Post by Jessica Sparrow on Jul 31, 2006 16:55:06 GMT -5
Chapter 2, Dove
About thirty minutes later, they arrived in Xtrilia, a wizarding community not to far off from Nibian.
“I might as well stock up while I’m here” Almidia said, looking around.
“Meet you at Tanzy’s in an hour or so, deal?” Devon replied, looking to her.
“Deal, see you then.” With that, Devon walked away.
Almidia started off to the Apothecary not far from where she was at. It was also one of the few stores that accepted Cracker money. She slowly walked inside the building, picking up the scent of the ingredients within. She walked to a shelf with all different kinds of ingredients and objects on it.
“Witherseed, Witherseed,” she muttered to herself, looking at the various labels. Finally deciding that she couldn’t find it, she walked up to the man at the front desk. “Excuse me, but do you have any idea where I could…” she paused. The man had long brown hair that fell into his eyes, muscles you could spot 50 miles away, and a barb wire tattoo around his upper arm. He’s...gorgeous… she thought to herself, she could no longer speak; she managed to finish her sentence, “…find Witherseed…” she said in awe, looking into his perfect grey eyes. You could get lost in those eyes.
“Uh… were out.” He said slowly. He also had a take on the woman. There was a short pause between them, both daydreaming of one another. I now believe in love at first sight, that’s for sure he thought to himself, he blinked his eyes, and managed to spit out his name,
“Dove Greason.”
“Almidia Sparrow.” She replied, not taking her eyes off of him. She took a breath, and came back to reality, “Nice name…” she said slowly.
“Yeah…I can run to the stock shop and pick up some Witherseed if you need some.” He said hopefully.
“Its okay, I can do without.” She said slowly.
“No, I can go and get some; I have nothing to really do around here. You can even come with if you want…”
“O.k.” she said quickly, with a soft grin on her face.
“Yes…” he said under his breath. “I’m out Dad!” he yelled at a door with a ‘Busy’ sign on it. He grabbed his jacket off a coat rack, slipped it on, and opened the door for Almidia. She slips her hands in her coat pockets, and walked out, a smug smile on her face.
“It’s a ways down the road, hope you like walking.”
“I walked here from Wales; I think I can take a walk.” She said with a small laugh.
He smirked. “So… you live in Wales eh?”
“I used to. I live in Nibian; I was at a friend’s house. I’m actually supposed to meet him in about an hour, but he can wait.” She said with a small smile.
“Really, I do as well.”
Almidia cocked an eyebrow, “nice.”
“So where is your boyfriend, don’t ya think he wouldn’t agree with you hanging out with another guy you hardly know?” he said smartly.
“He’s not my boyfriend, and I don’t have one.’ She said calmly. Now allowing herself to speak in a normal tone of voice. He nodded. They walked in an awkward silence for a while, till they arrived to a fork in the road, Dove turned, Almidia at his tail. There was a small building at the end of the road.
“Here we are.” He walked to the door, and opened it, holding it open for her to enter. She walked inside. There were millions of shelves, full of things. They never seemed to ever end. But none the less Dove seemed to know where he was going.
“Witherseed right?” he asked, walking to a row of shelves, and stopping. Almidia nodded her head in agreement. He looked up, and grabbed a bottle labeled “Madam Lindoo’s Witherseed”
“Thanks.” She said simply. Now what Almidia?! She thought to herself. She looked to her feet then up again, “Well, I’ll be going then…” she said half heartedly.
“Uhh, yeah…ok.” He replied. She started towards the door. About halfway back, Dove called out, “Do you know the small diner in Nibian? The Vine I believe it’s called…”
She stopped, facing the door, “Yes...”
“Meet me there, 1:30, tomorrow.”
Almidia smiled and shook her head. She turned around, and looked to him, “done” and she left for Tanzy’s.
Dove took a deep breath, and sat on a nearby box, he watched her go out the door, and turn the corner.
“Who was that?” a voice whispered into his ear. It was his friend Marcus.
“A girl, a really nice girl.”
Marcus laughed, looking at the dazed look on Doves face.
“So…Dove has found a girlfriend…” Marcus chanted over and over.
Dove smiled, “I’ve known her about an hour, how could she possibly be my girlfriend?”
Marcus sat on the box next to him. “You could pick up any girl you want, and you rarely do; which is beyond me by the way; you like that chick and you know it, The Vine? Come on Dovey Wovey, you go there all the time, do something different for once in your lonely existence.” Dove swung an arm back at him, but Marcus dodged it.
“So what if I might, what’s it to you?”
“Don’t be fresh pretty boy.” Marcus said, blocking another swing, and smiling.
“She’s not only the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, she doesn’t hoe up on me like the girls at the shop do. But I’ll know for sure if I’m right tomorrow.”
“I swear man; you are the only guy I know who would give a damn with a dame like that. I’d be up for a one night stand if I were you.”
Dove cocked an eyebrow, “There’s something different about this girl, I don’t know what yet, but there’s something.”
“And that’s what makes you, you Dovey Wovey.” He stood up and messed up Doves hair “Well if your going to sit there and day dream you might as well be useful. Unpack some of those boxes your fat ass is sittin' on.” Marcus started to walk away, “and you’re paying for that Witherseed.” He said as he left. Dove rolled his eyes, and opened a box. Thinking of the redhead ‘dame’ he had just met.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Almidia arrived at her friend Tanzy’s house and sure enough Devon and Tanzy were there.
“I didn’t know it took two hours to buy one bottle of Witherseed.” Devon said from the chair he was sitting at in Tanzy’s kitchen.
