Chapter 40 - Great Preparations (1/2)
Diane was pretty chipper after school, and that mood didn't change when Alyssa told her about the meeting with the other witches. She was also informed that everyone at the meeting had agreed that she was to remain with Alyssa and Mrs. Goldman as long as her safety could be assured. Diane seemed to hang off every word as Alyssa told her what was said, and who stood up for her.
”Gabriel's brother is very interesting,” Diane said, ”But I sense something strange about him.”
”Is that so?” Alyssa asked, ”What do you mean?”
”It's his eyes,” Diane explained, ”Whenever I look into them, I get the feeling he knows a lot more than he's willing to share.”
”What makes you say that?” Alyssa inquired, curious to know more.
”Dad had the same look,” Diane answered, ”He never wanted to tell us the details about his trips to the outside to look for supplies. I could tell whenever he was holding something back, and Gabe's brother has the same look most of the time. He's got secrets, and considering how old he is… I bet he's got oodles of them.”
”Yes, he is quite old.” Alyssa agreed, ”I bet his secrets have secrets.”
They both laughed, and as she did so there was a sound coming from Diane's coat. Alyssa stopped to check, and lying in the hood of her coat, was Smokey. The cat looked back up at her and meowed.
”He thinks Cornelius is hiding something too,” Diane translated.
”Hold on,” Alyssa said, looking back at Diane. ”Was he in your coat the whole day when you were at school?”
”No,” Diane replied, ”He's only in my coat when I'm walking between school and the house. When I'm at school, he hides inside my shadow. Sometimes I have several of them hiding in there at any given time.”
”Oh,” Alyssa said, looking back at her shadow. ”How does that work?”
”I'm not too sure,” Diane answered, ”But it's pretty cool. They can hide rather easily and jump out at any time if I'm in danger. Pretty neat, eh?”
”It is,” Alyssa confirmed, ”You an have a snack when we get back, cause we're going to have a late supper tonight, like around eight o'clock. I suggest you get your homework done before then cause you will be too distracted during and after supper.”
”Why so late?” Diane asked.
”We're having dinner with the witches,” Alyssa answered, ”Mrs. Goldman and the other witches are going to prepare a special meal for everyone, and even the vampires are invited. We're all going to eat, be merry, and show the witches that they have nothing to fear about you staying here because we all get along, like a weird family.”
”That sounds like fun,” Diane said, ”I'll get to my homework right away after we have that snack you promised.”
When they returned to the apartment, Gabriel was there speaking with Pablo. The both looked over at Alyssa and Diane as they came in.
”Hey guys,” Alyssa called out, ”Everything alright.”
”We're okay,” Pablo answered, ”Just talking about the meeting. I'm honestly stunned to hear how civil it was. I was under the impression that witches and vampires hated each other with a passion, and yet here we are negotiating in good faith and hours away from breaking bread. This is going to be a very interesting feast.”
”I'm sorry, did you say feast?” Alyssa asked. ”Should we bring something?”
”Only your appetite,” Gabriel answered, ”Witches are known for their cooking, for both good and bad reasons. I don't think anyone has anything to be afraid of. Those witches wouldn't try anything with the Prince around. They're not that crazy.”
”I'll be in my room,” Diane said, after grabbing her snack. She ran off for her room and closed the door behind her.
”Try to keep the negative stuff to a minimum,” Alyssa said to the men, ”I'd like to keep an open mind, and let Diane get to know everyone.”
”I apologize,” Pablo said, ”I'll be the first to admit that my bad thoughts about some people are changing every day. Mrs. Goldman has forced me to rethink what I thought about witches, and even Cornelius is no where near as bad as advertised.”
”I'd like to point out,” Gabriel added, ”That I said nothing about my brother, as he reputation spoke quite well for itself.”
Alyssa looked around, ”Speaking of the Dark Prince; where the hell is he?”
”He went to New Lycan,” Gabriel answered.
”What?” Alyssa said, confused. ”But it's still daylight out.”
”Doesn't matter,” Gabriel said, ”As long as he's wearing his coat, he can travel in daylight and not be harmed by the sun.”
”Then why can't you do it?” Alyssa asked.
”I can't,” Gabriel answered, ”That coat is just too heavy for me to fly with. He loaned it to me one day, I could barely walk twenty steps without falling over. How that big bugger can even stroll around, let along fly in that thing is remarkable.”
”It didn't look that heavy,” Alyssa said, thinking about it.
”You can't even touch it,” Pablo explained, ”The material is so dense, if you tried to carry it, your arms would break.”
”That's unbelievable!” Alyssa said, rather surprised. ”What is it made out of?”
”Dragon hide.” Gabriel answered.
”Excuse me?” Alyssa asked, ”Did you say dragon?”