The Mimic in Monsterland

She stood atop one of the buildings near her home, contemplating what she was going to do for the day. It was early in the morning, people wouldn’t start rousing for another hour or so. Ingrid sat under a makeshift porch she crafted a while back for days like today. The rain poured down around her, but she didn’t mind it. She never minded it. The townspeople always ran from it, too worried about getting themselves or their valuables wet. She didn’t have any valuables and she liked how the rain felt on her skin and face. Even her furry ears felt refreshed in the constant flow of pure sky water. She lowered her hood and basked in the downpour.

Truthfully it was the typical thief’s most hated climate. There wasn’t much a thief could steal on these days, on account of all those people sitting in their homes. Shopkeepers kept their wares sheltered as well, and most of them lived with or near their warehouses in Laurel. Or at least paid for it to be guarded. Some foolhardy and desperate ones still tried and normally failed; she counted herself among their number from time to time. But today she didn’t.

It was the first time she had some breathing room in terms of finances. Her debt payment was already taken care of for the month thanks to the advance she received from the strange old man Leonard Ainsworth. Who would've thought the scorch of monster kind, the fiery slayer of Tiamantis, the undying flame, would be such an eccentric goof? All of those monikers seemed so moronic to her now.

Ingrid was still waiting on the next payment from him as well. They were going to meet up tonight which meant for the first time in a long while, perhaps years, that she would be this far ahead in her finances. She could hardly believe it. She shook her head. I shouldn’t believe it. Always prepare for the worst. She raised her hood and walked back under the cover.

The alchemist should have the next batch down soon. That’s my first stop. I think I’m going to get some decent food for those two and myself. Maybe even some for the rest of the home. She shook her head. Not yet, I’m not that far ahead. And it's probably best to stay out of the Gloom for a while. Maybe Gran will let me crash in her basement for a couple of days.

She walked out from under the covering and looked over the edge of the building. She had to be cautious, Mort’s goons were still running around the place looking for her and the dwarf boy. She wasn’t sure if they knew she was the one helping him escape, but she didn’t want to chance it. Mort wasn’t an idiot, she just hoped the men who followed her were and that their descriptions wouldn’t be enough to oust her.

She hopped from building to building. It was the fastest route to the alchemist, faster than the winding alleyways. She could keep her eyes and ears peeled easily as well. After a couple of minutes, she arrived at the backyard alchemist shop. It was a rickety looking shack behind one of the main shops on Main Street. He apparently used to be quite the revered chemist, and even worked at the Capitol Building lab back in the day. She didn't know why he got kicked out, and it didn’t matter to her. He sold potions and tonics cheaper than any of the other shops out in the Merchant District. They might not have been the best, but she followed the law of beggars and choosers.

Ingrid raised her ear to the door, seeing if anyone else was in. It sounded clear, only the signature odd high-pitched cough of the alchemist and the occasional bubbling of a kettle. She knocked once and then entered. The room was like usual, wall to wall covered in different glass vessels of various shapes and sizes, each filled with tonics. The alchemist himself was sitting with his back turned to the door. He coughed and threw another dried herb into the boiling yellow mixture in front of him, completely oblivious to her presence. She took a breath, but the vapors made her eyes water.

“Tin. It's Ingrid, I’m here for the stuff. Two doses this time.”

He coughed loudly as his back straightened out in shock that he had a visitor, and that they had already let themselves in. The small man turned around. He was a gnome, one with a ridiculous beard that looked to be freshly singed from another one of his experiments. His eyes were large and dark, only a couple of specks of white brightened them.

“Ahh, why hello Ingrid. You sound well.” His ears twitched. “And wet. Stay near the door, I can’t have even a hint of water get inside this concoction. It would be utterly ruined.” He said, coughing again. “The morphosis dampening potion, correct? And two doses this time, my, someone has been working hard.”

“Yes, and you made a better batch this time, right? That last batch didn’t look like it helped nearly at all.”

He got up and walked over to one of his walls. He snatched two vials from the bottom shelf of the wall. “Has she turned?”

“Well no but,” The gnome cut her off.

“Then it is working. Here, this batch came out wonderfully, I tried a new brewing style. Now leave, I’m in the middle of something wonderful. Oh, I can feel it, I’m on the right track this time. Leave the payment on the ground.”

Ingrid dropped the small pouch filled with his payment next to him. He swiped it without even looking. He jingled it. “Goodbye.”

She turned and walked out of the shop after a quick inspection of the two potions. She tucked them into her side pouch and hopped back up to a rooftop. She looked over at the wall separating the Gloom from the Merchant District. She could scale it with some well placed jumps, and the guards didn’t have their eyes on the skies today with all the rain.

Yeah, I think a trip to Gran’s would be nice.

She hopped into the District.

——

My palms began to sweat. I cursed my curiosity. What is she doing here? Is it for me? But Len said I was good now. I closed my eyes and swallowed. Calm down, you’re supposed to stop doing this, right?

