The Dance

Kallyn stared at Odric's outstretched hand, unsure of how to proceed. However, the pulsing sensation continued thrumming through her feet and the urge to move them wouldn't be denied. She slid her hand into his, marveling at the warmth of his body compared to hers. Must be the magic sizzling through his body just under the surface. She felt it spread across her body as he pulled her into his arms, as if it were another layer separating them.

"I don't know what to do." She confessed, as their bodies fit together like the missing pieces of a puzzle. His firm muscles against her soft curves caused goosebumps to erupt across her bare skin.

"Just follow my lead and the slippers will guide you. We'll get out of here before you know it." he replied softly. Odric's smile softened as his other hand slid to her waist.

Time seemed to stand still as her attention focused on the beautiful man before her. Her body glided across the floor on its own as her hands crept up his broad shoulders, settling around his neck. She felt safe for the first time since arriving in this crazy, mixed up world and dancing in Odric's confident embrace was enough to make her forget what she had come here for.

Odric continued spinning her around the floor, the others in the room slowly separated, allowing them to progress through the throng. Occasionally Kallen would get a glimpse of yellow feathers standing immobile. She was no longer amused by him, as her heart thudded in her throat and the realization struck her. What if she couldn't prove her worthiness?

As soon as she began to lose hope, the magic stilettos began to heat. She looked between their bodies to her feet moving seamlessly to the music. The shoes were glowing brighter than she though possible and although they were warmer, there was something comforting about the sensation.

The crowd gasped as Odric spun her away from him, still gripping her hand in his. Kallen looked at him with wide eyes.

"What are you doing?" She whispered.

"Trust yourself. You're more powerful than you realize."

Odric nodded encouragingly, giving her the strength and confidence to let go and let the shoes do their thing.

The Dance

The Magic Slippers

“Stay back, I said,” Odric shouted again and held both hands out toward the advancing crowd.

“Kallyn has the power to destroy this place and all of you. Do not frighten her or you will pay the consequences.” Odric glared at the angry mob and planted himself in front of Kallyn.

What is he saying? Is he nuts. I don’t have any power unless the red diamonds are working again. Then again, maybe it was a bluff.  Kallyn, wobbling on the ill-fitting four inch heels, managed to  scramble to her feet and stand behind Odric.

“Nice bluff,” she whispered into his ear.

Falco stepped up behind her. “He is not bluffing, Kallyn. You possess the red diamonds and in here you are the most powerful creature alive. Do not let your thoughts turn ugly or you may kill us all.”  Fear touched the features of Falco’s face as he backed away.

A man dressed in a bright yellow feathered costume with green sequins glued on the edges stepped forward and took charge of the crowd. He turned and raised his arms to quiet them.  He looked like Big Bird flapping his wings and she couldn’t control the giggle that burst from her lips.

Odric twisted his head and glared at her until she placed a hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter.  Big Bird began to speak. Odric lowered his hands and stepped back to Kallyn’s side.

“Just what proof do we have that she has the right to wear the red diamonds? Why should we believe you about her power.  She cannot even stand on the treasured ruby slippers, let alone do what is required of her to rule our kingdom. Prove she is worthy!” Big Bird stated calmly and crossed his arms over his chest to wait.

Odric turned to Kallyn. “You must prove you have the power. If you don’t, we can never reach the other side of the ballroom.”  He pointed to the over-sized, sequin covered high-heels she wore on her feet.

“Use your power and we shall dance our way across the room, and escape to the other side of the bandstand.”

“What power?  Are you out of your mind?  I can’t hardly stand on these prissy elevator shoes, let alone dance.” Kallyn looked at the shoes briefly noticing the shimmering glare from the sequins.

“I can’t take this any longer. I’m not one for torture in any way shape or form, so these puppies have to go.” She leaned over with the intention of removing the stilettos from her feet.

The glare from the sequins in the shoes washed over the red diamonds in her necklace causing the room to burst into a gigantic ball of light then diminished to small red dots that flickered across the wall in front of her in a rhythmic cadence. She stared in awe as the light began to dance around the room alternating in colors from red to violet then green to orange.

Her legs began to tingle then she felt the shoes move and caress her swollen feet until they became a perfect fit. Music softly echoed  and bounced around the room following the cadence of the light.  The urge to move her feet overwhelmed her.

“It has begun,” Odric smiled and offered his hand.

  
Barbara Starmer-BWStarmer Creations
www.starmercreativeminds.com

The Magic Slippers

Two men on the moon?

Liquid Diamonds, two men on the moon, a weird location that maybe wasn’t the moon, and now a big round chamber inside a cave and OMG, was this a gag?

“Who spiked my drink?” Kallyn demanded.

In front of her was a ballroom, all sparkling glass chandeliers and marble pillars and a bandstand and everyone dressed like Dancing With the Stars. Kallyn did a quick check of herself. Right. Feathers and sequins.

With the brothers on either side of her, she marched in, stomping on four inch heels. Fortunately, they were on either side, or she would have fallen over. With both of her elbows in firm grips, she managed to enter.