“I was talking to someone. Who are you, my mother?” she said with a smug grin on her face.
“What are you so up uppity about?” Tanzy said, seating herself next to Devon.
“Nothing.” She lied. She flopped herself on the couch and laid back, closing her eyes and smiling.
“Let’s just say the Apothecary is my new hangout.”
Tanzy rolled her eyes,
“Who’d ya meet?” Devon asked.
“Dove Greason, tall, dark, and handsome.” she replied, eyes still shut tight.
“I just don’t see how you do it.” Tanzy said wonderingly.
“Do what?” said Almidia, daydreaming.
“All you have to do is look at a guy, and you have them under your arm. Are there any guys out there who give a damn about personality anymore?”
“You know that’s not true Tanzy,” Almidia responded,
“Devon, if you didn’t know Almidia one bit, and she did some random thing like drop a book or something, and look at you, wouldn’t you be all over her?” Tanzy interrupted, not paying much attention, Devon was surprised at the sudden question,
“Would I what?” he replied surprised.
“Would you or would you not have a thing for Almidia the first time you saw her?” Tanzy repeated as if it were nothing. Almidia kept her eyes closed tightly, grinning.
“I, I dano!” he studiers.
Along with being Almidia and Devon’s best friend, Tanzy was also Devon’s girlfriend. They had an odd relationship, but none the less loved each other.
“See Almidia he would!” Tanzy said in triumph.
“He said he didn’t know, there is a difference.” Almidia snapped back.
“Oh get a grip, he would and you know it.”
“Hey can I have a say in this?” Devon chimed in.
“No!” both girls said harmoniously. Devon gave up, and sat back in his chair.
“Who said I even asked Dove out anyways? We don’t date or anything.”
“Nobody yet….did you?”
“No!” she paused “He asked me…”
Tanzy started to laugh. Almidia just stayed where she was, that stupid grin on her face. Dove she thought to herself. Beginning to once again, start to daydream…
Chapter 3, The Vine
Almidia woke up that morning at her apartment. Apparently Tanzy had managed to get some alcohol down her throat because she felt horrible. She groggily got up and out of bed, and got ready. After taking a thirty minute shower, she got dressed and looked at the clock on her beside table, it was 1:45! She was late. She grabbed her purse and left in a hurry.
“The Vine, The Vine, ah ha!” she came to a small building with a small sign above it with the restaurants title upon it. She hurriedly walked inside. A small elderly witch was standing at the entrance
“How many?” she said not bothering to look up from the paper she was reading.
“Ummm, I’m supposed to meet someone here, Greason, Dove Greason.” Almidia replied, breathing hard from running.
“There is no Groosy with reservations miss.” The witch replied
“Greason, not Goosy, Greason.” She replied flatly
“Leeson? Sorry their not here ether.”
Getting agitated Almidia replied at the top of her lungs,
“GREASON! DOVE GREASON! I’M ALREADY LATE YOUR JUST ADDING ON TO IT! NOW WILL YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS A GRESON WITH A RESERVATION HERE TODAY!”
“Greason! I see, that would be table 1240, follow me miss.” The witch replied, as if she were not even yelled at in the first place
Almidia obeyed, rolling her eyes, and fixing her hair as she did so.
“Your name miss?” the witch asked.
“Almidia, Almidia Sparrow.” they walked to a table at the far end of the restaurant, right next to a large window.
“Lady Almidia Spaz sir”
“Sparrow…” she said through her teeth. Dove was sitting in a chair beside the window, looking out of it.
“Thank you.” he said calmly.
She glared at the witch as she left,
“I’m so sorry.” She said sympathetically, she sat down.
“It’s quite alright, you came.”
“I did.” She said giving him a small smile.
“So…how are you?” he said slowly
“Fine, a little dizzy but fine.”
“Dizzy?” he asked curiously
“My friend Tanzy, I guess thought it would be funny to get Almidia drunk.”
“I see.” He said smartly
“She’s my best friend, but not the smartest.”
He smirked at the comment. “Ah,” a waiter came to their table,
“What shall it be?”
“Just a water, with a lemon on the side, please.” Almidia replied, looking to Dove.
Dove looked to the man “I'll have a steak with some barley on the side.” The waiter nodded and walked away. “How’s the Witherseed?” He asked randomly. He wasn’t the one for small talk.
“I haven’t had the chance to use it yet. But I’m sure it’s superb. How long have you worked at the Apothecary?”
“Since I was 12. It’s been in my family since 1706. Dorno Greason is my father.”
“Impressive. Your father is sweet. I’ve been a costumer of yours for about a year now.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what I’d do without the old cooter.” He said with a smirk “I’m sure your father is just as nice.”
“He was, he died when I was young.”
“My apologies”
“No need. It’s alright.” There was a short silence when the waiter came back to give them their orders. The silence then continued between the two when Dove spoke.
He placed Doves food in front of him and the drink in front of Almidia.
“Would you like a topping to your barley sir?” asked the waiter to Dove
“Yes, Mercico please.”
The waiter snapped his fingers and a bottle of oily green dressing was placed in front of him.
“Thank you.”
The waiter bowed his head to them and walked away. Almidia took the lemon off of the side of her glass and squeezed a little of the juice in her water, and the rest in her mouth. Not really noticing that she had. Dove stopped what he was doing to watch her eat the lemon to shreds.
“How do you do that?” he asked
She looked to him, finally realizing what she was doing; and set the lemon back on her dish. All that was left was the skin.
