Running With Scissors Pt. 5

Original photo by Steve

RWS is a serial fantasy story that posts every Monday following Danielle, a regular girl stuck in an irregular world where unicorns serve as judge and jury, gnomes have infested the south district, and a minor god reports the weather on the nightly news. 

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Part 5

The Queen's mouth opened. She had a lot of teeth. Her thick tongue flicked like a snake across my face and I just knew it. I had volunteered to be a snack. The dragon said, "YOU TASTE LIKE YOU TELL THE TRUTH."

They could taste lies? Could I lie if I didn't know what I was talking about?

"YOU WILL SWEAR THIS OATH FOR MY SON?"

I blinked through sticky dragon spit and rubbed my face on my shoulder. "Yes, I swear." Just don't eat me, please?

"I WILL ACCEPT THIS OATH. RELEASE HER." The guards dropped me. And bowed. That was weird.  I wiped my face on the sleeve of my shirt. "VISITS TWICE PER WEEK ARE ACCEPTABLE UNTIL MY SON COMES INTO THIS WORLD. THEN WE WILL DISCUSS YOUR ADDITIONAL DUTIES."

If I hadn't volunteered to be eaten, just what was I supposed to be doing? "Great, that's perfect. I'll see you on Thursday, then."

The Queen stepped back to her former position on the polished floor. "FAREWELL HONORED... WHAT IS YOUR HUMAN NAME?"

"Danielle."

"IT IS KESSA IN OUR TONGUE OF FIRE." The Queen tapped one claw. "HAVE IT WRITTEN." She looked down at one of her dragons-in-men-suits who swiped his fingers across a tablet. "KESSA IS GRANTED ALL HONORS AND DUTIES OF THE OATHBOUND. LET IT BE KNOWN."

I slapped the phone up to my ear, "Just what did you get me into?"

"Oh, you know. Nanny the newborn, teach him his letters and numbers, put out any fires he sets."

"Great. I'm Aunt to a dragon."

"More like... official royal babysitter."

"Thanks." I drolled. "Does the job come with dental?"

"Honored Kessa, may I escort you out?" I stared at the hand the purple-winged guard extended toward me. It was human shaped, sized, and colored. It was a very convincing fake. In fact, the whole figure was rather fetching if you could get past the giant gem-bright wings and eyes that nictated from the sides instead of blinking. They were very nice eyes, though. He reached out and took my phone. He hung up on the dragon ghost and handed the device back to me. When I reached out to take it he took my hand under his arm and began walking to the elevator.

I wasn't sure that being escorted was any better than being marched around. At least it was just the purple one and I this time. There was more room in the elevator that way.

He dropped me off at the front of the building where my small car was parked somewhat innocuously along the curb. The morning sun flashed against the mirrors. I didn't like the idea of one of them driving my car... or picking it up and flying over here with it either. I decided not to ask. I really didn't want to know.

Purple opened the passenger-side door and made an after-you gesture. "Oh, no. I'll drive my own, car, thanks."

He frowned at me, "As one of the Oathbound you are entitled to an escort. I will be happy to drive you whe--"

"No," I said. "Thank you." I did drop my phone on the passenger seat. "I don't need an escort anywhere and certainly not from one of you."

Purple's eyes nictated and he looked almost hurt by the idea that he wasn't required. He nodded and shut my  passenger door carefully. We stood facing each other for a heartbeat and I found I was reluctant to simply turn and leave. He and Green had literally plucked me from my life on their Queen's say so but they had taken great care not to hurt me which, for a dragon, probably took some doing.

I sighed, "What's your name?"

"Saker."

"And the green one?"

"Aerik."

"Well, Saker. Thank you for walking me down. I'll be back on Thursday. You or Aerik are welcome to meet me at the door. Just one of you, though. The elevator was a little cramped."

Saker gave a half bow, "I'll wait here for your return, then, Honored Kessa."

"Uh. Cool." I gave him a thumbs up and walked to the other side of my car. The seat was all the way back. Someone had been driving.

I corrected the seat and mirrors. I hit the power button on my phone and found none of my usual apps on the screen. I frowned. Flying here hadn't exactly helped me figure out how to drive back home and without a map I'd be going in circles. I dialed the ghost, all twos, and put the ringing on speaker.

"Honored Kessa!"

"Don't call me that. Where are all my apps?"

"I filed them all away. Everything's much neater now."

"I need a map out of here. It's late. I need to get home."

"It's early actually."

"A map, please." Then I reconsidered. "Why, what time is it?"

"Almost five thirty."

"Well, shit." My interview was in two hours.

"Drive out of the loop and turn right at the first intersection.

I started the car. In my rear view I saw Saker standing patiently on the curb like he could wait there all week for me to come back.

Part 6 or All Chapters

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