Feel by Kathryn Lynn Woodall (year 7 reading list txt) 📕

One-Verity
There were 26 of us, we lived in a magic draped colony, and I was the youngest. Not by normal comparison, but by ours. Normally people only live to their double digits, we live into our thousands. We never die, and we never bring life. We have no emotions. We stay frozen in time, to help mortals. We are the Muses.
As a rule, each of us had a name with a different letter, for uniqness; I was Verity. There were others; Able, Beckana, Camilla, Dulcie, Evangeline, Faye, Gisya, Honour, Iris, Julice, Killian, Lillah, Melinda, Nataline, Olivia, Prudence, Quinn, Rayne, Salome, Tiyliah, Ulina, Willow, Xstana, Yasilima, and Zella. The reason I was the youngest was that, from what little they’ve told me I’ve pieced together. The Muse Violet, which was an original Muse created by the need of people, fell in love with a mortal, and something happened to which I do not know. The other 25 Muses created me, Verity.
We were created by mortals, of course without their knowing. Their need of knowledge, creativity, everything is why we were made. To those who need us we lend to them. For those with a higher ability for sense, we can be shown. When this happens, a Muse is given to that mortal for it’s remaining life. This is where my story begins…
***
The Muses were rushing that day, they were in hyper alert and seemed to need to be home. I had no clue what was happening. I decided to find out, so I went to Able, whom I learned was very knowledgeable. Able was in her house, looking out into the disturbance. Her long, dark almost crimson hair was braided. Her eyes matched her hair. Before I spoke she turned to me and smiled.
“Young Verity, you are unknowing.” I nodded.
“What is happening?”
“A mortal has felt us. They are trying to find out who will go to her.”
“Her? Is it always a woman, Able?” I looked at her, just, questioning.
“Yes, they are more highly intuitive. Verity, you must go change, we are meeting.” I nodded and hurried away, thoughts swirling in my mind.
A mortal has felt us, then, who will go away? But before I could come up with an answer I was changed and heading to the outer hall. I arrived just in time, and I was in the outer skirts of the group. All 26 of the Muses were here. I caught Able’s words.
“The higher Muses have decided whom must go to the girl.” Able announced to the crowd. Murmurs passes through us. I looked around. Everyone’s eyes had turned toward me. I looked back with wide eyes.
“Verity!” Dulcie called at the front. I blinked in momentary blankness.
“Verity,” Willow walked back toward me and gently took my elbow. She led me to the front where all of my fellow Muses looked at me.
“What’s going on?” I whispered to Dulcie. She smiled.
“Verity has been chosen to go to the girl. Her youngness among us set aside, she is going. This will be her task, and hers alone. Does everyone agree?”
Nods and murmurs and shouts were made and I knew that nothing, not even my own inexperience was going to keep me from going to this girl, and staying with her until her life was put out like a candle in water.
“Verity, do you accept this honor?” Able looked at me with a nod.
“Yes.” I nodded. “Yes, I accept.”
It was official. I felt an inward tremor pass through me.


