A Queen should never show emotions. But a sister can. M’egg smiled and clapped her hands. “Well, if it is any consolation, I am as surprised as you are.”
“That I kissed him?”
“No, that the prim and proper stuffed shirt made you laugh. It is, so I am told, one of the most compelling emotions one person can elicit in another. I could not be happier or more thrilled. And for the record, some of my dearest friends at court insist that my brother could be considered attractive. Personally, I do not see it. Then again, I grew up with that annoying little pestilence which might affect my impartiality.”
“Listen to me, girlfriend, if you breathe a word of this to anyone, and that includes Dazzle, I will . . . well, I’m not sure what I’ll do but you can bet your bottom dollar it won’t be pleasant.”
“We are the sisters of mystery,” she replied quoting their Hameggattic oath.
“Yeah we are. Thanks, Meggy.”
Chapter 3 – Hot Fudge Sundae
“You can come back in,” she said to Ben’Edikk.
“I hope your discussion with my sister was helpful.”
“We didn’t talk about you if that’s what you think,” she lied.
“Perish the thought. Anyway, can we share the chocolate ice cream? I am looking forward to tasting it.”
“I don’t think so. I need to go.”
“Egg, please. If you are upset over what transpired, should we not talk about it?”
“What is there to say? I acted like a . . . um, like a teenage girl who finally got the quarterback of the football team to ask her out to the senior prom. It was inexcusable. More than that . . . it wasn’t me.”
“Forgive me but I believe I am going to need one of your translation crystals. Most of what you say leaves me perpetually confused. However, I believe I understand. I, for one, would blame any perceived unseemly behavior on your part to the effects of a most trying day battling the forces of evil. Coupled with worry for your injured sisters and perhaps a bit too much champagne, you were in a vulnerable state. It was entirely my fault and I apologize.”
His overzealous effort to be gallant made the girl burst out laughing. “What a crock of . . . Shazbot. However, thank you for making excuses for me but please stop trying to be so nice. I acted like a drunken sailor.”
“Perhaps I should take advantage of the situation. If two sips of Champagne can destroy your self-control, I will have Chef change the flavor of the ice cream.”
“What does that mean?”
“Instead of chocolate, I will serve you a double scoop of . . . Rum Raisin.”
She smiled at his wit. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I didn’t think you had a sense of humor. Where on earth did you get it?”
“Actually on Aerianna . . . from my father.”
“Not Dazzle?”
“Have you ever heard mother laugh?”
“Actually, come to think of it, no.”
“Enough said.”
*****
Egg went back to her room, changed into her nightclothes and climbed into bed. An hour of tossing and turning and pillow fluffing finally gave way to a fitful sleep. Visions of laughing eyes and perfect blue lips swirled through her subconscious . . . and when she awoke, she was covered in sweat.
She sat up, put her face in her hands and tried to clear her mind. But the love bug had bitten her hard and the blue-footed booby was the only thing she could think about. Had she been at school, she would be scrawling ‘Benny loves Egg’ in her three ring binder . . . with about a gazillion little hearts.
Now, by the light of day so to speak (her cabin didn’t having a viewing portal), she tried to make sense of her feelings. Approaching it logically, she counted what she knew, or thought she knew, on her fingers. One, she obviously had never been in love before. She had only dated Zeke, and in retrospect, it really was a relationship of convenience. She had never kissed him with anything near the intensity she had Benny. And for sure, she had never pounced on him as she had done last night. Two, less than a day ago she had no romantic feelings for the Prince. He was cute but he seemed so boring. How had Meggy described him - a prim and proper stuffed shirt? That was exactly how she felt. The idea that she could ever fall in love, let alone marry him was beyond the realm of the absurd.
Then there was number three. Besides his good looks, he was intelligent, modest, funny and apparently not that caught up in the pomp and circus (yeah, she did it again) of his position. If his shirt was once stuffed, it was now only filled with his ridiculously sexy physique. And don’t forget he went to the trouble of talking to Syl and Ashley just to try and please her.
