My Sorcerer

Chapter 7

They didn’t talk much more that night. She needed time to take everything in. Something was happening between them, but I didn’t know what. The more she was with Pierceton, the more she wanted to be around him and never leave. But if she really is a werewolf, then wouldn’t she have to leave? She tried hard to stop her racing mind. She needed to sleep. She needed to take my mind off of everything. Finally, sleep came, but it wasn’t the rest she had hoped for.

Possibly hours later, the sun began to shine through the window, waking her from my restless sleep. “Oh, good, you’re awake.” She heard Pierceton’s voice as she sat up in bed.

“Not willingly,” she grumbled.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Not in the least,” she muttered, trying to decide if she wanted to get out of bed or try to go back to sleep.

“Don’t even think about going back to sleep,” he chuckled. “I’m making breakfast.”

“Couldn’t you just conjure something up?” she asked as she looked over to see that he was actually cooking.

“I could, but there is a difference in taste between real food and that which has been magically created,” he responded.

“I would never have guessed,” she said with a yawn, still trying to wake up.

“Come sit down. It’ll be ready soon,” he told me as he motioned to the table that had already been set for two.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile, getting out of bed.

She walked over to the table and sat down. Soon, he was placing food on my plate. It all smelled wonderful and tasted even better. “No offence, but I wouldn’t have thought that sorcerers or anyone who can use magic would be good at cooking,” she said as she took another large bite of a pancake.

“I may have to take some offence,” he chuckled as he sat down with his plate of food.

“I’m sorry, it’s just so unexpected. Not to mention the first impression I had of you,” she said as she chewed her food.

“If we are to have a conversation, I would much prefer that you would swallow and then speak,” he said with a sigh.

“Right, sorry,” she said as she swallowed.

“Swallow then talk,” he sighed.

“Sorry,” she repeated, feeling her cheeks begin to redden. “So, what’s next?” she asked, curious if he had a plan.

He took his time chewing his current bite and then swallowed. “I have a plan,” he told her.

She waited for him to continue, but when he didn't, she pressed. “Well, what is it?”

“We're going to find your birth parents,” he declared, as though it were as easy as one, two, three.

“I’m going to need more details on this plan of yours,” she asked, trying to get him to expand on his idea.

He smiled knowingly at her. “You want me to spoil the surprise?” he chuckled.

“Yes, spoil it, please,” she groaned.

He let out a sigh. “Fine,” he grumbled. “You’re no fun.”

“I know, it’s terrible. I want to know what you are planning because it will impact my life,” she responded sarcastically.

“Fine. I’ll explain it. All I need is a bit of your hair, and I’ll be able to track your parents,” he started to explain, or at least she thought he was just starting, but then he stopped.

“Then what?”

“Oh, it will use the trace amounts of your DNA to track those who are related to you. With any luck, I’ll be able to find your parents or, at the very least, some relatives,” he finished his explanation.

“Oh, that does seem rather simple... well, with the use of magic at least,” she commended him.

“I thought so.” He grinned confidently.

“Have you ever done it before, though?” she questioned.

“Not exactly, but I have a fairly good idea of how to make the magic work,” he told me, as though he already understood that my question was more than just doubt.

“When do you want to start?” she asked.

“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be asking you?” he asked, laughing.

“Then I’ll answer. Let’s start right after we finish eating... unless that’s too soon?”

“Not at all. We can start as soon as you want me to,” he confirmed.

“Thank you,” she started shoveling food into my mouth, wanting to start as soon as possible. She needed to find out who she was, where she was from, and what she might be. If she truly were a werewolf. The thought of a werewolf stopped her in my tracks. She slowed down my eating.

“Is everything alright?” Apparently, he noticed her change in demeanour.

“Yes... I mean... not really. What if I really am a werewolf? I know you said I was, but aren’t we just assuming? We can’t know for sure. I don’t know if I want to know. I don’t know if I want to be one,” she rambled her insecurities to him.

“Don’t worry. Whatever happens, I will be there for you,” he promised.

“But why?”

“Why what?”

“Why would you want to be there for me? We’ve only just met.”

