Castle Prose (Prose Universe challenge by SalingerTwain- continuation)
Chapter Three: The Real Dom…?
Ancient Writing: Shalimar’s Reality
Chapter II:LXIX
Light can shine though misunderstanding sublime
But confusion rules when minds are blind
Truth betwixt realities confessed
In the darkness no glimmer can discern the distress
When thinking is locked in beliefs intertwined
Purity befuddled the lies subtle mimes
Onyxcity crossed her lavish apartment above her sprawling empire followed by a stern looking fellow.
Her bodyguard? Hum...—far to thin.
Luxury draped the walls in the finery of Asian tapestries and oil works by masters as her footfalls pressed light on the soft carpet of wool, padding and keeping warm each delicate step. Her sleek leather outfit appeared perfectly contoured to her shapely form augmented by stilettos under the heels of tight laced boots embracing her calves with the grace of a ballerina gliding across the floor on toes. She paused briefly at the wire formed bird cage and peered in at the small creature dancing like reflective crystals in the confines of the minimal space. “What do you presume she eats, Mead…?”
“Perhaps they drink blood just like vampires,” replied…
Lover?—— Rather ordinary looking.
“Nonsense,— everyone knows vampires aren’t real. We must head down to the archives and see if there is anything recorded about what fairies eat.”
“Madam,” He paused with a smile. “That doesn’t mean the little creature doesn’t drink blood.”
“What did you just call me?”
“Pardon,— Madam?”
“And just what are you implying?” She fumed, placing her hand on her hip while tapping a foot.
The Butler? Hum…
“It‘s just a polite address, Madam.”
Onyx… appeared doubtful.——”Well I don’t like it!”
The employee frowned, pulling a small leather booklet from his pocket. Thumbing through the pages he replied, “Longfellow’s Terms — states right here: ‘A polite term of address for a woman.’ See,— the respected expert reveals all, — knowing quite well what women want and deserve.”
“What would a guy named Longfellow know about what women deserve? Give me that,” grabbing the little book from Mead…’s hand.
He stepped closer and pointed to the words in the little black book; his head moving ever so slightly to take in the wafting fragrance of her perfumed hair.
Onyx… read quietly under her breath, “Used to address a woman politely.” But she read on: “Ah-ha, number two states: ‘a woman running a brothel.’— This is not a brothel!”
“I never said it was — Madam.”
“What are you implying? —— Stop calling me that!”
“Yes Mistress.”
“What do you mean by that!” She almost screamed.
“What?— my Mistress.”
She quickly paged through the little book; and then with a sneer of disgust, “I am not your extramarital lover! What subliminal messages is this pervert Longfellow teaching society?”
…That’s settled.
A faint snicker from the small cage broke the impact of …City’s declaration. The enraged woman in black-leather turned grabbing the small prison with her right hand. “You’re not so important I won’t crush you under my boot,” she growled, almost pulling the cage from its pedestal.
The crystalline light grew a little dimmer.
Mead… carefully took hold of the little book without taking it from Onyx…’s;— his hand —brushing slightly against her soft skin. He pointed within while keeping the tender contact present. “See, the second definition of Mistress is — ’owner or controller of something.”
…City let go of the cage and studied the words. “So what are you implying? I’m a controlling — Mistress or Madam— of a brothel?” she almost shouted.
“Why,— no Mistress,— you’re the owner of this establishment.”
“Stop calling me that!—— And what do you presume this establishment to be?”
Mead…’s head dipped and tipped forward as if questioning, “Saloon? Of course Mam.”
“Do I look like your mother?”
The little light in the cage snickered, “Well, you do employ Sirens.”
Both turned to the little prisoner. “It talks? my Goddess.”
She pause for a moment thinking,— then nodded with a slight curved lip of approval. “Yes,— it's like an annoying parrot mocking me.”
“Why don’t you ask it what it eats?”
Onyx put both hands on her shapely hips. “You don’t think I tried that?”
“What’s her name?”
She only speaks to annoy me.“
“Mnezz,” came the small voice, yet seemed to resonate everywhere.
“Hey little girl,— can I get you something to eat?” Mead… asked.
“I have to be free to eat.”
Mead… looked to Onyx… with pleading eyes, “Why don’t we just let her go?”
“I can’t. The sandflea… ordered her capture. I’m just holding her until she arrives.” Onyx… continued the few steps to the large picture window overlooking her successful business venture below. Bunny was taking the stage for the next act of musical excellence. …City took in a deep breath of satisfaction. — Then she noticed HIM. “What the hell is he doing here?”
