13

He's A Fox

"Eden, dear, I know it's incredibly hard for you to find the fan's handle, but a simple flick of your wrist will get the job done quite nicely," my mother said in a strained tone. I felt my lips twitch up to the left side of my face before I let the fan's lace quiver once again. The doctor had called it a revolution, but I had whispered savagery. How someone could willingly give up a part of themselves was beyond me. My fingers traced upwards subconsciously to my bangs, and pushed the light fringe out of my eyes. The word 'hypocrite' rung through my head before a large scowl overtook my features and I looked down at my mother to distract myself from further insult. Her dark auburn hair was in precise loops, and as her eyes opened I automatically felt my muscles tense.

"You can stop, Louisa may relieve you now," my mother said, as though fanning her was a test I had failed. The maid slipped the lacy contraption out of my fingers, and perched herself on the edge of my mother's space. "Go find yourself a boyfriend, Eden. I don't want to see you again until dinner." My legs were stiff from the overstuffed chair, but I would have crawled out of that room if it meant getting away from her. My hands snuck past my beribboned belt to wrap around the iPod in my shorts pocket, the belt having been a last minute stroke of genius this morning to hide my music from my mother. She had never agreed with the way I sang and danced, and had therefore forbidden me to perform such an atrocity in front of any other person.

I had no need for brain activity as I walked down the patio stairs- it was all second nature to me, finding the route was as easy as breathing. Every time my feet slid from cool cement to warm earth, my nerve endings rejoiced. The tall grasses slid like snakes between my fingers as I moved forward to the far side of the west courtyard's pond. If the water from this pond were to be measured in half of a cup, it would have been a full half. The colors from the sky reflected on the surface to make the waters appear in a blazing fury that I alone was sent to calm.

I could feel my muscles relax as my limbs slid into the cool spring water. My head tilted back, and a large sigh escaped me from this safe harbor. As I sang loudly to multiple artists, my rear went numb, and as I sat there for a few minutes, I toyed with a small chain around my neck. The platform I sat upon was made of wood, the trees above me shading the area so that a light layer of goose bumps dotted my skin. A rush of cold air made the hairs on my neck stand to attention as my eyes opened. A quick rustle of leaves above my head made my eyes focus on a darker pair crinkled down at my own. And then, you know- time stopped. Not literally of course, but enough so that the cells in my cranium could register the creature above me as a threat. My eyebrows rose up as I inched slowly away from the being and slid further towards the pool, splinters in my back momentarily unnoticeable.

"Not the standard greeting, but I suppose most humans aren't used to such a sight," a voice said, as the creature stepped forward. It seemed to be a hybrid of animals, its size suggesting a wolf, whereas its markings suggested a fox. My eyes widened slightly as my voice erupted from my throat.

"Who's there? If this is your animal, call him off and I'll give you anything I have on me worth taking," I said loudly, as my fingers undid the chain from around my neck and the golden locket laid facedown in my palm. My fingers pressed once into the locket's back, before I held the trinket up in the low light. "I'll give you this," I continued, my voice wavering on the last word.

"What I desire is not something that can be bought," the voice said again, as the fox's muzzle moved slightly, probably his tongue scraping the crusted blood off of his teeth, I thought as a grimace made its way onto my face.

"Then what will make you call off this monster," I asked shrilly as the beast moved towards me quickly now.

"Stop calling me a monster!" The voice was angry now, the tone creating a ripple through my body as I continued sliding backwards. My hands were pin- wheeling back to support myself until the wood disappeared and my arms slipped quickly into the lake water. My eyes shut tightly as I prepared myself for eventual hurt of bone against wood, but it never came. The beast stood over my lower limbs, its large canines woven through the strands of ribbon around my belt that supported my lower back, pulling me into an arch.

"Didn't know we'd move so fast," the voice said as the animal's eyes rolled, "feel like undoing the strands from my mouth?" My body jerked forward, as I undid the threads from around the very, very large teeth. The animal was calm though, its tail swishing back and forth almost comically. We sat across from each other for a few moments, before my voice rang out.

"What are you here for, I mean this is private property," I reasoned, as my eyes looked around the animal for a human, preferably the owner. But, the creature's head moved into my line of sight and my eyes zeroed in on its lips and tongue as they flicked and dipped to form words.

"I request a night and day with you, so it would be best if you could get over my ability to speak now," the beast said slowly as it cocked its head at my bristled look of annoyance. At least, that was the look I was going for.

"What makes you think I'll say yes to your offer?"

