Alicorn and Fausticorn

Opening up the front door, I entered my apartment while serving as a clutch for the lady I met at a club party. She had a lot of drinks, but that wasn't the reason for my help. Nope, the issue was her ankle. In case you don't believe me, I better write down how things got to that point. So, here is a brief introduction through flashback! Because apparently, SHE wants a complete record.

Sitting alone in the bar, I watched the people dance, walk around, drink, and go to the restroom together (because the one who designed this placed it there; so, I saw it whenever I turned to the bar). I was there for a friend's bachelor party. He thought a club filled with women and booze was a good idea to celebrate getting hitched. And of course, he was at the center of the dance floor surrounded by people.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed a glass of water. Why? Because I promised his fianceé not to let this stupid idiot drive his way back home. He was my friend, and his fianceé was a nice person. So, I wouldn't allow anything bad to happen to him right before the big day. Nothing lethal at least, I warned him about the risks of having a party like this, but he said he wanted to go out with a bang.

"Hello. What are you doing here by yourself? This is a party, right?" A tipsy voice greeted, making me look to the side.

I won't deny it, she was beautiful. She wasn't exactly tanned nor pale. I couldn't tell if she had lipstick on, or if she had naturally rosy lips. Given the flush in her cheeks and the half-open eyes, she seemed to be half-drunk. That would certainly explain the moist glistening in her lips. Her red hair almost formed a curtain to hide her gleaming emerald eyes that almost sparkled in the lights of the club. A woman that can make any men do her whims. Does that qualify her as a femme-fatale?

In all honesty, it felt like one of those scenes in action movies. Scenes that usually preceded a series of unfortunate events for the protagonist. Some say that art imitates life, I think the other way around is also valid. Her get-up was certainly different from the other guests. Her clothes certainly weren't made to taunt her peers. The skirt almost went down her knees and it wasn't skinny either. The freedom she had to sit in any position she wanted, exposed parts of her legs. The t-shirt was fairly loose reaching half her stomach and leaving the area underneath her neck exposed. The shirt she wore over that was cyan and didn't match anything the others were wearing.

She isn't one of the girls he hired. Is she a guest? I don't recall Danny mentioning anyone like this ever. And considering how he is about noticing women, he would have mentioned her for at least three days. I mused while taking notice of a necklace she wore that had a pendant shaped like an inkpot with a quill inside it.

"It is a party. But I'm on babysitting duty," I replied while picking my glass of water. "So, I'll keep my head clear of, that," I added while pointing at my friend; who was tossed up in the air by a group of people that were clearly over their heads.

"Ah, but, the best part of a party is having fun!" She said while the barman gave her a glass with what I think was whiskey based on the color alone. "The name is Faust by the way," She added before taking a sip.

"Gael Litos," I replied without much care. As beautiful as she was, I knew better than to mess with drunk people. "Are you part of the people hired to entertain that guy?" I asked bluntly in hopes she would be offended and back off.

"Nope, the guy flying over there let me in after I walked past the entrance," She answered before taking the rest of the drink in one go. "I can never tell whether these are meant to drink in one go or bit by bit."

That was a surprisingly lucid answer for someone who looks half drunk. I thought while she asked for another. Which she proceeded to drink in one go. Ok, she takes it in pretty quickly. I noted while she asked for two doses this time.

"Come on! Just one shot won't get you drunk!" She said while offering the glass of whiskey to me. I eyed the glass before looking back at her. "Come on, what do you say? Just one?"

"That's not a good idea. I'm a lightweight on that front," I replied while taking the whiskey and placing it down. "One shot from this and I'll be out like a candle in a storm," I added with a half-smile.

"Is there anything you can drink?" She inquired while adjusting her hair behind her ears. Her nails were cut, and she didn't have nail polish on them. Her hands looked rather delicate.

"Sorry. But if I drink the weakest cocktail I won't be able to drive," I replied while staring at the dancefloor. A glance towards Faust, and I saw her staring at the dancefloor. The colors and lights illuminated her face in a strangely mesmerizing manner. I could see why Danny invited her in without knowing her. She had a natural allure to her that could have anyone doing her whims with a snap of her fingers.

I didn't notice at first, but my head had turned to face her and only her. The high music and other sounds faded into the background as all I could do was look at her. I believe that is how some of the sailors would feel when dealing with sirens at the sea. And in those stories, the usual ending was a drowning. I pinched my right hand to snap out of whatever trance she had me in and looked back at the dance floor.

That was when she decided to try and pull me into the dance floor without any warning. However, she misstepped and tripped down the stairs while I clumsily grabbed the railings for dear life. Rushing down the stairs, I saw her ankle twisted in a way it wasn't meant to.

"Are you ok?" I asked while kneeling in front of her. "I-I'm sorry!"

"Who's this?" Camilla, my friend's fianceé asked.

"C-Camilla?" I stuttered while looking over my shoulder. "This is Faust. She fell down the stairs, and I think she broke her ankle."

"I should have known that dumbass would get into trouble," Camilla said while looking at Faust's ankle. "I'll take him back. He's out like a candle now. You worry about getting her to a hospital," She added while helping me get Faust to use me as a clutch.

