"Alyx." I hear Mina say and I turn to face her. "What is a Queen doing down here in the muck?"
"I had to congratulate my knights and see that they were properly sent off," I reply. "What was that all about with Max? He seems to be genuinely scared of you."
"He may have seen me do some magic. Something I probably shouldn't have been doing. I don't know how to explain it to him and he's not really sure if what he saw was real, but it made him nervous around me none-the-less. Which is also why I'm keeping a close eye on him today. I don't want him blabbing around to people. The Leviathans might not be after me anymore, but that doesn't mean that others aren't."
"He's not going to go blabbing about it, Mina. I can promise you that. If you want, I'll talk to him later, just to make sure you feel safe, okay? I'll allay his fears... maybe with some Khaleesi magic." I finish off, some sort of plan taking shape in my mind.
"Alright. If that's what you want to do." Mina states. I've noticed that the music has stopped and that the stands are clear. It's quiet in the arena. "Let's head home and get ready for the next part of your celebration. Are you hungry?" She asks.
"I hadn't thought about it." Suddenly my stomach gives a rumble. "But I guess you could say I was."
"I knew it!" She shouts triumphantly. She hooks her arm with mine and takes me back up the stairs to where we came in. Outside the limo is waiting for us. We climb inside and head back to my apartment to change.
Upstairs in my room, I open my closet to survey my options. From my left, I hear Mina sigh. "I don't think you can go to through the rest of the day wearing that big poufy dress. However, if you really like it, I might be persuaded to change it into something more modern." She smirks at me. "That is if you can't find anything else to wear. I'll give you some time." She leaves me.
I rustle through the clothes trying to pick something out. Damn her! I don't know what we are doing for the rest of the day and evening. I should probably let her pick my outfit out. I give a big yawn. I haven't done much all day; I shouldn't be so tired. Then it clicks, of course, I was only recently re-humanized. I was trying to avoid those thoughts and Mina made it so easy. I sit on my bed trying to think as my brain becomes foggier and foggier. I'll just close my eyes for a minute. Mina said she'd leave me alone for a bit. I whisper Dracarys under my breath to slip into something more comfortable and lie back, not even the crown bothers me as I drop off to sleep quickly.
What feels like minutes, but as I'm to find out hours later, Mina nudges me awake. "Did you have a nice nap?"
"Huh? What?" I mumble coming to.
Mina laughs and nudges me again. "Come on sleepy-head! It's time for the rest of your special day!"
I wake up at the sound of that. "Oh crap! How long was I out? Did I miss anything?"
"Slow your roll. It's fine. I rearranged some things because I know you would need some downtime after everything. It's all good." Mina smiles. "Did you pick out anything to wear?
"I can't pick something out, I don't know what we are doing." I see her smirk. "You planned it that way, didn't you?" I smack her arm.
"I may have..." She says mysteriously and with a wave of her hand, a present appears on the bed beside me. "Open it.
You don't have to ask me twice as I tear into the wrapping. Inside is the most gorgeous dress. It's silk with a lovely Asian floral brocade. Tiny paper cranes, fans and pagodas pop out from between green bamboo shoots and flowers in goldenrod, magenta, and plum on a turquoise background. I pick it up by the two spaghetti straps and find it's the perfect length, skimming my kneecaps with a border of creamy lace. I suck in my breath. "Mina." Then I notice there's more. I pull out a light blue chiffon coat, with half sleeves. I slip it on and see it goes to mid-calf with a mandarin collar and button fly closures down the front. It complements my dress perfectly while still staying in the color scheme of my previous poufy dress. I do love that color combo. It's then that I notice the shoes at the bottom of the box. I little bit of a platform with a tall heel back that ended in straps to wrap around my ankle. Sakura blossoms in my favorite colors grew from the heel and wrapped around the sides and over the toe on a cream background. "Thank you!" I gush hugging the gifts to my chest. "I love them!"
"I hoped you would," Mina says. "Now try the whole outfit! I want to see." She hurries out to give me space.