"Aren't you missing something," the hybrid said, as it smiled at my attempt of crossing my arms to seem unapproachable. My eyebrows pulled together as my head gave itself a quick shake. I had my belt and iPod, and my necklace was still- my fingers flew in a flurry to my collarbone to feel the cool metal of the ball, but stopped after they pushed over bare skin. My eyes widened as I flipped around to peer over the edge of the platform into the dark waters of the lake. Nothing was visible- my blazing waters were a dark storm.

"How badly do you want your bauble back," the creature asked again, as I shook my head. Maybe I really did hit my head, and this is some sort of twisted dream where my conscious is entirely too available. I auctioned that thought off as a plausible argument, to hide the fact that I could just be going insane.

"It was given to me by my father," I said softly as my eyes continued searching the water.

"If I get it back to you, will you say yes," the voice said, hesitant tones mixed with an undercurrent of urgency. My mind racked the weights of how much I wanted the locket back, and how many comments my mother would have about the whole ordeal. My eyes shut as I responded with a positive, 'yes.' There was a rush of padded feet and a shadow passed across my face, before a loud splash tipped my position precariously. Bubbles frothed up from the depths, until a large head pushed out of the water, and pushed against my knee. I threaded my fingers through the mass of wet fur, and found a limb, before pulling it up onto the platform. The other limb followed suit, and I leaned forward to hug the being, and helped pull it out of the water somewhat. There was a loud wet clap of a sound, that sprayed some droplets of water across my face, but I managed to successfully aid the thing in its eruption. I regretfully tell you that my hand did indeed shake, as large canines scraped along my skin before opening to drop a small item into my palm. The soft lighting illuminated the telltale engravings on the back of the bauble, as my voice connected letters to form words of thanks.

"So who and what are you?"

"Neil Jameson, otherwise known as the only talking hybrid of the West Courtyard, pleased to meet you- whoever you are."

"Eden Davies, what exactly is a hybrid," I started with an unsure tone, the formal name like vinegar on my tongue.

"A hybrid is a cursed animal that has the body of one animal, but the look of another."

"So you are the size of a wolf, but have the detailed markings of a fox?

"Precisely, Eden," Neil said after some hesitation "how about Edie instead," Neil offered, his dark eyes lighting up at my new nickname. I felt my head nod quickly as we stood and made our way through the slithery grass. When we walked up the patio stairs, I slid the door open slowly, wincing at the loud squeak and my mother's voice yelling out for an answer as to who I was. Your daughter, I thought, as my head shook to put my fringe over my eyes.

"You act like a stranger in your own home," Neil stated confidently, as he bounded past me into the living room and waited patiently with his head cocked like a very large house cat. My mother walked around the corner, a dishcloth placed on her small shoulders for mere effect. I gave her a mental reward for doing a double- take at Neil without even moving her head, though. His face had adorned a pleased smirk that disappeared with the next words that came out of her mouth.

"I told you to bring home a boyfriend, Eden, not a scruffily overfed house cat." Neil's tail stopped its swishing, as his expression fell and the tips of his teeth could be seen. "I guess your father was correct when he guessed that you wouldn't appeal to any of the neighboring boys. If anything, you'll meet one tonight at the party." I stood between Neil and my mother, my stance loose, breakable. Even I could not tell whether I was protecting my mother from Neil, or Neil from my mother.

"I'm not hungry tonight, and will be retiring early." I said, as I ignored my mother and spoke while looking at the space above her head.

"Fine," she said with a wave of her hand, "take it with you and be ready for the party setup with your aunts tomorrow." I nodded and made quick eye contact with Neil before walking up the staircase stiffly. His body walked next to mine, the warmth within reach but not overpowering. I opened the door on my right, and watched Neil walk in and take everything in while I shut the door.

"It is a good thing your mother is not a hybrid," Neil said, as his eyes focused off of my pictures on the walls and on my face, "for I would have killed her by now." A small smile appeared on my face, but the serious tone caused a bit of worry to edge its way into my heart.

"Speaking of killing- I will wake up tomorrow, right?" The lack of response caused alarm, and my eyes looked up to see Neil roll his own dark ones back at me before he flopped back onto my bed.

"I must sleep upon your pillow until morning breaks," Neil said, as his eyes closed and the large snores pulled him into sleep. My fingers weaved in and out of his fur, the coarse hairs creating goose bumps along my skin even though I was completely warm. My hand stopped petting him as my body gave into the warmth and comfort as soon as my head hit the pillows.

I awoke to the feeling of being watched, which was in its own very unpleasant. My vision was bleared at first by the sleep, but then I smelt the pond water and remembered what had happened the day previous.

