A man and a doll sort through a pile of folders in their living room. They’ve been going through the files all night. and Nicki felt they were making barely any progress a headache forming behind his eyes. His world changed with the Drystia’s actions. There had never been an instance of anything like she did, but he didn’t read the file. Though he felt he could if he only reached out. It would never bring the man back but he could sat least see why.

He didn’t want to know if it was enough for Drystia to utterly destroy a man, body, and soul. It must have been completely horrendous. His mind went through a thousand horrible things and was glad he wasn't the one to meet the man. Would he have been strong enough to destroy him, and keep him from adding more misery? He hoped he would never have to find out. Based on some of the harder choices he’d have to make so far Nicki expected he would need to make the same choice soon enough.

For now, though the two were going through the files trying to sort out the truly despicable, from the good to the morally gray. Some of the people had simply aged out of there crimes, or they had been long forgotten. Some had even tried to redeem themselves. It was an ever-increasing argument as they sorted.

“Just cause he started a foundation saving dogs doesn’t excuse what he did to them as a teen,” Drystia said tossing the file in the evil pile.

Nicki grabbed it, tossing it into the gray pile, “Yes, but how many has he saved? And, he’s shown genuine remorse trying to make up for it for years.”

“Fine. What about this one? He poisoned his wife and killed her. A year ago.”

“I have no idea how to feel about that one. In his head he was doing the right thing, her asking him to do it. But I think he would live with that through the next life, or you could give him a clean rebirth.” It was too much to think about and some of the crimes made his heart hurt. As Drystia tossed that one on the gray pile which was the largest of the three.

“Why are all these so complicated?”

“Life is complicated.”

Nicki knew that better than most. Just surviving middle school. The kids around him had been absolute monsters. It was only in his twenties that he thought back to those days and looked at his own behavior. At the time he thought he was a victim and a bit of a loner, but he was also purposefully confrontational and wasn’t the nicest to some of the other kids joining right in on name-calling. I wonder who saw me as their monster?

“I don’t know how to feel about this one.” She said tossing a folder for a man named Raiji.

“Whats this one?”

“Just read it.”

Opening the file he learned of a man who seemed normal. Took care of his parents and siblings, who lived with him. Always made sure to help those around them. Volunteered a couple times of year at a soup kitchen or the animal shelter. So far he didn't see anything that wouldn’t put him in the good pile, until he got to the end. He was stealing meds, and not to use them. He just didn’t think the residents deserved them. He reveled in messing with them, and only the ones under his care. It was like as soon as he had someone powerless to him he became a bit of a monster.

“What the hell? Some kind of power trip? Or was this his first touch of freedom?” He wondered aloud. “Gray?

“Possibly evil?” Drystia chimed, “He was getting worse.”

“Not beyond redemption.” After a slight pause, “I think.”

#

In a place filled with the smell of coffee, sugar, and many things in between. A place many go to simply wake up. A woman is leaning against a counter, constantly going between annoyed and curious about her not-so-human friend who was just finishing an order.

“Don’t you have work?” Lilly asked from behind the counter her hair frizzy from all the steam, and lack of sleep.

“Not today.” Seeing that she was alone with only her other co-worker who Alice was realizing also wasn’t quite human, she asked. “So can you like, see magic like I can now?

“I’m glad you’re not angry anymore.”

Was she? “Less angry.”

Lilly rolled her eyes, “Less angry but do you have to do this here?”

The other baristas were visibly eavesdropping hiding smiles under their masks. Not even trying to hide their interest.

“Why not?” Alice said smiling, “They seem to be getting a kick out of it.” Not to mention they might answer something you won’t.

The girl turned glaring. The others just laughed as they made customers coffee. “Yes and no. To answer your question. We can see past the mundane but not necessarily magic. And not everyone can even see that far."

“So do you have your own magic?”

“Eh kinda, more like pick-me-ups.” She said grabbing an empty coffee cup. “We get someone’s name and we get more energy for about a few days. Another way, if we get no name for a while we get tired, lethargic, possibly depressed.”

“I always wonder led how you did a double shift than a rave and not seem worse for wear.” This was starting to explain so much about her. Always up for something. Always energetic, it also explained why she was so manic in school, always forgetting people’s names.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I mean that’s not all to it but it is the gist, and I’d have to burn off the excess energy somehow. Why not while dancing.” Lilly continued to move around mixing the drink.

Now the big question. “So what are you?”

“Fae.” She answered simply and directly.

Alice had been expecting some kind of deflection or misdirection until she remembered, “That’s a bit of a broad term, doesn't that include goblins, nymphs, gnomes, fairies, dryads, etc, etc?”

Lilly snorted, “Someone’s been doing research. It’s broad because none of us know the specifics. At least not what anyone can prove.”

“Huh?”

“Magic is—” Lilly trailed off, finishing the coffee, “Latte for Mike!” She yelled as a man grabbed the drink and left. “So the best way to say is magic around us does exist but its stagnant. And stagnant mana, at least according to my parents, is filled with pollution and impurities, without movement none of the magic people can use their innate gifts effectively, and also diminishes our non-human traits.” Alice could see Lilly frustrated as she said all this. Imagine knowing you could do so much yet not have the ability thanks to nothing you did except for the world itself. This was fascinating as Lilly continued. “Supposedly when there was more magic we could do more and even had power. Now we can help plant growth, or give people, or ourselves a bit more energy otherwise we're essentially human.”

