Lesson 142- Tidy your house up before you invite guests over.

It’s cold outside. I know it’s night time and all, but for some reason I didn’t expect that. It’s kind of windy too. Maybe because last time I was actually out here, the weather was still fairly warm. But it just seems strange. I don’t get much time to appreciate it though because Torin doesn’t pause. Still pulling me along, he rushes down to the street. When we’re about to leave the alley, he steps in close, crowding himself around me like he’s trying to shield me from sight. Probably quite successfully too since he’s a lot bigger than I am. Still, I’m not sure I like the idea of him using himself as an actual shield for me. I don’t bother arguing though, I doubt I would win and the argument would probably take longer than just getting out of here. Sure enough, a minute later we reach his car. It’s basically basic, black and shiny. I don’t know a lot about cars, but I think it’s an SUV of some kind. I suppose he needs a decent sized car because anything smaller and he would look like he was in a clown car. He ushers me into the passenger seat, then leans over me and does up my seatbelt for me. Then he carefully closes my door, rushes around the car and hops into the driver’s seat. I notice he starts the car and pulls out onto the road before he bothers using one hand to pull his own seatbelt on. Hmm… Torin still looks furious. But I’m starting to think I read that wrong. Maybe he isn’t angry… Now that I think about it, he seems more worried than angry.
“Tori… Are you okay?” I ask quietly.
“No.” He answers flatly.
“Oh…” I trail off. My first instinct is to ask why, but that seems like a stupid question. Apart from the fact that his bar just got trashed AGAIN. He definitely feels responsible for keeping me safe, and I got injured. I doubt he’s taking that particularly well.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I offer. Torin shrugs.
“You’re already doing it. Just… Let me get you somewhere safe. Once we’re both safe I’ll be able to think again.” He mutters that last part, it seems like he’s actually trying to convince himself, not me. Still, I nod and agree. My phone is vibrating in my pocket so I quickly slip it out and check it.

Kyle- I checked on your damn cat. Your brother is keeping an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t get into anything dangerous. You can tell Torin we kicked all the customers out too, except Eli. He’s insisting on keeping an eye on Damien.

I relay the message to Torin who just nods.
“Fine.” He answers simply. I raise an eyebrow. No warnings to stay away from his office, or requests to keep Eli out the back of the bar. The good news is we didn’t lock the back door on the way out, so the others should be able to get out of the building at least. Before I can text back, more texts come through.

Damien- Your friend Eli insists that it isn’t safe for me to stay here. He’s offered me his guest room for the night. So I’ll be heading out.

Damien- Also I’m taking your cat with me, I don’t want to leave him here unattended with all this mess around.

And of course, Eli messages me too.

Loverboy- I know you probably have bigger concerns right now, but your brother agreed to come stay with me tonight! For safety, but still… That means he doesn’t hate me at least!

I text back confirmation to Damien. Eli, I send back a smiley face. Then I slip my phone back in my pocket. Partially because I don’t want to ignore Torin, and partly because we just turned off the road so I think we’re reaching our destination. Sure enough, he parks the car a moment later.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“My home.” He answers and I perk up. Torin’s house? Now this I’m interested to see. Is it messy and disorganised like his office? How is it decorated? Is it a big or small place? I have so many questions. Obviously I’m still freaked out from the attack earlier. My face and arm are really sore too. But despite that, I’m in a fairly good mood. The binding spell is gone, I’m out of the bar AND I get to visit Tori’s house. The only thing bringing me down is Torin’s poor mood. This would be more fun if he was happy and he was inviting me over because he actually wanted to, not just because he’s freaking out. Still, nothing in our relationship has really gone the way I would have planned. But as always, I’ll try to make the best of this. Tonight could have gone so much worse than it did.

I undo my seat belt and go to get out of the car but Torin grabs my arm and stops me.
“Wait until I come and get you.” He insists. I don’t think it’s particularly necessary, but he’s the one trying to keep me safe, so I’m not going to argue. Better safe than sorry, right? Torin gets out of the car and comes around to my door. He helps me out of the car, then once again crowds around me. That’s about when I notice we’re parked oddly on the very edge of the driveway. He easily could have driven down further, so why did he park so far away from the entrance? I’m saved from having to ask when Torin explains.
“I have my entire house and most of the property warded. It won’t let anyone through if they have ill intentions and even if they don’t, there is no way through unless I physically escort them in myself.” He tells me. Huh, I don’t know a lot about magic, but I’ve heard enough to know that wards like that must have cost him an absolute FORTUNE.
“No door to door sales for you then.” I joke and Torin shrugs.
“I don’t have guests. The only reason the end of my driveway isn’t included is I left the mail box and a parcel delivery box out there. I wanted to cover all of it but it made getting deliveries too complicated. This was easier.” He tells me.
“I suppose that makes sense… Do you really never have guests?” I ask.
“Never.” He answers simply. As we walk, I suddenly feel strange. Like a jolt of electricity going through me. Not painfully, it just feels like I touched static or something. The feeling only lasts a moment, and Torin doesn’t seem to notice it, or if he does then he isn’t concerned. Was that his ward?
“Don’t touch the door or windows.” He warns me as we step up to his front door.
“Are they warded too?” I ask and he nods. Huh… He has multiple layers of wards. No wonder he feels safe here. This place is basically a fortress. I suddenly feel very privileged to be invited in. I silently promise to be on my best behaviour and to do my best not to snoop around too much.

The inside of Torin’s house is… Strange. It’s a big place, decorated nicely and seems pretty cosy. But somehow it feels… Empty. Like a show home or something. Sure, there are signs that it’s lived in. A mug left on his coffee table, rubbish in his bin, a few things that could use dusting, and some opened mail and ripped up envelopes on his kitchen bench. It takes me a moment to realise why it feels strange. He doesn’t really have any photos or knick knacks. No pictures with his parents or friends, no ugly little figurines or silly items that he feels obligated to keep because a friend gave it to him. Just nothing. If I didn’t know this was Torin’s home, I never could have guessed who lives here. It just seems… Blank. Like he’s decorated the place to his preference, but hasn’t moved his own stuff in yet. All I can think is that I really need to get Torin some pointless crap. 
Brewing Trouble
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