by LeAnn Mason
I only thought of my mother, of her death, in those quiet moments when the tables were empty, the chatter gone. And it made me push the thoughts away. I had to work much harder to remember the good times we’d had. The worst moments, her last moments, were the ones that always popped into my head. So, naturally, as I cleaned the newly emptied tables and filled condiment containers, I slipped back into the past.
“Come away, Hinotori, let’s go see your father. He wants to test your Mage abilities today. Probably the only reason he wants to see you,” she grumbled, annoyed, under her breath. “You’ll get to play with fire. Won’t that be fun?” My mother’s kind brown eyes smiled at me as much as her lips did when she reached down to tuck a lock of my long black hair behind my ear.
“But Mom, I’m nervous. I don’t like having to perform,” I muttered, dropping my head and letting the long sheet of silky-straight hair act like a curtain, or a buffer, between the world and me.
“You’re perfect, Firebird. I wouldn’t want you any other way. But here, take this,” she unclasped the necklace from around her neck, the fiery golden pendant glinting in the sunlight streaming through the bay window. My eyes followed as it moved closer, swaying slightly with the momentum.
A heavy knock sounded at the front door, drawing my mother’s attention away. I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to wear her necklace. I’d admired it forever, and it would help my confidence while I exhibited my magic to my father and the Elders…
My fingers closed around the metal as mom moved away to answer the door. The stylized bird twinkled at me from my palm, mesmerizing in its beauty.
“What are you doing here?” Deep murmurs answered her terse inquiry. “No! You can’t have h–”
One of the Mages I’d seen around town burst past the doorway and into the house, the action throwing my mother violently into the wall. I backpedaled quickly, eyes wide and hands clenched, completely taken aback by the intrusion. A loud scraping sounded as I retreated into a kitchen chair, sending it skidding under the table, my flight hindered by the obstacle. “Mom?”
I looked around the man, who kept coming, closing the distance now that I had halted. “My queen says you’ve got to go, little Mage. I’m sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. Downturned heavy brows overshadowing dull eyes and a frown pulling at swollen lips, he looked positively villainous as he stalked toward me.
My attention shot over his shoulder as my mother launched herself to wrap around the intruder from behind, legs scissored around his middle and arms squeezing like a vice around his thick neck. The sight was so foreign to me that I froze, shocked to see such a savage explosion from my normally stoic mother.
I still didn’t understand…
“Bianca!” her voice strained to carry, the sound more a growl than a shout as she continued trying to take the man down. “Run!”
“I can’t leave you!” The reality of the moment finally sunk in, and I bounced on the balls of my feet with indecision.
A gust of wind burst from the man’s body, hitting my mother like a tornado, ripping her clinging form from his broad back. She hit the bay windows with such force that the glass panes shattered, raining sharp shards in every direction. Seeing her flung like a ragdoll finally broke me from my stupor, and–
“Firebird, are you okay?” A gentle hand pressed against my back, accompanying the question from Florian in hopes of not startling me where I sat… at the diner… filling condiment containers. It took a moment for my mind to file back to the present. My pulse raced and fists clenched, proving how much the memory still affected me even now. “Lucky those things were already empty or I’m afraid you’d have made quite the mess,” Florian noted while trying to hide his concern. He failed. Just as I failed to hide my pain every time I remembered my last moments with my mother.
“I’m fine, thank you. Just got a little distracted. I’m tired. It’s been a long couple of days.” I smiled at him from my seat. It was one of the only situations where we were eye to eye, the dwarfs being, maybe, four feet tall each. Florian wiped absently at his nose, sniffing loudly. The rather bulbous scenter was constantly draining or stuffy. It seemed like he was allergic to just about everything, which definitely made food preparation a little sketchy and was probably why he was usually on ingredient or recipe hunts rather than outright food handling.
He was one hell of a weapons forger though. They all were. It was what their kind of Fae specialized in. They were the go-to clan for any type of magical-weapons forging, and not just in Grimm Hollow. If someone outside of town was fortunate enough to have one of their creations, you could count on receiving inquiries from anyone who inspected the item.
