Dream Meddler - Chapter II
A/N: Good evening. I hope this chapter will clarify some points that may be unclear. Have a good read!
Pairing: Miranda / Andy
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Oh and all mistakes are mine.
CHAPTER 2
It appeared that she had lost consciousness from sheer terror, because when she opened her eyes she wasn’t flying anymore. No when she regained consciousness, her first thought was that the after-life was dark but warm and comfortable. Also that the slight rhythmic movement was incredibly peaceful, so she laid here for a few more seconds, almost falling back asleep. Until she concentrated on her surroundings and heard a rumble, what sounded like a light snoring but kind of loud, as if it was emitted by something really big. She tried to move but she was stuck under something soft almost like skin-like but more resistant, she continued her path with her hand, soon feeling something more solid but still as soft. That’s when she realized that she was touching a wing, with almost the same morphology as a bat one.
Gently, she raised it without waking it’s owner and stood up, trying to contain her hiss at the sting on her hips, where the dragon got her before. The dragon that was now sleeping peacefully, surrounded by gold and emeralds but sleeping on a rug made of black fur, making it stood out by the difference of color. Releasing a sigh of relief when the dragon didn’t wake up, she then tip toed toward the cave entrance, her breath leaving her when she saw the landscape. They were in a large valley, full of trees and with a river in the middle. The cave was lodged in a cliff, in the middle of it, made by the erosion of the rocks a long long time ago.
A loud growl made the ground tremble violently, startling Andy so bad that when she turned, she tripped and fell on her behind. Her wings extended wide in fright.
The earth started shaking, and heavy steps could be heard, then the white dragon while majestic in the air, stumbled out of the cave in haste, looking furious. When fully out, it extended his wings ready to take flight before pausing mid action, seeing Andy, her eyes full of fear. Slowly, it stopped growling and retracted his wings against his back before slowly approaching, emitting a soft whine to appease her, and strangely it worked.
When he reached her, his whine now more like a purr, Andy couldn’t move, she was frozen. The beast curled around her and snuggled in between her wings making Andy shiver violently.
At that, its tail encircled her, making her warm, and it's purr guided her into sleep again.
‘Mine...’
Wednesday, 13 pm.
‘Andréa.’ Andy could vaguely hear someone calling her, but her mind was sluggish with sleep. ‘...’ The voice called again then said something else, but her mind experienced some difficulties to keep up with whatever was happening and she felt herself fall into the abysses again.
‘When I count to three you will slowly wake up and you will feel at ease. To the count of two your eyelids will be as light as air and at one you will fully wake up and promptly forgot about this discussion.’ The voice was as clear as day in her head, letting the blackness fade away.
‘Three.’ Andy’s mind became clearer just like her surroundings, she could feel her head being stroked softly.
‘Two.’ She felt that she could now open her eyes, but didn’t feel like it.
‘One.’ Her eyes fluttered open, however she closed it again when the light was too bright and burned her retina. Her head was on something soft that she snuggled against, a gentle laugh resulted from her action and Andy jerked up. Almost hitting the other woman forehead in the process. ‘Careful now Andréa, it won’t do to break the Dragon Lady, how will our dear paparazzi cope?’
‘Mir-Miranda? I’m so sorry, I must have fallen asleep on you… I had a really hard week and-’ Andy stammered mortified.
‘Hush now Andréa, I do not care about that, but I fear that our time will be cut short, I received a call about some emergency at work and I must go.’ Miranda said getting up. ‘Do you want a glass of water before going, dear?’
‘Yes please.’ Andy replied confused, Miranda’s tone has changed, she seemed more reserved and unfeeling than the woman she met this morning, she had her Ice Queen mask on. She followed Miranda when she indicated that Andy should follow her.
The rest of her time with Miranda was spent in near silence, which was thick and awkward, at least for Andy. The complete opposite than what she experienced, each time Miranda dismissed her with no emotion on her face she could feel a pang in her chest. Because that’s what it felt like, she was being dismissed from the presence of a ‘great’ queen.
Now in her apartment she gritted her teeth in annoyance, she should have known better, it seemed too good to be true. Sighing she looked around, where has this taken her? She lost a day to search for a job… She had never felt this alone before. She felt pathetic.
