"Something wrong, Randall?" A rumbling voice purred from behind Randy.

Making him freeze as he was positioned over the girl.

One he'd never seen before.

"Charters." Randy acknowledged. Knowing that voice. His shoulders slumped. But he didn't look over his shoulder to where Bodin sat in a chair next to the window.

"Are you wondering who she is?" Bodin rose from the chair in a sleek movement. Wandering around to stand next to the lone candle so he could see Randall's face.

Randy said nothing. Staring at the skinny wraith who'd posed as Belle. In her bed.

Randy was sifting through layers of confusion. Trying to figure out what was happening.

"She is a good friend of mine. A warrior to be specific." Bodin nodded toward her limp hands, lying on the pillow on each side of her head.

In her small fists were clutched tiny, curved blades.

"You're lucky I intervened." Bodin remarked coolly. "Had I not intervened, and you'd stuck her. She'd have certainly stuck you back."

She giggled coldly from the bed. Confirming his words.

"I considered letting you truly..." Bodin admitted. "But I feared poor Ena here, wouldn't have been able to wash well enough to cleanse herself of your tainting codpiece."

"He wouldn't have gotten in." Ena said confidently. "I'd have spilled his intestines between us."

Bodin grunted. Acknowledging the likelihood.

"What game is this?" Randy said. Giving Bodin a hateful, sideways study. Still straddling Ena. He declared. "I am a Lord and I find your behavior offensive."

"Will you call me out?" Bodin asked. Eyes dancing with mirth.

It was well-known throughout the land that he wasn't one to duel with or box with.

Randy knew the latter, first-hand.

***

"Let's speak frankly, Randall." Bodin circled the bed stand to ease closer to Randy. Despite that he was still armed with the dagger which was now tucked in his loose waistband. "I'm offended by your behavior. You came in here to ravish Belle."

Randy looked at him. Trying to force his face arrogant, when in truth his hands were trembling. He was assessing if he could get to his blade and stab them both.

"I would've wed her." Randy offered.

"Wouldn't she have been a lucky girl." Bodin snorted. His head tilting dangerously. "Do you honestly think I'd have ever let that happen? You should've known better."

"You weren't supposed to be here." Randy drew the knife and pointed it at Bodin as he roared the accusation.

"Because your traitorous little maid told you so?" Bodin shook his head, saying disdainfully. "I'm masterfully playing Chess while you're losing at Checkers."

"What exactly does that mean?"

"It means you're too stupid to even understand that."

"Get off my friend." Bodin nodded toward Ena. "And I'll have her give you and I some space. I want to tell you a bit about some other friends of mine."

***

Randy eyed Bodin warily but knew that the idea of putting some distance between this harlot and her blades and him would allow him to take on Bodin individually. Looking like a far more appealing option then having to fight them both.

Randy sucked in his cheeks as he assessed Bodin. Finally climbing off the girl. Rolling sideways to allow her up.

And conveniently putting a bigger gap between his shaking blade and Bodin's reach.

Bodin nodded approvingly. Crossing sinewed arms over the breadth of his chest.

Randy assessed him. Knowing he was stouter than Bodin but nearly half a foot shorter and nowhere near as fast. Which was why Bodin had soundly thrashed him every time he'd tried.

But Randall was older now. More seasoned.

And he wanted Belle.

And he badly wanted to hurt Bodin. Physically and mentally.

Bodin stuck his foot out near the Dressing Table to his left and dragged out the stool. Circling it to take a seat. Leaning forward as he met Randy's glare. His elbows resting on his knees while one hand rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"What do you know about, elven people, Randall?"

***

"What?" Randy looked from Bodin to Ena who know stood silently in a black corner. Seeming almost invisible in the darkness. "Are you jesting."

"I'm deadly serious." Bodin said in his quiet calm voice.

"Where is Belle?" Randy demanded.

"Safe in my bed. With more guards watching over her, then you could ever fathom. You'd never have gotten close to her." Bodin dismissed. "Fey."

"I-I..They're not real."

"They're very real." Bodin countered.

"Ena." He straightened to call.

She stepped from the dancing shadows to the trimming of light from the candle. Standing over the edge of the bed, closest to Randall. She leaned close enough to him he could get a good look at her. He saw that her eyes were so light colored they were nearly white. She caught one fistful of her hair and moved it back. Turning her head to show him the fierce point of her long ear.

Randy hissed through his teeth. Crawling backward from her. Easing toward the foot of the bed so he was further from the both of them, near the headboard.

"A hideous deformity!" Randy declared.

"A beautiful elven woman." Bodin countered.

Making Ena smirk as her gaze was trained on Randy.

"I'll tell you about fey." Bodin said pensively. "Mortal people can be made into them, if a fey elects to turn them. However humans do have their uses amongst the fey."

Randy's brows lowered quizzically.

"Fey are lusty people. Often as happy to vent seed in a human man as a female."

Randy looked horrified as Bodin's words sunk in.

"Fey are a feral breed that, when aroused, can become incredibly forceful. Sometimes killing those they intend to mate."

"What is your point?" Randy demanded.

"It's very simple. There are harems of human men and women that are far too evil to pollute the human species with their reproduction. They're managed as playthings for the sexual needs of the fey people."

"I don't understand." Randall said uneasily.

Bodin and Ena exchanged a secretive smile.

Bodin stood and walked to the end of the bed. Approaching Randall so fast that he panicked.

Randy swiped his small blade forward to stick Bodin, but Bodin batted it aside then shoved it over Randy's head. Catching Randy's throat in a biting grip with one hand.

With his other, he pressed along Randy's forearm until Randy yelped at the overextension of his elbow, releasing the blade in desperation.

It thunked to the floor.

Bodin lowered over Randall Demetrius. And as his head entered the blackness beyond the circle of candlelight. Silver antlers sparkled in the dark like bits of silver in the moonlight. Branching from Bodin's head and towering several feet up and out. Bodin's eyes had yellowed a terrifyingly inhuman shade. And when he spoke his voice was deep and gravelly.

Equally as unhuman.

"I'm going to give you to them..."

Randy shook his head fearfully. Gripping Bodin's hand as he gasped for air around his grip. Trying to make words.

But that solid fist was entirely unforgiving.