Not A Mate

Preparing For Battle

I'm on a roll it appears:

  I was standing in front of a mirror in a guest room of the Smaten house with Brenda, Gisellie, and Heather adjusting the gown we bought for me to wear today. Brenda and Heather were grinning and Gisellie had just asked, "why is this so amusing?" Brenda turns to her sister and with a big smile answers. The young man she's going out on a date with thinks he has a thing for her. She has zero interest in being involved with him so she's using this gown as if it were a rolled up newspaper." Gisellie nods her head after briefly looking angry at the idea of a guy throwing himself at someone. She comments, "well I certainly hope it hits low enough then that he'll remember his mistake." Heather chuckles as she adjusts my top again and stepping back to make sure the chest piece looked even.

She nods her head happy with how it sits on my chest, "now we need some makeup." I raise an eyebrow and she continues, "come on Nancy; you want to make him pay for making you uncomfortable. Why not go in with all of your claws sharpened?" I nod my head and the women lean in and start commenting, "the green really brings out her eyes; so how about we use that for her eye shadow? She has great lashes so I don't think mascara is necessary, maybe a light dusting of powder by the eyes." I mentally roll my eyes and let the women do their work, knowing better than to stop them. At least it wasn't Mrs Smaten doing the makeup.

The three women stop their flurried activity and step back from me smiling as one. I look at myself in the mirror, and notice they had taken the time to braid my long black hair and pile it on my head decoratively adding a few jeweled hair sticks the dress maker had sent along. Those hair sticks were pewter on the ends with emeralds in them, the tips were damascus steel and sharpened. Heather had explained that it was considered normal for a high ranked mage family to always have a weapon they could easily get to. The suggestion there was, if it was minor I probably shouldn't shift and rely on any weapon skill I might have. I certainly could use a pair of stilettos, which in effect was what these were.

We leave the room the three women in front of me and we head to the kitchen, where I will have to be looked at by the panel of moms. The women of this family could really be scary sometimes and standing in front of them in this slip of a dress is a scary thought.

I enter the kitchen, I always liked how this house was set up with the kitchen as a central hub for all of the other rooms. You always had to pass through the kitchen to get anywhere in this house. The elders of the Smaten 'clan' were as usual sitting around the table while the younger women were scattered about the kitchen, some cooking; and some cleaning an endless stream of dirty dishes. The whole family would be staying in town till the wedding next month. It's just how this family was, the dressmaker was insistent that Brenda had two fittings just to make certain everything was done properly.

Upon hearing me enter the room all of the women turn to look me over and I felt like I was under a magnifying glass and wanted to shrink down to the size of a mouse and sneak away. I see the assembled women all smile wickedly and nod their heads. The ones working when I entered the room return to their work and the matriarch waves me closer. "Well for a magic user that man sure knows how to make a gown," she nods her head while looking me over again. "I think this will garner the exact reaction you were going for dearie." I nod my head as the rest of the elders nod their heads, Mrs Smaten hands me a small plate of cheese and fruit. "Just in case Nancy, that place is not known for their kindness to our kind." I nod my head in thanks and nibble, I see the older men wander in as if they were waiting to be told they could safely enter the kitchen. I feel the shawl slip over my shoulders, well kitten. That is some gown you have on there. I turn to see Seamus behind me, his eyes appearing brighter than normal.

I hear a high whistle and turn my head towards it, it was Gisellie's husband. "Hey can I see you were that Gisellie?" He raises his eyebrows suggestively, and Doug punches him in the shoulder. They were here for the wedding, I liked Gisellie's husband. He talked very plainly, and you always knew what he thought. My father said for a herbivore it was very normal. He smiles and grabs Doug and puts him in a choke hold playfully. I can see the two women shake their heads at the same time, it was good to see them getting along. Even in shifter societies multiple birthed children have very close bonds. So to have their spouses become friends is wonderful. I didn't get to see much of Doug anymore, but I wasn't seeing this as losing a brother I never had. Rather I was gaining a sister, or two.

The matriarch clears her throat and the two young men freeze and slowly detach themselves and stand still as they could while still poking at each other. The older woman levers me a look, "now listen Nancy. I know you're doing this to show that boy it's foolish of him to pursue this. I want you to however do exactly what that sorcerer suggested and just leave if it gets too uncomfortable for you. We would not want an incident to occur there if it can be avoided." I nod my head, since she was a council member I knew there were things she could gloss over if necessary.

She shakes her head at me as if she thought I didn't understand, "Nancy dearie. This is for your protection, the magic community for the most part has no idea about the shift in your energies. Peter has made a great effort to not let that bit of information slip out, he has also instructed his grandson to not. I just hope the boy knows when to keep his foolish mouth shut." I nod my head again, it made sense. Dr Peter had taken great pains to tell me that the magic users will have one of two reactions upon seeing me when I was angry, disdain or great curiosity. He said the curiosity would be dangerous for me.

Seamus turns me around and kneels down to look me directly in the eyes, "listen kitten. If you start feeling angry, you let me know and I will try to get someone there to help you. Just try your best to remain calm if those fools decide to treat you poorly." I nod my head and he gives me a hug, a rather tight one.

My father chuckles from behind Seamus as he looks at us, and Seamus steps back giving my father a look. Maahes says, "alright Nancy. The car he is sending should be here any minute now, try to at least enjoy the food. I hear the chef was informed that a 'special' was going to dine in his restaurant and called up Mr Lee for advice." That made me smile, it also told me at least the kitchen staff wouldn't have an issue with me. I see all of the male heads turn towards the driveway and my father speaks, "well your ride is here Nancy; good luck. Please be safe." I nod my head and I hear Doug, "if he does anything stupid let me know. I'll have a few words with him about that." I chuckle and smile, good to see Doug jumping to defend me again.

I slowly head out the door to the waiting limo and chuckle knowing this car would have never made it to my own house. Jake really needed to learn more about people he was trying to impress. I climb into the car and as the door closes like a tomb I hoped it wasn't an omen of the night.