57

Ari and Mika entered the small store front. The smell of paper and leather filled their noses. "So what exactly are you looking for?"
SHe looked over the shelves filled with different shapes, sizes and colors. "Um.. I..am...looking for something that has....alot of space." she said looking over the more thicker books.
However, she knew the thicker the book the heavier it would be to carry. Maybe she needed to get something she could add to as she went. Some movement from the other side of the store and shuffling of feet on bare hardwood floors caught their attention.
"My my, what have we here in my store?" a crackly voice asked from behind a stack of books.
A older woman bent over a cane asked as she rounded the stack. Her skirts touched the floor but even those that touched the ground had begun to shred and tatter. Her once white top billowed as she moved along one inch at a time.
She looked at Mika and then at Ari, her eyes glowing momentarily a shade of purple as she looked them over. "A wolf, and a girl I see." she crooned.
"Alpha, witch." Mika replied.
Ari cleared her throat, " I am looking for something that will keep very important records. There will alot to write down."
The old woman nodded her head,"Yes, yes I have that." she waved her hand for them to follow down one path that had stacks of books that were four to five inches thick.
"Here we are." she pulled a large blue colored leather book that was five inches thick and a good foot and half long. When Ari went to pick it up it was rather heavy, even with her increased strength.
"This book will be carried around on person alot."
"Ah! Yes I see now." she replaced the blue leather book and reached for a light grey leather one of equal thickness, but was only a foot long. It's weight was much less and Ari almost could not tell she was holding it save for the rectangle shape in her hand.
"Is it spelled?" Mika asked taking the book from her hand.
"For the weight yes, there can be others added if you would like alpha."
"Spells like what?" Ari asked uncertain if she liked the idea of someone casting a spell on a piece of property she would be carrying around.
"Well in this instance we have the weight of the book light as a feather, we can spell it to where only a certain person can use it. It can be consealed, it can be returning- that one is a fun one!" she leaned over and stage whispered to the couple. "It can be spelled to repeal the elements- to a degree you understand." she nodded solomly.
Mika rolled his eyes, "What's your price witch?"
The witch sat back and cooly look at them. Her eyes looked them over from top to bottom.
"How deep are your pockets alpha?" she said slowly.
"Deep enough to put your head in it." Mika said with a grin revealing his long glissening white teeth. He brought his long silver claw to pick at something in his teeth.
The witch visibly swallowed. "Let's say 10 coin and one spell to it."
"Make it two for 12 coins." the witches beedy little eyes glissened. "Agreed. What will it be?"
"I want it spelled against the elements- to not get water damaged, or to be burned." Ari said before Mika could answer.
"That is smart girl." the woman nodded reaching for the book and walking to her counter top.
"What about a returning spell?" Mika asked Ari.
"If this goes how I want it to there will be more than one user to have it. Does it only have to be one person it returns to?"
"No, it can be put in that only the owner of the book. That would be one person at a time. "
"How would the transfer of owner ship happen? Will there have to be a spell or ritual?" Mika asked watching the witch closely.
She stuck her bottom lip out as she made a pouting face. "Na, I'll make it simpleton proof just say you gift the book to so and so. There. See that isn't so hard."
She bussled around the counter and grabbed some purple colored poweder and a green liquid that had a slime like texture. She mumbled some words and then dipped the book into the green slime. It ooozed off the cover as if it had never been. WHen all the slime had been dripped off of it she handed it back to Ari. She opened her palm now with the purple powder in the center and blew. Purple cloud engulfed Mika and Ari. Tiny flecks of sparkles shimmered as the powder fell. Ari looked at her unsure if it was really what they just paid for. But before she could ask the question the woman turned back and round and shot fire from her finger tips. Ari and Mika jump back. the book now ablaze in Ari's hands. Panic struck her and she flung the book out the window.
"What thhe fuck?!" Mika snapped. the woman held up a finger and titled her head as if she was listening to something.
" Yep it works." she grinned.
"like hell it does!" Ari snapped. "You tried to burn us!"
"No no. And dear the spells are souund." Ari went to argue when Mika tapped her shoulder. She shut her mouth and looked to his pointed finger. there to their left sat the very book that had been ablaze moments before. Its cover just as clean as before, no signs of smugging from the test.
"Well I'll be damned." Mika whispered a small chuckle in his voice.
Mika and Ari paid the woman and headed back to the inn. Thunder was rolling and the clouds were only growing darker as the hours past.
In the inn there was little sign of Cliff or Zeek. Theo meet Mika and Ari down stairs and they decided it was best to grab a bite to eat.
"So did you see any signs?" Mika asked as he took a bite out of a large smoked turkey leg.
"Does the back of my eyelids count?" Theo asked laughing.
"No, old man I do not think it does." Mika replied.
"Where are the other two?" Ari asked.
Mika was quiet for a moment and then burst out laughing. He had been taking a drink when the cackle came over him. Theo was covered in a spew of ale. He wiped his solem face. "What the hell Mika?" he said wiping his face.
"Well the boys are upstairs with a girl."
Ari's eyes got big and her mouth dropped,"As in they are TOGETHER together with a girl?!" Mika was laughing so hard tears were in his eyes."No. No" he breathed trying to rangle in the the laughter.
"What in the world has you so tickled?" Ari watched him as if he had lost his utter mind.
"Cliff is gonna be so sore."
This time it was Theo's turn to burst out laughing. "Poor boys."
"Okay okay lets finish here and go check in on them. Maybe grab some ice on our way up."
Ari's eye's widen with understanding. "Oh. OH! EW!" her cheeks redden.
They finished up their meal and made their way up the stairs to the boy's room.
*We have someone else's attention. Be on alert.* telelinked Theo and Ari as they headed up the stairs.
A tall slender woman had been watching too closely from the foyer where the entrance of the stairs were. Her daring eyes seemed to know more than her youthful face. Her lips had been a bright red, which was made redder by her glissening pearly white teeth. Ari had paid her little mind at the start, But Mika had caught her scent. *Faye.*
Theo nodded not looking at Mika as he went up before Ari. Mika hadn't dealt with Faye in many years, he knew how dangerous one could be. despite her feminine, innocent appearances he knew if some of the Faye if they so much as thought it everyone around them could drop. it was best to get to the rooms and to leVe her at peace.