Episode One Hundred and Forty-Five: Morning Surprises
One second, I slept curled up in a ball, nice and cozy with a blanket wrapped around me. The next, something flung me into the air and I landed on my paws on the floor.
“It’s morning!” Sable’s voice cut through the strange dream, and I leaped back onto the end of her bed to find her smiling.
“Yes, that’s clear.” Stretching out felt good, as everything settled back into place. “Does that mean breakfast?”
“Of course,” she said, blinking a few times. “I need to shower and such, but then breakfast. Probably bacon and maybe waffles…”
I didn’t know how I’d lived without bacon before this, though waffles were only okay. I bet they’d be more interesting if I didn’t get maple syrup on my whiskers. I padded out of her room and went to go check the book. It didn’t matter what day it was, or that we were closed. The day started with the book.
It rested in the same place as always on the table in the middle of my workshop. Yet, it sat closed.
No light, no fluttering of magic.
Nothing.
This hadn’t happened before. I pawed at the book, trying to open it, but it didn’t move.
This wasn’t good.
“You can’t do this,” I muttered. “Not today.”
Then I smelled them.
“Enjoy the holiday…” The cold voice whispered around the room. Then it was gone.
I shivered, unable to help it, and darted out of my workshop and away from the cursed tomb.
They’d spoken to me. After all of these centuries of silence, they’d spoken to me.
I fled down the stairs just to get away, and almost crashed into the wall at the bottom as my foot slipped. The wall itself twisted to soften the impact, but still my heart pounded.
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The Cat met me at the bottom of the stairs, which was unusual. He hit the wall, he’d been moving so fast, which had never happened before.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, leaning down to pick him up since he seemed out of it.
“Fine…”
I petted him on the head and turned toward the counter. Some espresso felt like the correct thing to do. Though, part of me wondered what I’d mix in with it today. Maple always went with waffles, and I was on a little bit of a maple latte kick, but today was special. Still, maple wasn’t out of season during the solstice, and I couldn’t think of anything else I wanted more.
I set the Cat on the counter as I got to work whipping up the latte for me, and a small one for the cat.
It didn’t take long before I carried both our drinks into the kitchen. Yet, as soon as I set them down, someone pounded at the door to the shop. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Cat freeze, but I quickly headed to the front.
A familiar dragon Lord knocked on the door, which unlocked as soon as I recognized him. He opened the door before I got there, and Indigo burst into the room, flying directly toward me. She slammed into my chest, almost knocking me back as I wrapped my arms around her.
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Frantic chirping filled the air, along with a smattering of words, but I couldn’t follow because of her excitement.
“I hope we aren’t too early, but Indigo wanted breakfast,” said Lord Bennitt. The proud dragon appeared off. His white hair was scattered all over the place, but his blue eyes were clear. He carried his cane again in one hand, which I hadn’t seen in awhile. The weight of his presence flared around the room for a moment, but faded quickly.
“Of course, you are welcome,” I said as the slightly larger little book dragon tried to curl up on my shoulder. “We are having bacon and waffles.”
“Bacon!” Indigo’s tiny voice made me smile as relief that she’d come home flowed through me.
“Yep, lots of bacon.” I prayed Betty had already preheated the oven, and that we had plenty to go around. “Is Lady Twilight joining us?”
“At a reasonable hour.” Lord Bennit chuckled. “Indigo woke very early this morning, to get here in time for food. She hasn’t stopped talking about bacon.”
Indigo launched herself off my shoulder toward the kitchen, and I trailed behind with Lord Bennit.
“How are you doing?” I asked quietly. The whole reason she’d gone was to help save him from despair.
“Better. Indigo reminds me of her mother so much.” He paused and frowned. “She’d beat me over the head with a tree if she saw the state I was in, just like her mother.”
“Good. I’d hate to lose a family member…”
He nodded and smiled. “Being around the young ones does help.”
“Sable!” The Cat’s voice echoed from the kitchen and I picked up my speed.
I paused in the hallway before yanking out my phone and taking a picture. I couldn’t help it. Indigo had the Cat in a hug around his neck. He stared anywhere but at her as she hugged him. Now, that would need to go in my memory box somewhere.
The savory smell of bacon filled the room and I noticed a pan of it already sat in the oven. The waffle maker rested on the counter, with a bowl next to it.
“Grab a seat,” I said to Lord Bennitt. “Indigo, the Cat does need to breathe.”
She let go, but then again I wasn’t sure if what I’d said was entirely true. Still, it wasn’t like I could ask the Cat if breathing was optional.
“I want lots of bacon!” the little dragon piped.
“Of course, I’m making two pans, given that your grandfather is joining us.”
“Don’t feel like you need to go out of your way for me,” added Lord Bennitt.
I chuckled. “You’ll understand once you try nice and crispy bacon.”
Then I got to work making some waffles while glancing at Indigo, who couldn’t help but keep flying around the kitchen. She paused as soon as the first waffle came off the iron and picked it up carefully in her claws, trying to bring it to Lord Bennitt.
“Here, let me help,” I said, grabbing a separate plate for him. The buzzer of the oven went off and I pulled the first pan of bacon out to place on the counter. It needed to rest for a moment as the grease sputtered. Once it stopped, I placed each piece on a layer of paper towels.
The next two waffles were quicker, since the iron was nice and hot. These each came out perfectly golden brown. Then I carried the plates to the island.
I cut up the two waffles into quarters and placed two pieces on my plate, and one on Indigos. The Cat got three.
Then I poured maple syrup on top of mine.
Indigo got a small side dish with it.
Everyone stared at the stack of bacon as I placed it in the very center of the island. I snagged four pieces for me, and three for Indigo. She stared at mine, but didn’t say anything.
“Eat your waffle first, then you can have more bacon.”
The Cat also got four pieces, and I let Lord Bennitt serve himself. He watched me cut up my waffle as Indigo tore hers into small pieces, since the silverware was beyond her abilities with her claws. Each piece she dunked carefully in her little bowl of syrup, making sure each piece had the correct amount before she ate it.
I cared less as I ate about the correct ratios. Food helped distract me from the fact that I needed to entertain Lord Bennit until it was time for the celebration.
I tried not to watch as he tried bacon for the first time. Yet, he crunched into it with glee.
“Is it good?” I asked.
Indigo’s head whipped around to also stare at him for the answer like the world depended on his answer.