My fingers wrapped around the mug of basic coffee as I sat at the counter. Breakfast had been simple, just some oatmeal with chocolate chips in it. Indigo now zoomed around the store, flying better than she had before.
“Chocolate is the best,” she sang as she flew.
The Cat’s eyes tracked her, but he said nothing in response. Instead, he finished up his own teacup and turned toward me.
I nodded without him even asking the question. Since he had said nothing about Indigo, I assumed she was free to fly about today. The only thing missing from the shop’s Earth mode was the children’s section. Instead, there were some wingback chairs set around for people to sit and read in.
The big table in the center of the store still sat covered in books.
Sunlight streamed in from the skylights and the front window, yet a breeze blew across the outside as dead leaves floated past. Whatever world this was, it was late fall or early winter. I shivered and took a sip of my coffee. It was way too early to be thinking of winter, though pretty quick here the harvest holiday would be upon us.
That was another thing I didn’t want to think about. I needed to call my mom and be blunt that I wasn’t going to make it. No caramel apples or cider donuts for me. My stomach rumbled, and I wondered if I could get the bakery we ordered stuff from to make some cider donuts.
The bells rang on the door and snapped me back to attention. Indigo pivoted in the air and headed toward the counter. The man paused just inside the door, letting the icy breeze in. His eyes locked on the little dragon.
“Welcome to Meow,” I said with a smile. “Carter, can you close the door?”
His cheeks turned a little red as he stepped the rest of the way inside and let it shut. “Sorry about that, the little dragon surprised me.”
I couldn’t believe I had recognized the man, but he wore the same uniform as last time. Though, the aura surrounding him had increased substantially. That same draw to stare that the angel had now completely covered him.
Indigo chirped as she landed. “Magic, he has magic.”
The Cat couldn’t resist chuckling. “Looks like they beat the Demon King after all.”
It came back to me as Carter approached. The price for the boots had been a feather after they had beat the Demon King. At the time, I hadn’t really thought it was a thing. Now? The talk of Demon Kings worried me, for Indigo’s sake.
“Let me make you a coffee. Americano?” I asked.
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“Yes, please,” he gazed around the shop, but his eyes kept going back to Indigo. “I don’t mean to stare, but I’ve never seen a little dragon before.”
Indigo stretched out her wings all the way, giving him a good look. If she had been human, I’d say she was flirting with him. She padded closer to him.
She nodded, and he scratched under her chin.
I chuckled as I made him an Americano in a to-go cup. “So, I take it you finished whatever the Cat said you would?” Fresh chapters posted on NoveI★Fire.net
“Thank the Fates we did,” he said with a frown, shaking his head. “Betha did most of the work, along with something related to your friend here, something called a dragnus. The Demon King is dead, and the portals between the worlds are being guarded by gargoyles again.” He eyes landed on the Cat. “Though, I’m guessing you knew that would happen.”
“You can tell him I didn’t, but I hoped they would solve the problem.”
I set the to-go cup in front of him. “He hoped, but you exceeded expectations.” I paused then, really looked at him. “Are you okay?” I motioned to him. “You feel different. Not that it’s a bad thing, but I know that sometimes injuries don’t show on the outside.” Normally, I wouldn’t ask something like that, but I just had a feeling that something was up with him.
“I’m good, and I have a good friend who’s getting trained in that sort of thing. We’re chatting…” He gave me a bright smile and pulled away from Indigo. “Though, I owe you a feather.”
Now that he was here, I really wanted to tell him the deal was off. Though, I couldn’t make that call, only the Cat could. It was his deal after all.
One moment Carter stood there looking like a buff army guy, the next a bright gold light shimmered into view and wings appeared behind him. The white feathers had a touch of gold along the edges. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Magic streamed off him, and Indigo took a step back, her little eyes wide.
“It happened, then,” muttered the Cat, almost too quiet for me to hear.
Carter reached over and pulled carefully on one of the lower feathers. It came free in his hand. Then the wings faded out of view.
I knew I wouldn’t forget the sight.
He held the feather out toward me. “Here you go, though I need to warn you. I don’t know what good it will do. While feathers from archangels have power, I’m not an archangel…”
The Cat nudged me after a few seconds and I realized I hadn’t moved, just standing there staring. “Sorry, I hadn’t seen an angel before.” I chuckled weakly as I took the feather carefully from him. “See something new every day, right?”
Carter laughed. “That’s how I feel about the little dragon…”
“Indigo. Her name is Indigo.”
She chirped twice and stepped closer again. “He had wings! Can he fly? Can you get wings?”
The Cat moved toward Indigo, and her head snapped to pay attention. Whatever he said to her I couldn’t hear it.
“Well, it was nice to meet you Indigo, and those boots saved Betha’s life more than once.”
“I got a pair for my birthday. They are pretty amazing.”
He nodded and took a sip of his coffee. “Well, I need to get back. Thank you both again.”
Then he strode out the door.
“What do I do with this?” I asked.
“Hold on to it till the next dragon lesson, then ask if they can attach it to your necklace. It’s very powerful magic,” replied the Cat.
“A real freaking angel,” I muttered, staring at the feather in my hands.
“Archangel, actually, or he will be soon,” added the Cat. “He just doesn’t know it yet.”