Horns and Halos, page 17
We had passed by countless buildings and barns and were now standing at the edge of what I thought was a field, but it wasn’t. It was rows and rows of trees. I had never seen an apple tree. I had never seen an apple. I looked at the stretch of fruit-bearing plants with astonishment. The smell in the air was sublime, and I closed my eyes to drift in the scent.
“How, uh, do you harvest them?” I asked, full of wonderment.
He laughed, hooked his arm around mine, and picked up a basket nearby. “You just find a nice, red apple and twist it free of its branch. After that, it’s all yours.”
Stopping at the base of one of the trees with a step ladder underneath, he pointed up to the edge of the foliage. “There is a nice bunch. Grab those, would you?”
Making sure I had sturdy footing, I stepped up the ladder and pointed to a cluster of shiny, ruby red apples. “These?”
“Oh, yeah. They are ripe for the picking. Remember, twist.”
Following his instructions, I reached up, grabbed a hold of one, and twisted. A pop was heard and the apple was free from the branch. I grinned at what I held in my hand. “Wow, it looks great.” I snapped out of my daze. “How many should I pick?”
“Hmmm ... I’d say fill up this basket and then wash up. You don’t need to do too much for a bed and a bit of food. We manage just fine on our own.”
“Oh. Okay.” Stepping down, I put the apple in the basket and then looked up to the branches. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, Sia.”
My eyes went wide with amazement, and it quickly changed to confusion. “When did I tell you my name?”
His smile broadened. “Word travels fast when there are newcomers in town. You hurry up and don’t forget to come to the feast tonight, okay? I’ll be looking for you!”
“Okay,” I said to avoid a fight or having to explain myself.
Heading back up the ladder, I forced myself to focus on my job rather than him walking away. He was an attractive man, there was no denying that. There’s no harm in looking, I told myself. When I turned to look, I was suddenly face-to-face with Draki who was lounging in the branches beside me, blocking my view.
“Don’t have enough waiting for you at home?” he asked with a displeased expression.
Swallowing my heart that had leaped up into my throat, I drew in a calming breath and reached for an apple. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
After I plucked the apple, Draki took it from me, inspected the crimson-skinned fruit, and hummed to himself. “Such a long time since I’ve seen one of these.” His vision seemed far-off as he turned the fruit in his hand. His golden eyes flicked over to lock with my gaze, and he presented the apple to me with a smirk. “Care for a bite?”
“No.”
He laughed to himself. “That’s the first time I had a woman deny me after I asked a question like that.” He chuckled again, and it grew until he was laughing hysterically. The darkness in his mirth made my bones cold. Then, like he had a tiny animal in his grasp, he snatched a bite out of the apple as he winked at me.
I licked my lips and steadied my heartbeat. If anyone could make eating look seductive, it was Draki. Peeling my vision from him, I went on to finish my job. However, with each bite Draki took out of the fruit, I felt unnerved. Something as simple as the act of eating an apple had taken on an ominous air, and it set me on edge.
Chapter 16:
A Glass Never Empty
It took Elijah and me roughly two hours to complete our work and another hour to clean up. I had been dodging wasps, bees, and fruit flies while he had to battle body odor and horrible jokes told boisterously by a crowd of sweaty workers. We agreed that neither of us had it easy after washing up and changing clothes. Not a second after we were ready to head out to the feast, there was a knock at the door.
Not sure what to expect, Elijah rushed to the door and opened it slowly. With every inch that it was opened, I saw the tension in his shoulders melt away until I saw a girl with soft blonde hair and wearing a pale blue dress standing on the other side.
“Penelope,” I whispered to myself.
“I’m so glad that you’ve made yourselves at home here.” She stepped off to the side and motioned with a sweep of her arm for us to leave the hut. “Tonight’s feast is to celebrate the two of you coming to our village,” she said with a faint smile and tilt of her head.
“But, don’t you guys have a feast every night?” I asked.
Her green eyes settled on me as she replied, “There is always a reason to celebrate.” She motioned again for us to come out.
Once we were out, she led us to the center of the village where there was a massive garden pergola covered in creeping vines and decorated in brightly colored paper lamps. Under the starlit sky, it was positively magical and mesmerizing-looking. There was a dance floor surrounded by countless tables all piled high with food and jugs of drink. My mouth watered as the smell of all the delectable dishes was carried to me by the faint breeze.
“Oh, I’m eating my fill tonight,” Elijah mumbled to me.
I giggled and nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Me too.”
The crowd noticed us coming their way, and a few familiar faces waved at us as we approached, and they called out for us to sit with them. Any feeling of worry died off as it felt like we had returned home from a long journey. This place felt genuinely happy and carefree. It was so easy to just forget your worries and slip into their way of life. I dared to smile warmly at Daniel and Abby as they waved at us.
Deeper in the crowd, there was Lucian. He was in a clean, white, button-up shirt leaning on a table and drinking from a glass. He peered over his shoulder and grinned as he noticed Elijah and me. Slapping a hand down on the back of whom he had been conversing with, he waved goodbye as he broke away and sauntered over to us.
“Good evening, Lucian,” Penelope said softly.
