Part XIV—Sunrise Concerns
Through the sky on the first ray of the morning's sun Seeker winged his way to the centre of the vale. He had had little sleep and had woken feeling restless and anxious. Too many questions, too many possibilities, too many worries he thought as the sun crept above the magical ridge that defined the valley. Clearing the horizon, it burst upon the resting vale beneath; its light woke the birds and animals that preferred daytime to night and the sounds of their rousing welcomed the morning. There is going to be some hard days ahead, he thought as the sun lifted the slumber from the valley, especially for Zazie. I hope she had a restful sleep.
Seeker flew on.
His long shadow reached the wall of his destination before him and it climbed to the balcony, while he aimed for the still open door. He entered the bedroom and fluttered to the bed—still not fully awake—and executed the fastest back-wing he had ever performed in his long life: he had forgotten the Scrythe. It remained as before and stood motionless and steadfast at the foot of the bed. It had not moved and looked like an inanimate statue. If only that were true, he thought grimly. It was aware of him, Seeker knew, although it had given no indication that it had noticed his entrance. He hovered and studied the thing in the early light. It didn't look any less menacing now than it had last night, he thought. Actually, his mind continued, it looks worse during the day—like something torn from a nightmare and forced upon the day. Still, it neither moved nor threatened Seeker and seemed indifferently content with the fairy's presence. Feeling reasonably secure, Seeker took his eyes from the obsidian beast and looked around the room.
A quick glance told him that everyone was no worse than asleep and all seemed to look peaceful. Hunter lounged, comfortably (At least for her and her cat-like nature, he humorously considered thinking how uncomfortable sleeping like that would be for him.), on cushions by the table. She's looking more lioness than she had lately, Seeker thought as he regarded the velvety tan fur, the ears and the tail that were not even remotely human. He smiled and thought, what will Zazie make of the in between Hunter?
A flicker, in the corner of his eye, returned Seeker's attention to the Scrythe. Its jewelled surface chaotically reflected the morning light from its multifaceted armour. It looked almost looks pretty—in a sinister way, anyways, he thought. Beyond the Scrythe, and still asleep, his mate, Caster and Zazie looked like a contented trio cuddled together. He was still unsure what to make of their sudden and deepening relationship and he sometimes wondered whether it was Zazie—the girl's unconscious desire for a family, which she had never had, or if it was Zazie—the vampire's attempt to control her surroundings. Hard to tell really, Seeker thought. Perhaps it's just the unfathomable bond that females enjoy and males can't comprehend. Either way, he thought with certainty; I'm not going to find the answers today: too many questions swirl around Zazie; begging exploration. The Library had said she's unique, he remembered, what a simple and complex statement. Juxtaposition and duality, how can one so young be so hard to understand? Twisted wings! Seeker silently cursed, it's far too early to be this reflective. He tried to clear the plague of questions in his mind. Well, he thought, I may as well leave them asleep a little longer and check a few things before it all gets complicated again. Turning, Seeker fluttered from the room, leaving his mate and family in peaceful slumber.
Hazy fingers of waking whispered to Zazie and told her that morning had come. She felt comfortably crowded and warm, for some reason, but her half-asleep mind was unable to fathom the cause and, somewhere between sleeping and waking, she remained until her memories began to wend their way from their place of rest. Foggy and disjointed, initially, they made little sense and seemed almost to belong to someone else. Something stirred against her and wiggled deeper into the crook between her arm and chest; then settled once more. A warm zephyr caressed her skin and Zazie recognized it was the slow breath of someone sleeping. Who is it? Her mind asked of the person beside her. What happened? She considered, trying to explain the presence. Where am I? She thought, trying to remember her location. When did they arrive? The first real stirrings of consciousness asked and, through closed eyelids, the world was beginning to brighten.
With effort, Zazie opened her eyes and found that the morning light had a harsh sting and forced her to close them shut again. As after-images faded, she opened her eyes once more and saw Healer: at some point she had cuddled into Zazie's side and was using her shoulder for a pillow. There was more than just the fairy; she felt another, lighter, weight resting between her legs. She looked down and saw Caster. The pixie looked comfortably asleep too and—had it not been for the blue gossamer tassel of the outfit she wore—would have been resting, most immodestly, against areas intended to remain private. Immodestly? Zazie thought with surprising humour and silently chuckled. Immodest I'm not; if I were I would not have been able to work but why are they here and why are they sleeping with me? I don't remember them showing up. Zazie's heart raced and memories returned: she remembered everything except how she got into bed.
