Chapter 23
As the days progressed I grew more and more eager to see to what new heights Chistery would take his new patterns of speech; his sentences became longer and more drawn out, the complexities in them making him sound almost like a young human. There was excitement in my eyes every time I heard him speak, and my heart leaped with the prospect of where I could take this. I became more and more convinced that Chistery was no longer a mere animal, but wasn't yet to the level of thinking that would characterize an Animal.
::I'll work with him a little longer, and then see what we can do with it.::
My "working with him" was more like waiting for Chistery to talk on his terms when he wanted to and about what he wanted; it was impossible for me to force him into saying anything. I would sometimes entice him into speaking by using words that he'd never heard before and when he heard them he's ask what they meant. Once I'd given him the definition he'd begin using whatever word it was as many times in one day as he could. Even so, the aggravation that came with hearing the same word over and over again would always be balanced out with the satisfaction that the monkey would be one word closer to becoming an Animal.
After a week or two of such work Chistery decided he didn't much like my goading him into speech. I had begun to get frustrated with him; he wouldn't oblige me and speak when I asked him to, not even when there was a new word to be used, nor would he say anything unless it was absolutely necessary for him to, such as when it came to what he would be eating for supper.
"That's yucky. I want this." the monkey said one afternoon while I was trying to find something edible for Fiyero and me to eat for lunch. There wasn't much there; we were due for a visit from Boq later in the evening, which didn't help much since Chistery chose now to be picky.
"That is not for you. You had lunch already. I let you have what you wanted then, so now it's my turn."
Chistery turned his back to me and sulked like a child who'd been denied a piece of candy. He must've chosen then to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the day, for that was what occurred. Try as I might to get him to talk, he would not utter so much as one syllable to me.
Later in the night, incensed and tired, I propped my elbows on the windowsill and placed my chin in my hands, staring blankly through the glass into the night.
"Hey," Fiyero said, draping himself over my shoulders and settling his head next to mine, "what's on your mind? You don't look good."
"It's nothing all that important."
"Then it won't do anyone any harm if you told me."
I sighed. "It's just Chistery. He's being difficult again."
"Well, he's becoming a bit of a strategist, if nothing else."
"I know, he's coming closer and closer to achieving an Animal's state of mind, but I wish he didn't enjoy testing my patience so much."
"He's acting like a young child; at this point it's understandable, given how much he knows. Chistery's at the point where he's got the mentality of a five-year-old. He's finally figured out how to tell you what he wants when he wants it."
"I wish I knew what was going on in that little snow monkey brain of his. To figure that out I'd need all the research I'd done at Kiamo Ko while living with your family, but it's not as if I can go back there now or magic everything here. I don't even know what I did with a lot of it. For all I know the Gale Force could've gotten into that tower by now and destroyed it all."
"Maybe you can go back there." he said slowly.
"What?" I cried, trying to straighten up and as I did so startling him off my back, "How could that ever be possible?"
"The Wizard is gone, and the world thinks you're dead. This new ruler has no interest in the Vinkus whatsoever judging by the newspapers Boq's been bringing me to read. If you really wanted to you probably could go back to get whatever things you need."
"And how would I get there, exactly? It's not as if I could take a caravan or something like I did the first time, and my broom has been burnt to charcoal, not to mention the fact that it's still in the tower."
"Broom?" he asked, confused.
"It's a rather long story and I'm far too tired to tell it right now."
"What about that transportation spell, the one that got you here?"
"What do you suggest I use as a focus? Hmmmmn?"
"The Grimmerie."
"The Grimmerie?" I said in disbelief.
"No, really, the thing sat on a shelf in the tower for years before you got there. It still smells like Kiamo Ko dust, for Lurline's sake. You probably could use it as the focus."
"The dust?"
"No, the book."
"The book originally came from somewhere that's not even part of Oz. Heaven knows where I could end up if I tried to use it."
"There's bound to be something you took here from Kiamo Ko that originated there."
"I don't know. The only things I took with me here were my own, none of which originated where I need to be." I sighed.
"You can always use me."
"You?" I said dubiously, "I can hardly magic myself places, let alone the two of us."
"Think about it; I was born out in the Vinkus, so if I don't take you exactly to Kiamo Ko I'll at least get you in the vicinity. Plus, I know my way around out there better than anyone, except maybe the Scrow. I could get you from any area in the Vinkus to Kiamo Ko in a week or less, and get you there unscathed for the most part, weather permitting."
