Page 21

Story: Caelon

“Well now, I know you got that big ol’ dream ‘bout startin’ up your own photography business, and hopin’ to snap pictures for National Geographic just like yours truly. So, what I was thinkin’ is, maybe you could take over my booth down at the Summer Solstice this year instead of me.”

My mouth is hanging open. I didn’t expect this when I came in today. I was thinking I was just dropping off more film. Not possibly running a booth in the festival!

“Listen here, sugar, ‘fore you get all worked up, you gotta know I think you’re somethin’ special, and I can just see you goin’ real far with this here photography! That festival? Why, that’d be just like your own little gallery! A chance for ever’body to see what you can do.”

“I don’t…” I start to pace back and forth in front of Lou. “I don’t even think I have enough pictures to display. How do you even choose? This is a lot to think about. I just planned to drop off three more rolls and now you are asking about me running a booth.” Odes is following me with her eyes, not saying a single word. Just watching my mini breakdown. I cut my eyes to her and glare.

A smile grows across her face. “This is a great idea, Moony! I mean you could only do it during the day since people won’t be able to see the photos in the dark. Think about it. A few hours of displaying your amazing photos, rub some elbows with the elders of the community, and still have time to do some festival games that night with me.” She shrugs like it’s just that easy.

“You make it sound so easy,” I whine.

“It’s totally that easy.” She walks over and wraps her arm around my shoulder. “She’ll do it Ms. Snapley.”

Lou shoos her. “Just call me Lou, now. Ain’t no need for all that fancy stuff. Did I hear you say you got some rolls of film there for me?”

I reach into my bag and pull the three rolls out, handing them over to her. “Alright, well thank you again. This is more than I imagined.”

Lou just nods her head as she turns to head back into her dark room. Seeing this as the end of conversation that it is, I turn to walk back out.

“Oh my gosh! Look at the banners going up!” Odessa squeals as she points at the banners the workers are lifting over the road. It’s not only announcing the festival but the theme for the year.

Legacy of the Land.

“Oh this year's theme is perfect, especially with you sharing your photos of the pack and the lands around us! It’s almost like fate is stepping in, don’t you think?” Her elbow nudges into my side.

My eyes draw down to hers. “Yeah, could be.”

We cross the street in front of the workers hanging the banner, arm in arm, as we giggle watching Marlowe sneaking across the street in her pine marten form. We better get down the road before Bea comes storming out with her rolling pin again. We scurry past the bakery, heading towards the pack lands. We are just about to pass Citrine and Rose when Odessa yanks my arm back.

“Girl, we gotta get those.” She’s pointing to the two dresses displayed in the window. “They are so perfect for us! We can wear them to the Bestiare! Our masks will look perfect with them!” She doesn’t even give me the chance to say a word before she’s pulling me into the shop. Not that I would’ve argued, those dresses are perfect. Bestaire is our annual masked dance during Summer Solstice, and this is the first year our parents are allowing us to attend.

Hours later, after I’ve finished my English assignment and submitted it to my teacher, I’m still feeling conflicted and today’s revelations aren’t helping. I’ve already taken the sleep tonic Mom gave me, but now I think I want to try the clarity tea again. Just one more time, maybe I’ll get more answers this time around.

My mom has always warned me about mixing tinctures, saying things like “you aren’t trained in how herbs react to each other, mixing them without knowledge is like playing a game of hide and seek while someone throws knives.” I always thought she was just being dramatic, a scare tactic for kids.

Deciding it’s worth the risk, I boil a kettle of water and pour myself another mug of water with the tincture Gail mixed. It’s my last shot without having to ask for more. The floral notes of the chamomile float into the air as I swirl my wooden spoon around and blend the agave into it.

The mixture has a deep earthy taste to it, almost like you licked the dirt after sprinkling sugar across it. Not an ideal taste, but I’m going for clarity not enjoyability.

Tipping the mug up and quickly drinking down the mixture, I plop the mug down in the sink and head back to bed. Hopefully, I’ll actually get a good night's sleep.

As my head hits the pillow, I feel the tinctures pulling me under, but I don’t feel asleep. I feel as though I walked through a mirror and I’m on the other side looking back. When I open my eyes, there’s a thick layer of fog clinging to the ground around me. There is black as far as I can see with only a single light illuminating where I’m standing.

I feel him.

He’s here.

The air charges with electricity as he moves closer to me. I reach my arm out and swirl it through the fog, hoping to dispel it. The air pops along my skin.

“Tsk, tsk Little Leni, you know you won’t be able to see me. Don’t you think it’s time to give up, hmm?” his gravelly voice whispers down my back as bumps prickle along my skin.

I whirl around expecting to find him standing behind me, but of course he’s gone again. “Who are you?” I plead into the darkness. “Show me your face.”

The wind rushes towards me as I’m knocked backwards. I bolt upright in my bed, back in the real world, as his words whisper around me…

“You already know who I am.”

Chapter 7