So then, why did they choose to spend nearly all of their time rotating through the upkeep and management of the diner? While they’d never say it, I knew it was because of me. They wanted to give me a safe space, a home, a job. Didn’t hurt that they loved food, too. It was a rare treat when I could get them to let me cook for them, to show a little appreciation for all they’d done for me.
“C’mon, let’s get you to bed. School will come early tomorrow. Best be rested.” Florian reached to scoot back the chair I occupied. Looking at the man, you wouldn’t think he could move the thing while I sat in it, but he was strong. They all were. I acquiesced, standing so he could flip the chair and lay it upside down on the tabletop before moving to do the same with the rest of the freestanding chairs in the dining room.
I was so ready for school to be over and was so close to, but not quite at that finish line. Not that my life would change much, or even for the better, once it was over. I wouldn’t be leaving town or starting anything new. Nope. I’d most likely only be spending even more time at the diner. Though I interacted with plenty of people while serving, some even friendly, I wouldn’t call any of them friends. Except for maybe Elsie, and I needed some time with people my own age who didn’t shun me.
Another reason I really need to make these new friendships work…
I flipped the last chair onto the last table then followed Florian to the back to turn off the lights and make sure everything in the kitchen was shut down. From the way the other six had gathered at the back door, I assumed they’d already gone through the checklist and had been waiting on me and Florian. Heaven forbid I make the walk on my own.
Yes, home was in the woods. Yes, it was late. But I was a fire Mage, and as long as I carried my trusty lighter, I could do some real damage to anyone or anything that decided I’d be an easy target. I wouldn’t consider the possibility that I could miss and set the town, or forest, ablaze.
Luckily, with other elemental Mages and plenty of Witches around, chances were that someone could clean up a fire mess should I make one… which, hopefully, I wouldn’t. But the dwarfs’ old habits died hard, it seemed, and because of the way we’d met, they kept very close tabs on me.
Still, I was getting older. Old enough to fly the coop, find a new place to lay my head where there weren’t so many little hairy bodies constantly giving me the side-eye. Well, almost. Soon. It was probably the first thing I’d try to do once I graduated. Just a few more months, then I’d have some freedom. Maybe I’d even have a couple of possible roommates if things continued to go well with Allya and Mae.
The whistling was comforting, a part of the routine of the group. Though the tunes were dwarfish, I’d heard them enough I could whistle along, but tonight I felt like throwing a wrench in the works. I broke from the pack. Circling to walk backward, I jauntily belted out the tune of a song I loved that had some whistling choruses. Dancing backward and whistle-singing down the street in the middle of the night was only one reason people thought I was a little… odd, but hey, I’ve gotta be me, right?
“Oh, here–” My lovely caterwauling cut off abruptly when my back collided with something large, and solid, sending me bumping back toward my guardians. Each of their faces held various levels of amusement, Stein straight up guffawing with a slap to his knee and everything. “A li
ttle warning, guys,” I griped, giving the evil eye for good measure as I turned to see just what boulder the men had allowed me to wander into.
“Go on, please. I was quite admiring your whistling.” Nick’s big, toothy, too-gorgeous grin flashed at me from below the yellow light of a nearby streetlamp. His entire countenance glowed with his mirth, and I knew my cheeks were flushing as the extent of my mortification became clear to me. My fair skin showed the rushing blood more than most, like an announcement of my shame. A quick swipe of my hair out of my eyes was the first step in regaining my dignity.
I squared up and made eye contact. “So, what brings you out at o-dark-thirty to hear my mad skills?” Had to fake it until you made it, right? A hand on my hip and raised eyebrows added a little extra bravado.
“I have the third shift for watch tonight. Saw, well, heard you on my way out and thought I’d stop to say… hey.”
That didn’t help the blushing. “Oh?”
“Well, Firebird, are you ready to go home?” Isaak interjected, sliding forward to stand at my side. Puffed out chest, clenched jaw, and narrowed eyes aimed at Nick projected the authority his small stature belied.
