7. Mia
CHAPTER 7
MIA
I try not to smile as I watch the council members at the bar. Amazing what a few rounds can do - their stern faces have softened considerably since that scene at the map earlier. Even that super grumpy one seems to be enjoying himself, though he's trying to maintain his dignity while Koda orders another round. It’s a little early to get sauced, if you ask me, but they don’t seem to have any qualms about it.
"Come on, Superpoppilicious," I coax, turning my attention back to my wayward cat. "Time to go home... wherever home is now." Mary Poppins doesn't even twitch a whisker, too busy cuddling with Othrix by the Bullhorn's hearth. My supposedly independent cat, who once even hissed at the cutest golden retriever puppy ever, is now practically melted into the side of Thokk's ‘fierce hunter.’ "Traitor," I mutter fondly. "What happened to sisters before misters?"
"Good luck with that," Zoe laughs from her perch at the bar. "Those two are inseparable now. Though I guess you could say the same about their owners with their significant others..." I feel my cheeks heat, thinking about how Koda looked at me by the map earlier.
And how it felt being so close...
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I lie. "Speaking of things I don't understand though, that statue in the square. The one with the human woman and the orc? What's the story there?"
"Oh!" Zoe's eyes light up. "That's my Great Aunt Charlotte..."
“What? You mean the one who founded the museum you work at?”
“Yes and no. The “museum” was her estate. She lived in it. It wasn’t gonna be a museum at all. I wouldn’t have minded if it stayed in the family—all those cool treasures. And come on, I mean ‘family’, right? But my parents, being the specimens they are, basically sold the whole thing—lock, stock, and barrel. Let’s not go there right now. I’m in a good mood. But, yeah, what the hell a statue of her is doing here? With an orc? It’s all a big mystery. You know it was in the basement of her old estate, the museum, where I read the line... What was it again... ‘Enter, all who still believe...’”
“No way!”
“Way. Anyhow, yeah, that’s my great aunt.”
“Wow. So weird how we all read those different phrases.”
“I know, right?”
“So, you guys think she was part of a secret society? And that the temple is part of all this?” A thousand questions run through my mind.
“Your guess is as good as mine, but yeah it appears as though it's all connected.”
“This place is so freaking cool.”
Mary Poppins seems to agree with me as she snuggles deeper into Othrix's fur.
"I can’t believe I’m in a magical hidden town full of monsters.'"
"Umhmmm, I have a feeling your adventures here are just getting started." Zoe's eyes sparkle with mischief, as she inclines her head a little in Koda’s direction and wiggles her eyebrows a bit.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I narrow my eyes at Zoe's mischievous expression.
"I think you know exactly what I mean, but " She glances at Olivia, who's trying and failing to hide a grin. "Let's just say there might have been this spell..."
"A spell?"
"Yeah, Elowen— she’s kinda like the town witch. Thokk and Kalen said she cast this mate summoning spell?—"
"There’s a town witch ? No one said anything about witches! And what summoning spell?"
Before Zoe can elaborate, the tavern door bursts open with enough force to rock the chandeliers. A short but elegant figure with pointed ears storms in, huffing and puffing, his silvery robes swishing dramatically.
Is that an elf? Holy cow!
"Gods above, tell me it isn't true!" His voice carries that special kind of exasperation I usually only hear from former employers. "Not another human! The town is barely adjusting to the first two!"
"Elder Faelar," Zoe starts, but he waves her off.
"The orcs are already spreading rumors far and wide! This is exactly what we don't need right now."
Thokk is the next to enter, apparently also having caught wind of whatever rumors are spreading. Koda and Kalen leave the bar area to join him, the three of them filling the doorway in an impressive wall of muscle. The odd contrast between the three massive friends and the little elf would be comical if the elf-like elder didn't look ready to have an aneurysm.
"I see you’ve heard,” Thokk thunders.
“Only just now, though I am not surprised about the orcs,” Kalen rumbles. "We’ll put the fear of the Gods into them."
"Yes, yes, that would help." The little elfin Elder turns to me, slowly gathering himself, and apparently remembering his manners—or maybe he's just noticed me, it’s hard to tell. "So. You're the latest... arrival ."
