The Mates of Dragons

The Side You're On

"So why are we going here now?" Bryce asked. Kendra looked at him and Lee was next to him in the backseat. Could they just not trust her instincts for once?

"Because I just have a good feeling that we might get something here. I found it when looking around the other day. Besides, we aren't on duty to go into the mountains until tonight." She said and parked the car on the side street.

Bryce got out with Lee and they closed their doors to look across the street at the small shop that was snug between two other buildings. There was just a weird symbol above the door and none of them knew what it meant. Kendra was the only one that was smiling as she walked up to the door and went inside, the other two following. Almost immediately a voice sounded in greeting.

"Hello, what brings you here?" Kendra looked around the shelves and then to the old man that was standing there. Instantly she knew that he couldn't see her, yet she had the odd feeling that he could. Behind him was a young girl and not far from her a young boy. They were obviously related. If you wanted obscure magical things, or to find them then you needed to go to someone that dealt in obscure magical things. To Kendra it was pretty simple and had found this place with a bit of research.

"Just curious really. I see that you have a lot of old artifacts in here, and books. Do you have a lot of customers?" She asked moving around and looking. Lee and Bryce doing the same.

"Don't touch that." The old man said gesturing at Lee. "It's cursed."

"Oh." Lee said putting her hand down and moving on.

"Some here and there, most aren't interested in what I sell." He stated dismissively.

"So why stay open?" Bryce asked. Taking in the old man's looks and dismissing him as crazy.

"Because there are those that do, and I have my loyal customers." Kendra moved over to him and brushed him. She instantly felt the energy and power in this man he was the real deal. She just moved on like nothing had happened.

"You could have just asked. I wouldn't have lied." He said turning to her, knowing what she did. The two children had moved to sit behind the counter staring at the others. They had very penetrating stares and she had a feeling that they were the real thing like this man. It excited her, she always liked meeting new and different people, like the world still held surprises.

"Asked what?" Kendra asked innocently.

"If I was something more than human." The other two looked at the old man and he smiled.

"Oh come now, you didn't think that I don't know what you are doing here? That just because I'm old means I'm useless?" The other two said nothing. "Looks like Xerxes is right." He mumbled.

"I don't think you are useless." Kendra said not sure about the name he mumbled.

"I didn't mean you dear. But you aren't really human yourself now are you?" He said moving over by the counter and the other two were talking quietly.

"No I'm not. My guess is you are mage."

"My guess is you are homunculus." He said and she moved forward. Kendra had a surprised look and couldn't hide the slight eagerness. Was this why she felt drawn here, what if he had answers? How did he know that? No one knew that, she didn't even know what it meant to be what she was and he picked it out so fast. She glanced at the others but they seemed to be rather interested in some of the objects rather than the man. They did not see him as a powerful threat, Kendra recognized the power though. He could not hide it from her. The other two were human and didn't seem to pick up on his level of power.

"You know what I am?" She asked excited, no one ever knew what she was if they guessed she wasn't human.

"I don't really like others prying into my business." He said and made a motion. Both Lee and Bryce stood stock still and had a sudden glazed look to their eyes.