When the Other Shoe Drops

Author\'s Note: Warning--You are about to read an unedited rough draft version. Typos, grammatical errors, whatever abound. I\'m putting this up for curiosity’s sake. I will be working on One Foot In and When the Other Shoe Drops and combining them into one, hopefully workable novel. So that is why this one is posted unpolished. Read at your own Risk!

When the Other Shoe Drops

By April Grey

Chapter Eight - Funny meeting you here

Josh found that he couldn’t stop shaking. Pealsa held him and made little soothing noises. Cobby was frowning.

“Pealsa, did we damage him?”

“Oh, I hope he will be fine. Do you think we will be in much trouble if he isn’t?”

Cobby exhaled in an almost whistling sound, “Tyrell will be angry.”

“Oh, no!” Pealsa held Josh closer. “He’s ours. I won’t let him be taken away from us. Josh is ours.”

Cobby put his arms around both the trembling human and his sister, “I will fight for him. You are right. No sharing, he is ours.”

Josh wasn’t sure what he was feeling. It was shock, a reaction from all that had gone on in the past few hours. It was all too much to comprehend. But he wasn’t about to be treated like a pet, “I---I--- will be fine,” he said through chattering teeth. “I need to have some clothes on that’s all.”

“Clothes, he needs clothes,” murmured Cobby attempting to pull up Josh’s underwear.

Josh pushed him away, “Easy my friend, all will be fine. I can dress myself you know.”

Cobby, eyes wide put his arms around his sister and watched Josh dress. “Without clothes you get cold.”

“Of course, don’t you?”

“Not at all. We just dress up for fun,” said Pealsa. “We didn’t know. You are frail, though you are our kinsman.”

“I’m not magic, if that’s what you are saying.” Josh sighed with gratitude as he buttoned his shirt. Whatever had been going on to make him lose control like that had ended. Though he still found Pealsa to be incredibly beautiful. He tried not to think about Cobby at all.

“If we get him inside, he should be warmer,” Cobby said.

“And there is a party planned in your honor,” nodded Pealsa. “But we won’t let you be passed around. You are ours.” Josh noted with some surprise that the gentle Pealsa was showing some grit.

“Fine by me.” He felt at ease knowing he had friends, or something close to friends, lovers, owners? It meant he was connected and connections usually translated to power. “I love parties.”

“They have been good ones as of late. First we had one of the Elfish that changed into a beast entertain us. But now there is another one who dances and sings.”

“And you have food?” Josh felt a bit of a rumble in his stomach.

“All we like is nectar. And we can transfix dust with glamour into things that taste good, yet the new one insists on more. This she has told us many times,” she frowned and then shrugged. “So we will have our usual and we will steal food that is good for her and the beast.” Pealsa kissed Josh and ran her thin fingers through his hair. “It will be so much fun.”

“Then let’s go.”

Cobby took Josh’s arm and he felt himself sinking into the soil beneath him. He panicked as the soil came up to his waist, but relaxed to see both Pealsa and Cobby also sinking down. The next moment Josh found himself on the stone floor of a room which was dark save for the light glow coming from the two Faerae.

“Is it always this dark?”

“We will bring you lights,” Pealsa smiled at her brother, “we are the best keepers among our people, aren’t we?”

Cobby laughed, “I believe we are. Clothes, food, light. What else would please you, cousin?”

“A drink of water.”

Pealsa was incredulous. “Water! What a foul thing to drink. We drink only nectar.”

“I’ll go find him water!” said Cobby, still laughing.

“I’ll make sure no one makes off with him.” Pealsa stroked Josh’s arm making his heart pump a bit faster.

“Good,” and Cobby twinkled out.

“How’d he do that? Just vanish like that.”

Pealsa shrugged. “We all do.”

“Is there a way to come and go without disappearing?”

“Like walking through corridors and such?”

“Exactly.”

“Yes, but we have set up the mound in such a way as to be a maze. This is to defeat any invaders.”

“You get a lot of them?”

She frowned. “No, actually none at all, unless you consider Tyrell one of them. He came here, challenged our King and won. Our King and his consort left,” tears threatened to spill down her face.

