Page 99 of The Lone Wolf Café
I summoned Aria, and she stayed close to me, insisting on riding on my shoulder or in my chest pocket. I appreciated her comfort. If I did have to leave Wisteria Grove, I’d at least have my little air elemental by my side.
Once late afternoon arrived and the sky began to lose its luster, I decided to bake a batch of cookies. Blueberry ones, since Rowena was out of chocolate chips and the bushes in her back garden were full and ripe. I held the small, round berries in my open palm, gazing at them intently, praying I could infuse some of my calming empath magic into the little blue orbs.
It sort of worked. Rowena made some tea – an odd mixture of mint and ginger that she called “anti anxie-tea” – and we settled at the dinette together with our creations. The tea had an unusual taste, and I sipped it slowly while Rowena explained how “herbal tea” wasn’t really tea, and that real tea came from the leaves of the tea plant.
“So this is just a bunch of plants?” I looked down at the strange, honey-brown liquid in my teacup.
“Well,yes. But they all have different properties. Mint aids in digestion and prevents nausea. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory.”
“And together… they both help with stress?”
“Yes,” Rowena replied, finishing off her own cup. On the surface, she looked calm, but I could still see the worry glistening deep within those dark eyes. “Stress, and all the physical symptoms that come with it.”
I set my teacup down. I had only finished half of it, but I’d already eaten three of the blueberry cookies. The magic had worked – somewhat. My mind wasn’t racing, and my chest didn’t hurt, but I still had that looming, impending sense of dread.
“My magic can’t fix everything,” Rowena sighed. It was as if she could read my mind. “What we’re about to face tonight… it’s different from just everyday, free-floating anxiety. We have a very real, tangible reason to be afraid. A lot is at stake.”
Our relationship. My freedom. The safety of Wisteria Grove.
Our lives.
I lifted another cookie to my mouth and took a bite. It was sweet, fluffy, and delicious. My baking skills had improved greatly during my time in the café.
I set the cookie down. Next to the table, the heavy curtains were pulled back just enough for a tiny sliver of the back garden to be visible. Above the canopy of trees, I noticed how dim the sky was. I was almost certain the sun was about to set.
Then I heard it.
The bell. Long and low, thumping like a heartbeat.
I froze. The clattering sound of Rowena gathering up our used tea cups and plates hung heavy in the air.
“It’s time,” Rowena declared solemnly as she placed the dishes in the sink.
My stomach bubbled again. I took another sip of my tea, but it did little to ease the nausea. My nerves were too strong.
We were supposed to meet the others at town hall to prepare for the werewolves’ arrival. There were twelve of us – myself,Rowena, Mayor Mariah, and nine brave volunteers. Adrian, Mabel, and Willow were among them.
Everyone else in the village was under lockdown orders. Now that the sun had set, they were to barricade their doors, turn off all the lights, and keep their curtains drawn. No one was allowed to step outside their homes until the threat was over.
I heard a loud squeak, and a little breezy head poked out of my dress pocket.
“Aria,” I gently scolded. “I already told you – you can’t come with us.”
I knew she just wanted to help. But even with her impressive powers, she was still so small and vulnerable. I didn’t know if elementals could be killed, but they could be injured, and I couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to her.
Aria stared at me for a few seconds, waiting to see if I’d change my mind. When I didn’t, she let out a chittering hiss and disappeared in a puff of air.
I sighed. Better for her to be mad at me than crushed under a werewolf’s paw.
I gathered my few belongings, knowing if the mission failed, I likely wouldn’t be returning to Rowena’s cottage. I packed some of my favorite books I’d acquired from the general store, as well as the rest of the blueberry cookies, safely tucked into a cloth bag.
Then my stomach fell in horror.
My grandmother’s cookbook.
It was still in the café, sitting on a shelf in the kitchen. And we had no time to retrieve it.
“You ready?” Rowena asked, offering me her hand as we approached the front door.
