Alexa rushed around grabbing a few books to take with her. Logan was on his way now and Patrick was waiting by the front door with Pitch. He couldn't wait to go to this meeting and learn something that she, Pitch and Kaleth weren't teaching him. Kaleth was sitting on her bed and brooding. He was not pleased with her decision and he was definitely making that clear. Alexa didn't think Kaleth was used to interacting with more than just his current master and this would be a huge change for him. Anyone other than his master that he had interacted with had probably been an enemy and his only use would have been to terminate any threats.
She stuffed one more book from the lair into her bag and double checked that she still had Alistar's notebook. Then she headed down the stairs. Kaleth sulked along behind her. She could see his presence driving others away. She didn't want to order him to be more pleasant, but she also didn't want to frighten off all the people she could meet and learn from. She checked her hair and clothes one more time before heading out to the front porch. Patrick and Pitch were already sitting on the front porch waiting. They'd had been there for almost a half an hour. Patrick was a little excited to say the least. She sat down next to Pitch and Kaleth leaned against the side of the house.
Pitch was in his human form and Alexa figured that was probably best for their visit to the guild. He had been able to hold human form far longer lately. Usually for 6 or so hours. She hoped he could for the whole guild meeting but did not see why he couldn't.
"I'll go incognito." Kaleth said. Alexa raised her eyebrow and he grinned.
"I they see me as another human we will look like less of a threat. They will lower their guard and if they are up to something we will find out more easily." he said. Alexa rolled her eyes at Kaleth's idea but it did sound like it would keep him from frightening off a potential teacher. If the other guild members offered no threat at least Kaleth would appear less threatening to them.
The all watched as a square looking SUV puled into their long driveway. Logan climber out after it had parked.
"Hi." he said, "Ready to go?" Kaleth sneered and gestured to everyone standing around on the front porch.
"Obviously, if we are waiting out here we are ready and waiting for you." he said. Alexa shot him a glare and smiled at Logan as they headed down the steps.
"We're excited to meet a few people. We're hoping to find someone who can help us solve," she paused to clear her throat, "Patrick's problem." Patrick's face and ears turned red at the mention of his issue as they approached Logan. Logan was starring curiously at Kaleth. Alexa had forgotten that he'd only seen Kaleth with wings, a tail and golden slitted eyes. Kaleth climber into the back seat on the passenger side where Alexa was obviously going to sit. Pitch climbed into the middle and Patrick behind Logan's driver's seat.
"Your familiar can change his appearance?" Logan asked. Kaleth huffed and Alexa shot him a dirty look.
"Yes, we figured he would cause far less alarm." she said. Logan glanced at Kaleth scowling in the back seat and cleared his throat.
"So, you must have learned a lot over the years. You could probably teach us a thing or two." he said with a smile, obviously hoping to break the tension and strike up a conversation with Kaleth.
"I have seen a lot but my magic is very different than yours or Alexa's. I am made of magic but cannot create it myself. I do not have my own mana and my magic is borrowed from my master." he said Logan nodded as he absorbed the information.
"So if you use too much you could drain Alexa's magic and leave her weakened?" he asked. Kaleth smirked at this.
Oh, I have drained my past master's mana, but never Alexa's. It seems her mana is either unlimited or regenerates faster than even I can use it." Logan's eyes widened and he stared at Alexa waiting for confirmation. She merely shrugged.
"Sadly, I do share DNA with Alistar. However evil he was, he was an extremely powerful mage." she said. Logan nodded in agreement.
They were approaching the town and he was concentrating on which streets to turn down. After a few more minutes they pulled into a huge empty parking lot. There was a partially demolished building at one end. It seemed to have once been either a warehouse or a garage. The roof was completely gone and most of the walls. It was mostly just the foundation, with a door frame and a few feet where the wall was till partially standing. several of the steel support beams still stuck straight up of the rubble.
Logan parked the SUV and climbed out. Alexa hesitated, this looked like the place you would take your murder victims. Kaleth climbed out of the car and got her door. Giving her an "I told you so" look. Patrick and Pitch were the last two to get out. Logan was walking towards the lonely door frame. He stopped on a sewer grate about ten feet directly out from the doorway. When he gestured for them to follow the all paused before Alexa strode ahead. If this was a trap they might as well get it done and over with. As they came forward Logan pointed at the grate beneath his feet.
"Put one of your feet on here." he said with a grin. He was obviously either anticipating their demise or very proud of the lengths that his guild had gone to hide their meetings. They all put a foot on the grate and he smiled even wider before chanting a spell.
"Et compareas coram mè." he shouted. Alexa waited for agony of a curse but it never came. As she watched the crumbling remains of the old warehouse began to glimmer with magic. They all watched in amazement as the shimmering rose high above the old foundation and three stories into the air, obscuring the rubble with its brilliance. As the magic faded away it left behind a huge building. Alexa slowly closed her mouth when she realized it had been hanging open. There was no sign of the crumbled and half demolished building. The only similarity was that the massive oak doors lay exactly where the old door frame had stood.
It was three stories tall with a balcony on the second floor. The frame around this door was not made of rusted metal but of beautifully carved wood. Patrick made an awkward noise of excitement and stepped forward as Logan headed towards the front door. Alexa stepped to follow with both Pitch and Kaleth close behind.
Alexa glanced back at the parking lot and Logan's SUV was parked there all alone. She wondered if they were early. If not how did the others member get there. The Logan walked forward and heaved the doors open. Inside was a long hallway and at the end it opened into a huge room filled with chairs.
As they walked up the hall Logan turned to Alexa.
"I have to run the meeting so I will be up front. If you just want to find a seat I will introduce you in a little bit. After the meeting we usually have a few drinks and socialize before going home." he said. Alexa nodded and the entered the main hall. There were chairs and tables everywhere and Logan headed for his designated seat which was elevated above the rest of the room. Alexa picked a quiet table near the back and they sat down. There were people at most of the other tables. There wasn't a set type of person either. They were young and old, men and women, and even some children. It appeared as though none of them would have anything in common but if they were here obviously they did.
Author's note: I have my original handwritten start to Taming the Familiar. It's leather bound and about 33 handwritten pages before I moved to just typing. If I ever manage to get published it could be worth something. If I don't it's a nice reminded of my awesome book. Looking for suggestions on a contest and I will mail it to the winner.
Also my poor laptop is on its last legs. It's about 5 years old and a year and a half ago my daughter dropped it and broke the hinge. It's held on by two wires that I assume are very important. They are slowly getting frayed. It does not leave my desk but my son likes to climb up and open/close it. I am accepting donations to wards a new computer lol
