บท 41: The new man and the new us

The day the carriage arrived in Yellow Cove , it was raining . Not the beautiful summer pour or the icy drench of winter but somewhere in between . The drops were light as kisses on the skin but the air was a claw that peeled back the senses with a cold grasp .

It was no surprise that few people were outside to see the carriage or receive the man when he got off at the inn . Who would venture in such horrible weather ? Actually , what carriage driver would travel in such horrible conditions ?

The answer was the man and as for the second question ; a very well paid carriage driver . After that day , the man on the carriage would never be seen again . He'd go to live in the big city with his family , all because of one generous traveler .

But that story had nothing to do with this story .

The man looked around as he stood on the stoop of the inn . His breath came out in chilling wisps of smoke and he shivered slightly .

This was reprehensibly cold , he thought to himself .

He entered the inn and the inner warmth swallowed him like a fish eating a worm .

The inn was called Happy Sal , its owner was a woman named Sal ...

The inn served as a small motel , with ten rooms in total . There were only three inns in the town and Happy Sal was by far the best of them all . The food was cooked to perfection , the rooms were as clean as a new born's belly and the beer she served rivalled Serving up , the town bar down the bend .

The man walked into a large space . The room was wide , with chairs and tables in the back part of the room . Infront of the door was the counter , where a blonde woman with large breasts stood serving beer with a smile like porcelain .

There was a burning fire in the west wall that added light to the candles and made the shadows dance like grass in a storm . The air was tough , thick with smoke and the smell of food , that breathing it in was a challenge for the man . There were seats at the counter and few were sitting there , to the man's delight .

He removed his hat and shook his hair back to life . Then he took a seat at the counter and slowly removed his gloves .

" A pint of ale , if you have any , madam . " He said and Sal paused as she handed over the second beer to a man dressed in brown pants .

" I'm sorry , what ? Honey , I don't get what you just said . " Sal said to him with a frown and the man sighed .

" I would like a pint of ale , if you have some . " He repeated and Sal just shook her head .

" I still don't get your meaning . Hey , Gerald , you speak posh . Can you tell me what in tarnation this bloke is saying ? " She said to the only other person sitting at the counter .

The man had just ignored him because he looked like he was asleep . But as Sal called , and poked him , he got up with a groan .

" Damn , Sal . Let a man sleep . " Gerald said to the innkeeper but she just smacked his head .

" You sleep here , you eat here and you poop here . My food goes in that belly and my beer . You're lucky I don't kick you out for all the women you bring upstairs . " Sal said angrily , " Now , shut your yap and tell me what this customer wants . "

" What do you want to order ? " Gerald asked the man but he got no answer . At least not one he expected .

" I'm going to kill you . " The man said looking at Gerald with wide eyes .

" What ? What did I do to you ? " Gerald asked him .

" What's he saying ? " Sal asked him .

" Said he wants me dead . " Gerald answered and Sal just tsked her tongue .

" Let me guess ; you slept with his wife . " Sal said and turned to a man ordering a meal .

" What did I do to you ? Did I sleep with your wife ? I'm sorry if I did . " Gerald said and then he smiled , " But I'm sure she must have been a good one in the sack . "

" You lecherous man , I aught to kill you for saying that alone . " The man said raising his voice .

" Whoa there , calm down . " Sal said coming back to them , " Gerald apologize to him . I don't want a fight in here . "

" I already apologized . But thing is he don't seem pleased to hear it . " Gerald said to her .

" Well , most man are not happy when you sleep with their women . " Sal said sarcastically .

" He did not sleep with my wife , " The man said rising from the chair , he glared at Gerald with a look of pure venom . " He slept with my sister . "

" Oh , his sister . That I got . " Sal said with a smile but it quickly dropped . She turned around and slapped Gerald on the cheek .

" Ow ! Why would you do that ? " Gerald asked her .

" His sister ? " Sal asked him with fury on her face , " That's a new low , even for you . You sleep with women who ain't got siblings , that's we agreed on . Now ? Next thing I know , the girls relatives will come in here , guns blazing after your sorry hide . I ain't going to die for something like this . Get down on your knees and beg for his forgiveness . Or so help me in the blessed Virgin's name and that if God , I'll - is he laughing at me ? " Sal paused her rant when the man started to laugh hysterically .

The man had never met such interesting characters in a woman . Where he grew up , women held class and poise . The innkeeper was loud and aggressive and he could only remember one other person in his life like that . She always made him laugh as he did then and infact he laughed so hard tears came from his eyes .

