Chapter 7
The winter thawed slowly and the village began preparations for war. All the farmers had double duty, because they had to ensure their fields were thawing nicely and would be ready for plowing as spring set in. I left Bann’s house rarely, only leaving to assure people that I wasn’t sacrificing small animals in Bann’s house. It helped, but not by much, because people didn’t want to have anything to do with me. Ellery was the only person who was unafraid of my powers. I didn’t show them off,
ever¸ but everyone recalled the sparks that burned down the dais. It had been rebuilt, but everyone still feared what I could do.
It was a full month after I got out of prison when Rivaini asked me to go shopping with her. She was always very nice to me and quick to defend me to others. She wasn’t hotheaded like Melo, but she wasn’t passive like Pereira. She had a quick wit and was able to turn any conversation into any direction she wanted.
“Cricket, you can’t stay in that house forever.” She said, sedately leading me down the street. “You need fresh air. You are a Rogue, and they’re not used to getting shut up. Plus, you ran wild as a child, you’ve never liked being inside.”
“What does Rivaini want Cricket to do with her?” I asked, smiling.
“Come shopping with me. You need new clothes and it’s more than a little depressing that you’re wearing Iain’s mother’s clothes.” She said. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair that she braided and wound around her head like a crown. She was tall and willowy, almost breakable looking.
“The village is too busy with war preparations.” I argued. “Plus, no tailor would want to be in the same room as Cricket, much less have to touch her.”
“I’m sure I can find someone who’d rather be fitting a beautiful young lady than sewing camouflage.” Rivaini smiled.
“A beautiful young lady who could kill them.” I snorted.
“Oh hush, you.”
“Auntie Crickie!” Mikal threw his little body at me and I caught him with practiced ease. Rivaini often let me babysit her sons, which helped my public image a little. It’s funny, because I’d always hated how I was the social outcast, but I wasn’t able to a social butterfly because of the way I spoke. And now, the effort it took to fix my image from that of a satanic witch to who I really was took so much more than I wanted to give.
“I caught a ladybug!” Deni spoke around his thumb, the way he normally did. His other small fist was clamped tight.
“Let Auntie see.” I said. They adored the way I spoke, and often liked to mimic me. Luckily, they didn’t get into any trouble with their friends or any of the other villagers over their association with me. I know Rivaini and Iain did. I wasn’t sure about Ellery. I avoided him at all costs and every time I
did run into him, Eliza was hanging off him. Rivaini told me that the rumors were that Eliza was desperate to keep Ellery for herself but that he was completely against her. The old women called her the simple butterfly. Beautiful, but stupid.
“Auntie Crickie, why does the snow go away?” Mikal asked, while I examined the small ladybug that had only been saved from being crushed because of its size.
“When water gets
really cold, it turns into ice.” I said. “And when it rains and it’s that cold, it turns into ice on the way down and becomes snow. When the snow gets too warm, it begins to melt and turn back into water.”
“Oh.” Mikal sounded slightly awed by my knowledge.
“Auntie.” Deni showed me the ladybug again.
“When you hold it,” I offered, closing his hand gently around the bug, “Make sure there are no holes, but you don’t want to hold it too tightly because then it’ll just turn into mush.”
“Ew!” Deni and Mikal chorused. Rivaini laughed and I grinned.
“Auntie Crickie, why aren’t you and Uncle El ever together anymore?” Mikal asked.
“Did you fight?” Deni added. I glanced at Rivaini, who looked embarrassed.
“Mikal, Deni, mind your manners.” She ordered quickly.
“But –”
“It’s all right.” I said. “Uncle El made Auntie Crickie very mad because he wasn’t telling her the truth, but now, Auntie Crickie is just sad because she misses Uncle El.”
“Why don’t you talk to him and tell him he made you sad?” Mikal asked.
“That’s a good question.” Iain’s deep voice captured our attention. “Cricket, a word.”
“But Da!” Mikal and Deni were used to the complete attention of their father whenever he was near; he adored them.
“We’ll be right back, boys.” Iain promised with a smile. He led me across the street and away from the shops. He turned and gave me his best fatherly glower.