Rising up, she went to her freezer and took out a cookie dough ice cream then went to her couch and turned on her TV. Unfortunately she couldn’t really taste anything, her mind still reeling over Miranda and her coldness.
Her phone rang again, today it has been a friend and an enemy at the same time, still she took the call, without looking. Because, let’s get real, who would call her? Miranda? That was out of the question… But the woman was unpredictable and she proved it just about now.
‘Andréa?’ Said Miranda, her voice more gentle than a few hours ago.
‘Yes? What do you-’
‘Forget.’
Everything became dark.
When she woke, she found herself lounging on her couch, her ice cream now completely wasted. Apart for a minor headache, she felt fine, but she couldn’t remember what she did today, grumbling she got up and threw the ice cream away.
Friday evening, one week later.
Andy happily opened her apartment door, today, she finally found a job after one month of desperate search. The New York Mirror had an opening in editing, and she was employed as a junior editor…Not her dream job but it was better than nothing, and now she could indulge herself with a new laptop, her own having died on her two days ago, the little fella being her best friend for five years straight. She would take care of it tomorrow morning in the shop near her home.
She made her way to her kitchen planning on taking a sip of wine with the orange duck she brought home, a nice treat her neighbors made for her. Still smiling she put it on the counter before stopping dead in her track, in front of her, already sitting on the counter was a bottle of Château de Bourgogne, the name of it triggered something in her, but she couldn't find the cause of it. Anyway, she felt that something was more important than a bottle of wine..Her uneasiness increasing she made her way further in her little apartment, searching for a possible threat, a move that was quite stupid but felt necessary to her. The only thing she found was a note on her pillow along with a striking white rose.
I’m really proud of you my Dear, now try to not disappoint me.
Your Dragon.
My dragon? Now she was confused, who was that weirdo? She should call the police for an investigation but couldn't bring herself to do it. What could that mean? A dragon, apart from the creature, she couldn't see anything else. Shrugging she turned and went to the door checking if it was still closed: it was. She did the same with all the windows making sure that no one could enter. When all was done, she went back to her counter and poured the wine.
‘Why the hell not?’ She thought, grateful for the present.
She hummed in delight and again she felt like something was missing, but the feeling soon went away and she spent the evening finishing the bottle, since she started on Monday, no need to be sober tomorrow. Hopefully, it wasn’t poisoned or there will be no Andy tomorrow…
It wasn’t the last time that her dragon appeared seemingly out of nowhere, congratulating her for her rewarding job at the newspaper, for her birthday - it really creeped her out- but two months later she got used to it. It seemed like the perpetrator of this farce wasn’t going to show his snout anytime soon. And she still didn’t feel like calling the cops which was weird in itself, some time she almost called the cops - when the intruder came one night to give her a present and she was sleeping only five feet away- but her mind always went against it.
It has been one week now that the Dragon hasn’t shown itself in her life, maybe he grew bored of this little game of courting. If it was one, but Andy couldn’t think of something else. But she didn’t have the time to think more thoughtfully about it. Her workload has been reaching the roof since she wrote an article about the secret side of New-York, a dangerous but interesting work. She talked to a lot of people who were in the criminal business, and the shocking fact was that she hadn’t been endangered. They were almost nice, if not wary. But she hadn’t quoted any name, so maybe that was it.
Anyway, since then, it had become almost impossible to not bring work into her home. She worked herself to sleep and took her coffee with her notes, and it was starting to pay off, she got more and more valued in her workplace. And her desk was now a little bigger, so she was installing her favorite comics bobble-head: Batman was now sitting alongside the Joker.
She was about to take out Iron Man from it’s confine when her boss Bruce interrupted her.
“Sachs! Come and see me when you are done playing with your friends!” He yelled from his office. It could be translated as: ‘Get your ass in here now !’, if she didn’t ask him once if he was a secret vigilante. At which he laughed his head off before pointing to his beer belly and flipping her off at one Mirror's party.
With a resigned sigh about his joke, she got up and headed in her boss’ office.
“What can I do for you, Boss?” She asked, smiling.
“Well… You were invited to the Met by an important investor, and since you are a reporter I want you to go and find us a good story. And not to worry you will be going with Stella, she will help you with what needs to be done.”
“But.. I’m not exactly qualified to go in these kind of crowd.” She started, worrying about making a fool of herself.
