A Kiss in the Shadows

A Kiss in the Shadows: Chapter four

  ☽ Chapter four☾

I  Lay across my bed, the soft sunlight that dawn brought passing through my window. I was curled tightly in a cloak I stretched and winced at the ache in my bones. I noticed the cloak again and my brows furrowed together for a moment and leant down to sniff it.

The smell that I was met with was one of pine and crisp winter, a thin bouquet of fresh ivory soap underlying it. I was still left baffled and pressed the fur closer to my face, curious as to whom the owner was.

Into deeper inspection I could smell a faint trace of a manly musk, yet it had a slightly odder tone to it. It was something I couldn’t place.  But in the process of the movement I was met with a searing pain so blinding I saw black spots in front of my face for a second.

Taking a sharp breath between my teeth, the events from last night came crashing upon me. Gingerly I removed the cloak from my body and looked down at the wound. It was tied in a handkerchief, which I assumed was Mason’s work. It had stopped the blood flow, so he did something right for once.

I dipped a spare cloth into the water basin and washed my face getting the dirt and grime from my skin.  After that I ran a brush through my unruly raven locks, and I picked out a simpler crème colored dress that had a built in corset. I slipped into it with a mild struggle.

Once I was finished I looked out the window and noticed the people outside walking and conversing, they were dressed in thick heavy weather clothing. Their cheeks flushed from the chill of crisp end of fall, dosing of into the beginning of an icy winter. I looked around for my velvet cloak, but I received no satisfaction in the search. With an annoyed mutter to myself I looked for something to wear. I noticed Mason’s cloak on my bed.

Why? I sent the thought up to Ruok and draped in over my shoulders. The soft charcoal fur of mink protecting my skin from the cold I would meet outside. Around the shoulders was the thick hide of a honey monster fox, it caressed my swan neck and the hairs were light to the touch. I honestly hoped mason wouldn’t see me wearing this.

I was about to leave my room when I noticed the full bread basket at the foot of my bed. Oh dear, I had forgotten to make my father dinner last night. I bit the corner of my lip wondering what I would meet when I walked down those stairs. I grabbed the basket and descended down them.

A timid smile leapt onto my face when I saw my father’s back, he sat at the table; Reading the bible of Ruok again. My mouth ran dry like a drought in a small village when his head rose to meet my stare. His dulled out grey eyes almost looking threw me.

“I’m so sorry papa.  I should have been home to cook.” I said quietly as I walked over and knelt to his side. His face the expression of pure blank just as always, like a poet staring at a paper for almost two decades wondering what to write; but just not being able to force enough energy into anything other than a barely mild verse. But all he did was nod, a small gesture and returned to his book.

 Barley an acknowledgment of my existence. I stood and went over to the boiling pot; I filled two cups trying to avoid using my bad arm, and stirred the tea leaves into the scalding water. With my back turned I took the vial from the basket and poured three drops in. My father didn’t approve of Ella’s work. He thought of it as witch craft, I believed that as well. But his dry hate contradicts my admiration. I placed the cup in front of him and he barely noticed it.

I sat across from him for a moment sipping my slightly red tea. Feeling the muscles in me un tense and let me feel almost relaxed.

 I fingered the small gashes in the wooden table, the uncomfortable silence almost suffocating me in spite of my mother. I stood from the table eventually and was about to walk out of the room to leave when he finally spoke.