Mead… stepped to the window and looked down. “You hired him.”
Just then the door burst open with two employees dragging in a tied up individual.
“AndyBetz, —— Andrometa, what is the meaning of this intrusion?”
The two bouncers looked at each other and then OnyxCity, “We caught this nefarious thief sneaking around the back of the store trying to climb in a window,” …in unison. “All we can get out of him is his name, — SalingerTwain.”
The prisoner looked up at his captors and then their boss. “Not true. I just heard the most beautiful music and it was calling to me. It was like I had no control.” He smiled as his eyes scanned the shapely form in tight leather.
Mead... looked to …City, “We do employ Sirens.”
“Nonsense,— sounds more like the actions of a spy trying to steal the secretes of my business.” Onyx… took a step toward the prisoner then stopped, looking at Mead… “Get down stairs and get rid of that meddling interloper.”
Mead… looked puzzled, “You mean the old fart? How am I suppose to do that? You hired him Ma…” The man stopped short. “Won‘t he become suspicious? Don‘t you want to know what he‘s found out?”
“I already know what he knows.” She peered down at the old man. “He’s wearing a stupid parrot on his shoulder. What does he think he is? A pirate? And he has a kitten right there. Tell him no animals are allowed in this place of business and toss him out. He’ll be none the wiser.”
“Ma… my Goddess,” stumbling,— Mead… frowning as he stared at the supposed pets. “That doesn’t look like a kitten to me. Hear tell, he’s a powerful wizard. Surely this is dangerous to poke the magic.”
“We have the sandflea… with us. What’s one old man?” …City gritted her teeth, “Now get down there and get rid of them.”
“But my Goddess, who is this sandflea… when it comes to magic?”
“She’s a sorceress of the most powerful kind. Rumor has it she’s heartless. She’s already killed 68 husbands to date. I got it straight from the horses mouth.”
All four men looked at Oxyx... with shock and suprise. Mead… spoke, “You’ve actually met with the sandflea… in person?— When?”
“Of course not.— She’s much too powerful. But I did bump into her magnificent horny stallion that revealed all to me.”
AndyBetz straightened as all the men’s expressions appeared distraught,— except for the spy who was grinning. “My Lady, you mean you had a liaison with sandflea…’s — gigolo?”
…City’s expression turned heated as she barked at Mead…. “Get down there this instant, and get rid of HIM.”
Mead… left reluctantly, appearing devastated.
Onyx… turned to Andy…”What are you talking about?”
“Your secret liaison with sandflea…’s stud.”
“Have you gone mad?” Her anger burned. “One of the messenger’s horses pulling her carriage talked to me. Beautiful animal with this amazing spiraled yet straight horn protruding from its forehead. It told me such stories.” She smiled, looking off as if mesmerized.
“My lady,” Andrometa interrupted. “That’s impossible. You’re describing a Unicorn; they were all killed in Noah’s flood.”
“Why would anybody kill such a magnificent creature,— and who is this Noah anyway,— some god?”
Andrometa cleared his throat. “He must be, the flood’s named after him…”
AndyBetz cut his friend off. “Apparently they weren’t on the menu?”
“Say what?” Onyx…'s right fingers closed lightly covering the side of her mouth as her left remained resting on hip.
“Noah gathered two of all different kinds of animals on his yacht and then a massive flood killed everything else.” AndyBetz answered with a smile.
“Why wouldn’t a god have saved these unicorns?”
Andrometa shrugged. “I guess they don’t tasted good.” The two bodyguards looked at each other, nodding in agreement.
…City looked appalled. “Someone would eat those glorious creatures?” She shook her head. “This is all nonsense, I just talked to MilesNowhere yesterday.”
“Who’s that? My Goddess,” all three men asked in unison.
Onyx… focused on the spy with a slight head tilt. “Why, the nonexistent unicorn of course.——When the fairy was delivered with instructions,” she said with a sneer of superiority. “And he said the sandflea… was the most powerful sorceress living!”
Laughter erupted from the little cage. All eyes turned to the fairy.”
“You have something to add Mnezz?” …City asked angrily as her foot began tapping impatiently.
Mnezz was rolling around on the bottom of her cage. “I can’t take it anymore.”
“Then tell us what you know.” …City ordered.
Alright,” the little crystalline light squeezed out between chuckles. “My sister, saltandink is sandflea…’s fairy godmother. Sandflea… is a beautiful princess from a faraway place called LA where they all worship the sun.”
