Present
My mother used to tell me all kinds of stories like how this world has many realms with different timelines. That they're all kinds of creatures living in this world but in different realms. At that time my world was full of possibilities and imagination. Everything that came out of her mouth for truth for me. I remembered creating a make believe portal from my mother's favorite antique mirror with my brother and him after looking at an ancient text from my father's library. Needless to say, we were never allowed in the library ever gain. Everything and everyone was perfect in my world back then. Where did it all went wrong?
I have been in Dormeadow for about nine months now and I've never seen this many humans before. The market is bustling with them. Somehow it feels more livelier now. What is going on. Something has changed, something big in the world, which I'm unaware about. I need to know about this change desperately. I hope that it's not related to me at all. This village is very isolated and cut off from rest of the world that is why this comes as a shock.
I look around the market, there are so many options today. I feel a little giddy inside. 'I could use some new clothes' I think looking down at my old worn out dress. These immigrants, they must be traders before deciding to move. Well it's a good thing as long as long as they're not wolves. Still it must have been very hard for them to leave their homes, a place where they spend more than half of their lives. Like me.
Some of the women looks so out of place here. Eying their clothes I can tell that its expensive, gold embroidery, they must have been quiet well to do in the city. Seeing their miserable expressions, I can almost feel their pain, this place really comes quiet as a shock. When I first came to Dormeadow, I couldn't believe how primitive it was. It's like the world was hundred years ahead of this place. There are no telephones, no motor cars and only about forty-fifty houses. They still call their bars as tavern and hotels as inns. And after half past eight I can't smell a single damn human being. I guess that is why I thought this pace would be perfect for me.
I see young girls and boys, travelling in groups, laughing playfully at something. Thyra would have been their age if she was still alive. She would have had many friends.
"Would you like to try it. I made it myself. They are the best quality cheese in the market" the woman says proudly and I nearly roll my eyes at her. Yeah.. right, everybody seems to have the best quality in the market. I took the offered piece from her hand. It's so small, what a cheapass but it does smell good. The piece was so small that it didn't even take me two bites to finish it. Goddess, its so delicious that I almost moan. Almost. I haven't tasted a cheese this good in a very long time.
"So... how was it, do you like it. Would you like to buy it?" the woman fired while still wearing that proud expression. "It's fine. I've had better" I said looking around the price tag on display. One thing I've mastered since leaving Blackmoon is the art of bargaining. "All these cheese were made in Brackenridge. We have a farm there. You won't find anything like that in here" she huffs offendedly. Brackenridge...small but beautiful. "I am not saying its bad. Its just I've had better at this price. Also.. look around you, do you really think people will spend that kind of money on cheese. This isn't the city" I turned around without waiting for her reply.
Oh she will be selling me that cheese in the evening may be I'll get some meat and fresh bread too. I haven't cooked in weeks, always eating leftovers from tavern. I don't seem to have much appetite these days.
"Can you believe this is happening" Seefa sneaks up behind me, startling me. I didn't expect to see her here. We've never met after the working hours which makes me think how little I know about the people around me. Where does she even live?
"Did you buy something" she eyes my hands. "No but I will be in the evening. They'll lower their prices significantly after the sun sets". "But many of them will be gone by the morning" she says almost sadly. I narrowed my eyes at her. "Yes because they're just passing by". Still, why come all the way to Dormeadow. They could have taken a different route, one that is much easier and direct.
"It's just.... I hate it that its so quite in here, I liked Tuskenvale better. It was so loud and full of life unlike this dead town" she mumbles.
"You used to live in the Tuskenvale?" I asked genuinely surprised, it's so far away. She nods.
"Then what are you doing here. I thought you lived here with your aunt" I asked genuinely surprised. That's what Bodil said. "No, I lied to avoid suspicion. I actually sleep at tavern. I leave with everyone and then sneak back in. That's the only safest place I know" she smiles at me sheepishly. "I was a traveler just like you, passing by but then I decided to stay" she adds.
"Why did you then if you liked the Tushkenvale better?".
"Because I didn't have anywhere to go". I looked at her pitifully but she averts her gaze. "At first I just wanted to earn some money so I got a job at the tavern but then I saw you. You were alone just like me, a traveler. I thought you were passing by like everyone else but then you decided to stay. I thought may be it wouldn't be so bad. Its hard being alone on top of that I'm a woman. I was so alone and I couldn't go back to Tuskenvale" she sighs miserably.
"Is somebody after you?" I say slowly, she shakes her head abruptly. "No....Yes, I don't know" she whispers quietly. I can see tears welling in her eyes.
"Come on let's talk about something else. Do you want to buy something" I smile trying to cheer her up but she gave a very sad heart breaking smile. She'll tell me when she's ready.
I would have never guessed anything about Seefa if she didn't tell me herself. She looked so easy going and always wears the biggest smile on her face. It's funny how we so blind to other person's pain.
The tavern is extra crowded today just like yesterday. I wonder why this many people are migrating to the west. They have no reason to. Werewolves politics and business is their own, it doesn't involve humans. That's what treaty said. It's been there for centuries.
But if this many people are moving than may be something happened, something huge which I am unaware of. 'Should I move....no, I can't'. I neither have resources nor money to move. May be it doesn't involve me I am being paranoid. It's been years may be they forget about me and moved on. Somehow it doesn't make me feel any better. A painful bitter feeling rises up in my chest at the thought.
I got pulled out of my thoughts by a slap on the butt. "Who has you thinking this hard, love" I tried to mask my disgust as the huge greasy man snaked his hand around my waist and pulled me on his lap, rubbing his hands on my thighs. This is why I left the city. "Men don't like women who thinks too much" earning a roar of laughter from the crowd. Dear goddess, I am starting to have a headache.
I mustered biggest smile on my face while detangling his huge arms around my waist, "You seem to be out of whiskey sir, let me take care of that" I said carefully.
"Why don't we forget about the whiskey and get out of here. What you say love" tightening his hold on the waist. "I have a lot of money in my pocket. Why don't you check it out" he whispered in my ears as he forcefully took the my hand and put it inside his pants. I was so startled by his actions that I couldn't even hide my disgust at this point. Where is everybody.
"How about I.." I started slowly while trying to remove my hand but before I could finish speaking Freja interrupted me. "Farce is asking for you. Urgently" she looked dead in the eye of greasy man. He reluctantly let me go as the crowd booed at Freja. I hurriedly made my way back to the kitchen. Don't think. I used kitchen railing to support my weight. Deep breaths. I take some dish soap from the sink and scrubbed my hands thoroughly. Oh the feel of his semi erect... I shuddered. I think I might vomit.
I turned around only to be met with Freja's extremely angry eyes. I averted my eyes somehow they made me feel very small. "Thank you for saving me back there. These man are disgusting" I smiled gratefully.
"Why didn't you say anything. You looked so completely unbothered. You were sitting on his lap as if you enjoyed it" she said angrily pointing her finger at me as if I committed a heinous crime. Okay now I am extremely angry.
"Excuse me. Do you how many times I've been slapped on the butt since I started working. How many times men have tried to forcefully kiss me. If I tried to make a scene every time, I'll be out of my job and on the streets" my voice rises. "I have lived alone all my life and the one thing it has taught me is that fighting for yourself doesn't get you anywhere. It doesn't put food on your table. It only makes you life difficult" I add before I made my way outside through the back door.
I need some fresh air. My mood turned extremely sour at her accusation. Her words triggered some unwanted memories into my mind.