"Well…"
"Is it worth a shot?"
"Depends on whether or not I get the spell right. You know how I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to magic…"
"From what I've seen of you and magic, you're pretty good at it."
"Considering you haven't seen me make many attempts at it, that's not saying much."
"You need to have a little faith in yourself, Fae-Fae. It's worth a try, if nothing else."
"I'll think about it."
At that moment someone began rapping on the door and Fiyero went to let Boq inside.
"Welcome to the rattrap, population three." I said, without taking my eyes from the window.
"Three?" Boq asked.
"You never noticed the monkey?" Fiyero asked, gesturing to where Chistery was sleeping curled up among the many old scarves and clothing in my trunk.
"To tell you the truth, no." he replied. "How'd it get wings?"
"Long story." I said.
"I'm not sure I want to know. Have you been using that medicine?" he asked Fiyero.
"Yes, I have, and the wound is almost closed up."
"There's good news for you." Boq said. "Your supplies for the next two weeks or so are outside. Someone want to help me bring them in?"
"I'll go, you stay here and don't do anything to hurt yourself." I said, putting a hand on Fiyero's chest to restrain him.
"But Fae-"
"It's the middle of the night; no one is going to see me. Plus, I wear black."
"I don't think I've seen you in anything but black since you arrived here."
"I haven't worn anything but black since I left Shiz." I said and went to help Boq haul everything inside. Once that was done I began putting it away just to avoid conversation. Boq engaged Fiyero in a discussion about something or other I had no interest in but soon their words broke off into an awkward silence with nothing else to say.
"What is it? Two minutes ago you were talking animatedly and now such quiet." As much as I didn't want to speak I didn't like such uncomfortable stillness, either.
"Just nothing much to say." Boq answered.
"Actually, Fae, since you so rudely cut me off by going outside before, why haven't you worn colors in so long?"
"One: for years I'd been mourning the loss of you and two: nothing goes with green." I said dryly.
"Apparently, blue diamonds go quite well." Boq said, smirking at me.
"You keep your abnormally large nose out of my business!" I said, trying to sound serious, but I couldn't help laughing anyway. Fiyero grinned.
"Is my nose really that big?" Boq asked, looking for a mirror to check the diameter of his nose. I doubled over, in pain from the laughter; Fiyero's shoulders shook with it, his voice ringing out clear and strong above mine. I loved the sound of it, sweeter than any song I could ever sing for him; he was happy, at least for a little while, and I felt more at ease knowing that he wasn't in pain or disheartened by anything, especially not by me.
Once I'd composed myself my mind regained coherency enough to wonder about how Boq had been getting our things here in the first place.
"Boq, what have you been using to take these things to us? Two weeks worth of food and whatever else is a lot for you to be getting here on your own."
"Here, if you want to I'll take you to see my team." The proud way he said "team" made it seem as if whatever animals he used to get him here were dearer to him than his wife and children. In a way it made me think of myself when it came to my monkey and the other animals I'd once owned, Malky, the pristine white cat, and Killyjoy, the large wolfish dog; they'd been the other pets I used to have and loved as if they were my children. Heaven knows what happened to the cat, and that brat Dorothy and Co. finished off my dog. That was probably the foremost cause of my resentment of the girl, her causing the death of my pet and friend.
"Fabala, I'm not sure this is such a good-"
"Fiyero, relax. Like I said before, it's the middle of the night and I wear black. I will be fine. Come on." I gestured for him to follow Boq and myself out the door.
We traveled a short few blocks away to where he'd parked his "vehicle"; a haphazardly constructed cart attached by harness to two of the most beautiful creatures I'd ever seen. One was a jet-black stallion with a handsome face, the other a delicately-featured, dappled gray mare.
"Boq, they're gorgeous." I whispered, slowly coming toward them with my hand outstretched for the pair of horses to sniff. The mare nuzzled my fingers with her velvet nose as if searching for some sort of treat. The stallion progressed to probe through my hair with his muzzle, whickering as he did so.
"You must really have some sort of charm when it comes to animals, Elphaba; my mare, Juliette, is so skittish I need Milla or my eldest daughter to harness her for me. The black's name is Taye. Normally he doesn't take to anyone so quickly, either; he tries to bite me if I take too long bringing his food out to him for lunch, let alone when I try to get a bridle on him."