“Oh, I can walk her, sir. I mean if… that’s all right?” He’d started off so confident, but he’d withered sheepishly as he noticed the mood of the gathered horde.
“Don't mind them. They can be a little… protective.” I turned to deliver my own silent message to my guardians, hoping they’d get it and back off a bit.
With a rumbling of discontent and silent measures, the group of dwarfs slowly began walking forward. “We’ll give you some space,” Rune said as he passed, a small smile on his bearded face.
“But not too much,” Emest chimed gruffly as the gap between our groups widened. Isaak yawned, bringing a hand to cover his mouth though it failed to stanch the loud sound from escaping. I stifled a laugh. It was extremely surprising he’d made it this late, the man was always sleepy and could often be found taking naps in the middle of the day.
“So, the bonfire was fun. We should totally do it again sometime,” Nick said quickly, flashing me a nervous-looking smile before looking ahead again, his shod feet kicking and scuffing against the ground in what seemed to be a conscious effort not to focus on me, or the men.
“Why, Nicholas Burton, are you hitting on me?” I surprised myself with how coy I sounded. It was a legitimate question I had, but somehow my tone had turned it into a… tease?
“Who me? Never,” the goofy bear I knew and loved—no, not loved, liked. Liked— reared his furry head at the jibe. Good. I much preferred that Nick to the unconfident one I’d seen a moment before. “What’s there to like about a tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed, badass samurai? Nothing, that’s what,” he scoffed, throwing me a flirty wink of those deep brown eyes.
And, cue the blush again. At this rate, my cheeks would match my ruby-red lips in no time. “I don’t know about all that,” I said, heart all aflutter. “Eyes front, gentlemen,” I admonished the gaggle of small men who were not even hiding their eavesdropping as they slowed to close the gap I’d worked to create. With Nick’s words, they’d given up all pretense and had turned their bearded faces back toward us. I hated that they were around to watch me get all girly and awkward. My current state was in direct contradiction to the things Nick had listed as attributes.
But, of course.
“Well, I probably need to skedaddle before Hunter takes a chunk out of my hide for being too late, but we should get together sometime. I’ll come by the diner tomorrow. Sound good?”
A silent, jerky nod was all I could manage without my voice completely betraying me. If it opened, I was ninety-nine percent positive an incoherent, sonaric-level squeal would be all that escaped.
“Sweet, see you tomorrow,” he said, quickly ducking to deliver a kiss to my overheated cheek before I could even register the movement. When I froze like a deer in headlights, his grin kicked up to devilish wattage. Another wink, and he turned and trotted off, back into the forest we were approaching.
“Come on, Firebird, get a move on. You have a lot to do tomorrow,” Selik cajoled playfully with the rest of my guardians chuckling along.
“Ugh, this is so embarrassing!” I ranted, arms flailing at my sides as I stomped past the group of men whose comments were a little too high school for their years.
When we reached the stone cottage-house, I readied for bed in a kind of disconnected haze. I wasn’t tired. I was excited… and totally freaking out. Nick had kissed me! Granted, only on the cheek, but still! And it sounded like he wanted to go out, like, on an actual date.
How was I supposed to sleep with that knowledge floating around my brain all night?
CHAPTER 5
W alking the halls of Grimm Hollow High was just like any other, except that instead of having cliques like the “jocks” and “nerds,” the lines tended to be drawn by supernatural classifications. There were some crossovers, especially with the hybrid kids, but like tended to gravitate to like, and pranks or bullying occurred on a species-wide scale.
The outcasts had to stick together. While I was generally ribbed for my lack of ignitability among the Mages, Sasha got much worse from the Witches. Poor girl was constantly the butt of cruel and hurtful ministrations. They considered her less than them, tainted, because she was half-Fae and her physical appearance was unique. The coven treated her as a maid for the house, only allowing her to attend school because the Elders mandated it. Seeing how she was treated within school walls made me wonder how bad she had it back at the coven house where there were no witnesses, save her tormentors.