"Good morning," I grumbled, as I stretched out of the bed and slipped on some shoes. Neil stared amusedly at my display of tiredness, so I let out some words with a smile.

"You're getting bathed today," I said, and watched as his expression grew into one of, 'oh, really?' I walked backwards to my door and opened the jam with my foot, before leaning down to slap my knees before uttering, "come 'ere kitty, kitty." Neil's eyes darkened playfully, as he slipped out of bed and chased downstairs after me, as I slid down the marble railing. I was caught in the front lawn, and grabbed a gardening hose to fend off Neil. At first Neil was reluctant to enter the spray, but after some coaxing and tricking, more hoses were turned on, and soaps and suds were displayed for choice. Louisa stood outside with me, her arms holding a bundle of towels that were warm from the dryer. Neil was sitting on the front lawn, his expression one of a kicked puppy, as I sprayed him with water and the ground beneath him became covered in fluorescent colors of cleanliness.

"Permission to speak freely, Miss Eden," Louisa asked, her eyes glancing at mine quickly.

"Always," I replied without hesitation, as I relieved her of the towels and threw them at Neil. The warm fabrics slid down his face onto the ground, before he rolled over repeatedly on top of them. I muffled a laugh with my hand, and turned to Louisa, who had a dry grin cracked on her face.

"Most children bring home a toad, or a dainty insect, you know. Not a large fox in need of a bath." Louisa stated easily, as the lines on her face seemed less pronounced for a moment as she laughed at Neil's antics.

"I've never been one for frogs," I said, clearing my throat "slippery skin, webbed feet." Louisa nodded once before her mouth moved to form words.

"Well, I guess it's a good thing this time he's a fox," she stated as Neil bounded over.

"Again," I asked, my eyebrows lifting together.

"So, do I smell better now," Neil interrupted through his teeth as he pulled the dirty towels over to rest at our feet.

"Like lemons," I said sarcastically as I braided a small tuft of hair behind Neil's left ear. I looked quickly to Louisa's face, in search of the predictable expression of disbelief, but there was none. She laughed at my seemingly crestfallen appearance, and explained herself.

"Before I became a maid here," she said, gesturing to the large house behind the three of us, "I was dating a hybrid." My face contorted into an even sharper confused state, and Louisa's head just shook.

"We separated a few years ago over something entirely frivolous. But it was alright, because he never really needed my love, so the heartache was easier to get over. This one," Louisa said, with a poke of her finger in Neil's direction, "is part of a race known for having problems understanding their emotions." Neil's face remained stoic, but his eyes glanced down at the grass beneath our feet, while his paws dug up some weeds.

"I often find it easier to appear indifferent, but thought that was just me. I've never met another hybrid like myself," Neil said to the ground, as his eyes glanced up quickly to meet mine.

I should say something witty to break this atmosphere, I thought. Something to- I was snapped out of this though by the slam of a car door.

"Where is that maid?" a woman cried as she stepped out of the car. "Louisa!"

"You know what I said about not being needed before," Louisa said, as she folded the towels and placed them on her hip, "it's not so bad sometimes." She left us with a wink, as she walked quickly over to my aunts.

"Do you think the blue one, for honesty, or the red one?" I asked Neil, as I held up each cocktail dress when announced.

"You're getting dressed up like it's a board meeting. Isn't it a party?" Neil asked, as he played with the speakers on my desk. Notes floated out of the speakers, before loud guitar chords burst out of the plastic. My lips formed the lyrics quickly, and my eyes shut as I flipped and turned in front of the mirror.

"Well, yeah, but my relatives are going to be there," I reasoned loudly over the music, as I held them up to myself once again. I hated this- these parties my mother threw. They were a known attempt at mingling with people my mother felt were beneath her. I usually played the role of the successful daughter who wasn't interesting enough to be in the limelight, but just behind it as if I was awaiting to be called on stage. I threw the blue dress onto the bed, and pulled the red one over my head.

"Edie, you're still too stuffy," Neil said exasperatedly, as he gave me a quick glance. I frowned and threw my shoe at him, smiling at the muffled yelp along the lines of: 'that's animal cruelty you know.' Pulling the beribboned belt across my midsection, I let the ribbons give the dress a more festive look and settled on no shoes.

"Better?" I asked, turning to Neil.

"Much," he grinned, as he opened the door and wolf- whistled through a laugh.

"She'll never make it into college- I mean, have you seen her hair color?" a woman whispered loudly as I spun uncomfortably in the arms of another blind date. The rims of my eyes felt hot, but I kept my face from getting flushed by taking gulping breaths of air from my mouth.

