Juliana Byers: A Little Purple Cake

A Little Purple Cake

Juliana Byers

The sun was streaming in through the windows of the parlour when Jessica Cobb came down for tea. Despite her trip to the dressmaker yesterday, she wore the same plain, brown dress and heavy utilitarian boots she’d arrived in two days ago, as none of the new gowns had been finished yet. She entered the gleaming room, feeling judged by the marble fireplace and goldtasselled armchairs, and hating how the luxurious Persian rug muffled the sound of her boots across the heavy oak floorboards. She felt like a turd on one of the starched white tablecloths, waiting for a servant to come and sweep her away.

To make matters worse, her Aunt Cissy wasn’t there when she arrived. Instead, Uncle Billy and Uncle Tom were sitting together in two of the armchairs, talking quietly to each other. They broke off quickly as Jessica approached and she felt their hostility. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should leave and wait for her aunt, but Billy gestured at her irritably and she didn’t dare disobey.

‘Come in then,’ he said, in a distinctly unwelcoming tone, gesturing to a comfortable chair near the window. ‘I suppose Cissy told you to come down, did she?’

Jessica nodded, trying to make herself as small as possible as she settled awkwardly into the armchair. Billy frowned.

‘Speak up, girl,’ he snapped, and Jessica jumped as if he’d cracked a whip at her.

‘S-Sorry, Uncle Billy,’ she stammered, ‘and y-yes, Aunt Cissy said to come down ...’

‘Then why isn’t she with you?’

‘She told me yesterday to come down at four ...’

Billy made a frustrated noise, clearly irritated by his sister’s insistence that their niece be present in his parlour.

‘Of course she did.’ He paused, looking his niece up and down, before he added, ‘And I thought I said I never wanted to see that awful frock again?’

She blushed; feeling like an animal on display.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said meekly, looking at her shoes. ‘Mrs Marks hasn’t finished any of the new dresses yet.’

‘After tea, you are to tell the maid that I want her to look out some of Cissy’s old gowns and she is to adjust them to fit you before teatime tomorrow,’ Billy ordered severely. ‘You are never to wear that thing in my presence ever again.’

‘Yes, Uncle Billy.’

Seeming satisfied with her submission, Billy turned away and said no more, but Tom, who had been watching his niece with a piercing, almost violating gaze, spoke up.

‘You look like your grandmother, Jessica,’ he said softly.

Billy turned to look at his brother like he was mad.

‘Don’t be absurd,’ he said, sounding more offended than was called for under the circumstances, but Tom was a match for him.

‘Don’t act blind, Billy,’ Tom replied. ‘Cissy and Harry always looked like Mama; Jessica has it too.’

‘My Mama used to say that’ Jessica said, looking at Tom uncertainly.

‘The single truth your mother ever told, I’m sure,’ Tom said dryly.

Jessica wasn’t sure how to respond to this and the uncomfortable conversation was ended by the arrival of Washington and Liberty, Billy’s old Irish Setters. The dogs padded hopefully into the drawing room and Billy looked at them in good natured exasperation.

‘What are you here for?’ he asked them fondly, and Jessica felt a stab of jealousy. Why couldn’t he speak to her with the same kindness? ‘Come to steal tea, have you?’

‘I’ve told you I don’t like having those damn animals in here.’

Cissy had arrived. She discarded her hat and gloves with no regard for the expensive ribbon and lace adorning them, then pulled her hatpins out of her greying hair with a sigh of relief and threw them carelessly onto a nearby table. She glared at Liberty and Washington with distaste and Billy looked back at her with a placid smile.

‘They came for tea.’

‘I’m sure they did,’ Cissy said darkly, lowering herself into a chair beside Jessica. She gave her niece a warm smile before turning back to her brother, ‘Will there be any left for us?’

‘I doubt it,’ Tom said, turning to face his sister, ‘not if Billy’s feeling soft ...’

‘I am not soft!’ Billy declared, although his eyes were twinkling, ‘and why shouldn’t Liberty and Washington enjoy the finer things in life?’

