When the Other Shoe Drops

When the Other Shoe Drops

By April Grey

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!
Chapter Nine – My Ducats, My Daughter!


I woke up and felt the usual panic of not knowing if it were day or night. Damn, how I hated this Faerae mound. Couldn’t they put in a few windows or something? Yeah, right, big show offs didn’t need doors or windows so why bother?

My mood was not good and hearing Leo curse behind me didn’t help it any.

“Sorry, Leo, didn’t mean to wake you.”

“No, I’m fine,” he sounded exasperated to me. “So, I wonder if anybody is going to come for us?”

“Well, this should be the big day.”

“Did you come up with a riddle?”

“Not quite, I mean well it’s a riddle involving three boxes.” I swallowed, feeling the dryness of my throat. “Is there anymore of that nectar hanging about?”

“It’s in the flagon that’s hanging on the door. I left it there last night.”

Carefully counting to myself the number of steps, I walked over to where I remembered the entrance to the room was from last night. I felt the door and lower down found the handle to the door. The flagon was hanging there as he said it would. I sipped some and made a face. How did I ever think this stuff had tasted good?

“Leave some for me?” said Leo.

“Okay, but you’ll regret it. A couple more days and the stuff should be 100 proof.”

I heard him chuckle. Out of habit I tried the door. It opened. Damn. I was used to being in rooms without doors, this new room had only been after my flirting relentlessly with Tyrell. But it had always been locked.

Still the corridor outside was as dark as it was inside. And to be honest, I didn’t feel like getting lost in a Faerae maze just when we were about to finally leave this dump.

I walked carefully to our pallet, again counting the steps.

“Leo, they left the door unlocked.”

“Hmm.” He took the nectar from me. “Eww. You’re correct in your assessment of this drink. Quite definitely off.”

“Why did they leave the door open?”

“Josh’s doing, perhaps?”

“Who brought you back last night?”

“Pealsa. She and that brother of hers are as tight as thieves with your lover boy.”

“So she probably left it open. Do you think she was helping us escape?”

“I don’t trust it. I’ve never heard anything that would indicate a direct exit from the mound. You have to be with a Faerae to get in or out.”

I nodded to myself. I didn’t like this. I wanted to believe that it wasn’t deliberate, still—

“So did you come up with a riddle?”

“Yes.” I bit at a fingernail that had become ragged. Boy, oh boy, first thing I get home, I head over to Happy Nails and get the deluxe manicure-- that and a Starbucks to sip while they worked on me. I smiled just thinking of the aroma of a double espresso latte.

“So, it’s a sure thing?”

“Oh, Leo. Nothing is sure.”

“What? You didn’t tell him the solution?”

“I wasn’t thinking very clearly last night. And he never asked.” I felt a bit nervous, realizing how stupid Josh and I had been. I should have said something last night. Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda. What if?

“Cindy? There isn’t a chance he won’t get it? IS there?”

“Not if he’s up on his Shakespeare.” I put my hands over my face. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

“Okay. He’s an actor. Of course he knows Shakespeare.”

“He avoided it like the plague when we were in college. He hates iambic pentameter.” I hit my thigh out of frustration.

“CINDY?”

“I wasn’t thinking, dammit.”

“Has he ever seen the play?”

“I don’t know. I played the role of Jessica in The Merchant my freshman year in college. But Josh was in another production also rehearsing and scheduled for about the same time. He probably never saw the play.”

“But it was Shakespeare. He must know it.”

“He prefers Restoration Comedy. He’s practically an expert on Sheridan.” I sat down and gave in to my utter and totally justifiable self-contempt. I just hadn’t been thinking last night.

“So tell me how it goes.” Leo said with more than a bit of concern.

“There are three chests: one of gold, one of silver and one of lead. Inside one of them is a token showing it is the right chest.”

“Sounds good.”

