Work Text:
1933, a very fictional place
A big bookcase by the window, a bed for his cats next to it. Evelyn walked around in the small cottage of her teacher, Mr. Elster, taking in many details about the place. So far, what she could gather is that it was cozy and messy, but unfortunately, it could not keep out the cold well. But still, the hot, piping tea and the blankets were a nice change from the biting cold just outside.
As her twin best friends drank tea, sitting at the wooden table, Evelyn noticed a cat tangled to her feet. A white and brown, fluffy cat. It was so cute, she couldn’t believe it!
Evelyn crouched down to pet the cat. ‘’Hello there, little friend. What’s your name?’’
‘’I don’t think Miss Kitty can speak, Lovelace.’’ Their teacher commented, as he entered the room with a bunch of wood for the fireplace. ‘’But it looks like she’d really love some pets right now.’’
‘’Is her name really Miss Kitty?’’ Henry asked, smiling. On his lap, was a black cat, named Bishop. Apparently, their teacher had one more cat, but the cat -named Prinzessin- didn’t like getting up from her bed.
‘’What, don’t like it?’’ Mr. Elster replied, in his exotic Northlander accent as always. ‘’I used it as a placeholder name, but she got used to it and it stuck. I think it's quite a cute name.’’
Evelyn took the cat to his hands, and walked to the window to watch the snowstorm outside. It seemed that it wasn’t stopping anytime soon. Henry sighed.
‘’It seems the snow storm is as strong as ever. You might need to sleep here tonight, I’m afraid. I will give a call to school, if that happens.’’ As the tall, slim man was lighting the fireplace, he grunted a few times.
‘’If Teresa knew we might have to stay at his house for the night, she would’ve died of jealousy.’’ Jane whispered to Henry, who chuckled quietly.
Teresa, who quite had the hots for the man, would usually space out in his classes. Henry said that the calm and quiet voice of Mr. Elster lecturing about world literature soothed her. However, sometimes he’d get passionate or notice his students are spaced out, and he’d suddenly raise his voice. Evelyn knew that spooked Teresa, who sat at the very front of the class.
Evelyn didn’t blame her, the guy was handsome, but even so, Evelyn didn’t find it nice to gossip. So she stayed quiet.
‘’Ahh, fertig.’’ Mr. Elster said, getting up and dusting his hands. ‘’And you three, come help me make food, trust me I’m terrible at cooking. C’mon, kids, don’t expect everything from the government!’’
Jane rolled her eyes, and Henry and Evelyn put down the cats as they got up to walk to his tiny kitchen.
The rest of the evening went smoothly, as the four ate chestnuts, played chess, and had a very passionate discussion on controversial literature, in which Mr. Elster defended, Jane attacked, and Henry was uninterested, so he just sulked in a corner. But the snowstorm didn’t seem to be calming down anytime soon, and their teacher looked worried.
‘’I am so glad I took you guys in…Who knows what would’ve happened to you outside.’’ He said, when the evening was nearing its end. ‘’Come, help me make the beds, Henry. Jane and Evelyn can sleep in mine, while we make separate beds for ourselves.’’
Jane and Evelyn insisted they sleep on the floor, but Mr. Elster insisted harder. So they quieted down, and took all the blankets Mr. Elster gave them.
All three of them insisted once more when Mr. Elster was left with just one blanket. But Mr. Elster told them that he was both Sulburgian and a gravewatch witch so he was used to it so they needed to shut the fuck up and go to sleep already, and the three teens were too stunned by hearing their teacher curse for the first time, that they just did as he said.
Evelyn sheepishly pushed the door to Mr. Elster’s bedroom, in which Prinzessin was napping, on a tiny plush bed on the floor. Evelyn waved at her, but Prinzessin didn’t seem to care.
‘’So, we need to change these sheets, and then the pillows, and then, we can sleep…’’ Jane looked at Evelyn, it seemed like she was tired just thinking about it. The two girls were both pretty tired, so they hurried up and got to work.
‘’Ugh, these sheets reek of cigarettes…’’ Evelyn complained, as she removed the sheets, replacing them with clean ones.
‘’Finally.’’ Jane said, putting the clean pillows on the bed and laying down on the right side of it. ‘’I’ll turn to this side, and you can turn to the other.’’
Evelyn got on the bed and turned as far away as she could from Jane, and just stared off into empty space, her eyes unblinking. At that moment, she witnessed the gray cat get up, stretch, and walk towards Jane’s precious hair tie, putting it in her mouth. Evelyn, not wanting her best friend’s hair tie to see any harm, quickly got up.
