by E. Earle
She smiled shyly. “I don’t- but I have distant relations. I thought I would come down to see them.” She paused and played with a ring on her right hand. “Family is important, right?”
I stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. “I’ll get you extra marshmallows,” I mumbled before scattering off to the kitchen.
“That woman you don’t like is here,” a voice said behind me.
I jumped and almost dropped the mug as Ben hopped onto the kitchen counter. “You scared the bejesus out of me!” I gasped, picking him up and putting him back on the floor.
“What does she want?”
“Brynn.”
Ben patted the air with paw and flicked his tail. “Isn’t he your territory now?” he asked.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “No.”
Ben meowed again and rubbed against my leg. “What do you think about her?” he asked.
Pausing with a sigh, I actually thought about it. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “She’s gorgeous, I’ll give her that. Maybe that’s why I don’t like her.”
“Come on,” Ben urged, jumping back onto the counter. “You’re not bad looking yourself.”
“Well as wonderful as that compliment makes me feel,” I said, “I really can’t tell you. I don’t know. It’s just a feeling.”
I made the hot chocolate and shooed Ben off to catch mice. He had enjoyed his holiday in London- now it was time to work.
“Do you want to go surfing with me?”
I blinked at Olivia’s sudden outburst, hot chocolate still in hand as I had barely stepped back into the bar. “Um…”
“It’s ok if you don’t want to,” she said quickly. She looked as though she had been spending the past few minutes thinking about asking me and shook her head. “I just thought- we’re probably at the same level to be honest.”
I cocked my head to the side. “I’ve only been twice,” I admitted. “Actually- I was drunk the first time, so I would probably only say once.”
She actually smiled at me. “So have I.”
We exchanged numbers and promised to arrange something. I wasn’t in the mood for it today and plus I had a shift to cover. Olivia nodded with a blush covering her cheeks and I wondered why.
“It’s nice to just hang out with new people,” she said eventually as she got up to leave. “Most girls don’t like me for some reason…”
“Oh?” The fake surprise in my voice was convincingly enough as I watched her bite her lip.
“But, you seem nice,” she said, picking up her bag. “Plus, I suppose we’re both kind of the same.”
“Yeah?”
“Well- we don’t belong here do we?” she mused looking around the place. “We’re fish out of water here.” She laughed at the irony of it. “I’ll give you a call, ok?”
I nodded numbly as she walked out, her words echoing in my mind. I didn’t belong here?
I stared off into the distance, an empty feeling settling into my stomach. If I didn’t belong here, where the hell did I?
Brynn returned later on that day with a grin on his face. His class came in trotting after him, sand and droplets of water dripping from them even though they had all just had showers.
“Hot chocolate all round,” he said leaning against the bar. He looked more like himself for some reason- whether it was because he had simply been out of the sea too long in London or what- I didn’t know. But his old charm was back and our argument was seemingly forgotten.
I glanced up, counting as I grabbed mugs. “You seem very happy with yourself,” I noted, not returning his smile. He may be able to pretend London hadn’t happened- but I was still stinging from it all.
“The money came into my account today,” he said grandly. “I just had a call from the bank saying that a large sum of money had been deposited.”
I paused and snapped my eyes up at him. “That was quick,” I said carefully. “Did they say who bought the photos then?”
He shook his head, his smile faltering as he quickly looked away. “No. I called the gallery again and they said the buyer wanted to stay anonymous.” He sat on the stool quickly in one movement. “But that’s good though, isn’t it?”
His need for reassurance surprised me, making me blink. “Yes,” I said after a pause. “In the grand scheme of things, it is. By the way,” I added, throwing a tea towel over my shoulder, “Olivia came in asking for you today. We’re going to go surfing together.”
Brynn’s short burst of laughter made me slam all six mugs hard on the counter. “Sorry,” he said, not looking sorry at all. “It’s just I thought you didn’t like her.”
