Venibeth Stokes

Crash

Venibeth straightened abruptly, her eyes going wide at the crash from the shop. She turned to the twins, “Stay here. Don’t you dare move.” she warned.

Aiden and Emma nodded gravely, “Okay mommy.” they replied in unison.

The mage gave them a dubious look then darted through the curtained door that separated the shop from the living quarters just as another crash resounded through the building.

The broom she’d enchanted and had left sweeping when she’d taken the children in for lunch lay on the floor, the end of the handle protruding through a broken pane of glass while a dress dummy leaned brokenly against the wall. A small table that had held a vase of flowers was turned on its side, the blossoms scattered amidst shards of glass and puddled water.

She scanned the shop, her eyes settling on a large brindled cat that stood at the door, yowling to be let out, looking for all the world as it was the one who had been wronged. 

She moved toward the feline, faster than it liked and it shrieked, lunging past her and knocking her off balance. She stumbled backward and fell against the dress dummy that remained standing. It tumbled over with her, shattering another pane of glass and burying her underneath the folds of a velvet ball gown.

Struggling with the heavy fabric, Veni didn’t hear the bell on the door ring. She had no idea there was anyone around until a hand reached out and grabbed hers, pulling her up as the mannequin was lifted away.

“Are you alright?” the voice was deep, with a timbre that sent a warm shiver down Veni’s back. She looked up into a pair of startlingly pale green eyes that reminded her of sea foam. The man’s hair was dark auburn, a lock of falling across a brow furrowed with concern.

Veni nodded dumbly then jerked her hand away as if scalded, “Yeah. Fine. I’m fine.” she took a few steps back, tucking her own hair behind her ear before looking up at him again, “Thanks for helping me. I don’t know where that cat came from or how he got in.”

“That would be Grover I suspect. He’s the town cat and he can be a real pain in the a... “ the man paused and ducked his head, smiling sheepishly, “Well, you know.” he removed the broom from the open window pane, and placed it, with the two mannequins, against the counter, then stooped to pick up the shards of glass, “I know you just got the shop open,” he said as he worked, “I can fix the windows for you if you’d like. Looks like that’s the worst damage.”

“Please stop.” Veni pleaded, giving a lopsided smile when he looked up at her, “You’re putting my broom out of work.” she said as she waved a hand toward said tool. The broom teetered a bit against the counter then moved, returning to its previous task of sweeping, this time concentrating on the broken glass.

The man watched the broom for a minute, chuckling softly, “Well that’s handy. I’ve seen those in the shops in Stormwind, and in the mage tower of course. Don’t think I’ve seen one out here though.”

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, a silence that was quickly broken by another loud crash coming from the other side of the curtain. “Bloody hell.” Veni swore as she rushed through the doorway, the man close on her heels.

Aiden crouched next to his sister who lay on the floor, his lip was trembling as he fought back the urge to join her as she sobbed, rubbing a growing knot on her head. At his mother’s look the boy stammered, “We wa...wanted to see. I got down and… and..Emmy… she fell.”

Veni knelt beside her daughter, scooping her up in her arms as she surveyed the damage. She kissed the girl’s head and smiled, “It’s just a little bump sweetie. It’ll be a bruise but I think you’ll be okay. To be sure we’ll go see Aunty Niv okay?” Emma sniffled and nodded, against Veni’s neck, he tears already drying on her cheeks.

It took Veni a moment to realize that Aiden had stopped crying as well. She turned to look at her son, her alarm growing as she remembered the broken panes of glass in the shop. The man sat lotus style nearby, Aiden balanced on one knee as the two talked, for all the world as if they’d been friends forever.

“Looks like you’re going for a visit little man.” he said as he stood, setting the boy firmly on his feet at his mother’s side. He turned his gaze to Veni, “Don’t worry, I’ll get the window secured while you get them ready. Just a couple of boards for now, until I can get the glass. The shop’ll be safe as houses in a jiffy.”

Veni stood looking at the man, Emma’s arms still wrapped around her neck while Aiden held her hand, while three sets of hazel eyes stared with varied emotions, “Thanks. Oh… I’m Veni. Venibeth Stokes and these are my kids.”

The man nodded and smiled, “Yeah. I know. You’re pretty big news around here. My name’s Ezra Harper. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”