" Thank you . " He said to the innkeeper .

" I didn't do nothing , unless you're thanking me for the slap . " Sal said with a silly grin . The man's laugh had disarmred her .

" No , I haven't laughed like that since I was but a boy . Thank you greatly . " The man said smiling at her but then he turned to Gerald .

" But this lecherous , disgraceful heathen is fare from his dues . " He continued , " he will take me to my sister . I will ask her all he did wrong to her and then inflict the same pain on him , tenfold . Then I'll leave . "

" Who's your sister ? I don't do commitment . " Gerald said nervously .

" Yeah , mister . " Sal said , " Who is your sister ? And who are you ? "

The man smiled at her , " I am Nathan Willow . I have come to look for my sister . Her name is Serena . "

....

" You're daft . Beyond daft and beyond mad . " Link said as he listened to Henric along with Stuart .

" I am not daft . Its not daft to love someone . " Henric said and he stroked the mirror in his hands gently with an even gentler smile .

They sat inside Henric's room , the night having already fallen upon them . Two days had passed since the orphanage had woken from Carey's enchantment . The nuns and Reverend father had said it was the work of a demon and the next day had been devoted to prayer and fasting . The whole day , the boys prayed and fasted in the chapel , not eating a thing . If prayer weakened the body and strengthened the soul then many souls were empowered that day .

Henric only got a chance to speak to Link and Stuart when they were in the kitchen cooking their food . He's asked them to meet him that night in his room , he wanted to talk to them . They had readily agreed , since they had questions of their own .

Presently Henric had just explained again what happened between him , Sister Cali and the mirror . When he finished on the part where he kissed Carey and confessed that he loved the soul , Link had gotten up and called him insane .

Was he ?

" You are inlove with a person in glass . That's madness if I've ever seen it . " Link said for what felt like the hundredth time . " How can you even be physical with glass ? "

" It's a different type of love . It's ... soul to soul . " Henric said to him .

" Soul to soul , oh sure that makes lots more sense . Stuart please tell Henric this is madness . " Link said to his lover .

" Well , I think ... I think it's ... rather sweet . " Stuart confessed and Link sat down and looked at him with confusion .

" How is it sweet ? What you and I have is sweet but this ? Henric is inlove with a soul stuck in a magical mirror . That's madness . No one out there would disagree . "

" I just think that Henric should be free to love whoever he wants . I know it sounds crazy , I know it is crazy but I am happy for him . " Stuart said smiling at his friend , " I saw his face yesterday . He kept smiling as he prayed and I knew it wasn't God on his mind . "

" That's not true . I was thinking about God . " Henric said holding the magic mirror to his chest , " I was praying God would help me free him and we could be together . "

" God would never answer th- ow ! " Link cried as Stuart gave him a pinch on the cheek .

" Don't you say that . " Stuart said angrily .

" It's alright Stuart . I don't mind . " Henric said with a sigh , " If it is hard to accept my love then I am alright with it . Only Carey matters when it comes to my heart . "

" Let us go then . " Stuart said getting up , " Our opinion doesn't matter on your love but I'm happy we got an explanation . Let's go Link . "

" Alright fine , fine . " Link said getting up but he turned to Henric , " My main problem is with the soul . He's dangerous . He's shown us that and I'm not sure you can handle someone or something like him ."

" I know . " Henric said sincerely , " But I'll have to try . "

" Alright , good luck to you . " Link said and he left with Stuart .

Henric looked at the shut door and then turned his head to the desk where a golden eyed man sat looking at him with a smile .

" I am happy you are happy . " Henric said putting the mirror on his bed .

" I am happy you are happy as well . Tell me ... Did what he said upset you ? " Carey asked him .

" who ? Link ? " Henric asked him .

" Yes . "

" No , he is right . You are dangerous . " Henric said and Carey moved infront of him until they were eye to eye .

" Does that mean you fear me ? " Carey asked him softly .

" It means I trust you will not be in any immediate danger and I don't have to worry about that . " Henric said and he smiled , " It also means I'm willing to risk being in danger to be with you . "

" Are you sure ? " Carey asked and he touched Henric's cheek and Henric felt sleepy .

" Yes . " Henric said before he fell asleep on the bed .

Carey lifted his arms and the boy was floating on the bed . He straightened himself and slept with his head and body under the sheet that Carey put on him .

[ Pathetic ]

Carey sighed before disappearing into thin air .