“Well, yes, there’s a riddle that goes with each chest: The gold reads, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire” and the silver reads “Who chooseth me shall get what he deserves” and the lead one reads “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves”

“Well, it’s interesting, I suppose. So we might not get out of here at all then.”

“I’m sorry Leo. I’d forgotten about Josh not liking Shakespeare.”

“Right.”

We both sat in the dark. I was hungry again. Damn, even with the Faerae finally beginning to understand that mortals needed more than transformed dust to live on, they forgot to feed us on a regular basis. I laughed at myself, without time pieces or daylight to count the hours, this should come as no surprise. And with nothing to do, I was just more aware of passing time; my hunger could be more from boredom than anything else.

Finally I saw a glowing figure come closer. It was Lalos, one of the musical Faerae, carrying his harp.

“Tyrell commands me to help you prepare for the challenge. Is there anything you need?”

“Yes, three chests: one of gold, one of silver and one of lead.”

He smiled, “Finding one of lead might be difficult. We have a whole treasure house of gold and silver.”

I sighed. “How about magicking one up? Would that be possible?”

“I think I could manage that,” he nodded slowly. “Do you know that everyone is rooting for Tyrell to win, just because we fear what Josh might do to you?”

“He does seem to hate me.”

“Well I, for one, will protect you, dear lady. I have enjoyed our entertainments together. I think the entire court would fight to keep you here.”

I was touched, but never more wanted to get away. “Thank you Lalos, but do you ever wonder if I am happy here? I’m tired of living in the dark and being cold and basically kept a prisoner in this place. You never thought on that?”

He had to decency to look distraught, “I am very sorry. It’s sometimes hard to understand creatures as yourself. None of us wish to let you go, because we are fond of you. You have brought us many hours of pleasure.”

“And this is how I’m rewarded,” I stretched my arm our showing him our dingy cold cell with it’s pallet of rushes. “Please, I haven’t had a hot bath in ages, I’m stuck having to wash in nectar that’s practically turned to vinegar. I’m not happy here. I can’t imagine any mortal living long in this place.”

Lalos said nothing, but he stared at the ground. I’d tried-- tried so many times I could cry. They just refused to let go of their little toys. I thought my family was self involved, but hard as I attempted to get them to apply some semblance of ethics to the matter—they refused to let either of us go!

“Follow me, and I will take you to the banquet hall. You will have good food; I took it myself fresh this morning from one of the Folk right under his nose. You should have seen him holler and scream, ha ha!”

Leo and I followed him down the hallway. I was counting turns, two left forks and a right turn and then another left fork—and I could have sworn it had changed since last night when we had returned from the party. What did it matter? So what if I could find my way between the two rooms? It was an exit I needed.

I got to the room and found it quite empty. I spun around to find that Tyrell had just walked in behind us.

“I was listening to your complaints, Cindy. Are you still unhappy with us?”

He frowned in an exaggerated manner and rubbed his chin. “But what if I took your concerns more seriously? What if I were to create for you a castle made of glowing seashells and brilliant peacock feathers. What is it that you long for most? I will bring it to you and force you to be glad to be with us.”

He came closer to me and leaned down to whisper in my ear, “Tell me the answer to the riddle and it is all yours. And you shall be my consort.”

He stood up and stroked my cheek with his hand. I felt an enchantment flow over me. Suddenly this place wasn’t so bad. And Tyrell, well, he was a sexy beast. Much better than Josh who couldn’t fly or—

I laughed. It was a nice try on Tyrell’s part. “Yes, my lord,” and I fluttered my eyelashes at him, “I take your meaning. But you are so bright a mind and the kinsman so dull, that to tell you the answer would be an insult to you. I am quite assured that you will know when the time comes exactly what to do.”

I crept my hand up his arms to his shoulders and planted a kiss on his oh so perfect nose.

“Ahem, and what do I see here,” Josh’s voice rumbled from behind me. “Perhaps the judge isn’t as impartial as she should be.”