“No excuses Sachs, now go save some damsel in distress, I need to save the world. Shoo !” He said, shutting her and dismissing her in the same breath.
Andy exhaled, she needed to bring herself up to date by the end of the week, and also to find something to wear… that was at least socially acceptable. She went to find Stella Enheart, the fashion reporter and the official queen bee of the Mirror.
‘Oh Joy’ She thought when she found her, already gossiping on the phone. Stella wasn’t that dumb but she looked like your everyday Barbie doll, who had the bad habit to always chew a gum… Which made her look like a Barbie cow. Andy didn’t even know how she got invited to high class fashion party with her nasty attitude, or maybe they were all like her.
“You, what are you doing here?” Stella asked, after hanging up.
“I’m supposed to go with you to the Met.” Andy stated blankly. A grin stretched on Stella’s face, almost cutting her head in two… Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing Andy though briefly before remembering that she needed her for the party.
“I never took you for joke Sachs, but you are good.” She drawled out.
“I’m not, ask Bruce if you want.” Andy replied.
“Well...Why you? Little Duckling…” She cackled. Andy sighed for the millionth time this day, how worse could it get? “You know that the Queen of fashion will be there? Miranda Priestly? The Dragon Lady?” Stella smiled nastily “ Alright, I will help you, on Friday I will give you a dress so that you will be perfect.”
As a response Andy frowned, not believing her one bit. Maybe she could ask her dragon, he could help her, with all those elegant gift he gave her…
‘Wait a damn second, HER dragon?! What the heck?’ Andy yelled internally, while returning to the bullpen and her loyal bobble-heads. ‘Miranda? Who was that?’ She asked herself, not having a single clue about this person.
She gasped when she googled it, Miranda Priestly the Queen of fashion, at the helm of the prestigious Runway. Miranda Priestly the Dragon Lady, the Ice Queen. Miranda Priestly ! Going in a full panic attack, Andy took deep breathes trying to calm down else she die of a heart attack. Hoping that Miranda would have forgotten about her by the end of the week, which wasn’t too far stretched. Hopefully.
She spent the rest of the day as if in a dream, or maybe a nightmare. She was going to humiliate herself on Friday, it will be the end of a promising career.
When she woke again, the sun had come down and a fresh night had started, the moon illuminating the sky and the valley below. She could feel the softness of the dragon skin on her back, it was looking out on the landscape, surveying its territory for any threat. Sensing her awakening, the dragon turned its head, pinning her and looking through her soul with its striking blue eyes. It emitted a soft purr before touching her forehead with its snout, before blowing hotly through its nose, sending her back and making her giggle. Her brown wings straightened to keep her equilibrium before returning to their normal state on her back, as she looked up again, she found the dragon to be entranced by her wings. Suddenly she stood up, startling the dragon, who imitated her, cautious. Before it could do anything, she jumped down the edge of the cliff, the wind on her face making her feel free with a squeal of glee she opened her wings to soar up in the sky. She dodged the top of the trees and found herself following a river, she let a toes touch the water. Which was surprisingly warm.
With a mighty roar she heard the dragon take chase. Surprised, she looked behind her, seeing the dragon gaining grounds, the instinctive fear returned, making her fly faster. After five miles or so, she looked back again, but there was nothing behind. Wary, she looked around trying to find her pursuer but it was nowhere to be seen. A sound made her look down and she screamed when she saw the water part and the dragon appear in between, before it captured her again. She tried in vain to free herself but she was too weak, the dragon growled lowly in its throat telling her not to move, she obeyed not wanting to be hurt in the process. Because each time she squirmed, the dragon would hold her tighter not to the point of injuring her, it was just a warning. The dragon took her back to the cave, letting the same low growl, at which she put her hands up to appease it. With a last -long- look, it took off again, letting out a jet of ice. For a good hour, the dragon literally danced in the sky, doing figures, gliding so effortlessly that she was entranced. When the dragon came back after warning outsiders of its power, it found her sleeping like an angel on the stone floor. Huffing, it took her between its maws and deposited her on the fur before encircling her to keep her warm.
‘You are never alone..’
On Friday afternoon she was a wreck, it felt as if she hadn’t slept for a week and she was still waiting for the dress, if there even was one. She completed as much as she could her article in the state she was in, by 17pm she went to Stella’s office.