He took her hand in his and gave a chaste kiss to her knuckles. “How kind of you to bring our guests to us. Such a wonderful lady you are.”
“You’re too kind,” she purred. Then she curtsied to us. “Enjoy the feast.” With that, Penelope turned and headed further into the throng of villagers.
Once more, the feeling that I had forgotten crept back up to the forefront of my mind. Something felt off. There was a lie beneath all these smiles. There was always a sacrifice. There was always an exchange. There was always a price for the safety and smiles and luxuries. What was theirs?
“Look at you so tense, love. You should loosen up. Come on and join the party,” Lucian coaxed sweetly.
I felt Elijah’s hand on my back. “Do you want me to stay close?” he whispered loud enough for me to hear.
Nodding in reply, I smiled at him and locked eyes with his as I pretended like he had asked me something else. “I would love a plate. You always spoil me.”
He kissed my head and a few people whistled and laughed at us. “You deserve it,” he announced in a way that was just for me.
Whether he was playing along or being honest, I wasn’t sure. He was that convincing. Hopefully, Lucian would think so too. As Elijah slipped away to get us food, I was left in an air of awkward silence.
“You’re not married,” Lucian stated casually before sipping from his glass. His eyes were glued to me like he was taking in every thread of clothing and strand of hair and dissecting it.
“I’m sorry?”
He leaned in closer and grinned wildly. He invaded my personal space without a care and was almost cheek to cheek with me. He whispered directly in my ear, “You’re not married.”
I went still. Was he playing with me? I took a step back and forced a smile. “Whether or not I am should be no concern of yours.”
He laughed and licked his teeth. “I was hoping that you wouldn’t upset me, Sia. You seemed like a girl that could help me have a fun time in this boring village.” He sighed and sipped from his glass again.
A woman passing by was tapped on the shoulder by him. When she turned, she was drawn up to his gaze and went strangely still. He held out his glass to her and said, “You should have a drink.”
The woman made no protest. She simply took the glass from Lucian and proceeded to drink. As she did, he turned his attention back to me. “Why don’t we play a game, Sia?”
“I’m not fond of games.”
“Oh, but I am.”
The sounds of the lady gulping grew louder. I turned to look, and it was like the cup hadn’t lost any contents, but she was drinking like she was draining it. It wasn’t right. The cup should have been empty. With how much she was drinking, it should have been bone-dry by now. Lucian snapped his fingers and pointed to himself. “You really should pay attention to me, love. I really don’t like being ignored.” Those words sounded off warning alarms in my mind. I knew someone that sounded like that.
“I-I’m sorry, but there seems to be—”
“Where were we? Ah, yes. I wanted to play a game.”
I felt my stomach knot. “I think I should leave.” I wanted to run. I needed to get Elijah’s attention, and we had to get the hell out of here. When I tried to find him two things happened. One, I saw that Daniel and the others were talking to him and surrounding him so he couldn’t see me, much less get us our dinner. Two, Lucian was in front of me, and he moved fast.
Scary fast.
The gulping from the woman was now a mix of choking and whimpers as she continued to drink from the glass that had no end. It was becoming abundantly clear that Lucian was no ordinary man. In fact, he wasn’t a man at all. He was a devil. No sooner had that realization hit me did the woman drinking from the glass fall backward, the cup plucked from her grasp by him as she fell. She hit the floor and alcohol spewed out of her mouth like a fountain, and she shook about violently before going terribly still. The devil kicked her heeled foot and sucked at his teeth.
“What a party killer,” he griped. Slowly, he looked at me, and I froze. “About that game, love.” He grinned and wiped off the mouth of the glass and tapped the rim with a single digit. Amber liquid filled the cup, and he took a step toward me. “Are you two really married?”
“Yes,” I lied.
He shook his head and ticked his finger from side to side. “Tut-tut-tut. Bad move. I was hoping that this would have panned out differently. I guess you’d rather lie than spend a bit of time with me.” He sighed and put the cup between us. Our eyes were still locked, and I couldn’t pull away. I felt like I had to look at him like looking anywhere else would take away the air from my lungs. “How about you have a drink?”
My hand wanted to reach for the offered cup. I wanted to drink from it, even though I wasn’t one to drink at all. Even though I knew what would happen to me if I did. It was an unnatural desire to consume what was in that glass. The more that I realized I wasn’t in control of my own thoughts, the more I panicked. I needed to get away!
“I ... I don’t like to drink alcohol,” I said. But it took everything in me to deny him.
He laughed. “Oh, love. You really should have a drink. Just one. It’s poor form to be at a party and not partake in its pleasures.” He offered the drink again, and I—to my surprise—reached out to take it from him. My eyes remained transfixed on his in a frightful way. I whimpered and felt the cool glass on the pads of my fingers.
Then the world went pitch-black.
The sensation of blazing skin prickled over my lids and the bridge of my nose. I smelled the scent of spices and smoke. Any fear that had been growing in me disappeared. As his hand was removed, I blinked at the blinding light assaulted my vision. A forceful hand turned me and I was chest to chest with Draki. His eyes weren’t on me, though. They were fixed on the devil across the way.
