2. Chapter Two #2
Yana turned to see a beautiful woman with pink hair standing in the center of the tavern.
Her skin was a warm, medium brown and she wore a full-length pink dress with a matching cloak.
She was tall and she had a regal presence that filled the room.
She also had an elegant, white chicken perched on her shoulder.
Yana momentarily locked eyes with the chicken’s pale pink gaze and a shiver ran down her spine. What kind of strange chicken was this?
“You are looking for Cody Hampshire?” the pink-haired woman asked.
Nyrah sniffed at the air and her face darkened, no doubt smelling Cody on this new woman.
The nekofae jumped off the bar and moved towards her, brandishing her claws.
She was crouching low, in a fighter’s stance, ready to pounce at any moment.
Yana could see Nyrah’s wings begin to glow, clearly readying her [Wing Burst] power.
“Where is he?” Nyrah shouted.
“The man you’re searching for is…how should I say it…my plaything?” the woman said and smiled seductively.
Nyrah’s wing lit up in a burst of red light as she shot forward, claws out.
But before she could even reach the woman, a pink bubble-like force field appeared around her, covering her from head to toe.
Nyrah crashed into it and bounced right off, falling to the ground.
Yana rushed over to her friend’s side and helped her up.
“Dirty witch whore.” Nyrah spat on the ground next to the pink bubble.
“I am one of the three, and yet so much more,” the woman said calmly.
“My name is Systemica. I am many things. A witch, perhaps? Or a goddess? An overseer of paths, one might call me. Yes, I am many, many things…” The witch-goddess trailed off for a moment as she inspected her perfectly manicured pink nails, as if momentarily forgetting she was having an important conversation.
She looked back up at Nyrah and Yana, mock-surprised that they were still there.
“Oh, yes. Cody Hampshire. When I decided to guide him down a new path, it was because I simply found him easy on the eyes and I needed a plaything. I snatched him from his home world and watched him while he was here, but he was so insistent on going back home. I was interested to see what he would accomplish if I allowed it, so I gave him a quest. He completed all his tasks, so I sent him back. I sent him on a wild fetch quest to earn his trip, of course, but the point is: he is no longer in Velasarin.”
“I will kill you if you do not tell me where he is!” Nyrah shouted.
“And why, exactly, is he yours?” Systemica asked.
“I am a Heartseer.” Nyrah breathed deeply, her voice full of passion. “And Cody Hampshire has a Heart of Gold. He is the only man I will be able to share a life of love with. He is my only chance at true love, so it is clear he is meant to be mine.”
“A Heartseer?” Systemica smiled slowly, looking over Nyrah. “That’s intriguing. And that…would make things so much more interesting…”
“Take me to him!” Nyrah shouted. “Now!”
Systemica dropped her bubble force field. “Yes…yes, I’ve decided I’m going to bring you right to him. I find this new development most intriguing and think it will be excellent entertainment. But in exchange for bringing you to Cody’s world, you will agree to work for me.”
“What kind of work?” Yana asked, not ready to trust this mysterious woman one bit.
“I’m opening a gift shop. It’s always been a dream of mine to be the owner of a quaint gift shop in an adorable Earth town.
I’ll be able to run my business while simultaneously watching over Cody.
I plan to sell all sorts of beautiful things in my shop, like furnishings and clothing and souvenir magnets and postcards. ”
Nyrah narrowed her red eyes. “What’s a magnet?” It sounded nefarious.
Systemica waved her hand dismissively. “I will fill your little minds with all the knowledge needed to succeed in the new world. I will gift you the er…gift of language, so you can speak with the locals, glamor your appearance to allow you to fit in with the humans, give you lodgings in the apartment above my gift shop, a small salary, freedom to pursue Cody, and in exchange, all you have to do is work retail.”
“Ree-tail?” Yana slowly crossed her arms over her chest. “Do we have to remove the tails from foul beasts so you can use them as ingredients in your witch potions?”
“No, that’s…that’s not what it is at all. But I’m sure two priestesses such as yourselves will be able to handle it.”
Nyrah gave the woman an enthusiastic nod. “We’ll do it! Bring us to Cody Hampshire! Immediately!”
“Nyrah…” Yana said quietly. “I feel an impending doom about this…this ree-tail thing.”
“But it will bring us closer to Cody Hampshire! Please, Yana! I love you! Platonically, of course. But I need you to do this with me. I need you to work ree-tail with me!”
The chicken squawked strangely, as if agreeing this was a wonderful plan. It was a sound like no chicken she had ever heard. The noise made Yana swallow nervously. But Yana did love Nyrah back. All she really wanted in this world, or any world, was for Nyrah to be happy.
“Okay, fine,” Yana said. “Our home has burnt down, we’ve already left our calling as priestesses, and I don’t want to lose you. I’ll go with you.”
Nyrah grinned up at Yana. “Thank you!”
Systemica clapped her hands, and in the blink of an eye the tavern surrounding them began to shift, the colors melting away.
The rustic browns and the orange glow of the fire all dissipated, turning into bright splashes of pink.
The pink hues slowly transformed into racks of clothing, a couch covered in pillows, and a big desk.
Yana looked around at her new surroundings and noticed a crystal chandelier hanging above her.
“What is this place?” Yana asked.
“Welcome to Goddess Gifts & More!” Systemica clasped her hands in front of her chest, beaming. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
The chicken squawked again, and Yana began to wonder if they had made a terrible mistake.