“Hello Sachs” Andy startled, Stella was waiting for her a wide smile plastered on her face. “I tough you wouldn’t come..”
“Yes, well, I have a job to do. Do you have the dress?” Andy asked, her temper falling short.
“Why, of course I do. The perfect dress for you” She said, stressing out the word ‘you’. “It’s right here, we will meet in front of the Met at 20 pm sharp, don’t be late.” Were her parting words before she took the phone, ignoring her.
Andy took the hanger with the supposed dress and left, she was home by 18 pm because she needed to be ready for two hours later. After closing her apartment door she felt that something was off, she put the hamper on the hanger before going further in.
“Hello? Is somebody there?” She called out, afraid of receiving a response. And what was she doing, talking like in a classic horror movie. She became quite paranoid and her breathing became erratic. Following the walls closely, she made her way to the kitchen were -when seeing there wasn’t anyone- she took a knife before continuing her journey to the little dining room. It was easier to breath when there still wasn’t anyone in sight but then again, the bedroom door was still closed. As quietly as she could she went forwards and, just when she was starting to turn the knob, a voice rose behind her.
“Andréa.”
Andy reacted instinctively, throwing the knife behind her in fright. Slowly, she turned around, ready to bolt any seconds. What she saw had her gobsmacked, Miranda was here in her living room - that was a feast in itself -, but she had the knife between her finger as if she was manipulating a simple pen. And she looked surprised, she broke into her home and she had the gall to look surprised when Andy assaulted her. Andy wanted to laugh, shout at Miranda and then kill herself.
“Really, there is no need to show such aggressiveness..” She said taking a step toward Andy.
“Stay away from me!” Andy yelled, going behind the couch to increase the distance between their bodies. “What are you doing here? And how did you enter?”
“That is for you to discover and for me to know.” Miranda said, looking bored.
“You are kidding me right?” Andy stood her ground, who do she think she was; God?
“You will learn that I never kid Andréa.”
“That’s it, I’m calling the cops. You have no right to be in here !” Andy was starting to get hysteric, she pulled out her phone and dialed 911. Before it could ring, the phone was thrown across the room by a very cross Miranda, Andy gaped at her, shocked.
“Look at me, you aren’t going to do any of those things.” Miranda looked right at her.
“Wha-What the actual fu-...” Andy stammered.
“Sleep” Miranda ordered and Andy slept.
Friday Evening - 19 pm
One hour later, Andy woke in a frenzy, she was going to be late ! Cursing she got up, she couldn’t remember how or why she fell asleep. She tripped twice before she got to the hamper and opened it expecting a hideous dress. However, the dress was made of a very soft silk. It was beautiful black satin dress with embroidered gold wings on the back.
With haste she went to the bathroom and did her makeup, au naturel as some might say and put on the dress. In less than ten minutes she was in front of her building flagging a taxi.
“Hello, ma’am. Where to?” He said. He looked like Santa with a long white bread and mirth shining in his blue eyes.
“To the Met, please.” She said, her stomach in knots. She had a bad feeling about this story, it was as if she was missing some big pieces of the puzzle. As the car started onward, she looked out and lost herself in her head.
“Have you heard about the Illusionists ma’am? I heard that some important people were going to the Met tonight and a grand coup was in preparation.” The taxi driver asked, interrupting her spiralling line of thought.
“I can’t say I have, who are the Illusionists exactly?” She leaned toward him, curious.
“They are a powerful group of anonymous people who strives in assassination and thieving. I only know ‘bout them by rumors, but I ought to warn ya, because you seem too innocent to go play willingly with these sharks. You need to keep your head clear and out of their game.”
“Will do.”
“And here we are, and try to keep in mind what I said, please.”
After paying the cab, she looked up, the building was tall and imposing with a dark cloud obscuring the moon, giving an edge to the already tense atmosphere. She exhaled forcefully before making her way to it, blending in the crowd of photographers and journalists who were transfixed on the limo who just appeared.
‘Come on Andy, just take some quotes and you are out of here. You can do it!’
With that in mind, she went in.
A/N: At first, this chapter was too short, so I reunited it with half of the next one. I'm sorry for the cliff hanger, it was quite..Unexpected? Anyway, thanks for reading!
