Like Lightning in the Night Part 2

-Gray-

As soon as we entered the tree castle, I dried myself off with a quick spell, adjusting my clothes afterwards to double check.

Fulgora shook herself like a wet dog, and got me drenched again. She gave me a cheeky grin, before moving off.

For as loud and bright as Fulgora could be, she was surprisingly good at biding her time for the perfect moment. We hid in the shadows, waiting for guards to pass by, before moving. Not even a whisper was shared between us, unless you considered our grumbling stomachs.

Fulgora could have just ordered some treats delivered to her room, but where was the fun in that?

“Oh sweet! A thunder apple pie!” The kitchen was dark and unstaffed at the moment, giving us free reign to snatch up whatever. Fulgora picked up what I initially thought was some kind of blueberry pie, but no, it was an apple pie with a lattice covering, and bright blue filling.

Without waiting a moment, she dug her hand into the dish, ripping out a chunk of the unsliced pie, and shoved it in her mouth. Then she did it again before even finishing what was in her mouth, silently offering her hand to me.

I took the sticky pie out of her hand, and shoved it in my mouth before my body could convulse from the electrifying taste of the pie, like a sour taste taken to 11. “It’s good…” I mumbled out, but declined another slice in favor of something new. Fulgora took the opportunity to shove her full face in the pie, like she was a dog.

I ignored the fruits I found, and kept searching.

Breads, cheeses, salted meats, all were probably delicious, but the real treat was along the far wall.

“Cinnamon rolls!” I’ll admit, I nearly screamed at the sight, a batch of cinnamon rolls, covered in delicious cream cheese. Without a second thought, I began stuffing the beloved treat in my mouth.

When Fulgora reached over to try and snatch one, I slapped her hand away, and growled at her, though my mouth was too full to be actually intimidating. “Okay, okay, you can have it. I already finished off the pumpkin bread anyways.”

I ate every single one of those cinnamon rolls in one sitting. I didn’t care if I was full afterwards. “Urp… oh boy, I needed that…”

“You like cinnamon?”

“Love it. I looked for some back in Aureaton, but I wasn’t sure if it existed here.” I cleaned myself up with a flick of the hand, and then snatched some cheese, salted meat, and bread. “Anyways, a patrol is coming soon, we should retreat.”

Her ears twitched around like radar dishes, picking up the sounds of footsteps approaching before she could even ask me how I knew.

“Hang on, let me grab something too!” She quickly rummaged through the cabinets, wasting time.

“I guess I should work off this load of food while I can.” I dropped my stuff on the kitchen counter, and a purple mist appeared in my hand. With a wave, the mist spread, creating an illusion of an empty kitchen and silencing our movement.

It was only a field, maybe more like a small bubble, around us, but it’ll do for now. Just to buy us enough time. “Go go go!” I grabbed the food and began pushing Fulgora forward with my shoulder.

We were already escaping up the nearest stairs when the spell ended, and the guard yelled.

“They’re gonna know it was you.” I whispered, yanking her back from barreling into a hallway where another guard was patrolling.

She had a half of a raw chicken in her mouth, though it was largely hanging out, looking like a dog that just stole dinner from the counter. She tried saying something, but it was muffled. Her ears were twitching and swiveling.

Yet, even still, she lifted up her arms, full of other meats, and stuck one finger out. A tiny zap of lightning zipped at the nearest rod in the hallway, drawing the guard’s attention for a moment.

She was about to seize the opportunity to sneak past him, but I fired a quick bolt of electricity at a rod further down the hallway opposite the first rod.

Thinking that someone was running down the hall, the guard yelled out ‘Stop there!’ and ran off after the shadows he was chasing.

Giving us the chance to escape to her room, located only a few doors down from where I was staying. There was no lock on the door, so we shoved the pieces of the broken table from earlier in the way to block it.

Then we dropped the food onto the pile of furs that serve as her bed, and dug in. Perhaps not the most sanitary, but I didn’t really care.

“So-” I spoke as I stuffed my cheeks like a squirrel. The salted pork was fantastic, and made me crave some bacon. “How exactly do you get punished for stealing from the kitchen?”

Fulgora just tossed the gnawed bones of the chicken off somewhere else, and licked the bloody juices from her fingers. “Eh, they can’t really punish me, being the crown princess, of course.” She said in a mocking tone. I got the feeling she’d rather be punished than just given a slap on the wrist. “The old man will probably force me to take another decorum lesson.” She stuck her tongue out. “Like I need to know how to curtsy properly! This family doesn’t wear dresses!”

