“I didn’t buy him - I set him free.”

            The Tiger rumbled, “I’m much obliged.”

            Azura stared at the Tiger, and then to Alice’s astonishment she came around the counter and crouched in front of the animal. “You were human once, weren’t you?”

            “My name is Shakra,” the Tiger rumbled. “Yes, I was a human woman…a long time ago.”

            “What happened to you?” Alice asked.

            “It’s a long story. But in short, I was a Witch who got into something over her head. To escape someone who was hunting for me, I placed a spell on myself and escaped into the jungles of India.  Then other hunters came. I woke up in that horrid cage a week ago, confused and terrified.” Shakra inclined her head slightly towards Alice. “I am indebted to you, child.”

Azura arched one silver brow. “This person hunting you, will they come looking for you here?”

            “I do not think so. I have heard nothing of him in many years.”

            “What if that Pavlov guy comes?” Alice glanced over her shoulder at the door of the shop.

Shakra rumbled, “Do not fear that hack - without the warped magic of his shop he can do nothing. He does not hold true power.”

            “We should report him,” Alice said grimly. “Is there a Council for magic here in Victoria? That shop needs to be shut down.”

            “There is a council,” Azura said. “But if my guess is correct, that man is long gone. His shop probably moves much the same way as Threads, but for different reasons.”

            They both looked to Shakra, who bowed her head slightly. “His shop moves every few days; yes, he is probably gone by now.”

            “No, he can’t be!” Alice ran for the door, and Azura and Shakra followed her. They startled a woman walking past the store front; she took a look at Shakra bounding forward and gasped, staggering backwards.

            “Sorry,” Azura told the startled Witch.

            The pet shop was gone, replaced by an empty store front that had a “For Rent” sign in the window, and Alice growled her frustration, banging one fist on the window pane.

            “No!”

            Azura frowned. “Sorry, Alice. These types of businesses do exist; sooner or later most of them get shut down.”

            “Not comforting.” Alice glared into the empty store. “You should have seen it in there, Azura. It was disgusting. Those poor creatures jammed into tiny cages. I want to do something about it!”

            “You have, child.” Shakra brushed against her hand, and Alice curled her fingers in the Tiger’s soft fur. “You saved me.”

            Alice sighed. “I’m glad I did, Shakra. I just hope that horrible man will get caught.”

            “He’ll get what’s coming,” Shakra said. “Now let’s go back inside your shop, dear. I’m being stared at.” Alice looked up to see several little girls across the street gawking open mouthed at the Tiger. They were dressed in smart looking plaid skirts and long knee socks.

            “The school of magic down the street?” Alice guessed.

            “I would say so.” Azura started back towards the shop. “We better go inside.”

            Alice looked down at the large cat trotting at her heels. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like in the shop, Shakra. But maybe you should stay in the backroom for today. You might frighten the children.”

            The white Tiger followed Alice down the sidewalk, her rumble of laughter low and pleasant.

            They delayed moving the shop for a few days so Shakra could settle in. The big Siberian kicked the indignant Emmy out of her usual spot by the fire and slept there for most of the day, tail twitching contently.

            A steady stream of children from the School for the Gifted came in during the week, delighted by the contents of the shop. They didn’t seem particularly phased by the Tiger, even when Shakra yawned sleepily, showing a great deal of sharp, white teeth.

When Alice commented on this Azura laughed. “Magical kids are used to things like that. They see all kinds of strange things. When you’re used to Zombies, Werewolves and Fairies, something like a regular old Tiger won’t make you bat an eye.”

            Alice made a face. She would have preferred to continue believing that Zombies were fictitious. How gross. She crossed her arms over her sweater.

“Shakra would have scared the living daylights out of me when I was their age.”

            “You didn’t grow up with ghosts in your house though, did you?” Azura said dryly.

Alice grimaced. “Ghosts are real too?”  She watched as a Fairy walked into one of the potion displays, knocking several off onto the floor. The dazed woman muttered blurrily to herself, and then turned around and exited the store as abruptly as she’d entered.

            “What on earth was that?” Alice gawked after her.

            “A Fairy with a drinking problem, I would guess,” Azura replied. 

Alice shook her head and rang a few more school children through the till, and then the shop was mostly quiet. The bell rang again and when she looked up to greet the new customer, Alice could tell right away that this young man was at least part Elf.  He had the same high, chiselled cheek bones and fair complexion as Demetri had, the same lazy, graceful way of walking. His eyes scanned the shop and came to rest on her. They were dark blue and very beautiful, but this time Alice stubbornly refused to be drawn in. She braced herself to block any magic that might start drifting towards her.

            “Hi.” The smile he flashed was both dazzling and hesitant. “My name’s Gabriel Walker.”

            “Hi,” she replied guardedly. “Alice. What can I do for you?”

            “I was wondering if the owner is in today.”

            “That’s me.” She darted a look at Azura. It still felt strange saying that.

