She played a few more hands, winning a few, and then made a move towards the fae’s table. She slid into the empty seat opposite the fairy.
“What are you doing here, little girl?” the fairy said, his beautiful face crinkling with amusement. Nyssa matched his smile with one of her own. She needed to play her cards carefully. Fairies are dangerous and powerful. She had chosen this particular Fae because he was a known Seelie and often cut deals with other People. Fairies of the Seelie court were dangerous if you crossed them, but they were far less likely to cheat or slice you open just to find out what colour you are on the inside.
There is a reason most People steer clear of the Unseelie court.
“I need something you can give me,” she said, fluttering her eyes. “I’m willing to trade for it.” She reached into the front pocket of her jeans, pulling a round stone, about the size of her fingernail, from it. She placed it on the green felt table in front of her. The stone glittered green and yellow in the soft candlelight. The fae’s eyes sparked with greed when he realised what Nyssa was offering him and he snatched up the small stone, holding it up to the light to inspect it.
“Draconite,” he said, awe leaking into his voice. “Where did you get this?”
“I plucked it from the head of a dragon myself,” Nyssa said proudly. The fairy pulled his eyes away from the stone just long enough to shoot Nyssa a disbelieving look.
“Really?”
“Well, no,” she admitted, her grin not fading. “It actually cost me my X-box, a thousand pounds and an entire week a washing up duty.” Her face scrunched up in horror at the memory. Her poor hands had yet to recover from the abuse the soapy water had heaped upon them. “But it is genuine. May I have it back?”
Nyssa rose an eyebrow and the fairy reluctantly placed the draconite before her. Nyssa didn’t even glance at the stone.
“Now, now. I thought we were friends.” Nyssa held out her hand, palm up. “Friends don't try and cheat friends.” Nyssa’s voice turned dark, her smile disappearing. Her stone wiggled it’s way out from the fairy’s shirt pocket and landed with a soft thunk in her palm. The glamor over the fake stone sitting on the table faded to reveal a plain poker chip.
“You won’t be able to steal it from me,” she said, good mood restored. “You will need to trade for it.”
“And what do you want?” He crooked an eyebrow. She waved to one of the bar staff, a little imp.
“Coke please,” she said, trying to act nonchalant. Nyssa turned to the fairy. “A stone for a stone. I need healing.”
“Ahh,” the fairy nodded in understanding. “You need a charm stone. A charm stone made by me is worth more than just a draconite.”
“Not by much,” Nyssa insisted. She didn’t smile. She didn't even blink. Immediately the Seelie fae shook his head.
“I'm not interested. You will need to offer more.” Nyssa smiled, tilting her head.
“If you're not interested in a trade, how about we play for it?” His golden eyes, much bigger than a human’s, glittered at the challenge she offered. “Unless you are afraid of losing.” Her tone turned challenging. The fairy smiled, his youthful face crinkling handsomely. All fae were extremely beautiful. Nyssa wasn’t sure if that was a racial characteristic or because of their ability to glamor themselves.
“You challenge me?” he asked incredulously. “You look barely more than one hundred! I have centuries of experience on you, child.”
“Actually, I turn twenty next week.” Nyssa only grinned wider, not at all perturbed by the fae’s confidence. The fairy laughed, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.
He was delighted by the gall of this young nobody. He was hundreds of years old and infinitely more powerful than this little baby Jinn, yet here she sat, teasing him and challenging him.
“You have a deal, young friend,” the fae said. He had no problem with taking this child’s stone if she was determined to just give it to him.
He gestured to the table with a wide sweep of his hand. “We play for it. Winner takes all.” The dealer began preparing the deck.
“There is something I should tell you before we commit to this bet.” Nyssa placed her elbows on the table, propping her chin up on her palms and smiling cheekily. “I can see the future.”
The fairy threw his head back and laughed uproariously, drawing the attention of the other patrons again. Nyssa’s smile just widened.
“It’s true,” she insisted with a wink. An imp placed a tall glass of coke next her her elbow, ice tinkling delicately.
“I supposed you can also read my mind?” the fairy gaffed, thrilled by the joke.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“Something like that,” Nyssa smiled at her own joke.
