Chapter 2
The rest of the day of course passed without incident, Lathan was a big hit with the regulars, charming his way easily through every conversation. When Shaun came to take over at noon, it was clear that Lathan had successfully won over all the employees too. I simply rolled my eyes and 'played nice' as Eoin had suggested.
I collected my standard cup of Milo and any stale leftovers from the day before, and politely declined to stay and share my lunch with the crew. They knew me well enough by now that I could blame my sluggish irritation on the sunshine, so I gave the generic excuse and ducked out through the kitchen door.
The sun was shining in full force by now, so I stuffed my warm clothes into the kit bag and slung it over my shoulders with a grumble. As I made my way down the road back to my little apartment, I realised I was quite enjoying the warmth of the rays on my skin. I sighed at myself, and rolled my shoulders to relieve the tension. This really was a beautiful little town, and I decided to cut through the park, which was a longer route time-wise, but would be really pretty with all the snow-melt.
There was a distinct lack of bird song as I trudged across the grass along the edge of the small lake, not unusual for this time of year, but something I decided I was looking forward to with the coming weather. As I got to my favourite tree, a darling old Hawthorn growing near the lake, I decided to sit down and enjoy the day for once.
This tree was a favourite of mine as it had a particularly gnarled branch that actually grew along the ground for a time before stretching up to join its brothers in the sky. I set my kit bag on the floor and settled into the nook by the base of the tree, stretching my legs comfortably on either side of the ground branch and leaning back against the damp, but comfortable trunk. My Milo had cooled down slightly, enough for me to take the lid of the container off and drink it without removing half my tongue as Shaun like to serve it.
The pastries lined up for me today were boring, just a slightly stale loaf of seed-bread and a muffin from two days ago. I broke up the seed loaf and chucked it onto the frozen ground, something would find it eventually. The muffin was chocolate chip, not the most exciting, but still one of my favourites. I picked at it while I stared at the frozen lake, the only sounds being the steady dripping of snow melting from the trees around me. It was peaceful, and quiet.
I watched the water drip off the end of a twig near my right foot, and the strangest thought entered my mind, one that had not tickled my fancy for decades. I wiped my hands on my pants and placed them together before me. My magic was weak, the only special thing about myself being my apparently extended lifespan, still, I liked to play around with it from time to time.
"Veni foras." I muttered, ignoring the uncomfortable tugging that came with conjuring after an extended period of disuse.
I felt a small wind, and when I opened my hands a tiny flower had formed. I smiled at the sight, I hadn't directed the spell in any specific way, and was delighted to find a crocus flower. A gift from my mother once upon a time, the flower of joy. I held it close to my chest, surprised at the sudden waves of emotion that flooded my mind. It had been a long time since I had thought of my old life, centuries ago when the world was a softer place.
I lingered beneath that tree much longer than I normally would have, nostalgia is dangerously distracting and before I knew it, it was getting dark. I placed the flower on the ground, it was very real, and suspiciously out of season but no-one would really know to question it out here. There was no one left alive for my kind to be worried about after all, I was just paranoid.
I gathered my things and made my way sheepishly back to my little apartment. I slept like the dead, and groaned groggily when my alarm sounded at 3.45am.
The morning after a solid gym session, one always feels a tad stiff. It is similar with magic. I felt tenderness inside my soul, and much like a gym session knew it would be better to 'stretch' again today. I shoved the thought aside, that was a dangerous road to go down again, and I still couldn't figure out why I felt the need to practice yesterday. It was a strange day indeed.
As I made my way to the store, I glared at the sky, it was going to be sunny again. Eoin and I were alone this morning, and he chatted happily with me about nothing while we worked on our preparations for the day. I decided to bake tarts, in honour of the continued 'good' weather, and put a reminder in my phone to take out some fresh cream to whip after my shower.
I put the tarts in to bake and made my way upstairs, the water felt wonderful, and I lingered beneath the stream longer than usual. As I was preparing to turn off the taps and get changed, the water suddenly turned to ice. I shrieked and leapt out of the way. I reached over and turned off the taps, then stood and stared at the offending shower nozzle for a while, trying to figure out what had happened.
When I finally got out the shower, I dressed in a rush, and left my kit bag under the cupboard. I would probably end up staying quite late today, it was pay weekend, and there would likely be a line of hungry patrons waiting to buy out the bread as it came from the oven. As I stepped out the bathroom, I ran my fingers through my slightly damp hair, and checked my phone to make sure the timer wasn't getting ready to remind me of the tarts.
That can't be right I thought in a daze. If the time was correct, then my tarts should be blackened and burning the kitchen to the ground by now. I shoved my phone in my pocket and all but sprinted down the stairs. There was no smell of smoke, but I feared the worst, right up until I burst into the kitchen and found Lathan calmly plating the pastries, as he had been the day before. I paused, unsure what to do, and caught Eoin's eye.
"What are ye doin' lass?"