“Um, yeah, I guess so. Super Mia, at your service.” I give him my best jazz hands, but they don’t have the intended effect. For a moment he just freezes in place. Then he looks to the others for guidance, almost like he doesn’t know what to make of me.
Not the first time.
“Welcome to Fablewood, I suppose. Though I do wish you humans would stop appearing out of nowhere."
"Sorry? I guess?" I offer. "But for what it’s worth, I didn't exactly plan this. Though I have to say, your town is absolutely amazing! The architecture alone?—"
"Mia," Koda cuts in gently but firmly. "You need to come with me. For your own safety. Now."
"But—"
A familiar meow interrupts my protest. Mary Poppins, who has detached herself from Othrix, trots over, winding around my ankles.
"Well, look who finally remembered who feeds her," I coo, scooping her up. "Done with your boyfriend already?"
"She can come too," Koda says, and is it my imagination or is he fighting a smile? "But we must go. Now."
“You can handle one night away from Othrix, Stealer of Hearts,” I tell Mary Poppins as I cuddle her. I glance at Koda. “Mommy needs her fur baby...”
"I am not your fur baby," Koda rumbles indignantly.
"What?" I turn to stare at him, then a burst of giggles escapes from my lips. "I was talking to my cat!"
His ears twitch with embarrassment. "Of course you were," he growls. "I knew that."
"Yep. I know you did, big guy." I'm still grinning as he guides me toward the door and out into the early evening where daylight is waning fast.
As we walk through the darkening forest, my mind races. "Is this about those drunk orcs from earlier?"
"Orcs. Yes and no," Koda rumbles. "The whole humans-as-mates situation is still... delicate."
"Oh, I see." Though I'm not sure I do. There's clearly more going on here than anyone's telling me. "Wait... Mates? Zoe just said something about a mate summoning spell I think? What was she talking?—"
"Let's focus on getting you somewhere safe for now," he says quickly, guiding me deeper into the wilderness. The way his hand rests protectively at the small of my back sends tingles up my spine.
"Where exactly are we going?" I ask as Mary Poppins trots beside us, seemingly unbothered by our trek into the wild.
"Sasquatch lands. Many different monster-folk live in and around Fablewood, and many, like us, have their own territories. My kind prefer the quiet of the deep woods."
"Apparently," I observe, peering into the deepening shadows between the massive tree trunks that surround us.
Jeez, these trees are bigger than the sequoias.
"Hey, um... This is kinda of... uh... rustic, out here. I don't see any houses… Oh, no!" I stop dead in my tracks, looking up at the massive trees towering above us. "Please don't tell me you live in nests. You know I saw a History Channel special and they said?—"
Suddenly his brow furrows in apparent consternation. "Don’t get me started on the garbage they spout on the History Channel."
“Wait. How do you know about the History Channel?”
“Satellite TV, of course. We’re Sasquatch, not savages.”
Well don’t I feel stupid.
Nevertheless, I’m having second thoughts. Can I really live in a nest? I take another peek at his massive, powerful frame again and feel a flutter start up in my lower belly. Okay, a nest might be doable.
I hope it's not all pokey, though. I'm not crazy about the idea of having twigs and such all up in my butt.
Before I can further contemplate what it was the History Channel revealed about sasquatch nests, Koda scoops me up against his massive chest as though I weigh nothing. Then, a second later, Mary Poppins lets out an indignant meow when she’s plopped into my arms.
"Hold tight," he rumbles, then starts to climb.
"Wait, what are you— eep! "
My squeal turns into delighted laughter as he deftly scales the trunk with impossible ease. His movements are so graceful, so polished, that even my cat lets out a contented purr.
Me? I hardly notice the flex of his muscles with each movement. Or the strong, secure arm that holds us both as we ascend. Or the sense of safety I feel nestled against him.
Okay, alright, I notice.
When we reach the top, my jaw falls open and my eyes nearly bug out of my head. Holy shit but this is no nest?!
