Chapter 4 up and ready! This is the last chapter that sticks to my original ideas, so get ready for some of my crazy brainstorms in the next chapter. Please let me know if anything is weird or should be changed; I always like input! Enjoy!
Chapter 4: If At First You Don't Succeed...
"Dear Diary,
The girl known as Cherrl is unreachable. Elfie has ruined my chances to take revenge on the girl and though I have only tried once, I believe Elfie will continue on her current path of interference.
Elfie is a strange dog. She is smarter than many familiars I came across during my sojourn in the Tower and she seems to have what some people call "morals", though as she is a dog, it puzzles me as to how she would have acquired these "morals". Nevertheless, I believe she understands my plots and when she does not approve (as in the case of Cherrl Child), she acts. However, frustrating this is to me to have a chaperone of sorts, it does make me reconsider my faulty plans.
Perhaps instead of killing the girls (too quick and simple a plan), I could sabotage their goals or life's work. This thought came to me as I pondered Miss Fur Gotts, I would write down my plan here for posterity, but I have the suspicion that Elfie can read and so I am loath to write it down, in case Elfie should disapprove."
A tiny bell jangled as Beldo pushed open the door to Fur's General Store. Beldo flinched at the sweet, clear note and quietly closed the door behind him to avoid ringing the bell again.
"Be there in a minute!" Fur's voice drifted from an open doorway behind the store counter.
Beldo leaned against the counter and waited. He could hear boxes being shuffled round and Fur's occasional mutterings to herself drifted out into the store.
Presently, Beldo began to grow impatient. He reached over to a small elaborate-looking figurine on a display shelf on the counter. As he brushed the figurine with his finger, the whole thing collapsed into a little pile of porcelain pieces and dust.
Beldo's mouth fell open in panic and shock. Hastily glancing at the open doorway, he hunched over the remains of the figurine and began stacking the broken pieces in what he guessed were the original order. One by one, the pieces slid back into the pathetic little pile.
Beldo gritted his teeth and began to summon a burst of magic, any magic that might fix the statue. A small blue ball formed between his palms and he focused his energy into the ball to strengthen its effects.
"Coming!" Fur's voice said suddenly from just beyond the doorway. Beldo started, quickly aborted the buildup of his magic and, in a panic, swept the shards of the figurines under and overturned pot on the counter.
Just as he set the pot down, Fur walked into the room, pulling her fashionable red shawl around her shoulders. She was a young girl, no older than sixteen, but she had a head for business and was a shred saleswoman. She wore an orange dress, the skirt held out to quite a wide distance by a thick by a thick crinoline, which rustled as she walked.
"Oh, Mr. Beldo," she said cheerfully. Her eyes darted to the pot in his hand and she smiled, "You know, that pot is a good buy. Only 15G and it came all the way from the West. Can I interest you?"
"No," Beldo said shortly, "Today I am on reconnaissance. Er, I mean, today I am…shopping for Elfie," he covered lamely.
Fur grinned at the mention of the dog, "It's a shame you didn't bring her. I love that little dog! Well," She brushed her hands together and leaned forward onto the counter, "What can I do for you?"
"You have a lot of nice things in here," Beldo said awkwardly. He was not used to hiding his true objectives from anyone and had never been very good at spying. "What on earth would you do if it were all, say, stolen?"
Fur raised an eyebrow suspiciously, "You sure you're okay? You're not suffering from heat stroke or something?" She shook her head and checked her reflection in a nearby mirror. "I suppose," She said as she patted her red-orange bobbed hair into place, "If that happened, I would be devastated."
"But," she grinned and folded her hands in her lap, "That'll never happen. This is, after all, Monsbaiya, right?" She laughed at her little joke and wiped away a tear. Beldo forced a laugh; partly because the joke wasn't funny and partly because he knew what would happen once night fell.
"So, is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Beldo?" Fur asked as her laughed died away.
Beldo, who had been inching toward the door, froze in mid-stride. He frantically grabbed the nearest item and thrust it toward Fur. "This."
It was a small plastic pulunpa. Fur squeezed it happily and it made a wheezy, high squeak. She smiled, "for Elfie, hmm? She'll love it. Total comes to 10G."
"Ten gold!" Beldo sputtered incredulously, "I could get…" He fell silent, remembering that arguing about money with Fur was a sure way to lose any hope of an acquaintance. Beldo fished ten gold coins out of his pocket and tossed them onto the counter.
Fur's eyes widened greedily at the sparkle of the coins. She scooped them up in her palms and counted them quickly before dropping them in a small box under the counter. When she looked up, her eyes were bright. "Thank you, Mr. Beldo!" she said merrily, "You are my best customer!" She hesitated and added, "After Koh, of course," which made Beldo flinch painfully as he edged out the door and into the sunlight.
Monsbaiya at night is as peaceful as the desert itself, as if the town walls between buildings and sand didn't exist. Most townspeople in Monsbaiya stay indoors once night falls and the occasional midnight traveler always walked in silence and in the shadows.