I ran my fingers through Juliette's wavy silver mane and stroked Taye's silken black neck. "I enjoy the company of animals far more than that of most humans. For one thing, the animals don't give a damn if I'm green or purple or zebra striped, and for another, they act more human than most humans do."
"I'm not sure whether to take that as an insult or not." Boq said, standing to the side with his arms folded, watching me fall in love with his horses. Fiyero stepped up beside me and made to pet Juliette's nose, but the mare shied and Taye lunged, trying to nip Fiyero's hand in order to protect his friend.
"Whoa, a little hostile there, isn't he?" he said, rubbing his fingers as if the horse really did bite him.
"Try being the one who had to harness him a few hours ago." said Boq dryly, holding out his arm to show me the teeth marks on his forearm.
"I don't know how you do it, Elphaba, but I need you to come and take care of these two for me sometime. I'm infinitely proud of these beauties of mine, but one's as timid as a mouse and the other is fiercely protective of her as well as of himself. The only people they'll allow to handle them are Milla and my daughter, and now, apparently, you."
"It's got to be that they prefer the feminine touch." I said, surprising myself with the words; I never acknowledged the fact that I had a sex at all. I used to fight with Fiyero years ago because I'd never really believed or thought of myself as a woman or even a person; I was just there, an "it", otherworldly and unnatural. One thing was true of this new revelation of mine; I was opening up, not just to Fiyero, but also to myself. I didn't believe I'd ever accept myself totally, but for now I was becoming at least a little more at peace with the fact that I was as human as I'd ever be, and probably more so than most people.
I could've kept petting the horses for hours but allowed myself to be dragged back home a short while later. Boq had gotten into his cart to drive home, in doing so helping Fiyero to tear me away from my new "pets". I had adopted those horses as my own and insisted that Boq let me visit them the next time he came. Boq agreed and once he was out of sight Fiyero took my hand and proceeded to lead me back the way we'd come; I tugged him down a different side street just to be safe. When we reached home and entered I was greeted by a very irate snow monkey dive bombing toward my face.
"Where have you been?" Chistery cried, stopping short in front of me and flapping his wings to keep him hovering at my eye level.
"Fiyero and I were visiting with Boq and his horses." I felt like a little girl being interrogated by her pet, if that made any sense at all.
"Next time you go someplace you have to take me, too!"
I rolled my eyes and plucked him from the air, cradling him in the crook of my arm and stroking his white belly fur.
"That's better." Chistery said, making himself comfortable.
"What about me?" said my neglected lover, "What, I'm not as good company as a couple of horses and a monkey?"
"Depends…" I said, letting him wrap an arm around my waist.
"You are a cruel woman, Fabala-Fae; you really know how to cut someone deep."
"I pride myself on it." I said, smiling warmly up unto his eyes.
"But then again, it's not necessarily a bad thing." he murmured, kissing me quick and soft.
"Yuck. I'm leaving." Chistery said, sticking his tongue out at us and extricating himself from my grip. I smiled and shook my head at the little thing, watching him settle himself back into the pile of scarves on top of my clothing.
Fiyero let go of my waist and rummaged through one of the bags I hadn't unpacked yet. His hand emerged with the rose scarf clutched in it, clean and without a hint of blood left on it. He handed it to me.
"Here, give me your hand." I said, taking it and holding it in mine. I unearthed a pin from among my things and pricked his finger with it, drawing a scarlet bead of blood to surface from under his skin.
"What was that for?" Fiyero asked, trying to pull his hand away.
"Wait a second." I said, taking his finger and smearing the crimson droplet onto the fabric. "There, just in case I ever have to use this as a focus again it'll be sure to take me right to you."
He sucked on his injured finger. "When do you think I'm going to let you lose me?"
"Hopefully never, but I like to have it if only as a security measure for my own peace of mind."
"I hope your mind's at peace right now." he grumbled, nursing his finger. "Making me bleed for no apparent reason. That's inhumane, that is, you evil, evil woman, you."
"I am incredibly evil, am I not? I'm just making sure if anything ever happens I can get back to you. That's got to be the evilest thing a person can do when she's in love, you know?" I said, my voice as sardonic as it was possible for me to make it.
"It is, isn't it?" he said, taking the scarf from me and beginning to tie it around my waist. I put a hand over his to stop him and removed myself from the scarf.
"I'm disinclined to wear that right now, but it's not for the reason you might think." I said, putting the scarf away on the bedside table underneath one of the bottles of oil. "I have a sinking feeling I may need to use it someday."
