder to distract him when the other Puck stole the plate. Why is he stealing food? He's free to take food from the self-serving tables.
I slowly turned my attention back to Meghan.
"And you didn't bother telling me this to me until now? When I'm half-awake and prone to getting headaches?" I asked incredulously. A are-you-freaking-kidding-me look was on my face.
She shrugged, "It never came up."
I groaned even louder than before, dropping my head back into my arms.
"Well, now you can have double the Puck," his voice said behind me.
"Or triple," I heard him say.
"Or quadrouple." I turned my body around in my chair to spit a remark at him saying, "How 'bout zero the Puck?" when my jaw dropped. There were *four* Pucks infront of me.
I closed my jaw, not making a noise. "And the headache is back," I grumbled before returning to my former position.
I stomped ahead, glaring, while Puck skipped beside me. Make that *five* Pucks.
"So what do you want to do today Ira?" one Puck asked.
"Yeah? What do you want to do?" the other Pucks chorused.
"To smack that grin off your face," I growled, taking a swing at the nearest Puck.
He danced away laughing. "We really need to talk about your anger management issues," the Puck said in a sing-song voice.
"I have an issue alright, but it isn't anger management," I glared.
"So..." I heard Meghan say behind me.
"So..." I repeated while rolling my eyes. I walked backwards, so I could look at her. "What are we doing today?"
"How 'bout we just relax until we have to go and get ready?" Meghan suggested.
"Yes!" I heard Puck whoop. "My death will be postponed until tomorrow!" he cheered sarcastically. Want to move that up a bit? I have time on my schedule.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Meghan said carelessly. "But its just Ira and I. Capishe? Leave us alone til later?"
Puck pouted. "But I wanna hang out with my new best buddy here," he complained. I jumped slightly at the random tingling that I felt when he slung his arm around my shoulders. I disgustedly pushed his arm away.
"*Thank" you Meghan. At least I can spend *some* time away from him." He tripped me. Or tried to. As I was falling backwards, I took the time to do a back-hand spring and landed on my feet. I glared at the only Puck in the hallway. There were a bunch of random leaves scattered by his feet. He scowled at my recovery while Meghan shot me a grin.
"Now let's go," she said while grabbing my wrist, and dragging me to who-knows- where in the palace. First dragging me yesterday to the fitting, and I am now being dragged again. Lovely.
"Wait Meghan?" I heard Glitch call, but she ignored him and kept pulling on my arm.
"Meghan?" he called again. "Don't leave me alone with Goodfellow! Noooooo!" I heard his dramatic voice cry out. Puck's evil chuckling echoed throughout the hallways as Meghan and I rounded the corner.
"What are we going to do?" I asked her while stumbling along behind her, tripping over my own feet.
"I'm going to tell you how I became queen since I wasn't able to tell you earlier," she said without looking back at me.
"And where are we going?" I winced slightly as my knee slammed into the wall. That was going to leave a bruise. "And why are we in such a hurry?" annoyance overcoming my voice. I like to take my sweet time.
"Oh, I don't know why we're going so fast. Sorry," she blinked back at me. I scowled, rubbing my sore knee. This for nothing? Wow Meghan. Wow.
She looked forward again and made a left at a giant stained-glass mural. It looked like a bunch of colorful shapes put together like a jigsaw puzzle, but beautiful no-less. A small smile tugged at my lips.
"We're going to a private sitting room, so we can be comfortable while I tell the story," she told me. We stopped infront of an ordinary-looking door. Meghan turned the door knob, and let herself in. I followed her inside.
The sitting room wasn't very large, but was cozy. A fire crackled warmly in the hearth. 7 mismatched armchairs were gathered into a loose oval. A small coffee table sat in the center of the circle with a pot blooming with flowers in the middle of it.
Meghan hopped into an green, plaid armchair and pulled her legs up under her while leaning into one of the arms. I sat in the light gray, patchy chair across from her, pulling my legs up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. I rested my chin on my knee that wasn't throbbing. My hair curtained around me.
Then Meghan began. "It all started with my brother being kidnapped and being replaced by a changeling..."
"Oh my God," I breathed. My eyes were wide open in shock.
She smiled faintly, her mind a million miles away. Her eyes slowly returned to the present as she blinked.
"I can't believe you had to go through all of that," I murmured, staring at the small hole in the armchair my finger was picking throughout the story.
She laughed slightly. "Well, I didn't go through it alone. Puck, of course, was there and A-" she stopped abruptly.
"Oh yeah! Who was that guy you kept mentioning? You didn't tell me his name," I said wiggling my eyebrows. (AN: I know I say stuff about her eyebrows and even though her hair is covering one eyebrow, the chars just *know*. Sorreh if I confused anyone.)
"Oh," she said sadly. "He's not around right now. I don't like to mention his name since I miss him so much," she whispered in a soft, thoughtful voice.
"Alright," I nodded understandingly. "I want to ask you a question about-" I was cut-off by the door opening.
"Umm... Excuse me misses?" the messenger from yesterday asked, slightly poking his head into the room.
"Lady Weaver requests your presenses."
