Page 7 of Xarius (Shunned Mages #1)

Niam

I had this weird buzzing feeling in my body like something was close to happening.

I almost felt drunk on it. A knock on the side of my van had me hurrying over to open it.

I knew it was Jerry; we’d come up with a special knock, just in case a bear would ever knock on it.

Jerry hadn’t laughed, at least not while we practiced the secret knock.

He might have when we told Betty. I didn’t care.

I was still alive to tell the tale so I must’ve done something right .

Jerry had to run into town and asked if I could man the station while he was gone. Nodding, I climbed out and walked inside. I felt eyes on me the whole way, likely from bears .

Inside I still felt someone watching me.

I looked outside and spotted a black van.

Not creepy at all, I thought to myself as I made sure the store phone was ready beside me.

I could easily call Jerry to return if someone sketchy appeared.

I tried looking inside of it, but it was hard to see from this distance.

I knew someone was in there, I could feel their eyes on me, I just didn’t know who or how many there were.

Ignoring it for now, I decided to work on my latest sketch.

Betty had seen me work yesterday when she came in with lunch.

I’d started sketching when there wasn’t anything to do, hoping to keep my skills fresh if I ever got the opportunity to work with my art.

Betty had asked if I wanted to draw some promotional things for her to use in her store, so I was sketching a few different flower designs for her to choose from.

We’d also talked about painting the inside of her store with a flower mural, something I would love to do.

The sound of a car door slamming had my attention again. I looked up and saw a young man with black hair and a leather jacket exit the van. When he caught me staring, he stopped his stride. Was he looking at me? He seemed to question himself and went back inside his van.

Okaaaay, Creepy Steve, you can just stay there.

I resumed my sketch, making sure the phone was still ready next to me. I wasn’t about to deal with a Creepy Steve alone. But for now, he seemed determined to stay inside his van, so I would pretend to ignore him until Jerry came back.

Two hours later, Jerry returned with my insulation.

“How much do I owe you?” I asked as I helped him carry everything over to my van.

“Nothing, I got all this for cheap. I can’t have my best employee getting sick from the cold, now, can I?” He chuckled.

“You mean your only employee,” I teased him, glad to have found friends already.

The fact he’d already bought something I was planning on was so thoughtful, I didn’t really know how to act, afraid I wasn’t being grateful enough.

To be honest it’d been so long since people did things for me out of kindness that I’d forgotten how to act, too afraid now to seem ungrateful.

“The best,” he stated, raising an eyebrow, as I started to protest.

“Fiiine, the best,” I gave in.

“Good.” He gave me a beaming smile. “Now that we’ve settled that, let’s get this up for you.”

We spent the next few hours working, and alternating between helping customers. The black van was still there and I felt the dark-haired stranger’s eyes on me every time I moved outside my van. I just hoped he would move on soon.

Jerry and I stood and admired our finished work.

I finally had insulation! It was such a small thing, but it felt like a huge accomplishment.

This van was my home, and I was adding to it, making it better.

Jerry and Betty had been more than kind to me, if everyone on Sutiner were as kind hearted as them, this would be the perfect world to live in.

“I’m off to dinner with my wife tonight, but I need to do some shopping first, you want to come?” Jerry asked.

“To town?” I asked for clarification .

“Yeah, I’ll drop you off here before going home.

” He closed the doors to my van and looked back at me.

“I figured it was time you saw the town. Perhaps you’d like to buy some clothes or something, and I have two hours of free time to help ya out.

” It was kind of him, and I did need something new to wear.

It wasn’t easy having only two outfits that needed washing.

I hadn’t been here for more than a week, but I liked wearing clean clothes after a shower.

Maybe I could find something in a thrift store, I truly didn’t care what I wore, I just wanted it to be clean. Maybe pick up some more detergent.

“I would love that,” I answered, sending him a beaming smile.

“Do they have a thrift store or a discounted one maybe? I only have two outfits with me, and need something warmer for the next season,” I explained, locking my van and following him to his car.

Ignoring the black van that was still parked, I entered the passenger side.

Jerry sat behind the wheel and looked over at me before starting it. “We do have a thrift store, but if you need something that’s more expensive, I can give you some of your pay ahead of time.”

“That’s kind of you, but I think I have enough for a few outfits, and I don’t care much about what I wear as long as it’s clean, warm, and comfortable.

” It seemed I had gotten what estimated to be a month’s pay, though I believed it differed from where one worked like in my home world.

But it seemed to be what Jerry would pay me monthly, and since I now had a job, I felt secure enough to spend it.

He nodded. “I think they’ll have that, hopefully in your size, too. Magda, who owns the store, loves helping, so she’ll likely follow your every move until we leave.”

I laughed. “I can’t wait to meet her.” I’d asked many questions about town, wanting to know more about the people and where Jerry and Betty lived.

It was a small town with a tight-knit community, if I were to trust Jerry’s word on it, which I did.

I actually found myself trusting them both completely.

I’d wanted to work with art in some kind of way, but now I was happy to be working at a gas station for as long as possible, finally being around people who treated me as an equal. As a friend.

Like I finally mattered.

Jerry parked the car behind a few small stores, pointing out the thrift store, and further down the road there was a general store where I could pick up some cleaning products .

