The Daughter's of Helios and Nyx

Chapter 5

The Iron door swings open slowly, standing in the middle of the entrance is a little petite Fae with cinnamon colored skin, bouncy copper curls that brush the top of her shoulders. Her lips, the color of apricots, her top lip thin, while her bottom lip was full and rounded. Freckles scatter over her heart shaped face. Her attire consists of black leather button down vest, tight black leather pants, with black chunky ankle high boots. Over her ensemble is a big bulky grey apron. Most iron workers must wear hideous aprons for protection. For a Fae she’s quite ravishing.

Shocked by whoever is knocking on her door, she freezes up, her eyes bulge while her mouth hangs agape. She stays like that for one two three and a half seconds and then fixes her composure by blinking her big almond shaped eyes twice while shaking her head quickly. Breathless she chokes out as well as slowly and shakily curtsies.

“Good morning, Prince Lucien. How may I help you? My name is Lorelie.’ She stands up straight with her hands clasped behind her back. Her face shows wisdom, though all emotions are closed off.

“Nice to meet you Lorelie, may I come in? I’d rather discuss the matter in privacy.” I respond light and casually.

“Oh, uhm, yes of course come in your highness.” Lorelie stammers while she leads me inside the quaint hovel. Lights hanging by copper wire scour all over the front room where cases beyond cases hold unique magical jewelry that in its own is a piece of art.

“Wow these are unique, lots of magic was put into these, your work is magnificent.” I proudly announce. Yes, this girl will be perfect for this important task.

“Thank you, sir. Was there any that caught your eye?” She inquired wearily.

It’s not everyday that royalty comes into a commoner’s shop. A small grin creeps over my face as I say “You may call me Lucien, on the contrary all of them have caught my eye. Although each one is nice, I am not interested in purchasing any of these jewels. No, what I need is a bracelet formed with my fire, magic, along with your iron skills. You see, I can sense when a being has a particular talent or magic. Furthermore, even without that sense, I clearly see it through your completed creations here.” I spill all of this out to Lorelie with authority though appreciatively. Nevertheless, an impassion rings through my voice.

Lorelie is doing that shocked look again with her eyes bulging, mouth agape, while her breath is caught in her throat. If she continues to freeze up like this, I’m going to have to come up with a nickname to call this, considering we will be working on this project of mine for a while.

“Pardon me?” slightly shrieking while running both tiny hands through her curls making them puff up even more.

I guess her freezing finally thawed, Lorelie looks at me as if I’ve asked her to pull out a second head. I chuckled at her expression. I don’t think I have met anyone with so much expression before. To her hair, to her facial expressions, and even how she’s dressed. I like her already, hopefully she will see me as some sort of friend soon instead of a high-end monster, maybe. I can tell by the way she trembles that she is frightened by me. I lift an eyebrow and full- on smile at her while showing bright white razor- sharp pointed teeth, just for show, I’m a little sardonic, I know. I can’t help teasing and frightening her. I hear her heartbeat skyrocket. Again, I can’t help but chuckle at this. “Truly, I like your work, also this request is important to me, what is more is that it is to be presented to my mother, Persephone on her birthday celebration.” I silkily stated.

Not only does Lorelie freeze, again. The cinnamon color of her face drains to a sickly white. This has me bending over cracking up, belly laughing. This is too rich. I haven’t laughed like this in years. The feeling is so unfamiliar, and to hear my own laughter, I had forgotten how dulcet it is. I fix my composure, still a big grin on my face, though not showing my terrifying teeth.

“Don’t be so frightened, I won’t hurt you. I promise Lorelei, I need your help. You are the only one for the job, do you accept?” My words come slow and consoling. No more playing around with her emotions, if I do it again, she might have a heart attack. I mean how many times can someone freeze up like that in a matter of minutes? I give her a pleading glance, head pointed down as my big round maroon eyes beam into her own. Now her heart is beating as fast as dragonfly. Whatever am I going to do with this one?

“Well.” She takes a deep breath as the copper tone fills her heart-shaped face once again. “It is a crime to deny royalty, so what the hell, I suppose I do accept.” She has her wits back seeing Lorelei quipped sarcastically with a grin as she puts her hands on her hips.