What happened? Zazie silently asked. I remember being anxious and restless and I remember watching the moon rise. I remember my feelings and I remember how I got these clothes and how pretty they looked and I looked. I remember those dark feelings, too. Oh no! She tasted bile as dread rose, I didn't! I couldn't!
Thinking that she had, unknowingly, charmed her friends she felt panic and self-loathing, rise. What do I do? She asked herself. I only thought about it and I did it. I am a monster; I must've used magic on my friends and likely used them like I wanted. Her mind spun disturbing and depraved images. What did I have them do? Zazie couldn't remember but in her hazy memories she remembered a glowing pattern and, whatever it was, had drawn her like a moth to a candle. She remembered touching it with her mind and that something had become very aware of her. Even now, the feeling persisted; Zazie felt like she was being watched by something cold and pitiless. Apprehension filled her and her eyes were drawn past the petite form of the slumbering Caster and to the foot of the bed.
Zazie screamed.
Her scream cleaved the silent morning and Zazie's abrupt motion almost tossed the little pixie into the Scrythe—that stood objectively oblivious to all. Caster back-winged instinctively and hovered above the foot of the bed. The pixie's rapidly beating heart thumped against her chest and forced her from her pleasant dreams. With her mind and body fully awake and alert Caster became aware of the young woman below: Zazie was sitting in a wide eyed, terrified ball, at the head of the bed. The scream had woken more than Caster as Hunter rushed to the bedside and Healer fluttered vigilantly nearby.
"Wha . . . What's tha . . . that?!" Zazie asked through ragged breath.
"You mean the Scrythe?" Hunter asked, pointlessly, her voice soothing more than informative.
Still terrified, Zazie's mouth moved and she spoke, soundlessly.
"Zazie, breathe." Healer said softly, reminding the young vampire.
Zazie sucked in air a deep draft of air and opened her mouth again.
"Tha . . . that thing . . . has a . . . a name?" Zazie stammered. "Why's it . . . it h . . . here?"
"We were going to ask you that." Healer said, trying to smile through her concern.
"Ho . . . how sh . . . sh . . . should I know?" Her eyes refused to look away from the fearsome figure standing silently before her.
Healer flapped closer and put her arms around Zazie. She hugged the frightened girl and gently stroked her hair. She could feel Zazie's rapidly beating heart and knew how terrified the girl was.
"It's okay." She whispered and held Zazie tighter.
Zazie's racing heart began to slow, in Healer's calming embrace, but there was no escaping the tension remaining in the air. The Scrythe's attention was utterly focused on Zazie, now that she had woken, and it felt like a physical manifestation in the room. It was not openly threatening the young vampire but its presence remained to remind them why it was summoned.
"Zazie," Hunter began, "we really need to know what happened last night. Please tell us."
"Hunter," Healer said, "give her a chance to wake up and calm down. We don't need to know right away."
"I'm sorry Healer but I insist. Too much hinges on what happened last night and for the safety of the family and our home we need to know now. Now Zazie, please, look at me and tell us what you remember"
Zazie's frightened eyes looked at Hunter and she took a few deep breaths. She opened her mouth as if to speak then closed it again. She felt her cheeks warm, her earlier and lurid thoughts returning—unbidden, and tried to find words to explain what had happened. As was to be expected, Caster noticed the change in Zazie's discomfort and the pink rising in the girl's face. The pixie chimed a little giggle.
"What are you thinking?" Caster said, playfully.
Zazie's cheeks deepened to a glowing crimson and she looked away from her three friends. Her shifting eyes fell once more on the Scrythe. It hasn't got eyes, she thought with odd fascination as she reeled in and controlled her memories and emotions, but I know it can see me. What is it? Somehow, Zazie sensed that the Scrythe was no longer threatening but neither was it any less vigilant. She raised her eyes to look at Hunter and took another deep breath.
"It was after Healer left," Zazie began, slowly and thoughtfully. "I was lying in bed and trying to fall asleep but I was feeling really restless. I got really uncomfortable so I ended up getting up. I wrapped the sheet around me and walked out onto the balcony, just as the moon was rising—it looked full, too. Anyway, as the moon rose I began feeling—I don't know—different as if someone or something inside me was trying to get out. I began feeling trapped and—I don't know—angry I guess. I was me but I wasn't me at the same time and—I'm not sure what word describes it: it's like I was the most important person in the world.
