Late dusk set in as Hanan stepped out into the snow-covered street. Stopping to light a cigarette, he sucked back a long drag as he watched the crowds milling about the square for the night’s revelry under the fading orange-tinted sky. Large bonfires crackled and roared along the streets, spitting sparks high into the air, while people from all over the city gathered to dance and laugh in their bright masks.
Hanan sighed, exhaling another puff as he murmured to himself, “Ötalnoi f Ukalam,” and then shook his head with a quiet chuckle. Ötalnoi f Ukalam, Called to Darkness, was Carwyn’s winter festival, two weeks of sanctioned debauchery to see out winter’s darkness before the renewal of spring… and the people loved it.
Watching a nearby group of tipsy teenagers fall about themselves as they attempted their national dance, his thoughts fell upon festivals past when he was their age…
*****
“Hanan, you’ll freeze,” Laenja fretted, trying to pull the lapels of his overcoat closed against his neck to shut out the cold. She had just run across the snowy square to meet him there for the evening.
Tucking a lock of hair behind his ear, her breath suddenly hitched. “You’re hurt,” she bit her lip in a worried frown as she reached up to carefully stroke his face under the cut and bruise on his left cheekbone. Her eyes then quickly scanned him for other injuries she knew he always tried to hide.
“I’m fine, Leanja,” he smiled in greeting. “Really… I am,” he assured her. Curling a finger under her chin, he gently lifted her face to receive his slow kiss. Then rubbing her arms over the thin jacket she wore, he stared into her eyes before taking her hands. “Um, Laenja…” he asked, “…where’s the coat I bought you?”
“I…” she began, her eyes dropping to watch their fingers play. “I gave it to my sister.”
Cocking his head, Hanan’s smile grew wider as he listened to her explanation.
“…she had to walk to my aunt’s house to help with all the cooking for tomorrow.” Laenja glanced up the street, watching the people filling the square, and then hurriedly back to Hanan. “You’re still coming, right?” He nodded as she went on with a relieved sigh, “…she’s still not too well, and it was snowing, and…” she continued before Hanan finally shushed her.
“Laenja…” unbuttoning his overcoat, he slid it from his back, and then slipped it over her shoulders. “Laenja, it’s okay. She can keep that one.” He then added with a nonchalant shrug, “we’ll go to the shop tomorrow and I’ll just buy you another.”
“Han, no,” she protested both the expense and his gallant gesture. “You need this,” she said, trying to give it back, but Hanan held her shoulders tight, keeping her from removing the coat. “And besides, my sister and I can share the other one.”
“Wear this,” he insisted, buttoning her into it. “You need it more than I do. And tomorrow…” fastening the top clasp, he then lightly tapped her nose with a fingertip, “…tomorrow, you’ll choose another coat.”
“Hanan…” she tried to protest again…
…but he just stood there shaking his head, “wear it.”
Laenja’s shoulders dropped, yielding to his gentlemanly demand. “Hanan,” she called to him again holding her arms up with a grin. The long sleeves flopped down well past her small hidden hands.
“So it’s a little big,” he grinned back, “but you’ll be warm.”
“And how will you stay warm?” Finding her fingers, she wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her hands up his back. “You only have your jacket.”
“…and two other layers underneath,” he replied, giving her a squeeze. “Like I said; I’m fine, Laenja. Plus…” spinning her towards the fire and holding her tight back against him, he continued, “I have you to keep me warm.”
Hot tingles tore through him like an explosion of inner fireworks, as he started to kiss and suckle at her neck. Feeling the curves of her warm body so close to his own, he began to harden pressed into her. “See,” he murmured softly into her ear, “it’s working already.”
They both chuckled, as Laenja turned her face to meet his deep lingering kiss. Wrapped up in each other, they stood contented, rocking as one to the music being played across the way.
*****
Hanan let out another puff of smoke as he looked up through the clear sky to the stars slowing coming into view. Fixing on one bright twinkling dot in the darkness, he remembered how beautiful she looked by the firelight, with a few scattered snowflakes sparkling in her hair. Her sweet laughter still rang through his mind, and her soft voice so lovingly saying his name…
He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. That was the last festival he spent with Laenja.
But that was a long time ago, he reminded himself. Reaching up to loosen the scarf around his neck, a small sentimental smile touched his lips before he pulled it free, and then tucked it into his pocket. Happy memories yes, he sighed, as he took his festival mask from the other deep pocket of his overcoat, but not for tonight… tonight he was on the prowl. Tonight he had a score to even.
Flicking his spent cigarette to the snow, Hanan donned his dark slivery mask and flipped up the hood of his coat. As he moved discreetly through the revellers, he scanned the crowds, searching for his target. Looking up and down the streets and across the square, a strange feeling suddenly came over him. He turned, following the sensation and honed in on a pair of eyes staring at him. “There she is,” he whispered through a smirk, spotting Eyja like a wolf spots its prey.
Pretending not to have noticed her gaze, Hanan strolled on casually, nodding politely to a couple of young ladies giggling shyly as they sized him up. Any other night would be a delight, ladies, he mused in mind, returning their flirtatious smiles. But tonight, turning his eyes back to the square, I want that one. Moving ever closer, he continued to watch Eyja, stalking and preparing to pounce.
She stood looking around, seeming somewhat unsure of herself… of what to do or where to go. So Hanan remained camouflaged by the crowd and watched her shoulders drop with a dejected sigh, before she finally wandered over to the central blazing bonfire.
Aw, all alone, dear lady? For Hanan, this was far too easy a hunt. Searching the vicinity and finding no one to acquaint with her, his lips curled into a sinister smile as he made his sly approach...