As the days progressed I grew more and more eager to see to what new heights Chistery would take his new patterns of speech; his sentences became longer and more drawn out, the complexities in them making him sound almost like a young human. There was excitement in my eyes every time I heard him speak, and my heart leaped with the prospect of where I could take this. I became more and more convinced that Chistery was no longer a mere animal, but wasn't yet to the level of thinking that would characterize an Animal.
::I'll work with him a little longer, and then see what we can do with it.::
My "working with him" was more like waiting for Chistery to talk on his terms when he wanted to and about what he wanted; it was impossible for me to force him into saying anything. I would sometimes entice him into speaking by using words that he'd never heard before and when he heard them he's ask what they meant. Once I'd given him the definition he'd begin using whatever word it was as many times in one day as he could. Even so, the aggravation that came with hearing the same word over and over again would always be balanced out with the satisfaction that the monkey would be one word closer to becoming an Animal.
After a week or two of such work Chistery decided he didn't much like my goading him into speech. I had begun to get frustrated with him; he wouldn't oblige me and speak when I asked him to, not even when there was a new word to be used, nor would he say anything unless it was absolutely necessary for him to, such as when it came to what he would be eating for supper.
"That's yucky. I want this." the monkey said one afternoon while I was trying to find something edible for Fiyero and me to eat for lunch. There wasn't much there; we were due for a visit from Boq later in the evening, which didn't help much since Chistery chose now to be picky.
"That is not for you. You had lunch already. I let you have what you wanted then, so now it's my turn."
Chistery turned his back to me and sulked like a child who'd been denied a piece of candy. He must've chosen then to give me the silent treatment for the rest of the day, for that was what occurred. Try as I might to get him to talk, he would not utter so much as one syllable to me.
Later in the night, incensed and tired, I propped my elbows on the windowsill and placed my chin in my hands, staring blankly through the glass into the night.
"Hey," Fiyero said, draping himself over my shoulders and settling his head next to mine, "what's on your mind? You don't look good."
"It's nothing all that important."
"Then it won't do anyone any harm if you told me."
I sighed. "It's just Chistery. He's being difficult again."
"Well, he's becoming a bit of a strategist, if nothing else."
"I know, he's coming closer and closer to achieving an Animal's state of mind, but I wish he didn't enjoy testing my patience so much."
"He's acting like a young child; at this point it's understandable, given how much he knows. Chistery's at the point where he's got the mentality of a five-year-old. He's finally figured out how to tell you what he wants when he wants it."
"I wish I knew what was going on in that little snow monkey brain of his. To figure that out I'd need all the research I'd done at Kiamo Ko while living with your family, but it's not as if I can go back there now or magic everything here. I don't even know what I did with a lot of it. For all I know the Gale Force could've gotten into that tower by now and destroyed it all."
"Maybe you can go back there." he said slowly.
"What?" I cried, trying to straighten up and as I did so startling him off my back, "How could that ever be possible?"
"The Wizard is gone, and the world thinks you're dead. This new ruler has no interest in the Vinkus whatsoever judging by the newspapers Boq's been bringing me to read. If you really wanted to you probably could go back to get whatever things you need."
"And how would I get there, exactly? It's not as if I could take a caravan or something like I did the first time, and my broom has been burnt to charcoal, not to mention the fact that it's still in the tower."
"Broom?" he asked, confused.
"It's a rather long story and I'm far too tired to tell it right now."
"What about that transportation spell, the one that got you here?"
"What do you suggest I use as a focus? Hmmmmn?"
"The Grimmerie."
"The Grimmerie?" I said in disbelief.
"No, really, the thing sat on a shelf in the tower for years before you got there. It still smells like Kiamo Ko dust, for Lurline's sake. You probably could use it as the focus."
"The dust?"
"No, the book."
"The book originally came from somewhere that's not even part of Oz. Heaven knows where I could end up if I tried to use it."
"There's bound to be something you took here from Kiamo Ko that originated there."
"I don't know. The only things I took with me here were my own, none of which originated where I need to be." I sighed.
"You can always use me."
"You?" I said dubiously, "I can hardly magic myself places, let alone the two of us."
"Think about it; I was born out in the Vinkus, so if I don't take you exactly to Kiamo Ko I'll at least get you in the vicinity. Plus, I know my way around out there better than anyone, except maybe the Scrow. I could get you from any area in the Vinkus to Kiamo Ko in a week or less, and get you there unscathed for the most part, weather permitting."
