Snapdragons

Snapdragons Part II

Brandy was splashed over the burnt pan, a layer of the carmel colored liquid forming and shimmering in the meager gas lighting. Thunder continued to murmur following austere lightning.

"I will need one valuable belonging from each of you," Ms. Snapdragon told the group. Immediately suspicion settled in. Theophania nearly chuckled with disbelief. "You want our belongings?"

Ms. Snapdragon nodded. Edwin glared. Alistair frowned. Alice pursed her lips. The soon-to-be thief only set down the now empty bottle of brandy and began to circle the table like a dog hungry for dinner scraps. And, again like a starved hound, she stopped her parading once she had sniffed out something of her interest.

"Oh, what a fine ring. I am sure you paid well for it…or perhaps had someone very dear to you who was kind enough to pass it along?" In a split second, she had Alistair's hand in her grasp, playing prudently with his fingers and examining the ring that had happened to arouse her appetite. It was silver, small and smooth and plain besides the circle in the middle which was adorned by a gilded "A" carved into its face. Alistair looked down coldly at the way her fingers traced the silver letter.

"Yes."

Alistair felt no need to explain any further. The ring was from his mother. A for Agatha. It had been passed along to him by someone very dear. But Ms. Snapdragon didn't let go of his hand. "It is worth a good amount, Mr. Fairfax. That I can see."

And, in that moment, it was apparent that the starved hound had found its food and now only waited for consent to devour the scrap. So Alistair did what he could think to do. He pulled from her hold, thoroughly displeased by the image of her hasty hands on his own, pried the silver ring off his finger, and held it forward.

Everyone else was quiet. It may be that they were awed by Alistair's daring. Or disgusted by his foolhardy behavior.

"Wonderful." She readily clutched the ring close to her, admiring it. Then she let it drop into the brandy and fall to the bottom of the metal pan. And just like that, the dog had devoured its scrap. It already had its next prey.

"I'm afraid I do not know your name." Ivory gestured to Alice, who sat uncomfortably and rather glacial. Alice raised her eyebrows but continued to pick at her nails. "Ms. Oakley." Even Alice who was always so kind had no intention of using her manners on the woman.

"Ms. Oakley, I see you are wearing the most beautiful necklace." She was already approaching Alice with a hand outstretched. Alice settled her own hand on her chest, blocking the necklace. It was a gold chain supporting a rose colored gemstone.

"Well, I am going to need it, Ms. Oakley. That is the way this works."

Alice was going to respond bitterly with a refusal. That necklace was her mother's. The only thing she had of her. But before the heated words could leave her mouth, a thump on the table stopped her. Theophania had set a pocket watch on the table from the inside of her coat, gold and engraved with Endicott in intricate curlicues.

"Alice," Theophania whispered into Ms. Oakley's ear. "Give her your necklace. I promise you I'll get it back."

"How trustworthy, Ms. Endicott. I do very much appreciate the pocket watch, though. That has to be the most expensive item here." Ivory smiled and dangled the watch so she could better exam it. Then it was also dropped into the alcohol.

"The necklace is pretty, too. Worth is unimportant to its charm."

Alice felt her breath hitch in her  throat. Immediately, she reached to touch her necklace but found that her fingers only met bare skin. Ms. Snapdragon held it in her grasp, grinning to herself as she stared at the gemstone.

"H-how did you-"

The necklace was placed into the brandy. That left one more guest.

Throughout the commotion, Edwin had stayed oddly quiet. No smart quips, no history lessons. Not even an amused smirk. He looked like he'd just accepted fate, whatever that fate happened to be.

"Well, this one is easy," Ms. Snapdragon drawled. "Two rings in one day. How rare." She must have been a pickpocket at some time because in the blink of an eye she had Edwin's hand in her own, admiring his ring. It looked to be an engagement ring, delicate, gold, and holding a small diamond above its surface. 

"Oh, keeping it safe for the one you love? You will give it to her some day. Once you reclaim it from the flames."

"Perhaps. You should know that I have other valuables with me, though. It does not have to be the ring."

Blink again. The ring was between her thumb and index finger. Again, it was released into the pan. Then four valuables sat in the liquid.

"This will do, thank you."

Everyone was silent, even Edwin, who had raised a hand to reach for his belonging and then resignedly lowered it when he realized that there was no chance of getting it back unless the game was played. Alistair tried to glimpse at his expression, but when he caught his eye Edwin only looked away ruefully.

"We can finally play!"

Ms. Snapdragon turned out the gas lamp. It became nearly pitch black in the room and, without sight, the smell of flowers seemed even more severe. Fwip. The sound of Ms. Snapdragon lighting a match with delight. The guests watched as the light hovered over the pan, the glow of a pale face so unnerving, the suspense nearly unbearable. Just drop me already, the single flame seemed to beckon.

And then Ms. Snapdragon did drop the match. And the brandy was lit aflame. Not just aflame. It burned fulgid blue.

Here he comes with flaming bowl, don't he mean to take his toll.

Edwin tried first, rapidly reaching into the azure flames where his ring had been seen last, coming up short.

Take care you don't take too much, be not greedy in your clutch.

Theophania touched the fire, reeled back in discomfort, reached back in, pulled the necklace out.

With his blue and lapping tongue, many of you will be stung.

Alice attempted to grasp Theophania's pocket watch, but the flames were unforgiving. Alistair reached in and pulled out the clock of gold.

For he snaps at all that comes, snatching at his feast of plums.

Edwin ventured back through the dying maze of hot luminosity, came back with a ring that wasn't his own.

Don't 'ee fear him but be bold- out he goes, his flames are cold.

"If you fail to gain your possessions back, they're mine."

Snip, snap, dragon.