Well, I may not be able to post chapters as often come next week. Starting a new job, if things go well.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
Forget About Love
Somnus, still a little disconcerted about the seal seeing him and not feeling fear. But he put it out of his mind.
So he entered another RAFian dream -- this time, it was Helen's dream.
Somnus found just about fifty shades of . . . pink, in here. It was also a bit more flowery than should be allowed.
Somnus took the form of a parrot like wyvern with undulating, gaseous wings. His evil gaze met Helen's who was wearing a lavender chiton with a fuchsia headband. There was a very Hades-abducting-Persephone-to-the-Underworld vibe, that Helen apparently remained blissfully unaware of as she picked flowers, with the mental image of Parker before her.
Somnus sang suddenly, with a voice like a demonic James Earl Jones, evaporating the image of Parker and subsuming it with his own:
"Forget about that guy.
Forget about the way you feel into his eyes.
Forget about his charms.
Forget about the way he held you in his arms.
Walking on air is OBNOXIOUS,
The thrills!
The chills!
Will leave you nauseous,
And you'll never get enough.
Just forget about love!"
The spectral trails from his wings began to wrap and coil around Helen, who looked determinedly unimpressed and aloof.
"Forget about romances.
Forget the way your heart dances.
Then you feel the blush
When he's spouting saccharine mush!
Love really is revolting.
It's even worse when you're bolting.
Enough of this stuff!
Just forget about love!"
Helen closed her eyes, and sang herself, her voice beautiful and melodic.
I had almost forgotten the way that it felt
When he held out his hand for mine.
My heart all aflutter.
Somnus threathened (which was kind of hard to sound menacing with the tempo and lilt of the song):
"Did I stutter?"
Helen, naturally ignored him, still remembering things from Parker. She sang:
"The first time we kissed . . ."
Somnus sang forcifully:
"It won't be missed!
Forget about his touch!"
Helen condradicted him, as the spectral tendrils around her loosened greatly.
"I can't forget about his touch!"
Somnus realizing his hold is weakening, sang:
"In the grand scheme, it doesn't matter much."
Helen contradicted him again:
"It matters so much!"
Then both sang (with Helen making it sound like a good thing and Somnus, the reverse):
"Love is filled with compromises!"
Then Somnus tried a different tack:
"And don't you hate those big surprises?"
But Helen refused to give in, and somnus was slowly withdrawing his tendrils involuntarily.
"A cozy rendezvous . . ."
Somnus scoffed:
"Oh, please!"
But Helen persisted:
"Candlelight for two . . ."
Somnus derided:
"Aw, geez!"
Then Helen addressed Somnus:
"Look, you're callin' my bluff.
I can't --"
Somnus joined in forcifully:
"Just forget about love!"
But, by now, Somnus's tendrils had withdrew completely, and Helen was now in her Star Sapphire regalia. She had a confident smirk, and it was this that intimidated Somnus.
He fled before she could capture her. This allowed Helen to waken.