I swirled to face my beloved. “Can you expect me to be interested in one such as yourself? I’d prefer to kiss a toad.”

Josh smiled, “That can be arranged. Especially after I have won the challenge.”

I wondered for a second if I could just charge him again and so wind up on the ground in his arms. I could whisper the answer in his ear. But before I had a chance to rush him, Tyrell grabbed my arm and swung me around to him.

“Now, now, dear cousin. This lovely Elfish creature could not help herself against my charm. Do not take offense so, or we shall have to have another challenge.”

“Bring them on, Cousin. As many challenges as you wish. I’m not afraid.”

Tyrell sneered, “Well, perhaps you should.” And he strolled off to his cushion behind the low table, “Let us begin the feast.” He clapped his hands and food magically appeared. I eyed it all cautiously. How much was real and how much was fake? I wouldn’t know until later when the emptiness hit my stomach with painful contractions of hunger.

“Please your Highness, I am a bit thirsty. Could I have some water before we begin?”

“Water? Only the best for you. Have some of my spiced nectar.”

I saw Josh make a move from the corner of my eye. Damn, don’t let him blow it.

Instead he whispered something to Pealsa and she nodded.

“My lord Tyrell. If the Elfish creature asks for water, I have some that can be given to her.”

She got up and brought me a small bowl of water. I wasn’t sure how I was to react to her kindness.
“Thanks. So is your friend hoping to score brownie points?”

She frowned, “There are no Brownies here.”

I rolled my eyes, of course they would have Brownies. Elfish, Faerae, why not Brownies, Pixies and Sprites? There was a lot I didn’t know about this place.

Lalos came in carrying three small chests of the appropriate materials. He was very strong because even though they weren’t much bigger than breadboxes, they had to be very heavy. The gold and silver ones were ornate with fancy scrollwork and jewels. The lead one, well it was very plain, ugly in fact—it was perfect.

There was hushed conversations as everyone wondered about the Shakespearean Three Card Monte game that was about to happen.

Josh looked blank. Was that a good or bad thing?

“What are these, Cynthia of the White Moon Clan?” said Tyrell.

“It’s for the challenge.” I grinned.

“What are we to do?”

Josh stood up and walked around them. “I don’t like this. Are we supposed to guess what’s inside?”

Tyrell, not wanted to look bad, also stood up and inspected the boxes. “Of course, but we will have a hint.”

“And how will we know which guess is right?”

“Hey, boys, you’re really getting ahead of yourselves.”

I sat down on a cushion and enjoyed the water. Now if I only had a toothbrush and some toothpaste—oh well.

I folded my hands demurely in my lap and waiting.

“Well?” asked Tyrell.

Josh said nothing. Again, I couldn’t read him.

“In one of the three chests is a lock of my hair. I have a riddle for each chest to clue you into where it is the right chest.”

“Good.” Tyrell broke into a radiant smile.

“Wait a second,” said Josh. “What if we choose the same chest?”

“Or if we both choose wrong?” said Tyrell, still in a very good mood.

“You can draw straws to see who goes first,” Leo said.

I glared at him. Since when did he decide to join into this.

“I was going to suggest that if you choose the same one that we have to start over with another challenge, same thing if you both choose wrong.”

Tyrell shook his head, “We shall draw straws. Lalos, you shall be the holder of the straws.”

Leo had really mucked things up. I knew where Lalos’ loyalty was and Josh didn’t have a chance.

Lalos twinkled out and reappeared almost immediately. He held a long straw and a short one. He turned around and then faced back out holding the straws in his hand. It looked on the up and up to me.

He held out his hand to the two competitors. Josh and Tyrell chose at the same time and immediately held their straws up. Josh had gotten the short one. Why wasn’t I surprised?

“Well, I’m sure that is just a foretelling of who will be the winner,” said Tyrell.

Josh took couple of steps back. “Be my guest.” He folded his arms and leaned against the wall.