“Oh, umm, bad habit. I’ve always liked them. I probley am the only one who does though. “
Dove nodded his head. “I see.”
“I used to eat them in front of my friend Devon just to mess with his head. I quite enjoyed it.”
Dove laughed, “It doesn’t grouse me out or anything, its just I don’t see how you do it. I myself can’t stand the taste.”
“It’s an acquired taste I guess.” Almidia replied. “How can you stand barley?”
“I grew up eating the stuff. So I guess that is part of the reason why I like it.”
“I see.” She replied, taking a sip of her drink.
Dove looked at her hands around the glass; her long curvy nails painted a dark auburn. “You’re an Etreel. “, he said looking from her hands.
“Yeah, how’d you know?” she asked, puzzled.
“Your nails. They have a curve at the tip. Of they were thicker you’d be a werewolf.” He said simply.
“Smart.” She replied.
“You have beautiful eyes as well. Do you know that?”
“Thank you, I’ve been told, yes.” she looked to her drink then back up to him. “Mighty fine place The Vine is, eh?” she said after a short pause between them.
“Yeah, I come here pretty often, but rarely with someone else.”
“I should feel special then.” She said with a small smile. He oddly smiled back, in return.
“You were just, different in a way.”
“How do you figure that one?”
“I’ve been with plenty of women who hung around me just for my cash. I just had some odd feeling in the pit of my stomach that you weren’t like that. Yeah, I like the fact that you are…beautiful, but I just see that as a plus.”
Almidia looked at him for a while, in attempt to figure him out. “You are not like any other guy I’ve met either.” She looked at him, hard, “No guy would go that deep, like you actually care.” She said, awestruck.
“I don’t think I have, till now. Is that a bad thing?” He replied.
“It’s not a bad thing, it’s just surprising.”
“Got a few lines in your day huh?” he said with a grin. She nodded.
He leaned back in his chair, “You can second that thought.” He said looking into her eyes, as if he couldn’t leave them. “Up for another walk?”
“Sure.” She said politely. He got up and threw some cash on the table and reached his hand out to help Almidia up. She took it and got up and they left.
Once again they were walking down the road, talking; just about random things that came to mind. About her being and Etreel, and him living with his father and Marcus. It was your typical love story. Like the ones you would find in a soap opera, but with a twist. Nothing went wrong. It was perfect. No angry ex-girlfriend pops out of nowhere and ruins it. They talked as if they had known each other all their lives. As they reached Almidia’s building, they went up the stairs and she stopped at her door.
“Well this is it.” Almidia said. “Do you want to, sit down, have a drink, something?” she said hopefully.
“No, I must be going, it’s late.” He said looking to his feet.
“Ok.” She replied, currently at a loss for words.
“Well….I’ll be going…..” he said looking back to her, catching her eye. They looked at each other, and he lifts her chin……
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morning arises and Almidia wakes up to the sweet smell of roses. She smiles to herself then rises from her bed, puts on a robe and moves to the kitchen.
Dove and Almidia had been dating for about three months. To Almidia it was just as exciting and wonderful as the day they first met. Almidia had already quite her job, and took up one at the Apothecary. Devon was of course pleased by this; he had been trying to get her to quit ever since she started.
Almidia got a drink of juice and sat herself down at the kitchen table, finally looking up to the clock above the cabinets. She sighed and went to get ready. Putting on some casual green robes, the kind of drape like clothing that the witches and wizards wore nowadays, she grabbed her purse and left for the Apothecary.
As she walked down the cable stone streets, she heard a voice from behind her. It was Dove’s friend Marcus.
“Well, well, well. Lookie who’s here.” he said with a grin to Almidia, walking up beside her. Marcus lot in life was to torment every second of Almidia’s life with Dove. Marcus fancied Almidia very much, but she was so gullible! He could drive her insane simply by following her for 2 seconds. Marcus loved it.
“Lookie who isn’t.” she said, referring to Dove, and cocking an eyebrow at him. “Good Day Marcus. How is the King of the stockers doing this fine morning?” she asked, worth a small laugh to herself.
“Very funny, Sparrow. For your information, he is doing quite well.”
Almidia smirked, “What do you want oh great king?”
“Nothing more then mere conversation. Have you heard about the latest Merciless fire attack? From what I saw in the paper, it’s a ghastly seane.” Replied Marcus with a tone of uneasiness.
“No, I didn’t,” she replied curiously “What happened?”
“Well from what I read it went like this,” Marcus replied, happy to think that Almidia cared about what he had to say for once, “a family was asked if they had some sort of information, and when they didn’t give them what they wanted, The Cheiftess herself killed all four of them when they wouldn’t speak.” He replied in disgust, “Did it ever occur to that woman that a three year old would have as much information in his brain as a brick wall?!”
The Cheiftess was one of the leaders of the Merciless Fire, the evil group of witches and wizards who wished to claim the world for all its worth. This group includes a long line of leaders, one in particular, The ‘Emperor’, Lowrance van Pelt , who saw himself in the eyes of a great leader such as the roman Emperor, Cesar Augustus, or even compares himself to the likes of Gandhi. The ‘Emperor’ is seen as a very stuck up self absorbed kind of person, who thinks he will be able to claim the world, with one mighty strike, and rule as a ‘dictator of the world’. While doing so, totally rid of all other government other than his.
The woman in whom Marcus was referring, The Cheiftess, is his second in command, Janna Rosencrantz. She is just as self absorbed as van Pelt. She believes that this is the best thing for the world, and for all the people within it. Although her main goal is to ether convert all of the Mudas into witches and wizards, or to rid them of there impure existence.
