Chương 12: XII. Melissa Bellamine

She had a clock. That meant there were gears inside that rotated and clicked. At a [Tailor's Shop]. In Oakheart. The rhythmic click, click, click of the second hand moving around the face was slightly louder than the click of her spinning wheel turning yarn and wool into usable fabric. I don't really know if Yarn becomes linen or wool does, but frankly, I did not care. The room smelled stale. Bleached linen and clothes hung on all portions, and even mannequins were propped off showing the latest designs.

I wanted them to look bad and ugly, but she was Mrs. Bellamine's daughter. There was this one particular black dress, embossed with gold and sparkly rocks. The gold weave looked like stalks of wheats that went up towards the bosom, and the entire centrepiece caught the light and sparkled. The skirt came scandalously down to just above the ankles, and the armlets were made of lace. The neck-cut had the same lace emboss, looking like a spiderweb weave. It even had matching black boots!

"That's 15 gold, Ashley," Melissa said. She returned her head to the spinning wheel, and her perfect blonde locks flowed with her. Even now, her voice was annoying. So soft and melodic that made the other kids want to hang onto every word. Her hair was sleek and shiny, and tied in a perfect ponytail with a black scrunchie. Her face was clear and washed, and the light contours of makeup popped her blue eyes. Her plush lips were always so big, which was apparently a thing everyone loved when she was pouting.

At least I dwarfed her; though, I think that was a bad thing. She was much smaller than me, and probably only a hair taller than Addy was. The dress she wore showed off her curvy figure, and it was as sky-blue as her eyes.

"I'll buy it." The wheel spun still, and Melissa kept working on the pedal. The clicking of fabric being pulled together filled the room, until the segment she was working on was completed.

"Aye? I don' take deferrals, even if everyone is saying yer Elora herself. Ya aren't getting special treatment just 'cuz yer back," she said, removing the thread from the wheel and attaching a different color.

"I have the money," I said, pulling out my satchel and taking out the 15 coins. I walked beside her spinning wheel.. Or was it a loom? I honestly didn't know, and I refused to learn the difference. I put three stacks of five coins beside her, and she fluttered her silly eyelashes over quickly.

"Did Addy give ya that?"

"It's Adria–""It ain'. And it's Lord Skye to ya, carrothead," Melissa said, and clicked her tongue.

"At least ya finally showed up. Take the dress whenever, if it doesn't fit, I'll [Resize] it for ya. Now, get up and spread yer arms."

"What?" I responded, but Melissa was already up. She slapped my arms till they were both straight across and then pulled out measuring tape. She wrapped it around my waist and then tightened.

"Elora's Laces, yar stupidly thin. Bless your heart, ya know how to make gruel, right?"

"Money's been tigh–""Ya jus' put 15 gold on my table for a dress. Not even work clothes. And I know you'se pantry is filled," she said.

"Purple, red, or orange?"

"Red," I said and then turned my body. Melissa grabbed my arms and forced them to remain straight.

"Red's not too bad, glad you didn't say purple. Purple silk is expensive. Prefer a shawl or small cape?"

"Small Cape, what is this about?"

"Your bridesmaid outfit? Why else are you here?" Melissa said. She finally pulled away from me and reached into her pocket, taking out a small, rolled piece of paper. She put it into her lips, and then used [Spark] to light the end.

"Don't tell Addy, but I don't want to talk to you without something to help."

"... Bridesmaid outfit? Jasmine didn't mention that. And I don't want one." I said. The smoke coming from her thing was awful, and I began to cough. She just sucked in, held her breath, and exhaled outside.

"Jazzy? Bless her heart, gal can' even afford one. Addy's pay– wait, why are ya here?" she said, her tone changing in the middle of the sentence.

"To buy clothes? These ones look awful, and I would rather be talking to your mother than you."

"Well, bless your heart," Melissa said.

"An' you're here buyin' clothes because?"

"Well, bless your heart, why do you even want to know?" I pulled my arms down now that she wasn't measuring me, but she was already standing by the door.

"Elora's Laces, ya two even sound like each other. Breaks a girl's heart to see such 'great company'," she said. She raised the thing to her lips and sucked on it. The ember tip swallowed more of the paper, and that foul scent burned in the air. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Just take the 15 gold an' screw off. It ain' any of your concern, Missy."

"Melissa, actually. Only my friends call me Missy," she said, flicking ash off her fingers.

"... Guess that means you'se gonna have to be callin' me Missy, sadly. Besides, ya ain' done bein' measured."

"I don' want a bridesmaid dress for her weddin'! And Addy can take his charity and shove it up his –" Melissa stopped sucking on that stick, and then looked at me. Her eyes scanned my face, and a deep, heavy frown formed. She glanced up at her clock, and threw the unfinished stick onto the ground outside.

"Talk to Addy, yet?"