I opened my mouth a few times, like a goldfish, and ended up waving my hands dismissively and storming over to my sequestered work station. Eoin shook his head and continued kneading the massive ball of dough before him.
I stopped short of tackling the poor boy off his chair this time however, and he smirked at my outraged expression.
"Good morning Ailey. Did you have a nice shower?" I opened my mouth to snark out some clever retort, and then noticed the overly ambitious twinkle in his eye. He couldn't have had something to do with the sudden icy shower water, could he?
I shook the paranoia from my head, and narrowed my eyes, "Good morning Lathan. I'll take over those if you don't mind."
He put on a very convincing mask of innocence, and jumped up obligingly. "Of course, I hope you don't mind, I saw they were ready and decided to take them out while you were… otherwise occupied."
I wasn't imagining it, the way he drawled those last few syllables. What an odd thing to say, and do if it was him. I started slamming tarts onto a plate, furious with myself for turning red so quickly. Lathan chuckled and dropped something onto the table beside me.
"Don't forget the cream." He said softly, and then disappeared through the doors to the restaurant with a tray of tarts balanced on each hand.
I stared at the bowl of whipped cream, and shook my head, attempting to return to my work with some semblance of sanity, but all the tarts were gone. I jumped to my feet, irritated and frankly quite confused. What game was this guy playing?
I checked the time, it was still too early for him to be working, and too early for the shop to be open just yet. I wasn't wearing my apron, so I didn't have anything to chuck on the floor dramatically as I made my exit, so I settled for knocking the stool over with my foot and head-butting the door instead. Eoin was used to my clumsiness, and didn't even lift his head, but Lathan certainly did as I stomped into the restaurant clutching my head.
He was equal parts amused and startled as I marched up to him and poked him in the chest. "What is your deal?"
His expression settled on amused and he took a step back to lean against the counter and cross his arms. "Whatever do you mean?"
I growled in irritation and poked him again, "You know exactly what I mean. All this… Rubbish!" A tiny speck of spittle flew from my lip and landed on his shirt. I didn't break my stride. "What is your game here, huh? Are you trying to make me lose my job, or something?"
His smirk deepened with each word, and he raised an eyebrow as I finished. "Your job? If anything darling, I am saving your job."
I growled again, "Nonsense! If it wasn't for your… tricks, then my pastries wouldn't need saving! I have worked here for years, and never served an overcooked muffin in my life! So just… Keep yourself to yourself and… Stay out of my way. Alright?" I was flustered, and not making much sense.
"Ooh, feeling a little… frosty today are we?"
Again, that knowing smirk, the absolute nerve of the man. He tilted his head, a smile building on his lips once more as he waited for me to snap. I balled my fists at my side, realisation dawning on me at last. He was provoking me, why exactly was anyone's guess, but now that I knew his game I could beat him.
I turned round, before I could do something rash, and stormed back into the kitchen. Eoin jumped slightly at my dramatic entrance, he raised one eyebrow in my direction, but wisely kept quiet. I apologised under my breath and set about cleaning my work space. The whipped cream needed to be put in a container to stay fresh for the day. I left it to the side, not ready quite yet to head through and put it in the fridge behind the counter. As I wiped the last of the crumbs into my little bin I cast a glance to the cream, wanting to make sure it had not started to melt, or condense onto the table yet. It was gone.
My hand hovered in the air near where it had been, and I pursed my lips. Exceptionally unobservant, or was the little prankster up to no good again? I glanced at the doors to the restaurant, they weren't moving to suggest someone had recently passed through. Not that that would mean much, if the boy was as good as I suspected.
I spent the remainder of the morning helping Eoin prepare batches of dough for the hordes of customers that came through with various orders. Lathan was… Irritatingly helpful. Hurrying back and forth delivering and collecting, he made sure all the customers were satisfied, never kept waiting to place an order as we rushed to get everything ready for evening collections, and the usual hustle and bustle of the restaurant continued in the background. By the end of the day, I had quite forgotten the events of the morning, and viewed Lathan with begrudging respect. Busy days never ran this smoothly.
Before I knew it, five o'clock had come. Eoin and I switched off the ovens for a final time, and stood together watching our hard work exit the store by the bag load. My face was coated in flour, my hair an absolute disaster, but even I couldn't help but laugh as Shaun chased the final customer out the front door and locked it behind her. I wiped my brow, further exacerbating the flour situation, and watched Lathan help Shaun pull down the shutters and tidy up the restaurant.
Eoin came through from the kitchen and tapped me gently on the shoulder.
"Here," he said, "I think we've earned it."
He had set a small tray of drinks on the table, I gladly took the steaming cup of Milo from him and smiled my thanks. I hadn't even noticed him leave.
"Come on you rascals." He called to Shaun and Lathan.