I felt a nudge on my back. Loreli couldn’t see out the door and was understandably interested in seeing who just come into the store. I summoned some bravery and walked out of the doorway, letting Loreli through. Her eyes turned from inquisitive to hard in an instant when she saw the gorgeous elf who was currently taking off her very expensive looking coat.

She wasn’t wearing the form fitting leather armor she had the last time I saw her. No, she now wore quite the auspicious white dress. One that’s simple elegance allowed her natural beauty to take center stage. And also really emphasized her extremely well endowed chest. Her auburn hair was put up in a bun right now. Mrs. Warbler greeted the woman.

“Fine Mrs. Laurellen, or did you take that brute Rickard’s name?” Mrs. Warbler’s face wore the same smile that normally rested on it, but I could feel this prickly feeling coming from her.

“First Ones above, no. I would never give up the Laurellen name. And Gran you know me better than that. It’s Lirae to you and your wonderful daughter-in-law.” Her eyes scanned over the rest of the room. They passed right over me without so much as a hint of recognition and landed on the very pregnant lady next to me.

“Hello dear, Loreli was it? What a gorgeous name, for such a beautiful woman deserves such a name.”

Loreli didn’t say anything and her eyes didn't soften; she gave the woman a slight curtsy.

“Thank you Madam Councilor.”

Lirae smiled. “Please dear, come here, let me get a better look at you.” She held her hand toward Loreli.

I felt Loreli stiffen next to me, but she brushed it off quickly and walked around the counter; I almost grabbed her arm to stop her. She stopped in front of the much taller elf, keeping her head lowered. Her posture exuded discomfort as the elf walked around her, almost as if she was evaluating the girl.

The green elf stopped after a minute. She turned to Mrs. Warbler. “Just delightful, your son really picked a special girl, Gran. Her offspring will no doubt be as strong and loyal as he was.”

And as those words left the woman’s mouth, I saw something new. A flash of anger crossed Mrs. Warbler’s face at the mention of her son. It was for but a fraction of a second but I caught it. Her pleasant smile returned and she responded to the woman.

“Thank you Mrs. Laurellen. Loreli is spectacular. I am proud to call her family. And the Caretakers should be here any day now.”

The green lady laughed. “Of course, why do you think I am here? We are taking her to the Capitol Building, aren’t we girls?”

My eyes turned to the other two people who entered with Lirae. They removed their coats, revealing the clothes they wore underneath. They wore the same outfit, a long black dress and a slightly white apron. Almost like a French maid’s uniform, but much less fancy. These actually looked comfortable and functional. Not the weird fetishized one from so many animes.

One had short black hair with perky cat ears and was thin. The other was on the heavier side and had the slightly sharp pointed ears of half elves and her hair was put up. No discernible gene trope. They both wore smiles on their faces and walked over to the expecting mother.

“Yes ma’am.” The thin one responded. The heavier one walked over to Loreli and grabbed her hand. “You are right Madam Councilor, she does look healthy. Your baby will be great, I can always tell.”

Loreli’s expression softened with the woman’s words. They weren’t any different from what the green woman was saying, but they felt much more sincere. The plump woman gave out those maternal vibes big time. She’s probably done this hundreds of times.

Mrs. Warbler cleared her throat. “Great. Then allow me to go and grab some of her things. Liam, would you be a dear and help me in the back?”

But as I opened the door for Mrs. Warbler, Lirae spoke up.

“Oh that won’t be necessary, we have everything she needs at the Capitol.”

Mrs. Warbler stared at her, clearly not backing down. “Let me at least grab her coat. It’s pouring outside.”

“Of course. But you don’t need the boy’s help for that.” I felt a chill run down my spine as she spoke about me.

“No, I suppose not.” Mrs. Warbler walked through the door as I held it open for her. She grabbed the coat from a corner of the room that had a coat rack and walked back out and up to Loreli who was being doted on by the two maids. Or Caretakers I guess.

It looked like she whispered something into Loreli’s ear and then gave her a warm hug, one that lasted a good thirty seconds. I looked at Lirae, her eyes filled with something akin to affection. I couldn’t quite describe it. It wasn’t evil, but it wasn’t completely tender either. Almost like she was half forcing and half truly feeling whatever the look was.

Mrs. Warbler broke away from Loreli, holding the girl’s face. Both had emotional tears in their eyes. “It will go splendidly, I just know it, honey. Come back with my grandson.”

“Oh Gran, you are going to spoil the hell out of him. I just know it.”

“You’re damn right I am.” The two laughed and hugged once more. Mrs. Warbler helped her into the heavy jacket.

The large maid walked over and took Loreli’s hand and walked her out of the store. The thin maid walked on the other side of her once they got outside.

Lirae put her jacket on and made for the door as well. A sense of alleviation came over me as I realized that she wasn’t going to do anything to me.

But right as she stepped up to the door, she turned back to Mrs. Warbler.

“Oh and one more thing Gran.” Her eyes focused on me and a malicious force entered my brain. “Savages make for terrible house guests.”