Seren shivered as a flake of snow fell onto their face. They reluctantly opened their eyes to the chill of the morning. The first thing they saw was the crack between the floor and the wall. Letting in the chilly wind and snow but also framing the unkempt and wild gardens that nature had reclaimed. Icicles dropped from the branches and most of the plant slept under the piles of snow. Seren huddled under the frayed knitted blankets. The chill of the winter morning clawed through the holes in the wood and Seren growled and threw off their blankets.
The house they lived in was slanted to the side, it only had one room which was the bathroom. Together, Seren and their dad had put up old sheets to make pseudo-rooms. The sheets were dark and stitched together to make technicolor curtains and they shifted to make the rooms bigger or smaller depending on which direction the wind blew. Seren’s room had only one piece of furniture in it. A short dresser with peeling paint and most of its knobs missing. The rest of the room was a mix of dirty clothes and blankets littering the floor
Seren got to their feet and left their blankets in a heap. Having slept in their clothes they saw no reason to open their dresser only to find clothes that were ripped and ugly. They were already wearing their favorite and warmest clothes, so why bother? From the other side of the sheet made bedrooms, Seren heard the creak from their dad’s bed. They froze, waiting to hear any other sounds. They felt their head get thick when no other sounds came from the bedroom. Tripping slightly on a forgotten sweater, they rushed to the sheets and pulled them aside.
Their dad’s room was exactly like theirs. However, instead of a dresser, their dad had the creaky old bed. It used to be Seren’s until their dad’s health failed. Seren held their breath, straining their eyes and standing perfectly still until they saw their dad’s shallow breaths. They let out a sigh of relief and ducked back behind the curtain again; they held a hand to their forehead and took a deep breath. Opening their eyes with determination, Seren found their boots thrown wide around the floor. There wasn’t much on Seren’s mind as they laced up their boots. Rocking back and forth subconsciously, the movement comforted them. Alongside the movement they hummed a disjointed series of notes absently, calming down their stressed nerves. Completely calm by the time their boots were laced up. They stood up and found their jacket, scarf and hat. Bundling up for the cold that already permeated the house.
Seren shivered and rubbed their hands together. Trying to generate heat in their fingerless gloves so that they possessed some dexterity. They blew into their cupped hands and ducked out of their curtains and into the mass of the house. It was a mess. There was a table with one short leg that had books under it to stabilize it. The broken chairs leaned against the table and one was lying on its side. Seren vaguely remembered it falling over a very long time ago and no one bothered picking it up. Seren rifled through the things on the table. Empty chemist bottles that were supposed to be returned but were long forgotten. Each one Seren came across they shook in hopes they were empty yet. Papers fell to the floor as Seren rummaged around. Giving up on shaking the bottles and checking dates instead.
Not finding any medicine left in any of the bottles, Seren bit their bottom lip. Picking at the skin around their fingernails until they bled. Staring blankly at the table while no solutions came to mind. The blood brought Seren back to reality; they stuck their thumb in their mouth to contain the blood and traveled into the messy kitchen area. What mess the table held didn’t hold a half-burned candle to the counters and sink of the kitchen. It was overflowing with old dishes and paper-ware that gave the kitchen a musty and heavy smell. The sink alone warded off the weak-stomached. Cupboards were left open, they were empty, and the drawers were missing if they even opened at all.
Seren held their breath to yank open the cupboard door under the filthy sink. In the space with the rusted and leaking pipes was a little dusty glass jam jar. As their eyes watered, Seren took the jar and retreated a safe distance away from the offensive sink. They felt the back of their throat closing from the dry air, the foul odor and the empty jar. There was nothing in it but a little black button. They placed the jar on the flattest part of the table, biting at their nails again while staring blankly at the jar. Staring as if the jar would feel ashamed of itself and money would suddenly appear in it. Under the intense stare, the jar trembled ever so slightly and made the smallest of noises. Seren shut their eyes, and the jar stilled.
They sighed and wiped their still bloody thumb off on their pants, remembering when they used to stare at the jars until they’d shatter. Which was somehow more unhelpful than having no money. Seren rounded the table and stopped at the curtain separating the house from their dad’s room. They hunched over and leaned forward barely peeking into the area.
“You can come in, Seren.” Their dad said. Seren hung their head and picked at their nails, crossing the room sheepishly. They sat on the ground next to the bed and stared hard at the wood. It was hard to look at their dad, it seemed every time they did they’d notice a new sign of decline.
“How long have you been awake?” Their dad asked, he reached out their hand to move Seren’s hair from their face but missed them entirely.
“Not long,” Seren took his hand and moved it to their face. “It’s still very early. You didn’t oversleep today.”
“That’s good, maybe we can finally tackle the kitchen today.” He said. Seren looked up to meet his eyes. Their dad’s pearlescent blue eyes still glittered with mischief. Even through the harsh bruising the fatigue left around his eyes, made more noticeable from how pale he was.