“Uh-”

“Yeah, yeah, except for the queen, but she’s just a regular human.” She snatched a clawful of cheese out of the cheese wheel I was holding. “You know, they have this whole song and dance about what utensils you use? And the old man is always on my case about how much I eat, but he eats even more!”

“Ugh, sounds exhausting. Hopefully I won’t have to learn what spoon to use first, if I do become a knight.” I literally had no idea what the duties of the princess’ personal knights were.

“Why did you even want to join her? She’s nothing but a workaholic, y’know?”

I shrugged. “She asked for my help. I wasn’t going to refuse. Carpe diem, seize the day, and all that.”

“Well that, and she’s cute.”

“Yes, that too.”

Fulgora cackled. “You’re fearless, you know that? Never met a man who says exactly what’s on his mind before.”

“Not even the king? He looks like he only ever says what’s on his mind?”

She shook her head. “Nah, everyone is always walking on glass around me. Treating me like I’m above everything. Even the old man wouldn’t give me a real tongue lashing, in fear of pissing off my dadd-” She coughed. “-my dad.” She jabbed her finger into my chest. “But you’re the type of guy who doesn’t care about that, huh? Says exactly what’s on his mind.”

“If you say so.”

She grinned, and her finger turned into a full palm pushing me down on her bed as she sat next to me, looking down with a grin that seemed to glow in the dark of the room. “Why don’t you become my knight, instead? I guarantee it’ll be more fun than with Goldie.”

“I’ll keep your offer in mind, but my dream is one worth chasing, no matter how hard the road becomes.”

“And, what exactly is your dream?” She whispered in my ear, causing me to furrow my brow.

“Have the most fun I can, while I still can.” I sat up, grabbed a sausage, and began cooking it over a flame in my hand.

Whatever expression Fulgora was making behind me, I didn’t see it. “C’mon… if you’re looking to have fun, then who’s better to spend your time with than me?” Her eyes reflected the light of my flame in the dark room as she leaned in close, nose twitching.

I shook my head. “Nah. There’s a specific future I’m striving for, and this is the best path towards it.”

“Fine. But don’t think I won’t snatch you up the moment you realize Goldie doesn’t see your true worth. I’d hate for my new bestie to live a droll and boring life.” Her pupils changed size for a moment as she was looking at my sausage. Her tail was wagging faster.

A moment later, I pressed my hand against her face, pushing her back as hard as I could while I tried to gobble up the sausage. But, being a demigod, her strength was greater, pushing back against my hand with ease and grabbing my shirt with one hand, my jaw with the other, forcing my mouth shut before I could take a bite.

“What’s the deal with your magic, anyways?!” She asked as we grappled for the sausage, my hand slipping from her face as she used her left hand to pull my sausage-totting hand closer. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Lots.” I growled out, kicking her in the chest to clear some distance, even if it did get her to let out a surprised whine. I’ve pretty much used every spell I have since I’ve arrived. Except for my strongest spell. “Mainly elemental stuff, some healing and status spells, and a handful of illusions and parlor tricks.”

Fulgora pounced at me, jaws inches away from the sausage when I ended up falling off the bed as I tried to roll backwards, leading her to tumble head-first into a dresser with a loud ‘thwack!’ “Pretty talented, huh? But what good is power without strength to back it up!”

As I tried to stand, she tripped me with her tail, sending me falling to my back. Her claws dug into my thigh as she began to pull herself towards the sausage in my hand.

Despite how ridiculous this scenario was, or perhaps 'due to?' Either way, we both had big grins on our faces as we childishly struggled for the sausage. She opened her jaw, and tried to snatch the sausage, but I grabbed one of the earlier chicken bones, and shoved it in her mouth instead.

She struggled for a moment, but her jaw won out, crushing the bone into powder, before looking at me with a feral grin. “Face it, Gray. You’re going to lose. I’m just better.”

“Of course you are.” I snorted. “But I like keeping a few aces up my sleeve. Magic isn’t my only trick. But it’s the only trick you’ll see tonight.” My own grin shined in the night, my own silvery eyes shining brighter in the pitch black room than hers were.

There was a candle earlier, but I had snuffed it out with a quick wind spell, leaving us in total darkness. One might think that trying to compete with a wolf in a dark room while you were holding delicious-smelling meat, was a fool’s task.