“They don’t care; it was just another way to parents into talking to them. They probley would have been killed anyhow for simply knowing too much. Or if nothing less, live a life of fear of them coming back to kill them latter.” Almidia replied
“You seem to understand them pretty well” Marcus exclaimed, cocking an eyebrow.
“Let’s just say I somewhat know where they are coming from.”
“So the angel has a dark side, does she? Well I know who can turn that around.”
“If you are referring to Dove you would be correct.” She said with a sense of irritation in her voice.
“Almidia! Would I ever do such a thing? ”
“Why don’t you kiss somebody else’s ass for once?”
“Oh, you never let me enjoy myself.”
Almidia smiled smartly opening the door to the Apothecary, and letting herself inside; Marcus following behind.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on your way out.” Almidia said, as she put her bag on the counter. Dove came up behind her, kissing her on the cheek.
“Hey, I work here if you don’t remember. And get a room would ya!” Marcus replied.
Dove ignored Marcus, and laid his head on Almidia’s shoulder, “I need to run an around or two, I’ll be back shortly. Don’t let cocky here get on your nerves too much.” With that he kissed Almidia one last time and headed for the door, nudging Marcus and he went out the door.
“What’d I do?!” Marcus called at Dove as he walked out the door. He shook his head and went to the back room. Almidia in the meantime started on fixing the old cash register that held all the Muda money.
“Need a hand hun?” asked the voice of Dorno Greason, the owner of the Apothecary and Doves father.
“Oh, nah. I think I got it.” She said as she managed to pull the jammed cash drawer open. “got it…”
Dorno smiled and patted her on the back. “You always seem to know the trick to things now don’t you?”
“You just need to ditch the charms and hexes sometimes and do it the Muda way.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Did you hear about the Merciless Fire attack?”
“Unforchently, yes. Horrible stories, the rumors being spread. Just horrible.”
“I don’t see why the Eliminators can’t do anything about them. God knows they ignore enofe attacks on citizens, like they don’t care. What ever happened to justice?”
The Eliminators were like the Muda policemen, and protecting the magical community, or at least trying too. They haven’t had much luck in the past few years. And to majority of the citizens, it was beginning to get ridiculous. The Merciless Fire were getting stronger and stronger as time when by, and everyone was relying on a source that seemed to ignore every bit of it. But to citizens, such as Almidia, they were of no help at all, even when they were giving credit for it.
“Now, now, they are doing as much as they can. The fire is not the easiest group of people to fight against you know?”
“Maybe to you… now you know good and well Mr. Greason, they are only saying that is what they are doing. Just so they look good in the publics’ eye. They don’t want to be mutinied.”
“I gather you don’t approve of the current government?”
“You could say that yes.” She replied without haste “they never once offered to help when Devon’s parents were killed; like it was just another day, another death. It’s ridiculous! Why can’t they simply follow their own basic laws, and stop making their own just so they can be comfortable in a world full of hate and displeasure.”
“deeeeep.” Interrupted Marcus, as he was now putting jar on a nearby cabinet listening. Almidia simply rolled her eyes at him.
Ignoring Marcus’s comment, Dorno replied, “I do agree they could do more, but, I also believe they are doing something to help.”
“Well I believe you have false hope. I personally stand by my word through and through.” She said as she started replacing money into the now fixed register.
“Naturally you do, and to that opinion, I agree.” He replied with a smile.
“I just don’t understand why they can’t do more to protect us. It’s not only our lives at state, but their’s!”she replied, now throwing coins into there place in the register. “It’s like they want to be in danger.”
“Now I wouldn’t say that. What about when the Emperor was the leader? It was horrible, back when the Eliminators had just started to vanquish the system that we were all stuck in under the Emperors rein. Then the Eliminators were victorious, and now were under the government we are in now.”
“I was in the middle of nowhere in Wales, living with my mother. I was basically confined to that house. Whenever my mother was away getting drunk, or going off on her little crusades, I would sometimes be able to go into the woods to transform, or spend the day at Devon’s house. But that was the extent of it pretty much.” she replied, not wishing to think of those memories at the moment.
“That is a sad way to grow up dear, but it wasn’t much better around here. We are still at war, but with the protection of the Eliminators, we can go on living with much more freedoms; but at a price. There will always be attacks, but we will be safe so long as we keep to ourselves and allow the Eliminators to do their job.”
“Good vs. Evil, love over hate.” She replied with a slight disgust.
“Exactly. You are a very smart girl Almidia; just…keep that in mind. Don’t fall for the tactics of the Fire, and what it has to offer. It is just a pack of lies so that they might get their way.” Dorno replied, recognizing her disgust with the Eliminators as one he used to own.
“And in my opinion Mr. Greason, quite similar tactics are used in the Eliminator system. Honestly Mr. Greson, I don’t trust ether of them. If something miraculous happens that leads me to one side or another, let it be done. But otherwise; I like working off my own opinions when it comes to government and laws.”
Dorno smiled, and nodded, “my son is lucky to have you; you have a mind of your own…”
“, and a mouth that could kill” said Marcus form his station at the shelves.
“A mouth, in which I foresee being to your demise.” Dorno said as he patted Almidia on the shoulder, and went to his office in the back of the shop, shutting the door behind him.
“What does that mean?! Hey! Dorno!” Marcus yelled at the closed door; unsure if he had been threatened, or given a comment.
Almidia smiled, and continued to place change in the register, and Marcus left for the back room in a daze.
