{"id":2349,"date":"2022-02-12T12:53:26","date_gmt":"2022-02-12T19:53:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2349"},"modified":"2022-02-14T06:56:35","modified_gmt":"2022-02-14T13:56:35","slug":"samaels-sweets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/12\/samaels-sweets\/","title":{"rendered":"Samael’s Sweets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Set your story in a confectionery shop.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI hope you\u2019re sure about this.\u201d Samael nudged the trays of sweets, walking around to the front of the display case to ensure they were most aesthetically pleasing. The trays of the ugly ones were hidden beneath. He still didn\u2019t know why he\u2019d bothered making them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave a little faith, Sam. If anyone knows what sells to humans, who better than a human?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samael looked at the woman. She was a head shorter than he, with no wings, no horns, and strange, fleshy feet rather than sensible hooves. Dressed in a bright blue dress that made her pale skin and blue eyes shine, her blonde hair braided into an elaborate updo. \u201cFine, Gwendolyn, I will trust in your judgement on this. But none of this food has any nutritional value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gwen laughed. \u201cOf course not. These are treats. Something special. And I\u2019ve told you, you can call me Gwen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you use my proper name, I will use your preferred name.\u201d Samael spread his wings in a great stretch before folding them with a shudder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRelax. It\u2019ll be great.\u201d Gwen walked to the front window and looked out on the black road that ran past. \u201cWe\u2019ll get plenty of foot traffic here. The shuttle drops off just there,\u201d she pointed, \u201cwhile most of the tourist traffic will be heading right past our door to the downtown area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd they\u2019ll pass again on their way back to the shuttle,\u201d Samael finished. Gwen had laid it all out for him many times, but with no experience to compare, he still worried how it would work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He returned behind the counter and made sure the till was properly stocked for the third time of the morning. Turning to the small mirror on the side wall, he checked his appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His jet-black hair lay smooth on his head, his black horns shining. He practiced a smile of sharp, white teeth in his deep red face. The trick, Gwen had taught him, was to not show too much fang. \u201cLook friendly, not hungry,\u201d she\u2019d said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you really think we\u2019ll see more humans?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d she answered. \u201cWe\u2019re curious apes, after all. Why do you think I worked so hard to get permission to come early and help set up small businesses?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor the profits?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s part of it, sure. But<\/em>\u2026mostly because I was curious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is it about this place that so fascinates you\u2026humans?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI guess it\u2019s hard to explain, since you\u2019ve always known about the other realms. But for us, this was myth, legend. Hell, we called it, and we called you demons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe thought those who died after living an evil life were condemned to spend eternity here\u2026tormented in flame while your kind, demons, tortured our souls.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut if you\u2019re dead, how would\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t say it made sense. Myths are just that. Imagine, then, how surprised we were when a group at Cambridge figured out how to step between dimensions\u2026realms you call them\u2026and they found hell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut this is not hell, this is Anlakh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight, but it sure looks like our stories of hell, and you look like our stories of demons.\u201d She motioned out the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyway, they found hell but no tortured souls; no humans at all in fact. There was also a serious lack of fire and brimstone. In the place of what they expected, they found a highly advanced, pacifist society.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are to blame for how we were perceived, perhaps,\u201d Samael said. \u201cOur early exploratory devices were crude, and often subjected those close to their operation to glimpses into the adjoining realm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt may not have been the intention, but it sure made for good publicity\u2026well, not good<\/em>, but effective maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The clock on the wall chimed and Samael flipped on the sign an unlocked the door. The first tourist shuttle trundled past to its stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They watched the tourists empty to the street, phones in hand taking pictures and recording video. A few seemed perturbed that they had no connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samael tapped Gwen on the shoulder. \u201cThat group the other few humans are in a hurry to get away from; why are they dressed like that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCalled it,\u201d she said. \u201cGoths. Not like the historical kind, but the kind that are into the goth musical genre.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey look dangerous. There won\u2019t be trouble, will there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gwen chuckled. \u201cThey wear black and leather and \u2018spooky\u2019 clothes but they\u2019re not dangerous. No more than any other human, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She dashed behind the counter and started changing out the displays. \u201cGet out there and welcome them in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaking your first sales.\u201d She had replaced half of the trays with the black, blood-red, and spider-web designed sweets, and cranked up the sound system playing Sisters of Mercy<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samael stepped out the door and waved toward the goths<\/em>. \u201cCome to Samael\u2019s for sweets. We\u2019re open.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have to work on your sales pitch,\u201d Gwen said. She stepped out past him. \u201cSamael\u2019s, home of infernal treats. Only the most decadent and depraved delights from the dark! Come, seekers of night, find sweet release within!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her spiel combined with the chorus of Lucretia My Reflection<\/em> caught their attention and they filed in after Samael. One of the other tourists tapped her on the shoulder. \u201cDo you have\u2026regular<\/em> candies?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gwen laughed. \u201cOf course. That was just a little salesmanship to get the goth crowd in.\u201d She looked at the bustle in the store, and back at the woman who had stopped her. \u201cThey\u2019ll probably be in there a while, and I\u2019m guessing you\u2019re tired of them after the long shuttle ride. What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlicia.\u201d Her deep brown hair with a few grey strands was pulled into a ponytail, showing off her olive complexion and large, brown eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, Alicia, my name\u2019s Gwen. If you stop by later, on your way back to the shuttle, I\u2019ll give you a ten-percent discount for the inconvenience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, thank you.\u201d She smiled. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect that kind of customer service here. Then again, I didn\u2019t really know what to expect from hell.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been here about six months now, helping Samael and others set up shop. I think you\u2019ll be pleasantly surprised.\u201d She leaned close and whispered conspiratorially, \u201cBut I think our goth friends here will be disappointed; it\u2019s not all dark and spooky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They laughed, and Alicia waved her goodbye and headed toward the downtown area. Gwen put on her professional face again and entered the shop. The trays of \u201cdark\u201d candies were emptying fast, and fewer than half of the goths had ordered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She ducked down behind the display case and pulled out more of the dark designs and swapped them for the nearly empty trays. Using the picked-over trays she filled out a new mixed tray for later when they were low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only after every member of the group had ordered and gotten their purchases, did the goths leave the store to wander toward the downtown area. Gwen patted Samael on the arm. \u201cLooks like the first rush went well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose\u2026goths\u2026are the reason you had me make the ugly candies?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYep. But they\u2019re not ugly. Just\u2026a different kind of beauty.\u201d Gwen sighed. \u201cI look at the landscape here, and I find it beautiful, even though it\u2019s nothing like the green hills where I grew up. At first, I thought it was hideous, but after some time, I see the beauty in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samael nodded. \u201cI know of those green hills. They seem so\u2026alien and weird, but somehow right<\/em> as well\u2026at least for there<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gwen nodded. \u201cWell, Samael, I think we\u2019ll have to make more dark candies tomorrow. As far as the bright colored ones, let\u2019s see what happens later in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, Gwen.\u201d Samael bowed slightly. \u201cI bow to your superior wisdom about selling to humans.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Set your story in a confectionery shop. available at Reedsy \u201cI hope you\u2019re sure about this.\u201d Samael nudged the trays of sweets, walking around to the front of the display case to ensure they …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[216,210,228,209],"class_list":["post-2349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-fantasy","tag-fiction","tag-science-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pxT7i-BT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2349"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2351,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2349\/revisions\/2351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}