Sorry it took me a moment to post! I had no internet for a moment and was extremely busy! Also, I have been thinking about making another blog for another one of my stories that I would think you'd enjoy...not sure quite yet. Moving on!
Here it is! Chapter %! <---I meant to do that :)
Chapter 5: To the Seas!
Shensé wiped the tears from his eyes, while stumbling to his feet. What a sickening feeling within Shensé. A mixture of emotions topped with a syrupy sense of exhaustion. If that was not cause enough for the sickness, then it was that word “worthless” that entrapped itself around his brain. Worthless. Who could form such a horrific word? What circumstances occurred to cause its’ definition to be simplified into one saying?
“Worthless…” he said in the mirror. The very mouth formation had his stomach churning and twisting to the point he was serving the sink another helping. His head hung low over the sink, his body becoming a noodle.
“…lad! Open the door! You sound like death.”
Shensé collapsed on the floor, back up against the toilet bowl.
“Get away from me you…you crazy witch!”
“Stop being a--”
“A boy?! Well…well, forgive me for not being able to wear a dress and act all giddy for you!”
“Shensé, listen to me--”
“I’m sorry. Shensé died due to a nagging hag’s voice--”
“Shensé!”
“—If you are planning to attend his funeral, please leave your guilt at the front door. That shouldn’t be too hard for most of you…”
“You are being a fool!”
“Oh, goodness! I didn’t realize I took on your duty!”
Ganadella rested her forehead on the door with an angry huff.
“Open this door…”
A sound of movement was not heard.
“Shensé…” she repeated, more urgent. “Stop playing around! Open this door!”
“I can’t…I can’t pretend to be…worth--”
He vomited again, but on his apron…floor…his eyes became heavy.
“Stop whining! And do not repeat that word!”
He laughed abruptly at the seriousness in her voice. How could she tell him to cease what she started? He concluded that it must be something stuck-up people do.
“Why? You called me and everything this shop stands for worthless.”
“I did not! I was recalling the scissors, anyway.”
“Those scissors represent what this shop stands for!”
She rubbed her face in agitation then jiggled the knob.
“I am serious, Shensé! You must let me in! You…you are in bad condition, boy!”
Shensé delayed his answer.
“Apparently, you must want something from me…”
“How many times have I warned about what dwells in you?”
Shensé remembered exactly what she said…about how she only cared of what dwelled within him. He dropped his head to the left, glancing at his left hand. It was still purple…it even numbed a little. A sudden panic erupted then…
“…Ganadella?”
“Yes, Shensé…”
“…What dwells in me? What is wrong with me?”
Her tone was more nervous as she spoke…with a hint of care.
“That is what I am trying to figure out, but you are not strong enough.”
“…How do you mean?”
A shaky sigh was her answer.
“I’m not weak! Just tell me…is this thing in me, good or bad?”
“First of all he is not an it—look, if you wish to know more, then let me in.”
Shensé noticed how she suddenly referred to “it” as a “he”…too tired to argue or pry he stared at the door before carefully removing his apron, keeping the “leftovers” wrapped within it. Getting up, he swayed side to side as he avoided the piled and opened the door. Ganadella looked surprised, with her hands dropping to her sides. Then she gawked at the vomit on the floor…the smell did it’s’ part in making her plug her nose shut.
“You are taking a bath before we talk about anything, you big--”
Shensé’s heavy eyes managed to meet hers…oddly her cheek began to sting from this contact.
“Just go to the other one. You smell!”
The sun had just began to peak over the far mountains. A slither of light rested softly on the front desk. Shensé had his shirt rested on the hearth of the fireplace, blazing with fire. They were in another part of the shop Ganadella happened to stumble upon. However, Shensé held nothing against her, as for the suspicion. In fact, he was very content as he gazed into the warm fire. He was in his briefs, leaning against his palms. Hair still wet, he shook it and smiled widely…almost chuckling at the scent: clean linen…like ma’man’s laundry after a long day of working…
“My word, you are pale…” Ganadella boldly pointed out.
Shensé jumped ay her presence, blushing like a tomato. She gave her famous side-smirk and threw a pair of black pants at him.
“Here.”
“They dried already?” he asked.
“Yes…they did.”
Shensé eyed the pair suspiciously. They did not look like his pants. In fact, they had no hint of linen.
“They don’t smell clean…did you not wash them?”
“Yes…I did.”
“With what?”
Ganadella turned to look at him, still acting busy.
“It is called money.”
“Ganadella! They had my pocket--”
“Ah ha! Found it!”
Ganadella tossed him the green pocket book.
“I did not forget your precious.” She winked.
Shensé only held it close and tightened his lip.
“…It seems that you are right as rain…”
Shensé slowly nodded, stroking the pocket book with his thumbs. He glanced up at her as she pulled up a chair and sat in front of him. He hands clasped together in her lap as she sucked in her bottom lip.
“So…are you going to tell me what is going on with me?”
“Of course…but before I start, you must never say that word again…unless you do not mean it.”
