AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I knock on the door of Mr. Massey's and wait with my arms crossed. I told Verrin to stay around the side of the building. It wouldn’t help anyone if another resident discovered he was a demon.
Massey opened the door and smiled. “Jenna!” he exclaimed, hugging me.
I forced a smile and wrapped my arms around him. His scent reminds me of when my father and I would come here and choose our equus for the day, riding and exploring these woods until dusk.
“How are you?” he beams.
“I’m good,” I responded, motioning to the equus grazing outside. “I need an equu and a cart.”
“Oh,” his face falls, and my heart sinks. “Jenna, I can’t let you take an equu, not today.”
“Why not?” I plead.
“The farm is under a lot of pressure from the nobles. Our taxes have increased significantly, and I can’t risk an injury or a loss of any assets.”
I run my fingers through my hair and look at the pasture. I briefly think of stealing an equu, but that would be a disservice to this sweet man and my father. Before I can turn to ask again, I see Verrin approach the door.
I try to hide my shock. “Oh, hello, sir!” I wave to Verrin as I would a stranger, and his face is cold as he joins me on Massey’s doorstep.
“We need an equu, and we need it now,” he demands, his eyes glowing a deeper red than usual. Massey smiled.
“Yes, yes, of course!” he agreed delightfully. “You can have Tiara, the black one on the left over there.” He points to the pasture and comes out of his house. “Let me go get the cart for you as well, sir.”
I watch Massey hobble off and turn to Verrin. “What was that?”
Verrin shrugs with a sly smile on his face. “I might not have many powers here, but that one still has its charm.”
“You can control people?” I say, shocked, my heart racing as I wonder if he’s done that to me.
“More of an,” he pauses, searching for the word, “influence.”
I scoff and follow Massey to the cart as he bridles Tiara.
“All right, dear, now you be safe,” he bids, walking away laughing. I stare in awe at his state of trance.
I turn to face the cart. Verrin is sitting in the driver’s seat, extending a hand to me. I take it and climb up, sitting next to him. He ushered the equu into a canter, and we set off on the trail after Malaki.
The cart shakes and bounces heavily as we hit potholes on the path. I am holding onto the wooden bar in front of me to avoid falling off. I look at Verrin, and he is laughing, clearly enjoying himself. I grimaced, thinking I was glad one of us was having a good time.
The wind blew hard against my face, and I wiped the strands of hair from my vision. We turned on the path, and the cart tipped up onto two wheels.
“Verrin!” I yell fearfully.
“Lean to the left!” he yelled, motioning for the equu to slow.
I leaned sideways with him, and the cart slammed down on all four wheels. The equu returned to a trotting pace, and I inhaled in relief.
We passed a sign for Traman, a quiet farming town east of mine. I remember exploring a nearby abandoned hut here with my father.
The wind was gusting, and the equu whinnied and reared up on its back legs.
“Whoa, whoa!” Verrin exclaimed, tightening the reins.
I looked at the trees and saw them billowing violently. The dirt from the path kicked up in my face and got into my eyes. I closed them and tried to wipe the annoying bits from my vision.
“We need to get inside,” Verrin declared.
“You think?” I shouted, stepping out of the cart. “Come on, I know somewhere we can go.”
