“Ummm let me have two slices of combination and a drink please.” the dy said. It was obvious she wasn’t a student by her dress. She was very professional looking. She looked a bit harried.

  “She must be in a real hurry to eat here.” Madison thought to herself.

  “Sure,” Madison replied with a smile.

  Putting the slices on a pte, she walked to the register, set them down and grabbed a cup, lid and straw for the customer.

  “Here you go, do you want to pay with Dolphin bucks?” Madison asked, though she was pretty sure of the answer. No way was this dy even on staff here. Not with a Moynat bag at her shoulder and a…Hermes briefcase? She was carrying two rge binders and her phone, hugged close to her chest in the hand that wasn’t occupied with the very nice briefcase.

  The dy looked at her confused, “What?” she asked not really understanding what Madison was asking.

  Madison just smiled and pointed to the dolphin on the register.

  “Oh, um no, I’m not a student or anything here…just a quick visit.” She expined, demurring on paying with fish bucks or whatever…she kind of waved with her phone at Madison, indicating how she would pay.

  “Shit this dy is so out of pce here.” She thought to herself, wondering, “What is she doing eating the Student Union?”

  Madison looked around; it was slow tonight…of course. Most students were probably eating off campus or in their dorm.

  The dy waved her phone at the payment box. “Ding” the register chirped cheerily.

  “I could use a little good karma,” Madison thought to herself, “I’ll bring it to your table, you’ve got your hands full.” she offered with a smile.

  “Oh, thank you, you’re amazing!” the fancy dy said in gratitude.

  “Yeah, no problem.” Madison smiled, nodding to the seating area, “I’ll follow you.” she offered.

  “Ok” the dy accepted. Turning and walking to a table. Madison following behind.

  Noticing no one was at the counter, Madison decided to be a bit nosey and satisfy her curiosity.

  “So, we don’t see to many ‘Moynats’ around here.” she ventured.

  As she sat the dy blushed a little, “I suppose not,” a small ugh drifted into her answer.

  “I was just using the library for some research.” she smiled at Madison as she put the tray with the pizza on the table.

  “Oh yeah, I guess for some stuff the city library isn’t going to really have what you need.” Madison replied.

  “Well, have a good night.” Madison said as she turned to go.

  As she started helping the next customer, this one just another hungry student. She kept an eye on the dy’s bags. She had left them at her table as she went to the drink fountain.

  “Wow, she didn’t even look over her shoulder at her stuff…she is really trusting or something…” Madison thought.

  ————

  “Hey! Mystery dy!” a voice came from the far end of the counter. It was the clerk from the library.

  She met his eyes and smiled. “Thanks again for helping me today…it’s been super weird all day!”

  “No problem girl!” they said with a big smile.

  They leaned close, “So, did she talk to you too?” they said in a whisper.

  “She who?” Madison asked, she hadn’t met anyone else today.

  “The dy that was sitting over there a minute ago.” They motioned to where Ms. Fancy bags had been sitting.

  “The one with the super expensive bags?” Madison asked.

  “Hell yeah! The st time I saw a Moynat and a Hermes bag on one person was in Singapore.” They said as they cocked their hip out, crossed their arms and put a finger on their chin.

  “That chick must be stupid rich girl!” They said.

  “Hey, by the way, I’m Elicious but many just call me delicious” they introduced themselves with a bit of sass in their voice and a big smile.

  “And who are you, mystery dy?” Elicious asked holding out their hand.

  Pulling off her glove, she shook their soft hand, “Hi Elicious, I’m Madison.” she replied with a smile.

  “So, when you buyin’ Elicious a drink baby girl?” they asked.

  Madison ughed, “Elicious is funny!” she thought.

  “Well, I’m working till close so…I won’t be out of here until like, eightish. Why don’t you text me from wherever you are and maybe we can meet up?” Madison offered.

  “I can hook you up with a slice though if you want?” Madison offered.

  “Girl, you are the devil! How am I gonna stay so fine eat’n trash like that!” they looked genuinely offended at the thought of eating pizza as they gestured to their obviously very fit torso. They reminded her of a ballet dancer.

  Madison couldn’t help but grin, “Elicious was…what did Uncle Mitch say? Oh yeah, ‘Nelly’” she thought to herself…meaning super effeminate and over the top, kinda like a drag queen without the costume.

  “OK, ok! Sorry!” Madison apologized ughing with a wide grin.

  “This is a just the type of person I need to go out and have a drink with! Who knows? Maybe they’ll have some friends that like girls.” she thought.

  “You better not ghost me if you want that drink, no wandering up to me next week!” she admonished taking a mock serious tone and shaking her finger at them.

  “Don’t worry baby girl! I need some hotness like you around to lure in some pretty straight boys so’s I can console ‘em when you shoot ‘em down!” Elicious turned and strutted away with more sass in their walk than Madison had seen anywhere but that drag queen show om TV.

  ————

  “Hey Mike, check my station so I can leave please!” Madison called to the supervisor. He was a nice guy but always pyed by the rules. He said he learned in the Air Force, “If you follow the rules, you never have to worry when someone asks why you did something.” So, the station inspection would follow the checklist, and he would make her fix whatever wasn’t done. Unlike others who worked these jobs, Madison knew it took less time to do it right than have to re-do something after it was rejected.

  “Hey Mad girl, be right over” Mike replied. he always thought he was funny with that joke; little did he know she was wondering if she was crazy tely.

  A couple of minutes ter, “Ok, good to go Mad. I wish the rest of ‘em would figure out how to do it right the first time. Have a good night.” Mike sketched a quick salute, freeing her from her work obligations.

