AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Almost more shocked than when the talisman had turned me into a dwarf, I cocked my head to the side. It wasn’t bad, but it sure as hell wasn’t me.
“What am I going to wear?” I returned to the kitchen, trying to keep my clothes on. “My clothes won’t fit me now, and Menolly’s are still too petite, and Delilah’s are far too tall. Same with you, Nerissa.” And it was true, my corset was sliding down my torso, and my skirt almost grazed the floor. “Cripes, I’ll be glad when this is done.”
“Me, too,” Smoky said. “I love you no matter what, but…”
Trillian shrugged. “It’s a change…I guess change can be a good thing.”
Turning to Morio, I said, “And you? Do you have something to add?”
He pursed his lips, trying not to laugh. “You definitely don’t have the personality for a blonde. Just saying…”
“Oh hush, the lot of you.” I snorted. “Well, don’t just everybody stand there. Somebody, find me something to wear.”
Nerissa jumped up. “One of my dresses might actually fit you—if I get a minidress, it would come down to your knees. I’ll find one that’s really tight and doesn’t have built-in bra support. It might be a little loose on you, but it should work. One of my sweater dresses.”
The woman wore dresses as short as my bustiers were tight. I nodded. “Whatever you think. And what should I do with my hair? It’s so…so…”
“So retro,” Nerissa said, laughing as she darted into the kitchen. I heard the bookcase sliding and leaned back, studying myself.
Vanzir stood up. “Yeah, nobody would ever know it was you by looking—but you’re going to have to watch your mannerisms. Some of those people know you as Camille. They may sense a familiarity. What are you going to call yourself? Better get used to it now.”
“That’s a good point.” I sat down. “It needs to be simple, and easy to remember. Since I don’t fully look human, better if it’s not a recognizable human name.” I paused, thinking. “What about my middle name? I don’t think I’ve ever really told anybody outside the family what it is. Sepharial.”
Delilah let out a little laugh. “You do realize, that’s a combination of Father’s name and Arial’s name? Though you were born before she was.”
Delilah’s twin, who had died at birth and now lived at Haseofon, the home of the Death Maidens, was named Arial. We hadn’t known about her until the past year or so. Now, when Delilah trained, she was able to meet her and talk to her. Any time Arial left the temple, she had to leave in her Were form—as a spirit leopard. Menolly and I had seen glimpses of her in that form, but we’d never been able to meet her otherwise.
“I wonder…did Mother and Father just like the name Arial? And was it deliberate, naming me after Father?” Distracted, I looked up as Nerissa returned.
She thrust three outfits into my arms. “These might work. Try them.”
I held up the first. A sweater dress, all right, in a brown-and-white tweedlike pattern, with a low-cut neck and long sleeves. I motioned for the others to stand back and tried it on. The sleeves were too long, but I could roll them up. The dress fit loosely, but a belt would cinch it in. The hem landed about an inch above my knees. I’d seen how short it was on Nerissa, so that didn’t surprise me.
“Um…it’s okay. Try the others.” She seemed to be having fun playing dress-the-witch as she thrust another outfit my way.
I stared at it. At least this one was green, but it reminded me of an outfit off some anime schoolgirl. The top was a knit V-neck tank top, and the skirt flirty, with panels of green and pink. I grimaced at the color combo but stripped off the sweater dress and pulled on the top, then the skirt. It zipped up with no problem, and though it was a little loose, it actually fit better than the first. The skirt came down to two inches above my knees. Again, it barely grazed Nerissa’s panties when she wore it.
“Not bad, not bad,” she said, circling around me. “But try the third.”
Holding up the bubblegum pink dress, I shook my head. “I don’t do pink.”
“Try it. It will look good with your hair.”
Groaning, I once again stripped. Roz was staring at me, grinning, but saying nothing. Smoky was glowering at him, and I rubbed my forehead. All we needed was another fight.
The pink dress was sleeveless—a simple tank dress, in a light knit. I slid it over my head and was surprised to find out how well it fit me. Nerissa handed me a white patent leather belt, which I buckled around my waist. The dress actually fit and came down to a little above my knees.
“That’s cute.” She stood back, nodding her approval.
Delilah cleared her throat. “I hate to say it, but she’s right. The dress looks good on you.” Her eyes were laughing, but I could tell she was telling the truth. Delilah couldn’t lie very well. She’d never been good at it.
I glanced down at the outfit. It was something I’d never wear, but for tonight, apparently, this was it. “Okay, then. I’m wearing pink.”>Vanzir came wandering into the kitchen, where he straddled the chair next to me. “She’s right, babe. It’s a dangerous game you’re playing. With dangerous playmates. As we saw with the eggs, Gulakah’s followers are bewitched, ready to give up their lives at his command. They’ll do anything he asks, and that includes killing. Are you sure you want to take the chance?”
“There really isn’t a choice, is there?” I caught his gaze and held it.
Vanzir tilted his head to the side, a knowing look on his face. He reached out and, with his finger lightly tipping up my chin, nodded. “There’s always a choice. It just depends on what you choose to do.”
“True,” I said slowly. “But I’m not willing to take the safe route when I have such a good chance to find out some much-needed information.” And with that, I finished my breakfast as the others drifted in.
