It’s Wednesday and I have new words. No win, place, or show in last week’s Thursday Threads but that’s okay because I’m happy with the words. The prompt for this week is: *“How did you ever find it?”* I can admit that the story is slowly starting to take shape and to make sense, which is a good thing. I’m sure there will be some surprises along the way. In the meantime, this isn’t exactly a “meet cute” but…well, you’ll get the idea when you read it.
****
She refused to cower, lifting her chin in defiance. She was tired of bullies.
The man’s gaze raked her, automatically dismissing her as no threat. Full of arrogance, he said, “How did you ever find it?”
Puzzled, she racked her memory but found no helpful frame of reference. “Find what?”
“Don’t pretend innocence.” The stranger seemed to swell in size, looming over her.
Aisling opened her mouth then closed it. She had no words. Her thoughts were too chaotic to make sense. Who was this man? How dare he try to intimidate her. Adrenaline surged inside her as her anger spiked.
“Back off.” Her voice cracked in the middle of that order so she cleared her throat. “Back off!” she repeated, forcefully this time.
He leered until another voice whispered in the darkness.
“You heard the lady.”
Aisling and the stranger both froze. She slowly turned her head. And blinked. The being standing not three feet away all but glowed. He was… She exhaled, knowing it was a sigh of pure feminine appreciation. Then she had a little trouble inhaling because he left her breathless.
“This is no business of yours, mealltóir.”
She got her first clear look at the stranger. He was shadowed darkness to the other’s radiant light. She repeated the odd word. “Malthor? What’s that?”
“His title. The King’s Seducer.” Then the shadow man disappeared. As did the other.
Aisling was alone.
The wind whispered, “Beware the deceiver.”
Totally freaked, she still didn’t know what it was.
****
There it is. Are you humming the “Theme to the Twilight Zone” yet? I was. The question becomes, which one is the deceiver? *bwahaha*
Silver James 
Ooo, yummy! I can’t wait to read more words from this one. SQUEE!
I wasn’t humming the theme, but I am now. And there goes the Pink Floyd song, too. You can’t even say Twilight Zone without me slipping into one or the other.
Ooh. Pink Floyd! I need to listen to them. LOL Glad you liked the words. 🙂
That was a Twilight Zone moment for sure. I’m going with Ariel as the deceiver. He just has too many secrets.
I hope your day has gone well.
It has. Mostly. Wallyworld this morning. Vet’s this afternoon for Jake. And now some dweeb on X is trying to get into a flame war with me. I’m amused. 🤣
Hope you’re having a good one. And, Ariel is called the King’s Seducer for a reason. 😉