A/n: What's this?! An update?! No WAY!!! DUDE! cough Ahem. Thank you for your patience. (yeah right, like anyone even remembers this stuff...and it needs editing! EESH!

And now that the plot has unexpectedly and irretrievably thickened, will our heroine be heroic or excessively unheroic? Will Leo be liquefied by Brett's Daddy? Hmmm??? blink Stop looking at me like I know something! Sheesh! grumble crazy readers and your rassum frasssum ex-pect-ations!

Chapter Six: Eep!

Leo's reappearance was unnoticed at first by Bel. She was in the bathroom with the door shut, pretending to pack. She'd fled there after two minutes under the eyes of the woman in the room. She made Bel's skin itch like thousands of little creepy crawlies were nibbling on her flesh. In short, Bel had the Eeby Jeebies.

She'd packed in a very quick, efficient manner as soon as she'd stopped shuddering in the bathroom. She merely said: “I need a bag with three pairs of jeans, three t-shirts and a sweatshirt, three pairs of socks, and three changes of underwear.” The bag she'd envisioned appeared in the empty bathtub, it was a simple canvas duffle with some room to spare, so she added her toiletries. After a moment, she realized that she'd no real idea of where she'd end up, so after a moment’s consideration, she began a second order.

“I need a medium-sized Jansport back pack with a lighter, a pack of waterproof matches, a Swiss army knife, a compass, a flashlight, spare batteries, a Glock and spare ammo, a notepad and two pens, a first-aid kit, and a...um...two water bottles.” She was careful to envision each item perfectly in her mind so that there'd be no mistake in her acquisitions. When the pack appeared before her, she went through it, checking that everything was secure. When she was done, she hauled her things out of the bathroom and set them on the bed, ignoring the sorceress and her husband who watched.

“She is not coming.” Leo said firmly. Bel saw Brettia smile evilly and shuddered again. “There is no reason for her to come. I will send her back to her family.” He said stubbornly. Brettia merely shook her head.

“You will need a servant during your trial, Husband.” She told him simply. Her tone made it clear that there would be no discussion. Leo sighed in resignation.

“She can not come wearing that.” He stated. Brettia nodded in agreement and looked thoughtful for a moment. A sudden wave of her hand that had both Leo and Bel flinching away from her produced a black silk gown with red trim on the bodice and red slippers to match. The items landed in Bel's surprised grip.

“Change quickly, girl.” Bel needed no prodding and fled back to the bathroom to change into the gown. It fit perfectly and she had to restrain the urge to twirl in front of the bathroom mirror. When she emerged again, she quickly shoved a pair of sturdy tennis-shoes into the bigger bag.

Brettia stood from her chair and inspected both of her unfortunate victims closely before nodded to herself and gesturing again. The world went black for far longer than it did when Bel had been moved about the castle, but not long enough for her to completely freak out. A moment later, the three stood in a grand hall, big as her High School Gymnasium at home and just as echo-prone.

They were in the center of a white marble walk-way that led to the far end of the hall. To the right and left of the walk-way the floors were polished black marble that reflected every candle and every torch that lit the huge room. These light sources were placed every few feet along the walls and every ten feet or so across the floors so that the place was quite bright for a fire-lit space.

The only people that Bel saw in her scanning of the room were the black-clad, armored guards positioned every five feet around the walls and every ten feet on either side of the white marbled way. She had just barely the time to register that the things she'd packed were gone before Brettia started forward, Leo scrambling to take his place on her heels. Bel thought he looked rather like a large, evil puppy chasing his mistress. She wondered what she looked like, chasing after him in colors to match his strange medieval uniform.

Leo immediately felt eyes upon him. The moment he found himself in the King's Throne room, every hair on his fuzzy body stood up from the combined feeling of being watched and the magical power that filled the air in that ancient place. These were things he was expecting, things he had been accustomed to at one time. What surprised him was the shame.

