And What I Found There - Book Two

13. Paint Me a Blue Sky

"Tell the White Knights I'm here when they come back," I wearily tell the clerk who is staring at me with wide eyes of shock as I stagger back into the hotel, all soggy and sopping wet. I just start the grueling trek upstairs when I remember the puppy. I turn to see Bishop heading back outside, his head hung and his tail limp. "Hey, wait!" I call. "Where are you going?"

"Oh," he shrugs wearily. "I guess back to the streets... See ya 'round, lady."

"No wait!" I hurry over to him. "You really helped me out, you can't leave like this! At least stay for a while to rest up and I'll get you a nice steak."

"Well...okay, but I'll be out n' gone right after my steak."

"Fair enough." I smile.

***

I clean myself up with soap and water and amazingly turn out looking okay but now I'm in need of a new outfit and it'll have to be made out of magic since I failed to pack a stitch of clothing.

I pick something I seen in Adarina's wardrobe so this kinda helps me out because I already know what it looks and feels like.

And it looks pretty badass.

The dress is all gold and gets paler the farther down it goes, it's a high-low skirt and the entire dress is made out of sparkling fringe and seems to sizzle every time I move. It's got a subtle V-neck and is sleeveless with shimmering golden straps, I match this dress with knee-high black boots. I comb out my newly cleaned curls and add a splash of makeup to my face to look refreshed, I even go bold and add some eyeliner.

After cleaning up, I hurry back to my bedroom. Bishop is asleep on the edge of the bed; his plate is empty now save for a few bones. I'm so exhausted from all the excitement lately, I wearily sink into a chair in front of the window, fully intending on waiting for the Knights to return...but my heavy eyes close...

My face feels sticky...Wha...? I try to wipe my face off, but my hand just pulls on my skin...I grab a fistful of snow and rub it over my mouth and chin...the snow falls from my hand, stained with blood... Oh god! I hop off the rock I was sitting on and look around in alarm... I gasp as I see drops of bright scarlet blood on the ground, leading out of the little clearing and heading into the white tree woods... I follow the scarlet trail for a while till I emerge into another clearing; this one is bigger than the one I came from... And this one isn't empty... 

I stare at the pool of bright red blood under the dead white stag... His once majestic body is now riddled with gory bite marks...the wounds look like they were made by blunt, human teeth -

"Lady! Hey, lady! Wake up!" Bishop nuzzles my hand and barks a couple more times.

"Wha-?" I startle, looking around wildly. I'm back in my hotel room.

"You were actin' loony, lady!"

I stare at the ceiling, heart hammering in my chest. I know who killed that stag in my dream... "Really?" I gulp and now nervously touch my fingertips to my lip. Only red lipstick comes off. No blood. "What was I doing?"

"You were startin' to have a fit, I think. Whimpering n' stuff, you seemed scared...are ya okay, lady?"

I nod and sit up. "Yeah... Now. Thanks to you. I um, I have these...bad dreams." I gesture vaguely. "I usually can't wakeup from them and some of them get...pretty terrifying." I shudder.

Bishop shakes his head. "Sorry about your luck. I mean it." He adds.

An idea sudden pops into my head. "Hey! You woke me before it got super unbearable."