“Did you remember your components bag?” Rickett asked me in his usual raspy voice, slumped on the side and approaching me with a limp, my coat in his hands.

“Right here!” I grinned, patting the bag at my side, before sliding into the coat he held out for me. 

“And your mirror?” He asked, tucking the coat close. “Last time you left it on the coffee counter.”

“I made sure to put it in my components bag so I couldn’t forget both.” I told him proudly.

“Ah yes, very smart young master.” He chuckled, somewhat clumsily patting my shoulders, before lumbering towards the door. “Now you be safe, Isaac, and give young Hildr my regards.” He said with what was perhaps a wink, or a muscle spasm. He got those sometimes.

As I stepped out, I scanned the front of the manor, squinting to see the end, where the gates stood. As I did, the large redheaded, red winged figure of Hildr excitedly waved up towards me. Grinning, I waved back and started trotting towards her.

“Hey, Babe.” Hildr beamed, giving me a vice grip bear hug the second the gates opened with a screech. “Ready to go?”

“Hey Angel.” I responded, returning the hug, and grabbing her hand, as she started to lead me towards the cats. “Yep, got everything we need. I think we should stop at Ruth’s first.”

“Sounds like a plan.” She gave a supportive squeeze. “You’re the expert.”

“Expert...” I muttered. “Right.”

I’m not sure that I could ever be called an expert, to be honest. Considering I didn’t even know the site, a haunted hotel we were heading towards existed to begin with, let alone that it belonged to me. I knew we had to talk to someone called the Proprietor that would explain the problem, and that the ghosts were not a problem.

Which was strange? Why did he need a necromancer if it’s not about his hotel being haunted? Or my hotel? Oh maybe that’s why he asked me to solve the problem...

I had gotten so distracted with my train of thought, I did not even realize we had got onto the cat, until we were halfway to Ruth’s. Refocusing, I subconsciously squeezed Hildr’s hand, which she squeezed back, not looking up from her mirror, scrolling through an article about fish. It was a good thing she was coming with, or I probably would have missed the cat again.

She was a good friend.

Our first stop was right outside Innsmouth Diner, to grab some late night breakfast, since we didn’t know how long we’d be up. It was a small diner on a corner street that got a lot of traffic since it was at the center of a lot of late night haunts and early morning jobs. The soft purple neon lights lit up, acting like a lighthouse for the hungry prowlers of the darkness.

As we entered, we were met by one of the many eyed tentacles of Ruth, the owner. “Oh why look at you too!” She called out in her usual cheerful tone. “A couple of hungry teens in need of feeding, why don’t you come on in, your regular booth is open, deary.”

“Thank’s Ruth.” Hildr and I said at the same time, as we approached one of the green and purple striped booths near the back of the diner, Hildr’s wings disappearing in a burst of flames to make it easier to move about.

Given the time we had arrived at, the diner was relatively empty, the only sound the soft clattering of whatever form the mass of Ruth within the kitchen took, going about preparing meals for the only two other customers. One I didn’t recognize, however the other I did and gave her a polite wave, however she had other plans.

Turning in her booth seat and looking to me the only way she could look at anyone, with a salted, pensive sneer, she blew out smoke from her pipe and spoke in a throat torn from the winds of the sea. “How ya doin, boy?”

“Uhm...hey, Captain Gretchen.” I muttered nervously, giving an awkward chuckle. “Working late or getting off?”

“Mmmm....” She drew out, while puffing on her pipe. “Just settin out from the office. Had ta burn the midnight oil, seasons bout to begin. And you?” She asked looking to Hildr, who still held my hand. “Business or pleasure tonight?”

I had barely processed what she had said, already growing exhausted and anxious from the conversation, and how slow she was speaking. Hildr, thankfully cut her off, giving my hand a gentle tug. “Business. So we can’t stay and chat. Sorry captain.”

“Mmmmmm....” She muttered, beginning to turn back to her coffee. “Than yar should better get goin...”

“Yep.” Hildr said, leaving before she finished, and bringing me to our booth.

I sighed with some relief as we sat. “Thanks. Whenever I run into the other council members I feel bad.”

“Don’t worry bout it, babe.” Hildr said, reaching over, and pulling out two menus for us. “Besides, if we stayed to listen to the captain, we’d end up here till dawn.”

