Nyssa:

Del approached her a little while later after he pretended to shop for a while. Nivedita was in the back office making frantic phone calls to some of her Real World contacts, trying to figure out why the Caul would be snooping around her small shop.

“Excuse me,” he said in his clipped, well-modulated accent. “Could you please help me with these?” He offered the half dozen rocks he’d collected to her. “What do they do?”

Up close Nyssa was able to study Del more closely. He wasn’t as old as she expected, barely more than twenty or so. His expression was unchanging but dark eyes seemed to hide old grief. The creases between his brows and the stiff line of his jaw read like a book.

Clench your teeth and push forward. Keep going. I am alright.

She liked him, she decided.

That was not necessarily a good thing for him. Nyssa gave him a grin, showing slightly pointed canines.

“This would be good for you, I think.” She chose a necklace with a chunk of polished, petrified wood hanging from it. “Helps with inner harmony and relieves worries. Also, it calms the nerves and helps muscle healing.” Her eyes flickered to his left leg, the one he was subtly keeping his weight off.

Del made a small noise in the back of his throat. She could tell she surprised him with her quick perusal of his character and observance. She picked up a box of essential oils waiting to be put on the shelves and began restocking.

“What does this one do?” he asked, trailing a finger over the small lump of purple fairy quartz hanging from her ear. His finger brushed against her jaw and she reacted automatically, slapping his hand away.

“No touching,” she said, like she would to a misbehaving dog, pointing her finger sternly at his face. He didn’t smile, but his eyes crinkled like he found her amusing.

“Forgive me,” he said, inclining his head formally.

Jeez, is this guy for real?

“What is your name, girl?” he asked softly.

“I’m going to stop you right here,” she said, placing a bottle on the shelf with a sharp clink. “This,” she gestured to the man, “is a really great pitch. Not the one I was expecting, if I'm honest. Regardless, whatever you're selling, I ain't buying.”

The stranger quirked a questioning eyebrow but Nyssa knew that he understood her. His neatly cropped hair refused to be ruffled by the slight breeze coming from the open door.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“What do you mean, girl?” His attempt at confusion was almost laughable to someone like her.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love this tall, dark and misunderstood thing you got going. The ‘sullen angst’ look really works for you.” Her eye’s flickered appreciatively over his tall figure. “Alas, I remain unconvinced.”

His eyes glinted with amusement as if she had made a joke. “I’m not hitting on you, I’m just shopping.” He held up his clutch of crystal necklaces as proof.

Nyssa was not amused. She set her face in a serious glare.

“I’m not joining The Wild Hunt,” she said, deliberately using the offensive nickname to get a rise out of him. Some of the People had given the Caul this nickname centuries ago and it had stuck. It had even leaked into regular human’s folklore like a lot of the Real World did. The slight annoyed quirk of his mouth at the nickname confirmed that he was Caul. “It doesn’t matter how prettily they wrap up the offer.” Her eyes once again danced over the man’s broad shoulders and dark features. She brushed past him, heading towards the exit. She allowed one hand to trail over his chest - the highest she could comfortably reach on him - as she made what was supposed to be a dramatic exit.

Del had other ideas.

He snagged her wrist gently before she could flounce away, his fingers warm and firm.

“You need to come with me, girl,” he said earnestly.

“I don't need to do anything.” She was indignant. She knew that sometimes her kind of abilities could be unruly. There were many stories of Caul losing control but Nyssa was quite capable of taking care of herself. She’d lived with her abilities since she was thirteen. She’d learned to handle them herself and she didn’t need the Caul to save her.

“It’s dangerous for you to be on your own,” Del said, tightening his grip on her wrist. She pulled her arm from his grip and he let her go. He could force her to go with him, she knew, but he wouldn’t.

“I don’t need your help, Superman.” She didn’t look at him.

“I’ll be back in a week,” he said, ignoring her protests. “Be ready to leave with me.” He breezed past her, discarding the necklaces he still held on the desk and leaving.

Nyssa sighed, watching his back as he disappeared down the street.

“Fat chance, Superman.”

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I decided to do an extra upload this week because Monday's post wasn't very long and the next post wont be particularly long either, but you meet a new character which is exciting.