I made my way toward where Sasha stood, her face hidden by the gray paneling of her open locker, noting the huddled mean girls down a few rows, who were way too intent on my friend, snickers and cruel smirks twisting their pretty faces.
“Hey, Sash. How goes this morning?” I clapped a hand on the younger girl’s shoulder and flinched when she recoiled from the touch. “Sorry.” I pulled my hand back, flashing a scathing look at the Witches-with-a-“b” who still lurked a few feet away, hating that they were responsible for the skittishness. “What did they do now?” I knew it had to be something. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so invested in Sasha at the moment.
When Sasha didn’t respond, I peeked around her into her locker where she still tucked her head. At first, I couldn’t tell what I was looking at. The inside of the locker looked like a black hole. Nothing was discernible but vague shapes within. It wasn’t until my eyes landed on her fingers that I realized what it was; ash. Those evil little turds had covered the inside of her locker with burnt wood remains. The debris stained her normally leaf-green fingertips nearly black, making them look as if she were decaying instead of vibrant with life. “Oh, sweetie,” I murmured.
I wanted to make her feel better, but I wasn’t sure how. I cast another look toward the mean girls, giving them my special finger salute for good measure.
“It hurts.”
The low, agonized words were palpable. I could feel the pain she was in even if I didn’t understand it. “What hurts, sweetie?”
“I can feel the wood. Like, I’m tied to it somehow, and when it’s… hurt, I feel it. They know that,” she said, jerking her chin in the general direction of the she-devil Witch crew.
The class bell rang while I stood there, jaw unhinged as I attempted to internalize what she’d said. I’d known she was part Fae, but not much more than that. It wasn’t something she talked about, and I didn’t want to pry. We all had things we didn’t want to voice, and I’d been smart enough to realize that if I wanted to have any friends in this town, I couldn’t just get up into everyone’s business.
I had to admit that her confidence in me made me want to smile. I didn’t though because I thought it would probably be misconstrued, considering the natures of said confidence. “Go ahead and head to class. I’ll get you squared away,” I said, giving her a friendly shove away from the wreckage.
“W
h-what about you?” Those big, green eyes were too sweet for her own good. The girl never retaliated, never said an unkind word or raised her voice in anger. We should all be so good, but me? I wasn’t.
“I’ll take care of this for you. Missus Thompson will understand. Hell, she might even praise my efforts.” I winked for reassurance and pushed at her again. “If they give you a hard time, just say you were late and didn’t have a chance to go to your locker. I’ll have this cleaned in a jiffy.”
After a long look of wavering consideration, she finally relented. With a quick, uncertain smile, she turned and marched away down the hall, presumably toward her first class. Another look back once she was at the door, and I waved blithely, scooting my hands in encouragement.
Once she finally disappeared, I took a good look into the soot-riddled confines of the locker. All of her books and binders were covered in a layer of greyish ash that made each indistinguishable from another. Hopefully, it was all surface and would still be usable. If not, maybe I could find a good Witch I could persuade to spell them clean.
How am I going to get rid of all this?
I totally hadn’t thought it through. I just knew Sasha shouldn’t have to do it. She did enough cleaning at the coven house, and now I knew that tree cutting physically hurt her… They needed a taste of their own medicine.
But first…
I dragged a trash can to stand in front of the locker, reached in, and swept my hand, pulling a mound of soot into the waiting receptacle. I hadn’t counted on the action causing a billowing cloud of noxious gray particles to attack my face, and I coughed, choking on the charred remains of what was once a glorious tree. I made sure to cover my nose and mouth with the next swipe, taking the extra measure of holding my breath as the ash tipped over into the bin. Once the bulk of the debris was emptied from the locker, I focused on shaking out the textbooks and notebooks, leaving them much less coated.
Finally satisfied with the state of Sasha’s locker and her things nestled within, I turned my attention down the hall. No one patrolled the hallways. There was no need. Magic was embedded into the very walls of the campus. Luckily, unless someone was detrimentally hurt or some such thing, they wouldn’t pursue punishment. I mean if the mean girls wouldn’t get into trouble, then it stood to reason that I wouldn’t either… right?
