3.7. Magicks and Lore

Melbourne. A collection of a-stringent synapses, ley-lines, and otherwise intersecting waves of thought and power. There were different people everywhere, not a one was the same. It was fascinating. Even more so than London. Morpheus was having trouble focussing, there were new things all over the place, every nook and cranny had something different to look at. There were cafes and eating places; you couldn’t swing a cat without hitting some tiny shop full of fascinating goods – not that you would be swinging cats in Bast’s presence. More than once, Alyxa had to haul him away from a window behind which lights flickered and masses of fabric folded themselves into masterpieces of fashion. Intoxicating humanity and its ingenuity.

-You’re like a week-old kitten, Dream King, seriously, get a grip,- Bast hissed at him the fourth time she and Alyxa had to come back for him.

“Sensory overload,” Alyxa said with a shrug, “we’re lucky he wasn’t like this on the plane.”

-He was like this on the plane, you just didn’t notice.-

“That’s not the point,” Alyxa murmured, pulling Morpheus away from a bookstore window.

Suddenly, Morpheus looked away, staring down the street. His eyes were violently green slits as he scanned the people wandering the pavement.

“Morpheus?” Alyxa asked, but he was moving away from them, darting down the street.

-Fishsticks and – what’s got into him?!-

They raced after him, struggling not to lose him in the crowds. When they finally caught up he was standing in front of the smallest shop Alyxa had ever seen. Before either of them could ask what had drawn him here, Morpheus opened the door and went inside without looking back.

“What on earth?”

-Well, well...look at that,- Bast mused, looking up at the shop sign.

In gilded letters, glowing: ‘Magicks and Lore’.

3.6. Tea and Pastry

Barring the doe-eyed waitress the cafe was empty, something that had been ‘Arranged’, no doubt. Alyxa prodded her tea with her spoon, trying to decide whether she wanted sugar or not. Everything tasted strange at the moment: jet-lag. She heard the shriek of a child’s laughter; a girl bolted down the street, a bewildered parent giving chase. Alyxa swallowed a mouthful of tea.

“Are you alright?” Morpheus asked, looking up from the pastry he was decorating with butter.

“I miss Amy,” Alyxa said softly.

-Who knows what Lucifer is doing,- Bast muttered sullenly.

“It is moot to speculate. Our best change of freeing the little Dreamer is to find Maye Darjeeling and force her to return her powers,” Morpheus stated, “we do not have the necessary calibre to go after her directly.”

“We could have stayed with Medea’s team,” Alyxa said, “they’re not lacking for fire-power.”

Morpheus frowned a little at the mention of Medea’s name, but his attention remained otherwise focussed.

“This is silly!” Alyxa declared, shoving her tea back, “what are we doing about finding Maye? We’ve been here three days and nothing’s happened.”

Bast eyed her over a raised paw, the tip of her tongue poking out of her mouth.

-Of course stuff has happened. I’m just waiting,- the Cat-Goddess said after a moment’s pause, -why do you think we’re sitting in this tacky little cafe?-

“The pastry is just a bonus,” Morpheus murmured.

-We’re here for her,- Bast stated, pointing her washed paw in the direction of the approaching waitress.

“The waitress?”

-The waitress.-

Said waitress bowed when she reached the table.

“Mistress, the witch you seek is not in this city,” she said.

-Where then?-

“Melbourne.”

- Thank you, kitten.-

The waitress blinked dully and toddled back to her work.

-Of to Melbourne then.-

3.5. Reception and Messages

The kaleidoscope of Jessica’s world settled momentarily into patchy visions of caves and rocky surfaces.

“Jessica?”

She turned in the direction of Aeron’s voice.

“I’m alright,” Jessica said, smiling at him, “please, continue.”

“Most of the Coven members are returning now. We should have a full house in a matter of days. After that it will be up to you to choose the next Coven Master or Mistress.”

“Because Maye left no successors we are facing an unprecedented occassion,” Delia’s voice put in from the left side.

“And in such circumstances we defer to the Coven Diviner,” her father finished.

“And I’m meant to See who the next Coven Master is?”

“I suppose,” Aeron said.

“You ‘suppose’?” Jessica laughed, “what do you mean by that?”

“It’s not like it’s happened before, Jazz,” Delia chided.   

“I know, I know,” Jessica replied, “but it’s not like I’ve done this before.”

“Touché,” Delia joked.

“We know this is a little intimidating, Jessica, but we are all behind you.”

“That makes me...”

A flash of colours showed her the face of a beautiful young boy in total agony.

“...Loki?”

One some other sensory level she realised Delia was frowning. The negativity was almost tangible.

 “Sorry,” Jessica apologised.

“Morgan used to do that too,” Aeron commented, “you said something about ‘Loki’?”

“The TrueSight is starting to show me something,” Jessica explained, “but it’s patchy. I sort of feel like I’m not getting good reception.”

Delia chuckled.

“Give it some time, there are plenty of stories of Diviners not receiving the full vision until the time was right.”

“So I just wait?” Jessica asked, “strikes me as slightly inconvenient, but alright. Is there a time limit on making this decision?”

“Sooner would be better,” Aeron said, “the Coven needs strong leadership in the times to come.” 

3.4. Possession and Opinion

“You Dreamed Odin?” Morpheus demanded.

Alyxa was brushing her teeth and had to rinse her mouth before she answered.

“Actually, I Dreamed about Loki, Odin was just there.”

Morpheus stared at her through the reflection of the mirror.

“How dare he interfere with you,” he grated after a long minute of silence.

“I think he was visiting his son, and I just happened to Dream at the same time,” Alyxa told him, applying her moisturiser next, “I wouldn’t take things so personally.”

“I’m not taking it personally, I’m – ”

“Acting incredibly human,” Alyxa cut in, crossing her arms to face him, “you’re being a little bit possessive, more so than usual.”

Rather frustratingly, Morpheus simply turned around and left the bathroom. Alyxa threw up her hands and followed him. She had taken two steps when he had her pinned against the wall, fangs buried in her throat. The blood streamed, and she felt her body grow lethargic in his arms. It grew, gliding over her skin and through her veins, until suddenly it was gone. She blinked and looked up.

“You can take more if you need it,” she whispered, drowning in the viridian of his eyes.

“No,” he told her, brushing back one of the strands of her hair, “I’m by nature selfish, and you are by nature giving.”

“I’m alright. I’ve rested, I feel good as new.”

Morpheus nodded and simply walked away again. Alyxa sighed and sat down on the sofa next to Bast.

-You two don’t keep your lovers’ quarrels to yourselves do you?- the Cat-Goddess asked, Alyxa glared at her, -I’m just saying, kitten. Some of us need sleep.-

“We have to get Amy back and stop Lucifer.”

-And I’m working on it.-

Alyxa curled up and sighed.

“But why am I dreaming about Loki?”