Girl of Flower and Flame

Chapter Eleven

When she blinked, it was with the languorous motion of a cat as it stretched on its perch.

"Are you new here?" she asked, her snowdrop-white teeth lying in a formidable grin.

A quiver blossomed along Eulalia's spine at the sound of her voice, sweet enough to fool the best of them, that and she was beautiful.

A faerie of summer, made of sunlight and calm winds.

Her hair the shade of honey tumbled down her back in lustrous waves, each strand streaked with a substance that smelled faintly of roses and glimmered in the garish light. Her pert nose curved up at the tip, paired with steel-blue eyes and a plump mouth—red as daylilies. Her lacy gown did little to hide her ample bosom. The sleeves pulled low on her shoulders. A décolletage complete by frail collarbones, unfurling from the base of her neck as if in full bloom.

It might have been a strange question if she hadn't heard the news. Gossip spread like trumpet vine in houses like this. Eulalia searched her thoughts for what to say. The less they knew the better. She settled for a brief nod, wanting to be as far away from the faerie as possible. There was something about her that wasn't pleasant in the slightest.

"Oh, wait." The faerie tapped her lips. "I did hear about Liliana's little trip to the human world. You must be the halfling everyone's been talking about." It should have been impossible for her smile to grow wider though it did. A snake unhinging its jaw.

Eulalia said nothing, her gaze fleeting to the front door, so close yet so far away, trapped beneath that menacing stare.

"What was your name again?" she asked.

"Eulalia," said Eulalia, braving one step down the stairs.

The faerie followed suit. "I'm Mairwen." She held out her hand for Eulalia to shake, her pale, slender wrist dangling between them as if propped on an invisible string.

Eulalia eyed her. Deciding not to take Mairwen up on her offer, she took another step down. "There's somewhere I have to be."

Mairwen did the same, not fazed at all by Eulalia's slight. "And where's that?" She followed Eulalia's gaze. "I wouldn't go out there if I were you. It's much friendlier in here and I should say warmer. And, anyway, I suspect Andris wouldn't want anything happening to his newest pet." She leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair off Eulalia's cheek.

"What did you say?" Eulalia shook her head, not at all having missed Mairwen's snide.

"I wonder how he keeps up with all of you. He seems to have a new one every week."

She didn't have time for Mairwen's taunting. "I don't have to listen to you," she said.

"You shouldn't worry too much," Mairwen continued. "He never keeps you girls too long." Eulalia tried to take another step. Mairwen grabbed her arm. "In the end, he always comes back to warm my bed."

"Let go of me." Mairwen's hand was hot, her sharp nails pinched Eulalia's flesh.

"Fortunately for me, you're only half as pretty as the others."

Eulalia tugged out of her hold. "Like I said, there's somewhere I have to be."

Mairwen licked her lips and smiled. "I'm only teasing. Can't you humans take a joke?"

Eulalia sprinted down the last few steps, leaving Mairwen staring after her. "Was it something I said?" she asked, her laughter, high-pitched and piercing, echoed throughout the room.

Eulalia wrested open the front door, inhaling as the chill hit her square in the chest. Stepping out into the bitter afternoon, onto the manor's stone steps, the cold nipped at her exposed flesh, much more glorious than having to feign gratitude, than having to pretend that these creatures weren't the reason Rowan and the children were now dead.