Four hundred years he had had to accustom himself to his cursed form. He had thought that he'd dealt with the looks he would get. The disgust he would arouse. Apparently not. He felt the eyes of the King's elite guard upon his animal flesh and had to fight to keep his eyes up and not lower his head in shame. That was what the King and his bitch daughter wanted. He would not give them that little victory.

Brettia led the way to the King's throne and he had to hurry his steps to keep up with hers. She always seemed to float along at twice the speed she should be capable of. Damnable witch.

They reached the final ten feet before the three steps to the Throne and Brettia vanished into thin air, leaving Leo and his unfortunate pet alone before the King. Raynard sat, lounging in his immense black throne looking thoroughly bored. Leo knew then that they were most definitely doomed.

The King looked just as he did the day he laid the enchantment upon Leo. The man appeared to be no older than his daughter. His magic kept him youthful and beautiful despite his age of three hundred and fifty years. Leo took a moment to wonder how much time had passed in that place since he'd left. He had felt the time shift in Brettia's transportation spell and knew that they'd traveled back in time quite a while. He just couldn't figure out how far and the ageless King was no help.

“Leodred! My wayward son-in-law! How have you been? You are looking exceptionally...furry.” The King said, waving Leo out of an abortive bow. His manner was deceptively friendly and cheerful as always. Unlike his daughter, the King had discovered the knack to making his pitch-black eyes reflect the emotion he chose to portray. If you did not know him well, it was exceedingly easy to be taken in by his acting. Leo felt Bel relax slightly beside him and sighed inwardly at her foolishness. He stepped forward and to the side a bit, hoping to urge the King's attentions away from the ripe prey he'd unwillingly brought with him.

“Greetings, Your Excellency.” He said, pushing all fear and bitterness out of his tone. He saw Brettia reappear at the King's side, but the man ignored her.

“Well, I might as well skip straight to the part where I make you hate me a bit more.” Raynard said flippantly. He grinned and nodded over his shoulder at Brettia. She stepped forward and conjured a glowing map of the country and the four kingdoms that surrounded it. “This is your opportunity for freedom, boy.” The King added. Leo frowned at being called “boy”. It was entirely possible that he was now the man's senior.

“What would you have me do, sire?” He growled out. Raynard flipped his silky black hair over his shoulder and smiled charmingly.

“I have been faced with a bit of a problem these past few years, Leodred.” The King began. “The Queen of Hordil has been rather annoying. She keeps adopting those of my people who find themselves without homes. She openly insults me.” He threw a lopsided grin at Leo. “I want her dead.” He said, pointing to Hordil on the map, and then he tapped the country to the south of Hordil and the east of Raynard's realm of Elecria. “Ol' King Keth will most likely frown upon such assassination. He has the forces to annoy me if he tries. This means that when you kill the Queen, you will do so in the manner of a wild beast. Then you will either allow yourself to be captured and proven mindless, removing me from suspicion, or you will assassinate Keth before he has an opportunity to become a nuisance.” Raynard paused to ponder something. “If you succeed, I will take Hordil as mine and I will give to you Keth's land, where you may rule with your Queen.” He said with a glance to Brettia. His daughter stood impassively, staring at the map.

Bel looked from one man to the other feeling like she was listening to a foreign language in spite of the few familiar words. Wait…He’s making the fuzzy wanker maul a queen then get caught? Wow. I don’t know what that scary chick expects me to do to make this worse…it already sucks ass.

Leo didn’t seem to be acknowledging the inherent suckiness of the king’s assassination plot. He seemed to be nodding like it was an excellent idea. Bel resolved to ask if he was on any medication later. In the meantime she decided that keeping her eye on Brettia and her cheerfully evil father was wise.

Leo was indeed nodding agreeably and trying not growl or snarl, or attempt to maul the King. It was quite the struggle so he was startled when Raynard laughed happily and clapped his hands, magically sending them off.

a/n: wait...so...huh? what? They're off on a mission? this isn't following the fairy tale! I'm going to have to report myself...to...er...somebody... REVIEW darlings! the only reason I'm finishing this was because reviewers made me feel guilty! (that and I was bored and reread it and cracked myself up...arrogant ain't I?)