FREE STORIES 2012(81)

"Don't be stupid." Olivia whispered as Peanut shifted into full streetwalker mode, pulling down the neckline of her tight shirt to show off almost all of her breasts. "This is going to be the only handout. The food is here. The line is going to start moving any minute."

"I'll make it quick." Peanut started to broadcast her interest at the elves and they received her message loud and clear. "Isn't he gorgeous?"

"All elves are gorgeous."

"That old one with the messed up face; he isn't."

The newspaper had carried candid photos of the new elf lords as they had arrived in Pittsburgh. Only one hadn't been Paris model beautiful. "Forest Moss on Stone?"

"Yeah, him, he's freaky looking. They say he's complete nutcase."

Three of the male royal marines drifted over to goggle down at Peanut. Olivia was fairly tall woman but the elves were all a foot or more taller. They were armed with rifles, swords, and daggers. She'd been raised with ten stepbrothers and could probably match any human male in a fistfight, but the combination of the males' height, weapons, and their sexual interest made her shift away from Peanut.

I'm not really with her. I'm a librarian. Can't you tell by my glasses?

"I'm Peanut Butter Pie." Peanut slid her mini-skirt up high enough to flash her red panties. The elves' eyes dropped from Peanut's sizable breasts to her lace-covered groin.

"I have heard that peanut butter is very, very good." One of the males said.

Which was, of course, why Peanut picked her name. Something about the spread made it insanely good to elf taste buds. Peanut claimed her real name was boring and stupid. Not that Olivia really had the right to judge; all the girls walking Liberty Avenue knew her only as Red.

Peanut caught the male's hand and tugged him toward the tiny dead-end alley called Mentor Way. "Let me give you a taste."

Olivia shook her head. It was still early morning; only a handful of dumpsters and some fading shadows would screen the two from the curious eyes. Olivia studied the distant head of the line. People seemed to be stirring a block and a half down. Had the handouts started?

"Damn you, Peanut," Olivia whispered. "I'm not going to starve because you were off getting boinked silly."

"Forgiveness." The marine's friends were still hovering over Olivia.

She'd hoped that if she ignored them, they'd go away. She considered pretending not to know Elvish, but then decided she should figure out what they wanted. "Yes?"

"Are you an adult?" The taller of the two asked.

She considered how to answer. She had been told that no matter what, never lie to an elf. Her forged paperwork showed she was eighteen, but the truth was she was only sixteen. "Naekanain." She fudged by pretending to not understand. "I lived alone. I am one person – how do you say -- my household."

"You're old enough to marry?" he asked.

"Yes." She didn't even have to lie for that one. It wasn't her fault that she wasn't "legally" married since the state of Kansas didn't allow a man more than one wife, and a judge would have had to approve the marriage of a fifteen-year old. She hadn't wanted to get married in the first place.

"Like I told you, Dart." He pointed to Olivia. "They're tiny even when they're fully grown."

Olivia was the tallest human woman in sight, but she was still a good eight to ten inches shorter than any of the female elves.

Dart waved off the proof. "The Wind Clan domi is smaller than this female."

Olivia didn't know the meaning of the word domi. Without a doubt, though, they were debating the maturity of the girl being hailed as Princess Tinker. The girl was two years older than Olivia but six inches shorter. Even with the war on, everyone was talking about Princess Tinker. Pittsburgh's own little Cinderella. Pictures of her were being plastered all over the city. Olivia had been surprised at how small and scruffy-looking the girl was.

"Did you hear, Ash?" Dart said. "One-eyed thinks he can get a human female to be his domi since no elf will have him."

Ash laughed. "He is insane. You heard this one." He pointed at Olivia. "Humans live alone."

Dart nodded. "I heard he's been pawing all the nivasa at the Wind Clan enclave. Male and female alike. The holy ones won't put up with that forever. Especially Thorne Scratch on Stone."

Olivia was relieved that the conversation had shifted off her. She wished the marines would move away. Everyone around her was obviously just as uncomfortable by the elves presence and their discussion. There was a five-foot gap on either side of her.

There was a call from down the street and the elves echoed it, so it traveled up Penn Avenue.