Once Upon A Broken Dream: A Creativia Anthology

by Richard M. Ankers

  Oh for fuck's sake. That laugh was simultaneously creeping her out and getting on her nerves. She stepped back. The disk buzzed again. She did not have time for this! Pulling out her pouch, Suzanne poured some of its contents into her palm and then held it out. The monster grinned at her and then took the four largest cut red stones. It then turned and made a string of those “heh” sounds at another nearby who unlocked the cage.

  “You will be needing a leash and collar. Heh heh heh.”

  Suzanne stuck her palm out again and sighed. You gonna rip me off for that too? It took a few coins. Probably the only time down here when she didn't overpay for something. If Lugan was going to send her on these little trips, he was going to have to teach her the money.

  * * *

  With the slave trotting along behind her, the plan was to make a bee-line for the exit. Until she spotted Kai. Suzanne had only been a member of the Clan for a short time, but she'd heard of Kai, he was the Clan's most infamous member. She had never actually seen him before, but his description made him unmistakable — medium height and build, light brown skin, long black hair, and a tribal tattoo on his face, curving down his neck. The description didn't do him justice though. In person, he was sexy in that dark, bad-boy kind of way. Like the guys she used to go for before.

  She followed his progress as he moved past the stalls. He stopped at one, picked up something and examined it. The entire city had a flea market vibe; everywhere Suzanne looked there was all kinds of junk for sale. Since she knew next to nothing about him, she was intrigued as to what he found interesting, and maneuvered closer trying to get a look.

  For a reason that her Clan mates didn't know, Lugan and Kai hated each other. All anyone knew was that their maker Aram, had hippy-dippy ideas about life that Kai bought into, and Lugan didn't. Supposedly, Kai didn't even feed off humans, and gave himself to Lucifer to punish himself for all the wild shit he had done back in the day. He was much older than Lugan and should be Clan Leader, but he'd turned his back on the Clan and didn't contest when Lugan took over. From what she could tell, the Clan was set against him — he had abandoned them after all. But that didn't mean that behind closed doors he wasn't a source of fascination, and a little envy. Suzanne didn't know what to make of him, and like most of the others she was curious.

  She watched him a little longer, he eventually purchased something, but she was still too far way to see what it was. Finally, she forced her eyes away, she really had to get going, get this kid back to… fuck! Suzanne had been so focused on Kai that she'd dropped the leash, and the kid had wandered away. Where are you, you little… There! Her eyes found him, he was now staring longingly at the meats hanging from a pole in a stall across the market, and Kai was a few feet away on a direct path toward him. No, no no! She couldn't get the slave and not speak to Kai, and if she spoke to him…? Nobody from the clan had actually spoken to Kai in ages. He was like a ghost, they gossiped about him, but it was done in secret after making doubly sure Lugan was nowhere around. This was bad, so fucking bad. What if she just said to hell with it and ran? Dammit! She'd been feeling all full of herself too. Braving this dirty, smelly place, sneaking some blood, actually getting the stupid slave… She'd even thought that since she'd done everything he asked, that maybe Lugan would be nice to her for a while!

  She checked the distance again, maybe she could grab the kid and go? Fuck it. She took off across the marketplace. When she was within arms reach of the kid, Kai still hadn't seemed to notice her. Yes! I'm gonna make it.

  She grabbed the boy, picked up the leash and moved him bodily in the other direction. That was a mistake. The startled boy screamed and started to cry. Now they were causing a scene.

  “Greetings, Cousin.”

  Fuck!

  “Lord Kai,” Suzanne said with a bow, before panic made her mind go blank. It also dilated her pupils and dropped her fangs. Great. She still had no control of the response, and was unable to will her features back to normal. Her face was stuck that way until she calmed down. Embarrassed, she kept her eyes at his waist, until she realized what she was looking at and forced them to the floor at his feet. Tell him your name, stupid. “Um, sorry, uh, my name is…Suzanne.” And I'm an idiot, nice to meet you.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you, Suzanne.” He lightly touched her chin. “Don't worry, you'll eventually be able to control it.” She peeked up at him, and to her great relief, he seemed amused. She snatched that moment to study his face. He was so beautiful, but he looked tired. Exhausted really. It was all around his eyes.

