21: Intimidating And Alluring

CORDELIA

Vasileios had been gone for days. I figured he was paying penance for his outburst somewhere—But honestly, the peace was nice. I didn't have him lurking around every corner or challenging any kind of interaction Orthus and I had. I hoped that maybe the king sent him somewhere to blow off some steam- but knew from the king's comments at the fountain he wouldn't be shy to punish disobedience. Did that same line of thinking also extend to me? Could I do as I pleased here, or would I eventually be just a subject who would obey?

This bargain was supposed to mean safety for me. But Vasileios's words stuck in my mind. You are in danger here. I thought of his face, angry but entirely sincere. His countenance was almost pleading. I could see the resolve in his set jaw, his short beard's shadow only defining the severity of his expression. I had almost gotten used to his outbursts in my short time here...but his entire tone was entirely different when he found Orthus and I in the rose garden. There was something almost manic in him that I hadn't seen before. Maybe it was only in retrospect that I realized something was different, rather than my initial annoyance at him. It's almost as if his absence in the court had made me think of him more.

It didn't help that Nelo seemed as though she was handling me with kid gloves. She hovered over my every move, waking me with breakfast and new gowns—more attention than she had ever paid me before Vasileios had left. Maybe she missed him?

I, in my room, pushed through the rack of clothing I had acquired in my short time here. The dresses were beautiful, and all held some tiny bit of magic. I knew that they were so different from what I wore before I came to Aidor—I couldn't recall how. I'm not sure if I would ever get used to how my memories had shifted. I selected a new one from the racks. Its inner dress was that of a grayish-blue. It was a shapeless sack with a plunging neckline until you buttoned the outer dress over it. The outer dress came right up under my bust and was made of periwinkle chiffon, covered in golden appliqués. It was beautiful, but it felt mundane when everything in this closet was exceptionally stunning and delicate. It didn't feel me, whatever the that was, anymore. I would use Nelo's hovering to my advantage, maybe figure out something to wear that reflected the real me I wanted to present to this immortal fae. Something stronger than how weak a human might appear to these immortals. 

Maybe I would beat her to the punch today and wake Nelo? A little friendly payback, so to speak, for her constant mothering. The light had barely begun to filter through the drapes of my ornate room, she would still be sleeping. I peered out the window, its handmade panes slightly bubbled, and glanced at the sparring ring. Even though Vasileios had been gone, his recruits for the Summer Army were still training in his absence. I saw fae males and females squaring up and learning how to throw a punch. Most of them were terrible, not guarding their faces, not using their hips for more power behind their fists...Wait, how did I know that? Was it some memory that Orthus had wiped? That empty feeling filled my chest again. I knew they were wrong, and I yearned to correct them. Maybe I could talk Nelo into letting me help a bit later? I don't know if my unchaperoned presence would be welcomed during their training regimens.

I padded my feet down the hall after dressing. Nelo's room was on the third floor next to her workshop. I think she liked keeping herself a bit removed from the hustle of the Summer estate to focus on her work. The air was a bit stuffier on the third floor—it was largely unused and seemed to be mostly storage. Besides the well-worn path between Penelope's spaces and the stairwell, it was dusty. I'd never entered her room before but knew it lay directly opposite the door to her workshop. Both doors were shut, and I almost second-guessed my choice to annoy my friend in this sisterly way. I knew her excellent nature would humor me, though.

Nelo's bedroom door creaked softly, and I worried I would wake her before getting into the space. I didn't, though, and heard her soft and measured breathing coming from the far corner of the room—her black bed curtains were tightly closed. I took in the space. It was a shocking contrast to the helpful and friendly fae female that I had known in my short time here.

