Chapter 8:
Apples and Cucumbers
It had been a couple days since Cordelia was abducted, and things seemed to have quickly returned to normal, though she still noticed more than a few speculative looks being cast in her direction from the townsfolk of Kettering.
After all, the Amazons and Hornets had not been subtle when they had absconded with her.
For her part, she had decided to put the whole silly mess behind her and cast herself into her work at the bakery; Helen was out on a delivery and Christine was upstairs studying so it was easy to stay busy in the kitchen while her father manned the counter.
But her stomach dropped when he once again called her from the front of the shop.
“Cordy? You have a visitor, again.”
She hesitated, and then took a moment to wipe at the flour on her cheek and in her hair as she regained her composure.
“Sweetheart?”
“I’m coming!” She snapped before storming out of the kitchen.
This time she was determined not to be taken without a fight and had armed herself with a wooden rolling pin, bits of flour and dough still clinging to the makeshift weapon.
To her surprise though, the front room wasn’t swarming with monsters, instead the voluptuous Queen Oldeera, now clad in chitinous armour similar to her Hornets, if somewhat more ornate, stood in front of her nervous father.
“We meet again. Cordelia.” The queen briefly turned to Cordelia’s father and slipped her finger under his chin with a smile; “Thank you, baker, I promise your daughter is in good hands, you may go.”
Her voice was like warm honey to the older man and he blushed and stammered as he bowed his way back into the kitchen.
Unlike her father, Cordelia’s response to the queen’s presence was downright rude.
“What the hell do you want?”
A pout took the woman’s lips and her wings buzzed briefly in agitation before she stilled them and shifted her expression, and her whole body, into a coy posture.
“A better question honey, would be, what did I want. The answer has changed a bit.”
She shifted her shoulder forwards, causing her cleavage to swell out of her armour as she spoke.
“Whatever! What did you want then?!”
Oldeera’s wings buzzed and she rapidly closed the gap between them, causing Cordelia to let out a squeak and brandish her rolling pin.
“Relax honey, all I wanted the other day, and now too for that matter, was for you to make a pie for me. My girls told me how great the one you brought to the cottage smelled, but sadly they failed to save me any.”
Again she jutted her lip out in a charming royal pout.
“You kidnapped me… for pie?”
Oldeera reached out and set one finger on the end of the rolling pin, slowly pushing it downwards, her strength surprising to the girl.
“Why do people keep saying that? In Garland, people crawl all over each other in hopes of being summoned to my bower.”
“Th-this isn’t Garland!” Cordelia squeaked again as the queen leaned ever closer.
Her eyes were such an intense shade of yellow…
“Oh I know, and believe me when I say, that is a good thing. You see, in Garland, I was having trouble finding anyone… interesting, to share my time with.”
Delicately she wiped some flour off of Cordelia’s cheek with the pad of her thumb.
“And you, my deliciously angry little girl, are very interesting.”
Cordelia swallowed at the heat in the woman’s tone, she tried to take a step back only to discover that Oldeera had slipped her other arm around her waist, hugging their pelvises together.
Still struggling to find her voice, she squirmed in the grip of the warrior queen, who leaned ever closer. Her nose was almost touching Cordelia’s, and her exotic yellow eyes flicked back and forth between Cordelia’s ordinary hazels.
“Cordelia, whaaat’s going on?”
Brandon’s cautious voice cut into the odd scene, he’d dropped by the bakery in hopes of dragging the girl away from her kitchen for a quickie.
Despite the nearness of the Hornet queen, a flash of irritation shot across Cordelia’s face at the unwelcome presence of her ex-boyfriend, and though he missed it, Oldeera certainly hadn’t.
She broke her gaze with Cordelia and considered the athletic young man hovering in the doorway.
“Leave at once, you interfere with a queen at your peril.”
Her tone had shifted from seductive and honeying to imperious and commanding: the voice of a warrior queen.
Unfortunately Brandon, silly Brandon, only saw his some-time girlfriend enacting one of his oldest fantasies with a gorgeous monster girl.
“Hey, I’m not about to get between a couple of cuties… experimenting.”
He flashed the queen his most winning smile as he slipped into the bakery and sauntered towards them.