‘’No! Prinzessin, get away from that!’’ She whisper-yelled, grabbing the hair tie. Jane, who had not fallen asleep yet, also got up alongside her, grabbing the tie.
As Evelyn grabbed Prinzessin to get her away from the hair tie and Jane, her feet slipped on something under the bed, and she fell down, and with the effect of the fall, Prinzessin ran away. As she fell, she saw what she slipped on- a paper.
Fearing it may be something important, Evelyn grabbed it quickly, just to notice it was a newspaper. With their teacher’s face on it.
‘’Jane, come look at this!’’ She called her friend, holding the paper.
‘’A newspaper column?’’
‘’Yes! About Mr. Elster!’’
Evelyn, without any ado, quickly got to reading out loud.
‘’13th of July, 1919
Right Side of Theatre - The Witch Actor
"Recently, the people of Northwood got to know a local celebrity of many talents- Edgar Ansel Elster. This 18-year-old young man, besides being a handsome young witch, is also an actor that works in Golden Hyacinth Theatre, a busy place for the people of high society. During my travels, I’ve come across this theater that seemed to shine, and I’ve also gotten to meet this face that I’ve grown to like. During our interview, Mr. Elster seemed to me quite timid, but his passionate personality seemed to shine through, like a window to the soul. He answered my questions quite sheepishly, and shockingly, gave this answer too; ‘I’ve never really wanted to be an actor. I may have a talent for it, yet I’ve always dreamed of teaching.’’’
‘’Holy shit! Mr. Elster never told us about this!’’ Jane exclaimed, leaning in as Evelyn kept reading.
‘’The young man says that like every witch out there, he’s an illegal immigrant under Kurtonian protection, who escaped slavery from North Sulburg to North Kurton. ‘I was actually able to find freedom here,’ says Elster, ‘I’ve always looked for it, thinking it was in the hands of other people. But coming here, I’ve realised I’ve always had the means to capture it. And I did.’"
"About the Sulburgian teacher ideals, I’ve asked Elster. ‘Like Aminskan soldiers or Kurtonian police, Sulburgian teachers are our version of national heroes. In our culture, teachers are trained to be brave, resourceful and fiercely protective of their students.’’’
Evelyn paused. ‘’Sure does sound like him.’’
‘’Elster was also quite passionate about chess. saying he has always loved chess and is regularly joining tournaments. ‘Sometimes I’d play chess in my dreams, and I’d wake up without being able to win.’ He laughed, ‘I’d be furious.’"
"Despite enjoying his company, I’ve had to bid this brilliant mind farewell, hoping to meet again. But unfortunately, we have recently acquired the news that the theatre burned down completely.''
On top of the column, there was a smiling picture of young Mr. Elster holding a kitten. Jane pointed out how happy he looked, and just then, the door was knocked, and entered Mr. Elster…
‘’Sorry ladies, I might be barging in but Miss Kitty sleeps here-’’ Mr. Elster said, before he noticed the newspaper. He lunged forward, a fearing glint in his eyes, and ripped it away from Evelyn’s hands, and opened the window to throw it outside. ‘’I didn’t know I still… Had that.’’
Jane and Evelyn looked shocked, watching him.
‘’How much did you read?’’ He asked, facing away from them.
‘’All of it.’’ Jane said. ‘’We’re sorry, sir…’’
Mr. Elster puffed, and ran his hands through his hair. ‘’Just go to sleep. Please.’’
Evelyn stepped up. ‘’I’m sorry, sir, I’m the one who started-’’
‘’Go. To. Sleep.’’ He ordered, his voice shaking. And he left, leaving Miss Kitty behind.
1919
Edgar stood in his dressing room, still quite confused about what just went on. His mind was blurry, he was unsure about his statements, his speech, his accent, everything! Bleib ruhig, Edgar, he consoled himself, and then walked out- just to see Vanessa before him.
‘’Ah, here you are, Elster.’’ The white-haired lady said, with a bored expression. ‘’Ms. Rain asked to see you. Alone.’’
Edgar smiled, and excused himself to go see Ms. Rain, who just happened to be reading a letter. Edgar knocked with a rhythm on the open door, catching Ms. Rain’s attention.
‘’Ah, Edgar. Here you are.’’ She folded the letter, and put it back down on the table. ‘’I was just waiting for you. Close the door, please.’’
