I kept my car at a crawl as I navigated through the fog soup at a snail's pace, hoping I don’t slide off the road, ending up stuck in a ditch from this... whatever it is.
After about a mile or so, it finally let up and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I've never traveled much, so I kept a good eye on the directions and the signs, hoping I don't get lost.
I drove for a half an hour until I got to the last and final turn.
I made the turn and glanced at my directions again, double checking to make sure I was going the right way.
It put me on a dirt road that looked as if it led into a forest.
I kept on the path, hoping I hadn't fudged the directions somehow.
Trees and other greenery dotted the road and I gaped at how huge some of the trees were.
The leaves were pretty fall colors and speckled the ground everywhere, blanketing the ground with yellows, browns and oranges.
The road started to curve, so I followed with it and gasped as I was led to a circular dirt drive that led to a huge, beautiful, lodge looking structure.
Is this a house?
And if it is... is this the right house? I wondered to myself, marveling at the sheer size of it.
The place had a craftsmanship to it that put the cookie cutters of my old suburbs to shame.
It almost looked whimsical with the picket fenced side yard, rocks outlining the flower beds and large vegetable garden.
There were trellises going all the way up the sides of the house, with vines on some and climbing roses on the others.
Someone put a lot of love into this house, I contemplated thoughtfully as I pulled up further into the drive.
I sat there for a minute, just taking it all in, while my car idled in park.
I snapped out of it, turned off the engine and got out, slowly making my way to the front door.
It was a wraparound porch, a beautiful one, and I stood there for a second, admiring how warm and inviting it felt.
There was a bench swing, two rocking chairs and small potted plants spread throughout, cushions and pillows scattered on the seats, the plants a pleasant splash of green against the pretty deep blue of the cushions.
This place has a real homey feel.
I smiled a little at that.
I knocked on the door and waited, nervously, for my husband to answer. There was a shuffling noise and a creak on the other side of the door, as if someone came up to it.
The door remained closed and I started to wonder if I should knock again. I went ahead and knocked again, then waited.
I waited a few more minutes and started to tire of this game.
"I know you're in there," I said, improvising, "Come out! Come out! Wherever you are!" I sing song-ed.
I waited a few more minutes and decided on a more direct approach.
Might as well let him get a taste of the real me now, I reasoned.
"You might as well open up, because I'm not going anywhere," I said loudly, drumming my hands on the door a couple of times.
I stood back a little, sighed in resignation and prepared to wait.
Bennard
What the hell is going on?
Why is there a Human at my doorstep?
I glanced at the clock and grimaced.
My new bride is supposed to be here any minute and I don't want her first impression of me to be her witnessing me booting a Human off my property.
Well... better get this over with, I told myself.
I opened the door and glared at the woman trespassing at such an inopportune time, ready to see what her reaction towards me was going to be and why she's even here.
She looked surprised, maybe a little shocked when she saw that I was a Cyclops.
I have to give her credit though, she covered it up quickly, smiled sweetly, and held out her hand.
"Hello," she greeted in a sweet little voice.
It was like a chipmunk's almost.
I looked at her and then down at her hand, my glare still firmly in place.
Instead of shaking it, I crossed my arms over my chest and tried to look as intimidating as possible, leaning myself over her and into her personal space, just for good measure.
It wasn't that hard to accomplish though, she was a tiny little thing compared to my six foot seven frame and if she didn't have any curves on her, I would have pegged her for a runt.
I'm not around Humans, so I don't really know anything about them, and I don't care to.
My eye roved over her, taking her in.
I’d peg her at around five-five, five-six, give or take.
She wasn't small, per se, I guess, but compared to me, there wasn't much to her.
I leaned down a little more and sniffed disdainfully at her.
Her eyes widened in her black framed glasses, but she didn't so much as flinch or back away from me.
If anything, she simply looked a little put out.
She frowned and glanced at the piece of paper she had clutched tightly in her hand. She looked up at me again and studied me, looking into my face like she might find something in my expression to help her out.
"Are you Bennard...? Ock... um, Ock yill ees?" she asked, butchering my last name with that sugary little voice.
"Ochulles," I clipped out, nodding at her curtly in acknowledgement.
She let out a deep breath and laced her hands together in front of her, paper still in her hand.
"Well, I'm Penelope Betten, now Ochulles. Your new wife," she said in the same clipped, curt manner I had addressed her with.
It sounded ridiculous when you couple it with her chipmunk voice.
Almost cute, the way she said it, but not really... not to me anyways...
No thanks.
I frowned at that, my eye narrowing at her suspiciously.
"No you’re not," I snorted haughtily, with conviction.
She just stood there, patiently waiting, it seemed, for me to do or say something.
She raised her perfectly shaped light brown brows at me, but nothing more, just more of that polite staring, grey eyes focused and unwavering.