  The boy chose that moment to give a particularly loud wail, causing her to break her stare. She tugged on the leash. “I swear to god, if you don't shut up!” She warned, distantly realizing that she sounded like her mother, which was disturbing given the circumstances.

  “He's hungry, you should feed him.” Kai said, looking at the child. She took that moment to examine his face again — why was he so tired? Slowly, he brought his eyes back to hers. Caught staring — again — she quickly switched focus.

  “I'll take one of those,” she told the lizard-thing vendor, while gesturing at a meat stick, and just like every other time, shoved over a handful of money. The creature promptly plucked out two coins and a blue glass bead with a delicate touch of claws. Suppressing a shudder, she snatched her hand back, dumped what was left in her money pouch and put it away. She handed the stick to the boy, and then wrapped her hand around the leash, making sure she wouldn't drop it again.

  “You are new to The City, and to handling slaves.”

  Suzanne would have blushed if she could; although it didn't matter, her stupid face had already betrayed her.

  Kai gestured at the lizard-thing. “Their race is called Grist. For the record, you overpaid.” He held out his hand to the Grist vendor who sulkily dropped the two coins she had paid into it. He handed them to her. “The key to navigating the market is to know who you are dealing with and what they hold valuable. Grists prefer beads; he took those pesos to trade. Also, there are no set prices, the price of anything is determined by what you're willing to part with.” He winked at her. “Learn to haggle.” Then he gestured to the boy who was happily munching on whatever kind of meat that was. “You have no idea how much you paid for him, do you?” She shook her head.

  “Where is your Master? Why are you here alone?”

  God, this was so embarrassing, she felt like a misbehaving teenager. “Lord Lugan is my Master…and um…I'm also his new consort, he sent me to buy the slave.” She tried to give a breezy chuckle; it came out sounding like a cough.

  “I see.” He really looked at her then, making her even more uncomfortable. “Congratulations. How is Lugan?” Things had definitely turned frosty.

  “He's good.”

  “Glad to hear it. Did he tell you specifically to purchase a child?”

  “Um, no. He just told me to buy a slave. I just thought…” She shrugged, feeling his disapproval, but unsure how much of it was directed at her for being so stupid.

  “Come.” He said, and turned and set off toward the slave market. It was a command; she had no choice but to follow.

  “It's no big deal.” Suzanne said, but his pace didn't slow.

  When they reached the pens, one of the monsters hurried over and bowed. Before it opened its mouth, Kai had stepped into its space and began talking in that laughing language. Coming from the monsters, that language was both creepy and annoying. Coming from Kai, it was terrifying. In an instant, he had turned into walking death. Spiders ran up and down her spine and she shivered, intent on him. He never raised his voice, didn't gesture or touch the monster, but it visibly cowered, and for every step Kai took, it took one backwards. Suzanne felt a little lightheaded when she realized that he was helping her out despite his circumstances with Lugan. He was doing this for her — she might have fallen in love, just a little, as a result. The monster bowed repeatedly and then took her slave and hurried off.

  She wasn't exactly sure whe
n her face changed back.

  When Kai spoke again, his demeanor was the same as when they first met, and his voice was casual. “I won't even try to guess at my brother's reasons for sending you here uninformed. Call this a wedding present from me to you. The Clan Leaders have their own arrangements with the goblins for slaves. Should Lugan send you again, you merely have to tell them who you are or who the slave is for. Unless he wants something specific, you'll never have to choose, or pay for them yourself.”

  It was all Suzanne could do not to hug him.

  The goblin — she really did prefer 'monster' — came back leading a female on a leash. The girl looked to be about the same age that Suzanne was when her life had changed.

