Runaway Mate

Chapter 9

Nessa/Raine

As soon as she stepped into the diner she noticed it was still empty. Glenn was gone; probably gone back to his bus; Sylvia was sitting in a booth staring out of the window and watching the rain fall outside and Agnes was behind the counter, bustling about it with her tea towel.

Agnes noticed her almost immediately and gave her a toothy smile.

“Good, they fit.” She beamed. “I was afraid I would get your size wrong, you’re so skinny! But a plate of my famous pancakes will fix that!” She winked and then disappeared into the kitchen.

Nessa smiled at her kindness and then turned back to look at Sylvia. She noticed that the silver-haired woman was now wearing a summery dress with large sunflowers printed on it. She was still bare foot but Nessa was just happy that she had actually put something on to cover her modesty.

She sucked in a slow and steady breath before making her way over to Sylvia and sliding into the booth, sitting across from her. Sylvia just kept staring out of the window and didn’t even acknowledge Nessa, which began to irritate her as the minutes ticked by.

“So?” She finally said, unable to bear the silence much longer. To her annoyance, she saw Sylvia smirk and still not turning to face her.

“So?” The silver-haired woman repeated, mimicking her.

“You said we had things to discuss and I’d like to get this over with quickly!” Nessa huffed, crossing her arms over her chest to show her displeasure.

Still, Sylvia did not acknowledge her and continued staring out of the window with a smirk on her face. Nessa had had just about enough of this ridiculous and childish behaviour and was about to get up and leave when Sylvia finally started to speak up.

“I had a strange dream…” She breathed, still not daring to look at Nessa. But she did notice that her smirk had dropped and she had an almost melancholic look on her face. As though she were seeing something that was beyond the view outside.

“Uh-huh?” Nessa settled down again and didn’t take her eyes from Sylvia.

“It happened when I came to town…I saw a young woman dressed all in white, locked away in a cage…” Nessa tensed at these words, but said nothing as she waited for her to continue. “Trapped by destiny… a destiny she didn't want...she escaped the cage, but she could only make it so far alone…she needed help, otherwise her destiny would track her down and cage her once again…and this time there would be no escape…” She turned to look Nessa in the eye, her yellow orbs locking onto her sapphire ones. “I had to help her, I have a feeling about her…that she is more than she makes her self-appear. She intrigues me and I find myself drawn in, as though my own destiny is whispering to me to follow her…” She finished, contently watching as Nessa’s mouth fell open.

“What are you?” Nessa whispered and wasn’t surprised that she could hear her.

“You’re a smart girl.” Sylvia smiled. “I’m sure you can already guess.”

Nessa nodded, she had already been considering it and she thought she knew.

“A…a were-cat…” She mumbled, earning a larger smile from Sylvia as her eyes lit up urging Nessa to continue. “But you are also clairvoyant, not strong enough to see visions while awake…but enough to see them when you are asleep...” She licked her lips before continuing to voice her theories. “Not a full Seer, but perhaps a distant ancestor who was…”

Sylvia grinned. “I knew it; you’re the girl from the dream and you meet expectations.” She purred.

Nessa swallowed nervously.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Our meeting today was preordained. We are supposed to find one another.” Sylvia looked almost excited, but these words made Nessa tense.

“What? How? Why?” She stuttered.

“Don’t know yet.” Sylvia shrugged. “But I guess we’ll find out sooner or later.” She grinned.

“I’m not staying!” Nessa instantly came to her own defence. “I have to leave and find…find somewhere else.” She swallowed the painful lump in her throat. The thought of having to find a new home is always painful, especially when you’re coming from the perfect home. She was trying to push Sylvia away; she didn’t need more people getting involved and hurt because of her.

“That’s fine. This place is super boring anyway. We’ll be traveling buddies!” She chuckled excitedly.

She wasn’t giving up anytime soon. Nessa sighed and ran a hand through her newly shortened hair.

“Look, it’s a bad idea to follow me! You’ll get hurt!” Nessa tried to explain.

“Doesn’t bother me!” Sylvia shrugged and before Nessa could try to convince her again, she cut in. “Look, it’s been decided, someone somewhere wants us to stick together! The universe has spoken!” She playfully banged her hand on the table, like it was a gavel or something.

Nessa considered her for a moment. She clearly wasn’t gonna budge on her decision to follow her and the thought of having a travelling companion was tempting. Being on the run by yourself is always extremely boring. Plus, if it doesn’t work out, she could always just leave her behind somewhere. She found herself talking herself into it.

“Fine!” She finally groaned, giving in. “But it’ll be dangerous!” She warned.

“That’s fine, I live for danger! Makes life more interesting.” She chuckled, her eyes lighting up again.

There was no more room for discussion as Agnes suddenly bustled over to them with a tray. The smell of freshly cooked pancakes wafting along with her and made Nessa’s stomach growl and her mouth water.

“One pancake special!” She announced cheerfully, placing a large stack of pancakes covered in strawberries and syrup on the table in front of Nessa. She placed some cutlery and a glass of water beside the plate too, but Nessa’s full attention was on the glorious pancakes.

She had only snapped out of her pancake trance when Agnes slammed something down on the table. She looked up and saw what looked like a glass of milk being put in front of Sylvia.

“Cream, for the feline!” Agnes muttered with a hint of annoyance.

Sylvia just glared at her as she bustled away again and disappeared into the kitchen.

Sylvia turned her attention back on to Nessa and smiled. She picked up her glass of thick looking cream, making Nessa wince a bit at even the idea of drinking something so rich and creamy, and she raised her glass.

Nessa quickly got the hint and picked up her glass of water and raised it up as well, earning her a bigger smile from Sylvia.

“To our new adventure together.” Sylvia cheered and clinked the glasses together, making Nessa smile back at her enjoyment of the idea of travelling and running together.

Maybe her new adventure with Sylvia wouldn’t be as bad as she thought it would. Only time will tell.