Instead of explaining myself, I ignored him and walked to the kitchen to make his stupid hot chocolates. There was still something about Olivia I was unsure of, but she was lonely- and I could relate to that.
“Can I have extra marshmallows?” Brynn called after me.
I scowled when I got into the kitchen and pushed the tub of gooey sugary goodness to the back of the cupboard. “Sorry!” I shouted back. “We’re all out!”
The next day was a more sombre occasion. Christopher, Old Marley’s solicitor wanted us to meet him at his office for a discussion about the old museum owner’s will.
I woke once again with a cat on my face. I had barely slept all night, visions of a rolling black ocean choking me of oxygen. I had woken in a sweaty heap with Ben meowing into my face, his claws digging into my skin to bring me back to reality.
“Ellena! It’s ok!” he meowed in my ear.
I lay shivering on the bed, wrapped up in covers with him curled against my stomach, his purrs the only thing from keeping me from that dark nightmare.
I stared into the mirror as I evaluated my dress for the day. It didn’t feel right to be wearing anything bright, so I had put on a black A-line dress that flattered my shape. High neck and long sleeved, its length just touching my knees. I left my hair down, with a part tucked behind my ear by a crystal comb that my sister had gotten me for my birthday.
I put on small heeled ankle boots and pulled on a black cardigan with silver beading around the edges. I realised then with a start that I was wearing exactly the same items I had worn for my Granddad’s funeral.
The realisation was a shock to me- something as small as that. I clenched my jaw to stop myself from crying, the need to do so, so suddenly taking me aback.
“It’s ok,” Ben said at my feet, the same words from last night settling on my soul like a balm. The rising sensation of hopelessness died down, and with a couple of blinks and breaths was gone.
“Thank you,” I said to him. “You always save me.”
Brynn was waiting for me downstairs dressed in a dark blue shirt and his smartest black jeans. I raised an eyebrow at him wondering if he felt the same way about today.
“Why does it feel so strange to be going back to talk about his will?” I asked him as I stepped into the bar. “Do you think there’s something wrong?”
Brynn shrugged and pulled on his coat. “I don’t know,” he admitted grimly, passing me my own. “But if it’s crap news, I promise you there’s another bottle of Captain Morgan in the back that will deal with it for the both of us.”
Christopher’s office was in the other neighbouring town- bigger and busier than the one where Marley’s Museum was. We didn’t really speak on the way there- I think we were both nervous. Old Marley had left the place to us and we had already done a lot to it, in terms of renovation- it was too late to back out now. Brynn had booked in people to do the plastering and wiring, and I had already allowed my mug to be sold off to some stranger in London.
The town was full of Georgian architecture, new builds and the old monstrosity of an 80’s building (surely at the time thought to be cutting edge design) but the cobbled streets were original. After parking in the town centre we took the short walk to Christopher’s offices- a third floor setting right opposite the Town Hall.
I felt too sick to truly appreciate my surroundings and
allowed Brynn to take the lead. I barely even heard his words as he spoke to the receptionist and only jumped back to life when I realised I had to walk up several flights of stairs.
“Sorry,” the pretty blonde receptionist apologised. “The lift is out of order.”
I nodded numbly and followed Brynn’s lead.
Christopher was sitting before a huge desk with a leather top as we walked into his office. His room was beautifully furnished- his elaborate tastes covering the walls as expensive art. Today he was wearing a matching slate grey three piece suit, white shirt and thin black tie. His glasses were thick and white- I wondered whether he was trying a new look.
A forty-something-year-old man, Christopher was one of the smartest people I knew- he looked after Old Marley’s affairs and wasn’t swayed by his powerful and much richer brother. That was one of the reasons why I loved him. He couldn’t be bought.
“Hello, both of you!” he said happily seeing us both. “Come in, come in- please take a seat.”
We sat in two dark green leather chesterfield armchairs that he was enthusiastically gesturing towards and glanced at each other nervously.
“Hello Christopher,” Brynn said, a smile on his face that I knew he wasn’t feeling. “You’ve been well, I hope?”
