Arcane | Enoch O'Connor

Thirteen - "Shut it, Mill." (Part One)

Grace's Birthday - Part One

"Enoch, let me help you set up. Please." Grace whined over my shoulder, prodding at my cheek and occasionally stealing my equipment. It was her birthday, so being the unorganized person I was, I had only began making one of her presents; one of my clay dolls she's so mesmerized by. That's one of the many things I love about her, she likes me for me and my hocumunili. The sour look of concentration lingered on my face as I pushed her away.

"Go and play with Claire or Olive with your little plastic crowns." I scowled, more rudeness than anticipated. Grace frowned before slamming the door on her way out. It wasn't even ten seconds later when Fiona burst through the door. I ignored her as I usually did with most members of the house, barging past her to get to the endless rows of glass heart filled jars. They stacked up to my chin, wobbling until I reached my desk. Fiona was frozen to the spot, glaring at me intensely.

"That wasn't nice, Enoch!" I released a contemptuous laugh before picking out the beating organ from one of the jars.

"That wasn't nice, Enoch." I mimicked. My small action caused Fiona to storm off. From her balled fists grew stems that snaked between her fingers in anger, blooming red and orange flowers. I had always imagined building an army with Fiona and becoming allies. With my peculiarity and hers combining, we could create armies who use nature to kill instead of us killing nature.

"Sorry for bothering you for the-" The china trembled in her nimble fingers.

"Third time. It's no big deal, lass." I pulled her closer too me, quickly hugging her and taking the tea from her hands. My hands were coated with clay meaning when I ran a hand through my hair, the clay dust turned it a grey-ish brown. Gracie combed her fingers through, removing it and kissing the top of my head whilst she watched me work.

"I brought tea. And can I help you with anything?"

"Put that jar on the shelf and leave." I sighed, if she watched me further or if I was nice to her, her surprise would be ruined, so it's better if she gets in a mood with me and runs back to the Priest Hole. Jake was still staying there, he needs his own space away from here. Grace going with Jake would benefit the rest of us; we can proceed to set up her surprise birthday party.

A sigh left my throat as I pulled the girl closer to my chest, taking her bloodied knuckles in my rough hands, caressing the cuts from the broken glass. It was a regular thing for jars to crack so I had a few bandages the were now wrapped around her hand. Gracie flinched, pulling the dressing tight before tying it in a neat bow.

"Oh lassie, what will we do with you, eh?"

Deciding to finish the clay doll later on, I knocked on Millard's door, to be faced with a group of children. I perched on the edge of the bed near the older two children, out of earshot of Olive, Claire and the twins. Emma showed a hint of surprise when she looked up from the banner she was painting. Orange and blue paint covered her flesh were she had wiped her face.

"Emma, Millard. Don't take this by surprise. I want your help with Grace's-"

Millard put on his hat, cocking his head to the side. He was actually wearing clothes for a change. I wondered why, unless a new person is coming but even this is very rare nowadays. Emma snapped me out of my thoughts moments before I could think further.

"Enoch O'Connor, the sad, narcissistic dead riser is coming for my help? Has Satan possessed you? Free our friend, o'mighty devil!" Millard pleaded at the top of his voice.

"Shut it, Mill."

"Something edible, something useful and something heartfelt is a idea I always go by. Three isn't too many or too less." I thanked her before returning to my room. My wad of cash sat between two jars beneath my desk and I took out a few hundred dollars. I was unlike the rest of the children, I saved and collected money from all different loops meaning I'm not the poorest of people. Originally I had planned to leave this loop but after what happened to Lotte and Marcie, I couldn't bare to turn out like them.

"Miss Peregrine?"

"Yes dear?"

"I'm going to 2019."

"If this is regarding Grace's birthday, in which is today if I remember correctly, you will have to find someone who will accompany you. You know as well as I do that the outside world is not the safest place, considering hollows are on the loose. However, you can go under one circumstance. Be back two hours before supper." I began to search for Horace; he would know how to buy the perfect presents. Rolling my eyes, I saw him reading another book underneath the great oak.

I explained how we were going to New York, today, because it was Grace's birthday and I'd left her presents until last minute. He nodded his head enthusiastically when I asked him if he would tag along as well.

It was about one o'clock when we left and my stomach became knots as nerves crawled all over me. Horace had told me the shop name where that beautiful blood red garnet necklace was. It was a far distance away from the loop and considering we had to be back in an hour, I didn't waste a moment. The cash was still in my pocket and I started fiddling to calm my anxiety.

"Horace, take this and pick a cake out. I want this to be her best birthday ever. I'll see you by the loop exit, in about half an hour." As Horace left to go to the nearest cake shop, I swung open the door to the jewellers. My fingers ran across the glass as I stopped at the particular necklace. The old woman glared at me and my outfit and it was only then I realised I had picked the long sleeved top reading 'normal people scare me', once again.

"How much does this cost, ma'am? It's for my sweetheart's birthday and it'll mean a lot to her." I began to retrieve the many dollars, hoping I had enough since it looked rather expensive. She muttered a number and held out the black box in one hand whilst the other waited for the payment. As carefully as possible, I put the necklace in the pocket beside the remaining dollars.

Next on my present list was the edible present. Horace had sorted that out with the cake so all I was left with was something heartfelt. The homunculi wasn't enough and she deserved the best so I jogged back to the loop where Horace stood waiting, an open book in his left hand, a paper brown bag in the other.

"I got the prettiest cake in the shop and bought macaroons; her favourite. You're welcome." Horace emphasised on the word 'and' before slipping inside the unused telephone box back to September 3rd.

Luckily, I hadn't passed Grace so I began to poorly wrap the gifts, including my book on homunculi. I was beaming by the time I removed the lid of the jewellery box. My Gracie is going to love it.

"Everyone in the living room please!" I assumed she had returned when all of us crowded into the seating area by the fire.

A wave of 'happy birthday' washed over us and Claire announced that it was time for Grace's presents. I held up the pink gift bag Horace had bought and Grace bit her lip. The sparkles in her eyes set fireworks off in my stomach and a smile tugged at my lips.

"I love you." She mouthed as all the children pushed their presents close to her.