“I think some lights inside the van would do you good, too,” Jerry said, pointing to another store.

“They have those fairy lights and other ones that run on batteries. And over there,” he pointed behind us.

“Is a small bookstore. The owner, Harry, has all sorts of genres, so if you like reading maybe check that out, too.” I nodded, hoping I had enough money for all of it.

I knew what stuff cost at the gas station, but not clothing or other things.

“I’ll start with the clothes,” I decided.

“Good choice. Do you want me to join you? I have a few errands myself, but I can start you out with a helping hand if needed.”

I shook my head, exiting the car. “I appreciate it, but maybe we can meet up once you’re done doing your thing, and you can help me with the rest then?”

“Sounds good.” He waved as he walked down the street towards a few other buildings.

I only knew the bookstore was in that direction but nothing else.

I didn’t want him to come with me in case I was lacking money.

I knew he would offer me some of his, and he’d already done plenty for me.

This way I would know what I had left and if I could afford lights and books.

I really wanted the books, but without light it wouldn’t really matter.

I suppose I could sit in front and read, but I much preferred to be able to read on the mattress, propped up on some pillows and being all warm and cozy.

I took in the town as I got closer to Magda’s store.

It was a cute, small town with lots of flower pots and trees planted in the open areas, making it even more adorable.

The door had a bell attached that chimed when I entered.

I spotted Magda right away. She was dressed in bright colors that didn’t match at all, but somehow it worked on her.

She beamed my way and stood up to greet me.

“Oh my, aren’t you a handsome young man,” she gushed. “I’m Magda and you must be Niam.”

“How did you-”

“Betty,” she grinned. “She told all of us how sweet and adorable you are.”

“Oh.” Betty had been talking about me to her friends? My heart felt so full at that moment. Was this what it felt like to have true friends? I liked it .

“And don’t worry,” she continued, still smiling brightly. “She had only nice things to say.”

“I’m glad,” I smiled, hoping my eyes weren’t looking glassy. It was so weird being seen. Being cared for.

She clapped her hands, thankfully ignoring my nearly leaking eyes. “What are you looking for?”

“Um, clothes that’ll fit me,” I replied. “And maybe some for colder weather, too.”

“What’s your style?” she asked, already looking through the racks for something.

“Um, something that’ll fit and won’t be too uncomfortable,” I replied.

I had no idea what size I was in this world, so I just added I didn’t know my actual size.

She tutted around, making a pile of stuff for me to try on in the only changing room she had.

I felt eyes on me and let my gaze track where they came from.

Creepy Steve was staring at me from outside the store.

I had to admit he was handsome, and probably also dangerous ; I had to remember that part.

I hadn’t survived for a week just to be killed by tall, dark, and handsome, no thank you.

“Here you go, sweetheart. Many things for you to go through.” She waved me in and closed the curtain to give me some privacy. There had to be at least fifty items, but thankfully she’d started me out with just ten in here .

I began trying them on and looked at the price tag. I would be able to afford a lot of them, which made me giddy with excitement. She’d picked out a jacket, too, which made me realize I also needed shoes. These sneakers wouldn’t do in the cold.

I sorted the clothes that fit in one pile and the rest in another, then opened the curtain when I was back in my old clothes. “I like these ones,” I said, placing them on her counter. “Do you sell shoes, too?”

“I do,” she replied, heading in another direction as I began to pick out the next items to try on.

When she returned, she brought several pairs of boots in a cardboard box.

“These are the only ones I figured would fit you.” She put the box down and I began to look through it, trying on three pairs before I found one that fit me.

They were either real leather or fake, but I didn’t really care.

They fit perfectly and looked brand new.

I left with three bags full of clothes and my new shoes.

Magda had been wonderful and I promised to return again soon.

I still had some money left which I hoped would be enough for lights and one book.

Maybe they had a library here where I could borrow books; then I didn’t have to worry about them taking up space in my van after finishing them.

I’d completely forgotten about my stalker, so when he appeared in front of me, smiling so big, I was momentarily stunned.

Nope! Not today, Satan! I spun around as fast as possible and ran for my life.

I might have overreacted a bit, running away from someone who hadn’t even said anything.

But he’d been watching me all day, and I had this desire of really wanting to stay alive.

Jerry turned around the corner and I almost ran straight into him. He grabbed my arm and looked me over with concern. “You alright?”

I nodded quickly, thinking about telling him of the man, but decided against it.

I didn’t want to seem weird or like I was making stuff up.

They’d been nothing but kind to me and I didn’t want to push my luck.

Smiling, I said, “I forgot where the other stores were so I came looking for you. I got clothes and shoes.” I held up the bags proudly.

“Oh, that’s great!” He said, helping me carry the bags. “So, you need detergent, lights, and books? ”

“Yes,” I replied, glad to have him beside me for the rest of the shopping spree. “And in that order. If I can’t afford books I’ll wait till next time.”

“There’s a book box in the center of town, you can take all the books you want from there and donate the ones you own but don’t want anymore. Maybe we should head there, too, since they’re free.”

That sounded amazing. The thrill of getting to own more stuff that would be just mine was almost enough to ignore the feeling of eyes on me.

Almost.