“Ha,— I knew it!” …Twain Interrupted.
…City stepped over to the prisoner. “What do you know,—— spy?”
…Twain cleared his throat: “That the sandflea… is a sun-worshiping, dominatrix, goddess.” The spy’s grin increased as he stared at the woman in tight leather. “Who’s decided to run for office on the platform of better shipping.”
Onyx… turned her attention to her two men. “What’s wrong with my shipments?”
“We lost one yesterday, my Goddess,” Andrometa shrugged. “An infestation of plague forced the harbormaster to burn the ship.”
Onyx… looked devastated. Her attention returned to the spy. “Tell me what you know or I’ll have you racked.”
“Please,— rack me, — Goddess. In that fine leather,— have your will with me.” The spy’s tongue wetted between his tight lips in anticipation.
Onyx…leaned in. Her hot breath light upon his cheek. “Tell me everything you know and I’ll personally apply the draw.”
“Oh god yes!” And he began to spill, “She wants world domination, yet she has no political agenda.”
“What lies are you telling me?” Onyx… said infuriated. “You just told us she wants to fix shipping.”
“My goddess, the spy interrupted. “Agenda, — as in a personal underlying motivation.”
The two guards were nodding in agreement.
Salinger… eyes turned pleading. “Please, give me this chance. I will service you loyally. Do with me as you will. I am your slave.”
Mnezz couldn’t stop laughing. Her high pitched giggle resonated throughout the upper apartment disrupting the spy. All turned their attention again to the fairy.
…City took a step closer to the cage. “You have something to add.”
Through the laughing Mnezz squeezed out, “Sandflea…’s already been crowned queen on the night of her prince’s homecoming. She already rules her empire with her king at her side.”
Onyx… turned to the prisoner. “What do you have to say about that, spy?”
“Yes,” Salinger… replied. “She rules now in a distant land, but she seeks world domination.”
Onyx… focused back on Mnezz, “Tell me more of this rule in this foreign land. How did she come to power?”
“Oh, it’s a torrid tale of intrigue and war.”
All present voiced in unison, “Tell us.”
Mnezz stopped laughing. “It all started when some creature called a skank knifed the sandflea… in the back breaking her heart.”
Onyx… was riveted as she asked, “So she’s immortal? Is this how she became the Ice Queen? Is that why she has no love for men and has killed 68 husbands?”
Salinger…. Interrupted. “You could send me into her court. I could win her over and become her next husband. I will gladly take the position of 69 with the sandflea… and she will be none the wiser that you have a spy in her court.”
“Quite fool,” …City ordered. “Please continue Mnezz.”
“Let me go and I will tell all.”
Onyx… whispered into the little cage, “Tell me more.— If I like what I hear, I may consider your loyalty worthy of rewards.”
The tiny fairy thought as the three men glared, nodding-approval,— reassuringly.
“Fine,” Mnezz continued, “It all started the day of coronation. Sandflea…’s evil step mother had grounded her for getting involved in a maul, while shopping.
“Is that where she killed the 68 men? They weren’t her husbands?” …City asked concerned.
“No,—— no one died in the maul, but the wicked step mother’s carriage was damaged.”
AndyBetz interrupted. “So why is there a 68 in the sandflea…’s name?”
“Shhhh!” Onyx… ordered.
Mnezz smiled. “68 is the number,— I think,— was on the pennant her prince carried into battle.”
“What kind of battle?”
“I’m not completely sure, but from what I could gather there’s a lot of kicking and men’s genitals are involved.”
All three men leaned down slightly, cupping their privates with hands.
“The battle’s even called Football.” Mnezz spat as if angered.
“Sounds brutal.” Onyx… whispered. “Is this the land where the ridiculous codpiece was developed?”
“Mnezz nodded affirmatively.
“Oh’s,” sounded from all listening with understanding.
Mnezz continued, “So, the sand…”
Onyx… interrupted. “So why sandflea68? That’s a very unusual name.”
“OH, I know this one.” …Twain almost shouted. “She’s the leader of a cult of beach-loving sun-worshipers.”
All looked to Mnezz for confirmation. “This is true.” She nodded.— “Her given name, I think was something like Sandy Lee. But with her prince’s battle pennant and all her over nine thousand sun-worshiping followers, she was re-named something with real meaning.”
Suddenly, a commotion erupted down stairs…
****
Chapter 1:
https://theprose.com/post/167803/castle-prose
Chapter 2:
https://theprose.com/post/168268/castle-prose-prose-universe-challenge-by-salingertwain-continuation