“Look down around your neck,” Odric whispered.

She did and at first all she saw was the low cut costume and what was keeping it from falling off?

“Is this thing glued to me?”

“Not the dress, the necklace. Look at the necklace, Kallyn.”

Diamonds. Her red diamonds, mounted in a gold chain.

“What’s going on here?” she muttered. She was afraid to turn her head and look at him because unless she kept her eyes straight ahead, she knew she’d fall off the damn shoes.

“We’re walking through a time warp. It’s returned the diamonds to the way they were. All we have to do is get across this room and past the bandstrand and we will be out of here.”

“Right. And do I get a better outfit on the other side?”

Odric laughed. Kallyn remembered how much she’d loved his laugh. Not meaning to, she turned her head and oh my, she’d forgotten how beautiful he was. Tall, dark, in a tailored suit and a blue shirt that brought out his coloring, wonderful!

And she tripped.

Fell. Landed on her butt, feet in the air. Everyone in the ballroom turned to stare and someone shouted, “The jewels! She has the diamonds!”

Odric pointed at the crowd and shouted, “Stay back!”

Someone shouted, “Or what? Are you planning to shoot us with your finger, big guy?”

- Phoebe Matthews

Two men on the moon?

Have the red diamonds been corrupted?

Kallyn was both confused and frightened. The sight of the bats heading toward her with obviousx murderous intent made her cast about frantgically for a place to hide. But where? No place seemed safe? And here in front of her stood not one but two men who it seemed were linked with her mentally and sexually. Odric and Falco. Dark and light. But could she trust them? She'd been lied to so many times in the nightmare of an adventure that she didn't know who or what to believe any more.
"Hurry," Falco said, reaching out a hand to her.
"Yes," Odric reinforced. "You must come with us now."
Kallyn stood indecisivelt as the bats flew ever closer. Finally, knowing she had no other choice, she took the two outstretched hands and immediately the three of them morphed into hawks. She'd known Odric had the power, but now it seemed not only did his brother but they had transferred it to her.The pouch with the diamonds was now handing around her neck, but the weight seemed heavier than before. Rather than the faint tinkle as they bumped together there was the sound of liquid shifting.
Her heart rate accelerated as the three of them flew over the treetops and soared high into the air. If the diamonds had been corrupted, she had no power to stop Cecily nor did she have the authority they gave her to rule The Kingdom.
"Don't worry." Falco's human words rolled from his hawk's mouth. "We will have you in a safe place shortly and we will examine the diamonds. We have an elder here on our home planet who will be able to help you."
Was that true? Was there someone who could really help her combat Cecily's evil?
She heard the awful squeaking as the bats drew near. Just when she was sure she was doomed, Odrice exhaled a great gust of breath, shrubs parted and they flew into the mouth of a hidden cave. The moment they were inside, the shrubs returned to their normal position, hiding them, and they morphed back into human form.
Kallynopened the pouch.
"Oh, no! She's liquified the red diamonds. Just what I fear."
"It's all right," Odric told her, taking her hand. "As Falco said, we have an elder who can help with this. His power is stronger than Cecily's ever could be. Let's go to him."
The three of them walked deeper into the cave, further than Kallyn though they could go. Then suddenly there was light and the sound of many voice. They entered a huge round chamber, her eyes popping at what she saw.

Have the red diamonds been corrupted?

Getting to Know the Moon

Stunned to her core, Kallyn instinctively felt for the pouch of red diamonds. Oh no! Something was wrong? Had Aunt Cecily managed to corrupt them? The pouch felt liquidy or gel-like.

Kallyn would have looked, but the black triangular craft had slowed, yet still seemed headed toward her. Whipping around in a full circle, she looked for any place to hide. Uncertain about how her powers would work on the moon, she figured escape was her best option at this point.

“They won’t hurt you, you know.”

Kallyn almost jumped embarrassingly at the sound of the squeak-edged voice. Instead, she managed to look downward. A three foot high, lavender-shimmery lizard regarded her. He had one sort-of-a-hand planted on his slender hip. Oh yeah, he stood upright all right, his elongated head tilted in an attitude of study.

“How do you know?” Kallyn decided to play along. What the freaking hell, she was probably on the moon, even though, so far, it appeared to be nothing like she’d been taught.

“Simple, Earther, they’re your kind.”

“Sorry, but that means nothing back on dear Earth. My kind don’t get along real well. I’ve already been... never mind. I’m Kallyn. What’s your name?”

“Falco, that’s my name.” If a lizard could look smug, then Falco certainly did. “No, not plain ordinary humans. Your kind, an Eviarius. Or, in your parlance, a fancified witch with super powers.”

With the name, Eviarius, on her lips, Kallyn suddenly stepped backwards because Falco’s body twisted. Morphing into a spiraling dense mist, he then transformed into a beautiful lavender fog. His change enthralled her when it probably should have alarmed her.