"There's been a mistake or something. You can't be my wife! I would never marry a puny Human!" I exclaimed, forcing a laugh, waving my hand in her direction to emphasize my point, hoping she would give it up and get lost before my real bride got here.
Who would have put her up to something like this anyways?
Hhmm... Maybe William did... the little Satyr was always up to something.
I looked down at the little Human, a smirk on my face.
She turned beet red as my insults to her person hit home, glaring at me openly.
"Yeah, well, you married a Penelope Betten by proxy, via the Made to Match agency, sweet cheeks, and guess what? I'm her, so it looks like the jokes on you!" she hissed at me venomously.
I was a little stunned that this tiny little thing was barking at me with the ferocity of a baby bull dragon.
Those things are vicious little buggers on a good day.
I shook out of it quickly, but another thought reared its ugly head and I gaped at her in shock and rising worry.
My gut tightened as a sudden thought occurred to me.
Her name did indeed match that of my new bride's and she is standing on my doorstep at the designated time.
I swallowed past the lump in my throat.
Fuck me... what if this wasn’t a...
"No, no, no, there's been a mistake, the lady on the phone said you were 'four eyed', not a two eyed Human..." I reasoned, my gut tightening with a sinking feeling.
"Well, did you ask exactly what she meant by 'four eyed', Benny Boy?" she sniggered sarcastically, pushing her glasses back up onto her nose.
I did a double take at her glasses.
Oh, no...
They tricked me and pawned a little Human off on me!
They meant her spectacles!
That La Faeii lady tricked me!
That bitch!
&nbs
p; I don't know how to care for a Human!
I've never even been to the human realm before!
I only know what other people have told me and you can’t always count on that shit as reliable!!
I stomped over to the phone and dialed the number for the agency.
It rang a few times and then a woman answered.
"Made to Match, Margaret speaking, how may I help you?" the nasally voice intoned.
"Get me La Faeii!" I yelled into the phone, "Now!"
"I'm so sorry, sir. Miss La Faeii is out of town at the moment on business. May I take a message?" Margaret, or whatever her name is, inquired politely.
"Yeah, tell her if she sees a pissed off Cyclops coming her way, she better run!!" I shouted and hung up the phone, slamming it down.
"Your little tantrum make you feel better, Big Ben? You shouldn't have done that, you know. Never say things when you're angry, they're hard to take back later," Penelope rebuked kindly, walking around my living room excitedly, setting her purse on my favorite chair, a jacket on the couch, cluttering up my house with her crap.
"Don't put that there! Hey! That’s my favorite chair!" I complained, annoyed at her exuberance.
Why is she so... bouncy?
She was like one of those bunnies that runs on and on, like the one in that commercial.
She was flitting all over the place- she even bounces a little when she does it.
"Quit touching things! Stop! What is wrong with you?! Stay... erm... Sit... CEASE!" I bellowed, my voice booming out on the last part.
She paused, unaffected by my yelling, and raised a brow at me.
"First of all, I'm not a dog, and two, last I checked... we're married now. So this," she said, waving her hand around and continued, "is all mine now too. And you need to 'chill bill'. Geesh! What a grumpy bear! This isn’t a good way to start off a marriage."
She frowned slightly, tsk tsk-ing me, reminding me of a mother chiding her child for misbehaving.
I realized, as I studied her closely for a moment, watching her movements intently, that it wasn't excitement that had her so jittery, she was nervous.
It was nervous energy.
She kept fidgeting while she stood there, trying to hold still.
I sighed and rubbed my forehead above my eye, trying to ward off the headache I could feel coming on.
"Look," I said, going for honesty.
That is the best policy right?
"I don't know anything about Humans, alright, and I don't want to. I don't want you and I don't want you here, so get out," I demanded harshly.
She flinched at my tone and the sting of my harsh rejection, biting at her lower lip, worrying it with her teeth.
God, she really looks like a chipmunk now, I reflected, as she continued to fidget and gnaw away on her lip.
All she needs to do is start chattering again for the full effect.
For an instant, I thought I saw her eyes watering, but she closed them and looked down, taking a few deep breaths, before she slowly looked up at me again.
I looked into her eyes and thought I saw vulnerability there for a second in her gaze and maybe a touch of sadness, but it was quickly covered up with a steely eyed look from those pretty grey eyes.
"I'll leave, but I'm not leaving, understand? I'm stubborn and I don't give up easily, and I might as well tell you now, I don't believe in divorce," she said resolutely, her head held high, a stubborn tilt to her chin.
With one more steely eyed glare she, with quiet dignity, picked up her things and marched out the front door, closing it quietly behind her.
I watched her, fascinated and fighting not to crack a smile at her obstinacy. She's a precocious little thing, I mused, smirking.
I walked over to the window and peeked out through the slit in the curtains.
I could see her, but she couldn't see me.
Perfect for spying.
She was sitting in her car, a junky little red hatchback, with her head on the steering wheel, talking to herself.
So she's not as tough as she lets on, I decided.
