Chapter 13
Genevieve
As we exit the shop, confusion spreads through me as I think of the witch. I didn’t see the way she looked at me, but for some reason, I trust Ector. The more I consider it, the odder the feeling becomes. But she simply must’ve mistaken me for someone else.
The thought of her vanishes as soon as I see a bookshop further down the street.
”Ector, there’s a bookshop!” I say in excitement as I spread my wings, lifting from the ground and speeding forward to get there faster. But when I get there, I remember that Ector refuses to fly.
Flying back to him, I grab his arm, “Come on, Ector!” A small smile appears on his mouth as he starts walking faster.
As we reach the bookshop, the first thing I notice is the intricate details. This shop is totally different from the one we just came from.
This one is built in stone, a sandy beige color with a tint of yellow bliss. Flowers are growing on the outside walls, and the same flowers are dangling in the big windows inside, most of them being in the pretty tone of orange.
“Are you just going to stand here and stare at the building or are we going inside to look through some books?” Ector interrupts my thoughts.
“I am going inside.”
The front door to this shop is in a wonderful jewel-like color. I reach for the crown golden doorknob and twist it. Click. The door opens and as I take a step inside, all I can see before my eyes is books.
Books, books, books, everywhere.
Heaven.
“Ector, am I still alive?” I ask him enchantingly.
“Uhm yes, I’m pretty sure you are.”
This is wonderful! The bookshelves fill every single wall, every space possible. And where a bookshelf doesn’t fit, huge book stacks rise instead. I can’t help but to start giggling.
I want to live here. I want to live in a bookshop, I want to live in this bookshop.
Immediately, I start searching for my favorite author. Searching for tomes holding spells of fated mates and love stories.
”What are you looking for?”
“One of my favorite authors.” I say, my face holding a bright expression.
“You read a lot? You must be very smart.” He answers with a smirk.
Looking at him, my eyes go wide and my cheeks turn rosy. Instead of answering him, I just continue walking deeper into the bookshop. Too shy to admit what other genres I’ve read.
I want to find a new book that I haven’t heard of, I love supporting new authors. Continuing to browse through the shelves, I don’t find anything that catches my attention.
“Here you have, sweetheart.” Ector says and hands me a sapphire blue book “Beneath The Flower Shop”
“What’s this?”
“A book.”
“Well, of course. But why..”
“I don’t know, I felt drawn to it. I think you should read it.”
“Oh... Okay.” I’m going to fold, I don’t stand a chance to act like nothing when my heart is fluttering like a garden full of butterflies.
Holding on to the book, I continue going through the bookshop, ending up not finding anything else that is interesting enough.
“I’m only getting this book, I don’t feel the need to get anything else.” I say out loud, not receiving an answer.
“Ector?”
As my body spins around, I find him on his knees on the light wooden floor, petting a gray cat with small glittery daffodil wings. Adorable. Not only the cat, but the fact that Ector seems obsessed with it.
“Aww, she’s the cutest cat I’ve ever seen.”
“I think her name is Alora.” Ector says while reading the carved letters on the golden plate that’s hanging from her light yellow necklace.
“Should we pay and continue our journey? We still have somewhere to be, remember?”
“No, we are not going to pay. I’m paying.” Ector answers.
”I appreciate that, truly, but you can’t pay everything for me.”
“Yes I can, let’s get it over with so we can get to the well.”
He paid for the book and I put it in my bag. It’s starting to get a little heavier, but nothing I can’t handle.
“Do you still have the map?” He asks.
“Ector, you are supposed to have the map! Are you kidding me?!”
“Yes, sweetheart. I have it in my pocket.” He laughs at the way I instantly panicked.
“That’s not funny. I need it to get my sister back.”
I understand that he wants to joke with me, but that wasn’t funny at all. That’s the only map, the one and only way for me to see Esme again.
“Is there anything we need before we leave?” I ask him, just to make sure.
“Maybe we should buy some more food? Or some fruit?”
“Can’t we get that in another city? Can I see the map?”
He picks up the map from the pocket in his baggy, black pants and unfolds it for me.
“Oh goddess, Ector.”
“What? What did I do now?” He lets out in deep confusion.
“Nothing, it’s just... This won’t take one or two days. This will take much longer than I thought. Especially since we have to walk. Can’t we just fly?”
His eyes darken. “No, remember our deal.” His jaw tightens.
“This would go so much faster if I did it on my own.” I argue.
He grabs my cheeks with one hand and puts the other around my waist and pulls me closer.
“Don’t fucking say that. We’re doing this together. Now, behave,” he answers, and then he releases me.
My body freezes.
“Come on, it won’t go any faster if you’re just going to stand there and look like a living question mark.” He adds.
I don’t have any choice. I can’t lose track of him, I don’t know the right way to go and I do not know this city. I have to follow him.
I was dumb for speaking those words, saying I would rather do it on my own without him, eager to get my sister back. It’s not true. I would be terrified if I had to go on my own.
“Ector, can we please just fly together?”
“No, this was the deal and you agreed to it.”
“But...”
“Stop it.”
I let out a loud sigh. I could swear that he’s irritating me on purpose because he thinks it’s funny.
I’m doing this for Esme, I keep reminding myself.
“How was your childhood?” I ask, needing to talk about something deep, to get to know him.
“Good.” He says with a low voice.
I recognize how his body stiffens, and he doesn’t say more than that, he doesn’t continue the conversation.
”Who is your mother and father? Maybe I know them?”
“No you don’t know them. Now, be quiet.”
“Okay, my apologies, I didn’t mean to upset you.” I only wanted to have a genuine conversation with him for once.
“I know, it’s okay. I’m sorry too, for lashing out on you. It’s just hard for me to talk about.”
“Okay.” I don’t pressure him to talk more about it or explain himself, I know it can be hard to discuss specific topics. I’m just confused why he reacted like this when he just said that his childhood was good.
I truly hope he knows that my intention was never to argue.