Enchantment

An Imp and Smiles

Cherry ditched me as a roommate, favoring her Beloved instead. I'm only slightly offended but not really. Reason seized the opportunity to share a room with me, and I won't deny the pleasure of his company.

Reason was in the shower and I was finishing up a long conversation with Evelyn. In the short time that I've known her, Evelyn has become quite the motherly figure to me. Which made me wish I had my real mom near me.

I tap the mirror and a gray fog swirls before I see my reflection. Then, sensing his very unwelcomed presence, I turn with my hands on my hips, "How did you get in here?"

He laughed giddily, "There's a door right there my sweet,"

I openly stare at the strange creature. An image of a lizard comes to mind. His skin is a nasty and worn leather-like green that looks reptilian. His eyes are dirt brown and silted like a cats. And he teeth are a disgusting yellow. I could see grease practically oozing out of his unwashed ponytail. But his appearance clashed with his well-kept and fine threaded clothes.

"Rumpelstiltskin." I say, wanting the name to roll off my tongue, "Whoa, that's a mouthful."

His laughter was merry, on the verge of insanity, "Call me Rumpel if you wish."

I heard the pipes squeak and Reason came into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Reason snapped, his left arm catching fire.

"Helping," Rumpel smiled.

"Fuck that." Basically naked, Reason went to the door and shouted with all his might, "Aliyah, Jordan get your asses in this room!"

They responded instantly, rushing into the room. It took them a split second to absorb Rumpel's presence.

"This is not good." Ali muttered.

Reason slammed the door, ignoring the others and the Warrior Creatures. Quickly I put a protective shield around us, that way any eavesdroppers wouldn't be able to listen.

Before anyone could react, Jordan had the rock under us shake violently.

"You are a known and large follower of Laufeia. You're supposed to be this smart elf, why walk into your own death trap?" Jordan barked.

Rumpel jumped joyfully, "I don't like Laufeia. The wench had me killed."

Not even bothering to ask, I glance at Aliyah.

"An old game of his. Rumpelstiltskin is nearly impossible to kill, he just like's letting people think he's dead." She explained.

He has been pulling that one since before my time.

And people still believe he's been killed?

Pride. Killing this elf would be a great achievement.

That's a rather bright idea, I'll have to keep that in mind.

"She thought she had out witted me, as if such a thing could be done." Rumpel giggled. "I don't like her. I want her gone."

"Join the damn club," Reason said, I see he changed the flame to electricity.

I tried not looking at his bare chest, the only place where tattoos haven't claimed his upper body.

"Why did she-" Jordan started.

I grabbed Rumpel's forearm unexpectedly. I had been probing his mind and though I knew I could break through his barriers, I felt a physical connection would make it somehow less evasive. His mind was cleverly blocked, designed to keep intruders out and fry those of a weaker mind. I saw the decades he spent forming the walls I easily broke through. He felt me in his head and tried to give me a little push but I powered past his attempts.