[Gift] The 11th Hour | Jewelry

The time came for Bedbug to shed, iridescent, velvet scales littering the den, and tucked among them tiny treasures. Brilliantly pink as specialty sapphires and as hard as diamonds, his Jeweled scales glittered and gleamed, waiting to be plucked and gathered, taken by Maryanne and sold to collectors and, more importantly, jewelers.

Bedbug waited with bated breath, a calculated gamble, until time’s labors finally bore fruit.

It was an elaborate brooch resting over the heart of another Bestia, wrought in a fashionable whorl of white-gold wire. Auxiliary stones only made it more apparent what the star of the show was meant to be, and Bedbug pranced down the promenade after, baring his jeweled fangs in a grin, putting on a show.

It was only the first, but Bedbug’s influence spread, more pieces filtering into the world—a lover’s cameo backed by Bedbug’s jewel; a flashy amulet; a gaudy set of rings. These were only what was worn publicly. Bedbug could only imagine what happened in private.

It felt like satisfaction swelling behind his ribs. Like power. His eyes curved with feline superiority, tail flicking with cat-like contemplation as he lounged, watching the young Bestia before him ask for one of his scales so that they might not go hungry.

Lucky for them, he had an itchy scale that had yet to fall, and after a moment of gnawing on his forelimb, he spat the last, offending jewel towards the urchin, who swept it up with gratitude and near-worship, thanking him profusely.

Bedbug laughed to himself as they scuttled away, hunched over the treasure that would change their life, and settled in to wait for the next shed.