Page 56 of A Story of Sinners

“He had an ongoing affair with her when he was eighteen. Her husband knew of it but didn’t care. The things that old woman taught him.”

I chuckled.

“The lord didn’t mind, at least until George went after his daughter. Then, George had both the mother and daughter at the same time. It was over after the lord walked in on that one.”

I full on belly laughed at that secret, my eyes meeting George’s. He frowned and shifted, as if he knew we were speaking of his dirty deeds.

“More please,” I snickered.

“Later,” Malachi said, tilting me so far back that my hair brushed the floor.

He pulled me back, and we twirled through the layers of people as the beat continued to play. When the music gradually lowered in tempo, he slowed his motions and pulled me close, drawing us both to a halt. “Would you like a shadow puppet show tonight?”

I chewed on my lip, considering his offer as the music ended and slowly shifted into a new song. For the others, the dancing continued, but we stood stock still in the middle of the ballroom and in the way. One hand gripped mine, while the other remained on my waist. His eyes never strayed as he awaited my reply.

“What story will you tell me?”

“What story do you want to hear?”

“I want to know what I am. I want to hear a story about my father. I need to know who he was.”

A dark chuckle sounded from Malachi’s chest. “If you want the answers to those questions, then you will have to come to the Otherworld with me. I can teach you how your magic works. I can train you, make you stronger. You know this.”

The offer was a tempting one, but we wavered on a thin, fragile line of mistrust. “How would you make me stronger? Would you throw me in a prison? Would you break me only to remake me?”

I tried to pull away, but Malachi didn’t release my hand. “Nothing so harsh, my light.”

I twisted my hand free from his hold and backed up. “I’ll see you in my room tonight,” I whispered as I spun away.

My head ached as I made my way back to the dais. I would be a fool to even consider his offer, but there were so many things he could tell me, that he could show me. I wanted to know who I was—whatI was.

What price was I willing to pay for the truth?

* * *

I sat at the table in my room, anxiously awaiting Malachi’s arrival. I knew he would push for me to go with him, but he had been the one to give me a say in the matter in the first place.

Shadows spiraled in the corner, and I took in a deep, steadying breath. I was willing to hear him out, at the very least, even though I knew the idea was naïve. I would need his word that he could be trusted.

He didn’t say anything, only stalked forward and motioned to the bed. “Are you ready for the show?”

I shook my head no. “Here,” I demanded, pointing towards the newly replaced tea table to avoid the bed. Malachi could easily be given the wrong impression if allowed.

“Fine,” he breathed, his lips forming a straight line as he took the seat across from me. “The candlelight isn’t near as glowing over here, but it will do.”

He lifted his hands, and shadows spilled against the wall beside us. “I’m going to tell you a classic tonight. Do you remember the story of the sun and the moon?”

I did, but it wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I wanted answers, but there was no point in arguing with Malachi until the show was over, so I nodded.

The moon reflected off the wall as a dark shadow, waxing and waning, and Malachi stole a small flicker of fire from a nearby candle, throwing it beneath the moon using his free hand.

Thus began the story of the sun and the moon, a story where the sun fled from the darkness of the moon, but the moon still chased after her. Days passed as they danced around one another, the sun fleeing and the moon chasing. Years passed by next, the moon changing its course to chase after the fleeing sun, slowly dissipating as its energy drained from the chase.

The members of the Order had told a different story, one where the sun chased the moon, but as a child, I’d loved the twist he told. The story ended with the moon catching up to the sun, creating an eclipse against the expanse of the wall.

“Sound familiar?” he asked as he summoned the shadows back into his hand.

I scoffed. “Let me guess: you are the moon, and I am the sun?”

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