Moments later, a man stood before her. Where Odric was dark in coloring, he was light. His hair gleamed, golden blonde in color. His skin was a light shade of caramel. Kallyn stared, awed, and couldn’t help noticing how much he resembled Odric. Still, her anger surfaced like an incoming tide and lashed at her insides.

“Who are you?” Kallyn felt her own scowl, the deep furrows contorting her brow.

“He’s my brother.”

Kallyn spun around, her body floating slightly. Odric stood there, dressed in the same manner as Falco. They both wore short togas made out of a strange glistening material that definitely showed off their warrior-muscled physiques.

“Welcome to our home base, my gorgeous beloved Kallyn.” Odric presented his arm. “We need to leave quickly. Even now your Aunt Cecily is marshaling her own evil forces to find us.”

Looking over his shoulder Kallyn saw ten colossal bats winging toward them. Their vampire fangs dripped with what she knew was a poisonous substance meant to paralyze them all.

Getting to Know the Moon

A Special Note for a Special Group Member

Our thoughts and prayers go out for Judith Rochelle (Desiree Holt), one of our RomanticSynonymous authors and a very enthusiastic member of this little group. Judith's husband has passed away, and we'd like to just interrupt our sage to extend a hand of friendship and togetherness, to let her know we are here for her and are thinking of her.



Judith, from the RomanticSynonymous team, our heartfelt sympathies and love.

Take care,
Jude

A Special Note for a Special Group Member

When you see it, say 'Rachel'

Pic from ~ journeytocouture.com ~

Kallyn flew faster, yet saw nothing ahead of her, except the driving sheets of rain. There had to be a better way of escaping if she was being pursued by an enemy or even a horde of enemies. Taking a chance she angled upwards, determined to wing above the clouds. That is, if the clouds of Oz acted like normal clouds. She’d created a normal storm, but who knew?

Suddenly, the memory of being dressed as a green dragon, with a shimmery fabric belly and her own wings, for a Halloween party burst into her thoughts. She’d been ten years old and she’d spent the two weeks beforehand dancing around, hyper with anticipation.

The party at her girlfriend’s home had been all she could imagine, so much fun she’d hated to leave. Now came the strange part. Kallyn had believed it was her friend’s dad who’d taken her hand to lead her toward the door. Yet, when she’d looked up, finally...

Odric. The man had been Odric. He’d told her something. Kallyn struggled to remember as she plunged inside the charcoal-colored cloud bank. It felt like wading through extra heavy mist and she no longer had any sense of direction. Still, she flapped furiously, maintaining her momentum.

“Where are you?” Odric had asked her, his expression kindness itself.

“This is Rachel’s home,” she’d announced proudly. “Who are you?”

“I’m a friend. We’ll know each other much better later.” Odric had crouched down, eye level with her, his gaze jovial.

“Later?” Kallyn could still hear her child’s demanding tone.

“Later.” Odric nodded. “There’s something you need to remember.”

“Like for a test?” Kallyn recalled being utterly intrigued by the sparkly facets of Odric’s eyes.

“It’s much more important than a test, Kallyn.”

“Hey, how do you know my name?”

“I’m magical. And you’re magical.”

Feeling important suddenly, Kallyn had puffed up. “What do you want me to remember?”

“Remember being a dragon. Remember the bad witch Dorothy destroyed with water in the Wizard of Oz. Remember whatever you do, do not stop the storm. Keep flying. Keep flying toward the moon. When you see it, say ‘Rachel’.

“It’s made of cheese, blue cheese,” Kallyn had hurled the words, then giggled at herself. “No, it’s not. I know. But, it should be.”

Thunder boomed around her, shuddering her dragon body. Cackling shrieks of thunder. It was Aunt Cecily searching for her, attempting to spin her evil sorcery and capture Kallyn. Or, did she only want possession of the red diamonds?

Kallyn struggled onward, the drenching dark gray mass sapping her energy to the point she couldn’t manage any sorcery to alter herself or zap herself anywhere else. With each beat her wings grew heavier. What now?

Frantically, she gazed around until she saw it, a pale glistening outline in the shape of a crescent. Hope soared inside her. Odric, dear Odric, had he rescued her, even from way back then? Using every ounce of strength she flew toward the wavering crescent. Larger and larger, brighter and brighter the shape became. The Moon, it had to be the moon.

“Rachel,” she uttered in dragonese.

Kallyn’s eyes opened, even though she hadn’t known they were closed. No longer in her dragon body, she stood on a barren brown-gray surface. Was she actually on the moon?

She hauled in a breath. Okay, so far, no trouble breathing. Her curiosity wilder than a march hare, she jumped to test out the gravity. Okay, she was sort of floaty before she landed, but there was definitely a strong pull downward.

Slowly, Kallyn rotated around, looking at the spongy-appearing ground. She froze in mid-turn. What the hell? Crystalline dome buildings, three of them sat on the horizon. A black triangular craft rose above them, then shot straight toward her.

When you see it, say 'Rachel'