Chapter 49 - 47

There was something eerily familiar about the man standing before her.

Something about those amber eyes made Janine’s stomach twist uncomfortably. That golden glint in his irises pulled at a memory she couldn’t quite place, leaving behind a strange sense of unease she didn’t understand.

She stiffened when he finally stepped forward.

The man said nothing as he moved past her, the faint scent of rain following him as his coat brushed against the air between them. Janine remained frozen for a moment, her heart for some reason was racing in her chest.

"My Lord?"

Grace’s voice pulled her attention back.

Janine turned, realizing Grace wasn’t speaking to just any customer. She was addressing the stranger.

Then she noticed it.

Out of the corner of her eye, a few of the customers inside had lowered their heads in respect. The quiet chatter had faded, replaced by a sudden awareness of his presence.

Fuck.

This was nobility.

She stood there completely still, her mind suddenly going blank. Was she supposed to apologize for not bowing? Or was she meant to kiss his feet?

Honestly, anything would be preferable to standing there like an absolute doofus after practically walking straight into him.

Grace glanced over his shoulder and looked toward her.

"Dorothy, take Janine upstairs."

Janine’s eyes shifted toward the girl standing nearby. She had reddish-brown hair pulled back from her face, with a dusting of flour across her cheeks and apron as though she had been interrupted in the middle of baking.

The girl blinked before looking toward Janine.

"Come...," she said softly.

Janine followed immediately.

Anything was better than standing another second near that terrifying man.

She grabbed the handle of her trunk again, lifting it with a small struggle as she followed Dorothy toward a narrow staircase tucked into the wall.

The wooden steps creaked beneath their weight, worn smooth from years of use. The faint scent of flour and baked goods followed them even upstairs, mixing with the colder smell of rain that still clung to Janine’s coat.

Aiko followed behind them, trotting along at his own unhurried pace as though he wasn’t witnessing her struggle at all.

What a traitor.

Dorothy moved to the other side of the trunk, taking hold of the handle and helping Janine lift it as they climbed.

"What in the world is in this?" Dorothy huffed.

By the time they reached the top of the stairs, she leaned back against the wall, taking a moment to catch her breath.

"Just clothes..." Janine answered. She adjusted her grip, feeling a little guilty. "If it’s too heavy, I—"

"No, no." Dorothy waved a hand in front of her face, shaking her head. "We’re roomies now."

The statement was so casual that Janine blinked yet Dorothy smiled as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I gotta help you."

Something about the simple kindness caught Janine off guard. She wasn’t used to people offering help without wanting something in return.

Her lips tugged upward slightly.

"Name’s Dorothy Flemming, by the way." Dorothy introduced herself as she grabbed the handle again. "What about you?"

Janine opened her mouth. "Janine Ni—"

She stopped.

The name caught in her throat. That name wasn’t welcome anywhere anymore.

She quickly corrected herself, smoothing over the mistake before Dorothy could notice.

"Janine Blaine." She took the other side of the trunk and lifted it again.

Dorothy didn’t question it.

"You’re from the South?" she asked, glancing at her curiously.

Janine nodded. "Yes. From Hazelburg."

"Oh, I thought I recognized that accent." Dorothy chuckled softly.

She let out a short soft chuckle that turned into a faint smile at Diane’s observation.

They reached the end of the hallway, and Dorothy began searching through the pockets of her apron for a key. After a moment, she pulled it out and unlocked the door.

The door opened with a soft creak, revealing a small apartment tucked above the bakery.

It wasn’t large, but it was warm.

A small sitting area rested near the window, with simple furniture arranged neatly around the room. A few books sat stacked on a shelf, and the faint scent of herbs and fresh bread drifted in from below.

It was warm...

"Welcome home," Dorothy said.

__

By the time Janine finished unpacking, the sun had long since disappeared beneath Stormsgale’s dark skyline, leaving the town wrapped in the blue-gray hush of evening.

Downstairs, she could still hear Dorothy and Mrs. Bell closing up the bakery. The quiet clink of pans, the scrape of chairs against wooden floors, and the occasional murmur of voices drifted up through the floorboards. It was oddly comforting for some reason.

She placed the last of her books onto the small table tucked into the corner of the room before taking a step back to look around.

The room wasn’t large.

But it was enough.

A narrow bed rested against one wall beneath a neatly folded quilt. Beside it sat a small wooden table that Janine had already decided would serve as both her study desk and vanity. It wasn’t much, but after years of never really having anything, this was perfect.

The window of her room overlooked the streets below, where the glow of gas lamps spilled across the rain-darkened cobblestones. Their light filtered through the curtains and stretched across the wooden floor, some of the golden light spilled onto her bed.

Sleeping with that much light pouring into the room might prove difficult.

Still...

That was a problem for tomorrow.

Aiko leapt gracefully onto the bed before making himself comfortable between her and the open trunk she was still unpacking. He circled twice, as if carefully judging the mattress, then settled with a satisfied flick of his tail.

Janine smiled despite herself.

"Already claiming the best spot, are we?"

She picked Aiko up despite his loud meows of protest, lifting him just enough to meet her eyes.

"We have to work harder now, Aiko," she said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No more freeloading."

Aiko let out a sound that seemed suspiciously close to judgment.

Janine laughed softly before lowering him against her chest instead, absentmindedly running a hand through the soft fur between his ears. He settled after a moment, though his tail flicked with clear disapproval. His warmth seeped through her clothes, easing away some of the lingering chill she still carried in from outside.

"We’re going to be fine..." she murmured quietly.

The words were meant for Aiko, but somewhere along the way they became a reassurance to herself. She wanted to believe them. After everything that had happened, after all the years of what she endured with the Hayfords everything was going to be fine.

The thought had barely settled when she felt something warm trail slowly down her cheek.

Janine frowned.

At first she assumed it was rainwater that had somehow clung to her hair, but the sensation was thicker, warmer. She reached up without thinking and wiped at her face before glancing absentmindedly at her hand.

Her heart skipped.

Dark red stained the tips of her fingers.

For a long moment she simply stared at them, her mind refusing to make sense of what she was seeing. Her hand began to tremble, and a cold knot twisted painfully in the pit of her stomach.

Carefully, she set Aiko back onto the bed. The cat immediately stood, his green eyes fixed on her as though he sensed something was wrong.

Janine reached for the small hand mirror she had placed on the table earlier. Her fingers tightened around the handle as she slowly lifted it toward her face.

The breath caught in her throat.

Thin streams of red liquid ran from beneath her eyes, tracing silent paths down her cheeks before dripping from her chin onto the wooden floor below.

She was crying...

Blood.

___

Hi there, your sleep-deprived author here!

I know this Chapter is a little short, but hey, the first one was longer, so I hope you’ll forgive me. If you’ve made it this far, it means you’re already interested in Janine’s story, and trust me, there’s plenty more to come!

Also, a little heads-up: this book is currently being reworked and polished, so some things may change along the way. Thank you for sticking around and giving this story a chance!

While you’re here, feel free to check out my other works as well. I hope you enjoy them too!

Also, a little heads-up: this book is currently being reworked and polished, so some things may change along the way. Thank you for sticking around and giving this story a chance!

While you’re here, feel free to check out my other works as well. I hope you enjoy them too!

Also, a little heads-up: this book is currently being reworked and polished, so some things may change along the way. Thank you for sticking around and giving this story a chance!

While you’re here, feel free to check out my other works as well. I hope you enjoy them too!