THIRTY-THREE: Nephilims

“Nephilims?” asked Arous.  Seeing them there made her stomach feel hot.

“What?” asked Cindra.

“Nothing,” said Arous and continuing under her breath. “Odd.”

“Excuse me?”

Arous heard a soft whinny come from her bag and cleared her throat.  Cindra gave her a sharp glance.

Arous saw the chains around their ankles.

Miguel, why don’t they break their chains.  They could, just like that Momo in the diner.

Like a pretzel.  They are much stronger than Momo’s.

Okay. Go away now.

She blocked my voice and we had to rely on Arcadia.

Arous’ eyes began to water.  She sniffed. The receptionist looked at her.

“Onions,” Arous said blinking her eyes.

“Yes?”

“I said, onions.  They’re chopping onions.”

Her guide answered her by stretching her lips across her face in the same manner as before.  Arous lowered her eyes, not willing to spend another of her own warm smiles in answer to the empty smile of the woman.

They entered a dining room with a long oak table.  The length of the table distracted Arous from noticing Lady Rose who sat at the end. Above the table floated a large chandelier. Large windows framed one wall.  Out of the windows, Arous caught a quick glance of what seemed to be the reds and greens brick courtyard.

“Miss Arous to see you Lady.”

“Thank you, Cindra.  You may go,” said Lady Rose.

The chandelier swayed, clinking a few glass pieces at the slamming of the large oak door.

“Come and have a seat down here by me, dear,” the First Lady Rose purred.  Arous began her long walk to the end of the table where the Rose sat.  It seemed to take hours to walk down the length of the table. She passed chair after chair like driving fast past the posts of a barbed wire fence on a country road.  When she neared the end of the table, she noticed a chair was already pulled out for her. Arous made mental note that she didn’t see it move and it wasn’t pulled out when she entered. Arous cocked her head.

 “Have a seat, my dear,” she smiled at her.  “Do you know who I am?”

“Lady Rose.”

“First Lady Rose. Do you know what that means?”

“No, I’m sorry. I don’t.”

“It means that my house, Rose House, is the best house of Idelles in the City. Idelles are sell their faces, their personalities to large companies, corporations, institutions, non-profits and politicians, like the Members of the Assembly, the MOTA. Do you know what it means to have such political ties?”

“Not quite.”

“The title First was given to me by the last Ephor. Ephors run the City and the Pantagenent. You understand that, right?”

“Yes. I don’t need a history lesson.”

First Lady Rose grinned. “Good. The last Ephor was Prime Ephor. In other words, he was the leader of the whole world. The current Ephor was pleased to allow me to continue with the title.”

“That’s nice,” Arous gave her a sarcastic smile. “Congratulations.”

The Lady leaned into Arous.

“You should understand that I am very close with the Ephor.  I’m about as powerful as it gets here and you are lucky that I was willing to see you.”

The Lady leaned back in her chair.

“Now, what can I do for you?”

           

            “Arous!” yelled Edlawit.  “Watch out! I think it’s a trap.”

            Shut up, Edwi. I won’t listen to you if you keep trying to make me afraid. I won’t!