Shinelle first draft: Chapter Four

Shinelle wasn’t sure about this farm she was standing in front of. She wasn’t sure why Jazaar hadn’t taken her to the door with him, or why he looked worried when he went inside the house, or how she’d even gotten there in the first place.

She should have died with everyone else.

Since she had made it out by the grace of the demon man who’d taken a liking to her, she figured she might as well see what his plan was for her. He’d promised her freedom like she hadn’t know before.

Where she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone trying to hunt her down. She wouldn’t have to think about survival and could really experience joy.

At this point she really wanted to feel anything. All she knew was that she had to keep the forest up as long as she could, and they’d gotten too far away from it to happen. All her magic was with her and it was heavy.

The second Jazaar came out of the house she knew he would be leaving without her. He wasn’t sure the farmer here would take her in, given her special circumstances. He’d drilled her on it all morning.

“Come on Shinelle, they’d like to meet you.”

She walked to the door and peeked in. It reminded her of a movie she’d seen when she was really little. An old one, the first color movie in the world. There was a farm house set in the middle of nowhere that got pulled up by a tornado into a land with no magic.

The wallpaper was peeling in spots, faded yellow with cornflowers making patterns that repeated in a predictable way. Old pictures hung in frames next to newer ones.

Down a hall with worn wooden floors was a kitchen painted yellow and cream. A table sat in the middle with heavy matching chairs, currently filled with an old looking man and a woman. Both demons, holding hands and looking over Shinelle with cautious smiles.

She wasn’t sure how demons were meant to do introductions. Then again, she wasn’t supposed to know.

With a curtsy, she said, “Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Shinelle.” She looked between the older couple who looked between themselves.

It was the woman who spoke first. “I’m Saffora, please sit.”

She reviewed the answers to the questions she expected them to ask. She was nineteen, instead of twenty six, since she looked young by demon standards. She was a half demon Jazaar had rescued from the tower. Her mother was a pixie and her father had left them when she was young.

The last part was even true. Coincidentally.

When she sat, though, she wasn’t asked anything except, “Do you want to stay here?” It was the man who’d asked.

“I want to go home, but that’s not really an option.” He seemed like the type to see through bullshit so Shinelle was happy to tell him the truth. She looked around the kitchen while he looked at her and waited for a real answer.

It was simple, not a whole lot, but everything was worn with loving use. The dishes didn’t match in the glass faced cupboard and it told her that things were kept until they couldn’t be, and they only replaced what they needed. The same way it had been growing up.

The clock on the wall had no second hand and didn’t tick, but she could tell it kept good time. There wasn’t a speck of dust on anything. There were worn paths showing how lived in the house was.

“Might as well stay somewhere that’s lived in,” She finally said.

With a nod, the man said, “You can call me Sir, and you can stay in the motorhome in the storage cave if you promise to work on the farm and wash up before dinner.”

“The storage cave?”

Saffora smiled again and explained, “In old times demon farmers kept their livestock in caves, now we just use it for storage. It’s bigger than you might think.”

She motioned for me to follow her and we went back out the front door, around the side of the house, and approached a recess into the ground. She was leading me straight into a hole.

I paused and looked to Jazaar for any signs he’d sold me out, but he just took my hand and pulled me down the decline into what turned out to be exactly what it had been described as. A cave.

There were little divots that led to one side that I assumed was a drainage system, and on the other side was an adorable RV. About as old as anything I’d seen so far.

Jazaar looked at Sir and asked, “Does it have power and water?” Sir grunted, and Jazaar said, “Just making sure. I’ll help her settle in.”

This was as much dismissal as the couple needed to go back to the house, whispering to each other. “Why can’t I go back to the forest?” These people didn’t seem too happy about me, and I wasn’t thrilled to be surrounded by demons.

“Just check out the trailer.” Now that we were alone again he was starting to loosen up a little.

As we approached it he spoke low and fast. “You’ll have to stay here until I figure out something more permanent, and you’ll work on the farm. Just do whatever he asks you to do and don’t make waves. I’ll visit you as often as I can, bring you things if there’s anything you need.”

I opened the door and saw about what I’d expected. Pristine, albeit well loved, furnishings I didn’t care to study now. I’d have plenty of time later. All I was interested in was the layout.

“You like plants so I think you’ll do well in the fields. Don’t piss off his son, I hear he’s a sour apple like his dad.”

Looking around the little home I found a small kitchenette, a bathroom, a bedroom area in the back. On the other side there was some seating, a little TV, and an overhead storage shelf with a curtain covering the whole thing. That would do perfectly to expand into a more familiar home.

Jazaar twisted me to face him. “This is the most important thing. Don’t use your magic. It’s rude to ask someone what their magic is in demon culture so unless they see it, no one will know.”

“Why can’t I use my magic?” I was already itching to get to the hidden shelf and make my real new home.

He put a hand on my cheek. “You’re supposed to be a half demon and your magic is legendary strength pixie magic. If you do use it you have to keep it small.”

My voice fell to a whisper. “Why are you doing all of this?” We barely knew each other, and I didn’t feel like I was getting anything better than I’d had before. I was grateful to be alive but I felt like this was going to be worse than my old life.

“Because you’re worth the effort.” I blinked at him, very aware of how the transformation his brother put on my eyes felt, and tried to feel the words. “I have to go.”

With just a moment of hesitation, he left. Took a few steps and vanished to wherever he needed to be. Leaving me alone in this motor home to sort through everything.

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Hey Readers! You've been reading the first draft of my first book (Coming soon). To learn more about it you can visit the information page about it.