“What did Cricket do?” I asked incredulously.
“You are avoiding talking to Ellery and he’s freaking out because you’re avoiding him and Eliza won’t leave him alone, so he can’t ever be by himself, which is very annoying and she doesn’t stop talking, which is even more annoying,
and he misses you, so he’s depressed, and
very aggravated, and he doesn’t know what to do anymore.” Iain spoke quickly. I stared at him.
“So, this is Cricket’s fault because…?”
“It’s not your
fault.” Iain clarified. “But he’s still your husband and he still cares about you and you still care about him.”
“Iain can’t prove Cricket still cares about Ellery.” I replied.
“You said that you were angry with him, which is the feeling of betrayal.” Iain smiled. “But now, you’re not angry, you’re sad, which means you miss him.” I glared at him. “People only feel that way about those they care about.”
“For a brother-in-law, Iain is remarkably annoying.” I snapped.
“He does get annoying, doesn’t he?” Ellery joined us and I jumped. Once again, he had snuck up on me. It was
really obnoxious. Eliza was attached to his arm and she glowered at me.
“Eliza, if you wouldn’t mind, I think Ellery and Cricket have a few things to talk about.” Iain said, politely.
“Oh, nonsense. Anything they have to talk about can be said in front of me.” She smiled happily. “After all, Ellery and I share everything together.”
“So, Ellery and Eliza have bowel movements together?” I tilted my head in a mockery of innocence. Iain struggled not to laugh, Ellery laughed out loud, and Eliza glowered at me. “Cricket and Ellery were never
that close.”
“You and Ellery had a farce of a marriage. Anyway, it’s null and void now because you are not of the Janjua clan, and therefore can’t have been given away by them.” Eliza smirked and tossed her head, as if she had won.
“What?” Ellery stared at her, surprised. “That’s not true!”
“It is indeed.” Eliza patted his cheek, lovingly. “I looked it up. Also, because she’s a Rogue and you weren’t aware of it, you entered into the marriage under misleading circumstances, which also nullifies the marriage.”
“So, Cricket and Ellery are no longer married?” I asked voice quiet.
“Nope! Now, Ellery is all mine.” Eliza snarled at me.
“Ellery is a person.” I snapped. “He doesn’t belong to anyone.”
“You silly girl, don’t you know how marriages work?”
“Probably better than Eliza does considering Cricket has actually been
married!”
“Ellery! I want to leave. She’s being rude.” Eliza said, lifting her nose and ignoring me.
“So leave.” Ellery shrugged.
“But,” Eliza stamped her foot childishly, “You have to come with me!”
“Why?” Ellery asked. “I don’t want to leave.”
“You’d rather stay around this…
witch, than to be around me?” Her voice was continually getting higher in pitch.
“Actually, yes.” Ellery said. Eliza’s eyes widened. She turned to me.
“You’ve placed him under a curse!” She pointed at me.
“No! She hasn’t!” Ellery yelled over her.
“Ellery, don’t worry! True love’s kiss will break the spell!” Eliza cried, throwing herself at Ellery. The next second, she had crashed her lips to Ellery’s as he fought her off. Iain grabbed her shoulder and helped pry her off his brother. Ellery began spitting on the ground and wiping his mouth, putting as much distance between Eliza and himself as possible.
“Ellery!” She fought against Iain’s grip. I stepped between her and him.
“Stay
away from my husband.” I said my voice low and deadly.
“He’s not your husband!” Eliza said.
“Eliza.” Bann joined us. “Go home.”
“But –”
“Go.” Iain released her and she cast one longing look at Ellery before running away. Only the authority of the Chief could stop her, but it obviously did nothing to stop her feelings.
“I swear to every god out there, I will stab myself in the hand with a fork if she ever tries that again.” Ellery sounded livid. I don’t know what possessed me to move, but I found myself standing next to Ellery with my hand on his arm, trying to soothe him.
“Ellery, please tell me that what I saw was
not an act and you really hate her guts and you are furious that she kissed you.” Bann said with a sigh.
