And Ruin Followed Behind Her

Chapter 10-1

Chapter 10

I woke up to Elka fanning me with an exotic, black fan covered in images of peacocks and cranes. It took a moment for my eyes to refocus on the tearoom, and on the old woman who owned it, whose wings still lit the whole shop aglow.

“Are you alright, sweetheart?” Elka asked me.

I nodded my woozy head. “I think so. This is just a lot to take in.”

“I understand. It’s not every day you’re presented with indisputable proof that something you believed to be fiction is in fact as real as the nose on your face.”

“I think that’s an understatement,” I said, bracing my hands under me. “If you suddenly find out that Nixon wasn’t a corrupt bastard, that’s a fact which you thought was fiction. What you’re talking about is lunacy. Magic—real magic—exists in the world? That’s a mind screw of the highest order. I suppose I owe you that apology now.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Elka reached into her pocket and pulled out a chocolate-covered cookie. “Here. Eat this. You’ll feel better.”

“What is it? Some sort of magic biscuit?”

She shook her head. “No. It’s just chocolate. Your blood sugar is low, and I thought you could use a nosh.”

I took the biscuit from Elka, skeptical that I would start floating around the room at the tiniest bite. Still, who could resist chocolate? I ate the biscuit in a single gulp and quickly became ravenous for more.

Sensing my hunger, Elka pulled a box of chocolates from the shelf and handed them to me. Her bright, blue wings still illuminated the room. “Here. On the house.”

*