Still, that didn’t account for her feelings. Physically attracted – sure. Who wouldn’t be? Unless you didn’t like the color blue, he was a dreamy smurf.
But that was only part of it. Or was it the whole thing? How the heck could she know? Maybe the real question was what was she looking for in a man?
The answer was nothing. She wasn’t looking for a man. She was just nineteen and had a pretty good full time job as the leader of the Sisterhood. A man, any man, didn’t fit into her plans for the next five years or so. Then what the heck was up with this whole Benny thing?
Maybe she should talk to Sassi – the only human sister that married. Then again, was it any different for sea serpents? Maybe K’ssss and Soo could help?
Hmmm . . . how about Jax’x? Egg could definitely see a conversation about Jay’gar and Po leading into one about Benny and her. Maybe the Librarian could give her advice.
Well, now she had a headache . . . and lots of questions and no answers. However, she was perceptive enough to understand that this was going way too fast, way too soon. She promised herself to avoid being alone with the Prince. In fact, she would ask BreeZee to follow her around . . . as her chaperone.
She dressed, but purposely did little with her hair. His Royal Magnificence would get no encouragement at all.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and walked out of the room and towards her uncertain future.
*****
A week later
Egg had discussed Jax’x with Serenity, Bl’azzz and BreeZee. Tee’ka was still in no shape to talk or think coherently on any subject. Not to hurt her feelings, Benny had offered to assign an ensign to show the girl around the ship. Egg insisted it be someone cute and single . . . just in case.
“Are you asking me to decide which of my men is cute?”
“Ask a female officer.”
“All of my female officers happened to be dragons or serpents. Their taste in human males is probably not much more reliable than mine.”
“Bree, go with his Royal-ness and find someone suitable. I’ll use the time to have the first part of the conversation.”
“Can do.” To Ben’Edikk she said, “After you, Your Majesty.”
“Please, in private you must call me Ben’Edikk. Or, if you feel the urge – Benny will do.”
“After you . . . Big Ben,” said Bree with a wry smile.
The last thing Egg heard was, “That is not an earth reference, is it?”
“Actually it is. At least that’s what Egg told me. Something about a clock tower.”
His colloquial “Kill me now” only made Egg want to give the guy a big hug.
But she didn’t.
*****
“Morning, Jax’x. How are you today?”
“I’m in no pain, thanks to these great doctors.”
“Is there anything you need?”
“My goodness, no. This one here (and she pointed at Serenity) is treating me like her only child (she smiled at the girl in the chair). The only thing I require is a visit by Jay’gar, and by Po then a detailed description of what is going on out there. That my nurse refuses to grant.”
“Sorry, she’s only obeying my orders.”
“But now you’re here.” Obviously, not a question.
“I am. And since you seem to be up for it, we need to talk.”
“Please don’t tell me Jay’gar is hurt . . . or worse.” The girl’s heart rate monitor started to spike.
“No, no. Jay’gar is fine. More than fine . . . it’s like he was never in that contraption.” Actually, she had no idea what he was like before he had been imprisoned.
“But he hasn’t come to visit me. Why?”
“I could tell you he’s incredibly busy . . . and he is. But that’s only part of the truth.”
“And the rest?”
“Xara did something so petty and despicable before she left.”
“She left?”
“I’ll get to that later. While she was hooked up to MAGEK, she implanted a thought into Jay’gar’s mind.”
“I don’t understand? A thought?”
Egg took a breath. “He now believes that the woman he loves is Po.”
“Po?” It was difficult for her to process what she was hearing.
“I’ve talked to Po and she says it’s like his feelings have been reversed. He thinks of her as his romantic love and you as his platonic friend.”
“And Xara did this?”
“Yes.”
“Have they . . . has Jay’gar and Po . . . have the two of them . . .” the girl couldn’t get her tongue to say the words.
