The Lost Mage (24 page)

Darakin brought the conversation back to his search for the demon. “Is this establishment close to the summoning spot?”

“I’m pretty sure there is one near there. We can look it up at the Internet Café.”

“Good. Do you have any armor? Because I don’t. It’s not standard gear for a mage.”

“Armor?” Nora asked in surprise. “Why would you need armor?”

“You said it’s a chain restaurant. I assumed you meant chain mail is required because it’s some sort of tournament or jousting club.”

Nora stared in astonishment for a minute and then burst out laughing. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled as she tried to stop the laughter. “I know you hate it when I laugh at you, it’s just that sometimes you say the most outrageous things. A chain restaurant means there’s more than one. They’ll have many locations, sometimes all over the country. And while there are theme places that do jousting and stuff, this place is just based on space and aliens.”

“Aliens? You mean like us?”

Her shoulders bobbed up and down again as she stifled her amusement. “Um, no. Not like us. We’re illegal aliens because we’re not citizens and don’t have legal visas. These aliens are space creatures.”

“And they’re legal here? Because you don’t use the word illegal to describe them.”

“Lordie, no! They’re not legal. They’re not even real!”

“You don’t think demons and mages are real, either.”

“Why are you arguing with me? You told me you don’t believe in space creatures!”

“I don’t, but that’s in my realm. How do I know what’s real here? I’m just trying to make sense of all this.”

“Sweet Jaysus, you’ll be driving me to drink soon. How do I explain this? See, space creatures don’t exist. At least I never used to think they did. Like you said, you’ve kind of blown away my perception of things, but anyway, there are a lot of people who do think they – meaning the space creatures – do exist. So this restaurant plays on a theme of aliens and space objects, like meteors and … you know what? Instead of trying to explain it to you, I’ll take you there. We’ll get the address and go there tomorrow. Sean’s is closed tomorrow, so we have the day off anyway. It’ll give us something to do.”

“So, this place is all pretend, right? I mean the idea of man flying through the stars is ridiculous.”

“Um, yeah, about that …”

Darakin’s eyes open wide. “You fly through the stars?”

“Oh, not me. There are these specially trained pilots, called astronauts that do. It’s still an experimental field. So, yeah, most of what you’ll see at this place is going to be pretend.”

“This is good because we can look for signs of the krekdapop while we’re there.”

“Okay, sounds like a plan.”

Chapter Nineteen

The next day, Darakin awakened early and started to get out of bed. Nora grabbed his arm.

“Let’s sleep in today, love.”

“But we have to go to that restaurant and look for the krekdapop.”

“Not yet, sweetie. They won’t be open for customers for hours yet. Please? I haven’t been able to sleep in for a week.”

“Since I’ve been here.” There was a hint of sadness in Darakin’s voice at the thought that he was making her life uncomfortable.

“Yes, but it’s okay. I kind of like having a purpose – you know, a reason to get up in the morning.”

Darakin said nothing, thinking about Sean’s tale of what had happened to her family and how she left her home because she felt there was nothing there for her. He snuggled closer to her – as close as he could with Mrowley’s extended body between them, acting as a barrier.

“Mrowley, do you mind?”

Nope. I like sleeping in.

“I meant that I can’t get next to Nora with you there. Could you move?”

Oh, okay.
The cat stood up and moved to the end of the bed and waited until Darakin had slid his body up next to Nora. Mrowley then crawled on Nora’s hips and lay down so he partially slid into the crevice between their bodies.

Darakin started to say something in frustration, but Nora just laughed. “It’s okay. He’s part of the family, too.”

Mrowley closed his eyes and preened, basking in the feel of having family again.

After an hour, Mrowley stood and meowed loudly, startling both Darakin and Nora.

“What’s wrong, Mrowley?” the mage asked in concern.

Hungry.

“I thought you said you liked to sleep in?”

I do, but I haven’t eaten in days and my belly is rumbling so I can’t sleep.

“Days? You ate last night! I should know, I’m the one who fed you,” Darakin said in outrage.

Really? Last night? It feels like days.

“What’s he on about now, Darakin?” Nora murmured.

“He says he hasn’t eaten in days and he can’t sleep because of the hunger.”

“Days is it? And people say the Irish exaggerate.” She laughed and closed her eyes again.

Darakin laughed, too, and put his arm back over her. Another minute passed before Mrowley let out the most pitiful sounding meow either of them had ever heard.

Huuuuunnnngry.

Nora’s eyes flew open. “Oh, for pity’s sake. Would you go put some food out for that cat before he wakes the whole of the neighborhood?”

“Fine.” Darakin got out of bed and went to the kitchen with Mrowley right on his heels. He opened the cabinet and took out a can of cat food. Mrowley jumped up and head butted Darakin’s hand.

“Mrowley! For the last time, stop jumping on the counters,” Darakin said through gritted teeth.

Huh? Oh, sure, sure. You only had to ask.

“I have asked. I’ve asked each and every time that you do this. And each time you act as though I’ve never asked even though I have. Many times.”

Hey, I’m only here to get my food.
Mrowley rubbed against Darakin’s hand again to prove his point.

Darakin dished the food out and put the small plate on the floor. Mrowley jumped down and sniffed the food before turning his nose up at it. He walked back over to rub against Darakin’s legs.

“I thought you were starving?”

I am. I haven’t eaten in days.

“Then, why … aren’t … you … eating?” Darakin asked, slowly emphasizing each word.

Is that the only flavor you have? It smells funny.

“Of course it smells funny. It’s cat food. I think all of it smells funny.”

Dude, you can’t possibly be comparing your nose’s abilities with mine? Did you know that cat’s sense of smell is something like fourteen times greater than a human’s? I think we both know who would know if something smelled funny around here.
Mrowley’s head bobbed in a knowing nod.

“I give up. You win. Jump on the counters, don’t eat the food, whatever. It’s impossible to reason with you.”

It’s because I’m so soft and cute, isn’t it?

“What does being soft and cute have to do with not being able to reason with you?”

So you admit that I’m soft and cute?
Mrowley rubbed against his legs again, purring loudly.

Darakin’s anger and frustration melted and he picked the cat up and gave him a hug. “Yes, I do.”

Good. Now, about that food …

“Fine. I’ll open another can and I won’t buy,” he paused to read the label on the can, “superb supper ever again.” He pulled another can out of the cabinet and turned back to find Mrowley on the counter again. With a sigh of frustration, Darakin said nothing. He dished out the food for Mrowley and went back to lie next to Nora again.

She chuckled softly as he got in bed. “I heard all that. You’ve finally realized that you’ll never best a cat, have you?”

“Indeed. I give up. He’ll never do what I ask him to. I just can’t win.”

“Welcome to the world of being a cat slave.”

“Humph. I am no slave!”

“It’s what people say here. Dogs have owners, cats have slaves. Think about it. You’ll do anything he wants, won’t you?”

“Perhaps, but it’s only to keep him quiet.”

“Motivation doesn’t matter. You’re still his slave.”

Darakin laughed. “I guess you’re right.”

“You know, we’ve time for a little togetherness before we go to the restaurant.”

Darakin needed no more encouragement and tiptoed to the door to shut it.

When the couple finally opened the door, Mrowley stood right outside, his tail wagging in an annoyed fashioned.

I thought we were all going to sleep in this morning.

“But you got up to eat!” the mage exclaimed in surprise.

I was going to come back.

“Well, sometimes we need a little privacy.”

Dude, I know what you’re doing in there. I wouldn’t get in the way.

“I can’t, I mean I wouldn’t feel right … look, kitty, there are some things that just need to be private, okay?”