Shensé frowned from the confusion he was feeling. Such a strange woman. It was not long ago that this very woman had made a delicate entrance as well as dropped the news about being the G.B.W.
“Mean it?”
“Yes. You see…the word does not have power unless believed…”
“…heh…I suppose you should take partial blame for that, Ganadella.”
“One would think—however—it is up to you as to whether you are truly…worthless.”
Shensé lightly flinched, hiding his embarrassment as best he could.
“Now…for the person…inside you…”
She leaned forward and pressed her hand on his chest, looking deep into his eyes.
“A strong force to be reckoned with when awakened.”
“Force?”
“Correct…but with more dimensions.”
“Dimensions?”
“Yes, boy! Must you repeat everything I say?”
“Sorry…just nervous.”
“You should be! With a strength like Cassius’, you wither away almost completely…that is why I grow concerned--”
“Stop…being so…vague, and just tell me what is inside of me!”
Before she could answer, a bell rang at the front door. A customer! How long it was without business and now someone has finally come. Shensé even figured that it was his opportunity to see what Ganadella was made of. SO, with a quick glance to the door, she stood and went to the front to see a heavily dressed man holding a letter within his brown mitts.
“Good mornin’ to ya’ ma’am! A letter for the barber of this ‘ere shop.” he said.
“Oh, then let me have it, please.”
He handed her the letter looking hard at her face.
“My, you ‘aven’t aged a bit! Gwenevyre Rosindry!”
“Oh, ho, ho, ho! No, dear! That was my great grandmother. I am Ganadella Rosindry.” She flustered out.
“Oh? What a likeness, you two, eh?” he winked as she nervously laughed, and peeled the letter. It was short and to the point:
Barber of the Western Shore,
I, sailor Thom Locke, am in great need of your assistance. I hear of your great talents & magic with the Scissors of Gold. Come to the southern bay beyond the Ancient Black Seas to find me & my ship Mockingbird. I will reimburse you greatly for you success.
Thom Locke
With that, Ganadella paid the mailman five silver coins and rushed to Shensé who was putting on a loose beige top. Her face was alit with a smile as she clapped her hands together.
“What is it?” he asked, half annoyed.
“A letter from a sailor…in need of you talents! And he is willing to pay boy!”
“But…when is he coming exactly?”
“No, he is calling us! We will come to him!”
She turned to leave out the room as Shensé chased after her, face full of panic.
“But I have no boat! And I hate the sea!”
“Oh, hush you! Will not find much here if you wait. It is time you braved up about things like this. Besides, who said I did not have a ship?”
“You…do?” he gulped.
“Oh, yes! And to the seas—even beyond! Like the good old--” she paused. Shensé paid no attention, for he was rubbing his face profusely. Either way, she was pleased to know the adventure had begun so soon…so right.
“Worthless…” he said in the mirror. The very mouth formation had his stomach churning and twisting to the point he was serving the sink another helping. His head hung low over the sink, his body becoming a noodle.
“…lad! Open the door! You sound like death.”
Shensé collapsed on the floor, back up against the toilet bowl.
“Get away from me you…you crazy witch!”
“Stop being a--”
“A boy?! Well…well, forgive me for not being able to wear a dress and act all giddy for you!”
“Shensé, listen to me--”
“I’m sorry. Shensé died due to a nagging hag’s voice--”
“Shensé!”
“—If you are planning to attend his funeral, please leave your guilt at the front door. That shouldn’t be too hard for most of you…”
“You are being a fool!”
“Oh, goodness! I didn’t realize I took on your duty!”
Ganadella rested her forehead on the door with an angry huff.
“Open this door…”
A sound of movement was not heard.
“Shensé…” she repeated, more urgent. “Stop playing around! Open this door!”
“I can’t…I can’t pretend to be…worth--”
He vomited again, but on his apron…floor…his eyes became heavy.
“Stop whining! And do not repeat that word!”
He laughed abruptly at the seriousness in her voice. How could she tell him to cease what she started? He concluded that it must be something stuck-up people do.
“Why? You called me and everything this shop stands for worthless.”
“I did not! I was recalling the scissors, anyway.”
“Those scissors represent what this shop stands for!”
She rubbed her face in agitation then jiggled the knob.
“I am serious, Shensé! You must let me in! You…you are in bad condition, boy!”
Shensé delayed his answer.
“Apparently, you must want something from me…”
“How many times have I warned about what dwells in you?”
Shensé remembered exactly what she said…about how she only cared of what dwelled within him. He dropped his head to the left, glancing at his left hand. It was still purple…it even numbed a little. A sudden panic erupted then…
“…Ganadella?”
“Yes, Shensé…”
“…What dwells in me? What is wrong with me?”
Her tone was more nervous as she spoke…with a hint of care.
“That is what I am trying to figure out, but you are not strong enough.”
“…How do you mean?”
A shaky sigh was her answer.
“I’m not weak! Just tell me…is this thing in me, good or bad?”
