The knock on the door vibrated through the entire shop, though it took a second for to realize what it was. Then, I took off across the living room and down the steps to reach the front door as quickly as possible.
I’d forgotten about the lunch delivery.
I skidded to a halt in front of the door as I recognized the person on the other side. It unlocked as I yanked it open, and Alas stood there. A paper bag rested in his arms, with the logo of the sub place on it.
“How did you get our lunch?” I asked, waving him inside.
His long deep brown hair hung loose, though his pointed ears stuck out. There wasn’t a chance the delivery guy hadn’t noticed them. I an, Alas was an elf, there wasn’t any way around that.
“The guy dropped them off just as I arrived. I said I’d bring the package inside.” His eyes darted around the shop, first to the chair in the window then the counter. “Where is that old coot? We need to have a conversation.”
“Cat! We have a guest!” Turning back to him, I grabbed the bag. “You can join us for lunch if you’d like, I ordered way too much food.”
I headed to the kitchen to unwrap the subs and put out the plates.
Alas hesitated next to the counter. “Lass, I’m not sure I can co back there.”
My eyes went to the sign I hadn’t thought about in ages.
“If I invite you, and you promise , the Cat, and Betty no harm, you’re fine.”
His eyes studied for a mont, the deep brown flickering in color to a forest green.
“I agree.” The sound rattled through the shop, and suddenly the Cat appeared at the top of the steps.
“What is going on?” he asked before spotting Alas. “What is he doing here?”
“No clue, but lunch is here.” I headed into the kitchen and snagged out three plates before pulling the two giant subs out of the bags. Lunch at was stacked high on each foot long bread roll. One with roasted chicke,n a little chees,e and veggies like tomatoes, lettuce and peppers plus a tasty sauce. The other had spicy salami, ham, and pepperoni with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and spicy peppers, plus oil and vinegar.
I grabbed a knife and cut each one into four pieces. At least this way, I wouldn’t eat a whole sub by myself and feel too full afterward.
Alas crept inside the kitchen, with the Cat near his feet. He kept glancing up at Alas, then toward .
“What do you guys want? I have a full Italian sub, and then a roasted chicken.” I glanced at them as they approached. Both seed confused. “I’ll give you one of each.”
I added a piece of each to their plates while I took two of the Italian. Then I sat down on the stool, before jumping up and grabbing a pitcher of ice tea from the fridge.
Once I took out a cup for each of us, I sat down again.
Alas watched curiously, as did the Cat. He glanced at the sandwich, and then back at the Cat, who didn’t say anything.
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“Alright, so what brings you in today?” I asked, before taking a bite of my sandwich.
Alas watched how I held the sandwich before carefully doing the sa.
“I got the note. It was lost in my mail, but I found it.”
“What note?” The Cat’s head snapped in his direction. “I didn’t send any notes…”
“He doesn’t have a clue,” I replied to Alas after chewing my bite. The sub hit the spot, and I sped up my next bite.
“Yeah, it wasn’t from him, it was from Liluth. She told not to worry about her, and that she was safe.” He set the sandwich down. “I can’t find her anywhere.”
Now, that I hadn’t seen coming, and I didn’t know how to respond.
“Tell him she is safe,” answered the Cat. “But he…”
“She’s hanging out with the book dragons at the mont, until things change with…” A pressure hit my chest so fast I gasped. My lips wouldn’t move, no matter what I did. Then it stopped.
I found the Cat next to my fingers, which had tried to dig into the island.
“He doesn’t know who or what I am,” whispered the Cat. “You can’t tell him. They won’t let you.”
“You just got hit with a geas,” said Alas as the Cat spoke, since he couldn’t hear him. “Those are powerful, and dangerous.”
His fingers tapped on the island. “Why is Liluth with the book dragons?”
“She is with so family of mine.”
“You an with the dragons from your birthday?” His eyes went wide, and he leaned back.
“Yes.” I finished off the first half of the sub on my plate, doing my best to recover, though I noticed the Cat wasn’t eating. “Are you not hungry? I thought you’d like the chicken?”
He took a bite, and his eyes widened before he took another.
“When will she be back?” Alas watched the interaction.
This ti, I hesitated. “I don’t know. I might be able to pass a ssage along the next ti I see the dragons.”
“She wouldn’t just get up and leave like that,” he mumbled. Then he paused, and his head tilted to one side before his eyes widened. Yet, he didn’t speak. Instead, he took a big bite of the sandwich in front of him.
Maybe he’d connected the dots, but I didn’t dare try to say anything. I hated the feeling of being restricted, but knew that I couldn’t fight whatever that had been.
“So, what’s your interest in Liluth? Are you guys a thing?”
Silence hung over the island while a light red color crept up Alas’s cheeks. I couldn’t help but grin as I set my sandwich down. The Cat finished off both pieces of his sandwich, and stared at the remaining portions in the center of the island.
“You don’t need to tell , I just wondered. I’ll make sure to send that ssage as soon as I see the dragons tomorrow.” I then turned to the Cat. “Or do you think they’ll be here tonight?”
I wanted Indigo back, but tomorrow was the celebration, which I was still preparing for. I’d gotten lost in the ti, and the box of candy sat open next to the fireplace in the living room. I needed to finish filling the stockings.
Plus, put the decor out that my family had sent, and their presents.
“I’d appreciate it if you send along the ssage that I’m worried about her,” said Alas after several monts.
“You could do it yourself if you want. Tomorrow, I’m hosting a solstice celebration. The dragons should be here for it.” It felt like the holiday would be a repeat of my birthday, but that was okay. It wasn’t like there were a ton of people that I interacted with on a repeat basis that could go to sothing like this, with literal dragons there. Maybe all Alas had done was make so nice boots and co into the shop a couple of tis, but he felt like a friend, and at least I knew he was allowed in that crowd.
“That would be welco, thank you Sable.” He bowed his head in my direction and pushed his plate forward. “I need to get back to work if I am taking ti off, however.”
“I understand,” I said, moving to take a stand, yet he quickly hurried out of the kitchen before I could follow him.
“He can see himself out,” said the Cat. “You didn’t need to invite him, you know.”
“He is one of your friends; of course, I invited him. I bet that’s why he showed up today.” I didn’t know that for a fact, but it felt like it fit.
“He isn’t our afternoon custor.”
“What?”
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