Chapter Ten

An Unpleasant Reunion

             Monday morning Alice found herself hustling back from the grocery store with an armload of raw beef for Shakra.  She paused for a moment outside Threads, looking back at the quaint brick coffee shop across the street.

“I could use a latte.” Alice nearly dropped the frozen beef when Gabriel’s voice came from behind her. “Here, I’ll take the meat for Shakra.” She turned to see the Elf poking his head out the door, grinning cheekily at her surprise. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

            “You’re forgiven.” Alice handed him the packages. “Can you open the shop?  I’ll just be a few seconds.”

            “Sure thing.”

            “Oh hey, what kind of coffee do you like?”

            “You don’t have to get me…”

            “Speak now, or you’re forever getting it black.”

            “One cream, one sugar.”

            “You got it.” Alice headed across the street, already anticipating a steaming hot latte.

The coffee shop was warm and inviting, and Alice didn’t mind waiting in line. She enjoyed the atmosphere.  Running the counter was a short, plump little woman with a hundred watt smile. Alice liked her immediately.

            “What’ll it be, sweetie?”

            “A coffee please, and a hazelnut latte.”

            “Sure thing, honey.”

            Alice handed her the money and the woman gave her another huge smile and the receipt.

“You must be Alice, Ruby’s niece in the shop across the street. What’s the name of the place?”

            “Threads. We just arrived.”

            “I saw you.” The woman laughed. “Gave me a start. No matter how many times I see these traveling shops, they still surprise me. I’m Isabella by the way.”

            “Pleased to meet you.” Alice shook her hand warmly. “It’s nice to have such a friendly neighbour.”

            “Well I hope you stay for a while, honey. I loved your Aunt Ruby; she was a real sweet heart.” The woman’s bright eyes grew a bit misty.

            “You knew Great Aunt Ruby?”

            “Oh yes…she made a name in this community. Everyone loved Ruby. You come and see me lots, you hear?”

            Alice laughed. “I certainly will. Thank you.”

She paused at the side table to put cream and sugar in Gabriel’s cup, and that’s when Alice spotted the man.  It was him, there was no doubt about it. He was sitting at the bar by the window, a coffee cup in his hand and she could see the glowing mark on him. Sure enough, everyone around him was giving him an extremely wide birth. Her hands were shaking, and she put the coffee cups down on the counter.

            How dare he come into her shop, hijack it, demand she take him to New York and then have the nerve to sit there, calm as can be, in the coffee shop across from her store! A thought occurred to her, one that sent chills down her back. He’s watching the shop. It was obvious.  Did he know about the mark on him? That had to be it.

            Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and her heart was racing double time. It made her angry that she was so paralysed by this man. So afraid.  Why am I afraid? I’m a Witch. I have magic.

            Alice looked around. The coffee shop, like every store on the block, was magic. Threads floated nearly as thick as they did in her store, but she didn’t know any spells besides the blocking one. Last time she’d just reacted without thought, and the magic had done what she wanted it to. What if that had just been a fluke?

            Maybe she would just sneak by him. He wouldn’t notice her, and she would tell Azura that he was there, watching the shop.  That was a good plan. She would do that.

Oh shit…He was turning around on his bar stool.

            The man noticed her, probably because she was standing there staring at him like a slack-jawed idiot. He stood abruptly, sending his coffee spilling over the newspaper strewn counter. The customers sitting on either side of him jumped up angrily.

            “You,” he said.

            Her feet seemed stuck to the floor, paralyzed by his husky, threatening tones. For the first time, she saw his face clearly in the daylight. He was possessed of high cheekbones and a firm jaw line, and the stubble that covered his face was longer now. His hair was still tangled, his clothes rumpled and dirty. His eyes looked even brighter, wild and circled by dark rings. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

“What did you do to me?” he growled. “Before I left, what did you do?” He was moving closer, and Alice was still frozen, like a rabbit playing dead in the beams of an oncoming car. People around them backed up, or looked more intently at their newspapers, and she remembered what Azura and Shakra had said. Nobody was going to interfere if he killed her. They were all just going to pretend this wasn’t happening, because it wasn’t their problem. A lousy attitude indeed.

            The memory of Shakra’s voice echoed in her head, telling her if she used magic on instinct alone she could accomplish far beyond her training. Alice steeled herself as he came closer. She raised one hand and demanded the magic floating just out of reach. It slid towards her fluidly; there was no weaving of spells or clever patterns. She brought the magic together in front of her, shoving it at him frantically. Get back!

            The man flew backwards with a shout, arms and legs pinwheeling through the air. He struck the opposite wall and slid down into the corner, where he lay groaning dazedly. It was very quiet all of a sudden.   She drew herself up and took a deep gulp of air, ignoring the fact that people were peeking at her over their newspapers, or staring outright.

            “I’m sorry,” she said to Isabella. “I hope I didn’t damage anything. When that man wakes up, please tell him to stay away from me.” She took the two coffees, squared her shoulders and exited the building imperiously.

            That afternoon they met in Alice’s suite to discuss what had occurred in the coffee shop.

               “Apparently you’re getting quite the reputation around here,” Azura said accusingly.

              “What? I told you what happened.” Alice protested.

               “You said you pushed him - you failed to mention that you flung him back with the force of a small gale.”

            “It’s like you said though, I wasn’t thinking, just reacting, and the magic seemed to get bigger.”

             “This is a good thing,” Shakra growled proudly. “They are saying in the streets how fierce you were.”

              “Saying in the streets?” Alice blinked. “It only just happened!”

             “What did I tell you about the gossip in the magical community?” Azura pointed out. “Plus it happened in front of Isabella, who has to be the single biggest gossip monger in New York City. I bet she’s been telling every customer that comes through that place.”

            “Is that so bad?”

            “It isn’t bad exactly…” Azura hesitated. “It may just attract people.”

            “That’s good; they’ll come buy stuff.” Alice shrugged.

            “It’s done now - no use fretting.”

            Alice took another spoonful of soup and blew across the surface. “I guess nobody else will try to hijack the store if they think I’m some crazy-powerful Sorceress.”

            “God save anyone else who tries that,” Shakra said broodingly. “They will find themselves quickly parted from their throats.” Azura looked over at the Tiger, who had a large plate of meat between her paws on the tile floor.

            “I hope you don’t feel guilty, Shakra. The man had a knife to Alice’s throat; there was little you could do but give him what he wanted.”

            “I could have got to him faster.”

            “Nobody could have,” Alice protested. “It all happened in a heartbeat.”

            “Nobody will pull that on you now,” Gabriel said cheekily. “You’ll just send them flying across the room. Remind me never to make you mad.”

            Alice elbowed him gently in the side. “Don’t make me mad.”

            “Thanks.”

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