Threads

Chapter Six-Part 2

            “The school of magic down the street?” Alice guessed.

            “I would say so.” Azura started back towards the shop. “We better go inside.”

            Alice looked down at the large cat trotting at her heels. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like in the shop, Shakra. But maybe you should stay in the backroom for today. You might frighten the children.”

            The white Tiger followed Alice down the sidewalk, her rumble of laughter low and pleasant.

            They delayed moving the shop for a few days so Shakra could settle in. The big Siberian kicked the indignant Emmy out of her usual spot by the fire and slept there for most of the day, tail twitching contently.

            A steady stream of children from the School for the Gifted came in during the week, delighted by the contents of the shop. They didn’t seem particularly phased by the Tiger, even when Shakra yawned sleepily, showing a great deal of sharp, white teeth.

When Alice commented on this Azura laughed. “Magical kids are used to things like that. They see all kinds of strange things. When you’re used to Zombies, Werewolves and Fairies, something like a regular old Tiger won’t make you bat an eye.”

            Alice made a face. She would have preferred to continue believing that Zombies were fictitious. How gross. She crossed her arms over her sweater.

“Shakra would have scared the living daylights out of me when I was their age.”

            “You didn’t grow up with ghosts in your house though, did you?” Azura said dryly.

Alice grimaced. “Ghosts are real too?”  She watched as a Fairy walked into one of the potion displays, knocking several off onto the floor. The dazed woman muttered blurrily to herself, and then turned around and exited the store as abruptly as she’d entered.

            “What on earth was that?” Alice gawked after her.

            “A Fairy with a drinking problem, I would guess,” Azura replied. 

Alice shook her head and rang a few more school children through the till, and then the shop was mostly quiet. The bell rang again and when she looked up to greet the new customer, Alice could tell right away that this young man was at least part Elf.  He had the same high, chiselled cheek bones and fair complexion as Demetri had, the same lazy, graceful way of walking. His eyes scanned the shop and came to rest on her. They were dark blue and very beautiful, but this time Alice stubbornly refused to be drawn in. She braced herself to block any magic that might start drifting towards her.

            “Hi.” The smile he flashed was both dazzling and hesitant. “My name’s Gabriel Walker.”

            “Hi,” she replied guardedly. “Alice. What can I do for you?”

            “I was wondering if the owner is in today.”

            “That’s me.” She darted a look at Azura. It still felt strange saying that.

            “Oh.” Gabriel paused for a second, than recovered himself gracefully. “Pleased to meet you.  I was wondering if Threads is hiring.”

He handed her a sheet a paper, his resume, and she took it, answering, “We are hiring, yes. You realize that this is a moving shop and you’d have to stay here, right?”