True hate’s kiss (only kissing your enemy can break a curse)
Emilia told herself she would never reveal to anyone why she looked different. People had heard stories about witches and being burned at the stake, but everyone would just stare waiting for their opportunity. One never came, her hair always a mess of brown black and grey stripes. More grew as the days went on as well as scraps and bruises that lasted longer than they should.
That’s why she preferred to work at night. People rarely asked questions. At the Pub where she worked some nights, men were just interested in the pint and slop she put in front of them. They never seemed to mind.
Some nights, especially on a full moon, her eyes would gleam and her hairs would stand up. She didn’t think she was an animal, she didn’t think she was magic, so what was causing so much terror to her outward appearance.
There was one gentlemen in particular she wish she never had to talk to. But he was a regular and regulars always tipped. But he was a regular prick as well.
Sloppy straight brown hair but always dressed to a tee in the most luxurious clothing. He wasn’t as handsy as the other idiots covered in dirty that came stomping into the dining room. Spitting in plants and not afraid to grab a waitress or two.
“Mr. Montgomery is out there and you’re serving him,” the man who owned the establishment and let her eat a warm meal and used her for nearly coins.
“Sir, aren’t there other prim and propers who would rather chat it up with him?” She pleaded as she gripped onto her wooden drink tray.
“You do as you’re told wench!” He slammed down a bottle of red and splash her face and neck.
She quickly grabbed a dry rag and got herself together. She wrung it out in a nearby sink and dabbed her cheeks and collarbone to get the rest of the pink marks.
She quickly bustles onto the dining room floor letting the kitchen door swing behind her. Two of the other barmaids were already desperately trying to hold his attention. He was leaning back in a burgundy suit with a matching hat. A whole silk pocket scarf and a dazzling leather watch. He was skimming the newspaper and ashing his cigarette into an ashtray one of the ladies were going.
“Ladies, as you were.” She pulled out her ordering scroll and a properly ink stained feather.
His eyes glance at Emilia and back to his paper before he snatches the ashtray from one of the girl’s hands and a glass of their finest brown tap water from the other. He slams them both down on the table. “I don’t like crowding. How many of you does it take to place an order?” Now he finally cocks his head back to them, both of them never breaking their forced smiles.
One bites her head off, “Don’t you have a drainpipe to unclog, hag!?”
Emilia didn’t move an inch.
He smiles at his messy haired mistress awaiting her response, then turns his head to the other one.
“Your clothes look filthy, you look like you don’t know how to wash up your linen!”
The other snickers, “she must not even know how to properly bathe herself in a lake.”
They both cackle until his hand quickly slams into the wood again. “Now girls, clearly her ugliness never bothers her or else she wouldn’t work for the public.”
They giggle as she dung her nails nearly ripping the paper she had in her hands.
“Now if you don’t mind, I would like to eat my lunch in peace, you bumbling idiots don’t seem as if you’re going to get a rise out of her.”
As much as she wanted to thank them for getting them out of her hair, she couldn’t help but succumb to her loathing. “Our specials on tap—“
“I don’t need you to go on, sweetheart. You barely spoke as it is before, no need to change that now.”
A scowl grew across her face.
He smirks, “this is why I like you! You’re spicy. Even if you are unappetizing to look at.”
She nearly threw his bowl of ashes in his face. She wanted to watch the grey powder fill his nose until he gasped for air and his eyes red from irritation.
“Well, I’ll have scotch on the rocks.” He flipped over his newspaper and brought his foot up to rest on his lap.
She looked down at her paper in confusion.
She brought her eyes back to him, a sneaky smirk dangling off his face. When her eyes returned, the message was gone. Now not only was her outer appearance rotting but now she was having hallucinations. They would be chasing her out of the village with pitchforks and fire soon enough, she thought to herself.
“Excuse me, but I asked you to get my bloody order! And take this filthy water away from me! I don’t know how you peasants can call it that. I’ve washed my bum with cleaner water. I only drink incased water from the finest streams!’ He splashed it in front of her, she wondered how many more flying liquids would be upon her tonight.
She took a step back, “not a problem at all sir. Thank you for your patience.”
“At least one of you has some decency.” He flips his newspaper back in front of his face. “You may go now, I don’t need yet another young succubus to take up my good air.” He waved her off.
She rolled her eyes and went along her way. She stopped at the maid’s restroom and stopped in front of the looking glass. A gleaming light spreads across her eyes, she takes a step back. “What is going on with me? Does it have to do with my curse?”
She didn’t tell anyone about that fateful night. She was fourteen years old and her hair was long, brown, wavy and full of life.
Her mother used to call her, “my happy girl.” That was before she got sick. She couldn’t work anymore, she could barely get out of bed before Emilia decided to take matters into her own hands.
She knew just off boarder deep in the forest was someone they called a soothsayer. Things they could see, problems they could solve. The problem was that this also was what dammed her.
