"You're his new mate aren't you, ma'am?" The old shopkeeper asks. Mabel turns red and could say nothing as the woman judges the girl. She was an itty bitty thing. Making her look younger than she actually was. But her eyes betrayed her. They had more wisdom in them than they should, “You made a deal with that monster didn’t you?”
“I-I’d rather not talk about it.” Mabel stuttered. The old woman didn’t pay her any mind and continued talking.
“That demon has lived up in them woods for millennia, you know. Stealing the eyes and hearts of young uns like yourself. From what I know he eats anyone that come across his path." Mabel thought it was odd. He never tried to eat her. I think he was more scared of me than I was of him. The woman continued, " At least he seldom comes out of his cave. Save for the Night Market.”
“Night Market?” Mabel’s interest suddenly piqued. She had never heard of such a thing, “What’s that?”
She leans toward Mabel as if she were going to tell her a secret, “It’s when the fae from the woods come out to spread their wicked ways onto any unsuspecting passerby.”
“Wicked fae?”
The old shopkeep nodded, “Of course! They sell these strange drinks and -and hexes and sometimes even objects used for fornication!” Mabel blushes and thinks she’s made a mistake letting the woman ramble on and on about how sinful and deceitful the fae are. Or at least seemed to be.
Once the woman wishes her well Mabel finishes her errands and begins her walk back home.
Almost all of the villagers warned her of him doing hideous things to her. But if he wanted to hurt me, wouldn’t he have done it during the journey back to his house? She tried to remember if he did anything that should have given her a red flag. But nothing popped up. He was even nice enough to give me money for a room at the inn. And he stayed in the wagon.
“Maybe I should talk to him during dinner.” She set the groceries down on the table and began prepping dinner for the both of them.
That night she stood in front of the Creature’s door listening for any sign of movement. If she did she would consider knocking on the door to check on him. He hadn’t come down for dinner and it worried her. Maybe I should go in… she thought to herself. At that moment a snore came through and she realized he was already asleep for the night. Mabel sighed, a bit disappointed, and went back to her room, “Good night.”
Once he heard Mabel sleeping soundly he sneaked carefully out of his room. He saw a plate of rice and beef stew on the dining room table. A note was written by Mabel on the side:
I was hoping to see you during dinner. Please help yourself!
~ Mabel
Heat rose in his cheeks at the unexpected kindness. This is...nice.
Comments (0)
See all