“Very well, thank you,” the solicitor nodded. He looked to me. “And you, Ellie? How are you?”
I nodded because I didn’t know what to say, Brynn’s eyes piercing into my skin.
Brynn and Christopher continued to exchange pleasantries until I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Chris- is everything ok?” I snapped. I flinched, realising what I had just said. “Sorry,” I apologised. “It’s just- we’re worried- what’s wrong?”
“This is a bit out of the blue,” Brynn admitted.
Chris raised an eyebrow at us slightly. “Didn’t you get my letter?” he said as he walked to a set of drawers. Pulling out a package, he returned and sat back down. Seeing our blank expressions he shrugged. “Typical post. Well, no matter- it was basically to say I was going through some papers the other week, and this was posted to me. Well… to you- from Old Marley.”
I sat ramrod straight in my chair making Brynn jump. “Old Marley? But… how?”
He shook his head looking flabbergasted. “I don’t know how he did it or why, but he posted this thing nearly halfway across the world to back here with your name on it-”
“Wha-”
Christopher continued. “-With an added list of what should be included to you in the will.” He shook his head and raised his hands in the air in amusement with a laugh. “I don’t know why- I really don’t.”
I looked to Brynn in confusion. “Eh?”
My expression must have been mirrored on his because he didn’t look like he had a clue what was going on either.
“A list?”
Christopher lifted up the parcel and handed it over to me. “Just open it. I’ve been dying to know what it is.”
With a raised eyebrow I accepted it. “Ok…” I said slowly. The parcel had been well wrapped and wrapped again in aged brown paper. Stains mottled the surface with smudged ink on the hastily written address.
Ellena Blackwell
The Girl With Ten Claws.
I glared at Brynn accusingly. He shook his head at me and laughed. “That’s why I called the exhibition it,” he said. “That’s what Old Marley used to call you.”
I stared at him in bewilderment. “Girl with ten claws? Are you kidding me?”
The two men were pointedly silent for a moment, making a blush erupt on my cheeks.
“Why don’t you just open it?” Christopher urged, keen to change the atmosphere.
I sighed angrily and started undoing the wrapping. A musty scent erupted with each tear of the paper, making me wrinkle my nose. Finally I managed to get to the heart of the parcel. Inside was a piece of paper with a hastily scrawled list and a small wooden box. Leaving the list, I lifted the box to eye level and saw that it had a fastening.
My fingertips brushed with rust as I flicked it open.
“Shitting hell!” I swore.
“What is it?” Brynn demanded.
“Sweet lord,” Christopher breathed catching a glance.
I passed Brynn the box and hung my head in my hands.
“What the hell’s wrong?” Brynn growled, taking it. “I don’t know why- wowza! Jesus Christ, Ellie!”
“I know!” I moaned, snatching the box back.
“Well, Girl With Ten Claws,” Christopher said grandly, sitting back in his seat. “Old Marley must have given them to you for a reason.”
Indeed you would have thought so, because Old Marley had left me a necklace of diamonds, cut into points along a chain- all into the shape of claws- all ten of them.
“I think we’re still going to need that rum, Brynn,” I moaned into my hand, the light shining from the gems giving me a headache.
“I’d say! We’re celebrating!”
I felt strange on the way home, the package lying heavily on my lap. Brynn sensed my mood and didn’t speak. I think he wanted to- he had been excited about the discovery of the diamonds, but the fact that I didn’t even have a clue why Old Marley had left them to me made them heavy.
“Maybe he didn’t have anyone else,” Brynn offered when I told him why I was upset.
I frowned. “It just seems a lot to give.”
Brynn nodded in agreement. “But that’s Old Marley for you.”
I continued to stare out of the window on the way home, the sea rolling like my insides. Christopher had tried reading out the list to us, but it was nonsensical apparently, and something that Old Marley had probably scrawled when he was drunk. I couldn’t throw it away though and folded it safely back inside the box.