The room was depressive in its darkness, and every available surface was covered with woven tapestries, maybe protection spells of some kind? Even if Nelo felt the need to protect herself here, in her own home, indeed, this was overkill? An overstuffed but worn, red velvet sidecar sat beside a slowly dying fire in the hearth. Its embers blinking slowly out of existence. Uncorked bottles of what I assume had been the purple fae wine littered all around the chair—had Penelope been on a bender? Maybe this was a bad idea, to intrude on her private space? I faltered in my choice only for a second; if I wanted us to be equals, I would treat her the same as she had done me. Sure, nelo was a bit of a slob, but it didn't make her any less my friend. I tiptoed towards the bed and put my hand on the black velvet bedroom curtains. I would pull them back and tell my friend it was time to greet the day. Before I could whisk them open, something on Nelo's bedside table caught my eye. The golden bowl, carved with runes, held a dried brown substance and something else— was it hair? Yes, a lock of pale hair was wrapped over a small bone, about the size of my finger. Maybe it was a finger bone? Tying the hair and the bone together were several intricate knots of black and glowing filament. The whole object stunk of death, but I couldn't help but reach toward it as if I had no control over my body's actions.

"Don't touch that, Cordelia." Nelos voice warned from behind the bed curtains right as my hand nearly made contact with the strange display of objects. I snatched my fingers back from it and looked shocked as Nelo pulled the curtains back. My friend slept nude. This was a bad idea after all. I thought as I shot my eyes down towards my feet. I was slightly embarrassed as I hadn't expected her to be so exposed or caught snooping.

"Sorry, Nelo!" I squeaked. "I thought it would be fun to wake you up for a change. I shouldn't have invaded your personal space like this." She moved fluidly from the bed and grabbed a shift from the floor, tossing it over her head.

"I'm a big fan on quid pro roe, don't worry about it. But in the future, I like to keep my spaces purely for my own company. A knock next time will work well enough." She winked, and it put me slightly more at ease. "So, since it seems you already have an agenda planned for today, would you like to fill me in on our plans?" She slumped into the chair, restoring the fire in the hearth by tossing a log into the hearth.

"Well, since you asked, there are two things I'd like to do." She tilted her chin down and looked up at me expectantly, gesturing with her hands for me to continue. "First, I love everything you've woven for me to wear, and I don't want to seem unappreciative to a friend...." She arched an eyebrow with a sly smile as I spoke.

"But what? Come on, Cordelia, spit it out." She grinned. She was draped like a cat, stretching her toes over the arm of the chair and towards the fire to wake up her limbs.

"Would you be able to make something for me, maybe a bit more...imposing?" She wrinkled her nose and smirked.

"Whom are we trying to intimidate?" I laughed nervously at her question.

"Um, just you know, trying to find my place here as a human in your world. It couldn't hurt to be a bit less—alluring in my dress than now?" I gestured to my exposed cleavage. My friend bounded to her feet and beckoned for me to follow her from her chamber.

"You can be both intimidating and alluring, but I get your point. Why don't I make you something fierce for the solstice ball? Maybe something that announces your place here in Summer to the other seasonal courts?" My place? Was I even sure of what that was?

"And what exactly is my place here, Nelo?"

"You're a Summer subject, obviously." I guess that was true now.

"I'd like that. Thank you. I hope it doesn't offend you that I'd ask for something other than what I've already been given." I tell her as we make our way towards the dining room and down the stairs.

"Of course not. If anything, I'm excited you're opening up to me more, Cordelia. We can rely on each other here—you do know that don't you?" Her green eyes searched mine, and they belonged to someone else for a flash of an instance. Someone in a dark room, who held my face in their hands. But the vision left as quickly as it came. I shook my head to clear my mind.

"Of course, Nelo."

As we made our way into the grand foyer, the King was leaving the dining room. He nodded to Nelo and brought his blue eyes to me.

"Cordelia." He said to me in acknowledgment. My name on his perfect lips sent unexpected warmth through my body. It took everything I had not to buckle right there in front of him. Somehow I managed to squeak out a greeting to him and made my way quickly into the dining room. This bond was beginning to become a problem. Nelo, fortunately, distracted me with a question, forcing my mind to think of anything but the King's flawless face.

"What was the second thing you wanted to

ask me?"

"Oh! Can you take me to the sparring pits?" Nelo laughed.

"Full of surprises today... aren't we?"