The Heinous Prodigies Book Two: The Mischievous Master

Chapter 7: A Meeting With The Seer

Eden looked up at the strange café building where Cravier, the restaurant a few blocks from Paris Enterprises Inc., had been. Alex was as dumbstruck as she was. One of their favorite places around Los Angeles was gone. They’d loved going to Cravier and ordering their specialty, lasagna. What happened to the place and Auntie Ama? She wondered. “Alex, when was the last time you went here?”

He didn’t blink. “A week before the first day of school,” he replied in a hushed manner.

Will looked up at her—a queer thing to do when he used to be the tall one. “What’s wrong with it?” He asked.

“Well, there used to be a different building here.” She ran a hand through her hair. “And Auntie Ama said business had been slow the last time I talked to her.” She sighed. “I should’ve done something.”

Alex pushed open the door and a bell chimed above them. “Let’s check it out. We could at least give the place a chance.”

Eden went behind Alex, Will following silently behind. The air-conditioning inside made her shiver. It was too cold inside… or was it just her? The rest of the customers didn’t seem to mind the temperature. She scooted nearer to Will, glad for his ever present body heat. She warmed up a little; the temperature became more bearable. They wove their way through the narrow aisles, earning curious and dazzled gazes from the customers. Eden bent her head down, trying to hide her face as much as possible. The attention had always been toward Will and Alex. Now it was directed to her and Alex. Gods, how she wished to be back in her normal body.

“The coffee here smells great,” commented Alex.  Eden sniffed the air and knew he was right. It smelled more than great. It smelled as if it were…

“The best!”

Eden almost stumbled behind Will at the sight of the ghastly ginger woman. Her eyes were a mismatched green and blue—the blue one bigger than the other. She was skinny to the bone as if she hadn’t eaten anything in months. She wore the café uniform and held a tray on both of her hands as if she were offering Eden some. “The best coffee in town!” the woman exclaimed again. She offered a cup toward her. “Would you like a free taste, kind sir?”

Will went between them before Eden could answer. “No,” he declined. “My boyfriend’s allergic to coffee. I’m sorry.” Before Eden could protest at the blatant lie, Will grabbed her wrist and marched past the woman.

Eden was about to start an argument with him when she realized something. Will was never a person to do something unless he had a reason. She thought about it for a moment and said, “What’s in the coffee?”

“A faerie potion,” he replied instantly. “That woman’s a faerie hiding behind a wight’s mask. She knows we’re demiangels. If you had drank that coffee, you’d never be able to stop yourself from coming back here ever again.”

Eden swallowed hard. “Thanks,” she squeaked.

Alex whirled around and stopped at an almost empty side of the café, apparently had taken no notice to the exchange between the two of them and the woman. “Well, this place seems nice though I think Cravier’s way better.” He put his hands on his hips. “Has anyone got any idea where A—” Will stepped hard on his foot. Alex bit back a yelp and glared at him. “What was that for, munchkin?”

Will matched it with his own ladylike glare. “If you’re not stupid enough, you don’t go around squabbling about…” He looked around to check if anyone was listening. When he was satisfied no one was, he whispered in the lowest of breaths, “gods in public places.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Dear gods, anyone could be named A—” Will kicked him on the shin. This time, Alex couldn’t hold back his voice anymore. He screamed, filling the whole room with his obvious pain. Everyone turned their attention to them.