Love Letters and Thirst Tonics (Moonvale Matches Book 1)

34. Redd

Istayed in Sunhaven for a few more days, sinking seamlessly back into my previous patterns, except for the fact that I was in my parents’ spare room instead of my personal flat. I woke up, took some thirst tonic (that wouldn’t cause any mysterious side effects, thank the gods), brewed myself a latte, and headed to the shop to complete the day’s work.

I was surprised to find that I felt… bored. In all my years living in Sunhaven and the countless hours I had spent working in the shop, I had never felt myself itching for something more. For some chaos. For unexpected challenges. For turns in my plan that would force me to improvise and think on my feet.

For curses that would require goofy magical rituals. For folk that would worm their way under my armor and into my heart.

I realized that, unfortunately, I missed Moonvale. I missed the way the entire town seemed determined to speak to me, no matter what unapproachable expression was on my face. I missed the old, crumbly mailbox on the corner that had introduced me to my penpal. I missed having to bundle up into as many layers as possible, because even though the outside was miserably cold, the relief of finally making it to the warm and cozy destination was so unexpectedly sweet. I missed the fluffy critters that scurried up the trees and peacefully munched on their treats. I missed the stew in the diner, and I missed lavender blueberry ciders.

I missed the gorgeous vampire that I couldn’t seem to pry from my thoughts.

I missed Fiella. I wanted to be around Fiella.

I couldn’t help but ache for her. Yearn for her. Gravitate towards her. Everything about her pulled me in. I replayed our kiss on loop, her lips constantly on my mind.

Moonvale wasn’t my home. I didn’t belong there. Fiella rejected me. She didn’t want me, but I couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if she did.

Oh gods, I’m fucked.

My Pa approached me in the shop, casually sitting down at the workstation next to me and plopping a segment of oak log onto the counter.

“Hey, bud. I remember you mentioned that that lady friend of yours works at a trinket shop and that most of her wares were destroyed,” he stated nonchalantly, pulling out a chisel and a knife to begin his woodworking.

“Hey Pa. That’s right,” I responded, dusting the wood shavings off of my lap and turning his way. “She was really upset about it–she worked hard on that shop.”

It looked like he was setting up to begin one of his notorious carvings. He was renowned for his intricate wooden sculptures. He could create just about anything, but his favorite thing to create was different folk. Vampires, humans, sirens–the man was an artist and could create anything. He could also create critters that were so lifelike, you swore they would scurry right off of the counter.

“I’ve got a few pieces that have been sitting around collecting dust, why don’t you bring her some of them? I’ve been meaning to get rid of them, anyway.”

I stared at him, unable to contain my surprise. I had considered helping Fiella with her restocking situation, but I didn’t know how to approach the subject without crossing any boundaries. I knew how much thought and care she had put into procuring her shop items, and how she had spent years painstakingly pulling the collection together. She was particular about her shop’s offerings.

But she was practically starting from scratch at this point, and everyone could use a little help from time to time. And I had seen a few damaged animal sculptures in the wreckage during my days of cleaning, so I already knew she would love them.

“That’s actually a great idea, Pa,” I answered warmly. “Thank you. I’m sure she would love to offer your masterpieces in her shop. The folk of Moonvale will be fighting over them.”

He grunted and flopped his hand in the air to brush my statement off, but when he got back to work, I was sure that I saw the ghost of a smile on his mouth.

We worked in a companionable quiet for the rest of the day, only speaking up occasionally. He completed an exquisite sculpture of a water faerie, while I finished cutting and measuring all the boards that would be required to redo the hull of a riverboat.

The idle companionship was comforting, in an old and repetitive sort of way, but I couldn’t help but notice that it didn’t invigorate me in the way Fiella’s idle chatter did.

I was in way over my head, and if I didn’t figure this out soon, I feared that I would drown.

Ipacked up my mule and saddlebag to leave, bracing for yet another trek through the Barren Lands. The hardy steeds of the hot regions could handle the journey easily, and they could even handle much worse, but I felt guilty sending them through it, nonetheless.

There were rumors about how the Barren Lands had once been a thriving oasis, full of unique critters and the most beautiful scenic foliage in the whole realm. That otherworldly beauty could only come from magic. When the Old Gods abandoned the realms so many lifetimes ago, they had stripped the soul of the oasis, leaving us with the desolate and deadly landscape that so few could traverse today.

The mule and I would’ve appreciated a more hospitable journey.

I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering back to Moonvale, wondering what had occurred there in the time I had been away.

I was itching to send off the letter I had penned right before leaving Sunhaven. It was burning a hole in my pocket. I had decided that I wanted to figure out who my mysterious writing companion was.

My thoughts were conflicted. I was finding myself drawn toward Fiella, but I couldn’t deny the connection I had with the mystery folk either. What I had with Fiella right now wasn’t solid, it wasn’t tangible, and it could have possibly been all in my head. For all I knew, the vampire had found a new companion while I had been away.

I needed answers.