A Red Door: Chapter 3

Snow glistened from its collections on the backs of gargoyles, window sills,  and other such carvings and ledges. The morning was frigid, but pleasantly so. Avigayle awoke, sat up in her bed. Another wonderful day. Just she and her Teivel. With no one to stop them. Perfect. Stretching and yawning, she slipped into her robes, hurried down the spiraling staircase to the large dining room1

Upon entering the dining hall, something met her there that she had not expected to find. And that was rejection. Apathetic, ugly, rejection, sitting in her chair at the table. Teivel looked up from his morning paper, wine glass in hand. He was very nonchalant, relaxed. Indeed, he was comfortable in her restlessness. She could sense the storm.2

"I have something to tell thee, Avigayle."3

" Yes, my sweetness?" It was a pet name she had used for Wesley, but he'd never liked it much.4

"You must have your belongings packed by the twelfth hour, and out the door by a quarter till." Avigayle sat dumb. What was this? What had brought it about? Of course, the whole affair had been too good to be true. Why should it have lasted?5

"Wait...what? Are you serious?"6

"I give thee permission to visit at any time you like. Yet, you must leave here," he swirled the wine in his glass, "things have changed between us."7

"No!" she cried. "I still love you!"8

"Things. Have. Changed." said Teivel, his voice harsh. Tears threatened Avigayle's eyes. She wouldn't let him see her cry. Trying her best to keep a straight face, she smiled.9

"I'll pack my things."10

It was five past the hour, and Avigayle was walking out of the castle's enormous doors. Adjusting her pack, she looked around at the busy city street before her. Vendors stood with their fruit stands, calling at a passerby, newsies attempting to sell the latest headline. But apples and scandals were not the top things on her list. She needed a way out, and fast. As if by magic, a telephone booth appeared to her right. Once inside the booth, she stood, contemplating who to call. She could call Wesley, but would he really want to see her again? Maybe. Maybe not. There was always...Alden. Alden was a good friend of hers back home. At any rate, Alden was a bigger maybe than Wesley. Carefully, she dialed Alden's number. It rang several times before someone picked up the phone. The voice on the other end was groggy.11

"Hello...?"12

"Alden, it's Avvy." There was a pause. She was hoping he hadn't been drinking again. He was never much help hungover. Now that she thought about it, he hadn't ever really been all that helpful sober, either. But she needed him right then.13

"Avvy. Wow. What's up?"14

"Oh, not too much. Listen, umm...I need a ride. I'm kinda stranded. Could you come and get me?"15

"Of course. Where are you?" Avigayle thought a moment. It occurred to her that she didn't know where she was. One of the newsies from across the street had made his way over to the phone booth, and was waiting patiently for her to finish her call.16

"Hold on," She opened the door of the phone booth, looked at the small boy. His huge brown eyes stared up at her. He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off. "Where are we?" The young boy raised an eyebrow.17

"We're on 420 Tequila Avenue. Miss, would you like to buy a paper?" Quickly digging in her pocket, Avigayle gave him a dollar in quarters. The boy gazed at the quarters curiously. "Your money's no good, here, woman!" he spat, throwing the coins on the ground and marching off. It was then that Avigayle realized the pay phone didn't need change to connect. Strange.18

"You there?"19

"Yeah, sorry."20

"Where are you?"21

"420 Tequila Avenue."22

"Oh," Alden said softly. There was another pause. "I've been there before. It won't take long. See you in a few."23

"Bye."24

Fifteen minutes later, Alden pulled up in front of the castle to find Avigayle sitting on the steps with her pack.25