“No. I don’t want to,” Vora groaned in a sleepy stupor. She repositioned herself in her fluffy bed. “I’ll go tomorrow.”

“That’s not how birthdays work,” Darcie pointlessly answered. She uncrossed her arms, then while flipping over Vora’s mattress, she declared, “Rise and shine, Vora Snihde.”

“Ah!” Vora squirmed before pushing her mattress off her. “Darcie. Crap. Am I late?”

“Thanks to me, no.” Darcie walked over to Vora’s closet and hucked random clothing at Vora, who caught it in her arms like a clothesline. “Get dressed. Mom’s a waitin’.”

Vora frowned at what Darcie had chosen: a work shirt, sweatpants, cleaning gloves, and blue bunny socks she wore as a kid and has since outgrown.

“I’m not wearing any of this.” Vora’s expression was nearly-puking.

***

Vora and Darcie were dropped off at the front gate of the Orna estate after sitting in a cramped car with three of Darcie’s brothers and her mother. Before leaving, Darcie promised to bring back some cake. The brothers were excited about potential future sweets.

The pair rang the bell at the front gates, and a servant let them in. The estate was littered with hundreds of people laughing, drinking wine, eating finger foods with toothpicks, and other high-class activities that Vora found loud to many senses. She knew they only wanted to kiss up to the Orna family through the formerly only daughter, Maive. Her mother had recently popped out a baby boy, and he had absorbed all the attention until today.

Darcie and Vora made it their mission to bail out Maive from a social situation she was inevitably in. They snooped and scouted for their blue-haired friend amongst the elite and the religiously devout. They saw a thick, snooty crowd in the hedge garden and knew she had to be in the center of it. All the girls needed to discuss and finalize a plan of rescue was an exchange of glances between brown and orange.

***

Following some half-heart laughter, a tall man said, “You’re undoubtedly funny, Ms. Maive.”

“I’m really not,” corrected Maive. But nobody listened. She was wearing a fabulous, long yellow dress and a big blue bow in her hair. “I’m the least funny of my friends.”

“And what families are your friends from?” the tall man asked. “Someone from Upper O’Landra? Or perhaps a different city like Jewel Falls?”

“Snihde and Krow.”

“Krow? As in the farmers Krow?” After Maive nodded, the man hid his disgust and gave a mock smile. “I suppose it’s good to be friends with some common folk. The Burning Bell loves everyone, in the end.”

“Maive,” started a husky woman with a large pink hat. “I think it would be proper if you met my son. He’s a handsome and smart young man.”

“I wouldn’t mind meeting him, but if you intend anything beyond that, I’ll have to decline. I only like girls.”

“I see. Darn, shame I do not have a daughter.”

“With respect, Ma’am, I have someone I like already. Sorry.”

“I see. I miss my youth when I was as pretty as you.” She snorted and drew from her long pipe.

“I request your attention to the pretty girl on the fountain,” came a voice over a speaker playing violin music being broadcasted live from the hall in the estate. “A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gaze upon true beauty.”

Maive, and everyone else, looked at the pretty, young girl atop one of the center fountain’s bell statues, posing cutely with a microphone in her hand. Suddenly, a palm pressed against Maive’s lips, and she was yanked into the hedges behind her.

“You’re all very welcome. Enjoy the party,” Vora rattled quickly. She tossed the microphone aside and nearly fell face-first getting off the fountain.

***

“I should at least say goodbye to everyone once the party is officially over,” Maive said after having a shared giggle with her friends. “That’s what my mother would want.”

“Maive, you must put your foot down and stand up for yourself.” Vora opened a lion head candy and popped it in Maive’s open mouth when she tried to rebuttal. “Be brave, and strong, and graceful like big sister Vora.”

“But we’re both older than you,” Maive replied with confusion. She shifted the lemon and mint candy to her cheek.

“Yer not graceful. Don’t go foolin’ yerself,” Darcie sneered while they entered the seldom-used guesthouse—their hideout. “Ms. Perfect, call Albeit for us.”

Vora grunted. A voice chilled her movements before she could reach for the estate-line candlestick phone.

“Unnecessary, Ms. Snihde. I’ve prepared everything you need. Properly and cleanly.”

A tall, well-groomed, well-aged man entered with silver platters stacked in both hands. Albeit’s wrinkled face had a trimmed gray mustache and a long goatee. He wore a black waistcoat, striped pants, a red bowtie always askew, and polished black shoes casually.

