The Marked Market
2 5
“I will need to see Ricky. I have run out of patchouli and bee balm.” Kora tells her brother as they walk towards the Marked Market. The unofficial market, filled with all kinds of Spellcasters, Healers, Foreshadowers, Shifters and Elementals.
Shifters offer to change into the body of someone for money. Healers-who are rare to come by-healing any sort of broken bone, illness or skin condition for those creatures without their own healing powers. Spellcasters selling potions and charms. Elementals altering weapons to make them more powerful. Augurs reading minds and Foreshadowers telling people their future.
A large wooden archway holds the sign for the docks, which can only be seen by those with magical Marks inked onto their flesh. The words Marked Market are painted in thick black letters above. Puddles cover the dusty ground, dirtying the boots of anyone who passes through.
Some customers are purchasing concoctions from a couple of Spellcasters. Kora can tell they’re Spellcasters from the dark Markings lacing up their arms. One girl has half of her hair shaved, the other half cascading down one shoulder in thin raven tendrils. The man beside her has darker skin and red irises the colour of tomatoes.
Beside them, a Shifter pays an Elemental for some sort of deal. The silver fire Marking clearly showing on his arm for all to see. Kora can only guess the Shifter paid to have a place burnt to a crisp or someone scorched to death. She shivers at the latter thought.
“I’m going to take a look at the latest shipment of weapons Malark is stocking. Shall I meet you at the entrance in an hour?” Clarence proposes to her.
Kora nods in agreement before they part ways.
Walking deeper into the docks, Kora knows Ricky will be at his stall, waiting eagerly for customers. She’s dressed in a simple lilac dress and cream-coloured coat. Reddish-brown hair braided down her back to keep it out of her eyes.
Ricky sees her from afar, a grin growing on his face. “Miss Hamilton, always a pleasure seeing you here.”
“I think only because I am one of your most loyal customers.” Kora says with a smile. “I need more patchouli and bee balm if you have any.”
Ricky nods, his cap almost slipping off his slick ginger hair as he looks around his stall. Wooden crates are filled to the brim with parchment pouches and glass jars.
Kora’s aware that some of them contain substances that are lethal to Seraphim. Some might hold Infernal essence, cantarella or aconite. One touch from either of those substances, and her skin will burn right off of her bones.
Ricky places two parchment pouches on the table between them. “Two shillings.”
“That’s all?” Kora questions him, digging into her purse and flicking through the coins she’s carrying.
“You’re one of my favourite customers, so why not treat you well?”
She hands him the money. “Thank you again, Ricky. I will surely see you soon.” He tilts his bowler cap at her as a thank you.
Kora makes her way deeper into the market. Clarence could be anywhere, looking at the variety of new weaponry forged in America and shipped over. He enjoys testing out new weapons to see if the Ascendancy can implement any into their training.
Passing by a stall where Florence and Theodore-wolf Shifters-sit on stools talking with one another, they call out for her to join them.
They’re friendly for wolf Shifters.
Florence’s bright orange eyes glow as she shows off her sharpened canines. Short, curly black hair matching her dark skin. Theodore sits beside her. He’s burly and tall. Light brown hair slightly mattered and matching eyes slit with content.
“I didn’t know you two would be here today.” Kora states as she approaches them.
“You know us, we adore selling our talent to those willing to hand over a coin.” Theodore quips.
Florence hits him on the shoulder, and he lets out a growl. “We aren’t here to sell our talent .” Her voice is louder than his. She takes the cover off the crates beside her to show the array of knives and other small weapons. “We like to sell to other kinds. You never know when you need a defensive weapon.”
Kora’s lips part as she sees the piles of crates behind them. “I never thought you’d be selling weapons here. I thought Shifters would just be willing to shift for sheer entertainment or as a revenge offer.”
Theodore shakes his head at her. “We are not those kinds of Shifters. Besides, not many are looking for wolves to scare their friends for sheer delight. We wouldn’t be very useful. They mainly ask Shifters who transform into people for help. These weapons are more to arm themselves against deranged Shifters who are threatening them.” He explains to Kora.
Florence leans across the small table between them. “I heard you are now an eligible girl.” Giving Kora a wink.
Kora can feel herself blushing. “And how did you hear that?”
“Word travels fast in our little city.” Says Theodore. He pulls out a knife and starts sharpening the blade.
“I guess you could say that I am. ”
They both look at Kora and smile. “Is there a man who has caught your eye yet?”
“Possibly.” Kora gives a small shrug.
