Page 36 of Rapunzel Unchained
I lowered myself down to his level and pushed honey and velvet into my voice. “You don’t want to hurt me, gorgeous. I’m a friend.”
The dog whined and pawed at the ground before shaking its head. Its lips covered its fangs once more as the dog padded toward me, offering me its head as it sniffed at me.
“That’s a good...” I peered between its legs. “Boy. Yes, you are.” He pushed into my hand while I scratched behind his ears and under his chin. “Now, where is your master?”
He yipped, which wasn’t an answer. I turned to glance around the room, taking in the white furniture and the shiny black side tables. Did Healer Beatriz not know what color was?
A sound came from the back of the home. I released the cloak and kept my hand on my new companion. “Come on, boy. Let’s go see your mama.”
Now that my magic had sunk into the dog, he was fully under my control and would even take my side against his master. I didn’t know if my magic would be able to overcome a creature’s sense of self preservation, though.
I’d never tried to make someone kill themselves because I said so. However, there was always a first time.
My skirt swished across the ground, the dog’s claws clicking on the floor beside me.
“Jewel, come here, boy,” a wavering voice called out as I drew closer.
To my delight, the dog at my side didn’t even budge to her call. I smiled down at him and patted his head. “Good boy.”
“Jewel?”
I let my fingers stay on the top of Jewel’s head as I stepped into the bedroom. The monochrome coloring had been applied to this room as well. Only a few items on her nightstand and dresser gave the room random splashes of color.
A large bed sat near a bank of wall-to-ceiling windows. The drapes were pulled so the room was steeped in shadows. A small figure laid in the middle of the bed, blankets pulled up to her chest.
“Jewel?” her voice croaked and then she jerked up in bed slightly. “Who’s there? What are you doing with my dog? Jewel, come here.”
When Jewel didn’t move from my side, my lips curled up in a coy grin. “I don’t think that will be happening, Healer Beatriz.”
“You,” she hissed, which turned into a cough. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard you weren’t feeling well and came to check on you.” I flicked my fingers, and the light beside her bed turned on. As I sat on the edge of Beatriz’ bed, Jewel flopped down on the ground beside me, head down on top of my foot.
Beatriz’ beady eyes narrowed on me. Her face was wrapped in bandages with tufts of white hair sticking out all over the place, a far cry from the sophisticated woman who had sneered down at me before.
I drew the envelope Rebecca gave me up and into my lap, pulling pictures out until they were spread out across her lap. “You see, I didn’t know you could use the parts of humans to make yourself younger. Back in my time, maintaining one’s beauty was far more painful and not as easy as a trip to a clinic.”
I pointed to a picture where Beatriz had clearly been trying to hide who she was, but wasn’t doing a very good job of it. The person who took the photo zeroed in on her face so it was clear who was in the photo, even behind the black glasses on her face.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” The mage sniffed and turned her face away from the evidence before her. “Get out of here before I sic Jewel on you.”
I giggled darkly, letting my fingers trail over the back of the large dog. “Now, let’s all be civil here. I haven’t offered you violence... yet.”
She gasped and clutched her bed sheets to her. “What have you done to my dog?”
“Oh, do not worry, I wouldn’t harm an animal. He’s perfectly fine and will be back to normal once I leave.”
“Arch Mage Adam is looking for you. Why aren’t you with him instead of terrorizing me?” Her eyes filled with real fear now that she has realized she didn’t have her guard dog to protect her.
“We’re just having a conversation here. You’ll talk to me, won’t you?” I offered her a saccharine grin.
“What do you want?”
“I’m so glad you asked.” I scooched closer to her, a feeling of glee filling me at the prospect of getting what I wanted. “I’ve been... educated about how your little council works and, well, getting the approval of four unknowns isn’t exactly how I work.”
Beatriz snorted. “I would think not. Your actions at the ball have shown that you are a volatile variable. No one would just let you do what you want.”
“Precisely.” My smile broadened. “I’m so happy we understand each other.”
