Chapter 3

Serena

***

A few minutes later we were pushing open the door to the restaurant. 

“Back in town today?” Harrison greeted us with his gruff voice.

“Yeah, so we had to stop by and see you of course,” Silas responded with his giddy voice, full of joy for the burger he’d soon be eating.

“Always glad when you do. Just your usual drinks?”

“I think we’ll eat this time Harris,” Val cut in as Silas rushed towards our usual booth eager to peruse the menu that he had surely memorized at this point.

“Well come and sit down, I’ll get your drinks started while you decide on your food.”

“Thanks Harrison,” I replied, walking to join Silas who had already taken his spot at the table.

As I walked away I felt someone’s attention burning into my back. I sat down at the booth, trying my hardest to ignore the feelings prickling at the edges of my senses, but I couldn’t ignore the swirl of emotions radiating from the other side of the bar. My eyes drifted to the girl sitting at the farthest bar stool. 

She had dirty blonde hair that fell out of her bun in messy waves. She wore baggy grey sweats and a faded t-shirt that had turned into a muted red. Complemented by her tumbling hair was a pair of forest green eyes, swimming with turmoil.

Her eyes quickly darted away the moment our gazes met, so I followed suit, turning my attention back to my company. 

“What’s wrong?” Holland asked, a scowl already creating his brows.

“Nothing.”

Holland looked at me skeptically and Val piled it on with the worry that began pouring off him.

“I promise it’s nothing, just that girl over there.”

“Oh caught her eye did she?” Silas waggled his brows at me and blew me a loud kiss.

I sighed, “no not that. She’s just projecting too loud I guess.”

“We can leave, if you’re uncomfortable.” Val looked at me with that reassuring look he always gave me.

“No, no, it’s fine. I’ve got it under control now.”

“She’s leaving anyways.” Holland gestured to the girl who was pushing through the door and into the cold night air.

Even when she left I continued to watch the door. There was something else about that girl, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I pondered for only a second longer before Val interrupted. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes. There was just something about her. Something weird. I don’t know, I’m probably just reading into it too much.”

“No, what was it?” Val implored.

“I don’t know. Probably nothing.”

“Ren, if you felt it, it wasn’t nothing.”

I nodded. “I mean yeah, but it doesn’t matter anyways. I don’t know what it is and she’s gone now.”

Val let out a resigned sigh, “okay.”

“Here’s your drinks,” Harrison swooped in with the tray of colorful drinks. Perfect timing, I thought, grateful for the forced change of topic.

Harrison set each of the drinks in front of us. Then he set an extra one in front of me, a small shot glass. “What’s that for?”

He shrugged, “I missed your birthday and I thought, since you can drink now.”

I smiled at the sweet gesture. I tried alcohol for the first time about two months ago. Even though it was my birthday, we had a job that day so there wasn’t much of a celebration, just a quick sip of whiskey from a plastic cup while everyone sang happy birthday. Admittedly, I hated it. I think I hacked my lungs out when the liquid burned its way down my throat. Even knowing that, I threw back the shot.

Unsurprisingly, I began to hack and Val rubbed my back soothingly until the burning dissipated. Harrison laughed at me, pure amusement floating off him in waves bringing a smile to my face. “Thanks Harrison.”

“Anytime kid, but maybe you should stick to the lemonade.”

I giggled and took a sip of my blueberry lemonade, “I think so too.”

“Ready to order?”

Silas of course perked up, “two cheeseburgers with bacon and double fries.”

Harrison wrote it down without even flinching, he understood Silas’s appetite more than anyone. Then he turned to each person in succession, writing down each dish. Once, he’d gone through the line he headed to put the order in.

Before long he returned with our plates. Silas immediately began digging in, eating with as much vigor as he could muster without awakening Holland’s wrath, and everyone else soon followed suit. The food was delicious as usual, and perfectly washed down by the lemonade, which flowed sweetly down my throat unlike the alcohol.

I had nearly finished my meal when a wave of power hit me like a freight train. Nausea and dizziness swept through my body and I almost lost all the food which had barely had a chance to settle in my stomach. For a second, I rested my head on the table, waiting desperately for the instability to clear. Val laid a hand on my back, soothingly. 

I could hear the hurried voices of my companions and even the desperate shuffling of Harrisons boots rushing towards us. “What the hell is that?!” Harrison demanded.

“I don’t know.” Holland’s voice was strained with concentration and I could feel the brush of his magic. “Just give me a second.”

The chaotic swirl of emotions in the room, and the overlapping chatter was only increasing the sickening feeling wracking my body, making it harder and harder to push through the dizzy haze. I tried my best to take deep breaths. They were shaky at first, but began evening out as I fortified my defenses.

When I felt well enough, I lifted my head and tuned into the conversation.

“What do you feel?” Val asked.

“Anger. Lots of anger.”

“Whatever this is, it’s powerful. I can still feel the magic as clear as if the user was standing right in front of me.”

“Where’s it coming from,” Val asked Holland, switching into work mode.

“Legacy park.”

“Let’s go,” Val stood up with purpose, and began to lead us all out of the pub.

“Don’t worry Harrison. We’ll find out what it is,” I reassured him.

He nodded at me, a grave look on his face. “Be careful.”

I smiled at him, trying to project my affirmation as I rushed out the door after my team.