Pairing: Miranda / Andy
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Oh and all mistakes are mine.
CHAPTER 2
It appeared that she had lost consciousness from sheer terror, because when she opened her eyes she wasn’t flying anymore. No when she regained consciousness, her first thought was that the after-life was dark but warm and comfortable. Also that the slight rhythmic movement was incredibly peaceful, so she laid here for a few more seconds, almost falling back asleep. Until she concentrated on her surroundings and heard a rumble, what sounded like a light snoring but kind of loud, as if it was emitted by something really big. She tried to move but she was stuck under something soft almost like skin-like but more resistant, she continued her path with her hand, soon feeling something more solid but still as soft. That’s when she realized that she was touching a wing, with almost the same morphology as a bat one.
Gently, she raised it without waking it’s owner and stood up, trying to contain her hiss at the sting on her hips, where the dragon got her before. The dragon that was now sleeping peacefully, surrounded by gold and emeralds but sleeping on a rug made of black fur, making it stood out by the difference of color. Releasing a sigh of relief when the dragon didn’t wake up, she then tip toed toward the cave entrance, her breath leaving her when she saw the landscape. They were in a large valley, full of trees and with a river in the middle. The cave was lodged in a cliff, in the middle of it, made by the erosion of the rocks a long long time ago.
A loud growl made the ground tremble violently, startling Andy so bad that when she turned, she tripped and fell on her behind. Her wings extended wide in fright.
The earth started shaking, and heavy steps could be heard, then the white dragon while majestic in the air, stumbled out of the cave in haste, looking furious. When fully out, it extended his wings ready to take flight before pausing mid action, seeing Andy, her eyes full of fear. Slowly, it stopped growling and retracted his wings against his back before slowly approaching, emitting a soft whine to appease her, and strangely it worked.
When he reached her, his whine now more like a purr, Andy couldn’t move, she was frozen. The beast curled around her and snuggled in between her wings making Andy shiver violently.
At that, its tail encircled her, making her warm, and it's purr guided her into sleep again.
‘Mine...’
Wednesday, 13 pm.
‘Andréa.’ Andy could vaguely hear someone calling her, but her mind was sluggish with sleep. ‘...’ The voice called again then said something else, but her mind experienced some difficulties to keep up with whatever was happening and she felt herself fall into the abysses again.
‘When I count to three you will slowly wake up and you will feel at ease. To the count of two your eyelids will be as light as air and at one you will fully wake up and promptly forgot about this discussion.’ The voice was as clear as day in her head, letting the blackness fade away.
‘Three.’ Andy’s mind became clearer just like her surroundings, she could feel her head being stroked softly.
‘Two.’ She felt that she could now open her eyes, but didn’t feel like it.
‘One.’ Her eyes fluttered open, however she closed it again when the light was too bright and burned her retina. Her head was on something soft that she snuggled against, a gentle laugh resulted from her action and Andy jerked up. Almost hitting the other woman forehead in the process. ‘Careful now Andréa, it won’t do to break the Dragon Lady, how will our dear paparazzi cope?’
‘Mir-Miranda? I’m so sorry, I must have fallen asleep on you… I had a really hard week and-’ Andy stammered mortified.
‘Hush now Andréa, I do not care about that, but I fear that our time will be cut short, I received a call about some emergency at work and I must go.’ Miranda said getting up. ‘Do you want a glass of water before going, dear?’
‘Yes please.’ Andy replied confused, Miranda’s tone has changed, she seemed more reserved and unfeeling than the woman she met this morning, she had her Ice Queen mask on. She followed Miranda when she indicated that Andy should follow her.
The rest of her time with Miranda was spent in near silence, which was thick and awkward, at least for Andy. The complete opposite than what she experienced, each time Miranda dismissed her with no emotion on her face she could feel a pang in her chest. Because that’s what it felt like, she was being dismissed from the presence of a ‘great’ queen.
Now in her apartment she gritted her teeth in annoyance, she should have known better, it seemed too good to be true. Sighing she looked around, where has this taken her? She lost a day to search for a job… She had never felt this alone before. She felt pathetic.
Rising up, she went to her freezer and took out a cookie dough ice cream then went to her couch and turned on her TV. Unfortunately she couldn’t really taste anything, her mind still reeling over Miranda and her coldness.
