Manleigh Cheese Part 3 #11

“What?” John asked and rushed over.

“There’s a box in the big box that is filled with tubes. Inside the box is something from the other side of the mist… the spirit world.”

By then, Logan and Donna had joined John, listening to Etty’s description. They were completely baffled.

“What’s in the box?” Donna asked, cutting straight to the point.

“I don’t know, but I’ll go look.” Etty answered and disappeared back into the metal door.

The trio tried to come up with a reason why something strange would be in the food truck while Etty was rummaging around inside. Logan went as far as to suggest that it was a fairy surveillance device. John and Donna told him he was insane.

They stepped back as Etty emerged completely from the door of their food truck. She had a perplexed expression on her face, and was holding her closed hand out in front of her.

Logan, John, and Donna stood frozen, entranced by the delicate creature before them. The beautiful girl seemed to shine, and it was almost painful, waiting for her to speak to them.

John clutched his chest, over his heart. He was so in love, and so moved that this petite goddess had chosen him, that he was in danger of fainting.

“You three look strange.” Etty commented.

“How can we act so that we please you, beautiful one?” Donna asked, heartbroken, but eager to regain Etty’s good graces. “Just tell us!”

“Yes! Tell us!” Logan begged.

“Please, my darling!” John cried, falling to his knees.

Etty stared at them with wide eyes, and realized it was the object in her hand—a silver ring that looked as though it was made from the stem of a rose, including tiny thorns—that was the cause of their strange behavior. Without a doubt, it was magical… for humans… but didn’t do a thing to her that she was aware of.

She’d been taught from childhood that magical objects respond to two things: unconscious desires, and intention. Donna, Logan, and John were acting in the most extreme interpretation of what she most craved from them: their love and acceptance. That was her unconscious desire, to be sure.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t stay that way and remain functioning individuals, and she wanted to win their love with effort, not magic.

With a deep breath, she focused her intention to release them from the power of the artifact in her hand. They just stared at her with rapt expressions.

“That didn’t work, did it?”

“Did what work, Etty, our goddess?” Donna asked, radiating obsequiousness.

“Oh my.” Etty whispered.

Maybe if she put the ring on, it would respond properly?