The Dragon's Bane

XXIX

Évrard D'Aboville-The Creature 

Once upon a time a crocodile woke up in a mood to eat a monkey's heart. He'd eaten them before and found them especially delicious, but monkeys can be slippery captures.

So, he enacted a plan to deceive one of the monkeys who was known for being trusting. To goad it out of its tree. He says to the monkey "On my island in the middle of the river, are trees with the most resplendent yellow bananas you will ever lay those eyes upon."

Since the monkey couldn't swim to them naturally the crocodile offered to take him across on his back to visit the bananas. Halfway across the river the crocodile dives deep into the water thrashing is tail about.

When the cruel clever croc surfaces, the monkey (who had barely survived at this point) is wet and coughing up all the water. He asked, "Why would you do that my new friend?" cough, "don't you know I can't swim?"

The croc of course knew that the monkey couldn't swim. He wanted to drown him as a mercy finish, but for some reason he couldn't do it. He felt a tinge of guilt as the monkey was drowning.

He admitted; "I am sorry my good, Sir. I just wanted to eat your heart." The monkey listened intently. And not only did he seem unoffended. He also seemed to sympathize with the crocodile. Telling him, "Well you've been fooled. Monkeys have extra hearts to spare. But the ones in our chest are the least edible. And I, like most of my kind, don't keep my best heart on me. I instead often leave it safe up in the tall trees on the riverbank where it won't get wet. Follow me."

The monkey scurries up the tree and invites the crocodile to come up and get it. The crocodile couldn't. So, the monkey ties a vine around his leg advising he and his monkey friends will pull him up.

Halfway up, the monkeys of the village come out and confront the serial killing croc. One by one they confront him with the loved ones who have lost family and friends as a result of his greed.

They let the crocodile dangle and make him promise never to eat another monkey heart unless he wanted to dangle forever. The crocodile promised and it should be said...he never ate another monkey heart again.

But that's only because even with the promise they left him dangling in his hunger forever. Moral of the story for me; not only should I NEVER ever let an enemy know where I keep my heart. Sometimes, it's not even wise to let so-called friends know. 

Moral of the story for the monkey; never forgive crocodiles. They can't eat what they can't catch. And moral of the story for crocodiles, never trust a monkey.

I'm not sure why this story came to mind. Perhaps because of the way her haunting onyx-colored eyes, that so resemble my own regarded me. Perhaps it is because I no longer knew if I was the monkey or the crocodile.

"You didn't have to suck the poison out I would have healed." I argued. We'd been at it since her little overt display of power. I wasn't sure which of my tricks she'd stolen nor how long the effects would last. Fear (a feeling I was no longer accustomed to) made me unreasonable. 

Her hands fly up in exaggerated flourish, "Excuse me for freaking out, I only thought you were dead!"

"I am dead. Recall it?" I respond but my tone is none too gentle and I see her recoil.

"Thanks for the newsflash but I already fucking knew that!" Her eyes gloss over with tears, staining like polished obsidian. She wasn't strigoi but she would have made a handsome one.

"Why are you even here?" She asked arms folded over a heaving chest. "You still haven't answered. I assume you were so goddamn grateful I saved your ass that you couldn't stand to be in the same room with me."

If she only knew how untrue those words were. "I left to prepare things at the Chateau for our arrival. I came to take you out of this squalor," I gesture to the surroundings, "to more comfortable lodgings."

"You will not insult my home, Cainite. She can stay here as long as she likes." Maelys sat cross-legged in her armchair near the fire. 

Thank the Gods she learned to keep her big mouth out of our conversation. I'm still not sure what made me think I could rely on her for help. She has the aptitude and charisma of a crisp packet in a high wind.

"Just look at it there's not much to insult. And you are an absolute berk. It's not a question of IF she goes. It's a question of fuck off."

I finish my long glare at Maelys. She answers with the one finger salute, when Izmir began, "Must you be so obnoxious?" She seems exasperated. That was certainly Maelys' fault. She should keep her abnormally large nose out of my business.

"Of course," I answer confidently. "It's the only way I can get your attention."

I knew the eye roll was coming but the confirmation simply let me know I was reading her right.

"You could have just asked me, you know? I would have said yes."

I shifted from foot to foot. An unfamiliar discomfort forced me to clear my throat and cast my gaze to the floor. I'd have to admit something I didn't want to, with an audience to boot.

"I was too focused on the possibility you'd say no...or worse yet despise me for asking in the first place."

Her face softened and tension in her shoulders eased. I was desperate for even one syllable of her thoughts, but nothing came through.

"She's not going anywhere without me. She goes then so do I." Maelys said, leaving her perch to throw her arm around Izmir's shoulders. She was determined to play chaperone where none was needed.

"I bloody well-" My words catch in my throat as all the hair at the back of my neck stands on end. There was someone here in the mouth of the cave. My eyes flickered to Maelys. She sensed it to.

"What's happening?" Izmir asked seeing the change in my demeanor.

"Someone is here." I answer before flash-stepping away to the mouth of the cave.