“Po swore to me that nothing has happened and nothing will until she can talk to you.”
Irrationally, Jax’x got mad at her former comrade. “And that’s supposed to make everything better? She’s going to ask for my permission? She was my friend. How could she do this to me?”
“Jax’x, Po hasn’t done anything. It was none of her doing. She’s as much a victim in all this as you and Jay’gar. Only one person deserves your wrath and that’s Xara.”
The girl went silent as she fought some inner demons. “Thank you for telling me. If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone now.”
“Sure. We’ll come back later.”
“What about the other thing?” interjected Serenity. They had planned to ask her to become a sister if the conversation had gone better.
“Now’s not the time. Come on, let’s give Jax’x some privacy.”
Serenity nodded but rolled over to the girl in the bed and took her hand. “If you need to talk . . .” she said softly but left the thought unfinished.
“Thank you . . . but I don’t want your pity.” She didn’t mean to be mean, but considering the circumstances, it was understandable.
Serenity understood the pain of a lost one better than most. “If you dwell on what can’t be, it will eat you alive. I did and I wasted years of my life. Please don’t make the same mistake.”
Jax’x still wanted to lash out . . . but Serenity didn’t deserve it. “Thank you. Really and truly. You’ve sat at my side, held my hand and even sang to me when you thought I was asleep. If nothing else, I’m glad we can put our past differences behind us.”
“Me too.”
*****
Out in the hall, Serenity asked her sister, “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to give her what all girls need in this situation . . . time and a hot fudge sundae.”
“What?”
******
Two days later, Jax’x asked Serenity if she would send for Po. After checking with Egg, the girl did as she was asked.
When Po arrived, Serenity let her in, and then left. However, she stationed herself outside the door just in case things got out of hand.
“Hi, Jax’x. How are you feeling?” Though Egg had told her that the injured girl knew about Jay’gar, she was hoping to ease into that conversation. She should have known better.
“Are you referring to the injury to my body or my heart?”
Po was ready to fall on her sword, as the saying goes, to make this right. “I’m so, so sorry. If you say the word, I will not see him again. Well, unless it’s for the work we’re doing trying to rebuild this world. That’s more important than your feelings or his. Or mine,” she added.
“Then that’s what I want. Only see him when you must to do your work.” At that moment, Jax’x wanted to hurt someone as badly as she had been emotionally hurt.
Po stared at her former friend . . . the only friend she ever had until Jay’gar. “As you wish. And after our work is completed . . . or at least well on its way toward completion . . . I’ll ask the Sisterhood to take me off world. I wouldn’t mind seeing Aerianna.”
Jax’x stared at the robed girl (though the hood was nowhere to be seen) . . . then burst into tears. Po ran over, dropped to her knees and took the girl’s hand. She was surprised that Jax’x didn’t pull away.
“I’m truly sorry, Jax’x. I never wanted to do anything to hurt you. Before all this came about, I asked Egg if I could join the Sisterhood so I could put a billion miles between Jay’gar and me. I don’t know why Xara did what she did – but it was her malice not mine. And certainly not Jay’gar’s.”
The girl in the bed regained her composure enough to respond. “Oh, Po . . . I loved you. You were the first and only female friend I ever had. Now I’ve lost that and . . . and him. It hurts terribly. I feel so all alone.”
“Maybe there’s a way to fix this. I’ll keep my distance and you do what you need to do to win him back. He fell in love with you once. Why wouldn’t it happen again?”
Now the real Jax’x shown through. “I can’t do that. If it didn’t work, then I would have lost him twice. Besides, I would be trying to get him to cheat on the woman he loves. That would be despicable of me.”
They both fell silent as they considered the situation.
“Jax’x.”
“Yes?”
“I hope you know that I still love you.”
The tears streamed down from the other girl’s cheeks. She reached over and hugged her divine friend. “As I do you.”
