Double Take by A.J. Cole (literature books to read TXT) 📕

“Uh, Rissa?”

“Oh, God! Instead of pepper spray, I should start carrying around a spray bottle of herbicide!” She nearly choked on the last word and doubled over, her laughter going silent.

“That… okay. Er, while you’re doing that, I’ll finish my explanation, shall I?”

She waved a hand at him, nodding, trying to breathe.

“Right! So, in their natural state, Leshies have beards made of actual grass and vines, which is why you’ll never see one in that form.” He fell silent.

Gasping and straightening, Arissa looked at him, one hand over her mouth, the other on her stomach, her eyes watering. A second later, she got herself under control. “Sorry.” Her grin refused to leave, so she stopped fighting it. “Please continue.”

Making a clicking sound that writers spelled “tsk,” he shook his head. “Ah, my sweet girl. Anyway, they’ve been depicted with a tail, hooves, and horns, but I’ve never seen one that looked like that. I think it was just some painter taking artistic license with the concept of the Leshy, and others copied his idea. You know, I’m surprised you were never told about them.”

“Why?”

“For one thing, they’re closely associated with bears and gray wolves.”

“Hence the claws?”

“Hence the claws. Anyhow, in all forms that aren’t covered in fur, they have pale, almost pure white skin and dark green eyes.”

“Really? Wills didn’t look like that.”

“Tanning booths.”

She thought about that for a moment and nodded. “Guess the modern world really does help them function in society.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. I mean, yes, they’ve figured out ways to fit in better, but as far as how they function, I’m afraid they’re all more nefarious than benevolent. I’m not sure ‘function in society’ is an accurate description.”

Leaning an elbow on the bar, fascinated by all this new info, Arissa put a cheek on her upraised hand. “What do they do, then, other than hire themselves out as hit-men?”

“That’s pretty much it. But in their spare time, they do like to make people sick using natural magic. Back in god-knows-when age, one of their methods was to tickle their victims to death.”

She nodded. “Sounds funny until you remember that being tickled for too long becomes painful. That’s a horrible way to go… the bastards!”

“That they are. And if you get them angrier than usual, they let out this awful yell. Of course, they aren’t always evil, and some of their mischief is no worse than the average human practical joke. They do, however kidnap young women from time to time, but the ones who get away often speak of the experience as, um, yes. Well, they imply that they’d love to get kidnapped again. Something to do with all that shapeshifting nonsense.”

“Finn! You’re blushing!”

“No I’m… shut up.”

Finding him irresistible for reasons that had nothing to do with Fae magic, she slid off the stool, took his face in her hands, and kissed him.

Text: Copyright 2012, Judy Colella. No part of this work nor its entirety may be copied or used without express written permission by the author. All U.S. copyright laws apply.
Publication Date: 03-28-2012

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