"Are you okay, do you have asthma?" The boy across from me asked this question as though he were asking if I had the plague. His brown hair was gelled into perfect spikes, and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up in exact inches.

"Yes," I decided after a moment, careful to hide my smile. "I think I need some air," were the words I uttered out before I pushed out of his sticky hold. The buffet table was long, meats and meringues glistening under the artificial lights. My head tilted back, as my face fell into a frown upon seeing the stars blocked by the tent's covering. Walking outside to the quieter parts of the party, I was left alone by all other guests. I felt Neil's coarse hairs bump into my knee, and looked down. Neil winked at me once, before light poured out from his skin and illuminated the tent behind us. My eyes tried squinting through the light, but it was gone it literally a flash. A boy stood in front of me, smiling.

"Dance with me," the boy stated, as I slid my eyes to the side.

"What makes you think I'll say yes to your offer," I replied back, turning my head to face the boy. His eyes crinkled at the corners in a fraction of a second before he let out a loud laugh. His laugh froze me- it seemed to bubble up out of him from a depth, and the warmth was evident even from my distance.

"Okay, Ed, this time I know you're missing something," he said, as his dark eyes searched mine.

"Neil," I whispered loudly, as he grabbed my hand and pulled me back through the tent flaps and onto the cleared area for dancing. His head nodded, and I noticed the loose braid above his left eye.

"I can't dance, or sing," I stated slowly, dropping my arms to my sides. The song from my bedroom burst suddenly through the tent speakers, and I felt my lips move to the beat. Neil smiled, and spun me out from him half a dozen times, the people alongside us murmuring. I had never danced at my mother's parties, too aware of my left feet. But Neil was leading me on, making up for lost time. In the blur of a spin, my eyes shut and I remembered him, remembered my dad. His bald head stood out on the dance floor, as he spun a littler me around in dozens of swirls. I felt like a ripple in a pond, something so little yet able to create waves. My locket was looser around my neck then, and flung out easily, the gold ball shining. Eyes focused on my mother sitting in the corner, her line of sight focused on my necklace. The drink in her hand was intoxication, and the expression on her face held no joy. My own eyes blinked, and noted my mother in the same chair, her hand poised to hold a sliver of a wineglass. When the loud music disappeared, I finally heard the titters going throughout the crowd. The loudest one was my mother, naturally.

"Eden, why don't you go upstairs and cry about making your father leave us. You're so good at being painfully sensitive," my mother ground out in a high voice, as she smoothed down a guest's shirt and made her way over to me. Her walk was wobbly, and the red stains on the front of her dress stunk of alcohol. Her manicured hands scratched skin away as she pulled at the locket around my neck once, before ripping it from its chain. Louisa's gasp could be heard from the buffet table, and I pushed Neil's hands away. I had to do this on my own. I was being called onto stage to calm the storm, and the dance floor was my mother's blazing fury.

"How dare you, he left because you drank too much and it broke his heart," I started, my voice soft and weak. Mother laughed loudly, and pointed at me with one long, fake fingernail. Just like the rest of her was: fake. Except tonight- this was the first in awhile anyone other than Louisa and myself would see my mother for her true self.

"If you want your money for college, you'll shut your trap, Eden Davies," my mother warned, as she swayed once on her feet before nodding firmly.

"You've been threatening me with that since I was nine, but it doesn't exist anymore, because you spent it all!" I yelled, having no time to revel in the booming quality of my voice in the quiet of the tent.

"On what?" my mother said loudly, nodding at the guests surrounding us. Even intoxicated she adored the attention.

"On," I started quickly, the words on the tip of my tongue. The effect was ruined in my hesitation, when my mother stepped forward and slapped me hard across my face. I took a step backwards, and felt Neil's fingertips at my elbows, ready to catch. "Your bloody bottles and breasts!" The whisper yell was loud across the floor, as I took in a gasping breath. The crowd dispersed into titters, as my mother's face flushed and she ran out of the room. My heavy breathing relented when I let Neil pull me back into his embrace.

"He's a fox," a group of girls nearby said, their giggles and pointed stares making Neil drag a hand down his face. But, even he couldn't hide the roguish pink that colored his cheeks.

"Totally," I agreed, as Neil laughed and rested his forehead against mine in an adorably intimate gesture.

"I'm so proud of you," he said softly as his blush subsided and he toyed with my hair. The music was turned up again, and as the slow notes mixed into the night, I laid my head on Neil's chest and inhaled. After getting past the warmth, I was finally able to detect the scent: lemons.