Kittens are great at this stage. They pounce on
everything, practicing their killing moves, happy to simply be alive. Adorable
with all the immature violence.
Really only dangerous if they get up on the altar and
knock over the spell components.
"Got another rejection today."
"Submit a new one."
"Maybe you could give a little support?
My feelings are hurt."
"I AM. I'm trying to tell you that you're only a
failure if you give up. Get back on that horse and ride for all you're
worth."
"Love you too."
Gaia has waited for the cycle to change, for the
pendulum to swing back this way. Away from the singular, the static. Back to duality
and balance. Two sides to every aspect, one only with the other.
It was time to remember her as Mother AND Killer.
Command watched in horror as the dragon learned that
fighter planes could rarely pull out of a tailspin.
It began to play with the jets, like a cat with a wounded mouse, knocking them
about the sky with casual cruelty. Soon, they all knew. The war was lost.
Dragon lashed her tail,
lounging in the rose garden. The moon turned every blue flower into midnight
black, matching the color of her hair.
Elf watched her from a distance, too drunk to approach,
but too in love to ever leave her.
"I can tell a lot about a person based on their treatment
of animals."
"That easy?"
"It's not easy. It takes a lot of understanding and
study."
"What do you think of me?"
"You think animals are just dumb creatures. You
lack understanding of the mystical."
"What is this awful stickiness slowing my thoughts
down?"
"I believe the mortals call it time."
"How disgusting."
"Quite. But they seem to have become used to it,
even if they complain about never having enough of it."
"This is clearly hell."
"Did you see her baby?"
"Ugh."
"Ha! I knew you'd think he was ugly
too."
"I mean, seriously, that's why some mothers eat
their young."
"Harsh."
"Did you look at him that long?"
"Really couldn't. Those bug eyes were creepy."
She longed for months in which to estivate on palatial
grounds. Heady scents of flowers, thick humidity clinging to her skin, young
corvids learning from their parents.
But climate change had robbed her of all estival
vestiges. She dwelled in perpetual spring.
I've never used the word lightly, but he is the most spellbinding
person I have ever seen. Those eyes, his hair, the charisma, even the way he
uses his words. I know I'll get burned if I get too close, but who wouldn't
want to?
"You killed him?!" She stares, wide-eyed.
I frown, cleaning my blade. "Didn't you understand
your inclusion
into my family meant I would defend you like my own? He hurt you, needed to
pay. Would you rather I simply wiped away your tears?"
She had no answer.
"Explain it to me."
"Not sure I can."
"Try."
"It's beyond lust, and desire,
and longing. It's something so incredibly deep in my soul, there is no denying
it."
"Sounds romantic."
"Also torturous."
He sighed, swigging from the bottle. "My immortality
has a curse. I heal fast, which keeps me alive and healthy, but it also
increases my tolerance
to alcohol, drugs, pain. Some nights, I just want to fall into a cloud of bliss
and forget." He drinks again.
"You are too fastidious
by far."
"How is that even possible?"
"You can't finish making a sandwich if your bread
touches the counter."
"Do you know how many germs are there?!?"
"But YOU cleaned the counter."
"My point stands."
He looms, though we're nearly the same height. "I
make no attempt to ensorcell
you. I request that your help be freely given." His hunger washes over me,
and I know what he wants.
I lift my hair from my neck and nod.
"Did you see the point on
those talons?"
"'Twas impressive."
"And that beak! My knives aren't that sharp."
"Well, it does more work than your knife set."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that a gryphon eats more meat than we
do."
"Jealous?"
"Yeah."
"Begone foul grass!"
"Do I want to know what you're up to?"
"Gardening."
"In renn faire gear?"
"It's more exciting to pretend the weeds are
infiltrators spying on my kingdom of flowers."
"And the grass?"
"Barbarians trying to break my stone barricade."
Everyone knew her identity
as orc-slayer, avenger of the innocent, defender of the smallpeople. Her fitted
armor was more known than her name, her blood-red hair easy to spot.
But no one knew of the bargain she'd made to become this
fearsome warrior.
She wore what she wanted, said what she was thinking,
did the things that made her happy. She was called bold, audacious,
a total bitch, a female edgelord, and accused of doing it just for the
attention.
She didn't listen, and continued just being herself.
Generations
had passed their power to her, distilling that strength into her soul. She saw
the world with twilight eyes, able to sort through the worthy and the demonic
and the lost and the divine.
She gripped her sword; time to separate the wheat from
the chaff.
"Wait. YOU have a pair of Levis?"
"They fit. They were there."
"I thought you didn't go for name brands."
"I don't. They were the half price color at
Goodwill."
"Should have known they're secondhand."
She thought she was immune to the gaslighting
since she could see through propaganda and programming.
But what if that was the trick? What if she was SUPPOSED
to see through the smoke screen to the "truth" because no one else
would ever believe her?
"If you really want to cleanse this location,
you'll need a psychopomp to do the job. Nothing else will remove these
spirits."
He smirks, summons sparks at his fingertips. "Fire is
also quite powerful."
"Have you tried these new Rebel ice
creams? They're so tasty."
"Not much of a-"
"And so low in carbs. Do you know how rare that
is?"
"Not rea-"
"I mean, it's AMAZING. I don't even feel guilty
about eating them."
"What about interrupting people?"
No matter how hard she resisted, he managed to confiscate
her attention. She blushed as he approached, debonair and suave. His voice was
rich velvet. "You've been running through my mind all day."
All attraction died with his lack of intelligence.
He came home covered in juice stains and fur full of tiny
thorns. I laugh and brush him out, poking my fingers on some of the larger
thorns. "How about, next time let me get the berries for
you?"
Faerie dogs are too addicted to sweets for their own
good.
"I deserve
to be a famous writer."
"Agreed."
"It's really not fair that I have to take time away
from creating in order to reach out to readers to try and make them pick up my
books."
"True. But life isn't about fair and deserve."
"Real life sucks."
The wound runs with blood. Not quite gushing,
so I don't think they hit an artery. My vision is fading, though, and my hands
are growing cold. Was it really a victory?
"It's too hard. I can't do it."
"Do you expect it to be easy?"
"Would be nice."
"Diamonds can only be formed under pressure."
"Ugh. So you won't help me rake the leaves?"
She traces runes in the air, casting, and I watch with
large eyes. Silver rings glint
with each motion, leaving faint vestiges of light where she summons magic to
her. A single word sends power to fend off the monster.
I want to be like her one day.