About thirty minutes later, they arrived in Xtrilia, a wizarding community not to far off from Nibian.
“I might as well stock up while I’m here” Almidia said, looking around.
“Meet you at Tanzy’s in an hour or so, deal?” Devon replied, looking to her.
“Deal, see you then.” With that, Devon walked away.
Almidia started off to the Apothecary not far from where she was at. It was also one of the few stores that accepted Cracker money. She slowly walked inside the building, picking up the scent of the ingredients within. She walked to a shelf with all different kinds of ingredients and objects on it.
“Witherseed, Witherseed,” she muttered to herself, looking at the various labels. Finally deciding that she couldn’t find it, she walked up to the man at the front desk. “Excuse me, but do you have any idea where I could…” she paused. The man had long brown hair that fell into his eyes, muscles you could spot 50 miles away, and a barb wire tattoo around his upper arm. He’s...gorgeous… she thought to herself, she could no longer speak; she managed to finish her sentence, “…find Witherseed…” she said in awe, looking into his perfect grey eyes. You could get lost in those eyes.
“Uh… were out.” He said slowly. He also had a take on the woman. There was a short pause between them, both daydreaming of one another. I now believe in love at first sight, that’s for sure he thought to himself, he blinked his eyes, and managed to spit out his name,
“Dove Greason.”
“Almidia Sparrow.” She replied, not taking her eyes off of him. She took a breath, and came back to reality, “Nice name…” she said slowly.
“Yeah…I can run to the stock shop and pick up some Witherseed if you need some.” He said hopefully.
“Its okay, I can do without.” She said slowly.
“No, I can go and get some; I have nothing to really do around here. You can even come with if you want…”
“O.k.” she said quickly, with a soft grin on her face.
“Yes…” he said under his breath. “I’m out Dad!” he yelled at a door with a ‘Busy’ sign on it. He grabbed his jacket off a coat rack, slipped it on, and opened the door for Almidia. She slips her hands in her coat pockets, and walked out, a smug smile on her face.
“It’s a ways down the road, hope you like walking.”
“I walked here from Wales; I think I can take a walk.” She said with a small laugh.
He smirked. “So… you live in Wales eh?”
“I used to. I live in Nibian; I was at a friend’s house. I’m actually supposed to meet him in about an hour, but he can wait.” She said with a small smile.
“Really, I do as well.”
Almidia cocked an eyebrow, “nice.”
“So where is your boyfriend, don’t ya think he wouldn’t agree with you hanging out with another guy you hardly know?” he said smartly.
“He’s not my boyfriend, and I don’t have one.’ She said calmly. Now allowing herself to speak in a normal tone of voice. He nodded. They walked in an awkward silence for a while, till they arrived to a fork in the road, Dove turned, Almidia at his tail. There was a small building at the end of the road.
“Here we are.” He walked to the door, and opened it, holding it open for her to enter. She walked inside. There were millions of shelves, full of things. They never seemed to ever end. But none the less Dove seemed to know where he was going.
“Witherseed right?” he asked, walking to a row of shelves, and stopping. Almidia nodded her head in agreement. He looked up, and grabbed a bottle labeled “Madam Lindoo’s Witherseed”
“Thanks.” She said simply. Now what Almidia?! She thought to herself. She looked to her feet then up again, “Well, I’ll be going then…” she said half heartedly.
“Uhh, yeah…ok.” He replied. She started towards the door. About halfway back, Dove called out, “Do you know the small diner in Nibian? The Vine I believe it’s called…”
She stopped, facing the door, “Yes...”
“Meet me there, 1:30, tomorrow.”
Almidia smiled and shook her head. She turned around, and looked to him, “done” and she left for Tanzy’s.
Dove took a deep breath, and sat on a nearby box, he watched her go out the door, and turn the corner.
“Who was that?” a voice whispered into his ear. It was his friend Marcus.
“A girl, a really nice girl.”
Marcus laughed, looking at the dazed look on Doves face.
“So…Dove has found a girlfriend…” Marcus chanted over and over.
Dove smiled, “I’ve known her about an hour, how could she possibly be my girlfriend?”
Marcus sat on the box next to him. “You could pick up any girl you want, and you rarely do; which is beyond me by the way; you like that chick and you know it, The Vine? Come on Dovey Wovey, you go there all the time, do something different for once in your lonely existence.” Dove swung an arm back at him, but Marcus dodged it.
“So what if I might, what’s it to you?”
“Don’t be fresh pretty boy.” Marcus said, blocking another swing, and smiling.
“She’s not only the most beautiful creature I have ever seen, she doesn’t hoe up on me like the girls at the shop do. But I’ll know for sure if I’m right tomorrow.”
“I swear man; you are the only guy I know who would give a damn with a dame like that. I’d be up for a one night stand if I were you.”
Dove cocked an eyebrow, “There’s something different about this girl, I don’t know what yet, but there’s something.”
“And that’s what makes you, you Dovey Wovey.” He stood up and messed up Doves hair “Well if your going to sit there and day dream you might as well be useful. Unpack some of those boxes your fat ass is sittin' on.” Marcus started to walk away, “and you’re paying for that Witherseed.” He said as he left. Dove rolled his eyes, and opened a box. Thinking of the redhead ‘dame’ he had just met.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, Almidia arrived at her friend Tanzy’s house and sure enough Devon and Tanzy were there.
“I didn’t know it took two hours to buy one bottle of Witherseed.” Devon said from the chair he was sitting at in Tanzy’s kitchen.
