The Hunt of the Unicorn by C. C. Humphreys

Author:C. C. Humphreys [Humphreys, C. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Teen Fuse
Published: 2016-08-29T23:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

QUEEN BEE

She pushed it, leaned out. Faint light spilled from barred windows onto a long, narrow room. Almost a corridor, except it had some furniture in it, a few chairs, a table. It was paneled in wood and lined with portraits. Men and women stared down, unsmilingly. Fat or thin, bald or hairy, they all had a similar look to them, in the eyes.

Leo’s eyes, she thought.

She’d stepped through to study them . . . then she heard that laugh again. Definitely a girl’s laugh. It came from the farthest end of the corridor room. She could see a door swinging shut there. “Hey,” she called. “Wait!”

She ran. The door had closed before she got to it, but she pushed her way in—

And was almost blinded. There were torches everywhere, burning in metal holders on the walls. Then she realized that they were doubled, quadrupled—because there were mirrors everywhere too—standing ones, hung ones, dangling ones, all shapes and sizes. Moving, she saw a dozen Elaynes shielding their eyes.

Mirrors weren’t the only things hanging. Gauzy cloths floated in the air, held on invisible wires. One billowed, stroked her face. . . . Silk! Some reached all the way to the floor; some hovered above, reflecting in all the mirrors, multiplying every way she looked.

Another laugh came, closer this time. Definitely in this room, somewhere ahead. “Who’s there?” Elayne asked again, pushing aside the cloth that brushed her face. “Where are you?”

“Here.” The word was whispered, followed by another giggle.

“I don’t want to play this game,” Elayne said, annoyed.

“Come, then,” said the voice.

Elayne moved forward. It was hard, turning in to mirrors, pushing aside silks. There was nothing in the room to get her bearings on. She didn’t know if she was moving straight forward or going in a circle.

“So close,” the voice said, and it was closer. Elayne turned toward it, stumbling away from her reflection. She took a breath, managed to suck in silk, spat it out. . . .

A huge bed was before her. It was circular, covered in pillows, all of such varied colors and patterns they almost hurt the eyes. She squinted—and realized that the bed was occupied. For right in the middle, as colored and patterned as the surroundings, sprawled a girl.

A very fat girl.

“Salutations,” she said brightly, her voice high-pitched. She patted the bed. “I would esteem it a high honor if you would sit with me.”

Elayne was stunned. This was the first girl of about her own age she’d seen in Goloth. All of “maiden age” were either off at that finishing school for wives Marc had talked about or were, no doubt, up to their eyeballs in the “duties” they’d been trained for.

At least Elayne thought she was about her own age. It was a little hard to tell. She wasn’t particularly “petite” herself, but this girl was huge! Hamster cheeks, fleshy arms, and cleavage that bulged out her bodice, making her dress look about two sizes too small. Her hair was braided, twisted, and pinned up, which only emphasized the full-moon quality of her face.

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