  ————

  As she walked across campus, enjoying the warm night air, her thoughts turned darker, “What am I supposed to do now?” Agent Balerd had just given her his number. I wonder why he didn’t tell me his coworker was here…maybe it was a coincidence? No fucking way. She was a good actress though, acted like she didn’t know me from anyone else.” As she pondered her phone pinged.

  ‘Hey girl, be over at the Pony like about midnight? right now I’m gonna take a nap, see you there sugar’ Elicious’s text read.

  ‘Cool, I’ll probably see you there :)’ She replied.

  Midnight, the usual time to arrive…if you had been pregaming, “Meh, I don’t really feel like drinking right now. I should see if anyone else wants to go, it would be fun to dance a bit though.” she considered.

  ‘Hey peoples, anyone want to meet up at the Pony for a bit tonight?’ She added to her friend’s group text.

  ‘Isn’t that a gay bar?’ Janet replied.

  ‘Yeah, so? I’ll go, what time?’ Hunter replied

  ‘About midnight, I’m meeting up with a funny person I met at the library today’ Madison typed.

  ‘Alicious?’ Came Alec’s reply

  ‘Yeah, but for some reason I think its with an ‘E’’ She replied.

  ‘Oh yeah, they are great! A lot of fun! But really bitchy if you get on their bad side. I’ll be there if I can get Stephon to come’ Alec contributed.

  ‘Is that come or cum? hehe’ Janet teased.

  ‘You have your own dick slut, and I don’t share! and maybe it’s both ;)~~~ “Alec replied

  The thread continued for a while a few others said they couldn’t make it. In the end it seemed Alec, his boyfriend and Hunter would make it.

  “Hmm, Hunter…I’ve seen him checking me out a few times. But no, he has a girlfriend. Whatever, it’ll be fun.” she decided.

  “OK, a quick shower, a little nap nap, and then some fun. I deserve it after all the weird shit today.” she thought.

  ————

  She was walking across a misty field; she could feel the cold crispness of the morning. The sun was just peaking over the majestic mountains on her right; the warmth of the sun felt good on her face. In the distance there was a small hut. It had a pen with what looked like goats in it on its left. On the right was a small pond. Reeds and flowers dotted the shore.

  Suddenly the world blurred. She was standing at the door. Her long bck gown was just the right thickness to keep out the morning coolness. She knocked.

  “Come in, come in, dear…I’ve been waiting for you, and I don’t have all morning!’ the voice of an elderly dy came from the hut.

  She opened the door. She marveled at how real this dream was…she could smell the trees, the grass, the dew, the goat pen…luckily the pen wasn’t as close to the hut as it had appeared before.

  “So, little Madison…what shall we do with you?” the woman said as she entered. The hut was roomy…far roomier inside than it should have been…it was warm with the smell of fresh yeasty bread.

  “I’m sorry, um what do you mean ‘do with me’? Who are you and are my dreams always going to be weird now?” she asked all at once. The dream had started pleasant enough but now it was like she had stepped into a fantasy movie or something.

  “Well, my dear, you see…you’ve been awakened. Now you see and know there is more to the world than your friends and family can even imagine. That is both good and bad. Good because you are infused with real power, bad for the same reason. You cannot be trifled with like other women. At the same time there are those who are involved with the eternal war and they will be coming for you.” the dy expined.

  “Coming for me? Why I haven’t done anything, and I don’t know anything!” Madison replied, afraid now…again…she was getting tired of all the fear. She had mastered her fear a long time ago on the high dive ptform, she did not welcome its return.

  “Exactly! You are new, and those that are coming want you. Either as thrall, or as ally. You really don’t have a choice. They will make you choose. There are no neutral parties in this war. Some try to be neutral but end up on one side or the other, no there are no neutrals.” The woman expined as she pulled the bread from the oven.

  “So, what do I do?” Madison asked.

  “There are three things you must do. First you must learn. Second you must choose. Finally, you must fight.” the dy answered, gesturing for Madison to sit.

  “Here’s some coffee, enjoy some bread while we chat.” the dy offered.

  “Thank you, it smells wonderful and I’m suddenly so hungry. What is your name?” Madison asked as she sat at the low, pin, wood table. The three-legged stool she sat on looked rough and hard. When she sat though it was warm and comfortable.

  “Call me Solveig dear. Now, we don’t have much time, you did only y for a nap after all. So, listen closely I shall teach you two ways to protect yourself and others. When the time comes to use them, do not hesitate or all will be lost. Those that come, will not show mercy, nor will they care for those around you.” Solveig answered as Madison started eating the most delicious bread, butter, a little salt and honey were baked into its pillowy lightness.

  “Why are you helping me?” Madison asked, her question more of curiosity than suspicion.

  “Oh, sweet girl, though you are not of my blood, you are of my cn, and we have not had one such as you for a long time. Our people are lost in pces of darkness, I can only reach you here in dreams and not often lest I draw attention to both of us from those that would do us harm. Now, eat and listen, you will learn.” Solveig promised.

  With that, she began to sing. The notes were ethereal and breathy, the words were in some nguage Madison felt like she had known but forgotten. Madison ate a few more bites and then drifted off into the song. It was a song of sunlight and warmth of the hearth.

  ————

  “For all that was saidOf where we'd end up at the end of itWhen the heart would cease, ours nеver knew peacеWhat good would it be on the far side of things?” came the singers voice from her phone, waking Madison up.

  “Fuuuck, when I am I gonna stop having weird dreams?” She thought, rolling over and getting up.

  Shaking her head she brought her hands to her face to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

  As her hands came to her face, she smelled butter…