I cleared my throat, “I will not give the clues.” I stood up and walked over to the gold chest and said, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” I then walked over to the silver chest, “Who chooseth me shall get what he deserves.” Then I walked over the lead one, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” I curtsied and sat down again. I was having trouble breathing and I felt more warm than in the weeks since I had arrived.

Tyrell rubbed his chin and walked over to the gold chest. “’Who chooseth this one shall gain what many men desire.’ That would be because gold is held in greater esteem than silver? Yet, you my dear are not of the Faerae, you are only Elfish. Therefore I would not choose gold. The other two riddles, silver the person get what he deserves as opposed to get as much as he deserves. It seems to be a quibbling difference between what one deserves and as much. So I would ignore the riddle and be left choosing between the two elements. And though you are not of the Faerae, still you are talented and attractive unlike the gross lead. And of the moon clan, silver would be the moon’s element.” Tyrell took a few steps away and then dramatically turned, “I choose silver. Your turn, Josh.”

There was a collective hush over the room as all eyes turned from Tyrell to Josh.

He put on the aw shucks look that had melted the hearts of so many soap opera fans-- All innocent and eager to please. I forgot to breathe as he took the metaphoric stage.

He walked from the gold to the lead chest and then looked at me. “Gold or lead, Cindy White of the Moon clan, let me guess.”

My heart sank. He didn’t have a clue and he was bluffing. And then he started speaking in iambic pentameter.

“So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the show of evil? In religion,
What damned error, but some sober brow
Will bless it and approve it with a text,
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?”

He took a break, eyeing his astonished audience and, making a good show of thinking out loud, he continued,

”There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts:
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars;
Who, inward search\'d, have livers white as milk;
And these assume but valour\'s excrement
To render them redoubted! Look on beauty,
And you shall see \'tis purchased by the weight;
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lightest that wear most of it:
So are those crisped snaky golden locks
Which make such wanton gambols with the wind,
Upon supposed fairness, often known
To be the dowry of a second head,
The skull that bred them in the sepulchre.”

He walked over to where Cobby and Pealsa sat and kneeled next to them. Giving Pealsa a kiss on the cheek and taking Cobby’s hand, he began again,

”Thus ornament is but the guiled shore
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word,
The seeming truth which cunning times put on
To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee;
Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
\'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead,
Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught,
Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence;”

Gracefully Josh rose and walked over to the lead chest,

”And here choose I; joy be the consequence!”

You could have heard a pin drop. I think I might have been the most shocked of all. Josh had always led me to believe that he couldn’t handle Shakespeare and therefore despised it. But then, when we had performed Much Ado About Nothing, he’d handled the text just fine. Had I been underestimating him all these years? Obviously I had.

The silence went on a little too long. I stood up.

“So those are your choices? For Tyrell the silver and Josh the lead. Go each of you and stand behind the chest you have chosen.”

I watched them look at each other. The tension had really build up in the room.

“Now, open them.”

Tyrell opened and looked shocked and horrified. Josh held up a locket of my hair. A clamor arose in the room like nothing I’d heard before as Faerae after Faerae began to protest Josh winning. I worried that maybe they were going to tar and feather him and run him out of the mound. Cobby and Pealsa leapt up and were on either side of him, both looking fierce in a way I never thought possible.

“Quiet, quiet all,” Tyrell raised his hand and slowly the room felt silent. “My court, as you see I have lost the challenge. Fortunately it was only a small thing. Josh has won the right to stay along with his friends and is now the keeper of Cindy and the beast creature.”

I heard Leo grumble near me, “Your name he gets right-- me, I’m chopped liver.”

“Leo, hush,” I whispered, scared to even look at him. I was never so scared in my life. I wanted out of this place. For the three of us, but I was getting a bad, bad feeling. There was no talk of leaving. Would we all be expected to stay here?

