Draiks and Angels: Rescued

20 - Bell Tower

Khloe and Alex still needed to get groceries, so they decided to try a different store in a different direction. It was farther away, but hopefully the gang wouldn't be looking for them there. Khloe donned her duster and they headed out. No one bothered them and they made it to the small store. They both picked up hand baskets, though Khloe just followed Alex around as she didn't know where to look for anything.

There were a few other shoppers in the store, and Khloe noticed one of them was wearing a costume of a pair of black wings. She thought that was ironic, but moved on, unconcerned. Alex was busy comparing prices of spaghetti sauces and didn't see the woman, so Khloe didn't mention it.

As they rounded one of the aisles, Alex glanced at the checkout stands and about dropped his basket. There was a Draik! He looked at Khloe, whose eyes seemed to glide right over the winged woman. He wondered, not for the first time, if he was immune to whatever it was that let the winged people hide in plain sight because he grew up in the Aerie, or if it was something else. This hiding effect apparently even worked on other Draiks! Neither of them noticed each other, though Khloe was wearing a duster.

The female Draik had finished paying and was gathering her purchases. Should he talk to her? If she was near enough to be at this grocery store, would that make her the other Draik from the rescue of Sera? That Draik was dolled up to the nines, and this one was wearing a plain tank top, khaki shorts, and no makeup. They could be the same one. Women can transform like that. He should probably try and see.

"Khloe, come on," Alex said, setting down his basket.

"What?"

He didn't answer but rushed out of the store after the Draik. Khloe quickly set her basket down and followed. They caught up with the woman quickly and she turned when she heard them coming. Khloe thought from this angle that she looked a little familiar.

"Excuse me," Alex started, "May I ask you a question?"

"Sure?"

"Would you happen to know a young woman named 'Cona'?"

Her eyes got wider, "I might. Why?"

"Were you the other Draik who helped rescue the Angel, Sera?"

"Wait, are you the human with the motorcycle? And that would make you-"

"Yes, I am the other Draik," Khloe replied, lifting the edge of her duster.

"We should not talk here," Mara looked around. "Come to my place."

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After reintroducing themselves so they might remember each other's names, they sat down on some stools that Mara had, though Alex had to sit on the bed because there weren't enough.

"I saw you in the store and thought this would be our only chance to reconnect with you without Cona to 'call' you together again," Alex started.

"It would be nice to have someone to talk with who understands the secrets," Mara agreed. "Do you have a phone number I could have?"

Alex gave her his number and Khloe was surprised. She didn't know there was a phone in the apartment.

"I have been in touch with a man, a PhD student named Daniel, trying to learn more about the Angels. He said he would call me if he learned anything, but I haven't heard back. I'm really just impatient, because it hasn't been that long, but would you be interested in me passing along anything he gives me?"

"That would be great," Khloe agreed.

The trio chatted while Mara put away her groceries, and finally Alex and Khloe had to leave to finish their own shopping. Someone had put away their baskets that they had abandoned, so they had to start over.