Free Reads!! Wednesday Briefs – Innocence & Carnality Part 39

Welcome to the next part in my Wednesday Briefs flash fiction serial, Innocence & Carnality! Each chapter has to be between 500 and 1,000 words and this week I chose the to skip the prompt.

Nathan debates his next move, waiting in the dark.

Click here to start from the beginning

Part 39

I told them all I wanted to walk through the garden to clear my head. Everyone knew it was my favorite place in Delaga House, and after the scene in the office, no one questioned it. Lost in the trees and flowers, I watched the sun begin to dip. Not one person came out, or spied on me from the window. The coming activity kept them all distracted. With the chaotic pre-business preparation in progress, I followed along the property’s edge, hiding behind the foliage, until I found the street, apparently unnoticed.

With hurried steps, I made some distance. A few questions to passersby put me in the right direction, but it didn’t take long to realize with my poor knowledge of the area, I would soon be lost. I managed to hire a carriage to keep me moving. The slick driver most likely charged me more than what the ride was worth, but I was in no position to haggle.

Now, I’d sat for several hours in the dark under the streetlight, on a bench in front of the airship dock. With no plan in mind, I’d arrived after hours and would have to wait until morning to travel. Afraid to lose my way, I decided to stay here for the duration.

Far away from Delaga House, in a still unfamiliar city, I didn’t feel I’d really escaped anything.

I checked my pocket watch at regular intervals. It was in the wee hours of the night. Two hours, twenty-five minutes ago, a young couple walked arm in arm across the street, giggling and whispering to one another. Their happiness stabbed me, filling me with jealousy. Why couldn’t their portrait of effortless joy be my marriage? Why did it have to be so difficult?

I hated feeling so childish. Even in Victoria, I never acted out so explosively, so often. Every time I felt my grasp on being part of my new life was becoming secure, something snatched the line out of my hand, sending me adrift. As many new and wonderful things I’d experienced since Rother appeared, just as many shook me to my core. Now, I’d taken a stand and made a choice. I needed to follow through with, didn’t I?

But I didn’t have a clue of what to do next.

I could travel back to Victoria easily enough, but what kind of reception would I have? Could I really convince my father to aid me to avoid the whispers of society? The maneuver would be quite manipulative, and I wasn’t sure I had it in me. Even if my father deserved whatever came his way.

“Listen to yourself,” I whispered to no one as I scrubbed my hands through my hair. “What in the world are you doing, Nathan? Are you ready to trade one life of drama for another?”

Anxiety pricked at me, keeping me wide awake. The last hour alone kept me hearing things in the empty shadows. It did nothing to calm the sensation of eyes upon me. Eventually, the distant noise of shoes scuffing the cobblestones drifted to me, growing slowly louder as they approached.

“Evening, young man.”

Deep lines etched his face, the harsh lamplight making it more severe. Wearing a simple coat, the icons on his scarf and brimless hat marked him as clergy. Stepping slow and weary, he motioned to the bench. “Mind if I sit?”

I nodded. The frail older man took a seat at the far end of the bench. I was thankful for the distance. Francinians often held little regard for personal proximity. I kept watch from my vision’s edge, but he stayed politely to himself. We sat in silence for so long, his next comment nearly startled me.

“You’ve been out here for over three hours.”

“Have I? I hadn’t noticed.” I took my hand from my pocket, leaving my watch inside.

“If you don’t mind me saying, it’s not normal for a boy to be out this late in front of the airship dock. Looks like you’re trying to get away?”

“I suppose so.”

“That bad at home?”

I sighed, trying to release my tension. “Sometimes, no. Others… worse than I ever imagined.”

The man was so unlike the vicars in Victoria with their condescension and animosity. His voice was gentle, despite the rumble from his age, and his thin frame lacked intimidation. Perhaps, with my frayed nerves and weakened resolve, it was the reason I began to answer his questions. Or I needed to hear the voice of someone completely removed from my situation.

“If you go, you sure no one’ll miss you?”

“I doubt it. They’d likely not forgive me for leaving.”

“That’s a shame.” The vicar grunted, titling his head as he assessed me. “Don’t sound like you’re from around here.”

“No. I haven’t been here long.”

“Trying to get out?”

My eyes stung as I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Probably should before you do something you can’t take back.”

“It might already be too late.” The crisp night air caused me to shiver. If only in my haste I’d thought of a way to bring a jacket.

“You don’t think there’s a way to mend the fence?”

“I’m not sure. We may have both gone too far this time.”

“You never know.” Reaching into his inside breast pocket, the vicar pulled out a flask. Unscrewing the cap, he held it out. “Here. Have a sip.”

“What is it?” I accepted his unusual offer, peering into the bottle.

“Just a little whiskey. Calm your nerves and warm you a bit.”

I took a sniff. Among the cheap liquor’s vapors was a scent I found all too familiar and it alarmed me. As I decided on how best to refuse the drink and leave, a large hand reached over my shoulder from behind and palmed the flask. His wild scent rolled over me, confirming the fleeting suspicion I’d harbored for the last hour.

“Hello, Blythe.”

Check back next Wednesday for the next installation… Be sure to take a read at the other briefers free reads this week here: Wednesday Briefs