CHAPTER#80

"He is still armed." The Grand Stallion said, pointing at Mike's dagger. "You would bring an armed man to speak with me?"

'A human with a knife is no match for a hunter," Orion responded, shrugging his shoulders. "And he barely looks coordinated enough to use it. If you're worried about it, I can just take it away from him."

"Mike," Zel whispered again, grabbing his arm hard enough that she pulled him off balance. The centaurs around them took a sudden step back, spears and arrows all leveled in their direction. He turned around and would have jumped back himself, if not for the fear of getting stabbed.

Zel's lower body was emitting steam, her face twisting into agony as she started to grow. Bones snapped and skin stretched as her legs split apart then separated. Her skirt split down the back when she became too large for it, her horse body spilling out into the open. Loud gasps came from the centaurs, the clearing now filled with urgent murmuring. Zel let out a loud scream, a wave of heat blasting away from her body and ruffling his hair.

The centaurs were stunned to see one of their own suddenly appear in their midst and had backed away. He could see the confusion on their faces, followed by something else.

"Zelenia?" The chieftain spoke, his voice full of awe.

She looked to Mike, then immediately cast her eyes to the ground, one hoof pawing at the dirt. Zel tensed her jaw and looked back up, defiance in her eyes.

"Hello, father."

-

Yuki was busy building a card castle in mid-air when Daisy appeared. The tiny fairy landed on top of the castle, then walked across the top, her arms outstretched for balance. Yuki continued stacking cards around her until the castle was complete.

"Well?" she asked.

Daisy signed with her hands.

"Really? They survived all that only to be captured by the centaurs?" Yuki laughed so hard that her voice transformed into a loud bark. "That is too perfect. The centaurs will treat them no better than I would."

Daisy signed again.

"Well, no, there's no guarantee that they will be killed right away. They hate humans though, and once they hear that he's Emily's successor, he's a dead man." Yuki leaned back, stroking her chin. "I guess the question is do I wait and see if they do it for me? Or do I go down there and do it myself?" Her gaze settled on the trees before her. "Or do I step through for just a little bit and then check up on them? I would hate to spend another week just waiting to see what happens next."

Daisy's hands moved through the air, leaving glittering contrails.

"That isn't a bad idea. Hmm." The cards shimmered before her and the castle dismantled itself, each card floating back into her hand until the deck was complete. "Yes, I suppose that would work, if you don't mind. I will leave the Jabberwock to guard the portal and come back in a day's time. Assuming everything goes well, then you will be coming with me."

Daisy smiled, her entire body lighting up.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me." Yuki held up a long finger and the fairy landed on it. "I wouldn't wish it on you again, but I'm glad you got stuck here with me."

The fairy did a little flourish, then turned into a ball of light. She pulsed three times.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going." A smile stretched across her face, revealing her sharp teeth. Walking towards the trees, she stepped through the portal. It was suddenly dark and she was surrounded by coats.

What the hell? Pushing her way forward, she stumbled through a set of double doors and fell onto the hard, wooden floor beneath. Confused, she looked back to see that she had just come through a wardrobe.

Emily, you bitch. So that's how she had closed her side. Yuki had expected to step out into the backyard, not into a hallway. She shut the door of the wardrobe and noticed a key in the lock. A smirk crossed her face as she turned it then put it in her pocket. Even if that man escaped, now he was the one trapped over there.

Standing, she adjusted her furs and snapped her fingers. Her outfit altered itself into a white and red sundress with three thick, fluffy tails stitched into the fabric on the back of the skirt. She walked toward the top of the stairs and placed one hand on the railing.

"It's good to be home," she said. Taking a deep breath, she descended the stairs.

…

The railing was smooth to the touch, as if it had been recently polished. She touched a knot in the wood, her fingers caressing the fractured ridges. Closing her eyes, she took in the smell of the place. The rich scent of oil, sawdust, and water from the fountain out back filled her with a swirl of nostalgia, causing her to inhale again, only deeper this time.

So many old scents and a few that were new. Behind them all was the faint, faded scent of sunflowers and rain.

Emily. It was hard to think of her without love and hate at the same time. So many good times had been enjoyed in this house, many of those in her presence. Yet the taint of her eventual betrayal left a dark shadow standing in the corner of those memories, ready to tear her heart in two once more.

The steps creaked under her feet, each sound a familiar friend welcoming her back. She only made it three steps down before Emily's scent drifted her way once again. Her breath hitched, and she stopped.

It was hard to do, but she turned around and went back up. The master bedroom was at the end of the hall and she entered it quietly as if walking into a church service.