EPISODE THIRTY-FOUR

Indigo was right where I left her, and it made me smile. I grabbed my laptop and added a few things to my cart for delivery. They would make the next couple of days easier for her, especially if this would take a while before she woke up. I leaned back in my chair, pulling up the last email from my mom.

It mentioned Cyan's birthday, and I already knew I'd send him some book, so I wasn't worried about that. This was the first family birthday I'd miss. I texted my mom and asked if she was available for a video call, since I had some time. A notification that I had an incoming video call on my laptop popped up, and I opened it up after making sure my bed wasn't in the frame. I didn't need mom to see Indigo.

"Hey honey!" Her voice sounded just like always.

"Hey Mom," I replied. "I got your email and just wanted to chat. How are things going with planning for Cyan's party?"

She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "He doesn't want one. Instead, all the boys decided they will celebrate on one day this year to make sure you can visit. Somehow all of them agreed after his visit with you."

My mind froze for a second as I tried to process that. My brothers loved having birthday celebrations separately. It helped that they were mostly spread out over the year, and they were great excuses for the family to gather. Yet, Cyan had somehow gotten them all to agree to have one celebration. What the heck was going on?

"So, this wasn't your doing?" asked my mom.

"Not at all," I muttered. "I'm a little in shock." I leaned back in my chair, wondering if I needed to call him next. "Are you still doing monthly dinners?"

"Of course," she said. "There isn't a chance I'd stop doing monthly BBQ's, roasts and such. It's the only time Umber lets me go all-out. Otherwise, he’s always dropping off some food or a little something for us to try." Her dark eyes searched over me. "You're looking good. Is the job still going well? You haven't mentioned much in your emails."

I nodded. "It isn't too exciting. A bookshop is a bookshop, but I do like getting to plan out specials. Plus, I'm learning how to bake cookies."

My mom flinched.

"Don't worry, the dough is already made. Though, I have learned how to cook some things." My mom knew I wasn't handy in the kitchen, though I was proud of the progress I'd made so far at teaching myself. Now I could handle things like tacos, steaks, and some stir-frys, all with reasonably edible results..

She nodded, but her lips tightened into a line. "Do you think you'll be home for the holidays? The winter solstice is your favorite." She paused then added, "Maybe save up your vacation days, so you can spend a day here?"

I didn't want to destroy the hope on my mother's face, even though I knew I couldn’t do what she asked. "I can talk to my boss and see what he says, but don't get your hopes up." We had plenty of time before the winter came crashing down, though it was hard for me to keep track. Time passed by differently in the shop, and by default I didn't think we were on Earth. Or if we were, it was always in a sunny warm location on my days off so I could enjoy the rooftop deck.

"Oh, shucks," said my mom. "Your dad’s calling. I better answer that. We miss you and love you."

"I love and miss you too, mom."

The call ended and I let out a sigh. I had time to figure this out.

#

This damn place. Every time Sable tried to have a private conversation with her family, it made sure I was nearby. I knew she had a family that loved her and they wanted her to visit. It wasn't like I was the one who enforced the contract. Yes, she’d signed it, and so did I, but the rules were more than that. I stayed sitting on the carpet outside her room, hoping the conversation would go quickly.

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When she’d asked about my family, everything inside of me had thought of my children, and the war they now faced. I shuddered, praying that they would survive and, someday, maybe even forgive me. The urging I felt from the shop was to find out some way to bend the rules. To be the person I was before, that had gotten me into all this, and find a way to allow a visit.

Too many things to do. I had to keep the baby dragon safe, figure out a way around the rules for the holidays, and most importantly keep Sable safe. Even now, I felt the icy darkness trying to break from its chains, calling. It had been quiet, but bringing the book dragon in had slowly awakened it.

That worried me. Its energy needed to be drained faster.

Whatever that creature had wanted to do with the book and the book dragon, the book knew about it. Somehow.

#

After lunch I waited behind the counter for the deliveries. It was the last thing on the list for today, and it was on Earth. The Cat wasn't anywhere to be seen, and I left Indigo upstairs, sleeping. I even checked the chair by the front window, but the Cat wasn't napping. Indigo hadn't stirred during the call with my mom, or when I’d made sure she was still tucked cozy under the heated blanket.

The door jingled open and in walked John with a large box. He flashed his too-white smile at me. "I got a ton of boxes for you today." He set the first one on the counter and then turned to head back to the door. The door had stuck open, and he kept going.

The first box had to be the normal stuff, since it wasn't big enough for the things I had gotten. Then John brought in a much bigger box and my eyes widened. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

"I have one more in the truck. You definitely piled everything up for one day," he said.

I quickly pulled out a to-go cup and ground some beans for an Americano. As John walked in with the last box, I poured the hot water into the cup. "Would you like cream or sugar in your coffee?" I asked.

He smiled again, setting the last box down on the floor next to the big one. "Some sugar would be perfect. How are things working out with this place? I haven't been stopping is as much as normal."

I shrugged. "Business is good, we had some fun events, you know how it goes." I added some sugar and gave it a stir before putting a lid on top. "Here you go." I set the cup on the counter in front of him, but his eyes wandered around the shop before landing back on me. They were a bright green, but I could have sworn last time they were brown.

"How about we go out sometime?" he asked.

The hair on the back of my neck rose, and everything inside me wanted to take a step back. He reached out and grabbed my hand, which was still on the counter. My skin turned icy at the contact, and I wanted to scream.

His eyes almost glowed, his lips parted, and sharp teeth flickered in and out of existence.

A roar came from above and a bright gold light jumped from the railing, aiming directly for John. "Close your eyes, Sable!"

I snapped my eyes shut and jerked back, crashing to the floor. The shop shook and something roared again. Then it went silent.

"Sable, are you okay?" asked the cat.

I blinked, then glanced up from where I was on the floor. He sat on the counter, staring down at me. Quickly, I climbed to my feet. "What was that?" I ignored his question for the moment. I didn't even know how to think about it, much less answer it. And I had no idea how to think about what had just happened, either.

"Not John," said the Cat. "He's outside on the sidewalk. It looks like he slipped and got knocked out."

"Wait, what?" I asked. My eyes went to the window, but it was hard to see outside if you weren't right in front of it. The guy who had been in the shop was gone. "What happened to the not-John?"

"You don't need to worry about him anymore," said the cat. "Are you okay?" He moved closer to me, rubbing his side along my arm on the counter.

"I think so. He made me feel cold, like I couldn't do anything," I whispered.

The Cat nodded and leaned up against me. "I am sorry I wasn't down here."

"Not your fault," I said, picking the cat up. "Not at all. It should have been a normal delivery, just stuff from online shopping." I shivered and cuddled the cat closer. "Thankfully, Indigo is sleeping. I wouldn't want her around something like that."

#

Sable held me close, and I could feel the ground get solid under her feet. Anger still rolled through me. That creature dared touch her, touch my Shopkeeper! He would suffer, slowly. I could feel him under the floorboards, the shop containing him in a cell for the moment. It was far away from where the book was located. The cold that rose from him was too similar to take any chances. I purred in Sable's arms, doing my best to calm down, and help her calm down.

"Cat, who was that? What was that?" she asked, quietly.

"I will find out."

It was in the rules, after all. It was even the first rule: Do Not Upset the Cat.