“I see you’ve taken a liking to something that is already owned,” Draki stated flatly.
Lucian laughed and leaned on the table that was between us. He brought his voice down to a dangerous level as he said, “I don’t see your name anywhere on her, mate. Suggest you run along before you get hurt. This is my territory. Next time, don’t bring things you cherish to unsafe places.”
Draki laughed. The sound was bone-rattling and soul-chilling. It lacked joy and held the promise of darker things to come, and ghosts of anger swam beneath each cackle he made. “Oh, I see you lack manners.”
“You’re the one lacking manners walking around in my village like you own it,” Lucian growled.
The cup was pulled out of my grasp and Draki muttered, “Keep your eyes on me, Sia.”
“I wouldn’t drink from that cup if you want to live. Devil or not, you’re playing with fire,” Lucian warned.
A chuckle was caught in Draki’s throat. “We’ll see who gets burned,” he stated and brought the glass to his lips.
If he drank from it, he would die. I couldn’t have that happen. I didn’t want that to happen. I shouldn’t have cared as much as I did, but I did. When he drank from it, I started to reach for his arm to stop him. To my surprise, the contents were emptied, and then the cup was gently placed down on the table.
“Mmmmm. That blossoming floral fragrance lingers a touch after the burn. I rather enjoyed it.” Draki grinned, and his golden eyes flashed with an otherworldly glow. “I’d love another glass.”
Lucian looked from the cup to Draki and very slowly straightened up. “It can’t be,” he whispered.
“Oh, I assure you, it’s me.”
“I ... forgive me for my insolence!”
Holding me closer in his grasp, Draki drummed his fingers over the top of the table. The party around us had halted. I wasn’t sure at what point everyone had stopped the festivities to watch the power struggle play out between the devils, but it was clear that they had seen it all, from my struggle to my devil swooping in to save the day. Waving his hand through the air like annoying flies were swarming, Draki announced, “Forget it. I shouldn’t have let her wander about without introductions.”
A flash of baby blue to my side brought my attention to Penelope who was standing with a gentle hand laid upon Lucian’s arm. Her eyes were fixed on the devil holding me. “Sir, if it is all right with you, I’d like to invite the young lady to my hut for a private conversation.”
Draki flicked his gaze from Lucian to her and then looked down to me. “It’s your call.”
Staring at the crowd of faces and then to Elijah who was giving me an expression that had my insides all twisted, I felt all the unwanted attention from the party turn to me. My chest hurt, and I gripped the clothing over my breast as I answered with, “Yeah. That’s fine.” Anything to get away from here.
I wanted to escape the prying eyes of everyone looking at me. I felt embarrassed. I felt ashamed. And the smile on Draki’s face wasn’t helping me at all. I stepped out of his fiery embrace and toward Penelope. Without a word, she turned and headed for her hut expecting that I would follow her.
I did.
Chapter 17:
We Can Make a Kingdom
Her hut was nothing tremendous. In fact, it was moderately sized. Inside, the furnishing was intricately carved, and the attention to detail was immaculate. Everything had a high gloss finish and was free of dust or grime. Finely woven rugs that looked like they were freshly made decorated the spotless wooden floors. A few oil lamps were lit, and the light bounced off of various mirrors littering the walls, shelves, and the mantle.
“I’m sorry for the scare you must have endured earlier,” Penelope stated softly.
She slowly crossed the living room and closed a door, but I saw something on the other side that would stay with me forever. Shrouded in shadows, a leathery body with stringy hair and a mouth agape showing off a row of uneven, yellowing teeth was resting in a rocking chair inside the room. The mummified remains had eye sockets that were sunken and hollow, and its nails curled into the wood of the chair.
“Father doesn’t like it when we have company over,” she said with a faint smile. The door clicked shut, and she turned around to face me with her hands clasped in front of her.
My stomach felt sour, and I instinctively held it as I tried to swallow past the rising sickness I felt growing in my gut. I nodded and forced a smile. “I won’t be long,” I promised.
“Yes. I suppose we should carry on with what I wished to speak with you about.” She motioned to the seating area.
Shaking my head, I said, “I’ll stand. Thanks.”
“Very well,” she said. Seating herself in one of the chairs, she flattened out her dress and flipped her blonde hair behind one shoulder. “I shall cut straight to the chase. I saw your devil. I don’t think anyone here in the village didn’t see him.”
I shifted uncomfortably. Biting the corner of my lower lip, I remembered the way Elijah looked at me and felt a ping of pain in my breast. “Yes, well ... I don’t plan on staying past tonight.”
She laughed into the back of her hand. “Oh, please. I’m not worried about that in the slightest.”
“Really?” I was stunned. Normally having a pact with a devil was grounds to be treated like you are filth. Most of us are born into a pact that we never agreed upon. To be free and broken away from that and willingly make a deal with a new devil is lunacy.
She smiled. It was the kind of smile that lacked the sweetness her features made you assume that she possessed. “Oh, yes, really. You see, Sia, I am well aware of the strength it takes to make a deal with a devil.”
My jaw unhinged. “You ... this village, you made it?”