“I was talking to someone. Who are you, my mother?” she said with a smug grin on her face.
“What are you so up uppity about?” Tanzy said, seating herself next to Devon.
“Nothing.” She lied. She flopped herself on the couch and laid back, closing her eyes and smiling.
“Let’s just say the Apothecary is my new hangout.”
Tanzy rolled her eyes,
“Who’d ya meet?” Devon asked.
“Dove Greason, tall, dark, and handsome.” she replied, eyes still shut tight.
“I just don’t see how you do it.” Tanzy said wonderingly.
“Do what?” said Almidia, daydreaming.
“All you have to do is look at a guy, and you have them under your arm. Are there any guys out there who give a damn about personality anymore?”
“You know that’s not true Tanzy,” Almidia responded,
“Devon, if you didn’t know Almidia one bit, and she did some random thing like drop a book or something, and look at you, wouldn’t you be all over her?” Tanzy interrupted, not paying much attention, Devon was surprised at the sudden question,
“Would I what?” he replied surprised.
“Would you or would you not have a thing for Almidia the first time you saw her?” Tanzy repeated as if it were nothing. Almidia kept her eyes closed tightly, grinning.
“I, I dano!” he studiers.
Along with being Almidia and Devon’s best friend, Tanzy was also Devon’s girlfriend. They had an odd relationship, but none the less loved each other.
“See Almidia he would!” Tanzy said in triumph.
“He said he didn’t know, there is a difference.” Almidia snapped back.
“Oh get a grip, he would and you know it.”
“Hey can I have a say in this?” Devon chimed in.
“No!” both girls said harmoniously. Devon gave up, and sat back in his chair.
“Who said I even asked Dove out anyways? We don’t date or anything.”
“Nobody yet….did you?”
“No!” she paused “He asked me…”
Tanzy started to laugh. Almidia just stayed where she was, that stupid grin on her face. Dove she thought to herself. Beginning to once again, start to daydream…
Chapter 3, The Vine
Almidia woke up that morning at her apartment. Apparently Tanzy had managed to get some alcohol down her throat because she felt horrible. She groggily got up and out of bed, and got ready. After taking a thirty minute shower, she got dressed and looked at the clock on her beside table, it was 1:45! She was late. She grabbed her purse and left in a hurry.
“The Vine, The Vine, ah ha!” she came to a small building with a small sign above it with the restaurants title upon it. She hurriedly walked inside. A small elderly witch was standing at the entrance
“How many?” she said not bothering to look up from the paper she was reading.
“Ummm, I’m supposed to meet someone here, Greason, Dove Greason.” Almidia replied, breathing hard from running.
“There is no Groosy with reservations miss.” The witch replied
“Greason, not Goosy, Greason.” She replied flatly
“Leeson? Sorry their not here ether.”
Getting agitated Almidia replied at the top of her lungs,
“GREASON! DOVE GREASON! I’M ALREADY LATE YOUR JUST ADDING ON TO IT! NOW WILL YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF THERE IS A GRESON WITH A RESERVATION HERE TODAY!”
“Greason! I see, that would be table 1240, follow me miss.” The witch replied, as if she were not even yelled at in the first place
Almidia obeyed, rolling her eyes, and fixing her hair as she did so.
“Your name miss?” the witch asked.
“Almidia, Almidia Sparrow.” they walked to a table at the far end of the restaurant, right next to a large window.
“Lady Almidia Spaz sir”
“Sparrow…” she said through her teeth. Dove was sitting in a chair beside the window, looking out of it.
“Thank you.” he said calmly.
She glared at the witch as she left,
“I’m so sorry.” She said sympathetically, she sat down.
“It’s quite alright, you came.”
“I did.” She said giving him a small smile.
“So…how are you?” he said slowly
“Fine, a little dizzy but fine.”
“Dizzy?” he asked curiously
“My friend Tanzy, I guess thought it would be funny to get Almidia drunk.”
“I see.” He said smartly
“She’s my best friend, but not the smartest.”
He smirked at the comment. “Ah,” a waiter came to their table,
“What shall it be?”
“Just a water, with a lemon on the side, please.” Almidia replied, looking to Dove.
Dove looked to the man “I'll have a steak with some barley on the side.” The waiter nodded and walked away. “How’s the Witherseed?” He asked randomly. He wasn’t the one for small talk.
“I haven’t had the chance to use it yet. But I’m sure it’s superb. How long have you worked at the Apothecary?”
“Since I was 12. It’s been in my family since 1706. Dorno Greason is my father.”
“Impressive. Your father is sweet. I’ve been a costumer of yours for about a year now.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what I’d do without the old cooter.” He said with a smirk “I’m sure your father is just as nice.”
“He was, he died when I was young.”
“My apologies”
“No need. It’s alright.” There was a short silence when the waiter came back to give them their orders. The silence then continued between the two when Dove spoke.
He placed Doves food in front of him and the drink in front of Almidia.
“Would you like a topping to your barley sir?” asked the waiter to Dove
“Yes, Mercico please.”
The waiter snapped his fingers and a bottle of oily green dressing was placed in front of him.
“Thank you.”
The waiter bowed his head to them and walked away. Almidia took the lemon off of the side of her glass and squeezed a little of the juice in her water, and the rest in her mouth. Not really noticing that she had. Dove stopped what he was doing to watch her eat the lemon to shreds.
“How do you do that?” he asked
She looked to him, finally realizing what she was doing; and set the lemon back on her dish. All that was left was the skin.