"No! I mean, yes, but he's hidin' somethi–""Bless his heart," she said slowly, pronouncing every word. She exhaled loudly, and then took a deep, deep breath.

"Let's get ye finished bein' measured up. Then, ye better find 'Lord Skye' and tell him to stop stalin' or I will kick his ass."

"Nah, I ain' gonna do that. Just [Resize] the dress an' then Rhyvesta can burn this place to the ground for all I care." Melissa's head shot up and her eyes narrowed at me.

"Proper Capital Girl Ain' ya? Not concern with any of the things we simple folk are doin'. Then why the hell are ya [Farm Girl], ya twit? Can even do her schoolin' right to be –" I launched myself at Melissa who was more than ready for it. I had height on her, but she had mass. I grabbed her ponytail and she grabbed my red hair and we both pulled. My scalp was stuck deciding if it wanted to go with my hair or stay atop my skull.

Her hair however was far easier to tug against, and my fingers claimed strands of dumb blonde.

"OW!" Melissa screamed and released my hair, instead going for her classic counter attack. She slid around me, and her elbow flew right into my gut. I coughed into her head, and frankly, I knew this was coming and STILL couldn't dodge. I tumbled with the motion, and Melissa and I crashed into one of the mannequins – causing it to fall and slam into a table. My other hand opened up and struck her face, nails digging into the skin.

Now, Melissa was going to raise her foot and slam into my foot, so if I –"RHYVESTA DAMN IT!" I shouted, as her heel struck my toes, and grinded against the tips. I was stuck in place, but slid Melissa around till her back hit a table filled with thread and needles – knocking all those to the floor as well.

"Fine, on three."

"One," we both said. I stopped tugging on her hair, and she eased the pressure off my foot.

"Two," we continued. She removed her elbow from my gut, and I released her face.

"Three!" we pushed off. I smoothed my dress off from the spit and small splatter of blood, and Melissa quickly got to work straightening out her hair. I leaned against the wall and panted, and she pulled out another stick. Two this time, and handed me one.

"Cigarette?" I took it from her hand and smelled it. It was even worse like this, but still. I put the edge into my mouth, and Melissa stared at me.

"Wrong way, carrothead. Amaril, why are ya back and not dead in a ditch somewhere?"

"Honestly, Melissa? I was thinking the exact same thing about ya." She shrugged and lit the end of her cigarette. She plucked the stick from my mouth and turned it around, before lighting it too.

"Suck in. When you start coughing, spit outside." I tried to do as she instructed, but the smoke was thick and heavy. It burned my mouth, and I began to cough. Melissa plucked the cigarette off my lips and I spat black drool onto the dirt outside.

"Your face okay?"

"Nothin' Major, carrothead. More worried 'bout the mes–" I waved my hand over the room, and the world started to weave. Cold wind blew, fluttering the dresses on display and frost formed upon the windows. The song of cicada's mixed with the chewing of maggots into a perfect winter storm, as snowfall danced with the Symphony into one coherent note. Ashley casts [Mage Hand]!

Through Force of Will The mannequins righted themselves back up, and the hundreds of needles and spools of thread that were clattered around the floor raised to the sky. I didn't know how Melissa organized them, but I could stack them neatly for her to do so, and at least keep it color coordinated. The needles all looked the same to me, so I put them into a singular container. Melissa bit into her cigarette.

"Rhyvesta Damn it," she muttered, and I snapped my head towards her.

"What, ya started it, Carrothead. Ya ain' bloody Elora, yer a daughter of Nyla." She then leaned over and SLAPPED my shoulder.

"Why are ya here? Don' ya have somethin' more important to do then fight with a nobody townsgirl?"

"You have a clock! You ain' a nobody! And besides, I came here to buy a dress, not get measured for some bloody nonsense at Jasmine's wedding. You started it." Melissa stared at my face, then glanced at the clock.

"... That is expensive, ain' it? I didn't buy it, carrothead."

"No?" Stop. You're walking into this. You can guess the answer. You don't want to hear it.

"Nah, I didn'. Besides, I ain' left the town yet, and Nathaniel can' make clocks or other doohickeys yet, bless his heart." You don't have to ask.

"Who did?" She turned away from my face and leaned against the wall. A soft smile crept on her face.

"Ah? My fiancé." I inhaled. Nope, not going to piece this together. I had the clues. Nope." [Resize] the dress, Missy."

"As ya command, 'Lady Hart'," Melissa said, taking the black dress from the counter pushing her needle against it. It became taller, and she tossed it right at me.

"You should find Lord Skye, 'Lady Hart'. Nyla's blessed ya mightily, but Elora did bless me." I gritted my teeth and shoved the door open. She went back to her table of coloured spools and inspected each one of them.

"Do come back, ya? I need to finish making the bridesmaid dress for ya." I could feel my stomach twist. I had no idea where Adrian was, but the Marlowes definitely did. I stormed out of her shop, and stomped towards The Gryphon.