ON THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL
Hot dog, another update! I think we're finally getting somewhere with this thing. With luck, these updates will start occurring more often. Happy reading, readers! Don't forget to review!
Characters (with exceptions) © Disney
Story © unicorn-skydancer08
All rights reserved.
Chapter 6: A Woman of Mystery
Looking up, Pinocchio saw a beautiful young woman in a deep blue cloak standing by him, regarding him with gentle concern. She looked to be roughly around Terence's age—somewhere in her early twenties, perhaps younger.
Even in the dimming twilight, Pinocchio could clearly see that she was astonishingly lovely, with a fair, heart-shaped face, eyes as intensely green as Terence's eyes were intensely blue, finely sculpted lips that put the rose to shame, and though her hood was drawn, several loose tendrils of rich brown hair trailed in her face. She also held herself with an extraordinary grace, a sort of noble dignity that only Terence surpassed. Pinocchio's throat went dry and his heartbeat quickened at the sight of her—not from fear, for she looked like she wouldn't hurt so much as a spider, but because of her stunning beauty, and he also sensed the same spirit in her that he sensed in Terence.
"Hello, there," the young woman said sweetly, offering a smile that could melt butter. Her voice resembled rich, golden honey, a harp set in perfect tune. Pinocchio noticed she spoke with an accent similar to the one Terence had, although hers wasn't nearly as prominent. Wherever she hailed from, it certainly wasn't from around here. "What is your name, child?" she asked.
Pinocchio faltered for a minute or so before he managed to stammer, "P-Pinocchio."
"Pinocchio," she repeated slowly, savoring the name, as if it were an exotic flavor. "A rather peculiar name, I must say. But if that's what you go by, that's what I shall call you."
Making a little curtsy, she added on, "My name is Rhiella."
Ree—ell—uh? Pinocchio echoed in his mind. He had never heard of such a name, yet he found it strangely appealing.
"You look like you could use some assistance, Pinocchio," the lady called Rhiella continued. "Is there someone you're looking for?"
"Yes," was all Pinocchio could say.
"Would you like me to help you look?"
Again, Pinocchio hesitated, knowing he wasn't supposed to talk to strangers.
But then, Terence had been a stranger to him at one time.
Furthermore, this woman might be his best chance for finding Terence and getting back home. So, at length, Pinocchio nodded and replied in a rather quavery voice, "A-all right."
Needless to say, Terence was in the deepest distress.
The memory of Fabrizio kidnapping Pinocchio was all too fresh, and Terence's heart sickened to think about what could have happened to the poor boy this time. The streets were much less crowded by the time he, Armando, and Arietta made it back to the village, but there was no telling where Pinocchio could have gone. Though he and his companions called Pinocchio's name repeatedly, though they searched everywhere, they could find no trace of the boy.
At one point, Terence sought the assistance of a soldier patrolling the streets.
"Can you help me, sir?" the youth entreated, holding out his hands beseechingly. "I'm looking for my son. We got separated by mistake, and I don't know where he could be."
Eyeing him skeptically, the soldier inquired, "Aren't you a little young to be a father, young man?"
"Well, he's not exactly my son—"
"'Exactly'?" Now the soldier's dark eyes narrowed in distrust. "Either he is, or he is not."
"All right, he's not," said Terence, feeling a twinge of annoyance. "But—"
"Are you related in any way?"
"Well…no…"
"Then what concern is he of yours?"
"Look, I'm trying to find a lost child!" Terence said, and it was only with the utmost effort that he refrained from shouting. "Could you at least condescend to lend your assistance in this unfortunate matter?"
"Look here, boy," the soldier shot back sharply, "they don't pay me to go gallivanting about this town, chasing down little roguish runaways!"
Unable to hold it back, Terence burst out angrily, "Pinocchio didn't run away! He's lost!"
"So are countless other boys in this area! And the fact is, sir, even if we tried, we couldn't possibly find them all! Who knows whether this imp of yours even wants to be found?"
"I'm asking you to help me! Will you not help?"
"You want help? Here's some advice—if you want a kid to stay close to you, use a leash." Turning away, the soldier went on brusquely, "And now, if you'll excuse me, I have far more urgent business to attend to. Good day to you."
Terence stood where he was and watched him go. When the soldier had disappeared from his sight, Terence closed his eyes and clapped a hand over them in dismay.
A lot of good that did, he thought. Now what am I going to do?
"What was all the shouting?" Armando's voice sounded from behind.
Slowly taking his hand away, Terence glanced dejectedly over his shoulder at his friends. All Terence would say was, "How am I supposed to find Pinocchio if no one will cooperate with me?"
"Don't worry, Terence," said Arietta, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "We'll find him."
Terence recalled that the last time he and Pinocchio were separated like this, it had taken him weeks to find the boy again. Every single day of those weeks had been torture. Terence didn't think he could go through something like that again.
If anything happened to that poor child…he was at a loss of what he would do. He certainly hadn't forgotten that horrible night when he came across Pinocchio's lifeless body at Fabrizio's circus after both he and Fabrizio had taken a tragic fall from the high wire. It had all but destroyed Terence. Though Pinocchio had been revived later on by the Blue Fairy, Terence wasn't sure if the child would be so lucky this time.
"We've got to find him," the white-haired youth agonized aloud.
"Tell me, Pinocchio," said Rhiella as they walked together, holding hands so they would stay together, "who is it that you're looking for? Is it your parents?"
"Well, sort of," Pinocchio admitted. "I'm looking for a tall man with white hair and blue eyes."
