Scarlet Tempest, #1

by Juniper King

  Perhaps even a place where I wouldn’t unsettle people just by walking past or even existing at all.

  But any fantasies I had of leaving town would remain just that. Besides, I could never leave Jess, or Branek, or the kids. They were what made my life worth living.

  Thoughts of other towns faded to the background as I came upon Magnolia’s, our favourite cafe where we frequently met for lunch. It was a quaint little building surrounded by an honest-to-goodness white picket fence. The white layer of paint on the wooden panels of the house had begun to fade and chip, but it somehow added to the homey feeling. Outside, flowers were in full bloom in the window planters, and ivy crept up the side of the walls. I’d always thought Magnolia’s would look more at home somewhere deep in the woods rather than in the middle of a town. Like a cottage in a fairy tale.

  I followed the small walkway to the front door, and the bell overhead announced my arrival with a happy little chime. Jess looked up and waved from our usual table beside the window.

  “Sorry, have you been waiting long?” I asked.

  “Nope, just got here a few minutes ago.” She already had a cup of coffee letting off steam in front of her.

  After I sat, we ordered our food and chatted for a while.

  “So, tell me,” she leaned forward as if she were about to share a secret. “Who were those two guys you were talking to last night. Was one a satyr?” she asked.

  “Yeah, a satyr and a human, if you can believe it.”

  “Here in Woodburne? That’s so cool. But maybe they were lovers. Not all satyrs go after women, you know.” She took a sip of her coffee.

  “Trust me, they weren’t lovers,” I scoffed.

  She swallowed too quickly and began to cough. “Wait,” she said through coughs, holding up her hands in a ‘stop’ gesture. “Sel, are you telling me a satyr hit on you?”

  “Yeah? It’s kind of what they’re known for.”

  “And you didn’t go to bed with him?” she asked a little too loudly. Ruth, the plump little owner of Magnolia’s, looked over towards our table.

  I rolled my eyes. “Why would I?” I said much more quietly, hoping Jess would take the hint.

  “Come on Sel, you know what they say about satyrs,” she coaxed, trying to get me to join in her fun.

  “So you’re saying I should have invited him up to my room and asked him to ravage me?” I asked.

  “Duh,” she made an unattractive face. “I hope you’re happy, you could possibly have just said ‘no’ to the best sex of your life. Wouldn’t that have been something to put an end to your four-year cold streak.”

  A voluntary cold streak, thank you very much. “Uh-huh, and you don’t feel even the tiniest bit guilty about constantly trying to whore out your best friend?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Encouraging you to go out on dates is not whoring you out. I’m trying to get you to live your life; a satyr is just a special case.”

  “I am living my life.” Jess knew me better. I wasn’t the kind of girl who needed a man or a relationship to define her.

  Jess picked up her cup and held it close to her mouth, blowing away steam. “I saw Noah and his wife at the market the other day. She looks pregnant again.”

  I winced. “Good for them, I’m sure they will be very happy.” I said in a complete deadpan, looking out the window.

  “See? It’s been four years, Sel, you need to push past this.”

  My lips twisted into a grimace. “I’m not still interested in him, he’s a spineless jerk.”

  “But you’re still caught up on what happened—it’s holding you back. I know you’re fully capable of being alone and you don’t need a man, but I also know you want a relationship, you’re a romantic at heart. Besides, statistically, they can’t all be assholes.”

  I glared from across the table.

  She pointed at herself. “Best friend, remember? You know you tell me everything, right? You’re worried that any chance you take will end up like him.”

  I relented with a sigh, there was no point in arguing when she knew me as well as I knew myself. “What if it does?”

  “What if it doesn’t? What if you take a chance and you find your soulmate?”

  “What if my heart breaks again and this time I can’t pick up the pieces?” Okay, it sounded corny, but that’s what it had felt like every time I was tossed aside. I didn’t know how many more rejections I could take.

  The first man I’d been with had been a one-night stand, though not by my choice. I was sixteen and had just started working at The Sluggish Nymph a few months before.

  He was a mercenary from out of town, here on business. He was so exotic, and exciting, and mysterious, completely intoxicating to a young and naïve orphan like me. I’d been a hopeless romantic then, with absolutely no experience, and no one had even looked at me twice up until that point. I was delusional enough to believe he would take me with him, fantasizing we would fall in love and go on adventures together. He stayed at the inn for about a week, and after a few days of flirting and telling me everything I wanted to hear, he finally coaxed me into bed with him.

  He was gone the next morning before I’d even woken up.

  Branek had found me the morning after sitting at the bar crying, still in my work clothes from last night, and asked why I was at the tavern instead of the orphanage where I was still living at the time. I reluctantly told him everything. If that merc hadn’t already bolted, I’m sure Branek would have hunted him down and butchered him with his bare hands, judging by the look on his face when I’d told him.

  Eventually, after many months, I’d gotten over that disappointment only to try again, this time with a sweet-talking courier passing through on his way to the neighbouring town of Rochdale. The relationship lasted a couple of days longer but ended same.

  I might have been young and inexperienced in relationships, but I was smart enough to realize these men thought they could use me to satisfy themselves while traveling and then wipe their hands of me once their business had concluded and they returned to their everyday lives.

