“I’m going to just pop upstairs while we’re waiting for Gabriel to return.”

            Alice went to sit with Shakra and the Emerald by the fire. “You and Emmy are pals now I see.”

            “She took some time to warm up to me,” Shakra said. “I think she was rather indignant about how much space I took up in front of her fire.” Emerald mewed in what could have been agreement, and Alice laughed.

“Can you tell what other animals are saying?”

            “Not really. I can read body language. Cats are very expressive when they want to be, but anyone could learn to read them if they were taught how.”

            “Huh.” Alice stared at Emerald, watching the little grey cat yawn and curl up into a ball, nestling herself deeper into Shakra’s soft fur.

            “We are on the move soon?”

            “Yes,” Alice said. “Egypt next.  Azura says Cairo.”

            “I have been to Cairo many times.” Shakra went quiet for a second, and then said, “Though I was not in this form.”

            Alice hesitated. “So this person, this man hunting you, you said you haven’t heard of him in years? He has no idea you’re not a human any longer?”

            “I will tell you my tale someday soon, Alice. I am much indebted to you and you are honourable and trustworthy. For now let me say that the man that hunts me is a powerful Wizard. I changed myself, knowing he would be looking for me in my human form, never guessing I would reduce myself to this.”

            “Reduce yourself,” Alice said. “Shakra, you’re a White Tiger. You’re breathtakingly beautiful. Maybe if you had turned yourself into a house cat…” She looked down at Emerald, who blinked green eyes at her. “Sorry, Emmy.”

            Alice wanted to ask Shakra why she had a powerful Wizard angry with her, but it didn’t seem like she was inclined to finish the story just yet.

            “I believe your new employee is approaching”

            She looked up as Gabriel pushed the shop door open. He was carrying a suitcase in one hand, and a black bag was slung over one shoulder. Alice wondered if that’s all he owned, but she was careful not to say anything about it.

            “Hey!” She stood up out of the arm chair. “Come on into the back room and I’ll show you to the apartment.”

            “Are you sure you don’t mind me staying in your extra bedroom?” Gabriel said nervously. “I can sleep in the backroom, you know.”

            “It’s fine.” Alice entered the back room and flicked on the light switch. “You can stay in the spare room until we get another suite tacked on up here. Azura says she knows a man who can do it in few days. I think it’s amazing that we can get three suites up here. But Azura acts like it’s no big deal”

            Gabriel gave her a curious look as they walked up the stairs. “If you don’t mind me asking, have you always been a Witch?”

            That was probably a nice way of asking if she was a total beginner. ”Not at all,” she admitted. “Three weeks ago, I would have laughed at you if you told me magic existed.”

            “So Azura’s teaching you spells I guess, huh?”

            “Yeah, I’ve already learned how to enchant pretty much everything in the shop.”

            Gabriel looked like he was going to say something else, but then Alice unlocked the apartment door and his jaw dropped when she opened it.

            “Wow,” he said. “This place is crazy!”

            Alice laughed. “All the work of Great Aunt Ruby. She’s the one I inherited the shop from. Come in, I’ll show you the spare room.”

            Gabriel placed his suitcase beside the bed and shrugged the black bag from his shoulder. “It’s a great room. Thanks so much.”

            Alice became aware that she was standing very close to him. She could smell the faint scent of cologne.  He was nearly a foot taller than her. His eyes were so blue…She looked down at herself, checking for magic threads.  There were none.  Apparently he was having this effect on her without any magical assistance.  She stubbornly looked away from him, telling herself she refused to be attracted to someone who worked for her. It was just wrong.

“I’m glad you like it,” she managed to get out. “I’ll leave you to get unpacked. Feel free to come into the living room and watch TV or help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Azura and I are going to move the shop soon.” She turned to leave and then paused. “I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a moving shop before, but just so you know, Azura says if you suddenly feel like you’re on acid, it’s just the shop moving.”
            Gabriel grinned. “Thanks for the heads up.”

            Alice tightened her grip on the threads as she spoke the words, “Egypt, Cairo”. She could feel the thick cord of magic come alive in her grasp. Azura had showed her the locked cupboard at the back, where all the threads came together in a pulsing, vibrant pattern. She had given Alice the key and instructed her never to let it out of her sight. Azura had told her to touch the threads, say clearly where she wanted to go and close her eyes.    

Her surroundings seemed to warp, creating a dizzy sensation, and then everything snapped back into place around her, a rush of warm air went past her skin.  It wasn’t nearly as jarring as she thought it would be.

            “We’re here.” Azura’s voice came from nearby.