“Captain Bildad does enjoy taking her time.” Ruth said, as two eye tentacles, and three normal tentacles, with two coffee mugs and a pot, slithered from the hidden reaches of the diner to their table. “Now what can I get for you two? The usual, Isaac dear?”

“For Cornelius, yeah.” I muttered, scanning my menu, while Hildr filled both our mugs. “He gets grouchy when I work and he has an empty stomach.”

“One Kittens Fun Time Circus.” Ruth recited. “And I’ll just get that ready to go around the time you two leave, how’s that sound?”

“Sounds perfect, Ruth.” I grinned. “As for me I think I’m in the mood for...biddy board in the alley with a cowboy with spurs.”

“We can do that, no problem.” Ruth vibrated, one of her eyes turning to Hildr and blinking slowly. “And you, dear?”

“Blue plate special will do me fine, Ruthie.” Hildr grinned with a wink, handing her menu back to me.

“I’ll get those right out for you too.” Ruth said, tentacle writhing in what I usually assumed was joy.

I looked over to Hildr, and opened my mouth, but she stuck a finger under my nose. “Don’t start, Isaac.” she warned, staring at me intensely.

“If you got the special because I’m paying-” I said, not known for taking hints.

“That sounds an awful lot like starting to me.”

“Cuz I mean, I don’t even know how much money I have to begin with.” I tried to push forward.

“Maybe I just wanted what the blue plate special was.” She grunted, glaring at me.

“Well you didn’t even look at the menu!”

“I like surprises!” We both had tossed our hands up in the air.

“Alright order up dearies.” Ruth said through one of the two tentacles that appeared with our meals.

“Thank you Ruth!”

“We really appreciate you!” We both turned to her beaming, than turned back at each other once she left, Hildr glaring and me looking concerned.

“You don’t need to hold yourself back with my money, you’re coming to help me!” I insisted.

“I’m coming cuz I like to hang out! You’re the one that strong armed me into taking food as ‘payment’ in the first place you big nerd!”

“I mean yeah, it could be dangerous!” I muttered, looking away. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I gotta make sure you don’t get yourself hurt either, babe.” Hildr frowned, deflating a little. “It’s just you out there against...way too much.”

“Well...” I struggled to find a proper rebuttal, and ended up on, “Than you need to keep your strength up! And order a big meal!”

Hildr merely gestured to her plate, which was stacked high with three hashbrowns, four eggs, four pieces of bacon, three sausages and two pieces of toast. “Ruth always provides.”

I sighed, admitting my defeat. “I shouldn’t have doubted you or Ruth.”

“You know you always say that,” She teased, with a playful shove. “Yet we always end up back here.”

“I’ll remember next time.” I said, half knowing it was a lie. Hildr smirked, letting me have it, and we both finally started into our meals. 

When we finally got ready to leave, I reached out to where I’d usually place my staff and grabbed empty air. “Ah beans.” I muttered. “I forgot my staff at home.”

Hildr gave me a rueful smile, hands on her hips, and shaking her head. “Well at least it’s something we don’t have to go back for.”

I laughed a little, rubbing the back of my head bashfully. “Yeah, maybe I’ll even avoid some of Rickett’s judgmental stares. Come on, let’s get Cornelius’ take out.”

When we walked up to the counter, Ruth had his order ready, and I paid. When we stepped out into the night, we found an empty patch of earth and I handed off Cornelius’ to go box to Hildr.

I held out my hand, and mentally tugged at the invisible connection I had with the DeWinter Staff. The earth below my hand cracked open, and the ashwood staff slowly rose up to meet me. As I grabbed hold, pulling it the rest of the way out, there was a caw in the night and a dark green crow slowly spiraled down, perching upon the staff, and staring down at me.

He cawed expectantly, causing me to snort. “Sure thing, bud. Hildr has it.”

Hildr also chuckled as Cornelius seemed to hop impatiently at her, as she slowly opened the container, revealing the meal inside. It was a circular waffle with fruits and whipped cream made to appear to be a cat face, and two french toast corners for ears. Cornelius cawed with excitement, and flittered down to the box, as he began to peck happily.

The two of us looked to each other and giggled, as we waited for the cat that would take us to our destination, Sterling Heights.