"Narcissistic?" Hunter offered.
"Sorry?" Zazie replied, clearly perplexed.
"It's Greek. From Narcissus, a young man, who rejected Echo the nymph and her wiles." Hunter began and then noticed Zazie's confusion. "Never mind . . . What happened after that?"
Tears began trickling down Zazie's cheeks.
"I started looking for something to wear and I looked in the wardrobe, over there, but all there was were these stodgy robes—at least that's what I thought when I saw them—but they're not there now though. I then began thinking about my life, what I had done and what others had done. I got angrier and angrier and I started thinking about the people who had hurt me and what I was going to do to them. All the time I was getting more anxious and angrier. I started having dark thoughts and about enslaving others. I was going to have them do what ever I wanted and I would do whatever I wanted to them; they were going to serve me fully."
The fading blush returned to Zazie's cheeks and glowed under her tears.
"What is it Zazie?" Healer asked with concern but Zazie looked away.
The young woman tapped her index fingers together with precocious modesty: it made her look endearingly like a naughty child.
"N . . . Nothing," Zazie replied, trying to focus beyond the wanton images her mind had conjured. "I became a different person almost and I was angry that there was nothing I could wear. I looked in the wardrobe again but it was the same. That made me even angrier and then I heard a sound and looked again. Sorry, I broke the door when I looked again. That's where this outfit came from. I know it's really immodest but for some reason I really liked it last night—I still kind of do, too."
Zazie surprised herself with her last comment and looked around with pleading eyes.
"It looks good on you, Zazie," Caster chimed playfully; "you should always dress like this."
"Caster!" Hunter and Healer exclaimed in unison.
If Zazie could have blushed deeper, she would have; not just because of Caster's comments but because she vividly remembered the images she had had. They now refused to fade, having been remembered, and somewhere—in a place not too deep inside—she longed to act on them. They're so pretty, she thought as she raised her eyes and looked at her friends and, as Zazie gazed at them, she felt an unwelcome but enticing tingle course though her body. I wonder . . . what am I thinking?! She silently and harshly corrected herself.
"Anyway," she began again. "I put on this scanty thing and I wanted to see what I looked like and from nowhere that mirror—over there—appeared.
"I really like how it looked on me, too." She added shyly.
"I then—how can I explain," she continued, "sort of let my mind stretch out and I was able to touch the minds of everyone and everything within the vale."
Zazie looked away, once more, embarrassed by how she had intimately intruded and violated her friend's minds, even if it had been just a passing mental glance: it made her feel dirty, somehow.
"Tell us only what you feel comfortable telling us, Zazie." Healer said, trying to soothe the girl's discomfort.
"No, that's not enough, Healer; we need to know what she did." Hunter said firmly. "I'm sorry Zazie, I don't mean to sound cavalier but it's important."
"It's . . . It's alright, Hunter; I understand." Zazie replied and continued. "I . . . I was able to do more than touch your minds; I was able to affect them too. I'm really, really sorry it was wrong but I didn't care last night. It wasn't just your minds either; I could feel the minds of every living thing in the valley. It was like everything was there just for me and when I stretched out further I found a strange glowing blanket. I let my thoughts touch it . . ."
"The Tapestry, you touched the Tapestry!?" Caster exclaimed, "You shouldn't have done that!"
"Hush, Caster," Healer interrupted, "Zazie should not have been able to get near the Tapestry—even mentally—let alone touch it. We've seriously underestimated her dark strength and her innate abilities to use it."
"I agree," Hunter said, "We will need to be more vigilant in the future and this stresses the importance of training Zazie. We can not delay. She must be able to control herself by the next full moon or she will have to spend it outside."
"You can't mean that, Hunter!" Caster cried.
"It's alright, Caster," Zazie said sounding surprisingly sure of her self, "I understand why Hunter is doing this. I'm going to have to work very hard, I guess."
"Thank you, Zazie." Hunter said, "You're uncommonly wise for one so young."
"But . . ." Caster began.
"But nothing," Hunter continued, "I do not make these decisions lightly, Caster. I will do whatever I must to protect our family—even it means leaving someone behind."
"You sound just like the Scrythe!" Caster said with uncommon anger.
"It's because we share a common purpose, Caster." Hunter said firmly. "The Scrythe is here to protect our home and I'm here to protect our family."