Her phone rang again, today it has been a friend and an enemy at the same time, still she took the call, without looking. Because, let’s get real, who would call her? Miranda? That was out of the question… But the woman was unpredictable and she proved it just about now.
‘Andréa?’ Said Miranda, her voice more gentle than a few hours ago.
‘Yes? What do you-’
‘Forget.’
Everything became dark.
When she woke, she found herself lounging on her couch, her ice cream now completely wasted. Apart for a minor headache, she felt fine, but she couldn’t remember what she did today, grumbling she got up and threw the ice cream away.
Friday evening, one week later.
Andy happily opened her apartment door, today, she finally found a job after one month of desperate search. The New York Mirror had an opening in editing, and she was employed as a junior editor…Not her dream job but it was better than nothing, and now she could indulge herself with a new laptop, her own having died on her two days ago, the little fella being her best friend for five years straight. She would take care of it tomorrow morning in the shop near her home.
She made her way to her kitchen planning on taking a sip of wine with the orange duck she brought home, a nice treat her neighbors made for her. Still smiling she put it on the counter before stopping dead in her track, in front of her, already sitting on the counter was a bottle of Château de Bourgogne, the name of it triggered something in her, but she couldn't find the cause of it. Anyway, she felt that something was more important than a bottle of wine..Her uneasiness increasing she made her way further in her little apartment, searching for a possible threat, a move that was quite stupid but felt necessary to her. The only thing she found was a note on her pillow along with a striking white rose.
I’m really proud of you my Dear, now try to not disappoint me.
Your Dragon.
My dragon? Now she was confused, who was that weirdo? She should call the police for an investigation but couldn't bring herself to do it. What could that mean? A dragon, apart from the creature, she couldn't see anything else. Shrugging she turned and went to the door checking if it was still closed: it was. She did the same with all the windows making sure that no one could enter. When all was done, she went back to her counter and poured the wine.
‘Why the hell not?’ She thought, grateful for the present.
She hummed in delight and again she felt like something was missing, but the feeling soon went away and she spent the evening finishing the bottle, since she started on Monday, no need to be sober tomorrow. Hopefully, it wasn’t poisoned or there will be no Andy tomorrow…
It wasn’t the last time that her dragon appeared seemingly out of nowhere, congratulating her for her rewarding job at the newspaper, for her birthday - it really creeped her out- but two months later she got used to it. It seemed like the perpetrator of this farce wasn’t going to show his snout anytime soon. And she still didn’t feel like calling the cops which was weird in itself, some time she almost called the cops - when the intruder came one night to give her a present and she was sleeping only five feet away- but her mind always went against it.
It has been one week now that the Dragon hasn’t shown itself in her life, maybe he grew bored of this little game of courting. If it was one, but Andy couldn’t think of something else. But she didn’t have the time to think more thoughtfully about it. Her workload has been reaching the roof since she wrote an article about the secret side of New-York, a dangerous but interesting work. She talked to a lot of people who were in the criminal business, and the shocking fact was that she hadn’t been endangered. They were almost nice, if not wary. But she hadn’t quoted any name, so maybe that was it.
Anyway, since then, it had become almost impossible to not bring work into her home. She worked herself to sleep and took her coffee with her notes, and it was starting to pay off, she got more and more valued in her workplace. And her desk was now a little bigger, so she was installing her favorite comics bobble-head: Batman was now sitting alongside the Joker.
She was about to take out Iron Man from it’s confine when her boss Bruce interrupted her.
“Sachs! Come and see me when you are done playing with your friends!” He yelled from his office. It could be translated as: ‘Get your ass in here now !’, if she didn’t ask him once if he was a secret vigilante. At which he laughed his head off before pointing to his beer belly and flipping her off at one Mirror's party.
With a resigned sigh about his joke, she got up and headed in her boss’ office.
“What can I do for you, Boss?” She asked, smiling.
“Well… You were invited to the Met by an important investor, and since you are a reporter I want you to go and find us a good story. And not to worry you will be going with Stella, she will help you with what needs to be done.”
“But.. I’m not exactly qualified to go in these kind of crowd.” She started, worrying about making a fool of herself.
