The Emo, The Sparkly Vampire and the Biscuit.

Chapter Seventeen - All The Single Ladies

Chapter 17 - All The Single Ladies

The Count was up to mallet, in the melee, the count managed to knock a ball, through the hole and off the winning ball. His joyous exclamation was cut short by Aliss’ elbow to his throat;

“One ball – ah, ah, ack!”

My eyes were on Eduardo, as usual, I think. It was hard to decipher the lavender dress among the pastel shades of the others. But then, I saw his head snap up to look at her. Their eyes met and something flowed between them in an instant, and it wasn’t about matching frilly knickers. He was at my side before anyone could ask Aliss what was wrong.

"Aliss?" Isme's voice was tense as she tried to untangle Boris’ ribbons from Casper’s spurs.

"I didn't see — I couldn't tell," she whispered.

All the others were gathered by this time.

"What is it, Aliss?" Rosemary asked with the calm voice of authority.

"They were travelling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before," she murmured.

Casper leaned over her, his posture protective. "What changed?" he asked.

"She heard us playing, and it changed her path," she said, contrite, as if she felt responsible for whatever had frightened her.

Seven pairs of quick eyes flashed to my face and away.

"How soon?" Isme said, turning toward Eduardo.

A look of intense concentration crossed his face.

"Less than five minutes. She’s wunning, she wants to play." He scowled.

“We can’t let a diva play with us, she never wears the dress and insists on that skanky leotard, and she always cheats with that metal glove. Besides, that’s too booty even for a bustle.” Rosemary complained.

"Can you make it?" Isme asked him, her eyes flicking toward me again.

"Not in this dwess —" He cut short. "Besides, the last thing we need is fow them to catch the scent and stawt hunting."

“I can handle myself, Edwina. Remember, Port Starboard!” I put forward in defence.

"How many?" Boris asked Aliss, ignoring me completely.

"Just her," she answered tersely.

"Her!" he scoffed. "Old Thunder Thighs let her come." The bright bands of fabric flexed along his massive arms. Satin really did them justice.

For a split second that seemed much longer than it really was, The Count deliberated. Only Boris seemed unperturbed; the rest stared at The Count's face with anxious eyes, he was muttering ah, ah, ah under his breath and something about being ready about jelly.

"Let's just continue the game," This Count finally decided. His voice was cool and level. "Aliss said they were simply curious. Besides I was winning, three, ah, ah, ah, three to one, ah, ah, ah."

All this was said in a flurry of words that lasted only a few seconds. I had listened carefully and caught most of it, though I couldn't hear what Isme now asked Eduardo with a silent vibration of her lips. I only saw the slight shake of his bonnet and the flap of lace as he disagreed.

Aliss stood straight, deceptively motionless. Her style seemed to be stealth rather than an intimidating windup. It didn’t really work with her lemon frills and buttercup spray at her lapel...to think I didn’t even know what that was this morning. To keep the small party from descending into more femininity than I could handle, I sulkily downed an entire bottle of Jackie D and thought of how I could easily take down this jelly full of celly that they were lamenting about. Aliss held the mallet in both hands at her waist, and then, like the strike of a cobra, her right hand flicked out and smacked it into Casper's crumpets. There was a brief squeal and Casper crumpled.