            “Oh.” Gabriel paused for a second, than recovered himself gracefully. “Pleased to meet you.  I was wondering if Threads is hiring.”

He handed her a sheet a paper, his resume, and she took it, answering, “We are hiring, yes. You realize that this is a moving shop and you’d have to stay here, right?”

            Gabriel smiled again, this time it was more wistful than dazzling. “That’s why I’m hoping to get this job.”

            “Running from anything?” Azura said sharply, glancing at Shakra who was dozing by the fire. Gabriel looked over at the Tiger and his eyes widened slightly.

“No, don’t worry. No one will come after me.” His face was shadowed by sadness, which he quickly schooled into a blank expression. “No one is looking for me.”

            Alice didn’t ask him to elaborate. “Okay, thanks. We should only be here for a couple more days. We’ll contact you before we leave.”

            “Thanks.” Gabriel turned to the door, than hesitated, and Alice thought he was going to say something else, but he simply smiled and turned away.  She watched his back as he walked out. He was certainly good-looking; he had this confident way of walking, and his frame was slender but well-muscled…She looked down in horror at herself, remembering the thin ropes of the spell that Demetri had cast on her. But there were no threads wrapped around her torso, no shining spell had ensnared her.

“I would have called him for an interview and killed him,” she muttered, and then looked up to see if anyone could hear her talking to herself. There were no customers in the shop, but she caught Shakra eyeing her. “What?”

            “He was very good looking.”

            “Oh, really?” Alice raised an eyebrow. “I hadn’t noticed.”

            “Hadn’t noticed what?” Azura entered the shop from the back room.

            “Someone came in about a job, and Shakra thinks he’s good looking.”

            Azura took the resume off the counter and skimmed over it, “Hmm…he’s had a few steady jobs, a few good references. Outside of his looks, what did you think of him?”

            “Seemed nice,” Alice said shortly, and tried to keep her face from flushing.

Shakra rumbled a laugh. “She thinks he’s dreamy.”

            “Hush, Shakra. I do not.” She looked over at the Tiger and had to smile when she saw the little grey shop cat had finally made friends with Shakra. Emmy was curled up between her huge paws purring contentedly.

            “Well,” Azura handed her the resume, “It’s up to you of course. But he has a good resume.” She winked at Alice and then looked at her wrist. “Seven o’clock already.”

            “Already,” Alice said. “I’ll close up tonight.” Azura gave her a grateful grin and made her way to the backroom. Alice heard the door to the stairs bump shut, and then she turned to the Tiger lounging in front of the fire. “I do not think he’s dreamy.”

            “Suuure,” Shakra purred. “I saw you check him out as he walked away. Honey, even I admit he looks divine.”

            Alice smirked, “Do you mean he’s good looking? Or you want to eat him?”

            Shakra blinked. “I eat animals, or raw meat straight from the package. I don’t eat Humans or any supernatural creatures, especially not Elves. They taste terrible.”

            Alice laughed. “You speak from experience?”

            “I ate one once, but only after it wouldn’t leave me alone. But I don’t think Threads would be nearly as popular if the customers knew you had a Tiger here that occasionally ate people.”

            Alice smiled. “Maybe you’re right.” She came around the counter and sat down beside Shakra, enjoying the warmth of the fire. “Hey, you’ve slept by the fire the past couple nights, but if you want to come up to my apartment, you’re welcome to the bed in the spare room.”

            “Thank you,” Shakra said. “But I am quite used to sleeping on the ground and actually much prefer it. Besides, I believe I am quite useful as an alarm system. No one would dare break into your shop.”  That was true. It would certainly be comforting to have a Tiger around.

            “True.” Alice twisted a strand of hair around her finger, wondering how to tell Shakra what was on her mind. “Um…that gives me an idea,” she said shyly. “You think you would want to stay here for a while? I mean...I could hire you as a sort of...um, shop security.”

Alice worried that the Tiger might be insulted, but she inclined her head and said softly, “I would like that. I don’t actually have anywhere to go until I can get back to India.”

             “We can probably get you back there.”

            Shakra’s ears perked up. “I’ve heard about Threads before - it can travel anywhere there’s magic, right?”

            “Yeah. It tends to show up in cities, but we might be able to get you into the jungles.”
            “It’s a deal. I’ll stay on for a few months in order to earn my passage to India.”

            “We can feed you too,” Alice said quickly. “Since we’re going from city to city you won’t be able to hunt, so just let me know what you want and I’ll get it. I’m almost out of the hamburger you’ve been eating. Do you want something different?  It must be boring always eating the same thing.”

            “Whatever you can get will be fine,” Shakra said. “I’m much obliged.”

            “So…you’re okay sleeping down here?”

            “I am.”

            “Okay, well I think I’m going to head up to bed then, and I’ll see you in the morning. It’s Azura’s day off tomorrow, so it’s just you and me.”

            “Maybe you can call your dreamy Elf in for an interview.”

            Alice rolled her eyes. “Goodnight Shakra.”

            “Good night Alice. Sweet dreams.”