best choice for her assistant—I’ve decided instead to help you survive the job.”
“Survive the job?”
“First, introductions. I’m Asima, messenger of the goddess Bast. I’ve spent time at the castle helping where I can. Sadly, only a few perceptive people appreciate my value.” She raised her elegant nose, a haughty gesture that crossed species lines. “I was away for a short time and came back to find that Sparkle had hired you. Truly shortsighted of her.” She seemed to think about that for a moment. “Although I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice person. I simply meant that you’re unprepared for the… unique demands of this job.”
Ivy didn’t want to think about the “unique demands” of her new job. She was too busy dealing with the earthquake happening in her head, obviously caused by the massive shift in reality taking place there. Her last bastion of belief in a sane world was, well… insanity. At least if she was certifiable she could get help from her local mental health facility.
The delivery of their lunches shut the cat up for a little while. Too little. It made short work of the lamb and milk with delicate bites and refined laps. Ivy sat and stared at her lunch. She might never eat again. Okay, so that was stupid. Don’t implode. Stay grounded.
Once finished, the cat… No, Asima—Ivy decided to assume she was still sane—stared at her with unblinking intensity.
“The first thing you need to know is how to dress for your job. I took the liberty of dropping a few things off in your closet while you were in your meeting. Sparkle will love your professional look.”
For just a moment, something sly moved in the cat’s eyes. Ivy studied Asima, but before she could do any analysis, the expression was gone. “Thanks. I think.” So many questions to ask, but Ivy’s thoughts still staggered in shocked circles.
“You’re welcome.” Asima leaped from the bed and padded to the door. It swung open. “I’ll get back to you later with some guaranteed ways to impress Sparkle.”
“Wait.” Ivy might not know or trust Asima, but the cat was her only weapon against Murmur now. “You saw the… You were there in the hall. Please, go with me to Ganymede or Holgarth if you don’t want to deal with Sparkle, and explain what you saw.”
“Why would I do that?” Asima seemed genuinely perplexed.
Ivy took a deep breath before blurting the truth. “I can’t say the word…” She flung her arms up in frustration. “You know, the thing we saw? Murmur messed with my mind. He wants to keep it secret, but I think someone needs to be told. It could’ve injured guests. Sparkle’s my boss. I have a duty to inform her.” Okay, the truth? She was furious at Murmur. He’d dared to manipulate her mind without her permission. Ivy hated her feeling of helplessness. And yes, she wanted to make him pay. If that made her a vengeful bitch, then so be it.
Surprise widened Asima’s eyes. “Can you text it?”
Ivy pulled out her phone and tried. Damn, she couldn’t even write the word. “Nope.”
Asima’s expression turned calculating. “You can’t say or write the word ‘ogre.’ How interesting. I’ll need time to consider your request.”
“But—”
“I’m afraid I have to go now.” Asima paused before leaving. “By the way, you might want to ask yourself how you were able to see the ogre’s true form. A normal human would have seen an old man. We’ll explore the intriguing possibilities at another time.” She left the room, her waving tail an arrogant question mark over her back. Fitting. The door clicked shut behind her.
A normal human? Ivy knew soul-deep that she’d never be normal again. Once seen, an ogre couldn’t be unseen. She stared at the indentation in her comforter where Asima had lain. Real; it was all real. And she didn’t have a clue how she’d been able to see the ogre as he really was. Murmur and Asima had to be mistaken. There was nothing special
“Survive the job?”
“First, introductions. I’m Asima, messenger of the goddess Bast. I’ve spent time at the castle helping where I can. Sadly, only a few perceptive people appreciate my value.” She raised her elegant nose, a haughty gesture that crossed species lines. “I was away for a short time and came back to find that Sparkle had hired you. Truly shortsighted of her.” She seemed to think about that for a moment. “Although I’m sure you’re a perfectly nice person. I simply meant that you’re unprepared for the… unique demands of this job.”
Ivy didn’t want to think about the “unique demands” of her new job. She was too busy dealing with the earthquake happening in her head, obviously caused by the massive shift in reality taking place there. Her last bastion of belief in a sane world was, well… insanity. At least if she was certifiable she could get help from her local mental health facility.
The delivery of their lunches shut the cat up for a little while. Too little. It made short work of the lamb and milk with delicate bites and refined laps. Ivy sat and stared at her lunch. She might never eat again. Okay, so that was stupid. Don’t implode. Stay grounded.
Once finished, the cat… No, Asima—Ivy decided to assume she was still sane—stared at her with unblinking intensity.
“The first thing you need to know is how to dress for your job. I took the liberty of dropping a few things off in your closet while you were in your meeting. Sparkle will love your professional look.”
For just a moment, something sly moved in the cat’s eyes. Ivy studied Asima, but before she could do any analysis, the expression was gone. “Thanks. I think.” So many questions to ask, but Ivy’s thoughts still staggered in shocked circles.
“You’re welcome.” Asima leaped from the bed and padded to the door. It swung open. “I’ll get back to you later with some guaranteed ways to impress Sparkle.”
“Wait.” Ivy might not know or trust Asima, but the cat was her only weapon against Murmur now. “You saw the… You were there in the hall. Please, go with me to Ganymede or Holgarth if you don’t want to deal with Sparkle, and explain what you saw.”
“Why would I do that?” Asima seemed genuinely perplexed.
Ivy took a deep breath before blurting the truth. “I can’t say the word…” She flung her arms up in frustration. “You know, the thing we saw? Murmur messed with my mind. He wants to keep it secret, but I think someone needs to be told. It could’ve injured guests. Sparkle’s my boss. I have a duty to inform her.” Okay, the truth? She was furious at Murmur. He’d dared to manipulate her mind without her permission. Ivy hated her feeling of helplessness. And yes, she wanted to make him pay. If that made her a vengeful bitch, then so be it.
Surprise widened Asima’s eyes. “Can you text it?”
Ivy pulled out her phone and tried. Damn, she couldn’t even write the word. “Nope.”
Asima’s expression turned calculating. “You can’t say or write the word ‘ogre.’ How interesting. I’ll need time to consider your request.”
“But—”
“I’m afraid I have to go now.” Asima paused before leaving. “By the way, you might want to ask yourself how you were able to see the ogre’s true form. A normal human would have seen an old man. We’ll explore the intriguing possibilities at another time.” She left the room, her waving tail an arrogant question mark over her back. Fitting. The door clicked shut behind her.
A normal human? Ivy knew soul-deep that she’d never be normal again. Once seen, an ogre couldn’t be unseen. She stared at the indentation in her comforter where Asima had lain. Real; it was all real. And she didn’t have a clue how she’d been able to see the ogre as he really was. Murmur and Asima had to be mistaken. There was nothing special
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