Lawrence Harding
Jari opened the curtains and swore colourfully as he was greeted by the sight of a cresent moon, unsullied by cloud or rain or lightning. He shut the curtains abruptly and stomped down the many staircases that led from his chambers at the top of his castle to the cellars.
“Meteos!” he cried as he threw open the trapdoor and dropped into the chamber at the base of the lowest cellar. “What do I pay you for? I look outside and there are clear skies! Why is this?”
He was addressing a large glass case at the centre of the chamber. It appeared to be filled with swirling mist, but at the sound of Jari’s voice it coalesced into a vaguely humanoid figure. Well. Technically you don’t pay me, Jari.
“That is beside the point.” Jari swirled his cape in irritation and began fiddling with his bowtie. His wardrobe was going out of fashion with some of his younger siblings, but he was a traditionalist. Some vampires had to have standards. “I have visitors coming! Important visitors! Beautiful young visitors! They expect certain things. They visit a vampire count? They want gravitas! Thunderstorms! This is what I have you provide for me!”
Was it in the calendar? Meteos jabbed a cloudy thumb towards a vellum chart pinned to the wall. Jari stormed over to it. His step faltered as he realised that it was blank.
“Of course it was… ah.”
Meteos shook their head. Can’t expect me to pull a storm together if you don’t schedule it. I don’t just snap my fingers, you know.
“But she will be here in a matter of hours.” Jari’s voice lost its authority, and became almost wheedling. His shoulders drooped, and his face grew somehow even paler. Meteos noted the sudden focus on only one individual in Jari’s mind. They turned around to hide their smirk.
Not my problem.
“Is there nothing you can do? Please?”
Meteos sucked their teeth thoughtfully. I might be able to. It’ll be a big job, though. The clouds don’t like sudden changes. Drifting gently is more their style. With notice I can nudge them, but dragging them…
“Please?”
Meteos smiled. Very well. For a price?
“Anything you wish, anything!”
A bigger case, for starters. And a week of leave every year to go where I wish.
Jari scoffed. “And you expect that I trust you to return? I trapped you for this?”
Meteos shrugged. I have a comfortable enough existence here. You’ll just have to trust me. Or will you have to disappoint your lovely guests?
Jari glowered at the weather spirit. “Fine,” he spat. “Do this for me and you will get your leave.”
Meteos carefully hid their surprise. No negotiations meant that JAri must be truly desperate. Very well, master. One storm coming right up.
Author’s Note
This story was part of the 2021 #MonstrousMayChallenge. The prompt was “Adverse Weather Conditions”.
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OtherWheres, OtherRealms 