Netherling

Chapter Six

I had no idea how to apologize. I had never needed to; never wanted to. But, Morpheus aside, I had to tell Juliet about our Bond, which meant apologizing. 

Isabelle, my best friend, came into my room followed by a bunch of servants holding armloads of clothes. She squealed when she saw my dress. "It's gorgeous!!!!!!!!" 

That was Isabelle. I had been gone for almost a decade, and the first thing she notices is my dress. 

I nodded. "Arabella."

"Duh! No one else comes even close to her skill. She's like, the best." Isabelle turned to her maids and said, "Put it on the bed and wait outside."

They curtsied and did as they were told.

When they were gone, Isabelle turned to me and said, "Are you okay? Did He like, kill you?"

I nodded. "I'm dead, Belle. He killed me."

"I'm serious."

"There's a first time for everything."

"Nata!" Isabelle cried. "Seriously, tell me."

I relented. Isabelle was the only one who knew what really went on in Morpheus' room, because He needed to ensure her loyalty before she  could be my friend. "I somehow Bonded accidentally and He could feel it. Now I have to find her- and she hates me right now- and convince her to visit."

Isabelle considered this. "How's He gonna make her think He loves you if she can feel what you feel?"

"I don't think it's like that exactly. I think it's more like, when I have really strong feelings they'll sort of leak into her."

"Maybe," she said doubtfully. "Who is it? Is she pretty? She's not Netherling, right? What is she? Is she awesome? Does she have good taste?"

I giggled. "Belle, you can't ask that many questions and expect me to be able to remember them all to answer."

"Sure I can," she replied, "I just did!"

"Her name's Juliet. She's gorgeous- she's a Syren.  She's awesome and she has amazing taste."

"She's not one of those people who get awesome clothes that look horrible on her, is she?"

"She. Is. A. Syren. What do you think?"

"No!" She shrieked, and collapsed on my bed laughing. I joined her.

For better or for worse, I was home.