by Fey Truet
I stole one last glance at the display counter and sighed. That was when I noticed the boys at the booth directly on the other side of the glass from where I stood red in the face. They squeezed their mouths to prevent their laughter from escaping.
The moment the heat to my face folded they all but hit the ceiling, letting wild shrieks and mad laughter out that even I could hear from the other side. Humiliation swelled inside of me and I stalked off in any direction, but a thought occurred to me.
Maybe Pohlin would like something sweet?
I was sure that one thing hadn’t changed about him.
With vigor renewed I turned on heel and entered the shop. I dashed for that gorgeous display counter. I let my eyes swivel along all its delicacies and found a small round cake perfect for what I was planning.
Red as Pohlin’s favorite shade, and a message I could read anywhere, “Happy Birthday!” Another gift that made it the perfect cake.
“Excuse me,” I asked an old man watching me curiously.
I didn’t look him in the eye because curious wasn’t a look I ever got from someone as old as him.
“Yes,” he raised his chin, coming closer for inspection.
“This cake. What flavor is it?” I crossed my fingers.
“Red Velvet,” he replied, and my head hung as mud tarnished all my shiny hopes.
“Oh,” was my dejected reply. “Thank you, and sorry for wasting your time.”
Pohlin hated Red Velvet more than any other flavor.
I started for the door.
“Oh. Well, that is the popular flavor, which is why we keep it in the case, but we keep other flavors in the back if I can help you with anything?”
My eyes widened and I ran back to the counter like an impetuous child.
“Oh! Please! Will you tell me if you have lemon? That’s the one I really need!”
Then I realized I was being rude and backed away. I started to apologize but the old man smiled and headed to the back.
“Let’s see,” he said with cheer. I clasped my hands in front of my chest.
A moment later the man came back, the features of his face pulled my own down. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. They’re all reserved. Everything. Apparently, there’s a ball in the level over.”
“Oh. I understand. Thanks anyway.”
I really did understand. It happened all the time at the boutique, when older women rushed in and booked every station to get their hair or nails done, or bought all the accessories and every last article of clothing. I guess cake wasn’t the exception.
So once again I started to walk out.
I jumped at the huge bang and turned to the old man. “I’ll tell you what. You be back here in an hour’s time and I’ll have that cake waiting for you on this counter at half price. Deal?”
He reached out his hand for mine.
I smiled big and bright.
“Deal!” I took his hand and shook it. “Oh! How much?”
Stupid me, I didn’t even look at the price.
“Three, milady. My, that’s much better. Ah, my Pa always told me I was a sucker for the pretty ones. Just can’t stand to see a pretty young thing like you looking like everything’s collaspsin’ on ya. You should smile more, gorgeous.”
With a heated face, I looked away from the old man’s advice, fiddling with my money pouch. “Ah. Here.” I said, clumsily handing him the money. It spilled on the counter. “Ack. Sorry.”
“So who’s the cake for?” the old man asked as a young woman came from the back glaring dark staples at us both.
Meanwhile, behind me, I heard one of those boys call me a pig, while another made pig noises. I started to turn around, but then the old man added, “Ah, it’s for the boy you love?”
I quickly turned around with a frantic, “No!” earning conspicuous looks from everyone in the bakery. “I mean, I mean, that’s wrong. It’s for a boy, but I don’t have any prospects or anything.”
“Hm? Young love. Perhaps a crush?” he asked.
I don’t know why I was getting so flustered, even as I waved my hand in front of me to tell him no. Then it occurred to me to tell him. “Oh, no! The cake! It’s for my brother! I’m going to see him! Lemon is his favorite. I don’t have anything as extravagant as ‘young love.’ Just a promise I have to keep.”
I breathed out, realizing that I revealed too much.
The old man laughed. “Well. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is. I’ll get started on that cake. Remember, an hour.” And once more he disappeared.
I walked out of the bakery carrying many yummy smells with me. They made me forget my hunger. Then it occurred to me that I was still lost. I walked to one end of the street and then another, finding nothing familiar.
An older girl in a yellow uniform walked by, so I figured I’d try my luck at asking for directions.
“Um, excuse me?” I asked the girl. When she didn’t respond I touched her.
“Yeah?” she half asked turning around, but her features went deadpan when she saw me.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry. It seems I’ve gone astray. Can you possibly direct me to Opticon Place?”
The girl stared at me for a long moment as if I were still talking. Then she jumped and blinked a few times with an “Oh!” She shook her head. “Sorry. No idea!”
She rushed off, then hurried to a group of girls I didn’t see before. After a moment, she pointed at me, and all their attention trained on me. I ducked away and tried again.
The next few people angered easily and completely spurned me. I decided to call it quits when an older school boy screamed, “Freak!” and I knew I was on my own.
I went to the corner of the bakery and sat down as the girl I asked earlier and two others walked by without even noticing.
“You shouldn’t have let her touch you. I can’t believe you don’t even know that much?” a girl with an orange uniform and pale brown curls scolded.