  It wasn’t until two years later that I’d even considered dating again. I began talking with a boy I’d often seen around town, Noah. He’d always given me shy smiles from across the bar and stumbled on his words when he’d talk to me. I’d thought it was adorable.

  We started going out for coffee and going on walks together. Eventually after a few months we’d started dating. Actually dating. I was nineteen years old and I finally had my first boyfriend. Things were going great.

  Then, after about seven months of dating, Noah’s mother finally put her foot down. We were all having dinner together at his home one night when out of nowhere his mother slammed down her utensils and an argument broke out. It came to light that her mother had always hated the fact that her son was dating me. She screamed at him to stop wasting his time with some ‘ridiculous, hybrid freak’ like me and find a proper girl to settle down with.

  Noah took me out of the room, my face wet with tears. I thought he would defend me, say that he loved me no matter what his mother said.

  As it turned out, he cared more about his mother’s opinion than me. He hung his head and ask me to leave without even having the decency to look me in the eyes as he broke my heart.

  It didn’t matter how sweet or sincere someone seemed, I’d learned I would be nothing more than a stepping-stone for them, someone to use in the interim before they found someone more acceptable to settle down with; to begin a proper life with.

  For most men, I wasn’t even that much. I was simply a commodity—a sexual fantasy. Men either outright ignored me because of my abnormality, or wanted to sleep with me as an interesting notch in their belt. It was probably nothing more than a game to them; lure me in, seduce me, and leave.

  I hated those men. But I hated myself even more for wanting to believe they might be telling the truth.

  Jess put her hand on top of mine on the table. “Sel, I love you, and I j
ust want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy,” though from the tone of my voice she wasn’t fooled.

  She smiled warmly, “I know. You have a job you love, you have a nice home, you have the kids who love you like a sister. I know I can never fully understand your situation and I have a feeling there are still some things deep down that you don’t share, but that won’t stop me from trying to help.” Her eyes took on a serious edge. “And if that means finding you the perfect man and getting you laid, then by the gods, I am going to get you laid.”

  I burst out laughing.

  “Wait, wait, wait, I’ve got it,” Jess said, looking oh so proud of herself, while also like she was trying to keep her own laughter contained. “The satyr. You have to give him the most mind-blowing, life-altering sex he’s ever had, put him off every other woman —human and Super, then he’ll never want to leave your side. You two will fall in love, and you’ll live happily ever after.”

  I threw my head back in laughter, “So casual, no strings attached sex, but also be the best he’s ever had in order to get the strings attached? Sure, I’ll get right on that.”

  Jess once again put her hand over mine on the table, completely straight-faced, “I have the utmost confidence in you.”

  We burst into a torrent of laughs. Serious, or downright ridiculous, Jess was the one person I felt I could talk about anything with. We continued that line of thought for a few more minutes, joking and chuckling together until our lunch came to the table.

  “Great, I’m starving.” I dove in with the vigor of someone who hadn’t eaten in a week.

  “Gods, it’s like watching a wolf masticate a deer,” Jess said with a note of mild disgust.

  “I was so busy last night I didn’t have time to eat,” I said around a mouthful of pasta.

  Jess rolled her eyes, swallowing a reasonable sized bite of her salad. “For crying out loud, Sel, next time just tell me. I can cover you for fifteen minutes while you go eat.”

  After we’d finished eating, Jess looked at her watch, “Well, I should probably get going, my shift starts soon.”

  We bid each other good-bye and she gave me a tight hug. “Love you, Sel.”

  “Love you too, Jess.”

  I stayed a while longer to finish my second cup of coffee, staring out the window, and watching the people as they passed. It had been a while since my last day off, and the weather was so pleasant I didn’t really want to return home.

  Oh, I know what I can do for the rest of the day.

  3

  The orphanage was only a couple of streets down from Magnolia’s. A decrepit, two story building that loomed over the surrounding residences, Rosewood Manor, was one of the oldest buildings in town, and it showed. Many of the wooden panels were beginning to show signs of rot and deterioration, shingles had begun to fall off the roof, and one of the shutters was missing on a first-floor window.

  The dreary exterior of the antique building was at complete odds with the sprawling lawn that stretched out the front of the property, complete with colourful children’s toys littering the grass.

  A short fence surrounded the property to keep the children corralled while they played outside. In truth, such a short fence, with missing posts and giant holes, could do little to keep the kids in if they wanted to get out, but they had been taught well and knew not to leave the property unless Leanne was with them.

  The sounds of happy, frolicking voices permeated the spring air as I approached the building. On the other side of the fence, three girls were skipping rope together, chanting a song in tune with their jumps, and two boys kicked a ball around the yard. The smile that tugged on my lips was genuine, not like the practiced one I often plastered on my face during a shift at work.

  As my hand fell on the closed gate, a sudden tingle ran up my spine complemented by an overwhelming feeling of paranoia. I pivoted quickly, tottering on my heels, expecting to see someone standing behind me.

  But there was nothing. Just the usual Solday foot traffic of people leisurely running errands. I held my breath as my gaze flitted around the street, but no one spared a glance at me. My heart was beating a tune in staccato.

