1. Macabre Marmalade (COMPLETED; EDITING)

XLII (18.3)

Todor said goodbye to Norman who took the head with him to be disposed off. He went to subway entrance right after that. But just before going underground he took a phone out and called Cassandra.

"What is it, babe?" she answered right away. "Was the first day at work alright?"

"You could say that. I visited the slums and fought hemmomencer to the death in the cave, creating a new spell in the process."

Silence on the other end of the line was total.

"So, it went fine," Cassandra finally said.

"Aye, it went bloody fine. Oh, and Midnight Breeze is planning a coup on the Governor," he added.

"So it went double fine. Now you have an excuse to cave his face in for trashing our living room."

"Oh, it's our living room now? You have something to tell me?"

"Ah, yeah. I was thinking there is no reason for paying two places when I am more at your place than I am at mine," she paused, her breath audible over the phone. "I hope its fine, right? I wanted to ask you but with vampires crashing and all ..."

"It's fine. Its better than fine," he said with a grin. "I am going to take subway right now. See you in a few minutes."

The call ended and he strolled down the stairs with renewed vigor. The train came after two minutes of waiting and he walked in briskly almost crashing into a small person. He looked down and grinned at Mab. The boy looked up and took a step back.

"Ah, sir. Fancy meeting you here," little half-breed stuttered.

"Where are you going squire?" Todor asked happy to see the boy again.

"Well, at your place. Irry and Cass called me, they said we will have a Star Wars night. Whatever that means," he confessed with a slight grin.

"And they didn't tell me about it?"

"Oops, I guess they wanted it to be a surprise and I ruined it," the young man said, shoulders slumping.

"No worries champ. I will not tell them you informed me. You were just doing your duty as a squire for his knight."

Mabs eyes reignited, his chest puffing out. The boy still carried the milky white blade but the elaborate pummel was gone.

"What is this? You changed the basket hilt into crossguard?" Todor asked his inner sword nerd reawakening.

"Ah, yes. Last time we sparred with those wooden swords I realized entire basket hilt was a bit too much. And some of the techniques were easier with a simple cross guard. So I gave the sword to uncle Carl to modify."

"It looks great. We should increase our practice when I deal with my current work."

"Oh, about that. My aunt has been bugging me for days now. She insisted you go meet her," the boy said, shuffling his feet.

The train stopped at the station and few people left leaving only Todor and Mab. The last six stations were in the suburban area where not many people lived.

"She is the Seer, right? One that told you to find Nintendo 64?" Todor asked to buy some time to think.

"Yeah, her. Oh, and I started playing GoldenEye. You were right, it is a fun game."

Todor thought about the Anadori Seer for a few moments before deciding.

"Told you so. Where does your aunt live?"

"Oh, she lives in the street at the last stop of this train. Once you exit go for five minutes. Her house is one with a large garden. Number forty-two."