“Because you are interesting and I want to know how this all plays out,” he said with a shrug.

“Oh... I see,” she mumbled, unsure of how to take his response.

“Don’t take offence. We sorcerers, don’t always desire to be a part of the world, but when we do, it is simply because something is entertaining or we desire to see what may happen.” He seemed to try to explain how sorcerers are, but still, it didn’t make me feel better. I had thought for a moment that I had found someone who would aid me without ulterior motives. He had them, although they were odd, and he was still motivated to entertain himself. He could stop trying to help me at any moment, and the feeling of safety he had just given me may disappear along with it.

“You seem distressed,” he said, looking at her, confused.

“It’s nothing,” she muttered, too tired to hide her emotions.

“I see, you thought that maybe I began to aid you out of the goodness of my heart,” he said as he nodded to himself thoughtfully.

“It doesn’t matter what I thought. I’ll be out of here once the cost is clear,” she informed him.

“You don’t have to go,” he responded, appearing offended.

“I don’t want to stick around just for your entertainment. This is my life. Not some game for you to enjoy,” she lashed out at him.

“Calm down,” he chuckled. “I only explained why most sorcerers would help or take part in the world. I never said those were my reasons.”

“Then explain yours to me,” she pressed. She needed to know. She needed to have a moment of peace. She’d been running for nearly a week. She was tired, and she just wanted someone she could trust.

It took him a moment before he responded. “I’m helping you because I want to. However, you don't need to worry; I will continue to help you until we find your true home. I won’t leave until then,” he promised. His words were comforting and eased her heart slightly, but still, there was the voice in the back of her head telling me not to get too comfortable. Everything could change in the blink of an eye.

“But you just said you were helping because I’m interesting and you want to see how this all plays out. You can’t just change your word and say that you want to help because you want to.” He wasn’t lying; she could see it in his eyes, but she was confused.

“Can’t I have multiple reasons?” he questioned.

“Which one is the real one?” she pushed. She needed to know if he was going to be someone she could trust, or if she needed to have an exit plan prepared.

“I just want to help,” he finally said with a sigh.

“Promise?”

“My goodness, out of all the people I have ever met, you are the most distrusting and pushy,” he grumbled.

“Can you blame me?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I guess not.”

“Finish eating. I’ll start working on the search after,” he told me.

She nodded and then continued to eat. Silence settled over them, but it was deafening as it usually was with others. Instead, it is comfortable. They finish eating, then the dishes disappear.

“So what happens to the dishes?” she asked.

“They are gone. Nothing happens to them,” he responded.

“So, no need to clean dirty dishes? Or do they go somewhere? Like another realm.”

“No, they are just gone,” he answered.

“Doesn’t that make you feel a little uneasy?”

“Why would it?”

“It’s something that you snapped into existence, but then just is gone.” The thought made me feel uneasy, but as she looked at Pierceton, she realized the idea had never really crossed his mind. Why would it? He’s a sorcerer; this must all be second nature to him.

“It’s just part of a sorcerer’s life. These thoughts never really occur to us,” he said, confirming what she thought.

They were quiet for a moment before he spoke again. “Now that we have had a bit of a philosophical moment, are you ready to get started?”

“Yes,” she quickly answered as she plucked a hair from her head and then handed it over to him.

He took it and set it down on the now clean table. He raised his hands, closed his eyes, and she waited. She thought there would be a flash of light, sparkles, a glow or something, but nothing. Instead, it was rather boring. It was nothing compared to seeing food suddenly appear or how he had entered my dreams.

A few moments later, he opened his eyes. “Found someone,” he announced.

“That’s it?” she asked, trying not to sound disappointed.

“What? Did you want me to make more of a show of it?” he chuckled.

She nodded slightly. “Not a show per se. She just thought that it would be more exciting looking.”

“Most people do, and that's because the few sorcerers that show themselves to the world make magic look more magical,” he explained.

“Why not? People like magic,” she said with a smile.

“I'll make sure to remember that for next time,” he chuckled.

Next time... the words rang in her head. There might be a next time. “Would you like the hear what I've found out?” he asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Yes.”