Page 11 of Heart of Dawn
Oh. I hadn’t expected such gentleness.
“Let me help you,” the creature added, reaching for me with her big bear hand.
Understanding clicked into the place. This creature was a yeti. Much more ape-like than bear, built from muscle and white fur and deadly strength. I’d never seen one before in real life, only pictures. I did know they lived in the cold parts of Faery andwere said to be quite solitary creatures. Rare beasts who fed on the wildlife they shared their habitat with.
“I’m Erna, the finest yeti of this forest.”
“I—”
The yeti held up a hand, displaying impressive claws. “Save your strength. Let me take care of you.” She smiled, revealing a scary set of teeth. Fit for crunching bones, rendering flesh, maybe even chewing rocks.
She scooped me up in her arms, taking no care with my broken arm. It swung, sending more pain to attack me. I squeaked, my head sinking into sickly soup.
“I will heal you, fae. I will heal you and make you mine.” She began marching off through the forest, the snow crunching under her big feet.
Her words slapped the agony away. “What did you?—”
Movement in the trees caught my eye again. This time, the thing fell from the end of a partially knotted branch and landed in the snow.
“Watching orb?” I managed, bouncing in the yeti’s arms like a puppet without strings.
“They are all over the forest,” she answered, “looking for the lost bee queen.”
I swallowed, the sensation like chugging razor blades, recalling what she’d said about me being hers.
“What did?—”
“Hush now, fae. Hush.” She began singing a lullaby. The melody wafted over me in magical tones, wrapping me in a blanket of song.
I’d never heard a song so sweet.
Memories of home greeted me, taking me back to my days as a lounge singer. My last shift was just a couple of nights before I headed off to London for my ill-fated vacation.
Stars, that last performance had been epic, my voice better than ever. I belted out every song on the set list, embraced every request. I think my love for Basil galvanized me into giving an amazing performance. A love that never really existed, our relationship more of a silly infatuation.
Not like my love for Miko. He was sunlight against the shadows of doubt, a man to make me believe in romance again.
I miss you, Mr. Robot…
I drifted away into a dream, the memory returning in full color. Patrons handing me flowers, throwing Faery coins at me, the applause almost taking the roof off the bar.
Over in the corner, Elise, my boss, clapped with a big smile on her face thanks to the bar sales for the night being unbelievably high.
I salivated over a possible pay rise.
My dream swirled, moving on to the two of us in her office sharing a Vodka Flower—my favorite Faery alcoholic beverage.
“Cheers to you, my superstar!” she declared, lifting her flower to me in a toast.
“Thanks.” We both took a sip, the cold yumminess a real treat after all those ballads.
“Ah. Nice.” She put her drink down. “Where is that boyfriend of yours tonight? He missed an amazing show.”
The dream blurred into a messy pallet of color, our voices fading away to muffled hums.
What was the point of this dream? Brought on by the yeti’s voice because it reminded me of my own singing prowess? Ugh. At least send me into an interesting memory. Better yet, one without me still drooling over Basil.
“Take me to Miko, please.” As I spoke, the colors swirled as if reacting to my voice.