Hearing this, Rhiella froze in her tracks, and Pinocchio was forced to stop with her. "A tall man?" she echoed, her voice hushed, her forest-green eyes wide with astonishment. "White hair? Blue eyes?"
Pinocchio nodded. "Uh-huh. He's also got this funny moon-shaped thing on his face, and his name is Terence."
Now Rhiella dropped his hand at once, as though it had just burned her. She staggered a little, and had to brace herself against a nearby wall to keep from falling entirely to the ground.
"What's wrong, Miss Rhiella?" asked Pinocchio, looking at her with concern. He saw that her beautiful face had gone quite pale; she looked like she'd just seen a ghost.
With one hand clutching her heart, her eyes stricken, Rhiella was barely able to gasp, "Terence!"
Judging from the woman's reaction, Pinocchio realized she must know Terence personally—or had known him at one point.
"Do you know him?" he asked.
Before Rhiella could answer, a desperate voice sounded nearby. "Pinocchio! Pinocchio!"
Rhiella hesitated but a second before turning and fleeing the scene. She never said another word, nor did she look back—she simply took off like a frightened deer and was gone in the blink of an eye.
Pinocchio didn't have long to puzzle over this, for Terence was sprinting toward him at that moment. "Pinocchio!" the youth cried out, the name tearing from him like a sob. Waves of joy and relief flooded Pinocchio at the sight of his beloved guardian, and he didn't hesitate to run to him as well. They met up within two seconds. Terence fell to his knees, and Pinocchio all but flung himself into his guardian's arms, nearly knocking him flat.
Both of them were in tears.
"Pinocchio!" Terence repeated fervidly, as he hugged the child for all he was worth while his tears flowed freely. "Oh, my dear Pinocchio! Oh, I'm so glad I found you!"
"Me too, Terence!" Pinocchio sobbed back.
Drawing back from the embrace, Terence demanded, "Where have you been? We've been looking for you for hours! You had me worried to death!"
"I got lost in the big crowd," Pinocchio confessed. "I didn't know where you were…and I guess I strayed a bit too far."
"Don't you ever do that to me again, Pinocchio," Terence scolded him. "Do you hear me?"
Bowing his head in chagrin, all Pinocchio could find to say was, "I'm sorry."
In a moment, Terence relented. With a deep sigh, he pulled Pinocchio back into his arms and held him once more. "Oh…but I'm so grateful you're safe," he whispered into the boy's ear.
As they clung to one another like that, Terence looked up from Pinocchio's shoulder, and thought he saw a hooded figure watching them from the shadows. Terence couldn't be certain, but he had the queerest feeling he had seen that person before, whoever they were. But he had only blinked once, and whoever was there—assuming they were even there in the first place—was gone.
Right then, Armando and Arietta joined up with Terence and Pinocchio.
"Oh, thank goodness!" cried Arietta when she saw for herself that Pinocchio was safe and sound.
"Are you all right, Pinocchio?" Armando asked solicitously. "You gave us quite a scare."
Pinocchio nodded and replied, "I'm all right."
Armando then turned to Terence, who remained on his knees, staring directly ahead, his eyes fixed and his mouth agape, as if he were in a trance.
"Terence?" When nothing happened, Armando tapped the young man hard on the shoulder. "Hey—Terence!"
"Huh?" Terence peered up at him bemusedly.
"What's the matter with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Shaking his head slightly to snap himself out of it, Terence murmured, "Nothing. It's just…nothing." As the young man climbed to his feet, he told Pinocchio, "Come on, let's get home."
Even as they were on their way back to the cottage, Terence kept stopping and glancing over his shoulder. More than once, Pinocchio had to call for him, and once Armando was obliged to march up to Terence and snap his fingers loudly in front of the youth's face to bring him back to the present moment. Terence gave quite a start at the unexpected noise. Even when he was facing Armando properly, Armando could tell he wasn't focused.
"What is with you, Terence?" Armando inquired. "You're acting very odd."
"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" asked Arietta.
But all Terence did was shake his head, and all he said was, "Forgive me. I—I guess I'm not thinking straight right now."
Turning to Pinocchio, Arietta asked, "Did you run into anyone strange today, Pinocchio?"
Pinocchio decided to say nothing about the repulsive old hag, who still gave him unpleasant shivers to even think about. "I met this awfully nice lady, who helped me out," he said.
"Oh, indeed?" said Armando, arching an eyebrow. "Who was this 'awfully nice lady', if I may be so bold to ask?"
"She was very pretty, probably the most beautiful lady I ever saw in my life. She said her name was R…Ree…Rhiella." It took Pinocchio a moment to give the foreign name proper pronunciation.
When Terence heard this, he became stone-still on the spot. All of the color drained from his face like water through a spigot, while his heart dropped to the soles of his boots.
For a second, he was sure Pinocchio must be joking.
Yet Pinocchio hardly ever lied to him, and where else could the boy have picked up such a name, anyway? It wasn't a very common name, least of all in this country.
But no, Terence's mind refuted, that couldn't be! Not her…not here, of all places…
"Terence?" he could barely hear Pinocchio's anxious voice saying. "What's the matter, Terence?"
"You look positively dreadful," said Armando. "Are you all right?"
"Terence?" Arietta persisted when the youth did not answer.
Terence struggled to get hold of himself. "I-I—I'm fine," he muttered, although the audible tremor in his voice and the sickly color of his face clearly indicated otherwise. "I-I just need to get to the house."
He certainly looked like he needed to sit down, so Armando slipped an arm around his shoulders and said, "Well, then, we had better get a move on."