STORIES
185-How Wicked
Syrrah Vanni
In Syrrah and Vanni's sitting room ...
SYRRAH:
calling from the other room
… Husband?
VANNI:
In here.
SYRRAH:
… So beloved, tell me what do you think of Trey.
VANNI:
I wouldn't say I dislike him.
SYRRAH:
That is an odd way to state your opinion. I hope it does
not upset you that he and I met before.
VANNI:
Not necessarily. Why wouldn't he visit the Celestial Temple? It
seems like everyone did. I thought a temple was a place of solitude,
a quiet place to meditate and center one's self. Your temple
is more like Grand Central Terminal during rush hour.
SYRRAH:
Ah, I see you are upset. You do realize that when he visited, he
was visiting the Daughters of IlluminatA and not me specifically.
VANNI:
Of course, and I'm sure he was there to partake in
that fertility-ritual-orgy-festival of yours too …
SYRRAH:
The Festival of the Flower Goddess is not an orgy. Well,
perhaps it is? Either way, I do not recall Trey participating
in it. There were so many visitors during that time, for
all I know you could have been one of them.
VANNI:
Maybe I was.
SYRRAH:
You were not, for I would have remembered you.
You are most unforgettable, GioVanni.
VANNI:
But wife, I was there, not during your Festival although had I
known about it I would've attended to seek you out.
SYRRAH:
Did you visit the Temple before you met me?
VANNI:
I was close by and I saw you.
SYRRAH:
How is it that I do not remember this?
VANNI:
It was a long time ago, I had just discovered my father's time
travel device. He was unwilling to tell me how to use it.
He said I was too young. I used it anyway.
SYRRAH:
Husband you surprise me. You disobeyed your father.
How wicked of you!
VANNI:
I was a teenager at the time.
SYRRAH:
Ah, that explains much. Do go on.
VANNI:
I set the device and the next thing I knew, I was in the Elvin realm
- only I didn't know it It wasn't until I stumbled upon a little girl
with pointy ears that I realized I was no longer in my world.
SYRRAH:
Did you introduce yourself to her?
VANNI:
Uh, I couldn't.
SYRRAH:
Did you think you might scare her?
VANNI:
In a way, you see I arrived naked, as all time travelers do.
SYRRAH:
I had forgotten. You know husband, that is most inconvenient.
Perhaps you should try to remedy that?
VANNI:
If only I could. Let me tell you about this little girl.
She looked to be about ten, and had two long braids that hung down past her knees. She was wearing gray robes that she didn't like. I knew this because she was standing in a small clearing screaming into the forest about how much she hated this unflattering color.
SYRRAH:
I remember that day. I had just arrived to began my training. The Priestesses told me I was no longer at court, and would be treated
like everyone else – as was rightfully so. They made me give up my beautiful gowns and put on those awful gray robes. I was furious.
I felt I had but two choices - to fight them or run away.
SYRRAH:
… Since they were many,and I was one - into the forest I ran.
VANNI:
Where you proceeded to have a tantrum.
SYRRAH:
It was not one of my best days, but I was accustomed to having
my way. I cannot believe you witnessed this without my knowledge.
Wait - I did see you ... no, I felt your presence.
VANNI:
You sure did. You looked right at me, at least it felt like you did.
SYRRAH:
You were hidden in the foliage, were you not?
You tried to scare me!
VANNI:
You were getting too close so I roared like an animal hoping you'd
run off - but no, you seemed to welcome this unknown danger.
SYRRAH:
Of course I did, it took my mind off those horrible gray robes.
VANNI:
They didn't look that bad to me.
SYRRAH:
I should think not, since you were without clothing.
SYRRAH:
… How did you know it was me?
VANNI:
You told me, in a very authoritative voice. You said …
VANNI:
'I can sense your presence, and as a Priestess of the
Daughters of IlluminatA you cannot deny me. You see before you
Princess Syrrastanthalah from the House of the Third Moon.
By order of the One, I command you - show yourself or be
prepared to suffer the consequences.'
SYRRAH:
Hahaha your memory is excellent husband. That does sound
like me, although I was not yet a priestess-in-training.
VANNI:
Well - you scared me to death. I thought I was going to be struck
by lightening or something. I still have nightmares about it.
SYRRAH:
My poor GioVanni, and yet, you still did not show yourself.
VANNI:
I remembered the time travel device and just hit it,
anything to get away from you and your consequences.
SYRRAH:
Yes, the flash of light. I remember. So you arrived safely home?
VANNI:
Yes and no.
SYRRAH:
Explain.