“Oh, umm, bad habit. I’ve always liked them. I probley am the only one who does though. “
Dove nodded his head. “I see.”
“I used to eat them in front of my friend Devon just to mess with his head. I quite enjoyed it.”
Dove laughed, “It doesn’t grouse me out or anything, its just I don’t see how you do it. I myself can’t stand the taste.”
“It’s an acquired taste I guess.” Almidia replied. “How can you stand barley?”
“I grew up eating the stuff. So I guess that is part of the reason why I like it.”
“I see.” She replied, taking a sip of her drink.
Dove looked at her hands around the glass; her long curvy nails painted a dark auburn. “You’re an Etreel. “, he said looking from her hands.
“Yeah, how’d you know?” she asked, puzzled.
“Your nails. They have a curve at the tip. Of they were thicker you’d be a werewolf.” He said simply.
“Smart.” She replied.
“You have beautiful eyes as well. Do you know that?”
“Thank you, I’ve been told, yes.” she looked to her drink then back up to him. “Mighty fine place The Vine is, eh?” she said after a short pause between them.
“Yeah, I come here pretty often, but rarely with someone else.”
“I should feel special then.” She said with a small smile. He oddly smiled back, in return.
“You were just, different in a way.”
“How do you figure that one?”
“I’ve been with plenty of women who hung around me just for my cash. I just had some odd feeling in the pit of my stomach that you weren’t like that. Yeah, I like the fact that you are…beautiful, but I just see that as a plus.”
Almidia looked at him for a while, in attempt to figure him out. “You are not like any other guy I’ve met either.” She looked at him, hard, “No guy would go that deep, like you actually care.” She said, awestruck.
“I don’t think I have, till now. Is that a bad thing?” He replied.
“It’s not a bad thing, it’s just surprising.”
“Got a few lines in your day huh?” he said with a grin. She nodded.
He leaned back in his chair, “You can second that thought.” He said looking into her eyes, as if he couldn’t leave them. “Up for another walk?”
“Sure.” She said politely. He got up and threw some cash on the table and reached his hand out to help Almidia up. She took it and got up and they left.
Once again they were walking down the road, talking; just about random things that came to mind. About her being and Etreel, and him living with his father and Marcus. It was your typical love story. Like the ones you would find in a soap opera, but with a twist. Nothing went wrong. It was perfect. No angry ex-girlfriend pops out of nowhere and ruins it. They talked as if they had known each other all their lives. As they reached Almidia’s building, they went up the stairs and she stopped at her door.
“Well this is it.” Almidia said. “Do you want to, sit down, have a drink, something?” she said hopefully.
“No, I must be going, it’s late.” He said looking to his feet.
“Ok.” She replied, currently at a loss for words.
“Well….I’ll be going…..” he said looking back to her, catching her eye. They looked at each other, and he lifts her chin……
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morning arises and Almidia wakes up to the sweet smell of roses. She smiles to herself then rises from her bed, puts on a robe and moves to the kitchen.
Dove and Almidia had been dating for about three months. To Almidia it was just as exciting and wonderful as the day they first met. Almidia had already quite her job, and took up one at the Apothecary. Devon was of course pleased by this; he had been trying to get her to quit ever since she started.
Almidia got a drink of juice and sat herself down at the kitchen table, finally looking up to the clock above the cabinets. She sighed and went to get ready. Putting on some casual green robes, the kind of drape like clothing that the witches and wizards wore nowadays, she grabbed her purse and left for the Apothecary.
As she walked down the cable stone streets, she heard a voice from behind her. It was Dove’s friend Marcus.
“Well, well, well. Lookie who’s here.” he said with a grin to Almidia, walking up beside her. Marcus lot in life was to torment every second of Almidia’s life with Dove. Marcus fancied Almidia very much, but she was so gullible! He could drive her insane simply by following her for 2 seconds. Marcus loved it.
“Lookie who isn’t.” she said, referring to Dove, and cocking an eyebrow at him. “Good Day Marcus. How is the King of the stockers doing this fine morning?” she asked, worth a small laugh to herself.
“Very funny, Sparrow. For your information, he is doing quite well.”
Almidia smirked, “What do you want oh great king?”
“Nothing more then mere conversation. Have you heard about the latest Merciless fire attack? From what I saw in the paper, it’s a ghastly seane.” Replied Marcus with a tone of uneasiness.
“No, I didn’t,” she replied curiously “What happened?”
“Well from what I read it went like this,” Marcus replied, happy to think that Almidia cared about what he had to say for once, “a family was asked if they had some sort of information, and when they didn’t give them what they wanted, The Cheiftess herself killed all four of them when they wouldn’t speak.” He replied in disgust, “Did it ever occur to that woman that a three year old would have as much information in his brain as a brick wall?!”
The Cheiftess was one of the leaders of the Merciless Fire, the evil group of witches and wizards who wished to claim the world for all its worth. This group includes a long line of leaders, one in particular, The ‘Emperor’, Lowrance van Pelt , who saw himself in the eyes of a great leader such as the roman Emperor, Cesar Augustus, or even compares himself to the likes of Gandhi. The ‘Emperor’ is seen as a very stuck up self absorbed kind of person, who thinks he will be able to claim the world, with one mighty strike, and rule as a ‘dictator of the world’. While doing so, totally rid of all other government other than his.
The woman in whom Marcus was referring, The Cheiftess, is his second in command, Janna Rosencrantz. She is just as self absorbed as van Pelt. She believes that this is the best thing for the world, and for all the people within it. Although her main goal is to ether convert all of the Mudas into witches and wizards, or to rid them of there impure existence.