Meghan nodded. "Is that all?" she asked politely. The messenger nodded and ducked out of sight after recieving a dismissal from Meghan.
Meghan sighed and got out of her chair. I stood up too, reluctantly following Meghan back to the fititng room. I tore my gaze away from the inviting fire in the sitting room, and quickly caught up to her. Torture, here we come willingly.
We walked in silence. The room was only a few doors down. Meghan opened the door, and stepped in. "And here we are," I muttered bitterly before I stepping in beside her.
This time, Lady Weaver was nowhere in sight. The two satyrs from yesterday were waiting patiently in the middle of the room.
"We are to help you misses bathe," one satyr said, relaying their orders. The other satyr was blinking her large, brown doe eyes while nodding in agreement.
We smiled our consent, and let them lead us to the bathroom. My eyes widened as they took in the large marble bathtub in the very grand bathroom. Bathtub, it looked more like a swimming pool. It even had steps for it. Steam was gently curling above it in soft waves. Pink bubbles were scattered over the surface of the water.
Meghan and I quickly shed our clothes, eager to get into the warm soapiness. Meghan took the steps while I slid in from the side. Meghan joined me, and we closed our eyes, just relaxing.
I could hear her breathing, slow. The heat and sweet smell of the bubbles were also getting to me. I yawned, and fell into darkness.
I dreamed about laying on a beach. My skin was soaking in the sun's warm rays, and being gently scrubbed by the particles of sand. My hair was completely out of my face much to my surprise, but there was no one in sight. It was just me, the sand, and the sparkling ocean.
I opened my eyes to find myself dry, and sitting on a stool with my back propped against a wall. I blinked, being surprised at the sudden change from my brief dream.
I looked down at myself, and saw that I was already dressed and ready to go to the ball. Well that wasn't so bad.
I looked beside me and saw Meghan in the same position. She muttered under her breath, "Last time this happened I woke up in a *bed*, not some uncomfortable wooden chair." I hid my smile.
She stood up, and noticed me. Her eyes widened. "Oh Ira..."
"What?" I asked, feeling my face for any deformities. All I felt was my hair, slightly softer than usual and covering my left eye like usual.
She smiled at my anxiousness. "You're beautiful," she whispered.
I groaned and narrowed my eyes at her. "Are you *really* going to start this again?" Seriously. She's a million times more beautiful than me.
She beamed and grabbed my hand, pulling me up from the chair. She took my shoulders from behind and propeled me to face a full-length mirror.
In the mirror I saw two women. One with fine, shimmering silver hair that was put up into an intricate up-do who I realized immediately was Meghan, and one with a waterfall of glittering ink-black hair, that cascaded down the girl's back in soft, natural waves with a dark green feather peaking. I couldn't recognize who she was. Though, the mysterious girl had the same haircut as me, but the hair over her eye was curled slightly.
Meghan's eyes were a clear blue that shined innocence. The stranger had one glittering forest, green eye that whispered dark and mysterious, emphazied by long, thick lashes. They were wearing similar-looking dresses, yet were complete opposites. Meghan's was white while the strange girl's was black, of course. Their dresses were strapless and corest-like on the top, but from the bottom of the ribs down were waterfalls of fabric. Ribbons were evenly spaced along the fabric. The ribbons were the opposite color of what the dress's color was.
They both had finger-less lace gloves, and satin shoes to match. On their necks shone crystal roses with a large diamond set in the middle. The crystals were the same colors as the dresses.
I blinked and the dark girl in the mirror did the same. I swallowed and saw the girl do the same. I slowly turned to Meghan.
"Is-Is that really me?" I asked in a low voice. She beamed at me and nodded.
Meghan turned around and smiled at Lady Weaver in appretiation, whom I didn't notice come into the room.
"You've done it again Lady Weaver," Meghan smiled happily while looking sideways at me.
Lady Weaver sniffed, "Well of course. Did you expect any less? Now shoo. You girls have a ball to attend." She dismissed us, turning around to face what I guessed was one of her project. I was still star-struck, staring at my reflection like a concieted idiot. Meghan laughed.
"Come on Ira. We gotta go now," she urged, tugging on my wrist. I went with her without trying to pick a fight. She pulled me through the halls. I felt as if I were a balloon, floating behind Meghan as she directed me to where the ball is being held.
"Glitch and Puck should be in here waiting for us," Meghan said while reaching to push the door open. I snapped back into reality and stopped her before she could.
"First, I feel like we have to change something about our outfits." She looked at me with wide eyes giving me her Are-you-crazy look?
"Don't you think they're perfect? You were just staring at your reflection without blinking just a little while ago!" she exclaimed.
I winked, "They're *almost* perfect." Then I commanded her to switch gloves, shoes, and necklaces with me. She gave me her are-you-crazy look again but slowly complied.
I smirked. We looked even better than before. The blacks and whites were contrasting nicely against each other, making them pop even more. Meghan had a dreamy smile on her face. "It's like we're sisters," she whispered, her eyes glittering with happiness.
I linked arms with her and entered the doorway with one last remark to her. "It's like we're *Iron* sisters."
Disclaimer: IDNOTIFS (I Do Not Own The Iron Fey Series)
Fighting!
~Ira