Following closely behind him was a Chime in a fluffy red maid uniform. She had orange and yellow hair in a chin-length bob and a blue band in said hair. Some Chimes were not given names upon creation, so humans gave them names based on their attributes. This one was named Flash for her ability to zip around silently. Vora figured she was mute because she never heard her speak from her always-neutral lips.

As Albeit organized the food trays in the kitchen, he requested, “Please take off your shoes, girls.” They did this before he finished his sentence. “You need not worry, Ms. Maive, about the guests. They’re not here for you. They’re just doing—put that down, Ms. Vora. I do not wish for another smashed pot,” Albeit said without looking up from his task. “They hardly noticed you’ve left. Your mother and baby brother have taken your place. It’s become much quieter for it.”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Sebastian is a cuteness magnet,” Maive gushed with her friends. “Thank you, Flash,” she said as Flash handed her, and her friends, tea.

Albeit removed the lids from the trays to reveal a smorgasbord of meals and desserts. Hot soup, cool fruits, and freezing ice cream.

“You’ve gone overboard, again, Albeit. Thank you,” Maive said in awe.

Having just realized how much he’d made, Albeit rubbed his chin in bewilderment and exclaimed, “Indeed I have. We’re going to need more napkins. Flash, get more napkins if you’d be so kind.” Flash nodded and was replaced by air.

“I swear she gets faster every time. Wish I could be that fast,” Vora stated while increasing the weight of her plate.

“She certainly is,” Maive smiled.

“She’s been like that—” Albeit smacked Darcie’s hand away before she reached over boiling soup for a roll. “Mind yourself, Ms. Darcie. I’d rather not have to treat your burns. She’s been like that since I’ve known her.”

“How long has she been ‘ere?” Darcie asked curiously, shoving a roll into her mouth and carrying it with her teeth to the dining table.

“Long before Ms. Maive was born. But I’ve known Flash before I served under the Ornas. She grew up around me a thousand years ago when I was a child.” No one laughed at his bland joke except for Vora, who found his vanilla comedy hilarious. “She’s been following me since I was a kiddling. Watching over me as Chimes do over humans.”

“Maybe she loves you.” Vora mock swooned. “ A forbidden love between a Chime and a human.”

Flash reappeared with everyone staring at her. Her gold eyes bounced around, and she ever so slightly furrowed her brows in confusion. After fanning the napkins on the table, she disappeared again.

“You’ve been watching too many romance motion pictures, Ms. Vora,” Albeit said cooly. “There are different types of love.”

After finishing her tea, Maive cleared gunk from her throat and replied, “I think you’d make a lovely couple.”

The girls laughed while Albeit scurried out the door wordlessly.

***

As the twilight bloomed and cooled the earth, the girls quietly watched the MP, stomachs aching from the party they’d just had. Maive requested that her friends stay the night. They agreed and had Albeit convince their parents since it was a school day tomorrow.

“I think it would be fun to be a spy,” Maive stated as she sat beside Darcie with a bowl of banana ice cream. “They are powerful and skilled but still appear proper and polite.”

“But, do you have what it takes to kill a man?” Vora asked with a grin.

“Doubtful… But I can pretend,” Maive smiled.

“Bet I could do it. Don’t sound too hard.” Darcie shoved a spoon into strawberry frozen yogurt and shoved a wad in her mouth. “I’ve killed a coyote with my bare hands once.”

“You’re amazing, Darcie,” Maive praised with a blush.

“She did not,” Vora dismissed. “Don’t believe her.”

“I wouldn’t lie ‘bout that,” Darcie grumbled. She caught a candy that Vora had thrown her way. “Where do ya even put these things?”

“Secret secret,” Vora replied with a pointer pressed against her lips.

There was a knock, then the front door opened without reply. Albeit and Flash carried piles of neatly folded clothing in their arms and handed them out to the girls one by one.

“Sleepwear, morning wear, and school uniforms,” Albeit listed. “All measurements should be pinpoint accurate.”

“What do you mean by that?” Vora asked, confused. Then she looked closer. “These are not my clothes. I hope you didn’t waste money on us.”

“No, Ms. Snihde,” Albeit answered through his gray facial hair. “Flash and I made them ourselves. She’s very good with the thread and needle, and I took seventeen years of embroidery.”

