Yet Untitled Fantasy Snippet (Part 2 of ???)
“I don’t understand. We were robbed and you simply handed our most expensive inventory over.” My father is a gentle man, his face as weathered and wrinkled as the oldest maps in our shop. He is not quick to anger, but rage gives a rare edge to his voice.
“It wasn’t like that, I can’t explain. The woman was not human, she had some power over me where I simply couldn’t refuse.” I’m exhausted. We’ve been talking since Warren dragged me home but our conversation has led nowhere.
“No. More than that. She controlled me. She made my body move.”
“That is the most preposterous thing you’ve said so far!”
“It’s unacceptable! Whatever happened this afternoon will not happen again.” He looks anywhere but to me. “I’m sorry, Belle, I can’t have you working the front anymore.”
I want to glare at him but tears gather in my eyes. “It wasn’t my fault, it won’t happen again.”
“I’ve made up my mind. Warren will take your post tomorrow and then we will begin looking to fill the position.”
Now I can’t look at him. So I don’t. I push away from the table and am out the door before he can stop me.
Despite the pouring rain and the setting sun, I find myself perched on the breaking wall. Not far from our house but a walk long enough to let my anger fade into a dull sadness. The waves crash in the angry storm. How comforting to have a day that matches my mood.
I don’t know how he found me but Warren quietly climbs over the wall and takes a seat beside me. For a moment we listen to the waves and rain. Then I turn to him. “Are you excited for your new job?”
He lets out a quiet sigh. “You know I’m not.”
I try to laugh but the sound comes out as a half snort, half sob.
“I’m really sorry, Belle… But... How did this happen?”
“What do you mean ‘how did this happen?’ You were there the whole time!” Desperation begins to creep back into my voice. “Didn’t you see? Weren’t you listening?”
He is quiet again, staring at the sea. “I heard a customer come in, I heard you try to talk her out of buying a map, and then you were in the back going through our most expensive inventory. If I hadn’t seen you on the floor just moments after I would have thought you were happy to hand those maps over.” He hesitates. “And I’m always listening.”
His black curls are beginning to stick to his face. I can imagine that I look much the same. “Oh.” Is all I can think to say.
“And I believe you when you say you didn’t mean to let this happen. But it just seems absurd, how could she control you? She didn’t even touch you.”
It is not like us, for him to be doing most of the talking while I’m left with nothing to say. I look at him again, he fixes hazel eyes on me.
“I have no words for what happened.”
I rest my head on his shoulder as the sun slips beneath the horizon.
