A Death Day to Remember

By Hannah Carter

Ever since his first death day—the day he’d seen his parents slaughtered—Vel had possessed a fascination with mortality. As a result of what he’d witnessed, he had two options: either go absolutely bonkers from the atrocities he’d seen that day or view each death as a celebration. Infuse some humor into the occasion, appreciate the deceased, et cetera. Unfortunately, not everyone appreciated his irreverent antics.

Like today.

“He murdered that girl.” The innkeeper shoved a gnarled finger into Vel’s chest. “His kind always cause trouble.”

The constable with malice-filled green eyes stepped forward. “I suspected as much. Filthy elf.”

“Trust me, if I desired to murder someone, I’d do it with flair.” All Vel wanted to do was eat his breakfast and continue his vacation in peace. Now he’d stumbled onto a death day. An unexpected surprise, but a welcome one.

“Stabbed? Please. How blasé.” Vel strode around the room. “Take our good friend the innkeeper. He’s an awful pig—no offense—so there’d be some great irony in butchering him like one and sticking an apple in his mouth.”

The innkeeper staggered back; Vel flashed him a radiant smile. “Of course, that’s all hypothetical. I don’t really go around planning how to bump off people. Although for you…” Vel gestured to the constable. “I’d probably poison you with fenwork acid. Green, deadly, deceptive—just like you.”

The small breakfast crowd at the inn all began to converse. They should count themselves lucky. They’d only expected some lackluster porridge or eggs to start the day; instead, they’d found a bona fide murder when they’d come down the stairs. Someone had run to fetch the officer, and then the festivities had begun.

“That’s enough.” The green-eyed constable took out his handcuffs and moved toward Vel. “You’re under arrest for interrupting a police investigation and being a suspect in a murder.”

“You could, but then you’d let the real criminal escape.” Vel kneeled by the corpse. His dark eyes roamed the body—her brown hair, pale skin, the ring on her middle finger. Interesting. “And I’d hate to steal the spotlight from someone on their death day. That’s even worse than stealing attention on a birthday. You’ll get plenty of those, but you’ll only get one death day. I’d like to make hers spectacular.” Vel picked up the deceased’s hand and waved it at his accuser. “And I’ll start by announcing who the real murderer is.”

The constable stopped mid-step. “You lying little vermin! I haven’t even gotten the chance to examine the crime scene. You can’t—”

Vel stood as he interrupted the officer. “Him.”

“Me?” The innkeeper’s bushy eyebrows rose. “That’s a lie! I didn’t do anything!”

“No? This woman owed you an enormous bill. I overheard you tell her last night that was her last warning.”

“Yes, but I meant her last warning before I refused her tab, not stabbed her clean through!” The man’s mustache trembled at the accusation. “You’re trying to pin your crime on me!”

“If I tried to pin anything on you, it’d be so subtle you wouldn’t even know it was happening—and you’d probably agree with me in the end.” Vel flashed his winsome smile. “Bear with me. I’m just trying to make all the facts clear here.” He pointed toward a man with a top hat on his head. “For example, that fellow is her fiancé. This could be a crime of passion.”

The dapper gentleman took a step back against the fireplace mantle. “What?! No—Lyra… no! I could never!” He stammered a few more incoherent words and shook his head. “There’s no way you knew we’re engaged!”

“Isn’t there?” Vel touched his ring finger. “Engagement ring. You’re both wearing one.”

A collective gasp escaped the crowd as they began to whisper among themselves.

“May I pose a scenario: perhaps the two lovers quarreled, and this gentleman grabbed a letter opener and stabbed Lyra through the heart!” Vel spun around and waited for his standing ovation.

No one applauded. Ah, well. Such was the life of an unappreciated genius.

The man’s pale cheeks began to regain their color as his fury rose. “I never! I loved Lyra—”

“Did you? Even though she was a moon elf?”

The whispers ceased.

Vel had them hooked as he began his grand finale, and he couldn’t stop the smirk from spreading across his face.

Maybe he would steal the glory on poor Lyra’s death day after all.

Vel bent down and picked up Lyra’s hand—her four-fingered hand, still wearing her elegant ring. “You both are wearing an obsidian ring on your middle finger. That’s a moon elf tradition.”

“But the girl doesn’t look like your kind!” the innkeeper said.

“I assume she’s half. That would explain her coloring, though she has four fingers and pointed ears.” Vel straightened back up. “So you see, if it wasn’t over money, and it wasn’t over love, there leaves only one reason for this murder, and one imposter in our midst.”

Vel whirled around and grabbed the constable’s arm. He writhed in protest, but Vel pulled out a thin blade and sliced open the officer’s skin. Green blood bubbled up, and the exposed fae let out a stream of expletives.

“A changeling fae hunter, on a mission to kill every moon elf they can in this blasted war.” Vel snagged the pretender in a chokehold, knife poised at the jugular. “I’m adept at noticing changelings. It’s how I’ve stayed alive so long.”

“Fae!” The onlookers backed away. Some clutched their chests while others grabbed chairs or other makeshift, terrible weapons.

“I’ll kill you.” The fae’s face contorted in anger. “You and all your despicable kin.”

“Maybe, but it’s not my death day yet.” Vel kept a grip on his enemy until the innkeeper handcuffed him and sent a young woman to fetch some more officers.

The changeling cursed. Vel saluted his foe.

Another death day well celebrated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hannah Carter is just a girl who loves to dream and write, and still wakes up every day hoping this will be the day she figures out she’s secretly a mermaid. She currently has two published novellas, Amir and the Moon and Seashells. She has had over a dozen devotionals published in various magazines. She also won a competition with her short story “Lara.”

You can hear an audio narration of “A Death Day to Remember” and three other of Hannah’s stories on the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast.

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