“Maybe,” Seren said with a forced smile. Their dad took his hand back, and the bed screamed as he sat up. Seren sucked in a gasp and sat up straight. “Careful!”
“It’s okay, I’ll be fine.” He said, through clenched teeth and eyes shut tight. “Just a bit dizzy,”
“Should I get your sketchbook?” Seren suggested.
“No, thank you.” Their dad sighed and opened his eyes again to looked at Seren, but he stared just to the left of them instead. “What would I do without you?” Seren smiled weakly, trying to keep out thoughts about where he would be without them.
“I have to step out for a bit,” Seren said awkwardly, looking back down to the ground and moving their hair around to one shoulder. They could feel the disappointed look their dad was giving them.
“Oh,” Their father said. Seren held their pants tightly, the disappointment clear in his voice and it hit Seren like a strike across the face.
“I’ll make it quick.” Seren said hastily. “It’s just. I need-”
“It’s okay, I understand.” Their dad interrupted, “I’ll be here when you get back, you just go have some fun.” He smiled but Seren knew it was all for show. They returned an equally false smile,
“I can still grab that sketchbook,” Seren’s throat was dry. It made their offer sound wheezy.
“No, that’s okay.” Their dad said. “You go on, don’t be out too late.”
“I won’t, I’ll be right back.” Seren promised. “Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Their dad said, he waved his hand. “Go on, the day is young and so are you. Go play.” Seren nodded but didn’t see the need to correct him. Seren stood up and waved while backing out of the curtained room. They didn’t want to turn away for fear he might disappear. They parted the curtains behind them.
“I won’t be gone very long.” Seren said again.
“Okay, I love you.” Their dad said. Seren nodded.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I love you a lot,” they said after too long a pause.
“And stay away from Miss Jass’s place.” Their dad said suddenly, trying to point in authority. “I don’t like her and I don’t want you hanging around her.”
“I won’t.” Seren agreed. “I don’t like her either.” Seren got a genuine smile from their dad, it made Seren smile too.
“Good,” he said. Seren waved again and said another ‘bye’ before letting the curtain fall closed. They turned to face the front door. Feeling heavy, with tears welling up in the corners of their eyes. They breathed in as quietly as they could, they didn’t want to give any kind of hint that they might be upset. Seren wiped their eyes and walked out the front door. It shut behind them a little harder than they’d intended and they apologized to the wood.
The snowy streets of the Winter district were forgotten. Cobblestone streets were uneven and missing stones, all the houses were slanted. With no landscaping to be seen the entire district, there wasn’t a tree or bush or blade of grass to be seen anywhere but the single garden that absorbed the city wall. Not that the gardens were purposely made that way. It was simply a few trees somehow grown too close to the wall, a few too many harsh seasons with no repair to the city wall, and a complete blind spot that encompassed the entire garden. Seren could stare at the crack in the city wall for hours. Looking at the tree branches that intertwined with the ones outside the wall and all the vines that made clusters of netting coming in and out as it pleased.
Seren avoided looking at it, they couldn’t get sucked down into staring for hours at the dead garden. They walked down the broken streets, hopping over the broken cobblestones and humming thoughtfully. Thinking deeply about how to earn what money they needed for just another day. They could go around the Summer or Autumn districts. The Autumn district held all the shops and storefronts, there would be people with money in their pockets and occasionally the wind blew in the right direction and caused people to be generous. On the other hand, there was the Summer district, which was residential. It had an academy with teachers that always needed a cheap idiot to prove a point, and they paid well.
A bad step and Seren slipped, landing hard in the snow on the side of the road. They looked up as they heard giggling, seeing Miss Jass in her fur coat, giggling nastily into her fur-lined gloves. Seren sat up and brushed the snow off their clothes. Glaring at the dirt. Miss Jass removed their white glove and inspected it for any traces of her make-up.
“Well, that was quite a spill,” Miss Jass cleared her throat and adjusted the grip on her leather bag. “Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.” Seren stood up and brushed off their pants ripped knees. “Thank you for your concern,” Seren perfectly recited the phrase their dad had taught them. They turned away and walked in the opposite direction.
“Oh, wait. I have a little job for you,” Miss Jass called with her sickly sweet voice.
“No thank you,” Seren said, mimicking Miss Jass’s tone though it sounded very odd coming from them. Seren stopped when they heard the jingle of ingts, hearing the distinct tink of a magnesium ingt among the heavier bars. Seren swallowed hard, thinking of all they could do with a single ingt, much less the most valuable one in circulation. Through the deafening ring of the ingts in Miss Jass’s pocket, Seren tried to come to their senses.
“Surely you can’t say no to a trivial minor task, especially when I’m willing to reward you handsomely.” Miss Jass smiled. Seren fidgeted with their fingernails, turning slowly to look at Miss Jass. The woman’s smile made Seren feel gross inside.
“My dad says I’m not supposed to talk to you,” Seren’s better judgment broke through for a desperate last attempt.
“What? Why would he say that?” Miss Jass faked being hurt. “I’ve done so much for you two, haven’t I? No one else would offer you employment, at least not if they know.” Seren’s jaw tightened.