"Well…"
"Is it worth a shot?"
"Depends on whether or not I get the spell right. You know how I don't really know what I'm doing when it comes to magic…"
"From what I've seen of you and magic, you're pretty good at it."
"Considering you haven't seen me make many attempts at it, that's not saying much."
"You need to have a little faith in yourself, Fae-Fae. It's worth a try, if nothing else."
"I'll think about it."
At that moment someone began rapping on the door and Fiyero went to let Boq inside.
"Welcome to the rattrap, population three." I said, without taking my eyes from the window.
"Three?" Boq asked.
"You never noticed the monkey?" Fiyero asked, gesturing to where Chistery was sleeping curled up among the many old scarves and clothing in my trunk.
"To tell you the truth, no." he replied. "How'd it get wings?"
"Long story." I said.
"I'm not sure I want to know. Have you been using that medicine?" he asked Fiyero.
"Yes, I have, and the wound is almost closed up."
"There's good news for you." Boq said. "Your supplies for the next two weeks or so are outside. Someone want to help me bring them in?"
"I'll go, you stay here and don't do anything to hurt yourself." I said, putting a hand on Fiyero's chest to restrain him.
"But Fae-"
"It's the middle of the night; no one is going to see me. Plus, I wear black."
"I don't think I've seen you in anything but black since you arrived here."
"I haven't worn anything but black since I left Shiz." I said and went to help Boq haul everything inside. Once that was done I began putting it away just to avoid conversation. Boq engaged Fiyero in a discussion about something or other I had no interest in but soon their words broke off into an awkward silence with nothing else to say.
"What is it? Two minutes ago you were talking animatedly and now such quiet." As much as I didn't want to speak I didn't like such uncomfortable stillness, either.
"Just nothing much to say." Boq answered.
"Actually, Fae, since you so rudely cut me off by going outside before, why haven't you worn colors in so long?"
"One: for years I'd been mourning the loss of you and two: nothing goes with green." I said dryly.
"Apparently, blue diamonds go quite well." Boq said, smirking at me.
"You keep your abnormally large nose out of my business!" I said, trying to sound serious, but I couldn't help laughing anyway. Fiyero grinned.
"Is my nose really that big?" Boq asked, looking for a mirror to check the diameter of his nose. I doubled over, in pain from the laughter; Fiyero's shoulders shook with it, his voice ringing out clear and strong above mine. I loved the sound of it, sweeter than any song I could ever sing for him; he was happy, at least for a little while, and I felt more at ease knowing that he wasn't in pain or disheartened by anything, especially not by me.
Once I'd composed myself my mind regained coherency enough to wonder about how Boq had been getting our things here in the first place.
"Boq, what have you been using to take these things to us? Two weeks worth of food and whatever else is a lot for you to be getting here on your own."
"Here, if you want to I'll take you to see my team." The proud way he said "team" made it seem as if whatever animals he used to get him here were dearer to him than his wife and children. In a way it made me think of myself when it came to my monkey and the other animals I'd once owned, Malky, the pristine white cat, and Killyjoy, the large wolfish dog; they'd been the other pets I used to have and loved as if they were my children. Heaven knows what happened to the cat, and that brat Dorothy and Co. finished off my dog. That was probably the foremost cause of my resentment of the girl, her causing the death of my pet and friend.
"Fabala, I'm not sure this is such a good-"
"Fiyero, relax. Like I said before, it's the middle of the night and I wear black. I will be fine. Come on." I gestured for him to follow Boq and myself out the door.
We traveled a short few blocks away to where he'd parked his "vehicle"; a haphazardly constructed cart attached by harness to two of the most beautiful creatures I'd ever seen. One was a jet-black stallion with a handsome face, the other a delicately-featured, dappled gray mare.
"Boq, they're gorgeous." I whispered, slowly coming toward them with my hand outstretched for the pair of horses to sniff. The mare nuzzled my fingers with her velvet nose as if searching for some sort of treat. The stallion progressed to probe through my hair with his muzzle, whickering as he did so.
"You must really have some sort of charm when it comes to animals, Elphaba; my mare, Juliette, is so skittish I need Milla or my eldest daughter to harness her for me. The black's name is Taye. Normally he doesn't take to anyone so quickly, either; he tries to bite me if I take too long bringing his food out to him for lunch, let alone when I try to get a bridle on him."