Josh took her in his arms and kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“Tyrell is mean,” she stamped her foot, “There I said it. If he doesn’t like you he makes you leave.”

“That’s awful. Is there nothing that can be done?”

“Done?” Pealsa looked confused. “What can one do?”

Josh looked around for a place to sit. The chamber was quite empty and rather damp, he brought Pealsa down and whispered in her ear, “there is always something that can be done. There are more of you than there is of Tyrell.”

She put her hand to her mouth. “I never thought of that.”

Josh smiled. He didn’t like Tyrell. He didn’t care for bullies in general. “Well, I’m curious. Tell me how he managed to fight and win against the King.”

“Ah, well, we don’t usually go around in armor and such. We don’t take injury like the Folk or the Elfish. So it’s a battle of wits-- Usually a riddle or a puzzle. Whoever can untangle the answer first wins.”

“So why the armor?”

“Tyrell thinks it makes him look fierce, like the Demons he lived with.” Her face crumbled. “A very bad Elfish went and summoned Demons and we had to go hide for a very long time. Then the new one, the one who sings and dances, she called us back.”

Josh was getting a funny feeling about all this.

“Does she have a name?”

“I forget, but she’s of the Moon clan.”

Josh was glad when Cobby arrived with what looked to be an acorn cap as large as a pail filled with water. He sipped it and found it to be cold and quenching. “Thanks Cobby.”

Cobby looked askance, “this is something that you need.”

“I must drink water to live.”

“Pealsa, what do you think?”

“I think we have made a wonderful discovery!”

“What are you saying?”

“The new one is always asking for things. We thought she was bossy, like Tyrell. Always give me, give me. But if she needs it to live—“

“We should tell the others,” said Cobby.

“Don’t leave me here,” Josh couldn’t find any doors and as much as these two favored him, they seemed quite air headed.

“We won’t forget you, we promise.” And they flickered out of the room.

Josh sat and thought about what he’d learned.

Josh walked around, touching the stone, sniffing the air and just letting his senses wander. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d finally arrived home. Though he was mortal and couldn’t change size or just disappear through walls and soil, there was a deeper connection. Something that was sgpiritual. He’d gotten over his reaction and was accepting that he could be happy here.

New York City and Hollywood, bah, what did any of that matter when one had found a place where magic worked? He thought, they would oust Tyrell, and then… then—

Hadn’t he come here to find Cindy? Remember her? -- She was also of this place. And what if she were the one they were talking about? What if they’d held her prisoner with the one who was also a beast?

Yeah, that sounded like the creep that had thrown him down the stairs of the tenement that time he’d gone looking to take Cindy home with him. So there were two to be rescued-- three if he included himself, but he didn’t want to leave. Not really. Cold and damp this place was, but with some cushions and other creature comforts, this could be home. He didn’t understand the connection, but it was as if a gap in his life had suddenly been filled.

Josh drank some more water. He’d never tasted anything better.

He noticed that everyone was seated at the low tables long before Tyrell came in. It seemed that he liked to make a grand entrance-- dressed in a long, flowing robe and with a full visor helmet and gauntlets. Quite impressed with himself he was, that Tyrell, thought Josh. And the Faerae tradition of battling wits, not magic, worked in Josh’s favor. If he were to take on Tyrell, it would be a fair match. Josh had little to no magic, but it wouldn’t matter. He’d just have to either solve a puzzle or a riddle before his adversary could. Josh was sure that he could do that.

Just then the musicians began to play. Josh closed his eyes and he nearly wept. It was like no sound he’d ever heard before. He vaguely recognized the instruments, but there was magic afoot yet again, making it all sound heaven made. The food was different. Knowing that some had been dust transformed by magic to taste good had made Josh a bit wary.

Cobby leaned over to him, “We took this from a farmer’s wife’s larder. If this is what you need to sustain yourself—“

“Thanks,” and Josh tucked in. The food was different because the land was different, the people were different and that was so—he laughed. He felt better than he had in years.