The playful argument between the siblings was ended by the arrival of Mr. Lawrence, the butler, and Matthew, the young footman. Both were carrying trays filled with delectable looking sweets and Jessica felt her mouth water. She’d seen tea being prepared before, but she’d never been allowed to try the little cakes and pastries, arranged in perfect circles on the tiered platters. Such things were not for the enjoyment of young girls working in laundries.

Lawrence set the tea tray down on the table and began to pour, while Matthew waited patiently with the platter of sandwiches and cakes that Jessica was itching to try. She caught his eye and couldn’t help grinning. The young man grinned in return.

Tom noticed. ‘Are you hungry, Jessica?’

‘Oh, um, s-sort of.’ She blushed, wondering if she’d been rude.

‘Sort of?’ Cissy asked, looking mildly bemused, ‘either you’re hungry or you aren’t.’

‘I’ve never had tea before,’ Jessica admitted.

Cissy gave a rather knowing smile. ‘Well, you must take your time and savour it.’

‘As long as we’re not trapped here for hours,’ Billy muttered.

‘If your horrid dogs are allowed to enjoy tea, then Jessica is quite entitled to do the same,’ Cissy replied.

Billy muttered something that everyone in the room chose to ignore, and Lawrence handed teacups to the siblings and Jessica. His job done, he allowed Matthew to set the silver platter down on the table. The two servants then stood back unobtrusively, waiting against the wall until they were needed again.

In pride of place, on the top tier of the platter, was a small, purple cake, delicately iced and topped with a beautiful sugar-spun flower. Billy reached for it, placing his teacup down in front of him, only to withdraw his hand sharply with a yelp as Cissy rapped him over the knuckles with the sugar tongs.

‘What was that for?’ he demanded, shaking his hand angrily to try and ease the pain.

‘Don’t you dare give that cake to your wretched dogs, Billy,’ Cissy warned, waving the sugar tongs threateningly, ‘not when it’s Jessica’s first afternoon tea.’

Looking as though he might like to strangle his sister, Billy motioned for Jessica to help herself in a gesture that was barely polite.

‘Go on then,’ he snapped at his niece, as if it had been she who hit him, ‘before your aunt has an apoplexy.’

Cissy gave Billy a particularly nasty look and pulled the tray closer to Jessica. Terrified as she was of antagonising her uncle, the excitement of being able to take whatever she wanted from the plates before her was too much to ignore.

Not wanting to seem greedy she took only one item from each tier, although avoided the little purple cake in favour of a cream coloured one with a small, glazed cherry on top. After that, the siblings helped themselves and there was a strained silence for a few minutes before Tom decided to lighten the mood.

He reached over and, with obviously exaggerated care, picked up the little purple cake. Despite having had his eye on it, Billy’s pride had prevented him from taking it after Cissy had struck him and he watched his brother with a steely eye.

‘What on earth are you doing?’

‘Enjoying afternoon tea,’ Tom declared.

Cissy raised an eyebrow.

‘That’s vanilla,’ she told her brother. ‘Since when did you like vanilla?’

Tom gave both his siblings a long-suffering look.

‘Please tell me that you were not about to start an argument over a vanilla cake.’ Cissy blushed deeply and took an overly large gulp of tea to try and disguise it, while Billy looked guiltily down at Washington and scratched his ears. Liberty, jealous of the attention, pushed her brother aside with a whine and was rewarded with an extra scratch herself. Satisfied he’d made his point, Tom decided to let them off the hook.

‘But you’re right, I don’t like vanilla.’

With that, he plucked the little sugar-spun flower from the top and popped it in his mouth, before shamelessly licking the little cake clean of icing. Then, without the slightest hint of remorse, he put the now naked sweet back on the tray and gave a satisfied belch. Jessica wasn’t sure whether to be shocked or delighted by this, and only just managed to suppress the giggles which bubbled up. Billy and Cissy, on the other hand, looked scandalised.

‘Thomas!’

