Smolder

Chapter 7:

"Now now if you stare that intensely people might just start suspecting things." The man's voice was deep. It felt as if the sound resonated from the very ground Russell stood upon.

Elli was as quick to introduce them as Vivi was to snatch the bag of bread out of Russell's hands, "Russell, this is the warden we've been looking for. Mr. Orpheus, this is Russell. One of our friends who'd be coming with us."

"Yeah, I kinda guessed," Russell scratched his occiput, "How are people, You know, not noticing?"

"Magic," then he saw the look on Russell's face and said,"  "no, really. It's a simple illusion charm. It'll hold if I don't move them much."

"So, what are the people seeing? I mean, it can't be completely invisible," Russell said, "They can't be blindly walking around Bumping into your wings in the middle of the road!"

The man laughed out loud like it was a hilarious joke. Russell tried to find out what's funny but failed. It just seemed like he was stating the obvious.

Through his laugh, the man said, "And here I was wondering why nobody asked that question. You see, most people are seeing this."

His wings twitched a little and suddenly where there was a pair of wings, there was now a large backpack, as big as the man himself. It was a bit big for a bag, but many in the current line of sight carried bigger ones.

"See? Magic." The man smiled as the image shimmered a little.

"And how did you find us?" Elli asked.

"Laa put a special scent on you. You've probably been at her garden," the man explained bubbly, "Anything that stands under that Bougainvillea vines gets a scent trail."

"Wait, you know Laa?" Eagerness bubbled in Elli's voice.

The man looked confused, "Who is Laa?"

"You just said her name. You know, the great white fairy queen." Arron added.

"Her name is Laa, not Laa, oh," apparently realizing something, "the difference is beyond your hearing range."

"There are sounds that we can't hear?" Now this was the kind of thing that piqued Russell's interest.

"Yes, humans probably have the weakest senses of all of them" then he seemed to think a little, "Okay, probably not. That's probably the Mermen. Then the giants. Then the humans. So I guess, you're sort of in the middle."

Russell wanted to ask more but Elli spoke with urgency, "Laa said that you'd give us the details about your battle plan. We were promised an explanation."

"Now did she?" Playfulness danced on his eyes, "that is so Laa. Dumping her problems on other people."

"Well, I heard that humans can't think straight in an empty stomach," The man looked about, "And surely you do not intend to have lunch with only one piece of bread, do you?"

"Now your speaking my language!" Vivi spoke from behind, holding half a  piece of bread in her hand.

Arron had something to say as well but he didn't get the chance. Neither did Orpheus get the chance to treat them to lunch, because a series of screams issued from the West side of town, followed by the sound of running feet.

Russell's head whirled towards the direction of  the noise.

The West sky was on fire.