“They don’t care; it was just another way to parents into talking to them. They probley would have been killed anyhow for simply knowing too much. Or if nothing less, live a life of fear of them coming back to kill them latter.” Almidia replied
“You seem to understand them pretty well” Marcus exclaimed, cocking an eyebrow.
“Let’s just say I somewhat know where they are coming from.”
“So the angel has a dark side, does she? Well I know who can turn that around.”
“If you are referring to Dove you would be correct.” She said with a sense of irritation in her voice.
“Almidia! Would I ever do such a thing? ”
“Why don’t you kiss somebody else’s ass for once?”
“Oh, you never let me enjoy myself.”
Almidia smiled smartly opening the door to the Apothecary, and letting herself inside; Marcus following behind.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the arse on your way out.” Almidia said, as she put her bag on the counter. Dove came up behind her, kissing her on the cheek.
“Hey, I work here if you don’t remember. And get a room would ya!” Marcus replied.
Dove ignored Marcus, and laid his head on Almidia’s shoulder, “I need to run an around or two, I’ll be back shortly. Don’t let cocky here get on your nerves too much.” With that he kissed Almidia one last time and headed for the door, nudging Marcus and he went out the door.
“What’d I do?!” Marcus called at Dove as he walked out the door. He shook his head and went to the back room. Almidia in the meantime started on fixing the old cash register that held all the Muda money.
“Need a hand hun?” asked the voice of Dorno Greason, the owner of the Apothecary and Doves father.
“Oh, nah. I think I got it.” She said as she managed to pull the jammed cash drawer open. “got it…”
Dorno smiled and patted her on the back. “You always seem to know the trick to things now don’t you?”
“You just need to ditch the charms and hexes sometimes and do it the Muda way.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“Did you hear about the Merciless Fire attack?”
“Unforchently, yes. Horrible stories, the rumors being spread. Just horrible.”
“I don’t see why the Eliminators can’t do anything about them. God knows they ignore enofe attacks on citizens, like they don’t care. What ever happened to justice?”
The Eliminators were like the Muda policemen, and protecting the magical community, or at least trying too. They haven’t had much luck in the past few years. And to majority of the citizens, it was beginning to get ridiculous. The Merciless Fire were getting stronger and stronger as time when by, and everyone was relying on a source that seemed to ignore every bit of it. But to citizens, such as Almidia, they were of no help at all, even when they were giving credit for it.
“Now, now, they are doing as much as they can. The fire is not the easiest group of people to fight against you know?”
“Maybe to you… now you know good and well Mr. Greason, they are only saying that is what they are doing. Just so they look good in the publics’ eye. They don’t want to be mutinied.”
“I gather you don’t approve of the current government?”
“You could say that yes.” She replied without haste “they never once offered to help when Devon’s parents were killed; like it was just another day, another death. It’s ridiculous! Why can’t they simply follow their own basic laws, and stop making their own just so they can be comfortable in a world full of hate and displeasure.”
“deeeeep.” Interrupted Marcus, as he was now putting jar on a nearby cabinet listening. Almidia simply rolled her eyes at him.
Ignoring Marcus’s comment, Dorno replied, “I do agree they could do more, but, I also believe they are doing something to help.”
“Well I believe you have false hope. I personally stand by my word through and through.” She said as she started replacing money into the now fixed register.
“Naturally you do, and to that opinion, I agree.” He replied with a smile.
“I just don’t understand why they can’t do more to protect us. It’s not only our lives at state, but their’s!”she replied, now throwing coins into there place in the register. “It’s like they want to be in danger.”
“Now I wouldn’t say that. What about when the Emperor was the leader? It was horrible, back when the Eliminators had just started to vanquish the system that we were all stuck in under the Emperors rein. Then the Eliminators were victorious, and now were under the government we are in now.”
“I was in the middle of nowhere in Wales, living with my mother. I was basically confined to that house. Whenever my mother was away getting drunk, or going off on her little crusades, I would sometimes be able to go into the woods to transform, or spend the day at Devon’s house. But that was the extent of it pretty much.” she replied, not wishing to think of those memories at the moment.
“That is a sad way to grow up dear, but it wasn’t much better around here. We are still at war, but with the protection of the Eliminators, we can go on living with much more freedoms; but at a price. There will always be attacks, but we will be safe so long as we keep to ourselves and allow the Eliminators to do their job.”
“Good vs. Evil, love over hate.” She replied with a slight disgust.
“Exactly. You are a very smart girl Almidia; just…keep that in mind. Don’t fall for the tactics of the Fire, and what it has to offer. It is just a pack of lies so that they might get their way.” Dorno replied, recognizing her disgust with the Eliminators as one he used to own.
“And in my opinion Mr. Greason, quite similar tactics are used in the Eliminator system. Honestly Mr. Greson, I don’t trust ether of them. If something miraculous happens that leads me to one side or another, let it be done. But otherwise; I like working off my own opinions when it comes to government and laws.”
Dorno smiled, and nodded, “my son is lucky to have you; you have a mind of your own…”
“, and a mouth that could kill” said Marcus form his station at the shelves.
“A mouth, in which I foresee being to your demise.” Dorno said as he patted Almidia on the shoulder, and went to his office in the back of the shop, shutting the door behind him.
“What does that mean?! Hey! Dorno!” Marcus yelled at the closed door; unsure if he had been threatened, or given a comment.
Almidia smiled, and continued to place change in the register, and Marcus left for the back room in a daze.