To her relief, and her confusing disappointment, Cordelia felt the queen’s arm release her as she turned fully towards the arrogant young man.
“Experimenting? Is that what we were doing?”
Oldeera’s voice had once again shifted, this time to condescending.
“Yeah, like I said, I’m cool with it, if you and my girlfriend want to fool around I mean.”
The Hornet cocked her head to one side at his possessive tone and the emphasis he placed on the word.
“Oh, is she yours? I hadn’t realized!”
Cordelia opened her mouth to object, but the queen reached back and rested her hand on her forearm to quiet her.
Brandon’s smirk never faltered as he leaned ever closer to the seemingly willing queen, he had a few inches on her, while she in turn had a few inches on Cordelia.
“Yeah, but I can share, because I would love to taste your honey, little bee.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes and groaned at the horrible line, while Oldeera returned the boy’s flirting smile.
“What is your name?”
Behind him the door swung open silently and several Hornets slipped inside at their queen’s silent command.
Cordelia blinked as she considered all of the monsters lurking behind her oblivious ex.
“Brandon. My name’s Brandon.”
He leaned down, clearly deciding to make his move, but she placed her hand on his chest and stopped him, with her face tilted up to his, as close as it had just been to Cordelia’s.
“Well, Brandon, a very important thing to remember, little boy…”
“Yeah cutie?”
Her mocking smile vanished and she glared at the impertinent little shit.
“We are Hornets, not bees. And we make war, not honey.”
With that she shoved him back into the grip of her warriors who quickly overwhelmed him and dragged him outside while he struggled and swore at them, the door swinging shut behind his abrupt exit.
The queen shook off her disgust at the rude young man and turned back to Cordelia.
“Now, where were we?”
But her expression soured when she saw that the girl had put the counter between them.
Having survived the voluptuous monster’s all-out assault, Cordelia went on the offensive herself.
“I was at work and you were about to order a pie.”
He tone was direct and business-like.
The Hornet opened her mouth to object, but Cordelia spoke over her.
“That’s all that you’ll find here, pie. Maybe some other pastries, or the occasional cookie if you’re polite about it. Other than baked goods though, you are shit out of luck lady.”
She crossed her arms over her breasts and stared at the other woman expectantly.
Once again Oldeera was stymied by the attractive young woman’s attitude; she was certain that the girl’s eyes had mirrored her own desire, if clouded by her own small-town reservations.
It really was so much simpler in Garland.
After a few moments of strained silence, her shoulders slumped in defeat and her pout returned.
“Apple. Make it apple.”
After taking down all of the details and accepting the woman’s payment, Cordelia heaved a mighty sigh of relief as the Hornet left the bakery.
Despite her tough words, she was terrified that the queen would make another move on her.
Though she did on rare occasions enjoy the attentions of a certain muscular bone-head, Cordelia’s very first kiss was with a freckle-faced Lambda, the girls were both young and didn’t get far beyond the kiss, but the intensity of that moment made it impossible for the young woman to forget it.
And now the Hornet queen had brought that strange hunger back into the forefront of her mind, causing Cordelia to be overwhelmed with heat for a woman she hardly knew.
“Cordy?”
She jumped as her father’s voice sounded right beside her; without realizing it, she had been biting her lip and absently rubbing her thighs together.
“Cordelia, what the hell is going on with you and all these monster girls?”
His voice was filled with concern.
“I have no idea! At first they just wanted to talk about Nameless! Now they want pie and Brandon is a pig and I don’t know!”
It all came out in a rush as she rounded on her father who backpedalled from her brandished rolling pin with his hands raised.
“A-alright, alright, no worries. Was just asking, I am your father and all, it’s my job to worry.”
“Yeah well, don’t. Nothing to worry about here. And you need to make more of the little pastries, we’re sold out again.”
His gaze shot to the glass display counter where they sold the gourmet items, and sure enough it was empty of the Minotaur milk pastries.
“We’re also out of milk, Milly and Nameless only just got back and still they sell out in no time. Why don’t you go out to Paul’s and see if you can get some before the market tomorrow? In fact, tell them we’ll take every bottle they have, we’ll even pay five bits extra per bottle for the early advantage!”
She gave him a dark look at the mention of Paul’s farm.