A few of the baristas nodded along.

If they could see, then there was the real question she needed an answer to. “So why could no one else see the girl?” Surely someone had to have had the same sight as her. She hadn’t even read the book

“If you don’t have mana you can’t even see it, even if you do not have enough to see it all the time. Heck, half the magic races don’t even know they are a bit more than human.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Even some of the ones who can see like us think we’re just a slightly different race of human.”

Taking it all in she had started to wonder how they simply ran under the radar, and it was all making way too much sense to Alice, “So what else is there? You know that’s actually magical.”

“Psychic dogs.” She said with a shit-eating grin.

“What now?”

“Psychic dogs. Only people with a ton of mana can hear them though.”

“Does being able to use mana get mixed with schizophrenia a lot?”

“Yes.”

“So—” Alice began before catching sight of Nicki causally walking up to the door. Panicked she jumped behind the counter to Lilly’s annoyance.

“Alice you can't just—”

“Please?” She asked desperately.

Lilly sighed before turning to the man she had stolen a book from.

#

#

Head pounding, Nicki opens the door to a cafe. One he kind of forgot his favorite plucky barista, he had some confusing feelings to work out, worked at. He didn’t notice the woman jumping over the counter, or that the woman herself was behind the counter.

“What can I get you?”

Every word pounded through his head, as he berated himself once again for going cold turkey on the caffeine. He could have simply made a coffee at home except he didn’t have any nor a coffee maker. He counted the ones in the office as separate, sure there was plenty there but it never seemed to hit right. Now he was paying for it as he stood there staring at the clean wood surface.

“Hello?”

“Huh?” Nicki opened his eyes as they widened, a bit of panic shooting through him.

“I asked what can I get you.” Her smile turned predatory, “Now that I look closer I’m wondering if you’re following me.”

It took a minute for her words to pierce his broken head, then another to remember what she was referring to. That was just yesterday. Head still cloudy he answered, "No. I just want a coffee. Kinda forgot you worked here."

“Ouch.” She pretended to be hurt, “And I thought I was unforgettable.”

Catching a little flower in her dark green hair, “Like a flower in the forest.”

Lilly blinked caught off guard by his response stunning her into silence

"Just a large latte, please. Name Nick" He said succinctly trying to move past the moment feeling his face blush as he tried to close his eyes against the light. He just wanted to go home and lie down.

“Ok, Mr. Smooth Talker. That'll be $6.50.” Her tone changed to a bit more playful.

Completely missing the tone, he paid, found a table, and sat down with his head in his hands trying to will his migraine away. With it not working he, out of curiosity, pulled out his little desire compass and watched as it jumped between Lilly, the coffee machines, and somewhere in between. Am I really that into her? The compass was telling him he desired her more than the book. It was not what he was expecting or needed at the moment. Besides it wasn't like she was into him. He looked over catching her looking at him before turning back to making his drink. Great. I’m one of those creeps who crushes on the barista’s now. Completely ignoring the fact he probably was already but that was neither here nor there.

"Latte for Nick!" Lilly yelled holding out his coffee. He stood and grabbed the cup only for her to stop him with a question.

“Flower in the forest?

“Rare and all the more beautiful when stumbled upon,” Nicki said simply, as to him he was just answering a question. If he was looking at Lilly you’d see her face growing red, instead, he was focused on his drink.

“Damn. I am single, hint hint.”

Nicki’s brain screeched to a halt. No fucking way. "Then, can I get your number?"

“Su-Ow!” a loud knock could be heard. “Sorry. No.” She sounded disappointed.

“Go out sometime then?” He gave it another shot. Trying to figure out what she was hinting at.

Another knock, "Stop.” She said through gritted teeth. “I mean maybe, you've got me curious."

“I have absolutely no idea what to do with that.” Nicki’s head is now in more pain than before. Without thinking too much he simply left. Turning back one last look towards Lilly, she smiled and waved.

#

“You can come out now. Your victim is gone.”

Alice fought her way out from under the counter her foot caught on a support. “The hell was that Lilly?” She ignored the jab and focused on her friend hitting on the probably dangerous guy whom she stole a very powerful book from.

“What?” She feigned innocence “He was kind of cute. And that line about a flower in the forest.” She shivered, “Gave me chills.”

“Seriously, Lilly, since when do you fall for a line like that?”

She laughed, “Not about the line.” She said seriously, “It was the delivery, also he's gotten all mysterious with you ducking behind the counter and him showing up at the house. I’m curious.”

“He was there because of the book.” She said not knowing how to deal with her at the moment. “Is this for yesterday?”

She shrugged, “Probably. Now have you thought of giving the book back? You wouldn’t have to hide anymore and he might even explain more about it.”

“The book does that well enough.”

“I thought you could only read the first page?”

For like the month. I was able to turn the page. after the first page, there are about ten pages unlocked to me, and it is fascinating. It’s filled with detailed instructions on learning magic.” She leaned in close making sure only Alice could hear. “I think as I learn more it will open more pages.”

Lilly raised an eyebrow, “Can I take a look?”

Alice smiled happy to have someone else join her on this insanity, “After work. The first page literally knocks you out.”

“No melatonin for me tonight.”

* * *