“No excuses Sachs, now go save some damsel in distress, I need to save the world. Shoo !” He said, shutting her and dismissing her in the same breath.
Andy exhaled, she needed to bring herself up to date by the end of the week, and also to find something to wear… that was at least socially acceptable. She went to find Stella Enheart, the fashion reporter and the official queen bee of the Mirror.
‘Oh Joy’ She thought when she found her, already gossiping on the phone. Stella wasn’t that dumb but she looked like your everyday Barbie doll, who had the bad habit to always chew a gum… Which made her look like a Barbie cow. Andy didn’t even know how she got invited to high class fashion party with her nasty attitude, or maybe they were all like her.
“You, what are you doing here?” Stella asked, after hanging up.
“I’m supposed to go with you to the Met.” Andy stated blankly. A grin stretched on Stella’s face, almost cutting her head in two… Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing Andy though briefly before remembering that she needed her for the party.
“I never took you for joke Sachs, but you are good.” She drawled out.
“I’m not, ask Bruce if you want.” Andy replied.
“Well...Why you? Little Duckling…” She cackled. Andy sighed for the millionth time this day, how worse could it get? “You know that the Queen of fashion will be there? Miranda Priestly? The Dragon Lady?” Stella smiled nastily “ Alright, I will help you, on Friday I will give you a dress so that you will be perfect.”
As a response Andy frowned, not believing her one bit. Maybe she could ask her dragon, he could help her, with all those elegant gift he gave her…
‘Wait a damn second, HER dragon?! What the heck?’ Andy yelled internally, while returning to the bullpen and her loyal bobble-heads. ‘Miranda? Who was that?’ She asked herself, not having a single clue about this person.
She gasped when she googled it, Miranda Priestly the Queen of fashion, at the helm of the prestigious Runway. Miranda Priestly the Dragon Lady, the Ice Queen. Miranda Priestly ! Going in a full panic attack, Andy took deep breathes trying to calm down else she die of a heart attack. Hoping that Miranda would have forgotten about her by the end of the week, which wasn’t too far stretched. Hopefully.
She spent the rest of the day as if in a dream, or maybe a nightmare. She was going to humiliate herself on Friday, it will be the end of a promising career.
When she woke again, the sun had come down and a fresh night had started, the moon illuminating the sky and the valley below. She could feel the softness of the dragon skin on her back, it was looking out on the landscape, surveying its territory for any threat. Sensing her awakening, the dragon turned its head, pinning her and looking through her soul with its striking blue eyes. It emitted a soft purr before touching her forehead with its snout, before blowing hotly through its nose, sending her back and making her giggle. Her brown wings straightened to keep her equilibrium before returning to their normal state on her back, as she looked up again, she found the dragon to be entranced by her wings. Suddenly she stood up, startling the dragon, who imitated her, cautious. Before it could do anything, she jumped down the edge of the cliff, the wind on her face making her feel free with a squeal of glee she opened her wings to soar up in the sky. She dodged the top of the trees and found herself following a river, she let a toes touch the water. Which was surprisingly warm.
With a mighty roar she heard the dragon take chase. Surprised, she looked behind her, seeing the dragon gaining grounds, the instinctive fear returned, making her fly faster. After five miles or so, she looked back again, but there was nothing behind. Wary, she looked around trying to find her pursuer but it was nowhere to be seen. A sound made her look down and she screamed when she saw the water part and the dragon appear in between, before it captured her again. She tried in vain to free herself but she was too weak, the dragon growled lowly in its throat telling her not to move, she obeyed not wanting to be hurt in the process. Because each time she squirmed, the dragon would hold her tighter not to the point of injuring her, it was just a warning. The dragon took her back to the cave, letting the same low growl, at which she put her hands up to appease it. With a last -long- look, it took off again, letting out a jet of ice. For a good hour, the dragon literally danced in the sky, doing figures, gliding so effortlessly that she was entranced. When the dragon came back after warning outsiders of its power, it found her sleeping like an angel on the stone floor. Huffing, it took her between its maws and deposited her on the fur before encircling her to keep her warm.
‘You are never alone..’
On Friday afternoon she was a wreck, it felt as if she hadn’t slept for a week and she was still waiting for the dress, if there even was one. She completed as much as she could her article in the state she was in, by 17pm she went to Stella’s office.
