Fate

Chatper 3:

Ella was frightfully absentminded for the rest of the day. Had her money been in an outside pocket, she would be broke by now.

“He talked to me!” she later said to Kat, “He wanted to know my name! And he said he would remember me!”

“Honey…” Kat began, “Just.. be careful. It’s not because you’ve talked to him once that you can be so head-over-heels in love with him. Ya know what he’s probably lookin’ for.”

“No Kat. He’s different, I’m sure of it.”

“Well, okay, but look after yourself. I don’t want you gettin’ hurt.”


The next morning, Ella slept late. When she woke, a single yellow rose was resting by her head. Stevie was crouching nearby.

“He came while you was sleeping. Looked at you so damn long I thought he was gonna kiss you.”

“Really?”

Stevie nodded.

“Next time he comes in the morning… could you try to follow him? See where he comes from in the evenings?”

“Yeah, sure. Ain’t got much else to do.” He grinned, before returning to Sty’s.

Ella begged most of the day, on Tendri, but farther down. Once again, she sang, and her pure voice brought coins in her pocket. When Sebastian came to pass, their eyes met, and he stood staring at her until her song died away.

“Beautiful,” he whispered, before clapping.

Blushing, Ella looked down. A folded bill dropped from above: twenty dollars. Her fingers gently touched and curled. A rush of air, and he was crouching in front of her, his warm hand gently covering hers.

“Come walk with me,” he said, “Please?”

“Sir, I…” began Ella.

“Call me Sebastian. Come with me,” his gentle voice reassured her some, and she stuffed her money in an inside pocket. He pulled her up and led her to a nearby park. He motioned a bench and they sat.

“You intrigue me,” Sebastian started, “And what intrigues me makes me all the more curious. Tell me about yourself.”

Ella was startled. She blushed, “There’s really nothing to say si—Sebastian.” The name rolled around her tongue strangely.

“I’ll start with me then… perhaps I’ll draw you out of your shell.

“I am the eldest son of the Dasz family. I’m eighteen years old, and I have the peculiarity of liking to walk.”

“But why in the most dangerous areas of the city?” Ella asked.

“Because I can, for a moment, forget the position society expects me to uphold.” He looked straight in her eye as he said those words. She believed him.

“I used to have a position to uphold…” she started softly, looking at her hands, “My father was a tanner and sold the best leather in the city. My mother worked at home with me and my five siblings. I was the oldest. Mama taught us to read and write. She was disowned by her family because she married below her station. But she was determined that we wouldn’t be ignorant. The baby was only three months old when the fire killed my family.

“It started in the middle of the night,” Ella’s voice drifted as she fell back in her memories, “I woke up really hot and couldn’t see anything. I could hear them screaming. I didn’t even help them. Papa yelled ‘Get out Ella!’ so I ran. I ran out of the house and into a doorway not too far. I waited for them to come out after me. They never did.” Tears traced down her cheeks. Sebastian reached up and gently wiped them.

“I had nowhere to go,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry… Words seem so inadequate,” he pulled her to him, and just held her.

“Excuse me, please,” she finally said.

“No, no. You need to grieve.” He said, “You’ve been living on the streets since then?”

“Yes. I have no family here; my parents came from a distant town, sacked by thieves.”

“But you’re…I don’t know, you seem so much older than your age… or what I’m guessing to be your age.”

“I’ve got fifteen years. And these past four months have taught me that life is very hard on the streets. Every action is one of survival. It’s a completely different way of life.”

“You’re brave,”

She chuckled, “I’m not… I’ve just been lucky,”

They were silent for a moment. Ella looked at the sky, “Oh dear, what time is it?”

“Near the evening’s eighth hour I’d say,”

Ella’s eyes widened, “I need to work this evening! I’ve got to go, I’m sorry,”

“Alright, I suppose I’d be best getting home too… Will I see you again?”

“Yes, yes you can. If I’m not on Tendri, Check the Sty house. Ask for Kat.”

“You don’t work there?”

“Not yet,” she smiled, and ran off to the public bathroom where she changed. That night, she would work in the midst of nature.


Mornings following that day happened much the same. Ella would wake to the sweet scent of a rose, and Stevie would tell of Sebastian’s errand that morning. Most of the time, he disappeared into the University for hours on end, but sometimes he looked and idled at trinket stores.

