Night Market

I take a quick shower or as quick as a shower can be when your hair falls past your waist. The moment I get a chance I'm cutting it. Not paying much attention to my reflection I brush my teeth and untangle my hair. If I looked, into the mirror, what would I see?

The clothes are black leather pants with a navy blouse and black robes that have silver and violet stars and eyes connected by vines woven onto it. Next to the trunk is a pair of knee-high boots. I use the leather strap to tight my hair into a ponytail.

When I open the door, I find Thorn leaning against the window wall arms crossed. He looks me over nodding once with an approving look he leads me out of Owls Nest. the sky reminds me of cotton candy the thought causing my stomach to growl. When did I last eat?

"There's a dining area in the Academy but dinner time has ended," Thorn says, "I'll take you into the city the Night Market should be done setting up."

"Night Market?"

"Yes, vendors come out to sale their goods at night as well, since some of the students are nocturnal."

"Wouldn't they need to eat?"

"Our dinner is their breakfast besides I doubt you want blood."

"But I'm a hybrid so it...

"No, you're not," what is it with him constantly cutting me off, "I removed the mark placed on you."

"At that, I look down at my hand to find the skin is perfectly smooth, "why would you do that?"

"It made you a target," he says inclining his head to a female with silvery wings, "that's Master Citrine she teaches flight to the younglings."

"But it's nighttime," I look back at Master Citrine who's already surrounded by excited children, "wait what do you mean I'm not a hybrid?"

"They have to learn to fly not just when there's light," he says, "and everything you know is wrong," that last bit old a hint of annoyance.

"Thorny!" a female runs up to us ignoring me she attempts to throw her arms around Thorn only to be blasted back by a wave of darkness.

"Don't call me that Agatha," Thorn flicks imaginary dirt from his sleeves not giving Agatha a second look. I run after him earning Agatha's attention she glares at me and runs a finger across her throat then points at me. Psycho.

"Ex?"

"Nuisance," is all he says.

He leads me down an unmarked path then through a shimmering gateway. The smell of roasted meats wafts towards us. I dig my nails in to keep my stomach from growling. Thorn takes me through the market passing stall after stall of food until we come before a shop with floating lanterns.

"When great grandfather retired, he set this place up," Thorn says leading me inside, "he only opens shop at night."

"Why?"

"Beats me."

"Hurry up," a female with lilac hair shouts.

Thorn flips her off but heads her way, "Violet, oh Violet, why are you so rude?"

"I take after my big brother," Violet says hopping out of her seat she rushes towards me, "who's this?" her eyes are a mixture of crimson and green.

"This is Elisa," Thorn takes Violet's seat he ignores him seeming more interested in me.

She gives me a knowing smile, "Is that so?" Violet wraps her hands around my arm and leads me to the table where several attractive people sit, "That's Vania, and Marco, their our cousins," she points at the female with silver eyes and raven hair, then at the male with silver hair and raven eyes.

Twins I'm guessing. I take my seat across from Thorn as a female with ruby hair brings out various dishes.

"Hi mama," Violet smiles at the female.

"You're paying this time," the female says.

"But we're your babies," the male next to Thorn gives the female a dazzling smile.

She rolls her eyes and sets a plate of roasted vegetables down, "All my children are grown up beside if you're old enough to fuck you're old enough to pay."

"I think mama knows," Violet says piling meat onto her rice, "that's Ash by the way," she points at Ash with her chopsticks, "that's Ren and this is Shadow they're my brothers." Ren smiles at me while Shadow gust shrugs.

"Mama I swear I've been good," Ash gives her a pleading look.

"I don't know what makes you think, you can hide anything from Ruby," a male with violet eyes smacks Ash behind the head and seat a plate of roasted meat on a stick down, "Hello, which one of my grandsons are you with or is it, granddaughters?"

"What, neither?" I stammer nervously, his stair is intense.

"Night leave the girl alone," Ruby takes Night's hand into her own, "come we have more customers. Enjoy," Ruby drags Night away. He complains about something as she pushes him into what I assume is the kitchen.

"Wait, they're your grandparents?" they're so young the Fay truly age slowly.

"Technically they're our great grandparents," Vania says pouring what smells like wine, she passes the bottle around until everyone's cup is filled with the red liquid.

"Honeysuckle wine," Violet says when I sniff it, the wine smells quite sweet, "eat something before you drink," she piles meat onto my rice and hands me a pair of chopsticks from the cup at the center of the table.

The first peace I bite into is sweet and spicy pork with just the right crunch. My mouth waters at the taste.

"When was the last time you ate?" Marco asks.

"I don't remember," I say, taking a bite of the meat on a stick its chicken in a sweet yet smoky glaze.

"Slowdown," Vania says, "you'll choke."

I nod and bite into a steamed bun filled with shredded cabbage, carrots, and pork. Thorn shakes his head pouring himself a second cup of wine.

"So, you're all related," I wave my hand around, "but Violet's pleasant," I say giving Thorn a pointed look.

He sets his cup down and gives me the raised eyebrow look, "you just met her."

"Yeah but," I pause to take a bite of the steam bun once I swallow, I continue, "you were rude when we first met, she's just outright pleasant."

Thorn glares at me as his sibling and cousins laugh, "his well his Thorn," Marco says.

"Why do I bother with any of you," Thorn picks up his cup when Violet says, "because you love us."

"I don't love anyone," Thorn says giving me a pointed look.

"Surely you love me," Violet says.

"Nope," Thorn shrugs and picks up a bun.

Violet pouts inclining her head she starts to cry, "but I'm your baby sister."

Vania chuckles giving me a wink when I set my chopsticks down Ash shakes his head as Thorn lets out a sigh, "Fine you're the only one I love now will you stop making a scene."

"You're the best," Violet looks up with a triumphant smile and gives him a thumbs up. Thorn rolls his eyes and drinks his wine.

The rest of the night goes by quickly. Thorn and the others leave us so Violet and I stumble through the street and to her room humming a melody only she knows.

"Thorn likes you," she says sliding down her closed door.

"Na, na, na," I laugh collapsing on a fluffy chair thing.

"Yes, yes, yes," Violet chants crawling towards me until her head rests on the fluffy chair thing.

"Slee...

"Ye...