“Hello Sachs” Andy startled, Stella was waiting for her a wide smile plastered on her face. “I tough you wouldn’t come..”
“Yes, well, I have a job to do. Do you have the dress?” Andy asked, her temper falling short.
“Why, of course I do. The perfect dress for you” She said, stressing out the word ‘you’. “It’s right here, we will meet in front of the Met at 20 pm sharp, don’t be late.” Were her parting words before she took the phone, ignoring her.
Andy took the hanger with the supposed dress and left, she was home by 18 pm because she needed to be ready for two hours later. After closing her apartment door she felt that something was off, she put the hamper on the hanger before going further in.
“Hello? Is somebody there?” She called out, afraid of receiving a response. And what was she doing, talking like in a classic horror movie. She became quite paranoid and her breathing became erratic. Following the walls closely, she made her way to the kitchen were -when seeing there wasn’t anyone- she took a knife before continuing her journey to the little dining room. It was easier to breath when there still wasn’t anyone in sight but then again, the bedroom door was still closed. As quietly as she could she went forwards and, just when she was starting to turn the knob, a voice rose behind her.
“Andréa.”
Andy reacted instinctively, throwing the knife behind her in fright. Slowly, she turned around, ready to bolt any seconds. What she saw had her gobsmacked, Miranda was here in her living room - that was a feast in itself -, but she had the knife between her finger as if she was manipulating a simple pen. And she looked surprised, she broke into her home and she had the gall to look surprised when Andy assaulted her. Andy wanted to laugh, shout at Miranda and then kill herself.
“Really, there is no need to show such aggressiveness..” She said taking a step toward Andy.
“Stay away from me!” Andy yelled, going behind the couch to increase the distance between their bodies. “What are you doing here? And how did you enter?”
“That is for you to discover and for me to know.” Miranda said, looking bored.
“You are kidding me right?” Andy stood her ground, who do she think she was; God?
“You will learn that I never kid Andréa.”
“That’s it, I’m calling the cops. You have no right to be in here !” Andy was starting to get hysteric, she pulled out her phone and dialed 911. Before it could ring, the phone was thrown across the room by a very cross Miranda, Andy gaped at her, shocked.
“Look at me, you aren’t going to do any of those things.” Miranda looked right at her.
“Wha-What the actual fu-...” Andy stammered.
“Sleep” Miranda ordered and Andy slept.
Friday Evening - 19 pm
One hour later, Andy woke in a frenzy, she was going to be late ! Cursing she got up, she couldn’t remember how or why she fell asleep. She tripped twice before she got to the hamper and opened it expecting a hideous dress. However, the dress was made of a very soft silk. It was beautiful black satin dress with embroidered gold wings on the back.
With haste she went to the bathroom and did her makeup, au naturel as some might say and put on the dress. In less than ten minutes she was in front of her building flagging a taxi.
“Hello, ma’am. Where to?” He said. He looked like Santa with a long white bread and mirth shining in his blue eyes.
“To the Met, please.” She said, her stomach in knots. She had a bad feeling about this story, it was as if she was missing some big pieces of the puzzle. As the car started onward, she looked out and lost herself in her head.
“Have you heard about the Illusionists ma’am? I heard that some important people were going to the Met tonight and a grand coup was in preparation.” The taxi driver asked, interrupting her spiralling line of thought.
“I can’t say I have, who are the Illusionists exactly?” She leaned toward him, curious.
“They are a powerful group of anonymous people who strives in assassination and thieving. I only know ‘bout them by rumors, but I ought to warn ya, because you seem too innocent to go play willingly with these sharks. You need to keep your head clear and out of their game.”
“Will do.”
“And here we are, and try to keep in mind what I said, please.”
After paying the cab, she looked up, the building was tall and imposing with a dark cloud obscuring the moon, giving an edge to the already tense atmosphere. She exhaled forcefully before making her way to it, blending in the crowd of photographers and journalists who were transfixed on the limo who just appeared.
‘Come on Andy, just take some quotes and you are out of here. You can do it!’
With that in mind, she went in.
A/N: At first, this chapter was too short, so I reunited it with half of the next one. I'm sorry for the cliff hanger, it was quite..Unexpected? Anyway, thanks for reading!