“What? She seemed nice enough, if not strang—”
“She’s a ghoul, Hal. You know? A warlock’s henchmen? It means she doesn’t have a soul and robs graves and stuff! You saw that dead hair and the green eye, and there was no way you missed all those weird marks. I bet she was trying to steal your soul or something! You’re lucky you got away before she put you in a trance!” another yellow uniformed girl with short dark hair warned.
“What! Really! Why did she come after me?” The girl I asked began to panic. “She isn’t going to come back is she?”
“She came after you because you’re such a slapstick,” the orange one said as short hair teased, “Ooh, you better hope not,” and they all disappeared into the bakery.
I wrapped my arms tight around my knees.
“I’m not a ghoul,” I said quietly.
None of that is true. I just wanted directions.
I pushed myself up harder than I had to and walked with balled fist and arms stiff with anger back into the bakery. All became quiet.
My arms relaxed when I saw the promised cake in a white box sitting on top of the display counter. I walked up to it and before I got there the young woman rushed over and put a possessive hand on the box. She plastered a smile on her face for my benefit.
“I’m here to pick up a Lemon Cake,” I told her.
Her smile faltered.
“I know. That’ll be 24D,” she told me, and I whited out.
“W-what?” I asked. “But the other—”
“Oh, you mean Father. Sorry about him. We put him on the floor sometimes because we need to get him out of the kitchen—you might’ve noticed he’s kind of senile. I was made aware he made a deal with you, but what he forgot to mention is that it’s strictly against our policy at Sweenies to make personal arrangements. Don’t worry though. I already counted what you paid towards the entire price. 24D please,” she asked pleasantly, but I could hear something very unpleasant in her voice.
I fiddled with my pouch.
I left my savings in a hidden lockbox
for Pohlin when he inherited the house. I had 46D on me, but only six of it was free. The rest of it belonged to the Setes. Besides. It was such a small cake, less than four inches. There was no way I’d spend so much.
“I can’t afford it,” I told her quietly.
“Ah, well that’s just too bad.”
Was she teasing me?
I stared at her and looked down at the red frosted cake in the display. In front of it in small letters was the price. 6D. Next to the price were several words with empty spaces but I recognized “Chocolate” and “Lemon.”
“Excuse me? I think you’ve made a mistake,” I told her, and the look she gave me suggested that we both knew she hadn’t.
“I don’t make mistakes,” she smiled.
“The price for that cake says it’s only 6D. That’s the cake I purchased,” I said, hoping she wasn’t that type. “I’m willing to pay the 3D on the balance.”
“Oh, no! You see, that’s only for the red velvet,” she tried.
I took a guess by saying, “Yes, but there’s another sign that says the same thing for the lemon flavored.”
Her entire demeanor became heavy and dark and the smile disappeared, replaced with narrowed eyes. “That sign is old!” she snapped. “I told you the price, and you already told me you can’t afford it. So if your business is done here—”
“Then can I get the Red Velvet?” I asked.
I could see the effort it took for her not to curl back her lip.
“Somebody else already ordered it. That one isn’t available.”
I couldn’t believe this lady.
“It is? Then can I get the one behind it?” I just wanted to see how far she’d go. She cursed herself and looked at the two cakes behind the one I’m betting she could barely see.
“Sure,” she smiled again. “That’ll now be 27D.”
“Why 27D when you just told me the red velvet was 6D,” I said darkly.
“Those ones are freshly baked. Policy suggests freshly baked goods be priced higher than anything that’s more than an hour old. I’m guessing if you couldn’t afford one thing you can’t afford the other. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“Then I’ll take back the money I paid for the cake and go,” I told her.
She looked mighty cocky. “Ooh. You see. We have a strict no refund policy. Sorry.”
My eyes widened and my mouth opened in disgust. “That’s a lie. Otherwise, you’d have it posted up somewhere which is mandated by law! The only policy you have is against me! And I hope one day someone treats you as awful as you’re treating me now. Then you’ll know how it feels!” I snapped at her as I ran out and to the end of the street.
I turned and ran, and ran some more. But no matter where I ran, I could not find Opticon Place. Just more people full of hate.
I looked up at the sky, no longer a clear blue, but a much lighter color. I leaned against a wall, and my pained legs collapsed under me, dragging me to the bottom of the wall.
“Hopefully, after today, things like this will end for me.”
People like that woman were too cruel.
“Hey!” someone called above all noise the crowds offered.
I looked and only saw people. I turned back to the sky, keeping my body as still as it might sit. I concentrated past the pain to sooner get back to the daunting task at hand: Finding the Sete’s home.
“Why did I choose today of all days to lose my way?” I asked.
“Maybe it was to meet me,” a young, rich voice answered.
I jumped up and saw one of the boys from the bakery standing before me. My eyes caught his darker skin and yellow uniform, but unlike the girls who had bandanna’s, he had a gold chain wrapped three times around his arm.
He was very handsome even with his pine green eyes that stared almost kindly at me. I immediately looked away. Better yet, I got up to leave.
“Eh, hey, wait! Are you okay?”
“I’ll live,” I replied, and instantly regretted it.
“That isn’t what I meant!” he said, and he grabbed me, and…
I’ve never been grabbed before so I violently flinched away.