The music changed to an up tempo and just then he saw her, floating like a butterfly with a long, multi-hued clothe of material which she delicately wove through the air and around her. He held his breath, watching his Cindy moving like a sprite too delicate for the world they’d left behind. His plan was only half-formed but he’d need her to be prepared.

“Beatrice!” he said loud enough for her to hear him.

She danced away. Josh’s heart sped. He was sure she had heard, but would she understand and be ready to play her role with him?

“Why did you call her Beatrice?” asked Tyrell from the next table adjoining Josh’s, “Do you know her?”

“Not at all. It is a word of derision kept for all inept performers.”

There was a stirring around the two. “She is not good? Why we all enjoy her work,” said Cobby to a Faerae that Josh hadn’t been introduced to.

“She’s awful.” Josh said even louder, making sure he would be heard above the music.

The musicians stopped, looking all around them in confusion as to why they were being rudely interrupted.

“So you think she is not good?” Tyrell repeated with a smile on his face. He tapped his finger against his nectar filled goblet, “Come here you.”

Cindy came forward and scowled at Josh, “Who the hell do you think you are, Buddy?”

Leo took a step backwards, wondering what could possibly happen next.

“Someone with more talent than you, that’s for sure.”

“Now, now, kinsman,” Tyrell seemed quite happy, “I must ask you to not to insult our performer.” Tyrell stepped around the table and took Cindy’s hand bringing her close to him. “I think she is very talented.”

Tyrell lifted an eyebrow and practically leered.

Cindy shot Josh a look and Josh gave a small imperceptible nod. If only Cindy would follow the lead he was giving her.

Cindy surreptitiously leaned into the Faerae leader. “Thank you, sir, for defending me.”

“Obviously, he knows nothing about art,” Josh said, standing up.

A gasp went around the room. Cobby stared at his charge. “Tyrell, I am sorry. Come, Josh, you are out of sorts,” he grabbed Josh’s arm and tried to leave.

“Just a moment,” said Tyrell. “This is unacceptable. He has insulted our entertainment and now he has insulted me. I must have recourse for my honor.”

Josh forced himself not to smile, “Very well. What recourse is there?”

“Perhaps we shall fight?” Tyrell’s eyes lit up.

“Is that the tradition? Is that why you wear armor?” A bead of sweat trickled down his neck.

“No!” said Pealsa. “That is not the tradition. It is a challenge of wits only which are used.”

“Then you might as well give up and apologize now. For I am the champion here.” Tyrell was having himselft a very good time.

“No. I think not,” said Josh slowly. “I will accept your challenge to a battle of wits. And if I win the two Elfish become mine to do with as I please.”

Tyrell nodded, “And if I win, you and your two admirers here,” he pointed to Cobby and Pealsa, “are exiled.”

“Agreed.”

“Of course, to do battle there must be rules to keep things aboveboard.”

Josh got a twitchy feeling that Tyrell wasn’t planning to be honorable at all. His bones were swearing it. He had to watch for the trick.

“Rules are good,” Josh smiled. Wait for it. Don’t look too anxious, he thought before saying. “I, for one, would be concerned over who would judge our competition. I imagine almost everyone here owes you fealty.”

Tyrell spread open his hands, “Yes, it might be difficult finding a judge. But we do have our two Elfish visitors.”

Cindy stared. “Keep me out of this. I’m not helping either one of you.”

“A fine choice,” said Josh. “Perhaps we could have them both as judges.”

Leo practically snarled.

“As you wish,” said Tyrell, “I think they might need some time to come up with a suitable challenge for us. It should be a puzzle or riddle. That way we can be certain of no playing of favorites.”

“Agreed.”

Tyrell thrust his chin up and exited the banquet room. The room’s occupants relaxed, most noticably Cobby and Pealsa did.

“Are you touched in the head?” asked Cobby.

“What was that all about?” asked Pealsa.

“I don’t like Tyrell. I felt he needed someone to keep him on his toes.” Though Josh was addressing his friends, his eyes kept shooting over to the corner where Cindy and Leo stood.

“Cindy, what was that idiot going on about?” asked Leo.