The door of the abandoned house slid open soundlessly and a shape glided into the dark street. The shape turned back to close the door when a small furry shadow bolted out the door, ran in a few quick circles around the man-shape's legs and skidded to a stop on the grass near the road
Beldo lowered the black cloak that covered his face and head. "Elfie!" he whispered harshly, "get back inside!" you cannot come with me tonight!"
Elfie panted and cocked her head to one side in a questioning gesture.
"Because you will be in the way," Beldo explained, "I cannot have a small dog following me while I embark on a caper. It could take all night!"
Elfie began to bark, but Beldo picked her up and gently clamped her mouth shut. "If you bark, he whispered, "You will most definitely not come with. Now. I bought you a new toy; stay here and play with it."
Elfie whimpered quietly, at least partly heeding Beldo's directions and she licked his finger pleadingly. Beldo sighed, "Elfie, no. Tomorrow, we will do something. I promise. Satisfactory?"
Elfie's tail wagged furiously and she grinned her doggy grin. Beldo lowered her to the ground and she dashed in a quick circle before bounding back into the house.
Beldo let out a sigh of relief. He had been afraid Elfie wouldn't allow him to leave her behind, despite any promises he made to make it up to her. Surprisingly, she had been easy to persuade. "She must understand the importance of the situation," he said to himself.
The door squeaked in its rusty hinges as Beldo pushed it shut. He winced at the sound and held his breath, anticipating the warning call of a night watchman or a wandering insomniac. None came. He released his breath, pushed the door until the latch clicked shut, and went on his way.
The moon was unusually bright for a crescent moon. Beldo stumbled only twice on the dark street and both of those times were when the moon drew behind a cloud.
Beldo was afraid the bright light from the moon would make him easier to spot and recognize. He had drawn his cloak even tighter around his head so not a strand of his hair was exposed. His hair, a medium to light blue in he sun, glowed a bright, luminescent blue-white in moonlight. He was noticeable from blocks away, which had led to many problems in the past. Beldo, remembering those problems in great detail, had found a cloak in his house and had taken it for his use.
The cloak was much too big; despite the layers lifted of the ground by multiple wrappings around the head and neck, the hem still dragged two inches on the ground. Beldo wondered if the former owner had been a Goliath or dragon as he tossed another fold of fabric over his arm.
Finally, Beldo reached the general store. He was sweating under the layers of the cloak, but he forgot his discomfort as he stepped up to the door. He tried the handle, prepared to pick the lock if necessary, but Fur apparently trusted the town of Monsbaiya impeccably, because the door opened with just a light push. Beldo stepped through the door and closed it behind him.
Fur slept in a small upstairs room, and from what Beldo had heard, she was a heavy sleeper. Beldo stepped cautiously into the room and promptly fell on his face. He thanked the gods for Fur's sleeping habits as he listened for any movement and heard none. Swearing, he turned to see what had tripped him, half-expecting to see Elfie sitting on her haunches and grinning.
But, of course, Elfie was at home, ferociously gnawing on her new pulunpa, which already had several holes bitten through the tough rubber. Instead of his little dog, Beldo saw his black cloak pinched in the doorframe.
He sighed and dropped his forehead to the floor. "Why does everything seem to happen to me?" He lay on the floor for a moment, wallowing in his self pity, and pulled himself to his knees and shuffled to the door.
Beldo tugged on the cloak a few times. On the third pull, the cloak pulled free and Beldo fell backward, head over heels. He rolled back into the base of the counter with a loud crash. Beldo froze again, listening. He lifted the cloak from his face, fearing he'd fin Fur staring at him angrily tapping her foot.
But she wasn't there. Beldo relaxed until he heard a wobbling on the counter above him. He looked up in time to see the pot from that afternoon teetering on the lip of the counter. Beldo's eyes widened in panic as the pot fell in slow motion, on a collision course with the hardwood floor below. He reached his hand out and by some miracle, the pot landed right side up in Beldo's palm.
Beldo pulled himself up and gingerly set the pot on the counter, his hand shaking nervously. If Fur were to catch him in her store…Beldo wasn't afraid of any law keepers in Monsbaiya, but he recognized Fur's personality as one that could be truly horrifying when she was angry.
Which was why Beldo believes his plan was perfect. He would steal Fur's entire stock and frame the crime on Koh. He was hoping that Fur would be so furious at Koh; she would completely disown him and Koh, who was so dependent on the approval of others, would be devastated. At least, that was he plan. The way things were going so far, Beldo was beginning to seriously doubt the chances of success.
He took a few deep breaths and dragged himself to his feet, using the counter for stability. While he caught his breath, he inspected the countertop. The pot that had fallen sat in a beam of clear moonlight. Beldo realized it was the same pot he had slid the figurine under. He looked around behind the displays and small trinkets, but the pile of dust was gone.
Beldo's heart sank momentarily as he realized Fur had found it. Then, he decided there was nothing he could do about it right now. He'd deal with Fur later, if need by. Right now, he had a job to do.
