Veil Storm

MOTE Prompt Response

I sat in the coffee shop, staring out the window at the rain sheeting down, pounding the street and sidewalk, driving everybody into stores and restaurants seeking shelter. It was unrelenting and it had been going on for at least 72 hours now, with only short breaks, and I mean like ten minutes at most. The storms just kept coming and coming. Jared Kincaid, my childhood friend and currently head barista at Nectar of the Bean coffee shop, wandered over and sat down across from me.

“This feels so weird.” Jared also stared out at the rain pouring down. “It’s eerie. Like something’s controlling it. I mean, have you noticed that when it stops it doesn’t just slow down and then stop, but it stops like someone turned off the faucet. It’s weird.”

I nodded, not taking my eyes from the small flood raging down the street. “Yeah, I noticed that. Totally weird.” I shifted in my chair and glanced over at him. “It’s almost like… magic.”

Jared turned and stared at me. “Magic? Why would you say something like that? I mean, I know you read all that kind of stuff, you have since we were kids. But what exactly do you mean?”

I shrugged and turned my head back toward the window. “Just that. It feels weird, like you said. It feels unnatural. Like I imagine magic would feel. You feel it. What do you think it is?”

“Mari, I… I don’t know…” Jared shook his head in frustration. “I don’t know. You’ve always talked like you really believe in this stuff, but… fine. Yeah. It feels weird and I can feel that weird right in here.” He touched his stomach.

“You have a gut feeling about all this?” I waved a hand at the window and the pounding rain.

“Yeah. That’s a good way to put it. A gut feeling. Like something is really wrong with this.”

“Your gut is not lying to you. Something is very wrong.” The deep voice came from the entrance and both Jared and I spun around to stare at the newcomer.

“I didn’t hear the bell…” Jared started.

“You wouldn’t,” the man standing just inside the front door told him. The man was tall, like well over six feet, with dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail that hung halfway to his waist. His midnight blue eyes glinted with hints of silver. He was dressed like a Renaissance Faire refugee had fallen into a souvenir shop and bought the tackiest t-shirt available; dark jeans, knee-high black leather boots like a musketeer, and yes, a t-shirt that read “I got mooned in Moon Harbor” across a graphic of the full moon over the bay, and a cartoon guy mooning whoever was looking at the shirt. This fashion statement was topped with a studded leather motorcycle jacket.

“Um, okay. Did you want a coffee? I have a few pastries left, and a couple of bagels if you want something to eat.” Jared stood up and moved toward the counter.

“Coffee would be nice. I’m Klaern.” The man followed Jared to the service counter.

“Uh, hi. I’m Jared, nice to meet you.” Jared was clearly disconcerted by Klaern, but I doubted he could tell me why. I couldn’t have given details, but there was something otherworldly about this guy.

I decided that two against one was better odds and joined Jared behind the counter. Whatever was going on with this guy was setting off my radar.

“So, you, uh, visiting town this week? Sorry the weather crapped out on you.” I gave Klaern a purposeful once-over before locking eyes with him.

Klaern returned my stare. It quickly became clear from his posture he was used to others giving way to him. But being the youngest kid and only girl with three older brothers, I was the queen of stare-down contests. And once again, I won. Klaern glanced over at Jared as the latter fussed with his coffee maker.

“I’m visiting, yes. But I’m also here about the weather.” Klaern stared out at the rain. That’s when I noticed he wasn’t wet at all. Anybody who’d walked through that downpour, even if it was from a car out front into the café, would have been drenched. Klaern wasn’t even damp.

Deciding to ditch any pretense of politeness, I went for the direct question. “Who are you and why are you here?”

Klaern turned around and stared at me. I felt Jared tense up even as he pushed a cup of coffee across the counter to the newcomer.

“I am Klaern.” He spoke as if we should know him.

“Right. You said that before. The name means nothing to me.” I continued to stare at him and was rewarded when his eyes widened every so slightly. He was surprised.

“Of the fae?” Klaern raised one eyebrow. “Do you not know your history?”

“History? Of what? Fae? Dude, this is the twenty-first century. As far as knowing my history, it’s been about five hundred years since a noticeable percentage of the world’s population believed in the existence of the fae. So either we need to call the men in white coats to come pick you up and take you back to wherever you escaped from, or you need to stop being cryptic with a side of arrogance and tell us what the hell is going on.” If he really was fae, and something told me he was telling the truth, I knew I was treading on thin ice with my tone and barely contained insults. But if he needed our help, and why else would he be here talking to us, then he’d answer my questions.

I won the second stare-down. Klaern reached for the cup of coffee and tilted his head toward the table Jared and I had been sitting at when Klaern came in. When we’d all settled in, Klaern shifted his gaze between me and Jared.

“If what you say is true…” he held up a hand as I opened my mouth, “and I’m not doubting you, however, it means that what I have to tell you is going to be difficult for you to believe.”

Jared stared at Klaern. “Well… honestly? With that outfit,” he waved a hand at Klaern, “I’m easily persuaded you’re not from anywhere in this universe.”

I laughed. “Good point! Okay, Klaern. What’s going on?”

Klaern frowned down at his t-shirt. “I was assured this was acceptable.”

“Maybe individually, yeah. But as a complete outfit? Not so much. But, whatever. Why are you here and what’s going on with these endless storms?” I picked up my coffee and took a sip.

“The veil is tearing and certain, ah, things are getting through. My world is falling into your world.”

Jared and I stared at each other. “This just can’t be good,” Jared muttered into his coffee cup.

“Nope. Not at all.” I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.

******

This week Leigh Kimmel and I traded prompts. She gave me, The storms kept coming and coming while I gave her: Rather unusually for a Tuesday afternoon, the coffee shop was filled with groups of chattering gnomes. If you want or need a distraction, head on over to More Odds Than Ends and see what Leigh and everybody else came up with.