SEVENTY-ONE: Fairytale

 Arous began yanking the coat from Siobhan, growling “give them to me”.  Siobhan sat on the floor stunned. “The boots” – and Arous began to take the boots off Siobhan’s feet.

“What are you doing?” asked Siobhan.

“If I have to be the one to break it to you – these are very unattractive on you.”

Arous snatched the hat from Mijin and walked over to the large, floor to ceiling windows.

“Open!” Arous said to the windows.

The windows swung open and Arous flung Siobhan’s finds out of the window into the traffic below. Siobhan jumped up in a split second ready to play Arous’ game. She grabbed Arcadia from off a shelf nearby.

“Let’s see if little pony can fly,” said Siobhan.

“Put him back,” said Arous.

A low menacing rumble filled the room. Octavius appeared in the doorway. In a flash, he stood flat-footed, paws on Siobhan’s shoulder staring her eye to eye, his mouth cracked open. If he scared her, Siobhan didn’t show it.

“Okay. Paw’s off kitty-kitty.” Siobhan lofted Arcadia into the air and Octavius jumped backwards to catch her between his teeth. He landed without a sound and jumped to the couch.

“You were talking about a Prince Charming. I’ll tell you a fairytale!” Arous eyes were glowing. “Sit. You are going to listen to me.” No one moved except Siobhan who sat. 

“I’ll tell you a fairytale. For the past, I don’t know, how many months, since before I came here – since the night I ran away from home. Since then, I’ve had this dream about this man and he was wearing that!” Arous pointed to the window and walked over. “Those clothes. He was wearing that hat, that coat! I have never seen his face. You know why? Do you know why? Because he doesn’t have a face. He doesn’t have a nose, or eyes or even a mouth. I’m not even sure how you could have heard him say anything because he does not have a face! And what kills me is that you didn’t even notice.”

“No, Arous. I’m sure he had a face, I’m sure he did. It just wasn’t memorable,” said Siobhan.

“And, yes, I ran away. I ran from such a wonderful place that you think is some fairytale figment of my imagination. I ran. I ran as fast as I could. It was sitting on a table in the Willing Room and I took it. All the money, all the inheritance. I could’ve had everything I wanted by asking but I stole it. I took the money out of the Diofe’s -,” she stopped.

Simon had run down the block and up the stairs to catch Octavius and was standing in the doorway, breathing heavy.

“He just bolted and ran.  I chased him for at least seven blocks!”

An awkward silence sat among them a moment. The girls all stared at each other like at a sleep over when one has just divulged a dark secret that no one dares laugh at because they all feel the sting of the shame. MiJin broke the silence, in her calm way.

“Does anyone know what the Prince looks like?”

Silence continued.

“I mean, the Prince Charming. The one who’s coming to join the Thirteen.”