“Thank you for your concern,” Seren said mechanically. They turned and started away, walking quickly before they could be called back.
“Oh, no! Honey, I’m not talking about you!” Miss Jass held up her layers of heavy skirts and flounced in what almost passed as a run. “It’s not like you could hide your condition even if you wanted to. Not with those eyes.” Seren walked faster, Miss Jass had a long stride that easily caught up to Seren. She cutoff Seren’s path, forcing them to stop.
“No one blames you for your condition,” Miss Jass insisted. “Funny things happen, the fae like their pranks and that isn’t your fault.” Seren’s jaw ached from the tension keeping it clenched. Miss Jass’s condescending tone got under Seren’s skin like broken glass.
“Thank you. For your concern.” Seren ground out.
“Did your dad teach you to say that?” Miss Jass blocked Seren again before they could escape. “Look, you’re the only one I can depend on to do this job for me. So how about we keep it our little secret, hm? I’ll give you a whole copper ingt.” Seren looked up at Miss Jass in betrayal.
“You have at least one magnesium, three steel, four iron and six copper ingts in your pocket,” Seren accused. “At least!” Miss Jass stopped jingling the money in her pocket, impressed.
“Using those fey powers of yours to snoop on others?” She said and Seren realized they’d made a mistake.
“I don’t want your copper.” Seren said firmly. Turning around and marching back the way they came.
“You think your little tricks are worth more than a copper?” Miss Jass laughed. “I can get three real mages for a single copper and you think you making some lights flicker is worth more than that?” Her laughter echoed down the cobblestone streets hauntingly. The few people along the sidewalks cleared into the alleyways, giving Seren the entire road to themselves. Miss Jass’s laughter died down as her interest wandered and Seren slowed their march. Trying to stop the echoes from cutting them up deep inside.
“Prob’ly for the best you walked away,”
Seren didn’t turn at first, not realizing that the voice was speaking to them. Through the corner of their eye they spied the patchwork bundle of blankets huddled in a corner.
“Oh, Hi Wynne.” Seren stopped and waved. The bundle shifted, lifting the hood so a pair of pupil-less purple eyes became visible.
“You know she’d have just paraded you around to all her friends, so they can laugh at you.” Wynne’s gravelly voice radiated off the top of them instead of from within the patchwork mountain.
“Yeah, I know.” Seren sighed. “But we could really have used that copper.”
“Hah, as if she’d actually’uve given you an ingt. She’d have given you a single cor and claimed it was the copper she’d offered the whole time.” Wynne laughed, their laugh rumbled around them and made Seren giggle a bit themselves.
“How do you know?” Seren slipped down to sit in the snow before Wynne’s patchwork figure.
“Cause she did it to me before I got wise.” Wynne’s figure nodded. “Your dad’s right telling you to stay away from her, she’s no good.” Seren gasped in awe.
“How did you know dad doesn’t like her?” Seren whispered. Wynne chuckled again, leaning forward.
“Fae magic,” Wynne whispered. “You and I, we got something special, and it gives us a little more knowledge than usual.” Seren’s eyes widened.
“Wow, wish I could do stuff like that.” Seren sighed, they adjusted as the snow melted under them and soaked into their clothes.
“We all have irreplaceable talents,” Wynne said sagely. “Know your worth and accept nothing less.” Seren nodded slowly. They suddenly remembered they were supposed to be hurrying.
“Oh! I promised dad I would hurry! We were gonna clean the kitchen today.” Seren jumped to their feet and tried to brush off the wet spots from the snow.
“Well, you stay out of trouble then,” Wynne shifted down and their hood hid their eyes again.
“I will, bye Wynne!” Seren waved as they ran off toward the gates between city districts.
Large iron gates divided the districts of the city. Vines grew up through the bars in the spring had been cut down for the winter in hopes they wouldn’t return in the spring but by autumn they’d be back and nearly touch the top of the gate. There were short, neatly paved and well-kept walkways between each district, lined with flowering bushes that were uniformly trimmed. The arches between districts were like doorways between worlds.
The snow in the walkways was shoveled once a day, twice if there was heavy snow. It fully buried all the bushes under the snow that had already fallen and been shoveled out of the way.
The morning saw only the earliest of risers, jogging the walkway circuit in their thin, athletic gear. Most had circular headphones that slipped over the ears so they could listen to radio plays and music. Others jogged in pairs and kept quiet conversation.
At the center of the city were the steam works, a close bundle of factories that mass produced things that couldn’t be made by hand as well as keeping the city’s electricity running. Regardless of the time there would always be huge plumes of steam billowing up toward the sky. Because of the enormous stone walls around the steam works, there was no way to see what any of the factories looked like, and there never was snow near the stone walls. The heat from inside the steam works was absorbed into the walls, keeping them warm no matter the season or the weather.
Seren paused to warm their hands on the wall, like many huddled up in pockets around the steam works walls. This was the winter hub of interaction for everyone no matter the district.