I put on the shoes first. They fit perfectly. Then on goes the dress. It slides on like butter and feels so good against my skin. "Mina!" I call looking at myself in the full-length mirror. Sometimes I still can't believe that the young woman staring back is me. She's so different from what I remember looking like, yet in subtle ways, she's there. How my lips curl when I'm pleased, the twinkle in my eye, those few strands of hair that never seem to stay put. How easy it is for me to blush. I catch Mina's eye in the mirror and do just that, my cheeks becoming the familiar shade of pink.
She has a surprised look, "I knew you would look good in that; I had no idea how good!" For a second, she slips, and I see a look of longing like after the party in September. I briefly wonder what could have been if I hadn't messed things up the way I did. Course that was all before Dean. It doesn't matter now. I look down at my feet and Mina gets the message. "Have you put the coat on yet?" I shake my head no and she retrieves it for me.
I slide into it and have a few glances before buttoning it up. She was right. It's breathtaking. I smile into the mirror. "This is perfect! I've always wanted an outfit like this. But will it do for the rest of this evening's festivities?"
"It sure will." She answers. "You look amazing. Are you ready?" There's a knock at the door and I give her a curious stare. She grabs my hand and pulls me.
"What about my purse?" I cry.
"You won't be needing it. Don't you trust me?" She has that familiar mischievous glint in her eye and I can't help but laugh.
"Of course, I trust you, Mina. Lead the way." I say happily as she tugs me out the door.
The chauffeur from earlier smiles and bows then leads us back out to the limo. It warmed up while I slept, enough to melt the ice from the sidewalks. Spring is on its way for sure and that made me happy. I loved my city, but the brutal winters were tough on even the most snow-loving person. The limo door opens, and I see that it's mostly full. Many of the people from earlier are there. Amanda, Stacey, Jean, Allen, Everett, Quentin, Terra, Scott, Penelope and of course Max. "Hi, everyone!" I say as I get in. They echo back a greeting. "Does anyone know where we're going?" They look at each other knowingly but don't respond.
"Don't pester anyone with questions. They have all been sworn to secrecy by me!" Her eyes flash violet, but only for a second and I brush it off. She does tend to get a wee bit obsessive over her projects. I shrug at her as she locks her seatbelt in, and hits play on the stereo system. Now, even if I wanted to talk I couldn't. Everett opens the minifridge, as he's the closest and hands around flutes of something... I didn't catch a label. Mina pauses the music to offer a toast. "This is but a prequel to what is in store for you tonight. You're the belle of the ball, a tamale as hot as wasabi and siracha combined, a ripe little kumquat, our Khaleesi. Happy birthday, Alyx!" Everyone clinks glasses and I sniff it before taking a sip. It's sake.
My eyes widen. Sake?! I only drink sake when I eat sushi. Mina knows that. I know where we're going... well not exactly, but I know we are going for sushi. I smile. Max pats my leg and mouths, "Are you happy?" A normal person wouldn't be able to hear him over the pounding of the music, but I hear his whispered words and smile wider.
"Yes." I nod and pull his head to his ear. "Thank you for all your help today in making my birthday special. I know Mina appreciates it, even if she doesn't seem like she does. You know she's good people, right?" He leans over me to glance at her, slightly confused. Thank goodness she's oblivious, tapping along to the music and chatting or should I say yelling at Amanda in conversation.
"Are you sure, Alyx?" He whispers back in my ear. "I've seen her do things... Things that can't be possible or explained... Things that I would say are magic things." His eyes flash a little with fear when he pulls back to stare at me.
"You believe in magic?" I ask a little surprised, sipping my sake.
He nods quickly. "I've experienced it before." He blurts out softly, almost as if he's ashamed to admit it. Or thinks I will think he's crazy.
"As have I," I say to alleviate his fears. He pulls back again, his eyes get wider, the smoke in them intensifies. I could get lost in those eyes, lost in a sea of silver mist.
I shoot the rest of my sake down before leaning into him. "Do you believe me?" He nods. "Do you trust me?" He nods again. "Then know this. I trust Mina with my life, even with all her magic. Yes, she's powerful, but she would NEVER hurt me or anybody else." I pull his chin up to lock eyes with him. "I swear it." He peers at me so intensely, studying me. I get a little uncomfortable, but keep his gaze, afraid to break it and lose the trust.
