The Light in the Dragons Den (On Pause)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Saturday morning blessed the mid fall on the east coast with crisp breezes and cool cloudy gray weather. 

Today was a day Anthy could enjoy laying about in her warm bed complete with weighted blankets and her favorite sherpa. Her phone was off. The blinds were drawn shut, white noise came from the tv mounted on the wall, her white angora cat slept with a content purr on her stomach.

Anthy lay there staring at the stipple ceiling with the comfort of the warm bed and the weight of the cat. She knew her cat would be up any moment for food despite the gentle strokes of her hand over the soft fur that intensified the feline's rumbling purrs. It'd be a few moments more before the cat lifted its blue eyes at her. A fanged yawn escaped the tiny jaws before it moved to sit upon her stomach. The cat knew just where to sit his full weight to make her feel uncomfortable. Instinctively, it knew she'd get up as he meowed loudly if she didn’t move when he demanded. 

“Few more minutes, Beau.” She mumbled gently. "You're getting heavy boy. Maybe it wouldn't hurt if you skip a meal or two."

She laughed gently while stroking the soft fur of the feline. Beau pushed his face into her hand before he stretched, his claws catching the threads of the blanket gently. If he had understood what she said, he clearly didn't show any care as he bounded off the bed to wait for her at the bedroom door that she had left slightly ajar. 

Anthy groaned as she stood from the warm space to dress in grey sweats and a black graphic tee with the large red letters Bazinga written across her chest. Already, she dreaded every moment to tend to her only companion instead of hiding in her warm nest. She didn’t pull the blinds away from the windows, giving her room a penumbral lighting effect from the cloudy day outside. 

From the pantry, a bag of cat food was selected to fill the cat bowl and she continued to the fridge for an apple. Beau attacked the kibbles with hungry greed all the while she sat at her small table with emerald green eyes that gazed down at the white furball. 

There was a knock at her door which made her turn her attention with knitted brows. No one ever really visits her. Beau hissed in irritation at the disruption in his morning routine.

“Oh hush you old thing.” Anthy muttered, her dining chair scratched over the white with black decorative diamonds designed linoleum floor where silent sock covered footsteps trailed to the door. When she swung it open, a man stood on the other side.

“Norman?”

“Morning Anthy. We tried calling you, but your phone is off.” Norman shrugged. He was a tall man who was in his forties, complete with black hair that had random specks of silver and dark skin from the years of traveling. A man who acted like his blue Hawaiian shirt was capable of covering his belly that he liked to call “life’s comfort”. Despite the cold outside that increased every day, winter would soon be joining the east coast town and he still insisted on wearing black Birkenstock sandals and khaki shorts. Hooked between his fingers on his left shoulder was a strapped camera and a black carrier bag.

“Uh, ya that’s the beautiful thing about having a day off. I don't have to have it on. What are you doing with the equipment?” Anthy asked as she jutted a finger at the expensive piece and a quirked brow.

“Raoul wants to see you in the office. Says he’s got a big assignment for you.”

“Can’t this wait till Monday? You know… When I'm not on my day off??”

“Oh you know him. Once he’s got a set… Anchors away.” Norman laughed. His "life's comfort" jiggled with his mirth. "Please Anthy!!" He laced his fingers together. Begging to get on board for yet another adventure.