The Rise of a Hero & The Garnet Nightshade (Book 1)

Chapter III: A Lunar Blessing?

Having to hide my fox ears and tail from the many nobles at the ball was rather difficult since I was approached by many more onlookers. Another thing that had changed was my hair and eye color. Thanks to Mira's quick thinking, I was able to avoid most of the conversations. Once I was close enough to the doors Mira nodded for me to retreat to my room. I ducked as quietly as possible out the door.

I heard myself mutter: "We're going to have fun!"

Just as the words left my lips my fox ears and tail twitched. As much as I hated Mira for tampering with my clothes, I needed her to make an exception for my tail. Having it cramped under this dress was murder, so I quickly made my way to my room. I did notice I had made little noise considering I was wearing heels. There were a few things I wanted to test while I was like this, but I would have to wait until tomorrow. Assuming I was still like this then.

"Lady Elise, are you not feeling well?" Asks one of the maids.

Stammering with my words, I finally say: "I... I'm just feeling a little under the weather."

"Would you like me to walk with you to your room?" Asks the maid.

I say as calmly as I can: "It's fine, truly. I believe Mira will check on me soon."

Hesitantly, the maid says: "Well alright then. I hope you feel better."

My mind goes hazy for a brief second and my walking pace slows to a near stop.

I can hear voices coming from two floors below me saying: "Did you hear that Lady Elise wasn't feeling well?"

"She did look rather pale after her last dance, I just hope the poor girl isn't ill." Says the second voice.

I suspected as much. By now everyone at the ball knows I'm not myself. How will they take it when they see I'm not human, but a Demi-Human? I mean, I have fox ears sprouting from my head and a tail to match it? To add salt to the wound, they're both highly sensitive to touch.

My tail has been tightly tucked inside my dress now for over an hour and it's beginning to drive me crazy. After getting my mind together I continue to make my way to my room. Once I'm within reach the familiar scent of my room hits my nostrils and I inhale deeply. The floral scent coming from my room has a much sweeter scent than I've ever realized, maybe my enhanced senses helped?

There is so much about this I don't understand. At least Mira didn't freak out like I thought she would. She accepted me even like this.

As I mutter: "Mira", my voice catches and my body slowly begins to heat up in an unfamiliar way. The nerve endings in my whole body feel like they're on fire due to a small electric shock. The intensity of it grows each time I say her name. By the time I reach my bedroom door I'm panting. Trying my hardest not to think of Mira was torture, but I knew deep down what would happen tonight I could and would never take it back.

My human morals held me back from loving Mira the same way she loved me, but now that the animal genes were free from their cage it wouldn't and couldn't be contained. Fumbling with my bedroom key, I finally managed to open the door and on my way to the bed, I looked in the standing mirror to see what shouldn't have come as a shock. I was looking at garnet-colored ears and hair with black streaks and tips, with eyes that matched. It was safe to assume my tail was the same as well.

After several minutes of looking myself over, I go to lay down. As I do, I slowly take off the dress and the undergarments. Which allows my newfound tail some freedom. I stand still to watch it sway back and forth uncontrollably. As I go to grab it to try to stop it, a small moan escapes my lips.

I say to myself: "This isn't going to be good."

An hour later

With the lights turned off and the only light coming in is from the lunar eclipsed moon outside my window. Even with my enhanced hearing, I couldn't hear Mira sneak into my room. What gave it away was the sudden shift of the bed from her crawling on it. Unbeknownst to her, I had laid a trap on the bed. I had laid myself as close to the floor as possible and concealed my presence, so, the moment she realized it was pillows on the bed and not me I pounced on top of her. A small yelp escapes her lips as she looks up at me.

My ears twitch as my tail sways back and forth in a playful motion. I lean down inches away from her neck and she unintentionally flinches away. With a mischievous smile working its way on my face, I close the small gap and gently lick her neck.

The next morning

POV: Mira Lis'ra

When I woke up the next morning events from the night before were a bit foggy at first but as I slowly began to wake up the memories did as well. As I lay next to Elise I can feel her fox ears twitch in her sleep. On occasion, the blanket would rise and fall as her tail would wag in her sleep. As I lay there and adore her sleeping face as a sudden knock breaks me of my admiration. I steel myself for what's to come so I gently climb off the bed and quietly dress before answering the door. After I'm addressed to the news, I hear a soft yawn and turn and face Elise, who had just woken up.

With a small smile, I say: "Good morning sleepy head. You need to get dressed and meet me in the royal hall. I have news for you."

Tilting her head slightly, Elise asks: "I'm to depart on a mission, aren't I?!"

With a small smile, I say: "There was a murder in the far south of the domain. An area I haven't visited in some time. So the nobles of the area have requested your assistance. I'd join you but I must remain here."

"I won't be able to see you for a while. Are you alright with that?" Asks Elise, as she climbs off the bed.

Hiding my feelings was hard, but I smiled and said: "Your mission now is to serve me and this domain. You are no longer my retainer. What I wish for is no longer under my control."

Crossing the room, Elise says in a low voice: "You showed me your weakness from day one, and I have finally shown you mine. I'd suffer the ire of hell than be apart from you. Even as my ruler, my Queen, I'd take your hand before the entire domain and let thy god forbid me from doing so."

Taken aback by Elise's declaration, I find myself speechless. Just thinking about what I just heard makes my heart race and my face turns red.

Without hearing a sound, Elise wraps her arms tightly around me.

I whisper in Elise's ear: "I need to change so I can meet you in the royal hall."

POV: Elise Lis'ra

As I watched Mira leave my room my mind slipped back to the night's events. Since I wasn't fully awake I had no remembrance of my fox ears or tail. To my utter surprise, they were still there. I walked sleepily to the mirror to find my tail swaying from side to side. My hair and eyes did indeed turn the same color, except the black tips of my ears and tail. Now that I was awake enough to notice these things, I knew I had to get dressed. I had a formal summons from a lord to attend to.