“First of all he is not an it—look, if you wish to know more, then let me in.”
Shensé noticed how she suddenly referred to “it” as a “he”…too tired to argue or pry he stared at the door before carefully removing his apron, keeping the “leftovers” wrapped within it. Getting up, he swayed side to side as he avoided the piled and opened the door. Ganadella looked surprised, with her hands dropping to her sides. Then she gawked at the vomit on the floor…the smell did it’s’ part in making her plug her nose shut.
“You are taking a bath before we talk about anything, you big--”
Shensé’s heavy eyes managed to meet hers…oddly her cheek began to sting from this contact.
“Just go to the other one. You smell!”
The sun had just began to peak over the far mountains. A slither of light rested softly on the front desk. Shensé had his shirt rested on the hearth of the fireplace, blazing with fire. They were in another part of the shop Ganadella happened to stumble upon. However, Shensé held nothing against her, as for the suspicion. In fact, he was very content as he gazed into the warm fire. He was in his briefs, leaning against his palms. Hair still wet, he shook it and smiled widely…almost chuckling at the scent: clean linen…like ma’man’s laundry after a long day of working…
“My word, you are pale…” Ganadella boldly pointed out.
Shensé jumped ay her presence, blushing like a tomato. She gave her famous side-smirk and threw a pair of black pants at him.
“Here.”
“They dried already?” he asked.
“Yes…they did.”
Shensé eyed the pair suspiciously. They did not look like his pants. In fact, they had no hint of linen.
“They don’t smell clean…did you not wash them?”
“Yes…I did.”
“With what?”
Ganadella turned to look at him, still acting busy.
“It is called money.”
“Ganadella! They had my pocket--”
“Ah ha! Found it!”
Ganadella tossed him the green pocket book.
“I did not forget your precious.” She winked.
Shensé only held it close and tightened his lip.
“…It seems that you are right as rain…”
Shensé slowly nodded, stroking the pocket book with his thumbs. He glanced up at her as she pulled up a chair and sat in front of him. He hands clasped together in her lap as she sucked in her bottom lip.
“So…are you going to tell me what is going on with me?”
“Of course…but before I start, you must never say that word again…unless you do not mean it.”
Shensé frowned from the confusion he was feeling. Such a strange woman. It was not long ago that this very woman had made a delicate entrance as well as dropped the news about being the G.B.W.
“Mean it?”
“Yes. You see…the word does not have power unless believed…”
“…heh…I suppose you should take partial blame for that, Ganadella.”
“One would think—however—it is up to you as to whether you are truly…worthless.”
Shensé lightly flinched, hiding his embarrassment as best he could.
“Now…for the person…inside you…”
She leaned forward and pressed her hand on his chest, looking deep into his eyes.
“A strong force to be reckoned with when awakened.”
“Force?”
“Correct…but with more dimensions.”
“Dimensions?”
“Yes, boy! Must you repeat everything I say?”
“Sorry…just nervous.”
“You should be! With a strength like Cassius’, you wither away almost completely…that is why I grow concerned--”
“Stop…being so…vague, and just tell me what is inside of me!”
Before she could answer, a bell rang at the front door. A customer! How long it was without business and now someone has finally come. Shensé even figured that it was his opportunity to see what Ganadella was made of. SO, with a quick glance to the door, she stood and went to the front to see a heavily dressed man holding a letter within his brown mitts.
“Good mornin’ to ya’ ma’am! A letter for the barber of this ‘ere shop.” he said.
“Oh, then let me have it, please.”
He handed her the letter looking hard at her face.
“My, you ‘aven’t aged a bit! Gwenevyre Rosindry!”
“Oh, ho, ho, ho! No, dear! That was my great grandmother. I am Ganadella Rosindry.” She flustered out.
“Oh? What a likeness, you two, eh?” he winked as she nervously laughed, and peeled the letter. It was short and to the point:
Barber of the Western Shore,
I, sailor Thom Locke, am in great need of your assistance. I hear of your great talents & magic with the Scissors of Gold. Come to the southern bay beyond the Ancient Black Seas to find me & my ship Mockingbird. I will reimburse you greatly for you success.
Thom Locke
With that, Ganadella paid the mailman five silver coins and rushed to Shensé who was putting on a loose beige top. Her face was alit with a smile as she clapped her hands together.
“What is it?” he asked, half annoyed.
“A letter from a sailor…in need of you talents! And he is willing to pay boy!”
“But…when is he coming exactly?”
“No, he is calling us! We will come to him!”
She turned to leave out the room as Shensé chased after her, face full of panic.
“But I have no boat! And I hate the sea!”
“Oh, hush you! Will not find much here if you wait. It is time you braved up about things like this. Besides, who said I did not have a ship?”
“You…do?” he gulped.
“Oh, yes! And to the seas—even beyond! Like the good old--” she paused. Shensé paid no attention, for he was rubbing his face profusely. Either way, she was pleased to know the adventure had begun so soon…so right.
