20. Maya
twenty
Maya
" T hat should be all of it," Asher says, placing the key back in my hand. We had cleaned up my booth, and he had locked everything back in the shed. My feet hurt from standing all day, and my body ached from the cold, but I couldn't hide my excitement for the evening half of the festival.
The town was alive with Christmas lights and music, and the town's festivities seemed to bring everyone out in the evening to enjoy the festival. The temperature had dropped significantly, and I was already shivering before we even left the door.
"Maya."
I spin around before heading out the door and see Asher holding a coat I had never seen before. It was a soft white, with ribbons cinching the waist. The neckline and cuffs were lined with soft-looking black fur.
"Asher, where did you get this?" I walk up to him slowly and begin looking at the coat. He unbuttons it before helping me slide it on.
"I saw it while I was out earlier today. I've gone through your clothes enough times to see that you don't have a proper coat for the winter."
I blush, and he crouches in front of me and begins buttoning up the gold buttons that snake up the front. The jacket fits me perfectly, and he reaches around, taking the bun out of my hair and allowing it to fall loose around me.
"Perfect," he whispers. His eyes dance over my body, and he hums, clearly pleased with himself. I turn my face away, and he immediately corrects me with a finger under my chin. His touch immediately ignites my body.
"Thank you," I whisper. His eyes search my own hungrily. Possessively. And something else that I can't quite read.
"You're welcome, baby girl; let's enjoy the evening. You deserve it." Asher kisses the top of my head and opens the door for me.
Asher and I leave the shop, lock it up on our way out, and walk around. We immediately grabbed two large cups of hot chocolate from a nearby drink stand. I hum with pleasure as the cup warms my hands.
Christmas in town was the biggest holiday celebrated here. For as long as I can remember, I would spend hours outside during the festival while my grandmother ran the shop. Even now, the town was alive with children playing and wearing various forms of face paint and Christmas outfits. The smell of hot food wafted through the air, and soft snow fell silently over the town like a sweet blanket. As I looked around, I felt a familiar, comforting feeling wash over me, and I leaned into Asher.
"I miss this," Asher says suddenly. He grabs my arm and snakes it through his own. He holds his hand over my arm and rubs his thumb gently in circles.
"Miss what?" I glance up at him, and he's smiling softly while gazing at the liveliness of the festival. The glittering lights danced off his eyes, and I couldn't look away. It was then that I was reminded of how beautiful he was—truly the gods' favorite child.
"Being able to enjoy life like they do."
"Do you not enjoy it now?" The thought of him being unhappy while with me throughout the past few weeks was enough to spark anxiety in my chest. As if he was reading my mind, my question seemed to bring hurt to his eyes, and he pulled me closer to him and placed a gentle kiss on top of my head.
"This is the first time I have enjoyed life in a very long time. Things become hard to enjoy when you don't have an expiration date. Time isn't constantly reminding you of your mortality and that you must enjoy things because you have no other chance to."
All I do is hum in response and lean my head against him. I didn't know what to say to him. What could I say? I knew that Asher was different. He was monstrous and cruel, and even though I felt fear at the moment, I still crawled to him and clung to him like he was all I had. I guess, in a sense, he is all I have. The shop is just a building. And this town, though I adore it, will still exist long after I'm gone. Would Asher exist after I die? Part of me wanted to be selfish and wish that he would fall apart over my death. I wished that he would curse the gods for their decision. I would do the same for him. But as I glanced up at his face, guilt washed over me. I don't want him to hurt. I don't want him to feel pain.
"Maya, did your grandmother ever mention any friends of hers?" Asher's words broke me out of my thoughts, and I immediately focused on him.
"Not that I can remember why?" I look up at him and begin replaying memories from when she took me in. It was hard to remember my parents. I remember stories that my grandmother told me, but nothing else. I didn't remember her speaking of any friends either. I always got the impression that she was a private woman who was devoted to her bakery.
"She never spoke about any activities that she did?" Asher looked at me seriously.
"No. She would host a weekly book club here in town, but nothing else I know about." I stop and stand in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. "Did you find something? Or are you just talking about the old rumors here in town?" I place my hands on my hips, annoyed.
Asher hesitates for a moment. "I didn't find anything that's useful at the moment." He reaches his pinky out to me, and I link my own with his. He smiles at me.
"I sure hope you two are enjoying the festivities this evening." A velvet voice rings. The world seems to quiet all at once with immediate anticipation. The sounds of the festival around us completely go silent, but when I look around, everyone is carrying on as if nothing is happening.
Asher and I turn around to look, and standing before us is a white-haired man. His hair is pulled up into a high bun, and he wears a floor-length black coat. On the left breast of his coat is a familiar star figure that I can't quite remember. In his hands is a small cup of hot chocolate that sends a lazy ribbon of steam into the air.
Asher immediately grabs me and pulls me to his side. Asher's muscles ripple through his coat, and his grip on me is unforgiving. I look up at the man from behind Asher, and as soon as I meet the man's eyes, a sharp pain goes through my head, and I fall to the ground in pain.
Asher spins around, grabs me in his arms, and jumps back almost ten feet, putting immediate distance between us and the man.
He looks so familiar.
"Calm down; I'm here to enjoy myself this evening." The man looks at me again, and I feel Asher pull me into him more at the action.
"Interesting time to show your face." Asher's voice drips with venom, and his body feels like a panther about to attack at the drop of a pin. The world around us continues on as if the three of us don't exist.
"Well, considering you killed one of my men, I figured I could at least come to see what all the fuss was about." The man smiles sweetly and looks down at me again. There's malice seeping from his smile, and I can feel it in my bones.
"Your man overstepped. That's all there was to it." Asher holds firm.
The man looks at me and smiles warmly once more. He hums to himself.
"It's nice to see you again, dear. I do hope there's no hard feelings." He sounds sincere.
"Do I know you?" I ask him. Another ripple of pain shoots through my head, and I wince. The man chuckles and stares at me for a moment longer.
"I'm sure I'll be seeing you again soon, brother. You two behave yourselves." The man glances at Asher before walking away and disappearing around the corner where another street of booths stood.
Asher's body vibrated, and he held me tightly against him.
"Asher?" I look up at him, but he doesn't meet my eyes. He only repositions me and carries me back toward the bakery.