“He has a plan. It seemed pretty obvious. He’s set up Tyrell to believe that he’d do well in a challenge if we were the judges. So now we just have to come up with something which seems on the up and up but will work to Josh’s favor.”

“Seems?”

“It has to be something that we know he can answer or solve.”

“Great. Is pretty boy capable of solving anything more advanced than the sum of one plus one?”

“You shouldn’t judge him that way. That was my mistake the first two years of college. I kept thinking that anyone that handsome had to be worthless—“

“And he is worthless. He wasn’t smart enough to marry you.”

Cindy wanted to let it go. Her mouth pursed into a small frown as she fought with herself to let go of a sharp retort. She needed to be alone with Josh. She wanted to touch him and feel his lips against hers. I was a physical need so strong she could barely think.

“Leo, can’t we drop this?”

“Sure we can, Cindy. But not until we come up with something that will get us freed.”

“He’s not leaving, but I can’t approach him without seeming like I’m being impartial.”

“Go ahead and be impartial. That can work in your favor.”

“Leo, I love you!” Cindy turned with a gleam in her eye. “Hey, excrement for brains.”

“Are you referred to me?” Josh’s heart sped up. “I think I heard the call of a wild harpy.”

Cobby and Pealsa looked at one another in disbelief.

“Oh, it speaks? How remarkable!”

“Does fair Harpy have something to say to me? Or do you just like to gawk there with your mouth hanging open like a carp?”

“A carp, say you?” Cindy walked over and brought her hand back to swipe at him.

Josh easily caught her hand and blocked her knee to his groin. With a quick twist he had her beneath him on the ground.

“Let me up you poltroon,” Cindy writhed under him.

(I’ve missed you so much, love) Josh whispered in her ear.

“Get off me you big lummox.” She bit her lip so she wouldn’t smile as Josh planted a kiss to her neck.

“Ah, not so brave now, my Beatrice?” Holding her by the wrists he raised himself up over her, enjoying her frantic struggle against his body. “After I have won this challenge, you will be mine and I shall school you in the proper way to perform.”

He gave a theatrical villain’s laugh before covering his mouth with hers. For a second, Cindy put up no resistance, thrilling in his touch and smell, but then she remembered her role and nipped him on the lip.

“You little bitch,” Josh’s eyes flared with excitement. Actually, he was getting into their mock battle. “The shrew bit me.”

Cobby took Josh by the arm and pulled him off of her with ease. “Enough of that kinsman. I will not have you dishonoring any woman so. It is not comely, even if she is Elfish.”

Inwardly he was relieved. He had thought of the Faerae as a gentle people and this gave hope to his theory that Cindy, though held captive, had not been brutalized.

“Very well, but I think she enjoyed it,” Josh winked.

Cindy spat. “I can’t get out the rancid taste of you from my lips. Say goodbye to your fellows. I am sure to come up with a puzzle that will have you and your friends exiled on the morrow.”

She turned and left the room, Leo following.

Josh went and sat on the pillows on the floor. He sighed and put his hands over his face.

“Do not be afraid of her,” said Pealsa.

“We shall stay with you, not matter what,” said Cobby.

Josh lowered his hands and took Pealsa and Cobby in his arms. “You guys are really loyal to me?”

“Of course.”

“No doubt of that, kinsman,” said Cobby hugging back.

Josh watched as the last of the Faerae departed the room and he was left with his two companions.

“Then there is something I’d like you to do for me.”

“Name it!” said Cobby, his eyes bright with excitement.

“I haven’t had so much excitement in years,” Pealsa laughed. “Why this is such good entertainment. There should be more challenges, I think.”

“We had become so dull,” agreed Cobby.

“Well, in that case. I have a little joke that I wish to play.”

Pealsa’s face sobered. “A prank?”

“Yes, are you with me?”

Cobby squirmed with pleasure. “Do tell.”


Cindy was trying to get to sleep. It wasn’t exactly comfortable sleeping on rushes, even with a piece of Faerae cloth thrown over them. Leo was sleeping next to her, for warmth only, he hadn’t shown any interest in her at all sexually since the incident with Tyrell. She tried not to roll over because he was a light sleeper, but there was something sticking into her back. She tried to reach it with a minimum of movement.