Awestruck, I gape at the vast treehouse complex before me. An intricate network of wooden platforms, walkways and terraces stretch out in all directions, each suspended among ancient, gnarled trees, their massive trunks serving as natural pillars. Moonlight filters through gaps in the dense canopy overhead casting a dappled silver glow of light and shadow throughout. Magnificent. Breathtaking. This hidden sanctuary high above the forest floor is like something out of a fairytale. ?
"This is incredible," I breathe as he sets me down on a wide deck. "But… is that really the front door? I mean, I would think there would be an easier way to get up here."
"No, it’s not the front door. Things in town are still a little touch and go as far as you humans are concerned. I thought it safer to kind of sneak up in case anyone was watching.”
Of course. As though it’s the most normal thing in the world, scaling branches to reach your treehouse... In your magical woods... Just outside your magical hidden village.
“So, what now?” Still trying to get my bearings, I dare to look over the railing along the edge of the deck. The view is incredible.
“You must be exhausted.” He places a gentle hand on my back again and I swear it’s like tiny firecrackers detonate between us at each little point of contact. “Come on, I’ll show you where you can get some rest.”
The air between us is practically on fire. Since he seems to be doing his level best to ignore it, I try to do the same.
“So, is this where you bring all the stray humans you find?” I'm aware of the flirtatious tone that has crept into my voice.
Careful, Mia.
"What? No. Not at all.” For an instant, the question seems to spark a momentary loss of composure. Or…maybe it’s not the question. Maybe it’s my flirtatious tone. Regardless, it only lasts a moment before he’s back to calm, cool, collected Koda. “I do not collect stray humans,” he adds without a trace of humor.
I accompany the gruff, hairy giant through his treehouse maze and, as we slip under an archway woven from living branches, he announces, “You can sleep in here.”
I take in the room—all polished wood and soft lamplight with a massive canopy bed draped in silks. Wow. I don’t even know what to say.
He clears his throat. “I trust it will suffice?” I sense a hesitance in voice. A hint of insecurity, maybe? He really wants me to like it. And how can I not? Suffice? It’s gorgeous. Way better than a nest of pokey twigs. The History Channel has no clue.
“It’s perfect.” I turn my face up to offer a grateful smile and find him staring down at me with a look so intense I have a strong urge to squeeze my thighs together.
Our eyes lock and hold, neither of us seeming to want to break this strange spell. For a moment, I think he’s going to speak. I see a flash of something pass over his features. Is it…longing? Desire? I can’t tell, because no sooner did it appear than it was gone. I’m not even sure whether it was real.
Maybe I should say something.
Should I? Should I ask him to stay here with me?
And then what? I suppose we can figure that out. Play it by ear.
As my brain scrambles to come up with the best way to pose a “Netflix and chill” proposition to a sasquatch—straightforward but not too bold and definitely not pushy—he breaks the stare, turning to leave before I even get the chance to shoot my shot.
With a sinking heart, I watch him go. But as he makes his way to the door, I notice an odd tangled patch of fur. A burr? He has a burr caught in his fur.?And then I see another one. It doesn’t take me more than a split second to realize his fur is full of them—no doubt from our earlier adventures.
"Wait a sec. You're all tangled." I reach for one and try to detach it without yanking too hard. "Let me help."
"What?” He glances down as I continue to try to untangle his fur from the stubborn burr. I bite back a victorious smile when he doesn’t move away or even attempt to shake free from my fingers. “Oh, that's nothing."
He may think it's nothing, but I can be very persistent when I want to be. And I want to be. ?
Netflix and chill, baby.
"Don't be silly. You freed me from certain death-by-doom-dog, and then those nasty orcs. The least I can do is de-burr you. Um… do you have a brush somewhere?"
“Yes, of course.” He hesitates, then the corner of his mouth turns up slightly and he motions for me to follow him next door to what I assume are his own quarters—a stunning circular platform embracing an ancient trunk.
This place is crazy. It’s as though each room is more magnificent than the last, and as I gape at the splendor, he crosses to a table by the window to retrieve a large brush.
The brush is laying there innocently enough, but as I wait for him to grab it, the air between us feels anything but innocent.
I’m just going to help him with his burrs.
Ummhmm, sure you are.