ASMSG Scifi Fantasy Paranormal Emagazine May 2014 | Page 23

SFP Indie Issue 2
She frowned to herself, disgusted with what she saw
in the souls of the people around her.
“How can I judge these people?” Raina asked Allen.
It was the same question that she asked herself that every
day.
“It is who you are. You cannot veer from destiny,
Raina. Just like I cannot deny my own path,” Allen said.
She glanced back at him, seeing the hurt in his own
eyes and feeling guilty for being so selfish.
He adjusted his glasses and looked away from her
gaze.
“But I see nothing but good in you,” Raina
whispered. Allen was much taller than her. She reached
upward and stroked his soft brown cheek. “It is a rare
thing to see such innocence.”
Allen’s blue eyes widened as he looked down at her.
“Please stop, Raina. Do not read my soul. I beg you.”
He took her hand and lowered it back to her side. He
adjusted his glasses, embarrassed by the thought of her
learning his secrets.
Raina nodded silently. “Forgive me.”
Allen couldn’t look at her. Raina bit her lip. She knew
what he was hiding. She sighed. She could never give him
what he wanted.
Anyone that gained their power from the energy of
sinners, bad people, murderers, rapists, and such must
surely be bad as well, she thought. Allen deserves better
than a girl like me.
“It’s fine,” Allen said under his breath.
Raina sniffed the air. The smell was what
overwhelmed her at first. Spices and perfumes, raw fish
and sweat. The early hours of dawn were the most popular
times for the people to shop or sell their goods.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, raw or smoked meats, exotic
smelling salts, carpets, and silks were all spread out over
wooden tables draped with cloth and carts that had been

pushed from far below the city’s boundaries. One might
not think it due to the emerging storms, but spring had
arrived, and the land was bountiful and generous with its
gifts.
Raina held Allen’s hand tightly as they weaved into
the crowd, afraid that if she let go she’d get swept away.
She was afraid that if that happened, she would enjoy
being lost and would be happy to never be found again.
She had a plan, and running away too soon would ruin it.
Raina knew how to be patient. She knew how to fake a
smile and bow to the authority.
Something caught her interest, breaking her from her
quest for a sinner. Raina smiled in wonder as she watched
two twin boys dancing in perfect unison to the tunes of an
old man’s drum.
She stopped and watched, captivated by the paint on
the boy’s faces. White paint on brown skin and their black
hair slicked back. They wore the same outfit. Black trouser
pants and red shirts with large silver buttons. They smiled
and continued their choreographed dance and bowed.
Raina let go of Allen’s hand and clapped. Sh