The Elemental Connection

Chapter 2

Aeris collected all the containers and walked to the front to stock the additive case. She smiled at Esper and Rue as they were busy attending to customers. The door to the shop opened, and a slight chill went down Aeris's spine. A dark feeling crept its way up to her gut. She frowned and turned to the door. The man from the building next door walked in. He had two others behind him. A tall lanky man with skin the color of umber and shockingly bright gray eyes and a gorgeous curvy woman with bright red hair and dark brown eyes. Aeris narrowed her eyes as the trio walked up to the counter. She tapped Esper and motioned her to back away.

"Wow, never been to an all-supernatural café before," the man with the scar said as his company browsed the case full of treats. His words made Aeris look at them all again. She crossed her arms but kept silent as she raised an eyebrow. "I was hoping we could introduce ourselves as we didn't get the chance to a little while ago." He reached out to shake Aeris's hand, but she just kept her arms crossed.

"Given how you are able to keep your glamour up since walking into my café, I can guess you have either a third degree witch or a member of the fae with you," Aeris motioned to the woman, who looked up at Aeris with a smirk. Aeris looked at her with a slight grimace.

"I didn't know you had this place spelled for that sort of thing," the man replied, pulling his hand back and putting them in his front pockets. He studied Aeris for a second before shrugging. "I guess that means our business won't be needed here."

"Business?" Aeris asked as Esper crept around her to see if the other two people needed anything. Aeris shook her head and Esper quickly rushed to the kitchen. Aeris sighed but looked pointedly at the man. "How about you have your witch drop the glamour and then we can talk more. This place is safe from prying eyes."

"Why should we believe you," asked the woman as she walked up next to the man with the scar, leaving the tall dark man still browsing the sweet items in the case. She looked around the café and smirked. "I hardly believe a supernatural thing like you can spell so intricately to keep humans away."

Aeris snorted a laugh and Rue, a dryad, who was still watching the exchange with wide eyes, gulped as Aeris bent forward to the woman. Aeris looked her up and down, then smirked at her while she turned to look at the man with the scar.

"If you cannot control your witch, wolf, I will be within my rights to expel her from my establishment," Aeris hissed "I do not deal with little witch tyrants well."

"How did you know what I am," the man said as he narrowed his eyes and held back the witch with red hair as she took a step forward. Aeris huffed and rolled her eyes.

"The spell on my café also tells me who and what has entered, but it has a slight delay," Aeris responded and took a deep breath. "So, since I was able to confirm that you are all mythical, welcome to Mystic Cafe, next time drop the glamour at the door. It makes some patrons uncomfortable." Aeris nodded to Rue, who walked up behind her and blushed as she looked at the tall dark male who was silent the entire exchange.

"My name is Torryn, I am a werewolf. The witch is Azara and the Thunderbird is Ziven. I own the security office next door. We work mostly with technology but also with security guards," Torryn said quickly as Aeris walked to the back. She waved her hand as she walked through the kitchen door.

Esper was following Tara around as Aeris walked in. Bato opened one eye to look at Aeris. Didn't want to tell them the truth, he remarked as Aeris took a seat on a stool by the table in the center of the room. I am sure a security team would be totally cool with ancient magic that shouldn't exist being right next door, Aeris sarcastically snorted as she grabbed a few berries that were on the table and popped them in her mouth.

"Esper, could you please go back out front and keep an eye on those three," Aeris asked as Esper knocked over a tower of bowls under the table. Esper blushed and looked a bit tense at Tara who sighed.

"Esper is a bit concerned with the Thunderbird in the area," Tara gently replied as Esper, who was usually chatty, nodded vehemently without making a sound. Aeris smiled gently at the young Naga, who's tail was wrapped around her body, trying to comfort herself.

"I understand but luckily, you have nothing to fear," Aeris grinned wider at Esper, who let a small smile grace her face. "Bato here will know if any issue arise and can nullify even a god," Aeris winked at the couple as Tara let out a relieved sigh, for either the soon-to-be calm kitchen or for her girlfriends safety. Esper grinned back at Aeris and gave Tara a quick kiss on the cheek then slithered back out to the front to help Rue. Tara watched Esper go out with a slight worry in her eyes. Aeris rested her knee up on the stool and placed her chin on her knee as she looked at Tara.

"What's on your mind," Aeris asked as Tara rolled out dough to make bread. Tara let out an even deeper sigh. This poor faun has to be one of the most worried creatures I have ever met, Aeris thought with a small frown. Tara took a deep breath and looked up at Aeris with concern.

"There have been rumors of a group of supernaturals that are wanting to rise against the Council and expose all of us to the humans," Tara whispered, but her eyes held anger as she forcefully kneaded the dough. "I am scared because Esper wants to be able to do the 'normal' human things, but she is limited since her glamour has her in a wheelchair. This group might give her false hope."

Aeris looked thoughtfully at Tara. The faun had started working for Aeris just two years ago and kept to herself, but since meeting Esper, she has had a new light in her eye. Aeris slowly stood up and washed her hands in the sink behind her. Tara kept kneading with force as Aeris walked up and put her hands on top of Tara's.

"I am sure it is just rumors, the Council has always kept the peace. I highly doubt that this group will be able to do anything," Aeris reassured Tara. The faun took a deep breath and nodded. Aeris took a step back and wiped off her hands on a clean towel. Tara shook her head and resumed her work.

The day went by quickly after that and Aeris was helping the second shift workers close up the shop. She waved goodbye to the employees as she locked the café door. She walked back into the kitchen and nodded to Bato, who was nodding off to sleep. A light tap on the back kitchen door spooked Aeris as she jumped slightly. She looked to the door and saw a bubblegum-pink haired witch looking in with a giant grin. Aeris sighed but walked over to the door and opened it up.

"Sam, what are you doing here?" Aeris asked as the small witch walked in with a skip. The pale girl was dressed up in a white lace tanktop with a cropped pale green cardigan and a short light blue plaid skirt. She had on ankle high frilly socks with white platform Mary Jane shoes.

"You promised to come out to Myrtle Beach tonight! Esmarie met up with a group of guys from the Mythical Realm and you promised you would come with us," Sam pouted as she looked Aeris up and down with a slight wrinkle in her button nose. Sam turned her deep night-sky eyes complete with sparkles of stars to look around the kitchen. Aeris frowned and tried to remember when she had promised the little star witch. Then it hit her as she groaned and rubbed her eyes. A week ago, Aeris met up with a few others from Sam's coven, and they started to mix liquor from different realms and Aeris faintly remembers promising to go out with Sam and Esmarie in the future.

"I swear I am never drinking Abyssal wine with your coven ever again," Aeris defeatedly mumbled as she walked over to the stairs in the kitchen that lead up to her apartment. Sam giggled and followed Aeris up the stairs.