Morik took a sip of water his gaze never leaving my face. “The man she chose using that gift would have a short life. She agreed and asked for more. She knew I sensed her best at night. So she asked for a way to hide her daughter from me during that time. Ahgred taught her a simple chant that would force sleep through a touch. The price for Belinda was easily paid. She returned what money remained of the gift given to her by her father and relished telling her husband of the loss.”
I could picture Belinda gloating holding her baby as everything of value disappeared from her house and wondered how long it took Belinda to realize her situation. I’d been poor my whole life and it wasn’t a fun thing.
“Her father heard what she had done and grieved over his misjudgment. What he’d done in an effort to ease her life only caused her hardship. He called me once more and asked that I take his life and break our deal. Since he did not value his life, I could not either. I can’t make a deal without a payment. He died a few days later in his sleep brokenhearted. Belinda’s husband hopeful of a small inheritance hung himself when the news reached him that her father had nothing left. Belinda, penniless and without a husband, suffered a hard life of her own making.”
Stunned, I leaned back and took a small sip of now tepid water. How did Belinda not see her mistakes? She condemned her daughter to a worse fate by making the second deal than the first deal had done. “I just don’t understand. Why was she so afraid of you?”
Morik laughed. The sound of it startled me. “That you asked means you do not fear me as she did. She feared the concept of me. In her mind, a creature unlike herself could only be the work of evil. Her view never angered me. I tried talking to her, but she saw the practice of using someone else’s body, as I am doing now, as proof of evil.”
“Well, it’s not nice,” I reiterated.
“As you’ve mentioned before.” He gave me an arched look and I decided to it’d be wise to refrain from repeating my opinions. “I don’t like occupying others, but it’s my best chance to speak with you.”
I studied him wondering why having a companion was so important to him, but didn’t ask. He had been annoyed when I mentioned the possession. A show of annoyance meant he could anger as well. I didn’t know him well enough to ask him too much about himself. He seemed fine answering questions about my history, but I didn’t want to push too far and find out the wrong way the full extent of his capabilities.
Noting the dark circles underscoring Clavin’s eyes, I hedged for time to think. “Clavin really doesn’t look good. Would you mind letting him sleep now? There’s not much time before I have to boot him out.” We’d talked close to an hour. It’d give Clavin an hour of well-deserved sleep.
Morik agreed and walked back to my bedroom. Within seconds, Clavin slept peacefully while I wondered where Morik went when he left a body.
Chapter 6
I went through the motions of work on Sunday with half my mind focused on the story Morik shared. It twisted and turned in my mind. Belinda had been a self-centered woman and I pitied her father. I understood her hesitation about choosing Morik. I wasn’t sure I could either. But to make that second deal… to condemn countless boys to a premature death to save her daughter instead of sacrificing herself, saddened me. She’d robbed all of her descendants any chance of true happiness.
My mom told me my dad had been a good man. I’d never known him. He died before my second birthday. From her, I knew he’d loved me very much. She told me stories about his kindness and his willingness to help others. I’d once asked my mom why she’d picked him if she knew he was such a good man. She’d smiled sadly and said she’d loved him and he’d loved her.
Mona didn’t seem to notice my distraction. Like the day before, we worked in tandem taking and making orders. I did most of the serving while she stayed behind the counter assembling the sandwich orders. After a particularly grueling rush, I went back behind the counter and found half a ham and swiss sandwich plated with a cappuccino next to it.
I looked up at Mona questioningly and she answered with a grin. “There’s about a ten minute lull. Enjoy while you can.” She pulled out a bar stool from the dark recesses under the counter and sat down propping her feet on a down-turned empty five-gallon bucket.
My stomach rumbled, the bowl of cereal I’d eaten for breakfast just a memory. The smell of the rye bread teased me. Leaning against the counter, I quickly glanced at the handful of people still in the shop sipping their coffee before taking a bite. The tang of the brown mustard blended perfectly with the other flavors. I sighed happily.