After that, I took Faust to the hospital. The X-Ray stated the obvious, and thankfully, the ankle was the only injury she sustained. After some rather embarrassing explanations to the doctor about how I met her and how we weren't a couple, we headed back to the car. I was about done with the night when the second wave of events started to fall on my head.

"I'll drive you home. Where do you live?" I asked while turning on the car.

"I don't live around here. I was passing through town when I got into that party," She replied while rubbing her arm.

"Oh, so a tourist," I mumbled while looking at her. "So, are you at a hotel? Made reservations for one or something like that?" I added while she kept shifting on her seat.

"I'm down on money. And I don't have a place to stay," She said sheepishly.

"You're kidding, right?" I blurted out, earning a chuckle from Faust. "Why are you laughing? You're technically stranded here," I added with exasperation.

"Sorry, but your face when I said that made me laugh," She replied with a half-smile. "It's not unusual for me to be lost or end up wandering around everywhere I go. I'm used to it," She added while leaning closer to the window.

That isn't right. What the fuck lady? Now, what do I do? Dropping her at a hotel? I don't have money for any of the secure ones. Handing her to the police? Wait, she isn't a child nor does she have signs of being kidnapped. Then again, she is lost. But taking her there now means she will need to spend the night there while they search for her relatives or something close to it. I thought while planting my face on the steering wheel.

"Fine. I'll take you in for the night. Dropping you at a hotel with an ankle like that is bad, I think," I said with a defeated sigh as I raised my head and switched gears.

"Thank you," She said while I helped her in the car.

"Don't mention it," I replied while leaving the parking lot.

The way back was quiet, Faust didn't say a word as she stared into the sky. With the corner of my eye, I saw her sigh and a tear rolled down her face as she mumbled something incoherent. Once more, her lights were making me get lost in thought. Her visage was like some sort of weird spell that kept pulling me in whenever I dropped my guard. Luckily enough, the fact I was driving was enough to take me away from the trance.

I guess the alcohol is kicking in now. Damn it. I better make sure I'm not close when she starts to do things she might regret. I mused while making the last turn before entering the garage.

And that's how I got to the point of having a beautiful, half-drunk, woman in my apartment. Now, after I got her in, her legs caved in and I had to carry her back to my bed.

"A quaint little place you got here," She said while I tried to get to my room without knocking everything down. "Very cozy."

"Thanks," I mumbled while maneuvering around the table with the little vase I got from my mother when I moved away. "I worked hard on the baren style of decoration," I added as we moved past the cramped living room/kitchen area and entered the corridor where I had to walk sideways to enter my room.

"You won't have a place to lay on if I stay here," She said while looking at my single's bed. "I can't sleep here."

"And your leg won't accommodate on the sofa I have," I said while placing her down. "I fell asleep more than once there when I was too tired to reach my room. So, don't worry about me. You can go ahead and fall asleep here," I added as I picked some blankets to cover her and keep her leg up. "That should do it. Do you need a glass of water or anything like that?"

"No, I'm ok. Thank you for your kindness," She said as I closed the curtains.

"Very well, I'll be in the other room. If you need something, just call," I said while taking my leave.

"Please, can you stay here?" She asked with puppy eyes while holding my sleeve.

"Sorry, but I can't. You're drunk. And you will regret waking up with me beside you," I answered while trying to tug my sleeve away from her.

"I don't want to do anything. I just don't want to be alone," She said with a slight sob. "I promise you that I'm not drunk. Please?" She asked again while looking at me with her head on the pillow and half-open eyes.

Damn these weak knees! I cursed while grabbing her hand.

"Fine," I said while letting out a sigh. "I'll seat on the other side. I'll be right there," I added while freeing myself to seat on the other side of the bed.

However, as soon as I laid down with my back turned to her, Faust wrapped her arms around me and pulled me closer. She is strong! I can't get out! I thought while panicking at my current situation. Her body was glued to mine. Her head rested on my neck as I felt something cold hit it. Faust began sobbing as she squeezed me tightly.

"I lied," She said in between sobs. "It's not that I don't have a place to go back to. The problem is that I have no way of going back there. It's so far. There are so many things I want to see again but I can't. I want to return. But I don't know how to do it as I am!" She said while pressing her face against me. "I was prohibited from coming back. I can't even enter the realm I created. I'm a goddess but I can't even get past a stupid barrier! I'm so pathetic! How am I supposed to see what I created!? How am I supposed to see the land I poured my heart and soul to create?!"

That's, sad. She is delusional because of alcohol. What do I do? Comfort her? Ask her to back away? What does one do in this situation???? Urgh, I'll try to calm her down. Maybe then she will let me go.

"Just rest for now. When the morning comes around, we'll both figure something out. I promise that I'll help you in any way I can," I said in hopes that she would loosen up her grip.

"You, promise?" She answered in a surprised tone. "That's a first. Ok, I guess we can try. It's a deal," She added while hugging me tighter than before.

Wow, how strong is this lady?? And this is less than ideal. Wait, is she, sleeping? I thought when I looked at her with the corner of my eye. Oh, no. She is asleep.

And that was the last night I spent in my apartment. All because of a meeting by chance.