"Who died and . . ." Caster spoke with venom.
". . . put me in charge?" Hunter interrupted, "That was made clear last night but even if it hadn't I'd act the same!"
Hunter and Caster glared at each other while Zazie and Healer sat in awkward silence. Zazie felt like a child who was hearing her parents quarrel and Healer was just plain surprised: she had never heard anyone in the family arguing so angrily or fiercely.
"Stop it you two!" Healer exclaimed, "I've never seen you like this before and this isn't helping at all. It's obvious that we'll have to work very hard to get Zazie to point where she can control all of herself and if she can't then we'll deal with it then. If—for some reason—she's unable to learn what she needs to learn then she'll have to spend nights with a full moon outside and away from the carriage. If I must then I'll stay with her those nights because I'm very certain that if she ever touches the Tapestry—again—the way she did last night, the Scrythe will kill her."
Silence fell as Healer's words faded. Both Hunter and Caster exchanged looks of surprise as both realized they were arguing a point that still remained moot at most. Zazie felt her rapidly beating heart slow and Healer was surprised: she had never found it necessary to intervene, like this, in a debate before.
"I'm sorry, Zazie." Hunter said; her voice calm now. "You shouldn't have had to hear that. I guess we've had so few concerns, for so long now, that we've forgotten how strong differing opinions can be. Healer is right, though; nothing is decided yet and—hopefully—if you work hard enough we'll not have to put you out. The moon is waning now and until it is waxing full, once more, we don't need to make any decisions. When we do, we'll take into account your needs and abilities: even it means putting you and Healer up in an inn for a few nights."
"Thank you." Zazie said; bowing her head.
"One more thing." Hunter said.
"Yes?" Zazie replied.
"What happened after you touched the Tapestry?" Hunter asked.
"Everything went black." Zazie answered, simply.
The room had noticeably brightened and morning had advanced. Zazie tried to fit all she had heard in a comfortable frame but she quickly realized that until she knew a lot more it would be difficult to understand the complexities that her friends were being faced with. It's all because of me, she thought and looked at the Scrythe, it had neither moved nor shown any signs of awareness but she felt it watching her, still.
"You never explained where the Scrythe came from." Zazie said.
"Oh, you're right." Caster chimed, "It's the guardian of the Tapestry and you seemed to get it really really angry when you touched the weave last night. I'm still surprised you were able to do that."
With the brightening day came a brightening mood and, for the first time since she had woken, Zazie was able to properly look at her surroundings with a fully awake mind. Caster and Healer were, as she had seen earlier, naked but it was Hunter which drew her attention the most: Hunter was naked too and for the first time, Zazie was able to really look at the woman. Even with a passing glance, had she not known, she would have known immediately that Hunter was not human. Actually, she was distinctly catlike in both her form and manner of movement, Zazie saw, and the woman boasted a velvety gold fur that lay close and short to her skin. It matched the colour of her hair and, although Hunter was not endowed in the classical sense (like Caster and Healer were—in proportion to their size; anyway), she was definitely athletic and desirable in an alluring manner. With those looks, I wouldn't have made any money if she'd been there; Zazie casually thought, surprisingly, and chided herself for it. Beyond that build, which would've easily made her the most popular girl in the brothel, Zazie silently reflected and felt oddly jealous, the exotic aspect of those cat ears and eyes—accompanied by a tail no less—makes her appear extremely erotic: some men have really strange desires, after all, Zazie remembered. I should know but I think she would've scared away as many patrons as she attracted and I'm pretty certain the Bishop would've had some issues with her too. The thought of the Bishop soured Zazie's mood. His tastes were as vile as the Lord's who's pocket he was in, Zazie thought bitterly, and he carried himself so piously too. Forcing the unpleasant memories from her mind she returned her attention to those with her now. Somehow, being surrounded by them in there current state of attire seemed very relaxing but was still odd.
"One more thing," Zazie said.
"Yes?" Hunter asked.
"Why is everyone naked?" Zazie asked with a shy smile.
"Oh," Hunter said, "your misadventures of last night woke everything in the glade—I mean everything. It was as if our reality blinked and we were summoned here. Besides, Healer and Caster tend to flutter about naked, anyway, when they're inside. They've only shown some modesty since you've arrived—you've been a good influence on them and since I was asleep at the time I never thought about it, either, until now. You'll have to excuse my appearance too. When I don't actively focus on my form I look like this. The sorcerer had an interesting private side and tastes, you might say, and when I was summoned I was given three forms to Equis' and Driver's two. This is the state I revert to when I'm at rest or relaxed—I only maintained my fully human form because I didn't know how you'd react. Does it bother or scare you?"
