The Alchemist And The Beast

Chapter 2

Varian was getting close to his house when he stopped abruptly before almost walking into someone.  "Oh, sorry-"

"Ah.  Varian." The woman seemed torn between looking delighted and annoyed all at once.

"Caine," he returned before moving past her.

"What book do you have there?"  She asked, trying to make a conversation.

Varian continued walking.  "Oh, just Flynnigan Rider.  Have you read any?"

"No," she admitted.  "For your dinner table.  May you join me this evening at the pub?

Was she asking him out?  What did they have to talk about? "Sorry, not this evening."

"Busy?"

"No..."  Varian walked faster, holding his book behind his back.  Rude as it may have sounded, but he had a reason to dislike her.  This was the same woman that deliberately tried to accuse his father of bringing unfair prices and the whole town turned against them within a week of living there. It was untrue, but his father went to the next town over to sell his produce now.

Caine let him leave and Dwayne stepped forward.  "So, moving on?"

"No.  It’s the ones who play hard to get that are always the most satisfying.  That’s what makes Varian
so appealing.  He hasn’t made a fool of himself just to gain my favor."

"What would you call that?"  Dwayne asked.

"Dignity, you idiot," she huffed.

"Caine!"  Someone called to her.  She rolled her eyes and walked on as if she hadn't heard them.

Varian closed the door behind him and let out a long sigh as he rested his back against the door.  A familiar sound reached his ears.  His father was listening to the music box Varian's mother, Ulla, had made before she died.  It was her that Varian took after in almost everything.  Except his black hair.

"How does a moment last forever?
How can a story never die?
It is love we must hold on to
Never easy but we try
Sometimes our happiness is captured
Somehow a time and place stand still
Love lives on inside our hearts
And always will..."

Varian sang to it quietly as he set the basket of bread on the counter.

"Oh, son, I didn't hear you come in," Quirin said.  He was putting the money in the lock box, which meant he had been counting.  "Could you hand me the..."

Varian handed his father the lock that had been left on the counter.

"Thank you," Quirin began. "And I also need..."

"They key?"  Varian asked.

"Yes." His father nodded.

"I think you dropped it by the table."  Varian picked it up and handed it to his father.

"Thank you."

"Dad," Varian said suddenly.  "Do you think I’m odd?"

"Odd?"  Quirin gave him a quizzical look.  "Where did you get an idea like that?"

"I don’t know," Varian sighed.  "People talk.  This is a small village, you know."

"Small minded as well," Quirin added.  "But small also means safe. Even back in Paris, I knew a girl like you, who was so... ahead of her time. So different.  People mocked her. Until the day they all found themselves imitating her."

"Please, just tell me one more thing about her," Varian pleaded as he sat down with his father.

"Your mother was... fearless.  Fearless," Quirin said at last.  He glanced at the clock Varian had made.  "Oh, I better take the produce to town...  Do you want me to bring you anything?"

"A rose.  A white one so I can test it's differences between a red one."

Quirin shook his head.  "Sometimes you ask for the strangest things, but that should be relatively easier to find than a very specific mineral."

Varian chuckled.  "I'll hitch Fidella for you."

"I already did.  She's around the back and everything's loaded."

Varian followed his father outside and handed him the bread he bought in the basket he had earlier.

"I’ll see you tomorrow," Quirin said once he was situated.

"Right. Tomorrow," Varian echoed.

"Stay out of trouble while I'm away."

"That's a rather tall order don't you think?" Varian winked.

Quirin gave him a look before shaking his head.  He flicked the reins and was off.

"Good luck!"  Varian called after him.

His father nodded and smiled.  He then turned his focus to driving.  Varian stood there for a moment before heading back inside the house.  He had work to do.