Two-Mabel
I worked as a waitress, had been for three years prior to my meeting with her. My job was at Harry’s Diner, oddly, no one named Harry owned it, a fat, balding, short man named Guy owned it. Yes, his name was Guy. The Diner was small, and I was the only waitress. There were usual customers, and then the people on business. Either way somehow they found a way to comment on me. How I looked really young, and that I shouldn’t be working. Or the pigs would hit on me. It was always disgusting.
That certain day were only the regular’s. Only two there in fact. A short pudgy woman named Clairissa, and a teenager named Thomas. Guy wasn’t there today, and I had opened. Clairissa smiled at me and left, her money was on the table. I went over and collected it. Thomas smiled at me and motioned me over. I went and sat next to him. Thomas was taller than me, but to be honest everyone was. His hair was red and his eyes brown. He handed me his bills and smiled.
“You’re a good waitress, Mabel.” He stood up and left. I sighed and cleared the table’s. As I went behind the counter a group came in. They were also regular’s. Five of them all together. Two girls and three guys. I went over to the table they’d chosen and smiled, forcibly.
“What would you like to eat?” They all barely glanced at me.
“A salad, low fat dressing, and a water.” One blonde said. The other nodding, saying she wanted that also. The three guys all mumbled their orders.
“Two burger’s.” One guy managed. The other’s said something similar. I walked away and heard the girls laughter.
“She’s such a ditz. Like a little whore in the making.”
I mumbled under my breath, somehow to where they could hear me, “Right, because my lifelong goal is to be like you two bottle blondes.”
They gasped and I heard one of the guys laughed. The obnoxiousness of the situation made me laugh and I continued to fix their meals. As I was putting them on plates the door opened and the bell rang. I glanced up to see a tall, dark haired man, with gray around his ears. He was I’d say in his early 40’s. I smiled and went over to the group table.
“Here’s your meals. Please, enjoy.” I set down the tray’s and turned walking toward the man that was new.
“Hi, welcome to Harry’s Diner, what can I get you?” I asked politely. He smiled.
“A coffee, black, and I’ll have to think on my meal.” He answered, glancing me over without being too obvious about it.
“Take all your time, sir.” I walked toward the coffee pot and poured him a cup. I took it back to him and asked him if he’d made his choice.
“Um, yes, I’ll have the special.” I smiled.
“With or without the fries?”
“With, please.” I nodded and went to make it. A few minutes later the door opened again. I finished his plate and took it out to him. Standing in the door was a woman of about 20, she was wearing a black fitted dress that came to her mid thigh. It was heart shaped, and strapless. Her hair was long and blonde. Her eyes were a shining, metallic green. She was blocking the group from leaving, without paying. I grinned.
“Thank you, ma’am. Um, excuse me, I do believe you owe me $21.93.” I spoke to them. They groaned and a guy with black hair and gray eyes handed me $22. They left without the change and the woman came inside.
“Hello,” She walked to a table. I followed.
“Can I get you anything-” I started. She interrupted.
“I’m sorry, your Mabel Elizabeth Hall, correct?” She asked me with a look of wonder on her pretty face. I nodded.
“Yeah, I’m Mabel. Why?”
“I believe we need to speak alone.” She told me. I glanced at the man dining. He was almost done.
“What is it about? Why does-” Again, she interrupted me.
“I can’t discuss that unless we are alone. But it is important.”
I sighed. Living in this town, I’d learned how to protect myself. I’d be fine.
“Can you wait until that man leaves?” She nodded.
I went to the counter and a few minutes later the man brought me his money and smiled, then left. I went to the door and turned the sign over to CLOSED. When I sat across from her she took in a deep breath.
“Do you remember when a couple of days ago you felt, odd? Like someone was with you?” I was shocked. Yeah, I remembered, but how did she know?
“Um, I’m sorry, what?”
“Mabel, it’s nothing to be afraid about. I’m here on behalf of my… It is my duty.”
“I still don’t understand-”
“I’m sorry, I know it must be difficult to comprehend, but you need to. You felt something. It was real. Your special, Mabel.” She looked at me, willing me to believe. I took in a breath and leaped.
“I did.”
“Then we can talk. I’m Verity, a Muse. You probably don’t know what that is, or even believe it, but-” This time I interrupted Verity.
“Like the Greek muses? The 6 sisters-”
“No! We have 26. All with a different letter. We lend knowledge, and creativity. We have no emotions, look. We are different from what you know.” She shook her head. “It’s hard to explain.”
I nodded and bit my lip.
“So, why are you here? With me?”
“Because you have a higher intuition than other mortal’s. I’m assigned to you for you remainder of life.” Ah, so I was an assignment.
“Look, thanks, but I don’t need charity-”
“No, I didn’t mean it in an offensive manner, I told you. We are emotionless. I’m supposed to stay with you to enrich your abilities. You are rare.”
I looked at her questioningly. She cannot possibly be talking to me. I mean, I’m just… Not at all rare. Or anything she was saying. Yeah I felt something, but all throughout my childhood people had labeled me imaginative. It’s just my imagination.
“No it’s not. Didn’t I tell you? I have special gifts, more than the original Muses.”
“What?”
“Maybe I had better explain, everything..”
***

Publication Date: 08-11-2010

All Rights Reserved