Misreading her look he turned defensive.
“What? You know how well those things sell! And there’s no telling when that lot might jaunt off for another adventure. All these warrior breeds in Kettering! It’s bizarre!”
Her father often complained that he was never able to buy as many bottles as he would like, and after Nameless and Milly had disappeared for several weeks without warning, she could see his point.
But in reality she would rather spend the afternoon with Brandon than risk another run in with the Hornet queen.
“I even saw the Valkyrie flying over Andy’s field yesterday! Plain as day! An angel just going about her business as if it was normal! In Kettering of all places!”
She rolled her eyes as her father continued to express his indignation.
“Fine, I’ll go out to Fletcher’s farm tomorrow, I have to deliver a stupid pie anyways.”
“Another one? He must have liked the last one.”
“It’s not for Nameless, it’s for that… Hornet… lady.”
He gave her a strange look.
“Oh.”
She rolled her eyes and groaned at the monosyllabic response.
“What now?”
Her father shifted uncomfortably in place for a moment.
“It’s just, sweetheart… Hornets, they’re warriors! They’re not like the monster girls you usually see around here.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“Just be careful Cordy, and try to control your temper. That woman was royalty you know.”
__________
Oakridge was exactly what it sounded like: a large community surrounded by oak trees at the top of a bluff overlooking farmlands below. With autumn well underway the leaves had turned various shades of oranges and browns, a mat of them carpeting the road Miranda and her girls walked on.
The town was a stop off point for several delivery agencies and as such it was a bustling place, with a number of large warehouses around the outskirts.
Miranda shifted Jez on her back slightly as the trees thinned and they approached the large buildings.
“Remember, if anyone asks, we’re just here visiting Jez’s family. We’re not with the Aegis, and we’re certainly not looking for an arms dealer.”
She shifted her gaze between the four monster girls with her, each of them nodding their assent, though Jezebel pouted fiercely.
“Mistress, we don’t really need to visit my mom do we?”
The aegis operative stifled her smirk.
“Yeah actually, we do. Who knows? She might know something.”
Jan snickered while Jez squirmed.
“But! You know how she can be!”
For her part, Lilly’s eyes were trailing over the distressed Gripau’s butt while she shifted in distress on her mistress’s back.
After a moment of admiring the girl’s tushy, the pack leader tore her eyes away and shook her head in an effort to focus on the task at hand.
“Why, how can she be?”
“Lucinda is very kind. I greatly enjoy her company actually. She is also an amazing cook.” Kala said while hiding her grin from a glaring Jez.
“Come on you lot, sooner we get there, sooner we get this done. And Kala’s right: your mother isn’t that bad, she’s just… proud of you.”
Shortly afterwards they were standing in a squat little house next to a small lake surrounded by oak trees, and the big Wolfen was learning just how proud Jez’s mother was.
“And here’s the trophy my Jezzy won when she was barely more than a tadpole! Best swimmer in her class, everyone said so!”
Lilly was stunned as the older Gripau woman handed her yet another piece of Jez’s childhood to admire, her arms already full of treasured artifacts, ribbons and broken toys.
Though she had a few wrinkles around her eyes, the older frog was still quite the beauty, her green skin was supple and Lilly discovered that her butt was nearly a match for her daughter’s.
But the woman’s enthusiasm at seeing her only child again had devolved into a sort of mania that the seasoned pack leader found unsettling.
“I went to school with humans! Of course I was the best swimmer! Now cut it out mom, you’re embarrassing me!”
Jezebel stomped her foot and whined while her mother chattered on about her childhood achievements, no matter how trivial.
By coincidence the two Gripau were wearing very similar pink bathing suits, a staple for frog girls as they liked to wet their skin frequently even in the colder months.
“Oh! Jezzy! Here, you remember this!”
She held up a colourful drawing, the image either a small bear or a large mouse, Lilly couldn’t tell.
“She was so talented!”
Jezebel grit her teeth as she glared at her oblivious mother.
“Mom! I. Was. Five!”
“Yes, such a young age to be interested in the arts! You drew so many pictures, oh! Here’s a sculpture she made from dried noodles!” She took a closer look at the misshapen lump; “Oh wait, no this is just some dried noodles that have stuck together… still, very talented!”
