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New writingness! This is Leila again, but at a different point...
Leila was sitting in a bar, surrounded by humans. She was wearing a dark violet cloak over her head, and all that could be seen of her face was her narrowed purple eyes. She tapped her long fingernails impatiently on the wooden table and fixated her eyes on the doors that were creaking in the wind.
“Excuse me, miss.” One of the humans came over to the table she was sitting at and smiled. He was dressed simply, in a loose white shirt and black trousers. He wasn’t particularly good looking, and he didn’t look very intelligent. Leila judged people immediately on their looks if they were humans; it was easy to see after five hundred years in the world the foolish ones.
“Yes?” She spoke coldly, not thinking the human was worth her time.
“Leila?”
She didn’t remove her gaze from the door, or make any movement, but her eyes flickered with suspicion.
“No. You have me mistaken.”
Usually she was happy to take credit, to leave a name, but she didn’t need someone making a fuss, not when she was waiting for a very important someone.
“Leila Spera. Close friend of Adrian?”
Anger flashed across Leila’s eyes at the mention of her old friend and lover. She had loved teasing him, and even thought she loved him at various points, but now she knew her true feelings, now she knew he couldn’t be trusted, and she had almost reverted back to the Fey nature of not caring about anyone but herself, of seeing Fedra’s and human men as toys, things to play with to fulfil a lustful need, or desire. They nothing more than Fey’s playthings.
“No. I know no Leila, or Adrian.”
He chuckled. “Well sorry to have disturbed you then. If you are not Leila, then you won’t be interested in hearing about her sister Namik.” He turned to leave and Leila snarled.
“Halt. Who are you?”
“Who I am doesn’t matter. What does matter, is your sister is getting married tomorrow back at your home town. She would love for you to come.”
“Married?” Leila asked, in mild shock.
“Yes.” The man left Leila alone then and she returned her watching in silence, with a frown on her face. She had never expected her sister to get married, she had no reason to. She had never been all that interested in humans. Though she accepted she needed to hunt, she didn’t enjoy it as most of the Fey race did, she did it because she had to.
A man dressed in brown hooded robes walked through the door and Leila turned her gaze away. He was the man she was waiting for, but she didn’t want him to think she had been waiting and watching for long. He was late, deliberately; he liked to be in control on even the tiniest things.
He sat down at the table opposite Leila without a word and the pair eyed each other carefully for a minute, staying silent.
“Good.” His voice was gruff, and it didn’t suit his face, which when he took his hood down a moment later, Leila could see, was clean cut and immaculate.
She too removed her hood and inclined her head.
“You have what I want?”
“No hello?”
“This is business, not pleasure.”
“We could make it both. That worked before.”
Leila narrowed her eyes once again. “No. Do you have it or not?”
The man brought a few vials filled with a purple liquid out of his robes and handed them to Leila. She pocketed them quickly but held her hand out.
“The rest?”
“The rest will cost you.”
“I’ll just get them myself then.” She retorted bitterly and the man shook his head, looking bored.
“You don’t want to go anywhere near Calenia, so you can’t. It won’t cost you much. Just one night.”
“Fedras do not order Feys around.” She snarled but he was unfazed.
“No. I know that. And I wouldn’t dare of ordering you Leila, of all Feys, but this isn’t an order, it’s a request.”
“No it’s not. I have to do as you say if I want my other vials.” She thought for a moment, and then nodded. “It’s blackmail, but fine.” She snapped. “But if anyone asks, it was me, not you.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t brag about blackmailing a Fey, it’s uncalled for.”
“You know where to find me.” Leila put her cloak back over her head and left, regaining a little bit of control. Feys were in charge of everything, and the Fedras answered to them. She didn’t like having to take orders, even if they were disguised.
Leila entered a small room and took a distasteful look around.
“The best they have.” A voice said from behind her. “But it’s not what you’re used to, of course.”
“Hmm.” She sat on the bed and took off her cloak. She was dressed in a short black dress that was decorated with purple beads to match her eyes.
“Beautiful.”
“Of course.” Leila rolled her eyes. “Feys always are.”
“I can’t compliment it?” He stepped forward and laughed.
“Not so obviously, Brett. Can we just get this over with?”
“I said a night Leila, not an hour.”
“What do you want?”
“To talk. And an invitation.”
Leila blinked. “To what?”
“Your sisters wedding. You were practically screaming about it when I came in. I thought you controlled yourself better.”
“I gathered that. But just to talk? I thought-”
“I’m not Adrian. A night with you doesn’t mean I want more than friendship.”
Leila gulped. “Why the wedding?”
“I would be honoured to be on your arm for such an occasion. Just think how jealous Adrian would be.”
“That’s the reason? To make him jealous?”
“If you want.” Brett shrugged.
“That’s a no.” Leila looked confused.
“I enjoy your company and think you are stunning. Just because one Fedra broke your heart, it doesn’t make us all bad.”
Leila blushed and looked at her knees. “Okay.” She whispered and Brett laughed.
“Good. Let’s go.” He offered his hand and Leila took it.
“The other vials?”
“Is that why you’re doing this?” Brett frowned.
Leila shook her head. “No. I just need them. I want to go with you.”
He smiled. “I’ve got them. Come on.” Brett pushed the window open and after checking no one was watching they jumped out and started flying north.
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