Her shoulders were slumped and she looked upset. She started to massage her head in soothing circles as she closed her eyes.
I felt a small swell of sympathy for her, but squashed that idea real quick.
Of course she's upset, she's married to a one-eyed asshole, I admonished myself, thinking over everything that had happened and my actions.
It wasn't her fault, what had happened.
She's just as much a victim as I am.
I have to remain firm though, I told myself, or she'll never leave.
What was it they say about Humans…? Give them scraps, even once, and they will never leave you alone.... or was that to do with dogs.... or something..?.
Hell, I don't know!
I sat down in my favorite chair and opened my book up to where I had last left off.
"Just ignore her, maybe she'll go away," I muttered, yawning, and started to read, trying to push all thoughts of my stubborn, soon to be ex Human wife, that I had mistakenly acquired, out of my mind.
****
I woke up when I felt gooseflesh break out on my skin and shivered.
I must have been out for a while because it was dark inside the house and it felt chilly in the air.
I lit the logs in the fire place and stared absently into the flames.
I hope the little minx was smart enough to head back to wherever it was she came from.
It's too cold outside for someone like her, she would surely freeze to death.
I walked over to the window and peeked outside again.
Her car was still parked outside and it was turned on, the engine idling away.
I could barely make her out, it was so dark outside. I turned on the porch light to see a little better.
Ah, the stubborn chit.
I frowned, spying at her through the window again.
I chuckled a little at the picture she presented.
I know I shouldn't laugh, it's kind of mean, but she was wearing some kind of ridiculously ugly hat, that looked like road kill on her head, and she was bundled up in a bunch of clothes, rubbing her hands together vigorously over the car's heater vents.
Even cold, she had a mulish, determined expression on her face.
I sighed a little in relief.
At least she wouldn't freeze to death.
I went to the kitchen, shaking my head at my little mail order wife.
It's only a matter of time, Ben, then she'll take off.
She can't be that stubborn, I told myself.
Everyone has a limit and if the weather keeps up, she'll surely reach hers, give up and leave.
I went to the fridge and started pulling the fixings for dinner out, trying to forget my unwanted guest and make dinner.
I wonder when she last ate.
No, Ben! Be firm, I chastised myself, or you'll be stuck with her forever.
I resolved myself to 'not caring', or pretending not to care- denial is a wonderful thing- and hummed to myself as I made supper.
Penelope
"So much for following my gut instincts," I scoffed at myself.
Great, Penelope, just great!
Here I am, freezing my ass off in my crappy assed car, with fifty million layers of clothes on, wearing that butt ugly hat Viv insisted I take, 'just in case', and a husband who doesn't want me.
A Cyclops of a husband, who's tall as hell, built much like his house... strong, thick and sturdy, and he has the disposition of a wet rag.
Oh, and don't forget! He thinks you're a 'puny little Human' and he doesn't want you anyways.
Oh, yay me, I thought glibly.
What have you gotten yourself into, Pen?
I could just imagine Viv's recriminations now.
I could hear the 'I told you so's and the 'You should have listened to me's, from a mile away.
She'd follow up with fifty questions, when the situation really warrants a pint of ice
cream and only myself for company.
It's the best way to wallow, I've discovered throughout the years.
I have no desire to explain to anyone that my husband took one look at me and decided I'm not good enough.
My teeth clacked as I shivered uncontrollably.
I can't go back now, no way, no how.
I'm sticking this out!
“It's going to take a lot more than this to get rid of me,” I told myself doggedly, looking around at my surroundings as the snow started to softly fall all around the car.
I've waited a long time to get married and I'm not going to give up now, just because my husband gets cold feet.
A little too late for him to have second thoughts now, don't you think?
My stomach grumbled and I remembered Viv had shoved some stuff into my boxes earlier.
I sorted through them until I found the one with the bag of snacks in it. Thank you, Vivienne, for shoving them in there in the first place.
"Just in case," she'd said.
I munched away on beef jerky and crackers, thinking about the mess that is now my life.
This isn't the best dinner, I thought to myself as I ate another cracker, eyeing my 'supposed home' dubiously. But now is hardly the time to become Polly Prissy Pants.
I sighed and glanced back at the humongous house again, wondering what he's doing for supper.
Cheers, Pen! This is your wedding night, honeymoon... whatever...
Yep, yep, sarcasm is pretty welcome right about now.
...maybe someday I can laugh about all of this later...
I washed my dinner down with a bottle of water and settled in for the long night, tugging my ugly hat down on my head a little tighter.
What poor, unfortunate soul did Viv say sacrificed his life to become this sad looking excuse for a hat? I can’t remember...
Oh, well... I’ll remember later.
At least it’s warm.
Thank you unknown animal.
I grabbed one of my books and started to read.
****
I read for about an hour, or at least I tried to.
It’s hard to concentrate with the wind howling and the cold making me shiver.
In Her Eyes Page 2