As Vora giggled, Flash gave a small curtsy, her face consistently unchanging.

“An’ just how did you get our measurements, hmmm?” Darcie stared suspiciously at Albeit but with no real accusatory intent.

“Many years of being a butler, Ms. Darcie.”

Vora laughed again. “Albeit, wouldn’t it be easier to send people to pick up clothing from our houses rather than make new ones?”

“Anyways, girl,” Albeit stated, backing away and ignoring the question. “I bid you goodnight.”

The geriatric butler vanished out the door. For once, Flash had been left in the dust. She gave another curtsy and followed after. The door shimmered gold, then closed and locked.

“Albeit is hilarious,” Vora said.

“He is?” the other two asked while exchanging expressions.

“Certainly. Next time we should celebrate your birthday at my place. This atmosphere is… overbearing, to speak the minimum.”

“Oh my. Have I disappointed you with something? I can always have Albeit get you whatever you need. I can get you some money if you wish. I’m sorry.”

Now this time, Darcie and Vora exchanged glances. “We don’t give nothin’ about your money. We never did. Now stop being so self-conscious. Yer fourteen now, just like me.” Darcie raised her brows at Vora twice.

“Fine. Rub it in. Do you still have that box from when we were nine?” Vora asked suddenly.

“I do. I keep it in my room,” Maive replied.

“Enough stalling. We’ve gone into night and still haven’t given Maive ‘er presents.”

“I’ll go first,” Vora insisted. She fixed her hair and opened up her purse. “I’ve purchased it with my hard work at the flower shop. It’s extra special and will be far better than Darcie’s.”

Darcie simply replied, “Doubt.”

Maive was handed a box with pretty colors of blue and purple but sloppily wrapped. She opened it up and revealed a silver brooch engraved with a dog.

“I was reminded the other day that you had that brooch when were first met. I believe you lost it.”

“I did lose it. It’s adorable. Thank you, Vora.”

“Always welcome.”

“I don’t even ‘member that day,” Darcie said, puzzled while handing out her present.”

“You punched her in the face.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s how me an’ Vora became friends, too. I learned it from my brothers.”

“She hit me good,” Vora confirmed.

Maive opened Darcie’s present. Inside was a greasy brass wrench with a name engraved on it. The blue-haired girl’s mouth turned into a sharp U.

“I’ve lost, then,” Vora sighed.

“It’s so wonderful. Your gift is wonderful, too, Vora.”

“I got that wrench from the best mechanic in the O’Landra area.”

“I’ll hang it on the wall once I open a shop of my own.”

“Does your family know you want to work on HCs rather than sell them?”

“I’d rather not tell them until it’s too late. Getting down and dirty, surrounded by metal, grease, and noise, nothing is better.

“Great to have a passion.”

“What’s yours, Darcie,” Vora asked. “You’re so busy with the farm, but you’ve never mentioned what you want to do.”

“Well, uh. It’s dumb.” After soul-burning stares, Darcie caved and answered, “I want to… paint. I like painting.” Vora began to laugh wildly. “Shut up.” Darcie tossed a pillow, and it collided with Vora’s mug.

“I’m just laughing because it’s the opposite of anything I imagined. You’re rough and tough and all about getting it done.”

“Darcie can be gentle sometimes….” The other girls didn’t see it, but Maive blushed and rubbed her fingertips together.

“I’ll buy a painting from you and hang it on my wall.”

“Ah. Yeah.” Darcie scratched the back of her head and looked away. “Thanks, V. I’m not that good yet.”

“Naturally, you will be. My wonderfulness has to have rubbed off on you.”

“And what do you want to do, Ms. Wonderful?”

“I would love to hear it, as well,” Maive added, fixing up some plates they placed on the coffee table near the couch.

After dramatic pause, Vora replied, “Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nothing at all. Simple life. Simple job. Simple relationship. Simple family.”

“Now that doesn’t sound like you,” Darcie replied, perplexed. “I’d think you’d want to be an actress, model, or something. Loud an’ proud.”

Vora shook her head. “While I thrive in the attention I deserve now, I want to be the beautiful but modest woman in the community when I'm older.” I’m going to work hard for it. I’ll control my Eoa and live normally.

“I believe you lack restraint for that,” Maive said clearly. She and Darcie laughed.

“Silence. I can do it, fools,” Vora sneered.

Shortly after, the girls passed out, and the MP remained on, playing romcoms as they slept.