East

The east side of the city is the very heart of Sacrosanct - it's unique skyline is a clash between modern sky rises and small Victorian-inspired storefronts. In the heart of downtown, the sleek colored glass buildings reign supreme though their old-world roots can be seen in the most peculiar places from the lamp post styled electric street light to the stone sidewalks. The old world architecture slowly returns the further from downtown you travel, however. It's here that magic thrives, it hums in every stone and can be felt in every breath. Often, newcomers to the city may become overwhelmed by such sensations but, eventually, it becomes an ever-present feeling that's hardly noticed.

What You'll Find Here

City Creek Center
Dark Hunter Department
Inner Sanctum
Red on the Water
Starlight Tower

i'm not a lucky man Samantha


Posted on February 27, 2019 by Troy Marks
East

When did buying a book become so complicated? He wanted to read something new to Tenley for her bedtime story tonight but so far, nothing was popping out at him. In fact, he had been staring at the books on the shelf so long now that the titles were starting to blur together. He blinked a few times and sighed, running a hand through his hair as he reached for the first one in reach. "The Blue Elephant." Sniffing, he put it back. No thanks. Pulling out another one, he turned it over a few times. Hope sprang up when he saw the cat on the cover. Tenley would probably love cats. But then he saw a picture with a dogcatcher-type trying to catch the cat with a net and he scowled, closing the book and putting it back up. What a horrible thing to put in a children's book. Couldn't they be all sunshine and rainbows anymore?

He was growing more frustrated by the minute. The woman on the next aisle must have heard his mutterings because next thing he knew, a head was peeking around the corner. The lady gave him a huge way-too-helpful smile as she started to walk around to him. He forced a smile but inwardly, he was already backtracking. "Hey, you look like you're having a hard time. Something I can help you with?" Brow furrowed, Troy looked her up and down. No name tag. "Do you work here?" He asked as politely as possible, though his brow lifted in suspicion of the answer. As if to confirm, the lady shook her head, her smile growing even more, as if that were possible. "Oh no, I don't, but I'm what you'd call a frequent shopper." She said with a horrible giggle. Did she think that was cute? His brow lifted a little more.

Composing herself, the lady cleared her throat and looked at the books, though he still caught her looking at him out the corner of her eye. "So, you looking for any particular subject? What's the little lady or dude like?" Troy smirked, thinking to himself that he should just say "oh you know, just blood and moonlight" but figuring that wasn't the best way to get out of here in any hurry, he just scowled thoughtfully and shrugged. "Um, whatever a kid likes, I guess. Kitty cats and puppies and butterflies." He felt the shift as the lady glanced his way, a note of disapproval in her eyes before she worked hard to hide it. She was judging him, probably thinking he wasn't much of a father if he didn't even know what his own child liked. She wouldn't know that their child led a very sheltered life because of what she is and what others might think of her.

She didn't know that Tenley didn't get to socialize with other children and get out in the world to see the REAL puppies and kitty cats and butterflies; that she only got to see them through story books right now. There was no way he could explain it to this stranger so instead he let her judge. At least she didn't seem to be flirting anymore. Good deflection tactic, he told himself. She gave a more forced smile and cleared her throat again before reaching for a book on the second shelf. "Here you go. Plenty of puppies to keep their little hearts happy. It'll sound perfect from their daddy's lips." He caught the underlying hint and he just tilted the corner of his lip in a smirk as he took the book. Yeah, yeah, believe what you want, lady. He read to his daughter every night, but this lady didn't need to know that. She was just an ignorant human.

He thanked her politely and paid for the book, heading out the door and back to home. Sighing, he fished his keys out of his pocket and started walking a few blocks down where he parked Baby, his 1967 Chevy Impala. He had made sure to park it far away from other vehicles and he didn't mind walking to it just to keep it from getting dinged up. He walked past the local coffee shop and meant to keep walking, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he couldn't help but pause. Wondering what had his heart suddenly racing a million miles an hour, his head turned and then his eyes widened like saucers and his breath caught in his throat, cause he would recognize that fire red hair anywhere. She was sitting by the window, seemingly immersed in a book as she sipped her coffee.

He couldn't stop staring. Before he could stop himself, he'd turned around and walked back to the entrance, the jingle of the door bell barely registering as his eyes landed on her once more. "Sam?" He asked in a soft questioning voice, even as he clutched the book in his hand like a life preserver and still held his keys in the other as if he'd forgotten he was holding them.


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