“Can’t sleep?” came Leo’s voice in the darkness.

“I’m trying.”

“Too excited about Lover boy?”

“Do you have to be so jealous?”

“Do I have to be anything? Once I thought we had a future together. Then you had to go off with that Demon.”

“That was necessary.”

“You are a slut. Just as bad as your boyfriend, you are.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“No wonder he never married you.”

“That hurts. Why are you trying to hurt me, Leo? What have I done?”

“What haven’t you done? These horrid creatures take me and I am abused. You come along, wriggle that cute ass of yours a few times and have sex with that megalomania—“

“Who I thought was you—“

“And you couldn’t tell the difference?”

Cindy closed her eyes and counted to ten. One of the nice things about living with Josh was that they rarely quarreled. Not so with Leo. If he didn’t get off a volley along her giving a counter volley at least twice an hour he’d ask why she was giving him the cold shoulder. She sighed and then heard the door open.

It was Tyrell. He was dressed from head to toe in his robes and battle gear.

“Get out, Beast. This one and I have some things to discuss.”

“No. You can’t hurt her,” said Leo jumping up.

Tyrell jerked his head and Leo was swiftly removed from the room by Cobby.

Cindy stood there, not moving as the door closed. Tyrell did not glow, which meant it could only be--

“Josh, how’d you get his gear?”

Josh, removed the helmet and laughed, “We haven’t been together in ages, and that’s all you can say?”

He stepped into her and kissed her. She opened her mouth to him and responded warmly.

Then she pulled away, “And what if you are found here?”

“No, lights. You’ll pretend that you thought it was him all along.”

Cindy blushed, remembering how that had already happened to her. Tyrell had been able to mute his glow so as to pretend to be Leo when they made love. Josh really didn’t need to know that though.

She wove her fingers through his. It was dark and the lamp was low on oil.

“Josh.”

He held her close and they just stood there in the darkness.

“I love you, Cindy. Whatever happens, I want you to remember that.”

“What will happen is that you will win the challenge tomorrow and we will all leave.”

“Sounds good.”

“Say that with a bit more enthusiasm, please. What’s wrong with you?”

He responded by kissing her fiercely and then moving his kisses down her throat.

“Josh?”

“Let’s make love,” he said.

Cindy felt certain he was keeping something from her, but she would find it out, eventually.

She took his hand and led him over to the pallet of rushes. She sat down and he sat next to her, still holding her hand.

“I’ve missed you so much,” his voice was ragged with desire as he pushed her onto her back. He opened her shift and nuzzled her breast, taking its tip into his mouth. His other hand stroked between her legs, fondling the nub with his thumb and slowly inserting his index finger into her.

Cindy gasped as the digit entered her. “Oh, Josh.”

He continued to suckle her tit and arouse her with his hand.

She felt him pressing into her thigh with his cock and she reached down to pull up his robes over his erection. He pushed her hand away.

“Not yet,” and he moved further down her body, kissing her stomach slowly reaching her clitorous.

“Josh, I don’t need all this prep.”

“Yeah, well, I’m about to go off and I want it to be good for you.”

“You’re always good,” Cindy grabbed his hair and leaned forward to kiss him on the mouth. “You are always good, stop it. I want you in me, now.”

She heard him sigh and then he was on his back pulling her over him.

“Come for me, Cindy. I want it to be great.”

She shook her head, though he couldn’t see her movement in the dark. Something most definitely was going on with him, she wished she knew what, but would give it time. She reached below her and felt where his cock was, standing rock solid and waiting for her. She wrapped her fingers around him and enjoyed his low grunt of appreciation of her touch. She rubbed the head of his cock back and forth between the petals of entrance and he slipped inside of her.

She moaned as she lowered herself onto him. His heat flaring up inside her, she cried out once he was totally sheathed in her. She rocked back and forth, allowing her body to expand and accommodate all of him deep within her. She bent over and her lips found his.