“I don’t hate her guts.” Ellery started.
“Cricket does.” I threw in. Instantly, Ellery laughed. Somehow, it was easy for me to make him laugh.
“My point is: she’s a foolish girl, but I don’t hate her. I find her ridiculously annoying, but hate is too strong a word.”
“After what she just did, Ellery better hate her.” I added in. Iain and Bann were grinning as Ellery laughed again. Suddenly, his face fell and he turned to Bann, putting his hand in mine.
“Da, is our marriage nullified now because Cricket isn’t technically a Janjua?” He asked. His hand tightened around mine in anticipation of the answer.
“Technically? Yes.” Bann sighed. “But that can be easily rectified.”
“How?” I asked.
“Well, preferably it would be a member of your bloodline, but if you are adopted by a member of the village, then that family would speak for you and give you away. We’d have to perform another ceremony, but it can be very private.” Bann explained.
“It would probably be better that way, because it’s not common knowledge that our marriage has been annulled.” Ellery said.
“Until Eliza opens her big mouth.” Iain pointed out.
“I can keep her quiet.” Rivaini said, smiling gently. To any who didn’t know her, they might think she was sweet. However, her smile was sadistic and elated. Mikal and Deni stood silently at her side, watching us with wide eyes. Deni pointed at my hands intertwined with Ellery’s.
“You made up.” He mumbled. Ellery and I looked at each other.
“Not yet.” Ellery said finally. He smiled at our nephew. “But we will.”
“That conversation is not for the world to hear.” Bann said. “You two go back to my house and discuss whatever you need to discuss. I will be along in the morning.”
“Morning?” I was a bit confused. Ellery’s ears turned red and Iain struggled to hold in laughter.
“You two will have all night to ‘discuss’ whatever you want.” Rivaini winked at me. I felt heat bloom over my cheeks. Ellery’s hand clenched mine tighter, as if I was going to move away. Ellery coughed and kept his eyes off me.
“So, let’s go back to the house, Cricket.” He said, not looking at anyone in the group. I followed the man I had been wed to back to his father’s house. We sat down at the kitchen table. Awkward silence filled the room and I bit my lip, knowing I didn’t want to talk first.
“So, Cricket…”
“Yes?” I asked. Ellery opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. My brow furrowed as his hand reached across the table, as if to take mine. I reached back and as soon as our hands touched, Ellery seemed to relax.
“Cricket, I just wanted you to know that I am so sorry Eliza did what she did and I would never condone her actions because she was acting completely inappropriate and –”
“And she’s insane.” I shrugged, as if it was common knowledge, which is pretty much was. Ellery’s thumb rubbed gently across the back of my hand and it was the most contact I had with him in over a month. The tingle of skin on skin ignited my sparks. I shut down the power immediately, but the damage was done. Ellery’s eyes turned molten and a split second later, he had stood and tugged me upright. Our lips met over the table and all the lust I had been ignoring flared to life in an instant.
Somehow, I found myself pinned to the countertop with a
very aroused Ellery kissing me as if we were going to die the next day. His lips moved from mine and he nibbled on my neck while his hands drifted around. One grasped my chest and the other grabbed my thigh. My own hands were grasping his head, holding him as close as I could get him. Ellery growled low in his throat and both his hands gripped my butt and then I was sitting on the counter with my clothes being tugged off.
“Ellery…” I didn’t know what I was going to say or even if he was listening, but I needed his attention. His golden eyes snapped up to mine and with a sudden spurt of tenderness, he kissed me gently and fully. I was gasping the instant he pulled away. Our clothes disappeared and with passion that far exceeded anything I had ever experienced, we relived our wedding night.
Kayso...
Um... I got nothing. maialia
was my only reviewer! LOVE EVERYWHERE! I hope you like Ellery a little bit more? Maybe? I love Iain. He's great. He is what Ellery would be if Ellery didn't think he knew better than Cricket. Ellery DOES get out of that phase, though. Just not yet. And from his perspective, life kind of sucks. And Cricket gets back to her roots soon enough. I hope everyone had wonderful holidays! I certainly did! ~LP