I turned to stare wide-eyed at him.
He put both arms up in surrender. “Whoa. Hey! I’m not trying to hurt you? I just wanted to see if you’re okay. Wait! See! I got this for you.”
He lifted up a white box with a crinkled corner and wiggled it.
The cake!
I gasped.
I took a closer look at the boy and saw he looked almost as disheveled as me.
It wasn’t hot per se, but it was much too warm for this time in the season, and he was sweating. He was also out of breath with dry dirt all over his front and a bit on his face.
“Did you fall?” I asked.
His eyes turned upward and he scratched the back of his head.
“Yeah. Well. You do run incredibly fast. It was all I could do to keep you in sight. I think you’d give Captain Poundstone a run for his money,” he joked.
I had no idea to whom he was referring. Joking about?
I was instantly reminded of the cruel joke they made of me in the bakery.
I sighed and turned.
“I see. Then it was all in vain. I can’t accept that cake, and am in no need of assistance.”
“Yes, you can. You paid for it. I was there. It wasn’t right for that woman to treat you like that.”
I turned to look at him. He looked and sounded sincere.
“I don’t imagine she gave it to you for free. If you paid for it, you should keep it. It’s better suited for your kind anyway.”
“My kind?” The offense in his voice clear.
“People with no policies against them. It must ache to crane your neck down so far. Even so, you still laugh and trip about. Maybe that cake will bring you more joy than I. After all, you could get it. Not me. So just leave me alone.”
He just stood there, and I took it that he was offended.
I wasn’t sure if that was satisfying.
I sighed and continued on.
If I followed the wall I should eventually come across a checkpoint. The people there could point me. Otherwise, I was doomed.
Who knew the second level was such a maze? I was starting to regret never following my baser instincts and exploring this place. I—
“You’re lost, right?” the boy ran in front of me.
I was shocked, so I hardly had any reaction but to hold it when he shoved the cake into my chest.
“I’ll show you where to go. I come here a lot, so I pretty much know my way around.”
“Uh. I. No! Here. I said I don’t want it. And I don’t need you to lead me.”
“Because you’re doing so fine on your own. Do you even know where you are right now?” He raised an eyebrow at me.
I tried to think of something clever to say. Anything. But I was outwitted.
“Thought so, judging by the way you zigzagged all around the level. And you don’t have to keep it. Just hold it. My arms are tired from running around with it. So where are you looking for?” he asked.
I shook my head. I did need help, but, not from him. That wouldn’t do.
“Wellll?” he asked.
I frowned. I did need help, and I had no time to waste. I inclined my head and mumbled, “Opticon Place.”
When he made no comment and no movement once-so-ever I looked up to his huge smile. It made my cheeks burn with humiliation. “What?” I asked.
“Nothing!” he said before twirling me around and pushing me back the way we came. “It’s just that Opticon Place is next to Drevers on the exact opposite side of the city.”
My jaw dropped, and I closed it, so as not to lose my spirit.
I tried to look at him but couldn’t afford to trip. “W-what?!”
“You don’t kid when you get lost. I guess you really did need help, huh?”
I looked down at the smooth pavement covered with a light layer of dirt.
> “I already knew that,” I said before I could stop myself.
And though it really did bother me, I easily took comfort in the now awkward silence that encompassed us.
We walked past all the three story flat houses that marked the second level.
I’ve never been there, but I heard the first level had tall buildings obscured by clouds. How lovely and utterly terrifying that sounded. To literally walk on the level of gods.
People looked angry when they saw us.
It was just something I noticed.
“She must’ve witched him,” a dowdy woman whispered to a timely scullery maid.
I wonder if they thought that I was a grave robber too. A ghoul?
They made me angry.
There were so many of them. That and they mostly blocked my view of this layer.
I sighed. At least I wasn’t missing anything colorful.
“So, is this your first time here?” the boy asked.
It had just occurred to me that some time ago he stopped pushing me and was now letting me walk freely. He looked better now that he had caught his breath, but he was completely avoiding my eye.
I considered not answering him. It would be wrong to make more friends now.
I sighed. “No.” My cheeks lit up at the embarrassment of what that meant.
“Oh. So you must not come here often?”
I turned away and stared at a boutique that was less fancy than Modish, where I work. Worked.
I wish he’d stop.
“I’ve been coming here once a month for a small number of years.”
I couldn’t be any more discomfited by how much of an idiot I was.
I turned to him when he laughed. “That long and you still got lost?”
“I don’t come here to play! I-I. It’s not my fault this place has a turn for every whim!”
“Calm down, calm down. It’s not my fault you veered off your righteous path and succumbed to temptation. So what was it? What caught your innocent eye and dragged you so far into our midst?”
I remember being distracted by so many colors. People my age in so many beautiful colors. It was so humiliating that it led me to become so lost.
“Nothing that’d appease your inquisitive fate!”
He laughed again. “You didn’t deny it, so that means I was right. You’re too honest,” he teased, before turning me in the right direction at a junction. “Tell me what it was. Was it something sweet or delicious, or a person, or—That’s it isn’t it! Who was it? A guy you like?”