            She opened her eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”

            “You do eventually.”  Azura headed for the door. “We should go check on Shakra and Gabriel.”

            Shakra was fine. She had barely lifted her head from her paws, and blinked sleepily at them when they entered the shop. “I’m quite alright. I’m used to it.”

            “Oh yes, I forgot that horrible pet shop moved.”

            Someone thumped down the staircase, and a moment later Gabriel burst into the shop from the backroom. “That was weird!” His face was shining with excitement. “Where are we now?”

            “We’re in Egypt. In Cairo,” Alice supplied.

            “In the market place of Khan el Khalili Souk,” Azura added.  

            ”Can of kiwi soup?” Gabriel scratched his head. “Weird name.”

            “Let’s go look outside.” Alice giggled. “I’ve always wanted to see what an Egyptian market place looks like.”

            “Busy,” Azura said, but she followed them to the door.

            Outside there were crowds of people walking in the streets, and Alice was hit by a wall of bustling noise and warm air as she exited the store.  It wasn’t exactly like getting off the plane in Mexico, since the air wasn’t nearly as humid, but the sun beat down on her, and she could already feel herself getting too warm under the sweater she wore.   She noticed that there wasn’t  a car in sight. The road was made of rough grey cobble stone. There was a mixture of both Egyptians and tourists, but everyone was dressed for the warm weather. Alice grasped the bottom of her sweater and flapped it up and down, trying to cool herself off.  She could understand the need for robes. She was too distracted to be uncomfortable for long though.

“Oh my goodness. Look at the shops! I can’t wait to go through them!”

            Most of the shops were open-faced with all of the colourful wares on display. Alice spotted wooden tables full of bronze lamps, hanging silk scarves, rows of many coloured Hookahs and shelves of glimmering jewellery as far as the eye could see. Most of the shop owners stood outside, waving people in, calling out to them, and promising bargains.  There were stalls of food, and Alice inhaled deeply, smelling fresh baking and a combination of different spices she couldn’t name.

            “You two go have a look,” Azura told them, “I’ll watch shop.”

            “Are you sure?” Alice looked longingly at the shops and the other woman laughed.

            “I’m sure. You and Gabriel go, but be sure to take Shakra with you, and don’t buy anything for the original asking price. Make sure to barter because the prices are all outrageous here.”

            “Got it,” Alice pulled her sweater over her head, relieved she had a tank top on underneath. “Coming Shakra?”

            The Tiger was already on her feet. “I would very much like to see Cairo again.”

            Gabriel shed the collared shirt he wore, revealing a black t-shirt underneath, and Alice had to tell herself not to look at his well-muscled physic.

            “It’s hot out here. Shakra isn’t going to overheat with all that fur?” he asked.

            “She says she’ll be fine.” Alice realised that Gabriel didn’t seem at all bothered when she talked to the white Tiger. Obviously a Tiger that talked in other people’s heads wasn’t particularly strange to him. Maybe it was something to do with being an Elf.

            They got a few interested looks from the locals, and Alice wondered if most of them could see Shakra’s true form. “Seems like everyone here is magic.”

            “This market is a melting pot of different magical creatures, Wizards and Witches. Nearly everyone touches magic in one way or another.”

            Alice observed the amount of magic at each stall. The threads were vibrant and bright as ever, and there were huge amounts of them wrapped around each stall and shop, looping from one to the next, connecting them all. Alice stared in astonishment. She’d never seen so much magic in one place.  Gabriel obviously hadn’t heard Shakra’s reply.

 “Well nobody is freaked out about the Tiger, if that’s what you mean.”

            “People are watching her though,” Alice said. “They know she’s a Tiger.”

            Gabriel looked confused. “What else would she be?” She explained the spell on Shakra to him.

            “They don’t think it’s strange you’ve got a cat following you?”
            “They do, but it isn’t nearly as attention getting as a three hundred pound white Tiger.”

            Shakra did her growly laugh again, and Gabriel looked at her, eyes calculating. As the three of them walked between the shops, most of the people going by gave them a respectful birth. One or two of the shop owners called out to them.

            “Good price for you and your boyfriend, lady!”

            “I’ll make a special deal just for you; you’ll look so good in this beautiful scarf…”

            “Buy a treat for your big cat?”

            “Special deal for the lovebirds! Come over and see!”

            Alice felt her cheeks prickle slightly and hoped she hadn’t gone bright red.  She could see Gabriel out of the corner of her eye. He was smiling, looking at his shoes again. Alice tried to think of something to change the subject.  Her eyes fell on a stall of bronze pots and lamps.