‘Yes, Cecilia?’ He gave his sister an innocent smile.

‘What is wrong with you?’

‘Nothing; vanilla is boring and unpleasant ...’

‘That is not what Cissy meant and you know it.’

Tom gave his brother a look of utter exasperation.

‘It was a cake, Billy. A little. Purple. Cake.’

‘You can’t take a bite out of something and put it back!’ Tom looked delighted with himself.

‘Ah, but Billy, I just did.’

Unable to control herself, Jessica burst out laughing.

Consequence

Sam Harris

Darkness. Infinite darkness. I forced my eyes open to marvel at the vast void of deep space. Curse that witch for granting my wish and condemning me to this accursed existence. How many years have passed since that terrible day? How much time have I lost? Are these stars? I close my eyes. I want to end it; I pray for a quick death. Curse that witch.

Snow covered every inch of the entire valley.

‘How much further?!’ I shouted over the wind.

‘Only half a mile!’ Grimta answered. I paused, allowing him to pass by. I shuffled after him, trying to keep up. We’d been walking for eight hours, and I could not see any real progress made.

‘Those horses would’ve been useful now!’ I panted, ‘we could have traversed more quickly!’

‘They would have died off forty miles ago! Do not worry, we are making good time. Most would have given in and turned back hours ago!’

‘I’ll be dead and buried before turning back!’ I said with as much conviction as I could muster.

‘Then I would strip your corpse for your valuables!’ He shouted back, his amusement seeping through over the wind. It then began to die down and we could hear each more clearly.

‘My ghost would torment you till the end of your days!’ I spat venomously. He let out a deep laugh.

‘I would welcome your company,’ he said, more cheerfully than I had ever heard him speak.

An hour passed, and the entire valley had plunged into darkness. The night sky was brightened by both stars and green and purple rivers of light. Soon the blizzard had ended.

‘How much further?’ I asked, blinking the last remnants of snow from my eyes. He pointed at a wood hut in front of us. ‘Excellent. Shall we?’

‘I will go no further,’ he said. ‘The witch has forbidden me. I guide only.’ I looked into his eyes and saw fear. I was shocked. My informants told me he was the greatest warrior on

the entire continent, yet he was afraid. I paid my informants well and I was in the right place. Good.

‘You’ll wait for me?’ I asked cautiously.

‘No,’ he replied sternly. ‘Time out here and in there are not the same.’ He continued, ‘I will return once a day until you appear again. For my payment.’ He glared viciously leaving the threat hanging. I scoffed indignantly. I always keep my word, and much more importantly my debts. Grimta gave a nod of satisfaction and turned his back and walked away. I straightened my back, squared my shoulders, and strode toward the hut.

The hut was warm as I entered. The carpeted floor squelched, the heat from the fireplace melting the snow from my boots. In front of me there was a small table with chairs surrounding it. Behind it stood the most breathtakingly beautiful woman whom I had ever set eyes upon. Her face was marred by an expression of superior disdain. My blood boiled at her dismissiveness of me, but I schooled my features and bowed respectfully.

‘You must be the witch who grants wishes … for a price that is,’ I said with a smile.

Her smirk faded and her nut-brown face darkened.

‘I. Am. Not. A. Witch!’ She furiously spat.

‘I apologise Madame,’ I said, attempting to be charming. ‘My guide referred to you in such a way. How am I to address you?’

She held the angry expression on her face a moment longer, then relaxed. Straightening herself up, her voice became melodic and soft.

‘Nandini is my name, and I am a sorceress,’ she said. ‘Grimta is an animal. A stinking, disgusting animal.’ She gave a sly smirk, and regained her composure, before gracefully sliding into the chair. I bowed again and sat across from her.

‘What is your wish, Turan?’ she asked.

I paused, Grimta did not even know my name. I took a deep breath. ‘Payment first.’

Her eyes widened, ‘Payment?’

‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘I would like to know exactly what’s needed from me before you grant my wish.’ I smiled my most charming smile at her. She didn’t look impressed.

