Ruined

Chapter 3

 This is chapter 3, please comment/ vote/ fan!

 

Ruined

Chapter 3

 

Late next morning Clarissa awoke to a sparrow chirping happily nearby. She glanced around clumsily and Alethia was nowhere in sight. Clara rested her head back against the cool morning grass and closed her eyes.

 

She was shaken awake again by Alethia who had thrown a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt at her. Pale blue skinny jeans and a deep purple hoodie with a pair of black wings embroidered across the front.

 

Alethia herself was wearing white jean Capri’s and a royal blue tee-shirt; she had ditched her heels from yesterday and was now wearing a pair of black high tops.

 

Her hair was pulled back into a neat curly ponytail; and her tall wings were tucked nicely behind her back.

 

“You know, that scar is kind of creepy,” Alethia started plainly.

 

“Ya, but what can I do about it?” Clara asked her.

*

 

The Frisians brought their knees high with each step they took. A heavy thud followed as a hoof left, and regained contact with the ground. The worn dirt trail in which they travelled was empty apart from themselves. A slight autumn breeze ruffled the forelocks upon the horses head. Their heads turned slightly to the side as they strode steadily onward.

 

The tall poplars surrounded them as they travelled along the path. Their leaves of various colours, showering the road with colour. They too swayed in the cool breeze, seeming to dance on the finger tips of the wind.

 

Clara turned slightly in her saddle, the rough leather creaking with the sudden movement. “Where are we going?” she asked Alethia.

 

“We are headed to the village of Acasa, to stop for some supplies,” she replied. For the rest of the journey to Acasa, the girls remained silent.

 

A minute village lay nestled snugly between rolling hills; the peaks of the tallest mountains just visible along the horizon. From the distance that they stood they could see the outline of a tall clock tower. Its bells rung deeply as it struck noon.

 

The points of rooftops were scattered amongst the many shops and markets. The streets were filled with people bustling along, trying to escape the rush.

 

Alethia dismounted her horse, with Clara soon to follow, and let her horse down the cobblestone street. Two young stable boys rushed towards her- no older than seven. They pushed and shoved at each other, trying to reach her horse first. The tallest of the pair got there first. She let him take her horse to sable and groom him for her.

 

The smaller boy hung his dainty head as he admitted defeat. He solemnly walked after his comrade, as a sigh escaped his mouth.

 

Clara came up behind Alethia and called to the boy. His tanned face lit up when he saw she had a horse with her. He sprinted over and clapped his hands as she passed him the reins. The young boy turned on his heel and skipped off after his friend.

 

“I’m going to the market to pick up some supplies. Feel free to wander but speak to no one,” she told Clara.

 

“But Ali!” she begged but got no response as Ali spun on the spot and strode off into the massive crowd.

*

 

Ali pushed past a group of mundanes who were arguing furiously. Mundanes, ordinary people, that harboured no magic, and weren’t angels. As she passed, she heard fragments of their conversation, and she grimaced with each statement that she heard.

 

She approached a small shop, the shades were drawn, and the windows tinted. Ali pulled open the heavy wooden door. The handle was rusting, and a plaque on the door read “Enter with Caution.” She stepped over the threshold, and closed the door behind her. Ali glanced around, there was dust lingering everywhere, as if it had been uninhabited for years. Shimmering glass orbs were scattered amongst the room. Cobwebs hung from each of the windows, and clung to many of the rafters. The room was bare of anything such as picture frames, or portraits.

 

The distant jingling of a wind chime sounded from somewhere near. She noticed a cold steel door that wasn’t there before. As she continued to look around the room it inched open. A foul smell entered, followed by a cloaked figure. Draped in shawls and beads it slunk low to the ground.

 

It motioned for her to follow it. Reluctantly Ali did so. The creature led her to a small round table, deep within the shop. It stood upon three rickety legs, and next to it were two shabby wooden stools placed across from each other.

 

Slung over the tables was a table cloth that used to be white but now consisted of greys and browns. Ali cautiously perched on the stool across from the cloaked figure. Slowly it lowered its hood.