Milkweed: Short Stories for Wizards

Summer

Summer

"Which part of the building are we staying in?" Erin's older brother, Eric the Enchanter, asked Sigmund as the driver pulled into the estate. "Hope you didn't pick somewhere shabby." Sigmund only responded with a laugh.

Kyle, Erin and her older brother were over at Sigmund's to start off the summer holiday. His school friends, Ivan the Inquisitive and Nicolai the Nightcrawler hybrid, were also scheduled to come over later in the season. Erin had insisted on visiting Sigmund as soon as the summer kicked off after making plans with the sorcerer since he last visited her in the winter. He was happy to have them all over to his home, even after it took some persuasion from Erin to have Kyle over as well. Since being gifted with his newly owned estate, Sigmund hadn't had any visitors over. At least not welcomed visitors or any his age.

Usually, his parents had their own company over. That was whenever they were actually home, which was rare these days. That company was typically only over for business related meetings concerning Sigmund, golfing with his father on the estate's greens every week or a monthly beauty consultation with his mother, who hosted the get-togethers from the estate's garden with a hoard of middle-aged, opulent women who wore too much perfume.

As the car finally stopped, the group watched as a butler approached the door of the car and opened it for them. Sigmund hopped out first.

"Welcome back, Sigmund." The butler greeted. The others slowly stepped out of the luxury suv and took a look around in awe. They hadn't exactly noticed the butler until he spoke again. "Welcome, welcome."

"O-oh! Hello!" Kyle jumped, giving the butler a weak wave. He wasn't exactly sure who the dapper dressed, older man was. Sigmund chuckled.

"This is Walten, my butler." He told everyone. "If you need anything while you're here or you get lost, just ask him for help."

"Get lost?" Erin asked, reaching back for her bag in the car. The butler stopped her quickly.

"You can leave you luggage behind." Walten told her. "I'll have it taken care of." Eric and Erin glanced at one another, clearly impressed with the level of service, but also confused by the entire situation.

As Sigmund pressed on, the group followed behind him closely. Opening the heavy set front doors of his home, Sigmund walked everyone into the lobby. They couldn't get enough of the modern look to it. Matte black paneled walls, glossy marble floors, glass floating stairs and sparkling chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings.

"Whoa.." Eric breathed, his voice echoing in the room around them.

"This is really nice.." Erin added. Eric nodded.

"Did you see the pool in the back when the car was passing through? I thought this was gonna be lame. This hotel is awesome!" With everyone agreeing with Eric, Sigmund couldn't help himself. Again, he busted out in laughter. Kyle folded his arms.

"You've been laughing since we got here." Kyle spoke in annoyance. "Wanna fill us in on the joke?"

"This isn't a random building or a hotel." Sigmund chuckled. "This is my home."

There was a pause for a moment and everyone seemed to blink in Sigmund's direction before looking back at one another. They all laughed and the unconvinced laughter bounced off the walls. Sigmund watched them laugh and nodded.

"Ja, that was my reaction too." He spoke over the laughter. "I thought my manager was teasing me when I first moved in."

"Wait, are you being serious?!" Erin asked when she noticed Sigmund hadn't laughed with them. Sigmund gave her a knowing look and instantly, the laughter stopped. "Wait...seriously?"