‘Do you believe I would demand an unreasonably high payment and punish you if you cannot meet it?’ She asked slyly.

‘I would rather not become your servant as Grimta clearly is.’ I said, smiling reassuringly. Her face immediately went blank.

‘The payment will be what you value most. Grimta’s was his freedom. I don’t deceive. Magic is not free for me so why should it be for you?’

‘I apologise.’ I said, bowing my head. ‘It was not my intention to cast doubt on your character.’ She looked at me for a minute and gave a slight nod.

‘My word is my bond. Once given it must be kept. Give me your most prized possession and I will grant your wish,’ she said, smiling seductively. I reached into my pocket and pulled out four rings. She raised her eyebrow. ‘This is what you value most? Not fortune or family?’

‘No fortune left. My family is dead. These rings are the last remnants of them. They died from a plague while I was off negotiating peace.’ I looked down at the rings, then up at Nandini. ‘Is that good enough for you?’

She nodded grabbing them up. ‘They are sufficient. What is your wish?’

‘Immortality.’ She looked up shocked.

‘What?’ she asked.

‘I want to live forever, never to age or be affected by sickness and harm.’ I said with all my resolve. She stared at me and sighed deeply.

‘Wouldn’t you rather I brought your family back?’ she asked, pleadingly.

‘What would be the point of bringing them back?’ I asked, puzzled. ‘So that my daughter and I can watch each other die?’ Nandini was growing uncomfortable. ‘Why? Am I really the first to wish for this?’ She gazed at the fire for a moment before turning back to me.

‘Once there were those who gained what you seek. What they became …’ She trailed off. ‘In order to end what you’ll become my descendants will be sacrificed to destroy you.’ She said, pushing the rings towards me.

‘Nevertheless, you will grant me this.’ She shook her head.

‘These are my most prized possessions.’ I said, allowing anger into my raising voice. ‘I have given them to you. Now grant my wish. Your word is your bond. Isn’t it?’

Her features contorted into an expression of fury.

‘I am not some small waif you can intimidate into acquiescing to your demand!’ She screamed, standing so abruptly that her chair toppled over.

‘You have given your word. To go back on it now …’ I trailed off. She grew stiff. I grinned smugly. ‘I already told you. I am a negotiator. No negotiator goes into a negotiation without all the relevant details at his disposal.’

‘Negotiation or manipulation?’ she venomously spat.

‘I’m the manipulative one, am I?!’ I spat equally as venomously, jumping up from my seat as she had. ‘You’re the one who demands people’s freedoms, wives and lives as payment.’

She glared at me. ‘Get. Out!’

In equal vigour, I answered, ‘Not without my wish!’

She continued to glare, saying nothing.

‘Fine.’ She said, her voice spiteful. ‘You want to live forever Turan? Then you shall.’

The hut grew dark. Nandini straightened her back and projected her voice throughout the

hut.

‘You will never die or age. Nor know sickness, nor harm.’ She looked me right in the eye. ‘But the pain will remain. When this earth is no more you will be all that remains of existence.’ Light returned as she turned her back on me and gazed into the fire.

‘No. I will find a way.’ I said to her back. She said nothing, her back still turned to me. ‘Good day to you. Witch.’ I spat at her leaving the hut. As I exited into the snow, I saw Grimta waiting.

Darkness. Infinite darkness. I see a bright flash beyond my closed eyelids. I open them. In front of me is a behemoth of metal floating amongst the stars. Its gravitational force pulling me towards it. Giant flashes of burning light shoot out at something behind me. The structure is within arm's reach. I grasp onto a built-in ladder and climb up. I come to a door with a wheel handle.

As I open it the hiss of trapped air escapes. I enter the small room and close the door behind me. As I turn the wheel closed, the room lights up and gravity and heat returns. I breathe air for the first time since I can remember. I turn around and see a window, looking out I see the space and stars that I had spent the centuries, nay the millennia, floating in. I turn and see a green button flashing. I press it and the wall slides open.

‘I found a way.’ I rasp.