  “Mistakes are sometimes easy to make. Heh heh heh.” The goblin reached out to hand her something. “No hard feelings? Heh heh heh,” it said as it dropped the coins, and all four cut red stones, back into her palm.

  * * *

  Kai was walking her back to Clan Air's section of The City when the stone in her pocket buzzed. She stopped walking and dug it out and showed it to him.

  “I'm so screwed. He gave me two hours. The rock buzzed four times.”

  If Kai and Lugan were on speaking terms, telling Lugan that she was late because she ran into his brother, would be fine. But as it was, she'd pretty much made up her mind not to mention meeting Kai at all. Being late however, would cause him to ask questions.

  When he saw the disk, Kai looked surprised at first and then a sly smile spread over his face when he held out his hand.

  “Lugan knows modern timepieces are much more reliable.” He spat on the rock and rubbed it in while whispering something, and then he handed it back to her. She made a face but took it when his eyes insisted. “The spell is a simple one to confuse.” The rock buzzed again when she put it in her pocket.

  “I don't get it,” she said. It buzzed once more when they started walking again.

  He shrugged. “Some magic is flimsy, other magic is strong. Sometimes it's the caster's fault, other times it's just weak magic. If Lugan takes issue with your tardiness, simply show him the stone.”

  It buzzed again.

  The giggle that escaped her was very un-consort-like. “Thanks. Do you know a lot of magic?”

  “I've picked up a few things.” He said, before gesturing in the general direction of Clan Air's portal. “You can make it the rest of the way?”

  “Sure,” she said, disappointed that their time together was over.

  He placed his palm lightly on her chest and said something she didn't understand.

  “I have no idea what you just said.” She said, uncomfortable at having to admit it. Lugan and his cronies spoke the vampire language all the time, but he ignored her requests to learn. That was something for the in-crowd, not the likes of her.

  “The shortened version, loosely translated is this: May glory find you and stain your lips with the blood of your enemies.”

  She smiled, “Thank you. For everything.”

  He smiled in return and she melted a little. “Be well, Suzanne, Consort to Clan Leader Lugan of Clan Air.” Then he bowed and walked away into the crowd.

  The rock buzzed again.

  Suzanne watched him until she could no longer see his dark head in the mass of bodies. There were very few moments that she treasured, especially in her new life. As she walked back to the portal, she went over and over this one, sealing it into her memory.

  “Ooh look at you! I'm sure Lord Lugan will be pleased.” Bobby Sunshine beamed at her from his post, leaning against the portal entrance.

  “I thought your shift was almost over?”

  He shrugged. “Vampire time, girl. Vampire time. Let's get you home.” He said with a wink.

  The rock buzzed again.

  She stepped into the portal making sure the slave was beside her; keenly aware of how much she did not want to go 'home'. When the world shifted she remembered a long-forgotten conversation with her mother.

  “All I want out of life is to be happy.”

  “Who says you get to be happy? Ain't nobody promised happiness in life.”

  The world settled with a jolt, and the slave vomited. Suzanne just managed to keep her stomach, her mother's words stuck on repeat in her head.

  “Ain't nobody promised happiness in life.”

  Bitter tears swelled and she hurriedly tried to blink them away.

  The rock buzzed again.

  The End.

  About the Author: Susan-Alia Terry

  Susan has always loved to read, but it was only in her late 40's that she discovered a passion for writing. Her genre of choice is Paranormal Fantasy as it allows her to put her unique spin on angels, vampires, werewolves, and the supernatural.

  If you enjoyed Suzanne Goes to Market, you can read about Kai and his universe in Susan's debut novel, Coming Darkness.

  When she's not lurking on social media, Susan is diligently working on the follow up to her debut, tentatively titled Dreaming in Shadow.

  Books by Susan-Alia Terry:

  Coming Darkness

  Links:

  Website: http://susanaliaterry.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsusanaliaterry

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/@susan_alia

  “Goodbye”

  By Leo Kane

  Not everyone looking for a new job finds their career path in a crematorium garden. Not everyone is as fortunate as me.