Edgar closed the door gently, and turned back to Ms. Rain, unsure of what to do or say next.
‘’Well, what are you standing around like a lemon for? Come closer, take a seat!’’ She pointed to the chair in front of her desk, and Edgar obeyed.
‘’I’ve heard of the journalist coming to see you.’’ She smiled at him, a friendly smile. Edgar nodded.
‘’He says he’s Aminskan. And an orphan, like me.’’
‘’It’s not about him I want to talk about, I want to talk about you.’’ She connected her hands under her chin, looking at him with deep intent.
‘’I figured that enough.’’ Edgar said, not taking his gaze away from the reflection of his knees from the mirror in front of him. ‘’But he was quite nice, so I thought-’’
‘’Oh, you pure-hearted lad…’’ She said, getting up to approach him from behind. ‘’But what you don’t understand is, there are nicer things in this world.’’
She grabbed his hair that reached his shoulders gently, and pulled it away from his neck. ‘’I watched you ripen, Edgar. I watched you become an adult. And you’ve been a good boy.’’
Edgar felt his muscles tighten, his lips twitch. He could almost feel her breath on his neck.
‘’Could you get up for me, dear? I have something to show you. Turn to me, please.’’
Edgar did as she said, and waited anxiously for her to pull out a red handkerchief. As she opened it, he could see that there was something shiny inside. And he was right, she revealed a silver brooch inside. She showed it to him.
‘’See? Isn’t it beautiful?’’ She smiled at him as he touched the brooch in her hand. ‘’Let me have the honor.’’
She reached out to pin the brooch to his thin shirt, Edgar could feel her fingers brushing against his chest. She put her palm on the rose-shaped jewel, and got closer to him.
‘’I watched you become an adult, a pretty thing, you were, even when you had just arrived at the harbor.’’ She trailed her hands upwards to his neck. ‘’Won’t you do something nice, just for me, one time?’’
Edgar felt his eyes widen, pupils thinning with discomfort. He stepped a few steps away, hitting her desk.
‘’Oh? What’s wrong my dear, aren’t I like your mother?’’ She got even closer. ‘’All I ask for is just a favor.’’ She said, trying to get her knee to hit between his legs. ‘’All I ask for is a night. I swear they can make you feel good.’’
He shook his head, trying to show his rejection strongly. ‘’No. No, no…’’ He wandered his hand towards his back, looking for something, anything to get him out of his situation.
Her knee invaded his space. And he froze, a tear falling down his cheek. But his hands still wandered, grabbing something metal.
‘’But what’s wrong my dea- Ack.’’ Her neck had been punctured, her mouth twitching, blood spilling out with pressure.
Edgar pulled out the letter opener he used to stab her neck, and then kicked her away. ‘’I’m not your gigolo. Or your son.’’ He said, his voice trembling. He looked at the gas lamp, and kicked it down. He watched the fire in her office slightly spread, then he took off his blood-stained shirt, threw it into the fire.
He ran in the opposite direction, waiting for someone to notice the fire, anxiously.
‘’Fire! Fire!’’ Screamed Vanessa.
1933
Edgar woke up in cold sweat. His breathing was labored, and as he tried to fix it, he wandered his eyes to check on Henry, sleeping on the couch. He was still sleeping soundly, murmuring in his sleep, about shrimps.
Comforted by knowing he was alright, Edgar got up from his bed on the floor. His feet carried him just almost, as he walked to the bathroom.
After he locked the door on himself, he looked at the mirror. The same mirror he had covered with a blanket, just so he wouldn't get to look at. But this time, his pale, ink stained hand rose up to pull it away. He was exposed with his own face, dark, spider-like lashes and dark green pools staring back.
After looking for a few short seconds, he felt that he started to lose his reality. So many years had passed since it happened. But he never mentioned it to anyone. So, why didn't he throw that paper away? Why didn't he throw it into the fireplace and watch it slowly wither away?
Did he forgot it was there? Did he want to keep it there to remind him of his unforgivable sin?
It didn't matter. What mattered was how he got away with it. How he built himself a life with no one to help him.
He looked at the mirror for a few more second, before he saw his face slightly shift and distort. He covered the blanket back on the mirror, and washed his face.
As he walked back to his bed, he saw Henry's sleeping figure.
'Yeah. I think I did choose the right life.' Despite himself, he started to smile slightly.