“So,” Chloe said, “What are we doing after this?”
“Why do you want to talk about that?” Melanie asked. “I only just got here. I want to enjoy the party awhile.”
“I know. But still.”
“I suppose we’ll just go over to your place. All right?”
Chloe nodded. “All right.”
The two girls came up to the punchbowl, a glass wonder given center stage upon a great table. They each picked up a glass and filled it with punch. Chloe began to sip hers, looking out at all the well-dressed human and enchanted adolescents of the aristocrat class. Melanie took out a small flask and put a little bit of alcohol into her punch before she drank from it.
“You don’t need that,” Chloe said.
“What do you know?” Melanie asked with a smirk.
A couple dressed in a matching brown suit and dress walked up to Melanie and Chloe. At first Melanie thought they were a drably dressed human couple, but then she noticed that both of them had a sealskin slung over their arms. So, a selkie couple had been invited.
Melanie poised herself to greet the enchanted couple. The selkies opened up their fans so that the names written on them could be seen. The girl’s fan was grey, and had Owl written on it. The boy’s was black, and had Panther written on it. Melanie and Chloe performed the same action in return.
“Hello, Phoenix and Dolphin,” the girl selkie said. Melanie had a hard time understanding what she was saying through her thick Irish accent. “Though I think we know you, Dolphin, better as Chloe.”
Chloe laughed and walked up to the girl selkie. They held each other in a friendly embrace, then withdrew. Then she repeated the process with the boy selkie.
“Who’s your friend, Chloe?” the girl selkie asked.
“Oh, come on, Melanie,” Chloe said. She took Melanie’s arm and brought her forward. “This is Melanie Dennison, my significant other. Mel, this is Muir and Sam.”
“We are pleased to meet you, Melanie,” Muir said as she extended her hand. Melanie shook it. “I have wanted to meet the lass that Chloe talks about so much.”
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you too,” Melanie said. “I hope I meet your expectations.”
“Of course. I can see it now, now that I can see you>”
“You’re the person we heard about,” Sam said. “Chloe got lucky.”
“Of course,” Chloe said. “When am I not?”
“I can think of a few instances,” Melanie said with a smile. The selkies smiled as well. Chloe cracked a grin.
“Well, I’m lucky most of the time,” she replied.
“Yes, indeed,” Muir said. “We’ll see you throughout the night. Take care. It was nice to see you both.”
“The same goes for you,” Melanie said. “I hope the chance to get better acquainted.”
“We will,” Sam said. “You can bet on that.”
The two selkies turned and melted back into the party throng.
“How long have you known them?” Melanie asked.
“A few months,” Chloe replied. “They haven’t been around long.”
