Grand Opening Celebration

Only the sound of mischievous giggles permeated the night air.

Cassandra had long since ducked beneath the underbrush of the foliage with her newfound friend. The greenette had not needed too much persuading in coming with her to explore the beauty of the Whispering Woods. It had taken some persuasion to get her to agree to her little game of hide-and-seek. What were the two hiding? A book. A leather bound novel of fairytales that Seyka was clutching quite protectively to her chest as the taller fairy kept a lookout for their pursuers. Oh, what a terrible duo they made together! It was so hard to keep her giggling under control when she could just imagine the expression on the adorable librarian’s face. The book would be safely returned once they were found, but right now they were both having too much fun to give in so early.

“I think we have lost them for now, Seyka,” Cassandra murmured as she knelt down beside the green haired faerie. Her lips were still quirked into that teasing smile that had her heart fluttering just a little.

“Are you sure this is okay? Julian is going to be awfully mad when he finds us.” That was certainly the understatement of the century! Seyka nearly shivered when she thought of how much he would yell when he found them. Then again, the sight of his ears twitching in his indignation was enough to ruin the previous image. Cassandra had to clap a hand over her mouth before she burst into more giggles.

No doubt Julian’s superior sense of smell and hearing would lead him to their hiding place soon enough. Cassandra also knew her bodyguard would be hunting through the forest for her, since it was well past when she should have gone back to her temporary home. It was rare of her to indulge in these childish whims of hers, but she did not regret it. Already she could hear Julian’s shouted words as he drew closer to their position.

“You are going to get it, Emeraldilocks! You better be wearing a helmet when I find you!”

Cassandra sniggered to herself before holding up her free hand for Seyka to see. Her first three fingers were held up as she began the silent countdown for when they should run for it. One finger went down when Julian shouted another threat, the second went down when his footsteps began to grow louder, and the third went down the moment he shoved his face through the foliage. All that he was met with was a mouthful of glitter as Cassandra and Seyka ran for it once more. Julian’s sputtered words followed after them as they kept attempted to keep themselves upright in their retreat.

The trees were a blur as Cassandra lead them forward. She had little idea where she was leading them, but Julian’s shouts were beginning to fade, which meant they were safe for the moment. She paused for a moment to catch her breath before grinning at Seyka once more. “I think we are safe for now. It should take a few moment for him to find--what is it?” Her brow furrowed at Seyka’s startled expression, and she had the sinking suspicion she knew who was standing behind her, if the greenette’s pointed stare was anything to go by.

“Having fun, my lady?” Seth inquired with a quirked brow.

Cassandra spun on her heel and looked to Seth with her most charming smile. There was no use in pretending to be apologetic when she was not. “I am having a wonderful time with Seyka, Seth. Perhaps you would like to join us?” Her question was met with a rather bemused expression that had her laughing brightly. As much as her bodyguard indulged her at times, she knew he would not take to running through the forest with her with an irate librarian chasing after them, who was growing closer the longer the three of them stood there. “Would be so kind to return this to Julian for us? I have no doubt he is eager to reclaim his book and shudder to think what he will do when he finds out Seyka had an accomplice in this.”

Seth could not help but look even more bewildered as he was passed the book by the giggling greenette before both young maidens disappeared back into the forest. All he could do was shake his head at their rather childish antics, but he was glad to see his lady was making friends here. Smiling slightly, his expression sobered when a blond haired youth stumbled to a halt beside him.

“Where did she go? I am going to give her such an earful when I get my hands on her,” Julian grumbled. Blue eyes widened when the redheaded male handed him the book to him. All the cat-eared boy could do was stare rather dazedly as the male departed without a word. He looked down at his book to make sure it had not been mishandled in this mad chase before turning and heading back to the sanctuary of the library.

“I’m banning those two forever next time I see them.”