“What happens now?”
“If I had died during our revolution, I would have died happy knowing that you and he were together. Thanks to Xara, in Jay’gar’s mind, I did die metaphorically. So, since I can’t undo what that woman did, then I’m going to be happy that you two have each other.” She said the words and wanted them to be true. But, it was too soon and her heart knew it. But that was her secret.
“That is so selfless of you but I can’t.”
“Can’t what?”
“I can’t do that to you. Every time you see us together, I’ll know I’ve hurt you all over again. I could never live with that. Never.”
“You won’t have to. I’m going to Aerianna in your place.”
“But you can’t just give up your whole life . . .”
“There is nothing left for me here. Out there, infinite possibilities await. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe I should thank Xara.”
“Thank her? If I get the chance, I’ll scratch her eyes out.”
*****
They all gathered in Bl’azzz’s room. Egg, Serenity, BreeZee, Tee’ka and Jax’x, who had been wheeled in upon her bed. The dragon, on the other hand, couldn’t easily be moved.
Egg did the honors and handed out a hot fudge sundae to each of the ladies. “This is an earth tradition. Anytime a girl’s heart is broken, you eat ice cream. A lot of ice cream.”
The others eyed the goopy concoction with trepidation. “Is it really edible?” asked Jax’x.
“Watch,” and Egg took a mouthful – licking her lips to catch a bit of fudge trying to make its escape. “Yummy.”
No one moved to follow.
“Hey, this is a direct order. Eat.” They did.
Five minutes passed in silence – except for the clinking of spoons against bowls and the smacking of lips.
“Wow,” said Bree when her dish was empty. “I mean WOW.”
The loopy one added, “I bet that’s what a man’s lips taste like . . . except for the cold part. His lips would be warm. Well, unless he was dead then they’d be cold.”
No one could think of a response to that analysis so they smiled and nodded.
“Egg
, you’re right. I feel so much better,” added the former Librarian. Not really – but it seemed like the polite thing to say.
“Knew it. Now, if everyone’s finished,” and she surveyed her sisters. “Good. Dishes down. Jax’x, repeat after me. We are the sisters of mystery . . .”
And a minute later, the Hameggattic Sisterhood had a new member.
Chapter 4 – Loose Ends
Another week later
“Let me see.”
“That’s pretty personal, don’t you think.”
“It’s a big toe, you big goof.”
“I don’t have toes; I have talons.” She stuck her leg out.
Egg examined the new claw. “Does it hurt?”
“Nope. Good as new.”
The girl squeezed the thing and said, “This little piggy went to market.”
“What?”
“I don’t know why I bother trying to give you people an education on earth culture. You’re all barbarians. OUCH!”
“Oh, did my little piggy scratch you. Bad little piggy.”
“Alright, we’re even. You about ready to get out of here?”
“You lead, I’ll follow. Where to now?”
“Home. Jax’x still needs another couple of weeks to recover. And the doctor said you should not do anything strenuous with that mean little pig.”
“Doctors worry too much.” She paused them added, “So where is she?”
“Big bird got delayed by an interstellar something or other. Benny said her ship just requested permission to enter orbit. We’ll see her within the hour.”
“Then what?”
“If she needs our help to get things going, we’ll stay and lend a hand. Otherwise, we’re out of here.”
“Egg.”
“Yeah?”
“Jax’x hasn’t seen Jay’gar, has she?”
“No. She doesn’t intend to either.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if she did? Wouldn’t that help bring closure?”
“He would be saying goodbye to a friend. She’d be saying farewell to the man she expected to marry. The scales don’t balance.”
*****
“Jax’x, I would like you to meet another sister – one of the original seven – Professor Big Bird.” They were on the Gracie having transported over after the injured girl was given a clean bill of health by the doctors on Benny’s ship.
Ark - Box Set #6, Part 1 of Ever After [an Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood novel] Page 3