I walked through the saloon doors and watched Garret look up at me from the bar. He shook a bottle of dark bourbon and raised his eyebrows but I only shook my head no and pointed upstairs. He rolled his eyes and then walked over to pour the other man another glass. I wind my way through the tables and chairs and walk behind the bar up the stairs. Walking down the hallway I open the door into my room on the right.
I take off my gun belt and toss it on the neatly made bed that Garret had fixed for me. What he did not do was change my basin water but I was too tired to walk back down and fetch more. Walking over to the only window in my bedroom, I touch my finger to one of the rays of sunlight beaming onto the dusty floor. Immediately calling forth a familiar but foreign feeling, my fingertip took on a golden dusty aura opposed to the pale stub it was. With my finger still out in front of me, I walked back to the basin and dipped my finger in. In only a few seconds the water started boiling.
Scary was the only word I could think of that could really describe my feeling for the powers. I still had no idea what I was and I was no closer to the answer than when I woke up and crawled out of a rock in a crater a year and a half ago. No- not crawling- I think I remember beating my way out of it. I emerged with both fists bloodied and lacking any tunic on my body. I could only remember things that were mildly important. I could write and I could tell the difference between clay and mud. But what I could not do was tell you anything before my awakening. I felt, and still feel, cut in half. After shuffling in the desert for too many days I stumbled upon this town where I met my only friend: Garret. Lucky him I showed up just in time, his saloon was getting robbed. So when I swung the doors open with my breast out and pretty much everything else on display it bought him enough time to pull the shotgun out from under the booze case and paint the tables below with fresh brain matter. It took me a while to adjust but he fed me, clothed me, and showed me how to live life the way he lived his. Though I wasn't good with drinks, I was a hand with the heavy stuff. I help around the small town for small pay. Garret was the only one who knew of my "talent" he called it. He claimed the people would make a fuss and I agreed. When everyone started asking for my name, I told them I didn't have one. And when they insisted on a nickname, I told them I didn't want one. I feared that doing so would allow me to forget that I had a life beyond this town.
I wash the dirt off my face and take my hair down. Looking in the mirror I brush my black hair out with a comb, It never grew any longer than just past my shoulders. I look older than I feel. I feel young but I'm too tall, taller than Garret. My cheekbones are set too high and my eyes remind me of everyone else's. Tired and old. But at the same time, I wasn't old. He said I was about in my 20's.
I stripped myself of my mud-caked shirt and jeans and put on a cream-colored button up and clean breeches. After sitting and staring at myself at would have probably been too long I stood up and made my way back downstairs barefoot where I watched Esbern flirt with an entirely too young girl. She looked more like a child. So to that, I walked over and took his hat off his head and placed it on mine. He looked up at me with glossy eyes and before he could protest I groped what little hair he had left and pulled him to the door.
"She is a third of your age, Esbern. Get out," I said as he sat at the foot of the swinging doors and fumed. "Come back when you want more alcohol instead of time."
He stood, spit in my direction, made one wobbly step to leave, and instead passed out. Which made me smile. I turned my eyes to where the girl was but she had fled the scene because she knew that she was not supposed to be here in the first place. I was lucky though, if it was not for my height and boyish-looking face I may very well be in her shoes. I make my way to take a stool at the bar.
"I'll have some stew finished inna bit," Garret said as he wiped down a few glasses. He gave me a sincere glance before continuing "but I thought I'd let ya know Bella was wanting to hear from you."