Instead, I shoved my right hand, covered in hot sausage juices, right in her mouth as she snapped at the sausage, having already tossed it up in the air. She took a bite of my hand, only then realizing she bit me, but it was too late.

I held my mouth open as I perfectly caught the sausage, giving it only a few chews before swallowing. And then finishing with the most cheshire grin I could give the wolf-girl as her sheepish look changed to one of shock and minor outrage.

“Y-you! How could you!” She cried out, climbing off of me. “That was low, and sneaky, and…” She was shaking, before falling on her back, laughing. “The dirtiest trick I’ve ever seen! I’ve got to try that at some point! Maybe I can electrocute someone the moment they bite me!”

“Well, glad I could entertain.” I healed my hand, and relit the candle in the room.

The food was mostly gone at this point. Only a few scraps that I was sure Fulgora would take care of herself. The tussle was good for my stomach, the magic helping digest the amount I ate.

Fulgora was wiping the blood off her lips with her arm, never really losing her grin. “Last time I bit someone, it was Thor, who screamed for his ‘daddy’ when I did so, and called me a ‘savage mutt.’”

“You are a savage mutt.” I snorted.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to hear it from some pampered brat who never worked a day in his life! Before I was a princess, I was helping my mom on the farm!” Fulgora walked over to the dresser, and pulled out a rolled up painting. She unfurled it in front of me, showing a beautiful painting of a young Fulgora, with long hair blowing in the wind, and an older wolf-girl with short-cropped black hair.

“You lived on a farm?”

“Yeah, just me and my momma.” She said wistfully. “Dad would visit every few days, bringing gifts, or teaching me how to fight. He was the one who painted this, you know?”

“I heard you were just entering adolescence when you were brought to the castle?”

“Mhm. Dad wanted me to have a proper childhood first. He’s always looked out for me.” There was… an unusual smile on her face, one for good memories?

“What about how the royals treat you? What does he think of that?”

Her good mood faded. “He understands why they act like that, but he won’t act unless ‘they throw the first punch.’ And I swear, they’re all brats.”

I snorted. “Ironic, considering what they’d say about you.”

She put her hand on her hip and scoffed. “Yeah, well there’s a difference between telling someone off in their face, and telling someone off indirectly, like a coward.” She rolled back up the painting, and tucked it careful back in the dresser, before opening another shelf to pull out a long red scarf.

“The first few days I arrived, scared and overwhelmed, the old man actually gave me this?! Can you believe it?”

I gently took the scarf, feeling the durable and warm material. “What’s the problem?”

She scoffed again and gestured to her torn outfit. “Look at how I dress. Do you think I dress like this because it looks cool? I’m the daughter of the god of thunder. Rain, storms, cold water, all of them feel like bliss on my skin. I tore it up because it would have been too hot and stuffy otherwise.

She crossed her arms, and turned towards the door. “But the royals here, their divine blood is so thin they can barely stand the cold. Did you know the old man popularized wearing scarves and whatever, just to hide the fact that he needs a scarf to keep warm? He pretends it’s a fashion statement, but he can’t hide it from me. He gave me a scarf, and nearly demanded I wear it, just to make himself feel better.”

All of a sudden, she turned on her heel, grabbing the scarf, and looping it around my neck, pulling tight enough I almost started choking. “Besides, red isn’t my thing. You could use a splash of color though.”

She fiddled with it for another minute, brows furrowed. I had to reach a hand up to try and clear my throat somewhat. “Can’t… breathe…”

Fulgora’s eyes widened, and she quickly unraveled her work. “Sorry, never used a scarf before.”

“Neither have I…” I looped the scarf around my neck once or twice, trying to figure out how people wear these. “How do I look?”

“I don’t know.” She frowned with a shrug.

Rolling my eyes, I turned to the dusty mirror on the vanity, wiping it off to see the deep red scarf around my neck. It definitely stood out with my eyes, and made my hair color pop. “I kind of like it. If I can figure out that heroic wind thing the princess does, I bet I can get it to blow on the wind like a hero.”

Fulgora smiled brightly at that, perhaps the most honest and good natured smile I’ve seen on her yet. “Great! It’s all yours!” She gave me a thumbs up.

I returned it with a grin and a thumbs up of my own, before my smile became mischievous. “So…” I leaned in, closer to her ear.

Sensing some fun, she leaned in, ear twitching.

“Wanna prank the king while he’s asleep?”

Her grin mirrored mine.

But who would have guessed what secrets I would have uncovered in his room?