The people in the village didn’t go near her, they say her powers came from witch craft. Anyone truly would be shamed if they visited her. But as a child, Emilia didn’t want to lose her mother. So, she was running out of options.
One breezy, warm night Emilia had fed her mother and left a cool rag on her head. Her mother seemed to be peaceful for a moment so she sneak out into the crisp air of the dark night.
Emilia wrapped her mother’s violent, brown, maroon scarf around her neck; and made sure her laces were tight, before taking off into the woods.
The scent of pine choked her throat as she ducked and climbed through the woods on the outskirts of Erie out far near the lake in between Ohio & New York. Land that couldn’t quite be claimed on top of hill no one wanted to reach.
At first all she saw were twigs and leaves, then a light. Close but still ways to go. Emilia’s eyes were crusted but she couldn’t really feel the areas of her face were exposed. She breathed heavily letting the white clouds of breath float away. She couldn’t give up.
She held her scarf closed to her chest and covered her ears. Doing everything she could to survive, listened to her mother’s words about how to protect yourself not even just from the cold. But the only thing out there that would startle her was a rabbit or family of dears, thankfully.
Before she knew it, her body was pressed against the wooden door. "Emilia..." she could hear her mother's soft whisper. "Don't worry, my sweet girl."
But no one came to the door.
So, she slowly moved her frozen fingers and gave a knock that she could muster.
She heard the pull back of a chair and swift footsteps approching. The door dramaically opened and a bald women with rogue lips stood before her in a long nighttime gown, comfortable wear. Fashionable, yet old. She didn't notice until much later because in that moment, she collasped on her floor.
She awoke to the sound of firewood crackling in a fire. She sat near a fireplace there in blanket, looked and felt homemade. She didn't hear anyone speak but as soon as she turned, she couldn't help but shirek and pull herself back for a moment.
There she was. Miss Tunde.
She stood calm, her long neck exposed and leaned back as she casually examined her visitor. "Didn't your mama ever tell you it was impolite to knock on stranger's doors in the middle of the night."
Her throat was dry...but she came all this way. She couldn't leave without an answer, a rejection, something.
It's like she knew before Emilia could ever open her mouth, "What are you hear for child."
"My mama..." Emila couldn't help but be bashful at this time in her life. She didn't know how to properly handle herself in front of adults yet.
"Speak up, child!" She stood up, exposing her shiny, pointy shoes and an object in her right hand. Look as a large match with a small broom head.
Emilia was worried, her eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
She splashed the fire, colorful smoke started to envelop the room she was in.
Emilia tossed off the blanket and let out a cough.
"If you were strong enough to come all the way here. Then you're brave and smart enough to tell me why you would trouble yourself to see little dear old me, my darling." She slowly walked towards her, their noses were inches apart and she could smell ginger coming from her breath.
"Tell me child..." Her voice was smooth and breath-taking all at the same time. Those rosey lips disappeared into the smoke.
"My mother is sick. Tell me what you see, tell me if there's a way. I only want her better. I need my mother with me."
The fear crupt up behind Emilia's shoulders once again. She couldn't help but hear the outside world's voices teling her...
"That is not as easy as it may seem..." Her calming voice allowed Emilia to exhale. "To save a life, you must take another."
The air would of been trapped in Emilia's throat again, but she wouldn't let it. She didn't come here to do damage to others. There's nothing in this world that would make her sacrafice anyone or her mother.
"Not an option, you can take whatever you want from me. I know it won't be much longer until my mother does pass one day..."
She wasn't greeted with a response. Only what seemed to look like an insent being lit amongst the smoke. it cracked then danced into the ceiling.
"That can be aranged child."
Emilia swallowed hard and another clash of laughter fills the room.
"Sweetheart, I could just bake you in the oven and eat you up." She heard the stomp of her feet."
"Miss Tunde, please. Tell me what I have to do!"
The smoke cleared around her eyes, they pierced right through Emilia. "It's not what you can do. It's what's going to be taken from you!
She chucked a shiny gem into the face then poured a dark liquid over it. Emilia felt her eyes roll to the back of her head, the life being drained from her body. Her color draining, her bones weakening. There came a blasting noice and the smoke cleared.
Emilia blinked several times. She scanned the room for Miss Tunde, she wasn't around. Emilia saw a looking glass on the other side of the small cottage. She took one step at a time before her creased, pale skin was staring back at her.
She couldn't help but caress her face and think time for being a child was over. She now had to show Miss Tunde and her mother, she could be strong.
Her voice bellowed behind her, "My sweet. Instead of spending time taking in your own features, why don't you see what good you have done." She gestures to the fire where it is still glowing very dimly. Above the flames was an image of her mother, awaking from her bed. scretching. She glanced around the room, her eyes no longer drained but beauiful. Her cheeks finally glowed once again.
"Tis has bought you more time. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. May every last drop be drained until one of you is on a sickbed...