“And he always drops coins in the beggar’s pouches. He is very rich Ella,”

“He’s being compassionate and sympathetic,”

“Huh?”

“He’s being nice! He’s not like the other nobles who don’t give a rat’s tail if we die or not. He cares, truly, and is saddened that there is so much poverty in this city.”

“Well it’s alright for him to say so, he’s got all the dosh he needs,”

Ella sighed. Stevie was born and raised on the streets, nothing would ever change his view. She silently forked over some more money. He flashed her a smile and disappeared. Ella took her time getting herself together. She desperately needed more money, and decided, feeling adventurous, to wander over to Molti Street. Shady business occurred there, far from the police’s eyes. They refused to patrol that street on account of the number of murders that had ensued. Men on Molti didn’t care where they got their satisfaction as long as they got it. They paid well too. If she could get a hundred bucks or so that night, maybe Sty’d consider her with more earnest.

As it turned out, she earned two hundred. The most she’d ever made in a single evening, and it wasn’t even the first hour of the new day. She battled with the problem of concealing it, finally settling on sticking the folded paper down the front of her underwear. If anyone even got close, she’d feel them for sure. Content, she snuggled under her faithful coat with her bag of clothes secure in her arms, and fell asleep in her habitual doorway.


Sebastian woke her the next morning, tickling her face with the rose.

“Come, I want to tell you something!”

Ella smiled, “Well hello to you too. Where are we going?”

“Just get your stuff, it’s a surprise!” He seemed so eager and happy, she could do nothing but grasp his hand and allow him to pull her up. She wanted to kiss him so bad, but refrained to do so in such a public place. It would do no good to his reputation. He led her to the park where they had their first discussion, and sat her down.

“Ella, I want to ask you to dinner.”

She stared at him.

“At my house,”

Her mouth fell open, “Sebastian, I can’t! Think of what your parents would say.”

“They don’t have to know! Come through the back door. Ana will help you. She’s sworn secrecy to me.” Ana was his sister.

“Oh, but… No, I can’t. Even if your parents don’t realize I am a beggar and a prostitute, I am of such a lower rank than you! It would be pure disgrace…”

“Ella please! I want you to meet them,” Sebastian’s dark eyes turned sad, “Please…”

She thought it over. If it was all carefully planned, there was a chance his parents wouldn’t have to know she was of the lowest classes of the city.

“Alright…”

“Yes!!” He hugged her and planted a kiss on her lips. Her eyes opened wide, “Sebastian! Think of where we are!”

“Oh I don’t care! I love you,”

Ella was struck speechless.

He bit his lip, “Did I overstep my place?”

“No…no…” Ella looked down, “No one’s said that to me in a long time,” she looked into his chocolate eyes, “I love you too.”

Sebastian broke into a smile, “Let’s get you over to my house. By the time Ana’s finished with you, you won’t even recognize yourself.”

They broke into a fast walk, arriving at his house from a different direction than the one Ella had investigated the first time she’d followed him.

“It’s the servants entrance. They won’t notice anything at this time, they’ll all be bringing breakfast to my parents.”

“Are you sure about this?” Ella asked.

“Yes. Are you?”

She grinned, “Count me in,”


Ana was just finishing her breakfast at her table when Sebastian knocked and entered, announcing himself and dragging a still-slightly-reluctant Ella along. He closed the door and sat himself on the settee, pulling Ella besides him.

“Ana, this is Ella. Ella, my sister Ana.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Ella stood and curtsied.

“No need for formality back here Ella, let me get a look at you. Come over here,” Ana motioned with her hand. Ella walked to the middle of the room. The older girl got up and circled the younger one with interest, mumbling to herself, “Yes, she’ll fit in my dresses… a hot bath and a good scrubbing, and she’ll be as prim and proper as can be… such beautiful hair, that’ll be fun to work with…”

“Well Seb, what are you doing around here? Get out!” Ana smiled, shooing at her brother.

“Thanks Ana! I owe you one,”

“More like several!” she called, though the door had already closed.

“Well then! Let’s get you a hot bath,” Ana led the way to the bathroom, where a steaming tub awaited.

“Off come your clothes, and in you get!” she said. Ella complied.