Josh opened his hands in a friendly manner. You could feel the room ease and relax. “My kinsmen. You have done so much to make me welcome, to make me feel that I have simply returned home after a long absence. And what have I done to repay you? Boorishly insulted your not very talented Elfish and challenged your leader.”

He fixed Tyrell with his dark blue eyes. Something was wrong, every part of me was screaming it. He knelt.

“I should wish to make peace and make amends. Release those two I shall replace them. I am a far better singer and dancer and speechmaker than the girl ever was. The room started to spin. Leo caught me and had my head between my knees before I could faint. Before I could say anything, he had his hand over my mouth.

“Trust him, don’t ruin things, Cindy. We are close.” I sat and waited to see where Josh was heading with this. He was going to leave with us. He had too.

Tyrell was just tickled by this. “Dear cousin, yes, yes. We shall friends, closer even, as brothers I say.”

Hey, Tyrell wasn’t so bad once you got to know him. I was ready to barf.

“Come on, Cindy, we’ve got to leave.”

I tried to tear my arm away from Leo, “NO. Let me talk to him,” I yelled this. And everyone looked at me.

“Get out. Everyone out, but Josh—Now,” I was shrill, I was scarier than a harpy and very cowed Faerae were winking out all over.

“Brother, do you need assistance. She seems quite dangerous.”

Josh stood there, calmly, as centered as if we were discussing dinner plans. “No, Tyrell. I can handle her,” he winked and Tyrell also did a twinkled exit.

I ran into his arms as soon as we were alone.

We kissed and then I slapped him. Not too hard, but I could tell he liked it.

“And what was that for?” he laughed as he rubbed his cheek.

“For scaring my half to death. And when did you learn Bassanio’s speech?”

“I practiced it as my audition piece our freshman year. And the director hired that cretin, Curtis for the role.”

“Well, they were going out together.”

“Bedroom casting and they broke up the next semester. Bloody Shakespeare, you should have chosen something from Sheridan.”

“He didn’t have any riddles. So how are you getting out of this place?”

Josh looked at the ground, “Um, Cindy. It’s going to take a bit—“

“But you have a plan?” The red flag was waving.

“No. I—“

“Josh, I’m not going without you.”

“You don’t have a choice, you’ve been exiled. You have to leave.”

“Are you trying to get out of our wedding?” I stared at him and he blushed. “You don’t want to get married—I can see it in your face!”

“It’s not that. I love you. I’ve loved you since I was eighteen years old and prayed that you’d get cast as Portia and me as Bassanio.” He took my hands in his. “I’ve always wanted to be with you, but you wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“I’m sorry. I was prejudice against your pretty face and the fact that you were usually at the center at of a gaggle off girls.”

“I’m trying to explain something here—Can’t you just shut up for a second?”

I stopped, and shut up.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to yell at you.” He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. “I’m trying to explain and it’s not simple or easy. All my life I’ve felt that something was wrong.” He pointed to his chest, “here deep inside. And I couldn’t understand it. But when you were with me, everything eased up. I felt normal. Now I find out that you’ve been holding out on me—lying to me about who you are and where your family is from—“

“I didn’t find out until last year—“

“It’s still my turn to talk! Cindy, I’m not guilt tripping you on this. But it all makes sense once your background comes into the equation. I belong here. These are my people. Your blood was calling to mine, soothing it and making me feel complete.”

“Right, nothing to do with my personality, huh? Just my Elfish blood doing some sort of siren song to your Faerae blood? No. No, Josh. Faerae and Elfish don’t get along, anymore than Demon and Faerae. We are too different.”

“But we are united by this land. Cindy, no matter how much I love you, I’m staying here.”

“Then I’ll stay here with you! You can talk to your kinsman and tell him we’ve made up and you’ve changed your mind.”

“You aren’t happy here.”

“Damned right. And you’ll be miserable too, once the Faerae dust has cleared from your eyes. Josh, I felt spell bound by the place when I first saw it. Talking unicorns and dragons and all sorts of cute Beatrice Potter type of creatures. But when it comes right down to it. We can’t do magic and we don’t belong here. We belong at home.” I gave his hands a squeeze, “with each other.”