“I think I will take my chances against you, girl.” The fae man gestured for the dealer to begin. “Five hands. Whoever finishes with the most chips gets the prize.”
Nyssa didn’t touch her cards. She had a terrible poker face. Instead, she trailed her finger along the edge of her glass and rubbed the condensation between her fingers. The fae’s expression didn’t change as he glanced at his cards but Nyssa could smell the confidence leaking off him.
He had a good hand.
But how good was it? She took a sip of her drink, buying a little time. The caffeine bubbled behind her eyes, sending her gift into overdrive. The fae discarded only one of his cards, collecting one in return. His anticipation washed over her, as well as his arrogant confident.
“Arent you going to look at your cards, girl?” He leaned in close. Nyssa got another overpowering waft of candied fruit.
“I’d much rather look at yours,” she said with a soft smile and slow blink. She trailed a single finger over the fairy’s sharply angled cheekbone. Just a small brush of skin but it allowed her to slip past his defences and peek into his consciousness.
Queen, queen, two, two, eight.
He had two pairs. It was a good hand. She flipped up the edge of her cards. Two kings, a seven, a three and a five. Her hand beat hers. She could bluff it out or she could take a chance and discard some of her cards.
Nyssa didn’t like leaving things to chance.
Her finger traced through the ring of condensation her glass left on the bench, leaving a line of wetness along the wood. Her eyes slipped closed as her fingers traced a damp pattern on the table.
8, 3.
The numbers dried up in a few seconds but Nyssa had what she needed. She kept her kings and her three but discarded the rest, adding a few more chips to the pot. The dealer dealt her two replacements. An eight and a three. Nyssa and the fairy both had two pairs, but Nyssa’s kings beat the fae’s queens.
Nyssa’s smile was smug when they revealed their cards. There was a collective intake of breath from the growing group of spectators. The fairy’s expression remained impassive except for a slight narrowing of his eyes. From then on, the fairy played with more caution, not that it did him much good. He lost two more hands. When his hand was unbeatable, Nyssa made sure to keep her bets small. She didn’t bother trying to call his bluff.
In the end, the ancient wisdom of the fae was no match for Nyssa’s gift.
“Pay up, old man.” Nyssa gave him a tight smile. The longer she stayed, the more chance she would get caught. As soon as the thought occurred to her, things started to go wrong. Gnomes slipped away from their posts along the outer wall and headed towards the entrance. The fairy and the other guest didn’t notice but Nyssa eyed the door with growing apprehension.
The fairy gestured to a guard who disappeared into another room briefly.
“You are utterly delightful, little girl,” the fae’s laugh was low and throaty and distinctly threatening. As he talked, the gnome returned and placed a small stone in his master’s palm. “Not many People have your audacity, it is refreshing.” He leaned forward, his eyes turning from their usual amber to an angry red. “Cross me again, girl, and I will gut you and hang your entrails-”
“I’d love to stay and chat but I have places to be,” Nyssa cut him off. With a quick swipe, she scooped the charm stone out of the fairy’s outstretched hand. “Keep the change.” She left the chips where they were and fluttering her fingers in farewell, she started towards the exit. She appeared to show no interest in the growing commotion by the door.
“Stop that girl!” a gnome yelled. She didn’t stop to see who he was pointing at. Immediately she started running, ducking under a waiter’s tray and skirting around a group of imps who were staring at her, confused. A guard blocked the exit, his arms spread wide as if to stop her running around him. She didn’t slow down, choosing instead to launch herself over the tiny gnome. By some miracle, she managed to keep her feet on the landing. She burst through the exit door and almost ran into a tall, olive-skinned stranger. For a second, Nyssa and the confused man just stared at each other.
“Akiba?” Nyssa asked. This was the man Nyssa had been impersonating. He only blinked as if he couldn’t believe she knew his name. “You're up by £4,000.” She offered him a sheepish grin and a shrug. A shout from behind her spurred into movement. She ducked under the arm Akiba threw out to stop her and ran full speed towards the cool air, the charm stone clutched in her sweaty fist.
The guards tried to give chase, they really did. But Nyssa had planned her escape well. By the time they had rounded the corner it was if she had disappeared into thin air. Only her mocking laugh remained.