Ilo's belt

Airabella sat in a tiny corner. She was encased on all sides by deep purple blocks which she could not break. At first she screamed for Onicent to release her, but then she resigned to sitting down and waiting.

She wasn't even entirely sure Onicent had meant to trap. As his anger raged she found the ground rise around her, it was just over her head and she had no way to climb out. She could see the ceiling if she looked up. None of her children had come to aid her, but she was sure they would when they found her.

She heard footsteps approaching.

"Help me," she cried out.

The footsteps stopped. She heard someone place down something and then there was someone balancing on the top of her prison.

Ilodeena was looking down upon Airabella with a tight expression.

"Help me up," Airabella said.

Ilo pursed her lips. "I don't think that would be a good idea."

"Please help me," Airabella pleaded.

Ilo looked thoughtful for a moment, then she did something unexpected. She reached behind herself and unclipped her belt.

"This gem is a ruby, possibly the only one in existence." She said. She stroked a finger across it adoringly. "A gift to me." She purred then she abruptly took her hand away from it.

She dangled it down to Airabella, who tentivatly put a hand on it. Some current passed down it and through Airabella. At once Airabella saw Ilo shift. Ilo had been wearing a puffy skirted dress that was short and almost sickeningly cute. But the dress seemed to melt into a gown, rendered shapeless without its belt. Ilo's eyes were now smaller and more like Airabella's, in fact her face was no longer breath taking. She looked to Airabella like a young girl.

Airabella could not remember how she had hated Ilo so much.

"Before I pass this to you, I need you to understand something," Ilo's voice seemed rougher now. "Please allow me to be with Amos, please allow me to be with my son. I don't ask of you to dissolve my marriage, but allow me to be." She was pleading with Airabella now. She continued to speak, "with my power I could have taken anyone, even your own husband. But I chose Amos, he needs me, and so do you and your siblings. I know you must hate me, it is the down side to my powers." She looked sad now, "Amos loves me, he can be sweet sometimes, but he is dangerous, extremely dangerous. Only I have the power to keep him in balance, let me love him back. I will lend you my belt in an act of good will, though I will need to back by tomorrow."

Airabella felt an emotional swirl. It would be so easy to make Ilo miserable. But Ilo's words rang true, Amos was dangerous to all of them.

"Why can't you pull me out?"

"Amos is keeping guard for Onicent." Ilo said, "should he see you out he will react quickly. I wouldn't be fast enough to stop him. Not with my son to worry about, whom Amos holds this very moment. Will you heed my words?"

"I will," Airabella said quickly. Even though she felt bitter over saying them.

Ilo let the belt fall into Airabella's hands. Carefully Airabella clipped it onto her own gown. She felt a surge of energy, and something else. It was confidence, cold and flowing.

"You need to focus now," Ilo said, "your appearance will shift with your focus."

Airabella thought of what she needed. She watched as her dress became more elegant and vivid. Ilo smiled at her.

"That should do well, now for the harder part. You must think shallowly, or else the illusion will not work. Do not get overly angry, less you turn into a monster."

Airabella nodded.

"I will return tomorrow to take my belt back, till then I will retreat, or Amos will be suspicious."

After Ilo left Airabella sat calmly in her prison. She knew when Onicent returned he would let her free.