Unless..." She peered one eye at Emilia.
"Unless," Emila repeated while she remained trying to stand strong.
"Unless the last light from the ugliest heart is lit once again. Then maybe your life can be spared."
Emilia sighed and smiled. She almost wanted to give her a hug but before she could take a step, Miss Tunde wasn't going to allow her.
She held up her staff. "Now it's about time you went on home. Your mother is going to be worried about you now that she has her wits together."
Emilia looked back at the image of her mother looking around their little nest until her eyes burned. She opened them once again to be greeted by forest trees. She turned to look at where she thought was going to be the front door she came through.
More amber and green pines. She decided to follow the wind back west, despite her appearance. Nothing would stop her now from being with her mother.
Now remembering those words.
"The last light from the ugliest heart..."
She couldn't help but wonder is that same warning from Miss Tunde was the message she was receiving now... about her most worse, yet highpaying customer.
She shook her head. What in the world could she change about his ugly heart. Nothing at all. She shuttered at thought at even trying to have such a conversation with him.
She exited the bathroom hasily back to her work. She eyed the bar and traveled quickly past his table to retrieve his drink. She suudenly stopped. A splitting headache hit her temple for a brief moment.
She couldn't help but wonder if her body attacking her for ignoring him was part of the curse.
She wanted to deny it with every fiber of her being. Not him!
When she approached the bar, she tried to avoid the eyes of the patrons who took it as an advantage to bend over and try and look up her skirt.
She addressed the bar maid, "Our finest scotch on the rocks."
She turned to her and she wiped a mug and slammed it on the counter. "No ice my love, you need to get me some more or fetch the fella a pint."
She sighed heavily. This day was one stretch after another. She made her way outside with a bucket and the ice chipper. She poured more water from the well onto the ice box. She scooped and chipped away. There wasn't a person in sight...until she heard footsteps.
There were two figures approaching her.
"Hey there little lady..." One spoke up.
The other let out a slimy heavy chuckle, "Don't go far princess, running doesn't turn me on. Only makes me more aggrestive."
She dropped and bucket but held the pick tight in her hand, she wasn't prepared to have to hurt someone tonight. She prayed once they stepped closer into the moonlight, her unappealing face would turn them away.
She was worried they only cared about other parts of her. The closer they approached, the firmer her stance was.
The chuckling got louder, "Okay, baby. You want to play rough."
With one step of his boot towards her and the door to the kitchen opened. Out stepped him. Mr. Montgomery. His face was glued to them and his scowl was unlike she'd ever seen it. He had shown slight disgust to her and the oher girls of the bar on occasion, but not the pure dangers she was looking at tonight.
Her breath quickened and heart jumped in her chest, especially when he glanced her way.
"This is why the service here takes so long. None of the men in here, have class!" He eyed her weapon in her hand, she tucked it further into the shadows. He took a step towards them and held his arm to block her. "Who the hell are you grumps? And why the hell are you loitering around this business?"
They looked surprised for a moment then turned to look at each other. A smirk grew across both their lips. They both run at Mr. Montgomery.
Emilia drew her hands up in fear blocking her eyes. The ice pail slides across the pavement and dirt into one of them.
He trips and slams his face into the floor. Blood immediately pours from his nose. The other attacker stopped for a beat and Montgomery swiped her ice pick. The slumpy attacker lunges towards him and he slices his face and chest in two swift moves.
"Get lost before I kill you both with something more deadly!" He hands the pick back to her and puts both of his fists up.
The attackers dash off before they have a chance to see what was in store for them.
"Mr. Montgomery..." She couldn't help but feel her lust grow for him because he saved her. Maybe his heart was worth saving... she thought. She felt faint, but his arms were around her before her lightheadedness took her down.
"Call me, Reid." She softly told her.
Her air was trapped in her throat again.
"You'll be fine. You've proven to me you can handle yourself despite how you look or how you're treated. No one would dare touch you like this." His thumb graised her lip. "I'll give you one more present tonight.
Before she could even mumble a response, the warmth of his lips met hers. She wanted to hate it. She wanted to bite him and push him against the door. Slap him if she could. But she couldn't, she melted into him, smelling every scent of mahogany. She grabbed the back of his neck and felt his hairs between her fingers.
She felt stronger, she finally started to lean and straighten herself up. He chuckled behind the kiss then deepens it. She's taken off guard by it and his tongue. She could help by enjoy the moment and humm.
Emilia couldn't believe what she was saying. He pulled back and swiftly gave his back to her. "Good evening, Emilia. You owe me that drink another night." Back into the crowd he went. Leaving Emilia feeling brand new, her skin, her hair, even the creases around her eyes felt soft.
She finally didn't have to suffer because of her worst enemy. And he left Emilia alone in the alley with her ice pail. She struted out of her job not caring what happened to her in the morning, as long as she could hold her mother in her arms, tonight.