Florence gives a small snicker of amusement. “That means yes.” Leaning over to tell Theodore.
Theodore lets out a husky laugh as Kora rolls her eyes. “You should come to the Sage more; we haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”
“I have been meaning to come by. Just a lot has happened recently.”
They both nod at her. “We heard about the killings.” Florence says in a low voice. “Shifters have been talking about it. They’re worried the Ascendancy will blame them.”
Kora’s brows furrow. “Why would they blame Shifters?”
“You know…”
Florence trails off and Theodore finishes her thought. “The carvings appear to relate to our kind. But I assure you, no Shifter in our pack has had anything to do with the killings. We have other matters to deal with.”
Florence nods in agreement.
Kora lets out an exhale. “I apologise then if they’re looking at you to blame. I’ll be sure to tell Robert when I see him next.”
“Thank you,” Theodore’s deep voice sounding grateful.
He straightens his posture on his stool as Florence asks Kora, “What brings you to the docks today?”
She looks around at the many passers walking around. She leans over the small table and Theodore and Florence follow her lead. “I am actually here to talk with an Augur.” Her voice hushed.
Florence’s ears prick up, and she pulls a thoughtful face. “Scarlett’s stall is right near here. I am sure she will be willing to help you. She is the only one I’d suggest seeing. Most Augurs, although they are truthful, often bend the truth in cunning ways.” She explains.
“Where’s her stall? ”
Theodore points to the small jewel coloured tent set up a few strides away. It’s red in colour, with a small sign out the front reading Scarlett Delacroix-Foreshadower and Augur.
Kora swallows before looking back at her friends. “Thank you, both of you.”
She turns to leave when Florence grabs a hold of her hand. “Are you all right to go in alone?”
Kora nods at her. “I should be fine.”
The inside of the stall is nothing like she imagined it to be.
Crimson colour surrounds her, and the tent seems to have grown in size to fit as many as ten people at once. There’s a small fireplace burning in the corner. A table sits in the centre, with a deep ruby blanket thrown over it. A chandelier hangs down from what appears to be midair.
Scarlett sits in an overstuffed red velvet seat, her dress fabric blending in. Deep red rogue swiped on her lips, vivid against her pale white skin. Her hair is a deep shade of cherries that curls down her shoulders.
“Come in dear.” She holds out her hand gently. Her fingernails are also painted crimson. It’s as if red is the only colour Scarlett can see.
Kora follows her over to the table. Pulling out a chair, they sit opposite each other. Kora didn’t notice when Scarlett was sitting far away, the small spindly looking broach on her corset.
She looks closer to admire it when it moves and hisses at her. Kora pulls back, almost falling off her chair as Scarlett smiles crookedly. “Eli does not like being touched. He’s a little shy.” Her flinty voice warns her.
“Eli?” Kora questions, staring at the broach some more. Upon closer inspection, she sees that it’s a small golden coloured spider.
Scarlett explains nicely to her. “Eli, my pet. He doesn’t bother you unless I tell him to. But if you stare at him again, he will probably spit poison into your pretty hazel eyes, young Seraphim. ”
“Oh,” Kora brings her eyes back up to meet Scarlett’s deep ones, not wanting to aggravate her pet spider, “Florence told me to come and speak with you.”
Scarlett makes an understanding sound. She holds a soft coloured ruby in her hands about the size of her fist, “I see. You’re here to discover what kind of creature you truly are.” Head tilting to one side as she assesses Kora.
“I am a Seraphim.” Kora states loudly.
“You may be part Seraphim, but there seems to be something else flowing through the blood in your veins.” She tosses the deep coloured stone in between her palms, her gaze unmoving from Kora’s. It makes Kora feel slightly uncomfortable, but she knows it’s the way Scarlett can reach inside her mind. Augur’s always use some sort of Earth element to read people’s thoughts and memories. For some it’s stones, others hold metal or dried flower petals.
“I am seeing gold.” Scarlett says abruptly.
“ Gold . Gold as in my blood?”
“Something that makes you more powerful than your friends at the Ascendancy. Something that’s altered your genetics. Not a Healer, but you do mend faster than anyone else.” Answering smoothly.
Kora swallows again, this time louder. “It’s happened since I was born.”
“Do you know if your parents were both Seraphim?”
Kora gives a small shrug, saying, “I assume they were from what others have told me. I never thought of them to be different.”
“Very well,” Scarlet closes her eyes, her long dark lashes fluttering up and down, “I am seeing images of Uriel, the Archangel. Do you have a connection with him?” Questioning her.