I ran my fingers through Juliette's wavy silver mane and stroked Taye's silken black neck. "I enjoy the company of animals far more than that of most humans. For one thing, the animals don't give a damn if I'm green or purple or zebra striped, and for another, they act more human than most humans do."
"I'm not sure whether to take that as an insult or not." Boq said, standing to the side with his arms folded, watching me fall in love with his horses. Fiyero stepped up beside me and made to pet Juliette's nose, but the mare shied and Taye lunged, trying to nip Fiyero's hand in order to protect his friend.
"Whoa, a little hostile there, isn't he?" he said, rubbing his fingers as if the horse really did bite him.
"Try being the one who had to harness him a few hours ago." said Boq dryly, holding out his arm to show me the teeth marks on his forearm.
"I don't know how you do it, Elphaba, but I need you to come and take care of these two for me sometime. I'm infinitely proud of these beauties of mine, but one's as timid as a mouse and the other is fiercely protective of her as well as of himself. The only people they'll allow to handle them are Milla and my daughter, and now, apparently, you."
"It's got to be that they prefer the feminine touch." I said, surprising myself with the words; I never acknowledged the fact that I had a sex at all. I used to fight with Fiyero years ago because I'd never really believed or thought of myself as a woman or even a person; I was just there, an "it", otherworldly and unnatural. One thing was true of this new revelation of mine; I was opening up, not just to Fiyero, but also to myself. I didn't believe I'd ever accept myself totally, but for now I was becoming at least a little more at peace with the fact that I was as human as I'd ever be, and probably more so than most people.
I could've kept petting the horses for hours but allowed myself to be dragged back home a short while later. Boq had gotten into his cart to drive home, in doing so helping Fiyero to tear me away from my new "pets". I had adopted those horses as my own and insisted that Boq let me visit them the next time he came. Boq agreed and once he was out of sight Fiyero took my hand and proceeded to lead me back the way we'd come; I tugged him down a different side street just to be safe. When we reached home and entered I was greeted by a very irate snow monkey dive bombing toward my face.
"Where have you been?" Chistery cried, stopping short in front of me and flapping his wings to keep him hovering at my eye level.
"Fiyero and I were visiting with Boq and his horses." I felt like a little girl being interrogated by her pet, if that made any sense at all.
"Next time you go someplace you have to take me, too!"
I rolled my eyes and plucked him from the air, cradling him in the crook of my arm and stroking his white belly fur.
"That's better." Chistery said, making himself comfortable.
"What about me?" said my neglected lover, "What, I'm not as good company as a couple of horses and a monkey?"
"Depends…" I said, letting him wrap an arm around my waist.
"You are a cruel woman, Fabala-Fae; you really know how to cut someone deep."
"I pride myself on it." I said, smiling warmly up unto his eyes.
"But then again, it's not necessarily a bad thing." he murmured, kissing me quick and soft.
"Yuck. I'm leaving." Chistery said, sticking his tongue out at us and extricating himself from my grip. I smiled and shook my head at the little thing, watching him settle himself back into the pile of scarves on top of my clothing.
Fiyero let go of my waist and rummaged through one of the bags I hadn't unpacked yet. His hand emerged with the rose scarf clutched in it, clean and without a hint of blood left on it. He handed it to me.
"Here, give me your hand." I said, taking it and holding it in mine. I unearthed a pin from among my things and pricked his finger with it, drawing a scarlet bead of blood to surface from under his skin.
"What was that for?" Fiyero asked, trying to pull his hand away.
"Wait a second." I said, taking his finger and smearing the crimson droplet onto the fabric. "There, just in case I ever have to use this as a focus again it'll be sure to take me right to you."
He sucked on his injured finger. "When do you think I'm going to let you lose me?"
"Hopefully never, but I like to have it if only as a security measure for my own peace of mind."
"I hope your mind's at peace right now." he grumbled, nursing his finger. "Making me bleed for no apparent reason. That's inhumane, that is, you evil, evil woman, you."
"I am incredibly evil, am I not? I'm just making sure if anything ever happens I can get back to you. That's got to be the evilest thing a person can do when she's in love, you know?" I said, my voice as sardonic as it was possible for me to make it.
"It is, isn't it?" he said, taking the scarf from me and beginning to tie it around my waist. I put a hand over his to stop him and removed myself from the scarf.
"I'm disinclined to wear that right now, but it's not for the reason you might think." I said, putting the scarf away on the bedside table underneath one of the bottles of oil. "I have a sinking feeling I may need to use it someday."