Page 38 of Riftborne
I wandered to the living room and stepped into my brown flats. When I thought about the walk to Eron’s I found myself wishing for a boat. The canals would prove a much faster route.
Eron lived at the end of the Central district, but it was still a long trek. We trudged off into the night, my arm linked with Osta’s. Nerves crept in as I surveyed the busy street. I shuddered as a few wandering eyes fell upon us, pulling Osta along. Osta was oddly quiet, lost in her own thoughts. And I didn’t want to be alone with mine anymore.
After half an hour, the gaps in the cobblestone told me we were nearing our destination. Our friends lived further out from the city center, where the rigid architecture of Luminaria faded into more simple dwellings.
Osta and I approached their small townhouse, eyeing the repairs that Eron had recently made to the exterior. It was quaint, but charming, with vines cascading down the front of ivory-painted wood.
Most of the buildings this far out were in various states of ruin,but with Eron working as a delivery man and Jacquelina opting to stay home with the newborn, the choices were limited. Eron worked his ass off, serving long hours and weekends, taking up extra shifts whenever he could just to make sure his family maintained some semblance of a comfortable existence.
Service work was really the only option for Riftborne. If you could find work in the first place. Jacquelina had tried for years to make it as a vocal instructor for kids, but no one would hire her. Before the baby, when the couple was trying to save as much coin as possible, she dressed in costume and sang on the street, accepting tips from generous passersby, keeping her Riftborne mark hidden carefully behind a glove.
Osta looked over, giving me a reassuring smile before knocking on the door. “Hey, just try not to think about it tonight. Let’s have fun,” she stated, observing my less-than-stellar mood. I shook my head, trying to dispel the disappointment from earlier.
“Don’t worry. I plan on drowning my sorrows,” I teased, forcing a smile.
“Okay, that’s what I like to hear. About time you actually let loose,” Osta replied before wincing, realizing the implication of her words.
“Well, maybe not around the baby…” she added, eyeing me gently.
My arm looped around her shoulder in reassurance.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be on my absolute best behavior,” I said as the door flung open, revealing the familiar face of Jaquelina.
She had always been the most beautiful of the Riftborne kids that shared our group home. Her caramel skin glistened in the moonlight, exposing her delicate features. Raven-colored hair spiraled down her back in tight coils. My eyes traveled the length of her body, taking in her long violet gown that flowed out just above her ankles. There was no indication that she had given birth to a child just weeks ago.
“I’m so glad to see you two! It’s been far too long.” She gave us a welcoming smile and reached out to embrace us.
“Ithasbeen too long. I’m so happy you invited us over. Now step aside and let us meet that baby!” Osta cooed, bouncing on her heels and eagerly looking past Jacquelina into the house.
“Of course, come in!” She moved aside and Osta rushed past her. I smiled and stepped over the threshold.
“Fia, I haven’t seen you wear your hair down like that since you were little. It’s lovely. Really, it suits you so well,” Jacquelina remarked, her voice like a melody.
“Ah–thanks.” I tugged on one of my curls. “It absolutely wouldn’t cooperate today.”
“Well, that sounds about right. Just as stubborn as the head from which it grows.” Her vibrant laugh echoed through the entrance. She nudged me with her elbow before closing the door.
I couldn’t help but smile as she led me to the dining area. It was a simple room with walls the color of the sea. Candlelight shimmered through the space, revealing a wooden table set for four.
Osta’s laughter and squeals reverberated through the house as she and Eron entered the room. Osta arms were wrapped around the newborn, her eyes already gleaming with adoration.
“Fia, meet Leila!” Osta said breathlessly. For a split second, I worried whether she was in too high a state to be holding a baby. I labored a smile and walked over, attempting to hide my hesitation.
“Hi Leila, it’s nice to meet you.” The words came out clumsily, and I looked around at Eron for approval. He just rolled his eyes and smiled.
“It’s just a baby Fia. There’s no need to recoil in terror.”
Everyone laughed, including me. I had always been sort of awkward around children. I had no idea how to interact with them.
As Jacquelina put the final touches on dinner, I took the opportunity to practice my baby etiquette, attempting to join in withOsta as she mused over features that absolutely came from Jacquelina and the golden flecked eyes that mirrored Eron’s. I tried my best to mimic her sentiments, but it still felt so odd coming from my mouth. Luckily for me, the beginning of dinner marked Leila’s bedtime.
Eron passed out glasses to everyone and filled them with wine the hue of garnet. I took a sip, letting the velvety liquid swirl in my mouth, tasting notes of vanilla, spices and winter berries. It warmed me instantly. It wasn’t magically enhanced, like the wine from the Bloodthorne Highlands, but it would do the trick.
Jacquelina danced into the room with steaming platters of root vegetables and a tray of roasted quail that smelled of honey and herbs. My mouth watered. A home-cooked meal was a delicacy that Osta and I rarely experienced these days. We weren’t the most talented chefs, so our diet revolved around baked potatoes, smoked sausage and fruit. We really needed to learn how to be better adults.
We finished dinner quickly and with little conversation, a testament to the quality of Jacquelina’s expert cooking. The clatter of utensils and shuffling of footsteps filled the air as we cleared the table. Soon enough, all four of us were back in our seats with full glasses of wine. I had already begun to feel the effects of the alcohol giving way to tipsy grins. Osta quickly caught up, her voice adopting that extra octave of drama it tended to acquire any time she partook.
“Eron, I’ll never forget the day you disappeared for the first time,” Osta slurred as her laughter bounced around the room.
