The Fairy Gift by Pendragon J.K

Author:Pendragon, J.K. [Pendragon, J.K.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Published: 2012-04-04T05:00:00+00:00

I awoke the next morning feeling, surprisingly, a lot better. The chill of Dante's frightening magic had lifted somewhat, and I found I didn't have the conviction to be mad at Hailey (Hale, I reminded myself grimly). If I were secretly a man, I thought, I would be wary of whom I revealed it to, as well. Then I remembered that I was a man, albeit not secretly, and felt very odd about the whole affair.

I slumped into the backyard, deciding to get a head start on the laundry. That was when Titiana showed up and ordered me to go get Hailey's sheets and wash them.

Excellent, I thought as I stomped upstairs to Hale's room. Twice the staining!

I immediately berated myself for having such vulgar thoughts. After all, I didn't even know what Hale did with his customers. Perhaps they just talked. Or kissed. Or …

I shook my head, banishing such thoughts, and knocked tentatively on Hailey's door.

"Ah!" came Hailey's voice from within (a woman's voice, I realized—he was very good at it. Although I supposed that being around women for years would help). "Who is it?"

"It's, um, Marcus," I replied awkwardly. "Titiana sent me to get your laundry."

There was a rustling from inside, and then the door opened, revealing Hale. He was dressed like a woman, his silk robes loose and his hair piled hastily on his head, but he wore no makeup. He looked completely androgynous, and also, I noticed, hoping I wasn't blushing, very beautiful.

"Oh, you can come in," he said in his masculine voice, tipping the scale from androgyne to beautiful man. He stepped aside and allowed me to pass.

Hale's room was beautiful, decorated with pink and yellow silks, and scattered with lovely embroidered cushions and chairs. The bed was a large four-poster with a sumptuous-looking bedspread, and dull golden paint covered the intricately carved wood of the frame.

"It's a lot," Hale admitted, watching me stare around the room in awe. "Titiana paid for it all. I guess it's needed … rich customers expect … you know … " He laughed a little guiltily as I made my way to the bed. "Ah … I suppose I am a little behind on my washing. Sorry."

"It's alright," I said grimly. I was used to getting stains out by now.

I realized it sounded like I was being short with him. What was I to say, though? Did he expect for me to talk to him as if we were old friends?

Hale was very different as a man, I thought, as I stripped the soft silk sheets off the bed, struggling a little with the corners as I always did. Quieter, but more intimidating at the same time. He watched me for a few moments, not saying a word, and then went and sat down at the vanity.

"I have another customer coming today," he said, picking up a brush and expertly mixing a concoction of several of the bottles and jars strewn over the table. "He's nice. Confident. Doesn't mind thinking of me as a man.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.