THE MOMENT
"Babe?" Flutter opened her eyes and sat up to take a look around. Her wife, Gloryanna, went silent in the middle of a sentence and Flutter found her sound asleep next to her. It wasn't like Gloryanna to drift off like that and she stood to get a better look at the beach. All the other beachgoers lay on the ground asleep. They seemed to fall where they were and a majority of them slept on bare sand while dozens of other sleeping bodies floated on the waves. Then, she spotted a lean old man with long jet-black hair walking among the sleepers.
"I guess we're going to a different beach...," Flutter sighed as she knelt and lifted her wife off the towel.
"Why aren't you asleep?" a frail voice spoke up suddenly behind Flutter once she was standing up again. She turned and looked down at the wrinkled man; she was at least a foot taller than him.
"Hey, Coronado," she smirked at him and he took a cautious step back. Her knowing his name wasn't that much of a surprise, he liked having a widespread reputation. But, the fact that she knew who he was and wasn't afraid left him uneasy. "I guess if you're asking, you don't recognize me," she shrugged. "Ah well. Since you're here, wake my wife up and we'll be out of your hair."
"You're giving me orders??" A flash of anger coursed through Coronado; but, he managed to keep hold of his senses. He knew better than to underestimate someone.
"More of a request," she shrugged. "But, if your little charm doesn't wear off, I'll come back to have a word with you," Flutter answered. She tossed a black card onto the sand to open a portal. Coronado decided not to risk her anger and black wisps of smoke formed a crown shape above his head for a brief moment. Flutter felt Gloryana stir in her arms.
"Sorry, did I fall asleep?" she asked as soon as she woke up in Flutter's arms.
"Just for a few minutes," Flutter grinned and leaned forward to kiss her wife's forehead. Then, she set her down on the sand. "We're moving to another beach," she said. "Go on ahead, I'll catch up in a bit." Gloryanna nodded at Flutter. She walked to the portal and sank into it to disappear.
"Thanks," Flutter nodded at Coronado.
"You're not concerned for the rest of them?" he asked as he gestured at the beach lined with sleeping bodies.
"Not enough to make waves for Dana," Flutter shrugged. "Killing you would probably mess up her plans." Coronado tilted his head at her. He was equal parts scared and curious. He was confident and fearless his entire life; he could make anyone do anything he wanted. But, something in his soul was terrified of this woman. If anyone else had insinuated they could kill him he would have laughed. But, she said it so casually that it almost sounded like it was something she'd already done.
"Who are you? How do you know about my connection to Dana Sharp?" he asked. It took an effort to keep his voice steady; but, he was confident he managed it.
"I'm Flutter," she grinned at him. "I'm not really allowed to explain my role in their arrangement; you'll have to ask Dana if you want details."
"What arrangement?" Coronado asked. "With whom?"
"Awww damnit...," Flutter grumbled to herself and shook her head. "She hasn't told you anything, has she?" She shrugged and approached the open portal on the ground. But, six new people emerged from their own portals and surrounded her. Coronado felt a rush of confidence with the arrival of the other Conquistadors. She may have been a match for him alone; but, now she was outnumbered.
Majicka the mermaid with pitch-black scales emerged from a portal in the ocean and her bottom half became legs as she walked onto the beach. She was followed by her attendant Chip, a large burly man in a formal suit and glasses.
From another direction, Diavola the devil stepped out of a portal with her own muscleman, Roy. And finally, Runehart, a black unicorn came out of a portal in front of Flutter with a mousey blonde man walking next to him.
"We'd really like you to explain it to us now," Coronado said. His voice was loaded with smugness. But, Flutter didn't slow down at all as she walked to the portal.
"I'd prefer to be with my wife," Flutter shrugged.
"Roy," Diavola gave him a nod.
"Chip," Majicka did the same and both men approached the giant woman. However, before they reached her, another portal appeared and a short woman in a black suit walked out onto the sand. Everyone froze when she appeared.
"She may go, I will answer your questions," the woman spoke directly to Coronado. The old man sighed, then nodded.
"Thanks, Melody," Flutter nodded at her and sank into the portal to disappear. When she was gone, the short woman sighed heavily, then she focused on Coronado.
"In the future, it would be a good idea to not antagonize Flutter," she said. "You're lucky I arrived before she got mad."
"What?" Coronado laughed. "With all of us here, she -"
"She would have killed every single one of you without breaking a sweat," Melody interrupted him. "Again."