Page 2 of Sins of the Stone

“Strange girl,” she heard her mutter beneath her breath. “At least she’s talking today.” Ignoring Maritza’s bitter words, Ursulette made her way deeper into the library, hoping to find something new and exciting to read to take her mind off everything happening. It was one of the very few things of entertainment in the village besides slaying creatures and spreading falsehoods like Maritza was so keen on doing.

She had to settle on getting lost in the world of fiction, going through each book individually. Ursulette dreaded the day she would finally read everything in the library. Sewing could only keep her entertained for so long.

She could feel Maritza’s prying eyes glued to her back as she approached the uneven shelves, making her stomach twist. Ursulette ran her fingers along the tips of the spines, the soft leather cool to the touch. Taking a breath, she inhaled the pleasant, musty scent permeating the room, alleviating the heat in her stomach. She wished she could experience the tranquility of getting lost in fantasy more frequently. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so anxious.

Ursulette took in a breath, finally feeling the remnants of her fears dissipate. Once enough time passed, and the creatures were gone, she could head back home and cozy up in bed before dozing off for another eventful day. There were orders that needed to be filled, things to gather, and people to greet, even if they whispered when they thought she couldn’t hear. That was the folly of being the only one left in your family. People begin to outcast you.

It happened after her parents passed. Her mother from illness, and shortly after, her father was slaughtered in a demon attack. She was old enough to care for herself, but it wasn’t easy. Ursulette was already quiet to begin with, and her silence afterward made the others wary. It didn’t help that her parents sheltered her from the others. It only made their divide worse. But that was long ago, and she had plenty of time to grieve and cope with the consequences.

Sighing, she paused on a colorful spine that caught her eye. She plucked it from the shelf, raising an eyebrow. A cloud of dust followed as she placed it in her hands. Viewing the cover, she noticed a woman in the arms of some non-human creature, seemingly in a loving embrace. The unusual nature of the etched printing made her slip a smirk.

How fitting for the ‘strange woman,’she thought.Strange book, strange woman.

Flipping it open, the binding creaked beneath the pressure as her fingers left imprints in the dust caked on the sides. She leafed through them as if they were made of glass. She hadn’t damaged a book yet. Today was not the day to break that streak and earn more of Maritza’s ire. Her eyes skimmed the words, thoroughly entranced by thestrangestory.

It seemed to be a romance novel, though she wasn’t sure why it hadn’t been enjoyed in a while. At the very least, she knew Maritza was a fan of the genre, if not another handful of those associated with her. Even though it wasn’t Ursulette’s favorite, the fact that it appeared untouched intrigued her.

“Thinking of settling down and finding a partner?” Maritza piped up, eyeing the tome from across the room. “You’re pretty much the only one without.” Ursulette curled her fists. She didn’t need a reminder, not when she hadn’t found the perfect person. Perhaps that was part of the reason everyone thought she was strange. She was reserved, not actively seeking a partner, and she surely didn’t mourn not having one.

Just because I won’t settle for something less and I’m quiet makes me strange? Because I don’t have someone beside me?

A mischievous smile crossed Maritza’s expression, and Ursulette’s stomach curdled with emotion. This was just another request for information to spread unjustly, and any response she gave would be muddled with half-truths.

“Not really. Just looking to read something new,” she responded blankly. Maritza’s jovial smile faded.

“Pity,” she said with a slight pout. “If you don’t, people will think you’re strange.” Then she added: “More strange.” Ursulette suppressed a sigh and wandered to the counter, the floor creaking beneath her soundless feet. It was a stark contrast to the heavy steps she had taken earlier. Maritza lookedup from her book, her notched nose practically stuffed in the crease.

“I’ll try this one today,” Ursulette murmured, setting the book on the counter, hoping to avoid more questions. There was a chair across the room she could sit in to pass the time, thankfully further away from the prying librarian.

“This is what you’re picking today?” she chided. She nodded, her dark hair swaying with the movement to affirm her selection. Maritza quicklytsked,making Ursulette’s face shade.

“I just need something new to read.”

“Just as I expected,” Maritza said blankly, diving behind the counter and grabbing a quill. She scribbled down something in her near illegible handwriting, her eyes still mischievous. After setting the utensil down, she placed her wrinkled fingertip onto the book, sliding it across the counter to create the most distance between the tome and her as possible. Ursulette reached forward, scooping up the book and wandering back to the furthest chair.

“Isn’t it funny how there are things that exist in fiction that are perfectly fine, but in the real world, they’re criminal?” she said as Ursulette sat down. “You were there for that execution when you were just a little thing.”

Ursulette recalled that fateful moment vividly. When she was at the mere age of five, a woman was hung at the gallows until her tongue protruded from her lips. She watched in horror, not quite understanding what was happening until someone whisked her away.

It was many years later before she learned the reasoning behind the woman’s death. Supposedly, she was accused of a relationship with a monster. But the only monsters she knew were the demons. Then again, there were many things beyond their comprehension, and some of the creatures exhibited more intelligence than she would like to admit. She wondered if there were any monsters out there capable of such things, and her face began to heat.

She shook away the thought and cracked open the book, beginning to scan it. But her brain could not process the words, and each sentence was repeated in her mind, distracted by the unusual events of the evening andmulling over just how close she was to being eviscerated. Sometimes, the demons didn’t even eat. They justdestroyed.

It wasn’t the first time she encountered a predator, but something in such proximity to the village was out of character for the carnivores that preyed on them. And what of that other creature?

It was unlike anything she had seen before, but there was a familiarity to it. She was sure she had read about something like that in the past, but it was something she couldn’t put her finger on. There were many beings, both fiction and non-fiction, of which she had knowledge. She just had to wait until her mind cleared up from her brief encounter with death. Maybe then she could figure out what it was.

Chapter 2

Ramuz

Ramuz couldn’t tear his eyes from the scene no matter how hard he tried. A fire was burning in his stomach, but he dared not act upon it. The previous night was a risk he had to take. This time, he would not be so lucky. Fate was never kind to a human two times in a row.

Two male humans were speaking to the dark-haired female he had saved in a way he knew was not kind. It was cruel, hateful, and crushing. The previous evening, he had rescued her once. Was he going to have to do it again?

His female’s face was bent with hurt. Her plump lips, which were usually curved with contentment, were now twisted into a frown, an expression he never enjoyed seeing. It left an unfamiliar hollowness in his chest. Her cheeks were flush with pink, stirring a strange feeling in him.

Even though the color made her shine, he knew it was out of distress. He could see the beginning of tears forming along her eyelids, but she was strong, daring not to show them. It was one of the many reasons he found her fascinating.

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