The Angelus Brothers Chronicles - The Golden Hind

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

As Kaia stepped through the portal and out of the garden into a bustling crowd she gasped and gripped Gabriel's hand. He felt a thrill pass over him at her reaching out to him for strength and protection. She'd never seen so many beings, all manner of creatures and demons moved about them and bumped into them. Leaning down he whispered in her ear. 

"It's OK, I've got you. We need to move from the portal before anyone else steps through." He guided her through the crowd to the edge of a huge fountain that didn't have too many creatures around it. It seemed to be in the centre of the huge square and towered above everything around it. At least forty feet tall it was a huge bronze statue of Zeus holding a lighting bolt high above his head. In his other hand, he held a chalice which was tipped so water came pouring from it, to cascade down into the huge pool below. 

Gazing around her Kaia couldn't believe what she was seeing, it wasn't like the human villages she had known in her old life. The huge square was filled with vendors selling their wares from small wooden carts. Demons and creatures moved about between them and disappeared inside the various shops, bars and restaurants that surrounded the square. In every direction were large windows full of things to buy. The place was loud and dim, unlike the evening sunshine they had just left, lit with thousands of candles in glass cages atop tall black poles. 

"This place is magical." Exclaimed the hind as she tried to look at everything around her. Gabriel ushered away a small grey-skinned goblin boy trying to sell him a rose from a large basket he carried.  

"Well it's cloaked by magic but I wouldn't say it's magical. It definitely never smells magical." He pointed across the square to a row of shops. "Let's take you to get some clothes, Sisoa is a pain in my backside, but she's the best in town, Marie shops with her all the time. Then we'll go buy some dinner if you're hungry." 

"Cake?" Kaia asked excitedly. Finding himself laughing again, he nodded. 

"If that's what you desire, my beauty." Taking her hand in his and ignoring the glances that he was drawing from the surrounding creatures, he led her through the crowd that seemed to part to let them through and showed her into a blue-fronted shop. 

A bell tinkled as he pushed open the white-painted door. Inside was shelf after shelf of fabrics in every colour and texture imaginable, pictures hung from the ceiling of all manner of women's finery. A small spindly looking goblin woman with grey-green skin, a long pointed nose and huge pointed ears appeared from behind a curtain. She was dressed in a powder blue satin ball gown and wore a powder blue wig piled high on top of her head with all manner of feathers poking out of it. 

"Ah, Gabriel, I was expecting Winston to pick up Marie's order." Said the goblin in a haughty posh London accent as she eyed the hind.  

"Sisoa. I'm actually here to get my... friend some clothes but I'll take Marie's order with me." He faltered at calling Kaia his bride. She hadn't formally accepted him, he kept reminding himself that what they shared in the garden didn't mean she was going to accept him. Even if it had been the most incredible moment of his life.

"Do you have any thoughts as to what you want my dear?" Asked Sisoa as she came from behind the glass counter full of buttons and sequins with a tape measure in her hand. 

"No...." Said Kaia unsure. "Just clothes." She looked up to Gabriel to see if he would step in but he was watching a couple of creatures out of the window who seemed very interested in them.

"Tsk. To men, they are just clothes." Exclaimed the goblin as she waved a dismissive boney, long-fingered hand at Gabriel who looked back round with his eyebrow raised. "To women, they are an art form with which to express ourselves." Placing a hand on the small of Kaia's back she guided her through a deep blue curtain on the other side of the shop to her counter. 

The hind gasped as they entered the biggest room she'd ever seen. It was simply filled with dresses and blouses, skirts and trousers. More types of clothing than Kaia ever could have imagined adorned the walls, and ceiling and more manikins than Kaia could count. It seemed to go on for miles, row after row of clothes from every era known to the goblin. 

"Now dear." Said Sisoa as she moved her towards the first row of mannequins. "I personally favour a more baroque fashion myself. But I get the feeling from your current attire you would prefer perhaps something modern, maybe flora print, sundresses?" She said giving Kaias borrowed dress an unimpressed once over.

"This is not my dress."

"Ah. I was wondering. It fits you like an old sack. So what style is yours my dear? Let us create for you a wardrobe that fits. What's your colour palette?" 

"I... I'm not sure." Replied Kaia gazing wide-eyed at all the different clothes and fabrics. 

"What do you usually choose to wear?" Asked Sisoa excitedly.

"I didn't have anything to wear for centuries. I had a few chitons before that." She said as she stroked the sleeve of an emerald green satin ball gown beside her. 

"Nothing to wear? For centuries?" She eyed Kaia's small horns. "What species are you deary?" Gabriel's voice was serious and commanding from behind them. 

"Her name is Kaia. She needs a complete wardrobe made and a few off-the-rack pieces to take away today. That's all you need to know!" Jumping a little, Sisoa turned quickly.

"Oh of... of course Gabriel. I was just making conversation. What budget am I working with?" 

"Unlimited." Replied Gabriel as he watched Kaia. "Whatever she wants she gets, cost doesn't matter. Make everything with room to be let out, she'll be regaining her strength and some weight in the coming weeks and months." Sisoa's eyes widened and a smile spread across her over-made-up face. 

"Unlimited?" 

"Yes." Sisoa beamed, the vampire could see her mentally picking out her most expensive fabrics to show his beautiful hind. He didn't care, if it made her smile he'd bankrupt himself. Not that it would, the family had more money than they could spend without factoring in his very generous wages from the army.

"Should I send one of my girls to the shoemakers so she can do all her shopping in one place?" Asked the Goblin looking down at Kaia's bare feet. How had he not noticed she didn't have any shoes. How had Cassiel not brought it to his attention that their visitor had literally nothing? He'd be having words with his youngest brother. 

"Yes." Replied the vampire. He moved to where Kaia had slowly wandered to look at a slinky red velvet dress and kissed her forehead. "I need to pop to Argyris. I'll be back soon. Sisoa will look after you." He shot a look at the goblin as he spoke who smiled and nodded. 

"Argyris?" Asked Kaia, suddenly feeling uncomfortable being left alone with the over-friendly goblin woman. Her powdered white face and huge red lips made her look kind of scary.  

"Just the bank my family's money is held in. I won't be long, I promise." He kissed her on the forehead again and giving Sisoa another stern look left the two women alone. 

"Goe. GOE." Called Sisoa. A small young-looking goblin girl raced into the room wearing a pink puffy dress covered in lace and a large pink lace bonnet. 

"Mama?" Asked the girl. Her small beady black eyes pinned Kaia in a wide-eyed stare. 

"Go to Mr Walsingham and ask him to send one of his boys over. We have a customer who needs shoes." The girl nodded and ran through the curtain Gabriel had just disappeared through. 

"Now my dear, let the fun begin. You're going to shop till you drop."