Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 10: Wild Woman

Themistoklis was enjoying the ride to his presumed death at the Crater far more than he thought he would thanks to the beautiful Taylor who had no problems teasing and entertaining him. He had no real feelings for her, and she had none for him--but Them loved the company of all women and there was something about the features and attitude of this particular woman that he especially loved.

The woman was a nightmare just like she was when they met in the dream world; one moment she would be flirting with him and whispering sweet nothings in his ear, and the next she would be biting it. There was something about her wild nature that drove him crazy, and it was those feelings of impulses and passions that he always craved since being confined in the rigid and solitary waif society for so long.

Taylor was sitting on him which was fairly uncomfortable since she was five-feet-tall and he was only four-foot-five, but he certainly didn't want her to get off. She let him wrap his arms around her lower back and he let her wrap hers around his neck.

The old warrior-maiden sitting across from them was giving him dagger eyes, and finally, Them realized who she was. He met Taylor's beautiful rosy eyes and asked, "beautiful, is that old broad the legendary Pollyanna?"

Taylor, who was pressing her cheek into his forehead, nodded. "You fool! How could you not know? She's pretty hard to miss, after all! She's an ogre of a woman!"

Taylor leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "I could have her snap you in two easily, you know, so you better do exactly as I say."

Them looked across at Pollyanna whose face was still twisted into an angry grimace and gulped. "Come now, my darling, you know I'd never do anything to upset you or your ugly bodyguard over there!"

There was a bump in the road which caused Taylor to release her hold on Them's neck and squeal as her torso lurched backward and her head knocked into the arm of an elf sitting next to her.

The elf shoved her roughly off of him and said, "stupid whore! Go amuse your boyfriend elsewhere!"

Taylor gasped in shock and then growled lowly. "Pollyanna, I order you to k—to ki--!"

You will not! The man said in her head. Don't you dare give her that order.

Taylor groaned in frustration and punched the elf without thinking as she righted herself into a proper sitting position.

The elf looked at her in astonishment for a moment, and then his brows furrowed.

Taylor was grinning at him smugly.

The elf slammed a fist into her face.

Taylor shrieked and stamped her feet furiously. Impulsively, she seized the elf about the neck with both her hands. She propped herself up on her knees and tightened her grip around his neck as she wrestled him down onto the knee of the human sitting next to him whose face lit up in horror.

Pollyanna watched with intrigue for a moment and couldn't care less if Taylor choked the man to death, but then she thought of how much Eory would hate himself if he found out about it.

With a sigh, she climbed to her feet and easily tore Taylor from the man by wrapping an arm around the girl's waist and carrying her away from the elf who was now struggling to regain his breath.

The will'o the wisp, Pete, had gone ballistic while the fairy girl was choking the elf and his voice was ringing like crazy. Them clapped his hands to his ears because the wisp was so loud. "Calm down, Pete, calm down!"

Stop her! Stop her, Them! The wisp cried over and over in his language made up of chimes and bells.

When Pollyanna had grabbed the fairy and dragged her away, however, the wisp had calmed down.

Taylor continued to claw and scream as Pollyanna dragged her away and placed the fairy next to her. "Stay here, Eory."

Taylor gave Pollyanna such an ugly look that Pollyanna couldn't help but perspire a little. "I am not Eory! I am not a passive coward, and I will not march willingly to my death! This is my body, not his!"

The old warrior-maiden had her own plans, however. She would call Taylor by Eory's name and use male pronouns as much as possible to reinforce his identity.

Hopefully he'll reemerge that way... Pollyanna thought to herself sadly.

Them sat cross-legged and asked the elf sitting next to him, "what kind of a gentleman hits a lady? You ought to be ashamed of yourself."

The elf was ignoring the waif and had his eyes glued to Taylor's. Her eyes, however, were examining her nails. She gasped in a moment. "He let them get so long! There is dirt under them! I might faint!'

Them grinned as he watched and listened to her and wished her temper hadn't gotten the best of her so she would still be sitting on his lap.

Pete nudged Them's shoulder so he would stop staring at the fairy who was now having a heated conversation with Pollyanna. Them gave his wisp friend his full attention and asked him, "so, Petey. Do you think we'll survive the Crater?"

Of course we will. I've bonded with you. I'll keep you safe. Pete told him sincerely.

Them rubbed the back of his neck and wished the throbbing in his head would stop. Taylor's shrieking, apparently, had had a profound effect on him.

"Well, whether we live or die, I'm just glad I'll have you by my side as always." Them said with his eyes lighting up in joy.

Pete nodded with his big, oval eyes scrunching up in a smile. There's no pair closer than us two!

Them always thought Pete was a little too down-to-earth to be such a rare, and what appeared to be graceful creature such as a wisp, but Pete had told him long ago when they first met that wisps such as he were not like regular wisps.

They were the wisps who lived life dangerously and wanted to form real connections—which was impossible for them unless they picked a mortal to bond to.

Pete had picked him, and Them had never felt worthy of the wisp's time, attention, and friendship—although he certainly appreciated it to no end.