A Feather Earned

Chapter 2

Shuffling through shipping boxes Sarah looked for order sheets matching her early morning delivery of used books, but she was soon distracted by a figure entering the shop.

"Hello! Is there anything I could help you find?" She called out smiling as her sight met mismatched eyes.

Paying no attention to her empty offer the broad shouldered man silently headed to the opposite far corner. Carefully selecting a scarlet bound book he randomly commented, "A classic, simply my favorite. Have you read it miss?" He turned, eyes drilling into her.

 "Hardly a classic, but yes I have read The Labyrinth." She would have continued her nonchalant approach but the man once standing in the far corner now rose behind her causing her to drop the act. His warm breath sending chills up her spine paralyzed any attempt of distancing herself. 

She soon recognized his voice in the words he spoke into her ear, "not a classic? But what else could this tale be…" after a thoughtful pause he finally said it, " Sarah?" Startled she tried to pull away but found her body well planted by the strong hands gripped around her tiny waist. Closing the small gap between them she could smell his scent of cologne and was intoxicated by his smooth whispers into her ear.

"I know it's you. But why after all these years? Why now appear, Goblin King?" It came out more as a whimper instead of an actual formidable demand. Sarah felt his grip loosen to none. Spinning about to face the man she was not surprised to find a cloud of glitter to be all that remained. 

So startled, it took every inch of determination to not faint from shock. But to no avail, flushed and dizzy she made her way to a chair.

What she assumed must have been from the shock, Sarah snapped to awareness several hours later to a sweet and caring voice, "dear? Are you alright?" Sitting up she met the eyes of an elderly woman with a smile so warm she could not compare it to another's.

"Yes, quite fine. I must have dozed off, but is there anything I could help you with?" The lady looked about and then glanced down to the floor at a red book. "Yes, I'll take this one." Sarah realized it to be her child hood companion being sold, restraining a reaction with a grateful smile inwardly saying, "It'll be good to part with it." However, her voice only spoke, "Will that be all?"

Through a wrinkled complexion Sarah could almost make out a pair of very old mismatched eyes that seemed to be so common of late. The old woman thumbed the book before handing it over to Sarah with a warm smile and a quick answer,  "Yes, it'll be the perfect addition to my collection of classics." Sarah knew the similarities couldn't be a mere coincident. Could they? Not wanting to ponder this any longer she quickly rang the book of horrors up and once payment was given dropped it in a bag.

As she headed to the back Sarah could almost swear she heard the Goblin King's voice, "good night my sweet". Turning with a start she ran back out to find not a soul in sight. Not even the old lady remained. Looking down at the counter, separating her from the rows of books, she found to her disbelief a white owls feather. In her panic she looked all about and finally came to the realization of the hour and closed shop. Going home to another night's sleep that she was now sure would not be all that restful.

~**Pokes head out** did you like it at all? While you're down here, click on that button over there and leave me your thoughts PLZ.

-Clover