  I was sure I’d felt someone watching me...

  “Selynna!” The shrill voice made me jump a foot in the air.

  I turned to see one of the girls drop the jump rope and run towards me. Her delighted shout had caught the attention of the others and soon I had a small stampede of kids running for the gate.

  “Hey, Stephanie,” I crouched down and gave her a hug, her messy ginger mane tickling my cheek. “What are you guys up to today?”

  I was met with a chorus of voices, all trying to talk over one another. Laughter bubbled from my chest. I gave them each a big hug.

  Every child had a different story but one way or another they all ended up at Rosewood. Over the years I’d come and play with them, bring them presents, and act as a surrogate big sister. I’ve seen many faces come and go over the years, and I’m always happy to see the kids get adopted, of course, but it’s still sad to see them go, especially away to other towns.

  “I’m just going to say a quick hello to Miss Leanne, then we’ll play, okay?”

  The children happily went back to their games, placated by the knowledge I would be back shortly.

  The ancient wooden boards of the porch creaked under my feet as I avoided the toys that were strewn about. The old rocking chair was still perched in the same place it had been when I was living here.

  I knocked on the large wooden door before opening it. “Knock, knock,” I announced through the foyer.

  After a moment of silence, tiny footsteps pounded closer. “Lynna!” A little girl rounded the corner with enough speed I was surprised she didn’t lose her footing and go sliding into the wall. She catapulted herself around my waist and latched on in a fierce hug. I oofed from the impact.

  “Hey, Paige,” I laughed.

  Bigger footsteps followed immediately. “Paige, how many times do I have to tell you not to answer the door to strangers!” A woman hastily rounded the corner, a few stray brown hairs floating in a halo out of her bun.

  “Not a stranger, it’s Lynna!” The girl protested.

  “Oh, Selynna.” Leanne looked up and saw who Paige had attached herself to. “So good to see you.” We hugged awkwardly while Paige still clung to me.

  Leanne had become the head of the orphanage when I was about Paige’s age. She was a great woman, and all the children loved and respected her, but she was beginning to look a little rough around the edges. The bags under her brown eyes were even more pronounced than the last time I had seen her. It’s hard to keep up with such an energetic herd when you’re in your late fifties. I was always ready to collapse after a single day of play, I don’t know how she did it every day.

  “Paige, why aren’t you outside playing with everyone else?” I was worried, being the youngest, she was being excluded in some way.

  “We just finished tidying up after lunch,” Leanne said for her.

  Chores were part of the children’s daily regimen, and they each took turns helping Leanne clear the table and dry dishes.

  “Lynna, I lost another tooth,” Paige shouted, uninterested with the current conversation. “See?” She pulled her cheek and opened her mouth wide to reveal a little hole near the back of her mouth.

  “Wow, Paige, that’s great! Did the Tooth Fairy come?” I responded automatically. Of all the supernatural creatures and fairies that actually existed out there, the Tooth Fairy was a fictional being thought up by humans. Now, as an adult, the idea of an actual fairy coming into my room at night, reaching a hand under my sleeping head and stealing a tooth from under my pillow was deeply unsettling.

  “Uh-huh, she gave me a whole silver!” Paige then began telling me about all the coppers she’d been saving and what she wanted to buy. “And Miss Leanne is teaching me how to read! We’re reading a story about a princess, and a prince comes’n saves her from a tower,�
� she said with excitement.

  “Is that right?” I prompted her to continue her story, trying to ignore the conversational whiplash.

  “Yeah, he saves her from the tower, then they live happily ever after.” She recited the plot of the story as if I’d never read it myself. “I wish a prince would come for me,” she said, sounding a bit more downtrodden.

  Paige’s background was frighteningly similar to my own with her mother having abandoned her at the orphanage when she was just a baby. Feeling lonely with no family, of course the girl would wish for someone like a prince to give her unconditional love and support.

  “Paige, what would you like to play today?” I tried to distract her.

  “Hide n’ seek, hide n’ seek!” She bounced around on her feet, her mousy brown hair bobbing up and down. Worked like a charm.

  I crouched down so Paige could hop up on my back, her usual spot when I came to visit. “Oof, you’re getting big! Soon you’ll have to carry me,” I joked. Paige laughed.

  I carried Paige outside so we could gather the rest of the kids.

  “How are things going at the inn, Selynna?” asked Leanne.

  Back in the foyer, I’d begun counting slow and loud to give the kids a chance to scurry away and find their hiding places. Once they were out of the room Leanne and I had a chance to catch up. It had been a while since we’d had the opportunity to chat. The last few times I’d visited, the children took up all our attention.

  “Things are good,” I said. “Nothing too exciting.” Leanne wouldn’t be interested to know about the few Supers I’d seen in the tavern yesterday, let alone the fact one of them had wanted to crawl into my bed.

  “I’m glad things are going well.” Though concern was etched in her face, betraying her words. “You always seem so cheery when you visit the children, but I can’t help but worry about you sometimes.”

  Leanne, of course, understood that I’d been alone more times than not. I never had many friends to speak of growing up.