Convergence

Warehouse Surprise

The inside looked a lot bigger than it did on the outside. There were bins lining the back walls of the warehouse filled with both men's and women's shoes, spinning racks of belts and ties, and tall racks stacked with purses. The shoes were red-tagged and every sign said something about the low, low prices. Nothing looked particularly fashionable, but the customers seemed to be drinking them up like water in a desert. The tent was packed full of merchandise and it was much harder to move than in Great Aunt Augustina's shop. The only open area was a red door marked "No Entry."

"I'm heading back there," Rick said. "Cover me." He was off before he finished the sentence.

"What? Hey, wait."

He moved surprisingly quick around the merchandise and dodged the customers. He rounded a circle of bandanas and was in the door before I knew it.

"Hello." A woman's voice startled me. "Can I help you find something?"

I turned to her very much aware that the look on my face was one of complete and total shock.

"I was...that is to say...." I stumbled over my words.

"No need to be shy, dear. You want to ask me about something, or someone."

I looked at her. She was younger than I expected or looked younger than her actual age. She seemed human enough, that or my newfound magic sight had left me.

"No. I'm not one of the fae. I'm human, same as you. My name is Caroline."

I felt the tension in my face as my eyebrows raised and my eyes widened.

"I do have a power, though. Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a hint. It comes in very handy when selling and haggling with customers."

"Mind-reader."

She smiled. "You are a smart one. Beautiful and young with powerful magic and intellect. Some girls have all the luck. Not to mention that handsome young man serving as your protector."

"Rick?" I hadn't really considered it. I suppose he could be handsome to someone somewhere in the universe in that obnoxious, nerdy sort of way.

"He is very protective of you."

"Well, I figured he's just overcompensating for a past family mistake."

"Not just that, dear," she smiled and changed the subject. "But you came here to ask me about Morgan."

I nodded.

She called out to the teenage girl in the tent. "Katie! Watch the store."

We walked to an area of the tent that was very dimly lit and practically looked sold out of merchandise.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about the book," she said. "But I do know where you might be able to find Morgan."

I leaned into her as she began to whisper.

"Morgan is a grand force to be reckoned with to be sure. He already has a great deal of magic power. Most believe that he moves around, never staying in one place too long, but that's what he wants them to believe. He's in one place during the day and another at night but it's always the same."

She paused and I watched her intently. I watched as the corner of her mouth curled upward.

"What does he do during the day?" I asked.

"He learns. He believes he has located everything he needs for total domination."

"Over the magical world?"

"Over the entire world."

"Is that why you're willing to help us? You don't want him to take over the human world as well?"