A week later Marlot was sweeping the cabin floor when she happened to look outside. It was a pleasant day but the fall wind had a bite to it, so she had fastened a cloak around Jack’s neck before she let him leave the cabin. He now sat with the cloak pooling on the ground around him as he leaned against the apple tree, one leg was pulled up and was being used to prop up his book, the other was stretched out in front of him. It was the same book he had brought in town, full of most of the fairy tales that Marlot had lining her bookshelves, but without the lovely illustrations so that considerably more of them fit in the single volume. He had read it all the way through at least five times and the witch wondered why he hadn’t tired of it yet.
There was movement at the garden gate and Marlot was shocked to see Lilly there, lifting the latch and entering the yard seemingly without a second thought. The witch was so distracted that she tripped over poor Jinx who was trying to attack the broom as it moved across the floor.
When she righted herself again it was to see Lilly standing at Jack’s feet, he didn’t seem to happy. Marlot couldn’t see Lilly’s face, her back was to the window so instead she watched Jack as he slowly got to his feet and shook the leaves and dirt from his cloak.
Jack bowed his head and looked sorry about something, then Lilly was up against him, one arm around his neck the other hand buried in his green hair. Marlot could no longer see Jack’s face. She felt odd, like there was a pain in her chest and a prickling in the corner of her eyes. Then to her amazement Jack pushed Lilly away, ducked under her arm and walked back to the cabin.
Marlot wasn’t any good at lip reading but Lilly was very obviously yelling at the young golem and Marlot could just make out the sound of the woman’s voice even if she couldn’t make out the words. Jack turned around for a moment to say something back and then continued his trek to the cabin. As he opened the door Marlot heard Lilly yell “You Stupid Golem How Can You Possibly Not Want…” and then the door was shut with Jack leaning against it with his eyes closed.
“What did she want?” Marlot asked trying not to sound to interested.
“Me apparently,” Jack answered his eyes still closed, “but it doesn’t feel right. In all those fairy tales it’s like the hero always knows right off that the girl is the one he wants and then he kisses her and they ride off to live happily ever after. How can I kiss someone that I don’t see a happy ever after with?”
“Oh Jack,” Marlot hugged him tightly around the middle, he didn’t even hesitate in hugging her back, his face buried in her dark curls. “you read far too many fairy stories, no one ever really lives happily ever after.”
“How do you know?”
“Marlot! Jack! Open this door right now or I will…!”
“Marlot moved Jack out of the way and opened the door, “Or you will what? Last time I checked I was the witch here.”
“I don’t care! I demand an apology.”
“For what, opening the door?”
“You know very well for what. For the way you embarrassed me in the village last week.”
Marlot actually threw back her head and laughed. “You think that was bad, well then come back when you have had your wrists tied, your nose broken, and the life of your best friend threatened, not because you did anything but for what you are, then we can talk. Get out of my garden before I do something I will regret.” Jack squeezed her shoulders, she wasn’t sure if he was trying to comfort her or hold her back, but it worked either way. The static that Marlot had started to feel as raw power began to build inside of her slowly ebbed away.
“I’m sorry about all of that,” Lilly said in a small voice, “I would never have thought that he would behave like that. He always seemed so kind and sweet.”
“Did he?” Marlot looked at the girl, “Or is that just what you wanted to see?”
“What do you know about it?” Lilly snapped.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Stop being so cryptic, I’ll never understand if you don’t tell me.”
“Because I was you once, but no one told me that a love potion wasn’t a way to get what you want.”
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