Jaffar nodded and cast a glance back. “You don’t owe me shit, Urs. See you at the next game night.”
My chest clenched at the casual camaraderie. At the deep connections they’d forged with so many people. I’d always wished for long-lasting friendships, relationships that would withstand storms, but time after time they’d been stolen from me, until I’d all but given up.
Ursuline pushed the door open and glided out, and I scooted behind them, tugging my bag along with me. The second I stepped outside and settled on the solid ground of the sidewalk, the crisp air greeted my nose, threaded with the scent of decaying leaves. The scent of change, of endings and beginnings.
“Follow me,” Ursuline said as they led the way down a winding walkway leading to the front door, a deep black with a silver knocker. Once we got close enough, I noticed silver markings carved into the surface of the door.
Ursuline tracked my gaze. “Protection spells. You don’t think a witch of this caliber would leave her home unguarded, do you?”
“Truthfully, I don’t know much about Sofia at all,” I admitted, shifting the strap on my shoulder.
The door opened, and the witch herself stood in the frame. Her crimson lips curled into a grin. Her dark waves flowed over her shoulders, and she tilted her head to the side. “You’re about to find out much more.”
Heat flushed through me. Had she overheard? She couldn’t read minds, could she? When it came to witches and their types of magic, my knowledge was dodgy at best.
Sofia’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “In case you’re wondering, mind reading isn’t in my wheelhouse. You just have a very expressive face. Come in, both of you.”
“Thanks, Sof,” Ursuline said, their voice low, throaty. They placed their hand on my lower back and guided me inside.
I wasn’t sure what to expect of Sofia’s house, maybe the same cinnamon scent as Haven, but their place held a lot less of the bright colors that the diner did. The entryway had black accents, but the lavender walls complemented them well, and the décor was muted rather than extravagant. Since I’d grown so used to massive displays of wealth, of foyers filled with gilded nonsense, this simplicity settled in my veins.
“I’m sure the two of you could use a cup of tea and a seat,” Sofia said, striding down the main hallway. A soft glow came from the end of the hall, and the closer we got, the more I could see her kitchen, which was clearly the prized area of the house. This also had homey, rustic vibes, so different from the presentation at Haven. The spacious wooden countertops, the massive amount of matching wooden cabinets spanning the room, the large double oven and the racks and racks of carefully labeled spices and herbs created an impressive kitchen. With the myriad of wooden spoons, canisters, and jars, this room wouldn’t fit in with the luxurious sterility of the places I’d grown up with, and I loved that even more.
The scents of the spices lingered here, some still drying in their hanging places on the higher cabinets, and I drew in a deep inhale, trying to calm myself.
“Here,” Sofia said, pulling out seats by the kitchen island. “I’ll make the two of you tea.”
“My usual?” Ursuline asked. They glanced to me. “What type do you need now?”
“Herbal,” I said. “I’m good with anything.”
“I’ve got your number,” Sofia said, sashaying over to her electric kettle. Her skirts swept back and forth against the floor, fluid and billowing, the opposite of her black lace-lined top that hugged her lithe form. She was impressive and gorgeous, and Gretel was a lucky woman. However, I felt just as lucky to be here with Ursuline.
I sat down on the seat, finding my footing in this unfamiliar place. Everything was unfamiliar, and now I didn’t have a permanent spot to rest my head. Would Ursuline and I be on the run like this for the rest of our lives? My stomach churned at the possibility.
Ursuline sank into the seat beside me, and then their palm rested on my thigh. The touch quieted the anxiety brewing in my brain, and I let out a long, low breath. Their eyes searched mine, as if to ask if I was okay, and I didn’t try to force a smile back. No, I gave a small shrug, to which they nodded.
“Here,” Sofia said, sweeping back in our direction, this time with two steaming mugs. “This should help settle you.”
She placed a black ceramic mug in front of me, and I drank in the fumes, all floral and delicious. I picked out lavender notes, but I wasn’t sure what else was in the tea. I blew on the surface and then took the first sip. The tea scorched me slightly, but I savored the flowery sweet taste, letting it linger on my tongue.
Ursuline clutched their mug in both hands, but they didn’t try to sip. No, instead they zeroed in on Sofia. “We won’t bother you for long.”
“You’ll never be a bother, Ursuline,” Sofia said. “And if you think Frederick scares me, you’ve sorely mistaken my abilities.”
Ursuline’s lips pressed tight together before they spoke. “You don’t know what he’s capable of. It’s…Those of us from New Atlantis don’t talk about it much, but there’s a reason none of us go back home.”
“You forget how many walk through my doors at Haven,” Sofia said, her dark eyes holding an understanding there. “I’m aware of Frederick’s sins. And I’ve got enough connections to bury him.”
“It hurts to hope,” they admitted, their voice a whisper.
I placed my hand overtop the one they left on my thigh and gave them a squeeze. Ursuline offered me a grateful look, and my heart traveled right out of my chest. In that moment, it belonged to them.
“Thankfully, I’ve got that in abundance,” I offered. My folks had tried for years to stamp my dreams out of me, and sometimes I had grown bleak, but the moment my parched soul sucked down even a single drop of hope, it blossomed at once.
“He’s good for you, Ursuline,” Sofia commented as they brought their own mug of tea to the island and sank into a seat. “The two of you are a beautiful contrast.”
And yet, part of me understood them on a deeper note than I had anyone else. For as different as we were, we’d both been trapped. We’d both craved depth—in the sea, in the people surrounding us. We both understood how the arts could transform. With Ursuline, I never thought they viewed my painting as frivolous or a stupid hobby like so many others in my life. And in turn, their musical ability thrilled me, theirsoft smiles they saved for few, the cleverness and tenacity they’d used to survive all these years.
