Last Holiday on Terra

8

I woke up and started my day. It pretty much goes like clockwork: feed my kitties, check their boxes, clean and refresh them. Bathroom break. Clean up, get dressed and go down stairs. Get a cuppa, kiss the hubby good morning, pet the pooch. Sit down and hear about the news of the day. Fix something to eat, clean up the mess and grab my keys, kiss the hubby, get in the car and go to work. Then survive ten hours of bitchy customers and whiny employees. Clean up the store, lock up the shop and go home.

It's generally the same day in and day out, unless I have to do some grocery shopping...this was one of those nights.

I entered the store, grabbed a cart and turned to the produce section, grabbing the large bag of carrots and a bag of salad. Maybe some tomatoes, if they're good. Hmm...

I look up and there is a young male employee tidying up the heads of wrapped lettuce. I see one fall and I watch it roll right up to the edge of my shoes. I look from the head of lettuce to the clerk, who is watching me with interest. So, I pick it up and walk it over to the guy. "Here ya go," I said.

He genuinely smiled at me and nodded. "Thank you, your Grace."

I look around in panic and seeing no one else around, I felt my eyes narrow as I look into his.

"We're alone, your Grace."

"Who are you?"

"Your councillor, Azreal."

Instantly, I feel the rush of intense cold and then massive heat flood my body. "Prove it."

"And how should I do that?"

"I dunno? You tell me!"

The clerk merely stared at me.

"Fine. What's the last thing I said to you?"

"You asked if I could see myself out and bid me good night?"

"In that order?"

He chuckled and nodded. "Yes."

"So is this a borrowed body? I've seen this kid before. He works here."

"I know. And it is..."

"Doesn't hurt him, does it?"

"No."

I nodded and picked up the lettuce and pretended to examine it. "So, what's up?"

"It's the Princess, your Grace."

Again, I feel the cold and then hit sensation. "Sam? What's wrong with Sam?"

Az explained that Sam thought that she might be hallucinating...tall, thin people were being seen by her outside her home, terrifying her to the point where she was being prevented from leaving her apartment.

"Cee...go to her," I said. "Protect her please..." I really never have any idea if the man is actually around...I can't see him. But there are times when I can feel a presence. This was not one of those times.

Az, looking through the boy's eyes, looked over my right shoulder and nodded. "I will stay with his Grace...go."

I continued to look at the lettuce. "You can see him then?"