For the next three hours, Beldo transferred the entire contents of Fur's store to the roof of Koh's mansion. To frame Koh, Beldo's plan was to move the evidence onto Koh's property and the only place Beldo could get to that wasn't locked was Koh's rooftop pool. As a perk to using the pool, the stolen good would be water-damaged and irreplaceable, thereby crippling Fur's business. There was no question in Beldo's mind that Fur would be furious at Koh. He, of course, would deny it, but Beldo would plant so much evidence against the boy that Fur could not possibly believe him. "And all will go according to plan," Beldo laughed evilly.
The sun was glowing just below the horizon as Beldo swept his cloak over his shoulders and headed home. Behind him, he left Koh's swimming pool, stuffed to the rim with clothes, toys and random tools. On the floor in Fur's shop he left a list: a to-do list written in what was close to Koh's handwriting with "From the Desk of Koh" and a picture of a chibi-Koh in the top corner. Beldo had found the paper under Fur's desk, apparently newly ordered stationary.
Beldo turned and surveyed Koh's mansion, an evil simple creeping across his face and his old hatred flaring in his heart. He chuckled triumphantly and walked away, his long cloak billowing in the orange sun.
Elfie greeted him energetically as Beldo opened the door to the abandoned house. In the short walk across town, Beldo's euphoria had disappeared as exhaustion set in. He had been working hard all night and coupled with the rush of adrenalin triggered by the caper, Beldo fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
Beldo slept deeply for the next twelve hours. When he woke, the sun was orange again; this time in the impending sunset. Beldo sat up and promptly fell off the bed, his tangle cape twisting his limbs together and throwing him off-balance.
Beldo groaned and pulled his arms from the twisted cloak. Elfie's face appeared above his own, her tongue lolling. "Elfie," Belo croaked, "What is the news from town? Has Koh been run out of the city?"
Elfie cocked her head, indicating she didn't understand.
Beldo sighed and rolled over onto his knees. He wadded the huge black cloak into a ball and threw it into a corner of the room. "That cloak has caused nothing but trouble," he explained to Elfie, "I refuse to use it anymore unless absolutely necessary."
Elfie bounced happily a few times, then dashed to the black hound and lost herself in its inky folds.
Beldo rolled his eyes and ignored the dog's happy barks. H e walked to the window and surveyed the street outside, his hands folded behind his back like a general surveying his troops.
"It's peaceful," Beldo murmured to himself, "Too peaceful. I must go investigate! Elfie!" The little dog's head popped up like a prairie dog and she panted excitedly. "I am going out," Beldo announced, "Guard the house!" He considered his last order, realizing it was probably unnecessary, as any intruder would simply be licked within an inch of their life instead of being chased off. As he thought this over, he fastened his usual blue cape and swept dramatically from the room.
Fur's shop appeared normal from the outside: no signs, no barricades and no people standing around. Beldo hesitated apprehensively, unsure of what the lack of investigation meant. Finally, he deduced that Koh had already been deemed the culprit and life had moved on. Confident in his conclusion, he strode to the store and pushed through the front door.
"We're closed," Fur said as the bell tinkled over the door. She looked up and her face lightened when she saw Beldo. She tucked a strand of stray hair behind her ear and rested her hands on her hips, "Well if it isn't Mr. Beldo! Perhaps you can help me with something."
Beldo tensed. He was unsure of how much Fur knew. Did she suspect him? He stepped back toward the door, readying an easy exit should the need arise. "Help you with what?"
Quick as a flash, Fur hefted a small box off the floor and threw it at Beldo. He caught it reflexively still stunned by the flying box. "Stacking boxes," she said picking up a box of her own, "Follow me."
She led Beldo into the general store's back storage room. The room was dark and dusty and already stacked high with boxes. Beldo shifted the weight of the box in his arms and stared in awe at the cardboard mountains. He was sure he had cleared out the entire store the night before. Where had the boxes come from?
"The delivery guys weren't going to come until next week," Fur said, unknowingly answering Beldo's questions, "But they changed their mind when I turned on the charm." She smiled coquettishly and gesture for Beldo to set his box down.
"You…delivery guys?" Beldo stammered.
"You mean you hadn't heard?" Fur said, "Koh was sleepwalking two nights ago and he ruined all the things in my store."
"He stole…" Beldo prompted, but Fur shook her head and interrupted, "Not stole. It was an accident. Koh's kind of slow in the brains department, if you know what I mean. Poor boy had been dreaming and somehow, he found his way here. He didn't know what he was doing." She laughed softly at the idea of Koh sleepwalking, "Oh, he's so funny sometimes! But, no, I'm not mad at him at all. How could I be?"
At those words, Beldo almost lost control of himself. He clenched his teeth and his face contorted into a hideous expression, halfway between a grimace and a frown. His fists balled up at his sides and he had to use all his self-control to keep from attacking Fur. Luckily, the room was dark and Fur was preoccupied with taking inventory.
"Poor Koh," Fur mused dreamily, "He felt so bad that be ruined my stock, he bought me an entirely new inventory." She beamed, "He may not be smart, but he's so sweet!
"And," She continued, "With all these new things from the West, I'll make even more money than before! Could you pick up that big box, Mr. Beldo?" No answer came and she turned around to find herself alone, except for the boxes. "Mr. Beldo? Where'd you go?" She paused, then shrugged and returned to her work, softly humming a song to herself.