Fowlhunter [GL]

Both Ennanis and Leo were stupefied. While Theseus broke out into a grin, turquoise eyes alight. Pinching his fingers together, he flicked a beam towards Jemi, who caught it with a tilt of her head. Weapons clanking at his sides, Theseus swaggered up to the woman, reaching out to place his hand on her cheek. Jemi followed his caress, tilting her chin up to gaze back at him.

“What’s your name, darling?” Theseus whispered.

Violet eyes glittered. “You can call me Phaedra.”

“Phaedra? Like the second daughter of the old King Minos?” the man raised his brow. “Come on, now. You dont have to hide even something like a name from me.”

“I’m not hiding anything,” Jemi said. She withdrew from his touch and then, smacking her hands on the counter behind her, vaulted herself onto it. Her skirt rode up, showing off her slender thighs. Grabbing hold of the fluttering end of Theseus’ cloak, she yanked him forward by the fistful, up and over her, leaving her face centimetres from his shell-shocked one.

“Here’s a secret,” Jemi exhaled, “my real name is worn only on the lips of those who earn it.”

“Wow,” Theseus’ stupor turned to intrigued laughter. “You’re a feisty one. I like that in a girl. Well, you are pretty as a princess… and arrogant as one to boot. And what better match for you than a perfect prince like me?”

“That depends on whether you live up to your name.” Jemi jutted her chin.

“Oh, I will.” He breathed back on her huskily. “You know the way to Shifting Sands?”

“The underground bar? Yeah.”

“Contact me whenever you please. And I’ll be waiting for you, Lady Phaedra.” A flanderous wink, then he left the store. The door shut with a loud BANG!

Ennanis turned to Jemi with a betrayed expression.

“What?” Jemi scoffed, crossing her legs on the counter. “You know very well why I did that. That prince might very well be our ticket inside the Cretan Labyrinth.”

Leo gasped in horror. “Why would you want to go inside the Cretan Labryinth, young lady?”

Jemi ignored the shopkeeper. “I saw you pick up on it too, when he said it. A maze so twisted, not even Soleki can penetrate it… that's why you couldn't contact Asha,” she said to Ennanis. “I taught her myself. I know the way she thinks as a scout. It’s in the region; she and Ying probably went in there trying to throw off their pursuers. Prince Theseus might just be blowing hot air, but someone like him is our best bet if we’re going to go in there and get out alive.”

“I know,” Ennanis released an unnecessarily lengthy sigh, “but was all… that really necessary?” She waved her hand at Jemi on the counter.

“Don’t be a prude.” Sighing, Jemi slid herself off the tabletop, rearranging her skirt. “It's not like you haven't done something like that before. Remember Walden Vabolt?”

“Believe me, I’m not one,” Ennanis droned. “For the record, I was just his image booster. We didn’t do anything. How’d you even know that, anyway?”

Jemi’s eyes wandered to a bird twittering outside the window. “Ears everywhere, remember?”

Still Ennanis pouted. “And you gave him your charm. I didn't even get it.”

“What?” Jemi gave her an exasperated glance. “You already have my charm.”

“But not for you,” Ennanis said.

“That other one,” Jemi pointedly said, “is me, too.”

“Well, I also want yours as you are now, Jemi.”

Shopkeeper Leo was starting to look extraordinarily confused.

“......Okay,” Jemi nodded exaggeratedly, “I'm gonna go now. When you decide to stop being a cinderbrain, you can contact me. With the charm. That we already have.” She jabbed her skull, then turned around, swishing her brown cloak.

“But where are you going?”

“I’m going to find somewhere to sleep that isn’t a fucking bridge,” her voice rasped. “Ciao.” The door slammed behind her.

A beat of silence.

“Whew,” Leo remarked. “Now I see what your trouble was. She’s a real piece of work, isn’t she?” He ambled over, bending down with a grunt to pick up the fallen chocolates and baskets.

Ennanis saw it, and with a whirl of Soleki, items began to float up into the air in golden sheen, replacing themselves on the shelves.

“Oh, thank you dear. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Ennanis replied.

He laughed heartily, giving her a meaningful look. “You’ve really changed, haven’t you? You were always such a wonderful customer to talk to about chocolate, but you were closed-off about everything else; you never came in with anybody but yourself. I remember a similar time, you knocked over a cabinet of chocolates. The one right over there,” he reminisced. “You looked at the mess on the floor like it was a curiosity, handed me a wad of cash, then left like a rose-coloured breeze. I didn’t say nothing, but you never brought it up again.”

“That was a long time ago,” Ennanis’ cheeks darkened.

“You’ve grown up, that’s for sure,” Leo remarked, pushing a box back in the cupboard. “You know, someone as kind as you doesn’t have to be with someone like that. Plenty of women out there who aren’t half as flighty or caustic as she is. You deserve to be happy.”

Ennanis glanced out the door. She shook her head.

“You don’t know, Leo. She was the one who helped me open up to people.”

Leo stopped short.

“... And she’s kind, too,” the angel went on. “She's done absolutely rotten things, yes. But somehow, at the same time, she's kind too. Besides, I’ve always had trouble caring for anything… and she’s the one who made me feel. The good and bad, highs and lows, like I’d never felt before. I don’t know if it’s happiness,” Ennanis’ slit-gold eyes were bright with sincerity—brighter than ever before. “But to me… she’s worth the effort.”

“Hmmm,” Leo looked at her. “No doubt, it’s been nine years since you knew each other. Of course she’s an important part of your life. And… you do look like you’re doing better. Even if I can't fathom why.”

Ennanis nodded. “I am.”

He sighed. “I can’t tell you what to do. But I can tell that you’ve grown in more ways than one.” The old man clapped her on the back. “So, all this geezer can say is… good luck out there.”

“Thank you,” Ennanis said, a small smile. “It was good seeing you again.”

“Take care, kiddo,” Leo grinned back.