Chapter 51: Emporium

I pulled the truck into the small parking lot. The store looked like one of those hippy bong stores. I jumped out then stuffed my wallet in my back pocket. Remi walked with me to the door.

As soon as we entered, the strong smell of herbs and other plants overwhelmed my nostrils. Remi split away from me as I browsed the numerous shelves. They were laden with glass apparatus, herbs, plants, crystals, gems, chicken feet, and a host of other items. It was the biggest magical supply emporium in the west. I was sure it had something to do with being so close to a major nexus point.

I wandered through the cramped maze of shelves. One man stood staring at a shelf right next to the dragon's tongue. I moved in closer. The man looked up at me. He was short with purple skin and rounded mousey ears on top of his head. I tried not to stare, but I caught him looking at my left arm.

I reached over to get the dragon's tongue. He stared hard at the red spiral on my arm. His mouth gaped. I realized he was trying to form words, but couldn't get them out. I pulled my arm back and looked at him.

"You're a... a... frac... frac... fracture," he stammered.

"A what?" I gave him a confused look.

He dropped his basket of herbs and ran. I watched him disappear out the door. I looked back down at my arm. I wasn't sure what had just happened. A fracture? What the hell was that?

Remi walked up next to me. "What was that all about?"

"He called me a fracture."

"Well that was rude."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

He shrugged.

"He seemed really scared."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and leaned in. His breath on my ear sent shivers down my spine. "He should be. You're a deadly weapon. All you do is train."

My body was getting hot again. I turned my thoughts away from the weird encounter. "That is true." I even let a giggle slip. I covered my mouth quickly and turned it into a cough.

As Remi released me, his fingers trailed down my arm. I couldn't tell if it was intentional or if my mind was just grasping for something that wasn't there.

"Dragon's tongue?" Remi asked. "What else is on the list?"

"Cat whiskers, foxglove, pink moss, and dragon's teeth."

"The herb or actually teeth?" He asked.

"Teeth," I answered.

He wrinkled his nose. "That's going to be spendy."

I shrugged. "It's her money."

"It's in your pocket," he said.

I felt a pull at my back jeans pocket. I looked back over my shoulder. He held my wallet up between two fingers, winked at me, then walked off. I stared after him. This was flirting right? He was flirting with me. I was so confused. He'd never spent this much time with me before, and this? I didn't know. I didn't have any friends. Mom kept me isolated. Maybe this was just how friends were.

I closed my eyes and focused. It was hard getting my heart under control, but I managed. I snatched up the dragon's tongue and the pink moss then joined Remi at the counter.

"I see you have quite the party planned for the solstice," the clerk said with a smile. His gray hair was long and tied back.

I shrugged. "I'm just the delivery girl."

"With an interesting companion I see." He leaned in conspiratorially. "What do you have as a sacrifice? It must be pretty big."

I arched an eyebrow at him.

"You have enough stuff here to knock out an elephant. That would be a fine sacrifice to Juno."

I cringed, but tried to hide it. Remi shared a quick glance at me then squeezed my hand under the view of the counter.

"Yeah, Mom seems to have some very big plans."

"Have you seen what they have cooking up at the nexus? I hear it's going to be wild."

I shook my head. "I have no idea." I didn't even have to lie. I really didn't know what she was up to.

"It's going to be fun! I might even pop by and see the fireworks." He leaned back and looked at the register. "That will be $3,556.96 and 30,000 joules."

Remi held my wallet out to me. I pulled it from his hand and produced four thousand-dollar bills.

The clerk pushed forward a pink crystal. "Fill this."

I set my hand on the crystal. Instantly I could feel the pull on my power. My energy sapped and my knees buckled. Remi caught me before I went down.

"My goodness, you are a powerful kid." The clerk gave me a wink. "That's good. We need strong souls these days."

The crystal glowed and freed my hand. I shook out the numbness it left. Remi's arm still held me about my waist even though I found my feet. "Thanks," I muttered.

The clerk wrapped up the herbs then pushed them across the counter. "Happy solstice!"

"Happy solstice," I said without the cheer.

Remi shot him a glare then turned me about. We walked out the door and back to the truck.

"I was not expecting that to be so expensive," I said as I leaned heavily on the truck.

"Are you okay? Your mother should not have made you do that." His face loomed in front of mine. My vision was blurry around the edges. His forehead wrinkled in worry.

"It's okay. She wouldn't have sent me if I couldn't pay it."

"You shouldn't have to pay it," he grumbled.

We had one of those moments again where he got silent and stared at me. I might have actually gone for it this time if I wasn't so dang tired. My head drooped and my knees buckled again. He caught me about the waist with one hand and pulled my arm up around his neck with the other. I tried to hang on, but I felt so weak.

"I think I better drive," he said.

"Can you do that? You'll be interacting with the world continuously." My voice came out slow and slurred.

"Just don't fall asleep on me. I may need your help." He opened the truck door and lifted me into his arms.

"No promises," I said.

He pushed me up onto the seat and buckled me. My head drooped forward. I may have imagined it before I completely lost consciousness, but I was pretty sure I felt him kiss my forehead.