While the woman tore through Jez’s messy childhood bedroom in search of artifacts to show to a befuddled Lilly, Jan and Kala were standing in the hall outside their bond-sisters child-hood bedroom, wiping away tears of laughter.
Eventually Miranda gave up on mirth and took pity on her frustrated little bond-mate.
“Lucinda, isn’t it about dinner time?” She hinted.
Her voice caused the woman’s eyes to widen and she clapped her hands together.
“Oh yes! Come on Jezzy, you and you’re friends must be famished, I have some fresh cucumbers, we can make sandwiches!”
The enthusiasm the older frog had for the simple things was comical to even the off-balance Lilly as she set aside the various pieces of her little friend’s childhood.
“Mom, you are being weird!”
Lucinda held her fists up to her cheeks as she all but vibrated.
“Eeeee! I am just so glad you’re home sweetheart! I’m so proud of you, being with the Aegis and all!” She began with a squeal and ended with a whisper as if the last part were a secret, which in her defense, it was.
Jez rolled her eyes and let out a whining croak.
“Moo-ooom!”
“Oh hush dear! Your friends don’t mind one bit, I can tell!”
Lucinda hopped past them in the hall and into the kitchen, while Jez followed, her shoulders slumped low like a willful teenager, and within the hour they were tucking in to the delicious meal the two Gripau had prepared for them.
“Have another sandwich Miranda, and you’ve barely touched your soup!”
Miranda was actually on her second bowl, but she smiled and obediently took another quarter of a cucumber sandwich from the stack in the middle of the table.
It was the third time that Lucinda had refilled the platter.
Between them, Jan, Lilly and Kala had finished an entire tureen of soup and two plates of sandwiches, much to Lucinda’s delight.
The motherly frog loved to feed people.
“As I was saying Lucy, we’re here on an official capacity, so if you could-”
“Lilly dear, elbows off the table!” The frog ordered the muscular Wolfen primly.
The pack-leader had confused guilt written on her face as she slipped her elbows off the table and swallowed the two sandwich quarters she had just stuffed in her mouth.
Lucinda’s selective enforcement of proper table manners had the poor wolf struggling to keep up, while Jan and Kala both put their mouths to their soup bowls, slurping loudly to hide their own laughter.
“And sit up straight Jezebel, we have company!”
“Mooom!”
But despite her vocal protests Jez sat up slightly as she disconsolately swirled her spoon through her soup.
Lucy turned back to Miranda
“Sorry, yes you were saying, someone in town with big boobies?”
The Aegis operator sighed.
“I wish we had more to go on, it’s probably the thinnest lead I’ve ever chased down, but-”
“Not at all! Why, aside from myself, there aren’t that many chesty women around here!”
Lilly’s brow furrowed and she couldn’t help but examine the older Gripau’s breasts, which, though pleasingly shaped, were very much on the small side.
“Let’s see now… oh Jan! Do be careful, that’s an antique!”
Having finished eating Jan was in the process of wiping her mouth with the provided napkin, though she paused and raised her eyebrow at the green cloth shaped like a lily-pad.
“This is an antique?”
“Yes, it was my grandmother’s! Whenever she had a cold she used that very napkin… or was it this one?”
A few of the diners were now examining their own identical napkins to see if they were the unlucky ones, all the while struggling valiantly to keep the looks of distaste off of their faces.
Jez brought her fist down on the table with a little thump.
“Mom, stop being mean! There is no way any of these are antiques!”
Lucinda looked guilty for a moment, but then she grinned evilly.
“Yes, but the look on their faces was priceless!”
Miranda held her fist to her mouth and coughed to suppress her laughter, of all the women she knew, Lucinda never failed to make her smile.
“One of the advantages to everyone thinking you’re eccentric sweetheart, you get to play silly jokes from time to time. Now then, Miranda, it sounds like this is a matter of some urgency so I will do up a list for you.”
“If it helps, focus on women between the ages of twenty-five and forty-five, no way would someone younger than that be in this business. And anyone too old and that dipshit in the wilds wouldn’t have anything kind to say about her tits.”
With the bulb of her tongue poked out of the corner of her mouth, Lucinda nodded as she wrote quickly on the notepad Miranda had just handed her.