Alice ripped the twine off the first package and tore the flaps up eagerly. There were a number of small glass cages inside, and she grasped the top one gingerly and drew it out, being careful to hold it steady. Her mouth dropped open. The glass case was about the size of a fishbowl, the bottom of which held a tiny field of grass less than an inch high. On the grass were a number of  thumb sized Giraffes.

            “No way!”

            Maya gasped and scooted forward, crouching on her haunches to take a closer look. Alice held it at eye level and both girls stared wide eyed as the tiny animals strolled casually through their miniature grasslands, bending their long, thin necks to chew on the grass.

            “How do they do that?” Alice breathed.

            “Plastic animals,” Azura stooped to take a closer look, “oh, I do so love the Giraffes.” She straightened up and continued her explanation, “they’re just cheap plastic miniatures with a spell on them. That’s why you don’t need to feed them or anything.”

            Alice set the Giraffes gently down on the floor beside her. The next glass case she pulled out was actually a fish bowl. “Sharks!”

            Her eyes widened, taking in the white, elongated body and the sharp fin on top. The miniature sharks all had nasty upper bites with dagger-like teeth, “Great white sharks!”

            “Don’t put your fingers in there,” Azura warned them, “they may just be plastic and a spell, but they act like real sharks.”

            Maya froze in the act of reaching out a hand, and Alice hastily put the bowl down beside the Giraffes. The next case had a closed top and a sturdy little bonsai tree inside. There were miniature monkeys swinging from the branches, shaking the leaves down. Their tiny screeches could be heard through the glass, and Alice couldn’t stop the wide smile that spread across her face. It seemed almost impossible to frown in the presence of monkeys, and when they were miniature, it was even better!

            “Oh look!” Maya was holding a larger, rectangular case. This one held a minute jungle scene, complete with tiny, detailed trees and hanging vines. A number of tiny Elephants were stomping through, knocking over everything in their path.

            The last two cases Alice pulled out held a pride of miniature golden lions and a herd of tiny, brightly striped Zebra.

            “What happens if you put a miniature Zebra in with the miniature Lions?” Altair had descended the back steps into the room. His shaggy hair was still wet, and he was in the process of buttoning his shirt.

            “Nature would happen,” Azura said, “and it wouldn’t be pretty.”

            Altair tapped on the glass of the lion cage, and one of them turned around, and showed him its teeth, snarling. “Very intimidating.” He told it. “But I could crush you with my thumb.”

            “Does talking to tiny fake lions make you feel manly?” Alice grinned at him.

            “Absolutely.”

            “I’m going to start putting these on the shelves,” Maya picked up the case of lions and walked into the front room. Alice heard the door bell jangle and the girl greet someone who had just come in.

            “I’ll get the sharks,” she picked up the tank gingerly, holding it out in front of her as she walked carefully to the front. There was a man standing to one side of the front desk. He looked up when she came in, squinting at her through thick, coke bottle glasses.

            “Are you Alice?”

            She looked more closely at him, trying to remember if she’d ever met him. The man had short brown hair and a long, roman nose. He was dressed  strangely, in a long blue robe with flowing sleeves. Outdated wizard robes no doubt. “Yes, I’m Alice. What can I do for you?”

            She set the shark tank down on the desk. The man gave her a crooked toothed smile and turned back to what he’d been doing. Which was, apparently, examining the wall in great detail.

            “Do you have any spiders?”

            “Beg pardon?” Alice frowned. Was there something about her shop lately that was attracting a lot of crazy people?

            “Spiders,” the man turned back to her, looking impatient “you know. Spiders. Icky things, eight legs, lots of eyes. Tendancy to crawl on you while you’re sleeping. Can’t abide the things myself.”

            “No, we don’t have spiders.” Alice said, honestly quite puzzled.

            The door jangled again, and Gabriel pushed through, holding a cardboard tray of coffee cups. His blonde hair was tousled and his cheeks were red, “it’s windy,” he breathed, and then caught sight of the man, “oh hello.”

            The man ignored him, still staring at Alice, “So, no spiders?”

            “None whatsoever.” Alice said firmly, “is there anything else I can help you with Mr…” she trailed off, and his thick eyebrows shot up.

            “Oh! Yes, the name is Ekile. Ekile El’Shem. Pleased to make your aqauntence.”

            Alice was about to shake his hand when an angry voice spoke up, “Do not shake his hand. Get him out NOW!”

            She jumped, looking around once before she realized it had been Shakra. The white tiger hadn’t moved from the fire. In fact, she had her back to the man, head in her paws. She looked quite peaceful. But there was no denying that she’d just shouted into Alice’s brain.

            Alice blinked and shook her head. Obviously no one else had received the message, “I’m sorry,” she frowned at the man’s outstretched hand, “Mr…El’Shem. I just got the most terrific headache. I’ll have to go lie down.”

            Altair was sauntering out from the back room. His stance was relaxed and his hands were in his jeans pockets, but a muscle jumped in his jaw, “Everything alright in here?”He leaned close to Alice and took her arm, “you look pale.” He shot a piercing look at Ekile El’Shem, who appraised him coolly back.

            “I’m alright,” Alice said. She pretended to lean against Altair's supporting arm, “you’ll have to excuse me, Mr. El’Shem. I don’t often get migraines, but when I do they come on quite suddenly.”

            Ekile El’Shem gave her a narrow glance, “Yes, it would seem so. Well, I’ll leave you to lie down then. It was a pleasure meeting you.” He turned, his robes swirling around his feet, and exited the shop. The bell jangled again as he passed through.

            She waited a minute before turning to Shakira, “What the hell was that?”

            The white Tiger uncurled with astonishing speed, hackles raised. “Shut the shop and get to the cupboard. We need to leave NOW.”

            “But what…”

            “I promise I’ll explain on the way. Maya, the sign.”

            Maya darted over to the front door and switched the sign to closed, her face pale. “What’s going on? Alice?”

            “I don’t know,” Alice frowned, “backroom everyone. Now. Shakra, you’d better explain.”

            “Just get us somewhere else, anywhere else and I’ll tell you. It’s not safe here.”

            That was enough for her. Alice strode over and unlocked the cupboard, “Everyone present and accounted for?” She counted heads, and then satisfied that everyone was there with her, yanked the cupboard open and curled her fingers around the glowing threads, “Where to?”

           "Anywhere."

            Azura shrugged, “How about Jasper, Banff? It’s beautiful this time of year.”

            Alice nodded and said the words quickly, heart racing. Whatever it was that had Shakra all worked up, it couldn’t be good. “Hold on, everyone.” The room warped and stretched, and Alice shut her eyes firmly as her stomach twisted in protest. Seconds passed, and then reality snapped back into place. Someone groaned. She opened her eyes to see Gabriel in front of her, clutching a coffee cup. There was a brown stain on the front of his shirt. “I never get used to it.” He complained.

            “Now will you tell us what the hell that was all about?” Alice crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Shakra. The white tiger sat back on her haunches, looking considerably more relaxed. She huffed air out through her nose, a noise that sounded very much like a sigh,

            “I think it’s time I told you all my story.”