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Mason pulled the parking brake
and exited her car into the brisk evening air. The small park in
Deep Ellum was lit dimly by streetlights. She scooped the books from
the passenger seat and Brutis followed her as she carried them into the
darkness.
Lyness felt a dancing delight even here in the city at the existence of the park and its inhabitants. The birds chirped to her and the squirrels told her their secret stashes, trustingly. She heard Mason and Brutis approach and greeted the dog and the woman with pleasure. Mason answered her embrace, won over from her usual reserve by Lyness's free touches and by the nature of their relationship. She showed Lyness the three books then. A book of poetry by Catullus, and Ovid's metamorphosis, and a Latin history of Ireland. Chosen in hopes they would be to Lyness's taste.
Lyness paged through the books a different delight showing on her face at the sight of her own tongue. She read a story to Mason, translating it, though its particular vivid imagery made her feel vaguely uncomfortable, and this feeling communicated itself to Mason. In a way, Mason enjoyed the sound of the Latin more than the knowledge of its meaning.
After finishing the story, Lyness drew Mason to her and fed her... Mason still after three nights not used to the sensation, though it was building something within her that she could readily feel. It was not the same as with Lucille, yet it was the same... inexplicable even within Mason's heart. Perhaps a Freudian would explain it by discovering that Mason had been bottle fed as an infant.
Lyness played a tune to Mason afterward and encouraged her to dance... Mason, her heart light, danced and thought of her appointment soon to come to dine with Nicholas... and even her fear did not outweigh her joy at that moment, as she danced to the sweet music.
She hugged Lyness one more time before
she went. "Thank you, Lady Lyness," she said, whispering it into
Lyness's fair hair. Lyness took the opportunity to examine
Mason for signs of growing fur or other animal characteristics. No,
nothing so far, Lyness was relieved to see. "How doth my blood feel
within you, Mason?" she asked, curious as a cat. Mason hesitated,
tried to describe the sensation, could not find adequate words at this
moment, but gave what she had. "I... it feels good... fertile like
moist earth, green like crushed mint.... warm too, cozywarm from the inside."
Lyness seemed well satisfied.
Mason drove Brutis home, the dog perched on the books, Mason herself in a warm daze driving so that it was fortunate she was simply heading home. She parked her car and got Brutis settled, she showered, dried herself off and put on a casual and comfortable outfit that was as close to pyjamas as street clothes get... a dark plum color satin shorts with embroidred gold trim and a matching collared, short sleeved shirt that buttons up the front and has a pocket over one breast. She slipped brown sandals onto her feet and put her hair into a ponytail with a gold scrunchy - an outfit that looked casual yet was the product of careful consideration.
And she made her way upstairs to Constance and Nicholas's apartment, to her dinner date....
Go on to: Part I: Contradictions