Marie, our waitress, had already left for the day, so it was just the four of us that sat down at a small table near the counter and shared the small reward from a long day together. Shaun had already turned off the lights inside, so it was nice and dim, only small rays of the setting sun poking through the curtains on occasion. Warm light filtered in from the kitchen as well, and I was lucky enough to sit next to Eoin with my back to the dying heat of the ovens.
We sat in companionable silence for a few moments, and then Shaun cleared his throat and turned to Lathan.
"So, Lathan, what is your story?"
My eyes bulged, "Shaun!"
He shrugged, "What, he doesn't have to tell us. I'm just curious."
Lathan chuckled and held up a hand, "It's alright Ailey," I frowned slightly at his casually familiar tone, and he continued. "I grew up quite a ways away from here, under a different sun you could say. I have a rather turbulent relationship with my adoptive siblings, after the death of our father, we… drifted apart. I came to Scotland because of the weather, I love the snow, I love the small town life." He turned to look at me as he said the next part, I caught his eye by accident as I had been looking down at my cup whilst he spoke. "I think I am going to be very happy here." I looked down again and fiddled with my cup.
Shaun whistled, he raised his coffee mug, and Eoin elbowed me until I did the same, "To new beginnings." I held my cup aloft and we all clicked the drinks in the middle.
I brought the cup to my lips, and found it was already empty. It is bad luck to have no drink during a toast, I frowned and shook my head.
"Well then," I stood and gathered my empty cup, "thank you for the company, but I think it's high time I retired. Eoin, do you mind if I run upstairs for a quick shower?"
Eoin nodded and stood too, "Of course lass, here let me take tha'" I muttered a thanks and handed him my cup. "It's getting' quite late, do ye want me ter give ye a ride home?"
I smiled and shook my head, "Nah, it's really not that far of a walk."
He was about to push the matter further when Lathan piped up, "Actually, I am headed that way too, if you don't mind the company?"
He sounded so polite, so normal, that I almost accepted. I shook my head, lips pressed tightly and mumbled, "Ah, no thanks, I still need to shower and I don't want to keep you. You guys go ahead, I really don't mind the walk."
Before anyone else could feign chivalry, I bolted through the kitchen doors and up the stairs to shower. The water behaved itself this time, and I descended the stairs in my fuzzy pyjamas and wellington's feeling a thousand percent better about the day.
I tucked my fingers into warm mittens, and was about to flick off the light switch and lock up when Lathan materialised before me.
I gasped and jumped back, "L-Lathan! Gah, you scared me."
He didn't even bother to smirk, and instead offered his arm like an old fashioned gentleman. "Mind if I accompany you on your walk home this evening."
I stared at him dumbly, and said quite rudely, though it wasn't my intent to do so, "Why?"
He chuckled, "Because it is dark out, and I don't think it's appropriate for a lady to walk home alone."
I huffed and rolled my eyes, "It's the twenty-first century. You can't say things like that anymore."
"None the less, I am heading out that way, please, just say yes."
I sighed, "Sure, I guess."
I eyed his arm suspiciously and opened the door, he shrugged and followed me out. I turned to lock up but he stopped me.
"Eoin asked me to leave the door unlocked, he hasn't had a key made for me yet."
"Why do you need a key?" I asked, as we started walking.
"He didn't tell you? I am boarding in his spare room until I get on my feet."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise, "Oh, no he didn't tell me." I looked down and crossed my arms, "Wait a minute, if you are staying here, then where are you going?"
"It doesn't matter does it?"
I stared at him for a while and then shrugged, "I guess not."
We fell into silence, and I cringed, despising his presence for ruining what could have been quite a pleasant walk home. Despite my long years, I had never really gotten the hang of society. I really disliked small talk, and once again he was lingering long after he should have, seemingly, just to make me squirm.
I peeked to my left where he walked, he looked so completely at ease, staring up at the clear sky in wonder. Small puffs of wintry breath frosted around his mouth, and I couldn't help thinking that he was rather a handsome specimen.
He seemed to sense my gaze, and looked down at me, "So what is your story miss Ailey?"
I looked ahead and shrugged again, "I don't really have one."
"But you are not from here?" He guessed.
"No." I answered simply, wishing he would go back to awkward silence.
He persisted, "How long have you lived here then?"
"A few years," I hedged.
"And you are happy here?" He asked.
I frowned, again with the familiarity, and considered ignoring him altogether. Eventually I sighed, "Yes, I am happy here."
He chuckled and I looked at him again, wondering what could possibly be amusing about my answer.
He saw me look and caught my eye, "You are a fascinating young woman Ailey."
I balked, what on earth gave him that idea? I realised we had stopped walking, and was shocked to find we were at the gates of my apartment complex.
He turned to me, "Well, this is where I leave you. Sweet dreams Ailey." He picked up my mitten covered hand, and pressed his lips briefly to the material.
Before I could respond, he turned and walked back the way we came. "I stared after him for the longest time. So many questions on my mind. Eventually the cold drove me inside.
