After a few minutes, I pulled into town and parked across from the diner. Getting out of the truck, I reached into the back seat and grabbed from my small stack of reading material. I browsed for moment until my fingers brushed along the spine of, In the Company of Crows and Ravens. A perfect read, and the best way to promote to passersby that I was the crazy raven lady. Nothing like a good bit of menacing and coffee after a few hours of harvesting.
Tucking the book under my arm I crossed the street and went inside. The small bell let out a jingle as I opened the door. Glancing around, I nodded my greeting to Granny. She pursed her lips for a moment before giving me a small smile of acknowledgment. Thankfully, she was a bit more tolerant of me, when compared to the rest of Storybrooke. At the very least, she didn't stare as much or hassle me when I chose to the grace the town with my presence. As long as I remained quiet and didn't make myself known to the other customers, I was welcome to roost for a couple hours.
I opened my book and started reading. Slowly, I looked up over the cover of my book and looked around the diner. Marco, the repair man, was staring at me from his spot at the counter. When I caught his eye, he suddenly grew fascinated by his hash browns. That was when Ruby chose to come and take my order. A new record, normally she waits until her grandmother yells at her to do her job. She fancied herself a bit of a rebel and showed it by wearing something akin to booty shorts, and getting alarmingly red highlights. Much to her grandmother's disdain. "Crazy bird lady will have a black coffee and nothing else?"
Raising an eyebrow, I laid my book on the table. "Snarky trailer trash says, what?"
"What?"
Smirking, I picked my book back up. "Exactly…"
Ruby snarled "You little bi—"
I raised a finger "I could actually do with an order scrambled eggs and bacon"
Before Ruby could retort, Granny called from the kitchen. "Ruby, stop harassing Ms. Vesper and put the gas on coffee refills!"
After fixing me with a glare, Ruby stormed back to the kitchen a put up my order. There was something fun about pushing the buttons of Miss 'I'm too good for this small town'. I think in some ways, her Granny appreciated when I came by and put Ruby in her place. A few minutes later a mug of coffee was slammed down in front of me. "Thank you!"
Within minutes I was in my own world, happily reading and sipping on my coffee. Ignoring the feeling of the townsfolk watching me, as if waiting for me to jump on the table and squawk like a chicken. Which, I only did once, at the local pub, after several drinks on an empty stomach. Speaking of stomach, my breakfast had arrived. "Looks wonderful, Granny. Thank you."
She nodded. "Will we be seeing you tomorrow for Farmer's Market?"
Through a mouthful of egg, I affirmed "Yes, did you wanna place an order?"
Glancing around, Granny leaned forward. "I was hoping to get in on your lovely apples."
Picking up a piece of crisp bacon, I tore into it "Oh, better not let Regina hear you. Can I get this refill to go?"
Granny paled a little, but chuckled nervously. "I'll have a basket set aside for you at market tomorrow."
Nodding, she grabbed a to go cup and filled it with a fresh brew. "Red delicious apples are mealy anyway. Nothing compared to my Snowsweets."
Tight smile in place, Granny walked away. Heaving a sigh, I snapped my book shut, collected my things, paid my bill, and left a couple bucks for a tip. Muttering, "back to the grind, I guess."
One thing that was nice about being the town outcast, was the fact that I was rarely held up by foot traffic. People had a tendency to make way for the crazy. So, no matter where I was or what I was doing, a path was always made for me, no questions asked. That thought in mind, I pushed open the door and decided to take a turn around the town while I finished off my coffee. The sun had decided to come out from behind the clouds, making for pleasant daydreaming weather.
Before the Dark Curse:
I had decided to go to bed, but they remained awake on their side of the cottage. As it was every night, I could hear the mournful sobs of my mother as she whispered the names of my lost brothers. "Mathies, Elias, Tobias, Liam, Leon, Hugo, Matteo…."
Father stayed awake with her, comforting her into the wee hours of the morning. The glow of the fire pit casting shadows on the wall that separated my bed from theirs. Slowly, I pushed back the covers and tip toed to the door. They had put the kettle on over the fire, and sat wrapped in each other's arms. "Shh Liliana, shhh, you'll wake Jaybird."
I tucked myself next to the door. "So be it, it would have been better if she hadn't been born. My sweet sons would still be with us. One daughter with no suitors, is not worth seven sons."
Those words stung horribly, and tears pricked my eyes as I pressed the heel of my palm against my cheek, brushing the tears away. "Have you tried summoning him?"
My father's shoulders sank, as if my mother's words had placed a great weight on them. "He will not take back the curse, I've asked him these 30 years, and each time he has laughed off my pleas."
Pressing my back against the wall, I rested my head on my knees. It was this way, every night. In the 30 years of my existence, my parents were in a constant state of mourning. Some nights my father would go into the forest in the hopes of summoning the imp who gleefully cursed my brothers, with plans to trade anything and everything to recall the curse and see my brothers home. Mother had grown bitter towards me, the townsfolk thought me cursed, any boys that once harbored crushes had learned to fear me, and father was growing tired of living. "Oh dearie dearie, such weeping, tell me child, what makes you cry so?"
When I looked up, terrified at the thought of an intruder, the scream that was ready to rip through my lips was reduced to a pathetic squeak when I took in a set of inhumanly large jaundice yellow eyes. I knew well enough who knelt before me, even though we had never met. He was everything my father had made him out to be, and yet those fearful descriptions did the real thing no justice. Without a single shred of hesitation, he cupped my cheek and wiped away my tears. He didn't away until I pressed myself further into the wall in the hopes of escaping his touch. I knew what he was here for, for he was drawn to misery like flies to rotted corpse. "I want my brothers back."
(Author's Note: Alright folks, so I have just gotten into Once Upon a Time, yes I am really really really behind on the bandwagon, but better late than never. I decided I wanted to add more darkness to the environment, so I give you Jae Vesper. She is the pariah of Storybrooke (every town needs one of those). But before the dark curse, she was known as Jaybird, the girl who saved her 7 brothers from spending their lifetime as ravens. I hope you enjoy her, and find that she fits into the dynamic of Storybrooke)