"Okay," He says and I see him visibly relax. The tension goes out of his shoulders and he leans back into his seat, closes his eyes to listen to the music and drinks the rest of his sake down.
I tap his knee. "Okay?" I mouth, confused at this fast change of heart.
He leans back to my ear again. "If you trust her, I trust her. Because I trust you." He kisses me softly on the cheek and reaches for my flute. "Want some more?" I nod for a lack of words. While Max gets the attention of Everett, I sit back and close my eyes.
"Wow! That could have been a real problem." I take a deep breath and send Mina a psychic thought. "Max is cool. I talked to him." She stops mid-sentence to turn to me giving me the biggest smile I've seen all day from her then continues talking with Amanda. I survey the scene before me. All my closest friends chilling in a limo on the way to my birthday dinner. Twenty-five is a big deal, a quarter of a century old. How did I get so lucky? There's a slight twinge in my heart as I think that two of the most important people aren't here, Dean and Tyrion. I let a tear escape before putting a stop to that. I feel a hand on my thigh from Mina. She knows. I feel Max catch the tear off my cheek.
"Everything ok?" Max questions, slipping a strand of hair behind my ear. "You were fine a minute ago."
I force myself to laugh. "Just missing Tyrion a little bit. It's my first birthday without him and I can feel a tiny piece missing."
"We'll just have to make the rest of the night so fantastic you won't have time to miss him, even for a second," Max says beaming at me and handing me another full flute of sake. "Drink."
I laugh again as shoot it down fast. Mina lowers the music. "We are almost there people! Let's make tonight one we will never forget!"
I feel the car slow and lean over Mina to see the sign. Wasabi Japanese steakhouse. A favorite of mine, they do hibachi here as well as steak and sushi. Delicious! My stomach rumbles in happy agreement. The chauffeur opens the door and I see another red carpet laid out before me. Mina gets out and helps me. Max grabs my arm and leads me inside. The place doesn't look busy, thank goodness, but we don't even stop at the hostess station as he leads me to the far back, to a set of sliding doors. I stare at him curiously as we wait for Mina and the others to reach us.
Mina wraps on the door and it slides open to reveal a banquet room with several hibachis hot a ready to go as well as a lot more people. "SURPRISE!" They all shout as I enter. I blush enthusiastically at the attention. Max and Mina lead me to my place of honor at the farthest left hibachi. There are glasses of sake and plates already set out ready to go. Max helps me with my coat. I hear a tiny gasp of appreciation from Max as he sees me in my dress.
Once everyone takes their seats Mina stands. "Before we all get involved eating, let's have a toast!" I hear murmurs of agreement all around. Mina clears her throat. "There are good ships, and there are wood ships, and there are ships that sail the sea. But the best ships, are friendships, and may they always be. Happy birthday!" She leans down and kisses my cheek before clinking her glass against mine. "Let the eating commence!" The hibachi chefs begin their dance with oil and flame, cooking up chicken, steak, and shrimp. Waitresses bring out some sushi rolls, edamame and gyoza to get us started. We all dig in, watching the chef cook up a storm. He makes a volcano and sets it on fire. I can see flashes from other tables as things are dropped on to the hibachi's, everyone seems to be happy to be there. I scarf down a whole sushi roll before my chef even gets a steak cooked.
He teases me and frowns, "You won't even be hungry for this special treat your friend had shipped all the way from Japan."
"Of course, I will!" I cry. "I have quite the appetite." I wink at him.
He laughs and takes two small pieces of steak from the back of the grill and pushes them toward me. "Compliments of your friend, Mina." He indicates the empty spot next to me. Where did that girl go?! I see her at the far end of the room talking with the waiters and shake my head. Always checking to make sure things go smoothly. I love her for that.
"What are they? Nope, don't tell me." I say as I slice off a piece of each. Putting the first piece in my mouth it melts, it's so smooth and delicious. I close my eyes in food ecstasy. Then I try a piece from the other steak. If it's even possible, it's smoother with a slightly sweet taste. I groan with the yumminess of it! I can't decide which I like better, so I just keep eating. Max goes to steal a piece and I pretend to stab his hand. "I wouldn't do such a thing if I were you," I say menacingly and plop another piece in my mouth. He puts his hands up in defeat, laughing.
