Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 6: She Arrives

"You mean you don't recognize me, beautiful?" Themistoklis asked while rapidly blinking. "Come on, Taylor. Don't play tricks on me!"

Eory cocked his head to the side and pulled his legs uncomfortably up to his chest. "Taylor...?"

Pollyanna glared at the waif and said, "what are you talking about, waif?" She then turned to Eory. "Is he bothering you, Eory?"

Them threw his hands up defensively with a grin. "Calm down, old-timer! I'm only talking to your gorgeous friend, there!" The waif's eyes returned to Eory and he continued, "since when do you have a female behemoth for a guard, beautiful?"

Eory looked away from Them with his cheek pressed against his knee, but said nothing.

With his face half in shadow and half in light from the sun seeping in through the fabric covering the top of the caravan, Them leaned forward and examined Eory's face closely. "Hmmm, I could have sworn you were her, though..."

There was a bump in the road and everyone in the caravan was bounced an inch into the air.

Them steadied himself by grabbing onto the edge of his seat and then leaned in closer to the will'o the wisp sitting next to him. "Hey, Pete... Don't you think she looks like Taylor? The old broad looks familiar, too..."

His friend Pete, whose tiny little legs did not even reach the floor, nodded.

Pollyanna crossed her arms and crossed her ankles. "Who is this Taylor you speak of? And Eory is a man, not a woman."

Pollyanna was waiting for Eory to intervene on his own behalf, but he was oddly silent—even more so than usual. "Eory, what's wrong?"

Eory turned away from her with his shoulders slumped and faced the elf who was sleeping next to him on his right.

Pollyanna slowly removed her hand with her face falling—realizing there was definitely something very wrong with her charge.

Them was flabbergasted. "Man? No way... Don't fool me like that, you old witch. And don't you fool me, either, Taylor. I know we like to tease each other plenty, but I think I'd know your face when I see it!"

Eory was still silent and did not meet anyone's eyes. Pollyanna stared at the back of his golden head worriedly.

She didn't know what was wrong with him, and she certainly didn't know how to make him feel better. She just knew she owed him her life and she wanted nothing more than to see him smile.

But who is this Taylor? Stupid waif must be confusing him for some other fairy. Pollyanna concluded.

Themistoklis gave a long yawn and a stretch—causing the will'o the wisp sitting next to him to giggle. Like all wisps, he spoke no words, but rather spoke in the sounds of a bell—a bell that only the person he followed and pledged itself to could understand.

Them rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, Pete, I'm tired. You know we waifs are naturally nocturnal creatures—I can't help but be exhausted during the day."

The waif was quiet for a moment, and then decided he was bored. If he were to stay awake, he needed to have an entertaining conversation with either the old hag or the beautiful fairy.

"So, not-Taylor and old woman, might I ask what you have been through to end up in this caravan of doom? I assume it must have been pretty bad judging by your tattered clothes and that dried blood." Them said with a grin.

Pollyanna was beginning to get annoyed by this waif.

Why are all these damned waifs so infuriating?

She clenched her fists and narrowed her eyes. "I suggest you shut up, waif. Eory clearly doesn't want to talk to you. Besides, we have no wish to discuss our business with you."

Them crossed his arms with a sly grin as he looked at the fairy with intrigue. She's playing such a fun game! Perhaps I'll win that third kiss from her!

"You know not even this ugly mountain can stand between us, my sweet! You think I fear her? She is nothing when pitted against true—" Pollyanna stood up with her back hunched—she was too tall to stand entirely upright in the caravan—and then seized the tiny waif by the collar. Her other hand clenched and unclenched threateningly.

"You think I haven't heard pathetic jokes like yours over and over throughout my lifetime? Oh yes, stupider and stronger men than you have slighted my looks and my height. I used to just let their empty-headed jokes roll off my back until I remembered that I was strong enough to simply kill them for their transgressions. I ripped their tongues out, first." Pollyanna muttered threateningly.

Them gulped and thought his life was over.

Pete's ringing voice sounded in his ears as the little wisp floated into the air and readied himself to defend his friend.

But suddenly, a voice cut through the air—a voice that was loud and commanding.

"Put him down, you oaf." Eory had slid off his seat and was now looking at them with a smirk.

Pollyanna glowered and protested, "but Eory! He is insulting both of us and—"

"I order you to put him down!" Eory commanded.

Them's heart was beating wildly as silence cut through the air for a solid moment.

Pollyanna opened her fingers and let the waif fall to the ground.

Anyone in the caravan who was awake was watching the scene unfolding before them unblinkingly.

Eory swept his hair back confidently and then planted his hands on his hips as he stood in front of the Them who had been dropped on his belly. "You wanted me, my darling, and here I am. You want that third kiss, right? You better come and get it."

Pollyanna turned her nose up in disgust as Eory sat back down on his seat and motioned the waif to come kiss him with a pointer finger.

Them stood up like nothing had happened with an aimless smile on his face and then straightened his clothes as he looking into the fairy's alluring, rosy eyes determinedly. "Done playing games?"

Eory nodded as he pulled one leg up to his chest and wrapped his arms around it.

The waif stepped toward her slowly, and, those who were awake in the caravan watched the scene with bated breath.

Them crossed the very short space between the two of them and then placed his hands on either side of Eory's hips. The fairy opened opened his mouth a little and Them's heart beat a little faster.

She had taunted him for so long that he wanted to enjoy the third kiss as much as possible. He brought his mouth close to hers as slowly as possible.

Their faces were an inch apart when Pollyanna roughly shoved Them away. "Eory, I will not have you kissing other men! You will surely never make it to Paradise if you do!"

Eory shrieked in such an unfamiliar and high-pitched voice that it made Pollyanna jump a little.

He turned to Pollyanna and punched her weakly in the arm. "Listen, you bitch! I was only messing with him and I can handle myself! You'd think I'd ever let anyone kiss me without making them suffer, first? Furthermore, I am not Eory, I am Taylor!"