He shook his head and the look on his face about broke my heart. “I’ve never belonged there. I still don’t.”

“Damn it all, Josh. How can you be so unprofessional?”

“What?”
“You get this way at the end of every project. Okay, you just finished your first major film role and you want to fuck it all up.”

It was a long shot and I prayed it would work.

“Cindy, don’t be ridiculous.”

“You are self-destructive about fame. It terrifies you. Remember when you wanted to join that commune up in the Catskills? That was after you landed your first really big soap role.”

“Okay, that’s below the belt. It was a wonderful community of—“

“And when you got nominated for the Daytime Emmy you wanted to head to Canada and head a children’s theatre troupe.”

“Cindy you are making me angry.”

I blinked tears out of my eyes. “It’s a fucking pattern with you. You can’t handle the pressure you put on yourself. You’re acting like an amateur prima donna.”

“Get out!”

He turned away from me. And I grabbed his shoulder. Of course, his groupies, Cobby and Pealsa had to show up just then. Cobby took my arm and suddenly I was blinded by the bright sunlight of a new morning.

“No!” I screamed and hit at Cobby. He winked out, too much of a coward to face my anger. I was left on my own to cry and tear at the dirt below me. Josh.

“I think I heard something over here,” it was my father’s voice. I didn’t look up. Didn’t care.

“Cindy!”

A pair of arms scooped me up and I was pressed against soft moleskin. Kember was there, too.

“Well, Cindy finally came to your senses?” That voice belonged to Leo. I wanted to hit him. He was so goddamned smug. Instead I continued to cry like a little child with a broken toy.

Eventually my father scooped me up into his arms. “Baby girl, it will be all right. He is where he belongs. It’s for the best, sweetie.”

It was only then I was able to compose myself and gather my pain and despair into one big ball of outrage.

“Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that?” It was a cold, deadly rage that had taken me.

“There’s nothing that you can do. The Faerae are too powerful.”

“I know one group of magical beings they are scared shitless of—“

“Cindy, you don’t want to do that,” I heard the fear in my father’s voice.

Leo came close to me. “Stop it. You all ready tried calling on the Demons. When we were in that dungeon. You couldn’t get them to contact you.”

“That was then. I think the Faerae mound is designed to keep them safe from the Demons. I’m going to try now. I have to get Josh back.”
“He doesn’t want to go back, Cindy.” Leo’s voice was even and reasonable, “He likes it there with his people. You should respect that.”

“Bullshit, Leo. He’s been enchanted. That’s all. And he’s always vulnerable at the end of a project. He gets scared. You don’t know him like I do.”

“Let her try,” said my father. “Without a Demon Box, she can’t summon one.”

“Yeah, just stand back and watch,” I was beside myself with rage and hurt. I was breathing heavily. I had no idea of what I was going to do and no idea of if I could do it. But a Mage had once told me that the Demon whom I had been involved with was watching, and I was hoping that now I was outside of the mound, he would be watching me again. Zanzo, my Demon Lover!

I stretched out my arms, and the air surrounding me seemed to change, going quiet like just before a storm.

“Cindy, don’t,” called out Leo.

“I gotta leave,” and that was Kember, his courage finally failing him.

“I forbid you to do this little girl!” Ah, Daddy! I’m not your little girl anymore…

A chill came over the land and goose bumps crawled over my skin. I was aware of storm clouds collecting just as my own thoughts were gathering to summon him. I felt like I could barely breath and wondered myself over the wisdom of calling forth a force that wanted me for his own and that I could not control.

“Zanzo!” The words were torn from my throat by a sudden wind that came up and swirled around me like a minature tornado. I felt it tugging at my skin, trying to pull me upwards off of the ground.

Then, it suddenly stopped and I found myself cast down into the dirt.