Page 1 of Fangs & Freaks
Prologue
Calverton, Northern Part of the US 1692
Bellonna
The night airhas begun to grow cool as I finish mucking out the barn. Since my father’s untimely passing, it’s on me to handle the work he would typically perform on our farm. Now my farm. My mother passed just mere months after his death, leaving me all alone in this world. Many say she died from a broken heart, unable to live without the love of her life.
The town bishop spoke openly of his disapproval of my living alone on our farm, without a husband. He even tried to bring me into his home, but I’m not without thought. I know very well what he wanted from me. How pious he is in church, but behind closed doors he’s nothing more than a man hungry for sex. Whispers have spread through the village of his wife’s inability to become pregnant since her last daughter was born. His growing desire to have another child by any means possible has spread through the village.
If it were a woman in the same position, she would be ostracized, banished to the far end of the dark forest that lies on the western boundaries of our village. But because it’s a man and the bishop, a blind eye is turned.Typical.
“Bellonna, where are you?” Rebecca Parris, my best friend since we were just babes, calls from outside. She’s the daughter of the local candlemaker and shares the same anniversary of birth as me. Tomorrow, to be exact, we’ll both be twenty and finally old enough to be courted.
“I’m in here,” I call back, brushing away the hair that's fallen in my face.
“Eww, Mary and I will wait out here for you.” Her nasally voice calls back and I can already see the look of revulsion I know is plastered on her face. She’s never lifted her hand to do any menial work a day in her life. She’s doted on hand and foot by her parents, and I truly wonder what skills she has to offer a suitor other than the ability to lie on her back and produce offspring.
I lay my pitchfork against the gate and smooth my hands down over my shirt and pants, attempting to remove any wrinkles before stepping outside.
I’m barely out the door before they’re throwing their hands over their mouths in loud gasps, shifting their gazes away from me.
“What is it? Is there something on my face?” I begin to panic that in my haste to clean, I may have flung animal feces onto me.
“You have excrement on you. How disgusting. Seriously, Bellonna, how do you expect to find a suitor looking like that? The townspeople are already talking about how you live here, alone. It's blasphemous.”
I can’t help the internal eye roll I give her. “Here I thought you were my friend, but it seems you are falling prey to the idle gossip of people who have nothing better to do with their time. Yes, I live alone, but I also have no family, and I refuse to give up the home that my parents worked hard to build. Now that we’ve cleared that up, why am I so lucky to have a visit from you at thistime of day, and without an escort? It is nearly dark.” I can’t help but make sure she sees how backwards her thinking is.
“Did you hear the news? Of course you haven’t. William Chandler has made his intentions known, he is ready to take a wife.”
William Chandler is the eldest son of one of the most influential families in Calverton. He’s tall, with a strong jaw and dark hair. He’s admired by all the townspeople and set to take over the bank once his father retires. And yet, for some reason, everyone overlooks what a pompous tool he is. My heart already fills with pity for the poor soul he chooses to court; their life, though one of affluence, will be filled with nothing but pain.
“No, I haven’t.” I choose to limit my words, as I’m already deemed too outspoken for a female. In our town, being a female and voicing your thoughts and opinions is frowned upon.
“Yes, and I have high hopes that come tomorrow, we’ll be announcing our engagement at the town meeting. Can you believe it, Bellonna, I’ll be Mrs. William Chandler, the most revered woman in Calverton, and only twenty? I’m sure my father will be more than pleased with us having a short engagement.”
“The two of you will make such a beautiful couple,” Mary gushes, always eager to please Rebecca.
“And has William made any intentions known that he plans to court you? I don’t recall either of you having much to say to each other.” I can’t help the small pleasure that floods me by pointing out the very obvious point to her.
“How would you know? You stay cooped up on this farm, with nothing but your animals to keep you company. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the rumors that you partake in bestiality with them. It’s not doing you any favors. You should take the bishop up on his offer to stay with him and his wife.”
“I’m perfectly fine here and I have no time to give any merit to rumors. Let people believe what they wish. I know the truth. Thank you for the visit and the news of your pending nuptials. I look forward to celebrating with you tomorrow, but I must return to my chores.” With a quaint smile, I turn and head back into the barn.
I make my way up to the wood building that alternates between the school and town hall. Mary Louise, the bishop’s youngest daughter, a beautiful blonde with flowy curls and just barely eight, pulls the string, ringing the bell. As I near the building, I see Rebecca and Mary at the corner, along with Eloise, Rebecca’s sister. They’re huddled together, whispering.
I make my way toward them, smiling at the eligible men standing by a buggy. They all give a knowing smirk before leaning into each other and laughing. Odd, but I pay no mind to it, continuing to make my way to my friends.
“Ladies.” I nod my head as I step up beside them.
“We should go, girls.” Rebecca lifts her nose in the air, stepping past me, bumping her shoulder into mine as she goes. The other two snicker, falling in line behind her like sheep.
“Rebecca,” I call to her, but she doesn’t acknowledge me, merely keeps walking, increasing her pace as she steps onto the steps in front of the church and disappears inside.
I’m left perplexed as to what’s going on. Have I entered some weird version of the world I’m accustomed to? Unsure of the answer, I make my way inside. As I step up beside the pew myfriends are on to take the empty spot, they spread out, filling the once-free space.
“Sorry, Bellonna, there’s no room,” Mary croons gleefully.
“Very well.” I move up to the next row, not wanting to make a scene, and take a seat. I glance back over my shoulder at the three of them, but they won’t even look me in the face. They keep their heads down, focused on their clasped hands resting in their laps.