I'm finishing the last of it up when Mina returns to her seat. "Ah, I see you got your little gift. What do you think?"
"It was so amazing! What was it?" I ask with delight.
"Matsusaka and Kobe beef, the best stuff on earth according to most epicureans. You really liked it?" she asks.
"Normal steak will never be the same. You've ruined me!" I say with a giggle. Mina just rolls her eyes and sits down to have some food. I have another sushi roll, some fried rice and gyoza but then I'm full. I decide to float to all the other tables and say hello to everyone. Most of the people from my classes and labs are there and a few I know from the martial arts school and various other athletic activities I've been doing. Everyone seems so happy to be there, enjoying their food and the company.
When I reach the end of the room, Mina is there beside me. "Are you ready for dessert?" I look at her strangely as she turns me to face a cart coming out with cupcakes. People start singing Happy Birthday as I stare at the mountains and mountains of cupcakes, in several different flavors, shaped like a giant cupcake. There are candles spelling out twenty-five and all aflame. As they burn lower I see the frosting starting to melt so I lean in to make a wish. People grab cupcakes and start to wander out of the banquet room.
"Is it over already?" I sigh. "I don't want this night to end."
"Oh, it's not over by a long shot." Mina grins. "Finish your cupcake, Sweetheart and you'll see."
I sneak a peek at Max and he nods. I stuff the rest of my cupcake in my mouth. "Ready!" I say my mouth full of dessert. As we walk by the mound of cupcakes, I notice several I didn't try but want to.
I reach for one and Max shakes his head. "They'll be time for more later." He ushers me out of the restaurant, chuckling. We stop at the door and Max helps me put on my coat. Twilight has appeared and it is cooling off again. I step outside to a bright array of lights. Everyone from the restaurant has lined up against the red carpet holding... what are those sparklers? They raise them forming an arc for me to walk through and I do. It's a magical moment. Everyone smiling and laughing, one hand raised the other swirling the sparklers around. Max and I tumble into the limo and suddenly we are alone and plunged into darkness. The LED lights slowly turn on giving me that starry night sky again and I laugh.
"Wow! Can this night seriously get any better?" I ask the universe.
"Maybe," Max says softly his hand outstretched. I straighten up into my seat and put on my seatbelt. "I..." He falters. I got this for you last week. I was downtown and... Well, here." He hands me a silver-wrapped box.
"Should I save it for later? Aren't more people getting in this limo?" I ask him, placing it beside me.
He shakes his head. "No. Mina thought you should have a few moments to yourself before the rest of the night. In case you were tired from being sick and all. How are you feeling? Alright?"
"Yes. Feeling pretty good." I feel the slight movement of the limo starting up and pick up the present from Max. "Well, if it's just you and me, of course, I will open it!" I start tugging on the paper trying to get it off. Once I do, I notice it's a jewelry box. I suck in my breath, what on earth has he gotten me? I pop open the top and see the set of teal and moonstone chandelier earrings I had been admiring at a fancy boutique for the past few weeks. How did Max know I wanted them? And wow! I knew they were pricey! How could he afford them?
"Oh, Max!" I exclaim. "They are so beautiful! How did you know?"
"How did I know what?" he asks bewildered.
"That I wanted these earrings so bad! I've been saving for weeks trying to get enough money to buy them!" I tell him in awe.
"Really? I only picked them up because they seemed like something you would like. I had no idea you actually had your eye on them." He chuckles. "Looks like I picked the perfect present then."
"You did. Thank you!" I give him a kiss on his cheek and he blushes.
"I know you didn't bring your purse with you so I'll keep hold of them and make sure they make it back to your place. Okay?" He says.
"Alright. Where are we headed to now?" I ask and he just shrugs. A few moments later we pull into the fairgrounds again and head towards the same building we were in earlier. I see bright flashes of color from the door as people enter and wonder what Mina has cooked up now. We stop at the red carpet and Max gets out. "Hey, I'm going to stay here for a little bit. I need a moment to myself if that's alright?"
"Of course, it's alright. Take whatever time you need. I'll send Mina out to check on you in about a half an hour?" Max replies. I nod and he closes the door to my own private Idaho.
