When Magic Speaks - NaNoWriMo 2020✔️

26

"She's fine. She's doing just fine."

The apartment was dimly lit when Taun returned to it - not that that was entirely out of the ordinary. His new guest always ensured that the apartment was dimly lit. Perhaps it reminded her of home. As he shut the door behind him, he turned the lock. He didn't normally bother with it but in today's current climate, he had to ensure her safety. 

"Marma?" he whispered. 

She was sitting at the window, watching the stars rise high in the sky. Though not many of them were visible, not with the street lamps and brilliant glows of other homes illuminating the street below. Marma stayed silent - perhaps she was lost in her thoughts. Taun cleared his throat...no response. As he crossed the room to her, the kettle on the stove beginning to whistle a soft tune, he sat on the windowsill, obstructing her lacklustre view. 

"Marma," he repeated, leaning forward. Perhaps she was thinking about something else. "I can't promise that you can return to the cottage anytime soon because once you're alone...I'm not sure what will happen. The town...these people are very set in their ways. But I'm not sure if they entirely trust you yet."

"That isn't my concern," Marma mumbled. "None of this is my concern."

Her granddaughter was her concern. Taun adjusted his posture. He paused before he spoke.

"I don't think she's coming back. She seemed...genuinely happy. As if she had...finally found her place. You should've seen it."

"I don't think she wants to see me right now."

Taun turned his head to the window as he spoke. "I beg to differ. You're the only family she has left. I'm sure she misses you terribly. You should go see her."

Before Marma could respond, there was a hard knock at the door, startling them both. Taun looked to Marma before slowly rising to his feet and crossing the dimly lit room to the door. Glancing through the peephole he realized who it was and quickly unlocked, swinging the door open but being sure to stand in the doorway, masking Marma from him. 

"Where have you been?"

Taun tapped his foot nervously as he stared at his friend. "Roger..." He was wide-eyed and intense, with a deep-set gaze that seemed to look right through Taun at Marma. Everyone knew Marma was here but the less the Huralians saw her, the better. Including Roger. Roger, a tall man with hunched shoulders, had his hands on his hips as he stared at Taun (impatiently, mind you).

"I saw you leave town just now. You were heading in the direction of Monmouth...and I know why."

Taun inhaled as he avoided Roger's gaze, staring down the hallway. No one was in sight, but who could be in ear shot? As he looked back to his nosey friend he sighed. "Please Roger, she's not causing trouble, she's not in trouble. She's no longer here. The right response...the only response is to leave her be. She's not in Monmouth, I was wondering around looking for her. She is my friend after all." Taun whispered in a tone so low that Roger could barely pick it up. Despite the two of them being close friends, Taun knew where Roger's loyalties lay. Though he was hoping that his friend would believe his lie and he would realize his radical thoughts were morally unjust, agreeing with Taun. Taun was a believable liar when he needed to be but alas... Wiss was still a magic user that had attacked the town, and Hural would never settle unless they got their revenge.

A moment of silence passed before Roger straightened his back. Taun was sure he had persuaded him. But Roger then suddenly grabbed Taun's arm without warning and began dragging him out into the hall. He was taller and stronger than Taun after all - the boy wasn't about to win this battle. As Taun was pulled away from his apartment, he tried to reach back to pull the door shut but failed. As he reached the end of the hall though, he heard the door softly shut and lock. Marma hadn't moved an inch, her fingers flicking just as the lock did.