Chapter 2 #3
“Do not give that asshole the pleasure of seeing you cry,” I hurriedly whispered to the woman. “He does not deserve the air he breathes, never mind your tears. Aside from the obvious, are you all right?”
The woman sniffled and nodded at me. “He caught me coming out of Magda’s shop with a bottle of your bathing oil.
He just hollered and attacked me for no reason.
He won’t listen.” Sobs started to rack the terrified woman.
“And … and everybody is just standing around and watching. No one will help me!” she yelled toward the crowd.
She sat there isolated and in pain while others looked on without the smallest bit of sympathy.
“It’s all right. I’m going to help you. Let’s get you up off the wet ground,” I proclaimed, loud enough for the gathering mass to hear.
I leaned in closer, gently helping her up off the slickened cobbles, and whispered into her ear, “You go over to Magda and get another bottle. Tell her it’s on me.
If you need anything else in the future, and I mean anything, just come to me directly. ”
Once the woman was upright and stable on her feet, she nodded at me and ran in the direction of Magda’s apothecary. Standing her ground outside the shop door was Magda, watching closely.
As I turned back toward Maxx, my temper flared.
My magic, which normally only became excitable when I willed it, stirred and roiled within me.
Every part of me wanted a fight. I had already been pissed off and frustrated with the Cult of Children and the way they influenced this continent.
This needless public display of humiliation was the catalyst that pushed me over the edge.
Before I had a chance to do anything, Maxx stepped up to me, his exaggerated white robe whipping in the air.
His cropped silver hair clung to the top of his head, contrasting with the bright shade of red his face had turned.
There was nothing but malice in his dead, beady black eyes.
He was inches from my face, his index finger jammed below my collarbone.
“You seem to mistake yourself for someone of significance, girl. You would do well to remember your place and quit meddling in matters that do not concern you!”
Shoving his finger away from me, I looked around at the villagers, anger roiling inside me.
“You all think it’s fine for a woman to be beaten in public for buying bathing oil?
Are we expected to beg for the Children’s permission for every little decision we make?
” I made eye contact with any person within sight who chose to stand there and do nothing.
“What are they going to do when we all say we’ve had enough?
” Heated, I turned around and stared down Maxx.
“You are nothing but a coward and a bully.”
Straightening out the arms of his robe, he scoffed, “And you are nothing but a blasphemous witch! We are made in the perfect image of the Mothers.” He tilted his head up, looking down his nose at me. “We do not require the assistance of charlatans such as yourself.”
I let out a breath, trying not to let Maxx’s arrogance get to me. “How can you say that? The goddesses can’t be everywhere all at once. Why is it so awful that we help one another? I think the Mothers would approve of that.”
“Every illness, pregnancy, and broken bone is part of the grand scheme the goddesses have laid out for us,” Maxx spat at me.
“They are tools to reward the strong and remove the weak. Your potions and poisons are a direct violation of their will.” His lip curled up into a snarl as his face began to turn a deeper shade of red.
His rage-filled eyes locked on me, as if everyone around us no longer existed.
If I had been a smarter person, I would have taken this as my cue to retreat, but I couldn’t. Every internal system was begging for a fight. Even my magic was calling for blood. It was sitting at the surface, waiting, anticipating something I wasn’t sure I was capable of.
“You are banned from selling your paraphernalia in this village from this day forth, by order of the Children of the Celestial Mothers and His Majesty King Alexander. Do you understand me? If you disobey my order, you will be dealt with fiercely and to the fullest extent of the goddesses’ laws!
” Then he turned his attention toward Magda.
“And if you are caught supporting or helping her in any way, you will be dealt with just as swiftly!” He gestured to the crowd.
“You have all been warned! Anyone seeking her assistance will be punished!”
The rain started to fall harder.
“You can’t do this!” I cried, balling my fists at my sides, trying to ignore the calls for violence from within.
“Disobey me again, and you’ll find out how serious I am,” Maxx threatened. “I will make it my life’s mission to ruin you and anyone you have ever come into contact with. Test me, Aurelia Brooke. I dare you!”
My anger was uncontrollable. My body was vibrating; my vision darkened, and my skin felt electric.
My magic was begging to be let loose. It had never reacted this way before.
I was teetering on the edge of restraint, seconds away from letting it loose.
A part of me I never gave much mind to wanted to find out what would happen if I loosened my grip.
Before I could oblige, Magda crossed my mind, and how heartbroken she would be if I did something reckless today.
Maxx looked down at me with smug triumph as I stared back at him, still trying to process what the fuck had just happened. As he sauntered back into the sanctuary, I realized that I had taken too long and missed my chance to do something incredibly stupid. Maybe that was for the best.
After the village square cleared a bit, I hurried over to Magda.
“Get rid of everything you have from me. I don’t need you getting into trouble over this nonsense.
” I started pacing back and forth, thinking of all the immediate things we needed to sort out.
“If anyone does come to you for help, just send them directly to me. It might be better if they come at night—they’re less likely to be seen.
” I couldn’t believe that this was where we were currently at.
How had we allowed things to get so out of control?
Magda gently held my hand, stopping my pacing.
“It’s probably best that we are not seen speaking to each other for much longer, child.
Just go home.” The diminutive woman looked up at me lovingly.
“They are finding new ways to justify hurting people. Let’s not give them any reason to do that to you here. ”
I knelt and hugged Magda as hard as I could. “Please stay safe.”
“You too, child. Now go. Get out of here.” Her watering eyes were the only remaining sign of emotion as Magda exited our embrace and pushed me away.