They kissed and she kept herself still, so as to not bring herself or him on too quickly. Her tongue darted in his mouth and swept around his teeth. She felt him put his large hands on her hips, to steady her and then to guide her as he began his slow, steady thrusts.

“Oh, damn, it’s good,” she said as a shiver ran down her spine. “Harder Josh, I need you.” She gently bit down on his bottom lip, knowing that he loved the occasional nip.

“Yes, that’s it.” Josh was thrusting up into with a more regular pace.

Cindy placed her hands on either side of his shoulders, giving herself some purchase to help move with him.

“Tell me, Josh, tell me more.” She was flexing her inner muscles over him and moving her hips in a circular motion.

“I’m in you, so deep.”

“You’re fucking me so hard.”

“God, Cindy, you’re beautiful.”

“Tell me what you want, baby.”

“I want you, only you,” he whispered as he felt himself near to the edge, “no one else—but”

Cindy cried out as she crested and the first shock of orgasm hit her. “Now, Josh, now.”

He increased his tempo and held her just as he needed her to be, his fingers gouging into her flesh as he lifted her up and brought her back down hard on him. But he wanted more and he flipped her onto her back and lifted her legs up and over his shoulders, giving him more freedom to slam into her. She made tiny whimpers every time he ground into her and her fingers raked down his arms when she came again.

He bit down on the side of her neck as the cum shot deep into her. He pulled out a little and pushed in again. His breathing was ragged and he felt tears coming to his eyes.

He licked where he’d bit down. It would probably be bruised the next day and he worried if he had hurt her anywhere else. No matter how many times she claimed she didn’t mind him getting wild, he worried. He continued to hold his weight up and over her.

“Are you all right?”

“Fucking Fantabulous,” she said in a soft, low voice. “Wow, we should get held prisoners more often.”

“Don’t even joke about that,” he said, lowering his body to the side of her and holding her close.

“I love you, Cindy. You’re going to be released.”

She reached up and stroked his cheek. “Something you aren’t telling me, lover?” She felt wetness on his face. Was he crying? “Josh, I love you, too. Trust me, talk to me baby.”

She felt him shake his head and get up, feeling for his helmet in the dark.

“Cindy, I’ll explain tomorrow. Now be quiet and pretend you’ve just been made by our fearless leader.”

“Okay, tomorrow. You will tell me tomorrow.”

He leaned over her and kissed her one last time. “Tomorrow.”

She pulled the thin sheet up over her and tried not to cry. She didn’t know what was on his mind, and didn’t like it that he wasn’t being open with her. They both had just needed this love making to reestablish their feelings for each other, but she always preferred the bedtime talks they had after sex. It was then that he was most open with his feelings. For a person who made his living using his emotions, he had a tendency to hoard them away and refuse to explain how he was feeling. It was like he needed to be someone else to be able to emote, but once back to just plain or Josh, he’d have problems.

Cindy touched her lips where his had just been. Damn it all, she thought, I’m going to cry anyway. It just wasn’t fair that he was keeping things from her and that he wasn’t there for her to fall asleep in his arms. She needed him, his warm body and his strong arms to make her feel safe and to help her sleep.

Grateful that at least they had had a chance to say they loved each other, she fell into a deep sleep.

She was dreaming that Josh was in bed with her but then his body began to glow and she saw it wasn’t him at all, it was Tyrell. She hit him over and over and cried.

“Cindy, stop it. It’s Leo!”

Cindy completely woke and stretched out her hand in the dark, “Leo?”

“Yeah. They sent me back in here after Tyrell was done. I guess he just wanted to be sure he’d win the challenge tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“That wasn’t Tyrell, was it?”

“Why do you ask?”

“You stink of Faerae, but it’s mixed with human. It was Josh.”

“Let’s get some sleep.”

“I don’t know why, but that doesn’t make me any happier.”

“We’re leaving tomorrow—I should think that would be happy enough.”

“I’ll believe it when it happens.” Leo reached over, found her hand and gave it a squeeze, “Sorry that I get morose.”

“I know it’s not been easy for you.” She squeezed his hand back and fell asleep.