Chapter 1 #3
Manus leaned back against the headboard next to me, his hand falling on my thigh. Even in his human form, it felt natural having him close, touching me. Thank God he pulled on his pants. “You noticed that your pants were getting shorter and looser?”
I answered with a small nod.
“We think the spell started to break as your powers started to emerge. Your hair is getting darker, even more so since you have been here with us.”
“You are starting to look more like my sister, Trevina, your birth mother. Your real mother,” Doran said.
“Where is she, my real mother?” When no one answered, I looked to Manus.
“She died after finding a safe place for you and Feldema, your sister,” he said, his eyes cast down to the floor. There was more to that story, to be sure.
Doran spoke loudly and with authority. “You need your rest, Keena, and some food.” She raised her hand, and the iron latch clicked undone, the door falling inward.
I shrieked and raised the covers to my chin as a little creature stumbled abruptly into the room.
The eavesdropping little thing was perhaps waist high and bluish gray.
His eyes were black, but I could see a tiny ring of bright blue around the irises.
His head held a tuft of blue-green hair that stood in a little mohawk.
Iridescent, feathery scales covered his blue skin.
Once he recovered from his stumble, he presented the room with a formal bow. He looked at me with a big, toothy smile. “I am Hogan, of the Valley Kell. I am at your service, my lady.” I blinked hard at the little thing and looked at Manus.
He gave a small laugh. “Gnome. He is your sworn servant. He will care for you and your chambers.”
“Gnomes, Witches…what else do I need to know about?”
Hogan scrambled to the edge of the bed, being careful not to bump Doran. “Weres, Vamps, Gremlins, Slaugh—” I must have looked as horrified as I felt because Doran put her hand on his shoulder. The Gnome fell to his knees and shut his mouth.
“Hogan, please get Keena something to eat and run her a bath.” As she spoke, calm emanated from the powerful woman. The feeling wrapped around me like a warm towel.
“Yes, my lady.” He bowed again to me and then scurried out of the room, his little legs moving him faster than I would have thought possible.
Doran stood. “I hate to leave you at this time, my niece, but I have an urgent meeting to attend. Manus and Bevin will attend to you. They’ll begin your training and answer all your questions.
” She shot Manus a stern look. “After you’ve had some time to rest. Bevin will also begin to help you learn your spells.
You are starting very late, so I hope you are up to the accelerated teachings.
I will be back in a few days. If you need me in the meantime, Manus can get in contact with me. ”
I nodded acceptance because I had no other real response. I wished it all were a drug-induced hallucination, but I was awake, and this was as real and as solid as the stone walls of the room.
Hogan returned with barbecued pork and a diet soda. My favorite. I stuttered a weak, “Thank you,” to the Gnome. Hogan winked, and his unimaginably long blue eyelashes sparkled in the candlelight.
Manus took the plate to the small table. “Hogan is pledged to you, Keena, but you must watch the Gnomes. They have a strange sense of humor, and it tends to show up at inappropriate times.”
The food smelled divine from across the room, and my stomach grumbled.
I got out from under the covers and realized for the first time that I was dressed in a silk gown that was very low cut on the top and very high cut at the bottom, showing most of my thighs.
It was a deep golden color that worked well with my skin tone and it fit like a glove.
Though the garment was beautiful, I felt uncomfortable in front of the audience. My face obviously read my discomfort.
“We have different sensibilities about nudity here, Keena. You will have to adjust to that as well. We value our bodies as a great gift. They are part of our magic and hold no shame among our kind. Some of the species you are going to meet would be insulted by your shyness.” Hogan, I noticed, looked truly disappointed.
His little face was actually cute with his tuft of blue hair falling in his eyes as he pouted.
“Hogan is also responsible for your wardrobe. I assure you, everything he chooses will be flattering and in the proper fashion for the occasion.”
Hogan was still looking at the ground and standing very rigid. It occurred to me that I had hurt his feelings and, even given the unusual circumstances, I didn’t want to offend anyone.
“It’s beautiful, Hogan, thank you. But…do you think I could have a robe?” His head popped up, the mohawk quivering from the quick movement, and a smile full of too many tiny, sharp teeth covered half his adorable face.
I had just given a compliment to a Gnome for a sexy nightgown. Shaking my head, I decided that I needed the food before I fainted.
He mumbled a few words I couldn’t really hear, and a robe that perfectly matched my nightgown appeared at my feet. He lifted it to me. Whoa.
“I’ll prepare your bath,” he said with a wink, bowing and backing into an adjoining room.