Luckily, Brynn kept it quiet when we returned, but poured me a double Captain Morgan’s to calm me down in any case. Making a noise of thanks, I crawled upstairs to find Ben.
As soon as I stepped inside my room, I was crawling under my covers and calling out his name. He ran in immediately, a mouse lying limp in his teeth.
“Oh Ben,” I groaned. “That is gross.”
Ben dropped it and padded over to me nonchalantly. “You know it’s meant as a gift, don’t you?” he said, licking a paw casually before jumping onto the bed to join me.
I grabbed him immediately and held him close, breathing in his warm scent as I lay back. “I know,” I murmured, closing my eyes. “I’d just prefer chocolates.”
Exhaustion crawled within my limbs and I didn’t even know why. As I peered at my watch I saw that I had an hour until my full day shift serving drinks downstairs. I eyed the parcel lying on my bedside table and frowned. Another unwanted gift.
Growling in annoyance, I changed out of my dress and into jeans and a t shirt whilst I updated Ben on recent events.
“You’re upset because you don’t feel as though you deserve it?” Ben asked with his head cocked to one side.
“That yes,” I said, my voice muffled with the shirt halfway over my face. “And because I don’t know why he took the measures of sending it across the world before it got to me.”
“Maybe he was trying to avoid his brother?” Ben suggested.
I successfully managed to pull the rest of my flogging molly shirt down over my face and bit my lip in thought. “Maybe…” I picked up a cardigan and yanked it over my shoulders.
“What are you going to do with it?”
I sighed. Worry hit me that Brynn would wish to sell it to go towards the museum, but I didn’t want to do that. It didn’t seem right. Years ago, I had found a ruby and gold ring just outside the church gates where my Granddad was buried. I had reported it to the vicar but when no one reported it missing, I still refused to sell it like my Nan had suggested. Someone had loved that piece of jewellery once. It wasn’t right to sell someone’s precious memory for cold cash.
“I don’t know,” I admitted, picking the package up and then placing it in my kn
ickers drawer. “For now, I’m going to hide it and pretend it doesn’t exist until I have to.”
I bit my lip staring at the scratched wood of my drawer, thought better of it and pulled the package back out. Swinging my bedroom door open, I walked into Brynn’s room down the hall and threw the package gently onto his bed. He could keep it. I couldn’t deal with it right now.
I did my shift with the precision of a robot. I felt so tired and I didn’t even know why. True, I had barely been sleeping and I definitely needed to start eating more. My hands throbbed against anything cold, and my gunshot wound seemed to be reacting the same way to any chilly sort of temperature.
I was taking in a large order of drinks from a stag party when my hands started to shake. Jumping at the raucous shouts as I dropped a glass, my skin prickled in alarm. My chest convulsed as my heart attempted to keep up, my fingers reaching for another pint glass.
A hand reached mine and pulled it away.
I looked up to see Brynn, concern darkening his eyes.
“I’ll finish this round,” he said. “You go up to bed.”
I didn’t even bother to argue with him. Glancing at the broken glass beneath my feet, I nodded slightly before excusing myself. I knew that Brynn had been to his room to change and had seen the parcel. His eyes had lingered on me for several seconds longer than usual when I had come down for my shift but he hadn’t said anything. Why?
Ben was waiting at the top of the stairs for me, his eyes glowing in the darkness.
“It’s ok, Ellena,” he purred.
I reached out for him and picked him up. As soon as my skin made contact with his fur, my heartbeat calmed.
I was standing by the outbuildings, and I don’t know why but my entire family were there standing with me. Fire surrounded me, cloaking me in an oiliness that I could never wash free of.
Someone was in the fire. Someone we loved. It was expected- done on purpose. Was this a send off?
Their hands were on me as I fought to get to the fire, begging to be let free.
“He’s in there!” I screamed. “He’s in there!”
The door was open, but he didn’t try and walk out. My Granddad stared at me, his eyes never leaving mine as the fire engulfed and consumed him, his eyes flashing orange.