  My life changed on a most miserable Monday, the weather was damp and dismal under stormy spring skies. The atmosphere in my office was equally depressing. I admit that I was extra irritable that day and, to be honest, I hated my job from Monday to Friday, week in and week out, which meant that I spent most evenings searching the internet for a new one.

  My phone rang its happy tune, interrupting my pathetic attempt at concentration which despite several cups of black coffee persisted in being absent without permission. Seeing my grandmother's smiling face on the screen, my defiant finger hovered over 'decline' until I lost my nerve and stabbed 'accept' breaking yet another fingernail. Gran spoke gently, something which only happened when she was after something.

  “Sue, sweetheart, how are you? I'm fine before you ask. Please can you take me to a funeral service this afternoon? I was going with Dolly from number five, but the old dear had a fall last night. Between you and me I think she likes her gin too much.”

  I sighed, tucking the mobile between my shoulder and ear while chewing off the remnants of my nail and silently cursing the spreadsheet that demanded my attention. Why did she have to need me today? It was obvious that I wouldn't be able to escape office hell any time soon, so I sat up straight, took a deep breath and said,

  ”Gran, I'm very busy. We've got to finish the company's year end accounts before the tax man cometh. I'd love to say yes, but I can't get out of work today without causing major problems. I'm sorry.”

  There was an ominous silence on the ether. Gran was thinking. This call wasn't going to end in my favour. I knew my priorities weren't in the game, but I played out the charade anyway.

  She 'who must be obeyed' cleared her throat before in a weak old lady voice designed to gain my sympathy she said, “I know what an important person you are and I wouldn't ask if I didn't absolutely need to, but you're my only grandchild and your feckless parents are off gallivanting in that there Torrebloodymolinas again, so there's no-one else to ask. Please, Sue.”

  My mood was so cranky that her pleading exasperated me. I tried my best to be assertive and in a voice much firmer than my resolve said, “The boss will have a blue fit if I leave the office at such short notice on such a busy day. Can't you cadge a lift in one of the funeral cars? What about a taxi?”

  “Susan Jean, you know that those vehicles are for family only and I'm not getting in some strange taxi. You hear about dreadful things happening to single women travelling alone. I'm disappointed by your attitude. I didn't expect you, of all people, to let me down.�
�

  I felt a headache coming on. I was in trouble; my Sunday name had been trotted out and wouldn't be taken back in until I relented. I'm too easily manipulated, everybody knows I am, even the company cat, but I wasn't ready to roll over. I rallied my pathetic determination and said, “Gran, I hear what you say about the funeral cars, however, the vast majority of taxi drivers are family men and women earning a respectable living. They aren't into granny bashing or sexual shenanigans with the elderly.”

  “'Susan Jean Stephenson, did your mother not teach you anything? It's disgraceful to expect an old lady to take her chances on getting a lift with a wrong un.” She sniffed. I sighed. When the family name was invoked, resistance was futile.

  “OK, I'll try my best to get this afternoon off. What time's the service?”

  “Two o'clock at the crematorium chapel. I'll be ready at half-past one.”

  “Hang on, old woman; I need to check with my boss first.”

  “Sue, I don't ask for much. You know how much I hate being dependent on other people. Make sure your boss understands how important it is for you to help your old Granny. If you can't manage that simple task, pass him on to me and I'll make sure he gets the message.” Imagining the boss versus my grandmother, I swallowed a reluctant laugh and said, ” You win, whatever happens I'll be there at half-one sharp and you'd better be dressed and waiting. Oh, and in case I lose my lousy job over this, you should have your cheque book and pen ready too.” When I popped into his luxury office with my request for the afternoon off for a funeral, the boss took his big feet off the mahogany desk and pretended to care.

  He said, “Of course you must take your Grandmother to the funeral. This company believes that happy families make happy workers.”