“Oh! I’ve always wanted one of these genie type lamps!”

            Gabriel grinned. “Real genies aren’t as nice as you think though.”

            Alice halted, her hand hovering over the intricately patterned lamp she’d been about to pick up. “Are there real genies in these ones?”

            Someone laughed from within the dark interior of the stall, making Gabriel and Alice jump. A man melted forth from the shadows, and Alice realized he’d been leaning against the back wall, in among a number of hanging tapestries.

            The man was very tall and dark, an Egyptian with a handsome face and sparkling eyes. In spite of his good looks there was something about him that made Alice want to back up a step, and when he smiled she realized what it was.  His teeth were very white and very straight, and his canines were the longest, sharpest looking she’d ever seen. She had no doubt that they would be more then capable of puncturing her neck.  She swallowed, forcing her arm to stay at her side, even though she wanted to place a hand on her throat defensively. The man stayed where he was under cover of the stall. He was staying out of the sun. Obviously.  Ironic really, an Egyptian Vampire.

            “Aren’t you amusing, little one,” the man said.

            She didn’t care for the mocking tone, and evidently neither did Shakra, because the white Tiger positioned herself between Alice and the stall, watching the Vampire sternly.

            “Ah hah.” The Vampire looked warily at Shakra. “Your protector does not trust me. But I wish only to tell you of my magnificent wares.” He winked at her, and Alice saw Gabriel stiffen.

            The man spread his hands, placating. “No genies in these, love. Only the finest bronze lamps you will ever see.”

           “There’s no spell on it?” Gabriel asked sharply. Alice picked up the lamp and turned it around in her hands. There were no magic threads. “There isn’t.”

            The Vampire looked at her with interest. “A little Witch I see.” He transferred his gaze to Gabriel. “Accompanied by an Elf and a Tiger. How fascinating.”

            What was that supposed to mean?

             “How much?” Alice held up the lamp, determined to get past his nonsense.

            “A special price for you.” He winked again. “Because you entertain me greatly.”

            When he gave the price Alice shrugged. It wasn’t unreasonable.  She had put American money in her purse earlier that weekend knowing they would be traveling soon.

            “Five dollars less and she’ll consider.” Gabriel’s expression was stubborn.

            The Vampire grinned, showing his teeth in an expression that was just a little too feral to be a smile. “You drive a hard bargain, but alas, I must make my living. It is yours.”

            Alice traded the money for the lamp. She opened the top of it before walking away, making sure there were no unpleasant surprises.  The Vampire faked a dismayed look.

 “Little Witch, do you take me for a cheat or a mischief maker?”

            Alice gave him a cold smile. “Of course not. Have a nice day.”

            They walked away, Gabriel grumbling about how he never trusted Vampires.

            “Well he can hardly be selling real genies in lamps,” Shakra said. “The council here in Cairo would shut him down faster than he could blink.”

            They browsed a few other stalls and Gabriel helped Alice haggle for a silk scarf. He was a lot better at it, since she tended to give in almost immediately, intimated by the insistent, fast talking shop keepers.  She suggested they head back to the shop just in case Azura was busy.

            When they arrived back there were a few people there browsing the shelves and Alice smiled at a group of enthusiastic American tourists who were taking pictures, exclaiming how “quaint” the shop was.  There was also one very hairy looking man in the second isle that kept looking over his shoulder nervously. He was dressed in white robes and sandals, and appeared to be browsing the love potions.

            Azura nudged her when she stepped behind the counter. “Werewolf.”

            “Really?” Alice tried to get a good look at him without being obvious. Gabriel had wandered over to the werewolf and was asking him if he needed any help. Alice watched the Elf as he picked up one of the potions the man was asking about and began to talk about it. She couldn’t tell what he was saying, but he was certainly enthusiastic.

            “I think hiring Gabriel was a very good idea,” Azura said. “He’s quite the salesman.”

            “He is.” Alice watched him gesturing, his smile wide and genuine.  Not to mention he was very good looking… She banished the thought from her head. Gabriel Walker was an employee, and as such, she was not allowed to think of him as terribly handsome.

 A Note From ELatimer: 

Hello all! I hope you're enjoying Threads so far! Alas, we have come to the end of what I can post for now, since the manuscript is currently being considered by several literary agents (so I can't post more then this preview). I hope one day we will see Threads in print! In the meantime I will still be on wattpad. I'll probably post a few short stories, and regularily update you guys on what is going on with Threads! In the meantime, if you enjoyed the writing, or you're curious how the journey to publication (hopefully) is going, please visit me: www.museslibrary.blogspot.com/

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