Zazie blushed, again, and looked away. As to be expected, Caster picked up on Zazie's emotions faster than the rest and broke out in chiming laughter. Tears began flowing from her eyes as she fluttered nearby; holding her sides. It was contagious and soon all of them were laughing.
"Za . . . Zazie," Caster began, barley able to control herself. "You've got more vamp than vampire in you: are you part nymph or something?"
"Caster, stop that!" Healer said, proudly showing her self control in the face of laugher. "She's still young, you're going to utterly corrupt our chaste young sister."
Healer's comments sent the four into another fit of quiet laughter.
"You're one to talk!" Caster said, finding her voice again between giggles.
Zazie was torn between embarrassment and laughter, her self, and looked to Hunter for strength. The stoic lioness woman was quietly laughing, as well, and wiping freely flowing tears from her eyes.
"I'm . . . I'm sorry, Zazie." Hunter finally managed to say, breathlessly, "but it's good to hear laughter and to laugh too—it's been a while. Please don't take our Fae folk too seriously—they are playful by nature. Healer is usually better than Caster but sometimes her composed façade cracks. It might be the stress."
"It's alright," Zazie began, having composed her self to the point of being able to speak, "I'm getting used to them I think and you're really pretty, too, Hunter. I don't mind how you look and if you're more comfortable like this, well . . ."
Zazie trailed off in a manner more tease than discomfort and the affect she had been aiming for was made. Caster's, Healer' and Hunter's stunned looks were her reward and brought a playful yet evil smile to her face. That I would make such an open admission, in such an open manner, sure surprised them! Zazie thought with amusement. See, I can play the tease too.
"I've known too many and seen too much to be chaste." Zazie said, suddenly serious. "Truthfully, I don't remember ever being naïve—how could I be? I think, of all the things that I've had trouble getting used to, is how open everyone is. There seems to be no shame and no guile here: it is quite the contrast to where I grew up. Don't worry so much about embarrassing me, just be your selves. You'll have to be in the end, anyway, because you can never preserve an act forever—best to let it go at the beginning."
"Once more you've shown yourself to be wise beyond your years, Zazie." Hunter said.
"This is the first time you've ever really spoke to Zazie, Hunter." Caster tinkled brightly as her shimmer glimmered in yellows and purples. "She's very surprising, just ask Healer: she knows too. "
"So I'm learning." Hunter stated simply and then purred out. "Perhaps we should spend some time together—alone—and get to know one another."
"Hunter!?" Caster and Healer exclaimed as one and it was Zazie's turn to be surprised again.
"See, I can do it too." Hunter chuckled, "but this is getting us nowhere and I'm getting hungry, as well. Caster, can you summon up some clothes for us? We don't want the males to lose their fortitude because of us. Library?"
"Yes Hunter." The disembodied voice spoke, "how can I help you?
"Can you call up something for us to eat, please?" Hunter asked.
Meanwhile, at Hunter's behest, Caster summoned some clothes for her self, Hunter and Healer but she couldn't help being a little mischievous with the choice of their appearance. To each she gave attire to match Zazie's, except for the colour. For Healer she conjured a ruby-red that complimented her emerald eyes and hair, for herself she conjured a white that enhanced and reflected her shimmer but for Hunter she went all out. For Hunter, the gossamer outfit she summoned shone like the Scrythe's black obsidian and in combination with Hunter's natural gold fur made the cat-woman glow.
Pixies! Hunter thought silently as she looked at how Caster had dressed them. Oh well.
"Wow," Zazie said as she looked at her clothed friends, "You all look so beautiful."
Zazie got off the bed and joined the others at the table. Before her, steaming golden cakes and cold milk appeared. She was about to take one when she heard a door open. She looked towards the sound and watched Seeker flutter in. With an amusing double take, the fairy stopped. He looked stunned and a bit uncomfortable but, being resilient, he quickly recovered.
"Um . . ." He began, looking at them. "I see you're all awake, now." And after composing himself, "I smell something good, what's for breakfast?"
"Milk and honey-cakes," Caster said sounding pleased.