“I have never spoken with him. Seraphim have blood connections to the Angels, but never a relationship with them. They are more like guardians than parents.”
Scarlett groans more as she continues to sift through her mind. “I see.” She continues to toss the stone, getting faster each time .
Kora feels her heart rate rising, her chest beating quicker, like a drum. Her throat closes over as her head is thrown backwards, and her eyes widen.
She stares up into whiteness. Head aching as if someone’s nails are digging into her brain, trying to pull it apart. She feels herself gasp. Her eyes unblinking. Body beginning to shake all over, the wooden chair rattles underneath her. She has never had her mind read like this and is praying to the Angels that this will be the last time.
The image slowly forms in her mind, vivid as if she’s lying in the room herself. It looks like the room inside the Hamilton manor that nobody steps into anymore.
Her body is small, hands held out in front of her with tiny stubby fingers on the ends. The familiar face of Tessa looks down on her from above. Eyes bright green and brown, just like how Kora remembers them. Her smile is just as captivating.
Tessa reaches out, taking Kora from the cot and rocking her side to side. She’s an infant in this vision.
Her mother’s singing something unfamiliar to her. It’s beautiful and mesmerising, nonetheless.
Kora stares up at her, longing to know her more, to reach out and touch her cheek. She’s so close to her, yet so far away.
Another cry sounds the room. The cry of another infant.
Tessa returns Kora to her cot and turns away.
All Kora can see is the ceiling above her painted a crisp cream colour. The blaring crying stops, and she wonders who else was in the room with her. Clarence would have been too old to be crying like an infant.
Then she sees the dark grey shadows flooding the room like a creeping black haze, climbing up the walls and eliminating the flames illuminating their quarters. The room fills with complete darkness, and the feeling of wickedness blows over Kora in a wave of chilled air.
There’s another voice in the room now. One that speaks with a gravelly tone that unnerves her .
Kora then hears her mother frantically shrieking.
The cries begin again, and Kora feels herself crying out as well.
Tessa’s face looks horrified as she grabs Kora out of the bassinet and cradles her against her chest, clutching onto Kora like she’ll drop her.
“Get away from her.” Her mother grits out.
A warm golden light forms. It brightens, stinging Kora’s eyes as a glowing angel appears. Fluffy and majestic golden wings jut out behind him. Kora wants to reach out her short, stubby fingers and touch the wings when he speaks. Kora feels the rush of warmth and security flooding through her body.
“She will live.” The Angel’s soft and calming as he commands the darkness.
“Uriel.” The dark, gravelly voice snarls from the other side of the room. “I thought you were too wounded to surface.”
The Angel’s white colourless hair is perfectly combed, and winkles frame his ancient face. “You will let Kora be. One dark soul for a light one. You have taken Colton. You will leave, now !”
“I shall require both souls.” The other creature hisses out like a serpent. “You left me to die, and I was lying for centuries.”
“You require nothing. The boy cannot be saved now. You have what you came for. Allow the girl to be.” The angel speaks in his melodic tone. It almost puts Kora to sleep, it’s that warm.
The angel, Uriel, glows even more than before. His body is gilded in gold and light, as he summons all of his strength. A gleam escapes from his hands, diminishing the dark swirls creeping up the wall of the manor.
“He is gone.” Uriel pronounces.
Kora hears her mother’s tears. Sobs racking her body. “Colton is gone.”
“His soul is dark. It’s what needed to be done.” Uriel calms her.
“But Lucifer will be back. He won’t be satisfied until he has what he wants. He won’t stop until he rules the realm. ”
Uriel’s hand touches Tessa’s face, “Child, breathe. Use my blade and strike him down if he resurfaces. You will need all of my energy to defeat him. As for your daughter, I will protect her. Take care of Clarence, and Kora will be safe.”
Uriel vanishes within a blink, leaving the room empty and dull.
Neither of them cries.
Her mother doesn’t move.
It’s utterly silent.
Kora can hear her heart beating stronger, as if it’s trying to break free from her chest.
Tessa looks down on her, her smile growing again, but it’s trembling. “You will be fine, Kora. I promise he won’t get to you.”
Kora’s head falls forward once again. Her breathing is heavy and sporadic as she sees the red walls of the tent once more. The ruby stone is still in Scarlett’s hands.
Stumbling out of the wooden chair and falling to the ground, Kora attempts to catch her breath as the Augur watches her collect herself.
“What was that?” she yells at Scarlett through her panting, “and who the hell is Colton?”