“Fantastic. Now, this bracelet needs to be a protective shield, as well as a weapon. It needs to be light in weight while also being the utmost regal piece of jewelry you have ever made. I know you are used to working with fire, unlike the fire you use here, you need my fire for this task. Which is the hottest, most dangerous fire in all of existence. With you being a fairy and all, it shouldn’t be an issue. The difficult part will be the strenuous hours of concentration. While I am here, I only request one thing.” I let the tension build in the air for two seconds before saying “That while I am in your shop, it will remain closed. If there is a knock, you will not answer. Which should not be an issue considering we will be working in the hours of late. Also, you will be sworn into secrecy.” The words come out sharp as well as impetuous all the while I am pacing back and forth a few feet.

“Uh, hmm. Yeah, the fire thing I could probably handle. The sworn into secrecy part is what I’m concerned about. Not that I can’t keep a secret, it’s that I don’t want whatever you have in mind to be painful.” She replies sheepishly.

“Ha, yes, I get that. All I need to do is prick your finger, your blood will absorb into my fingernail, once that happens, I will always know if you are speaking of this matter to anyone.”

“Oh, okay, that doesn’t sound too bad, I guess. Also, for the record I don’t elaborate any projects to any of these monsters down here, so there’s no worry about me betraying you, Prince Lucien. I don’t even have friends’ I stay here all day and night. I must stay ahead of my work, so the regime has no reason to attest me or audit me. That is how certain things go missing.” She blurts out, almost exasperated. Lorelie looks up with her eyes bulging. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry. That was out of turn for me to say.” Lorelie quietly looks down and begins to tremble, afraid my wrath will strike her down for talking down about the regime.

“Lorelie, I told you that I’m not going to hurt you.” I say reassuringly. “I didn’t make up the order of the Underworld, I’m also not saying that what goes on is okay, I don’t make rules that make up the regime. Hell, half the reason we will be working when we do is so they don’t spot me wondering without guards. Please, believe me when I say I’m not how most petrary me.” The pleading words come out fast and desperate. She stares at me with a peculiar look on her face, then blinks several times.

“Okay well thanks for the reassurance, Lucien.” She wears a small thin smile. Lorelei folds her arms over each other, scans down at her boots then up at me with almond brown eyes. “Uhm so, I suppose it’s time to be sworn into secrecy hmm?”

I nod once “Very well, you probably want to sit down during this.” She walks behind the counter where a stool is placed behind the glass counter. “Okay let me see your left-hand Lorelei, it will only sting for a moment, okay?” I walk towards her and decide to go behind the counter where she is still standing, my stride long and graceful. I’m standing right in front of her now, she’s so tiny. Maybe she needs to stand on the stool instead of sitting on it because her head comes up to only my sternum. “Go ahead and sit Lorelie.” I whisper, my voice gruff, this is more of an intimate action than I realized it would be, moreover than I was prepared for. I decide to squat down, so she doesn’t feel intimidated or frightened.

“May I?” Husky and softly beseeching her as I smoothly take her left hand, holding it gently.

“Yes.” Shakily she gulps out and nods her head, curls bouncing with each nod.

Holding her hand with my left, my pointer fingernail elongates to a sharp point on my right hand. As I prick her finger, I can feel her blood enter my body, and unvoluntary my body shudders as her blood, the color of mercury flows through me. So many sensations flash bright and steam throughout me. I had thought I was ready for something like this, to help protect my mother. Unfortunately, no amount of studying the subject of bond secrecy magic could have prepared me for the actuality of the process. Lorelie lets out a small sigh that sends an electric shock to my system.

Quickly I release my claw-like nail from her finger, I’m trembling on the inside though I can’t show this new girl that will be in my life now how much this is affecting me. “All done.” I recall with a small grin. I clear my throat twice and begin again. “I must go. I have other affairs to be placed into order.” Formality beckons throughout the hovel.

“I will arrive tomorrow in the hours of late. It was nice meeting you Lorelie, as I look forward to working on this magnitude gift for Persephone. Good day.” Clipped and quick each word comes out as I run my hand through my silk black pompadour while strutting out of Lorelie’s shop.

The sun had just fully risen, bright red with a darkened sky, ash-colored clouds loom low as I head back home to meet with mother for breakfast. There’s a storm brewing, aching and sore, I can feel it in my bones.