We’refriends. At least, that’s what I want to believe.
But mypastries!
My precious, carefully baked pastries!
And she’s the last employee who was in here.
“Excuse me,” says a voice at the counter, and I turn to see a customer standing there, pointing at the display case. “Can I get one of these?”
I blink.
The display case?
Isn’t that…empty?
Wait.
It’s not. It’s not empty at all.
“Of course,” I say, smiling as I hurry over.
Trying to pretend this is all normal. Like I know what the hell is going on in my own cafe.
Yeah, that’s because the pastry display case that should be empty isfull.
Someone didn’t just throw away all my pastries.
They baked an entirely new batch.
And as soon as the customer walks away, I discreetly pull open the back of the case, snatching a large, square pastry with flaky crust and artfully piped ribbons of icing.
I bite down, relishing the sweet explosion of flavor that blooms through my mouth.
“Oh my God,” I mutter, staring down at the remains of this unearthly treat.
I don’t know where the hell these came from, but suddenly I forgive whoever threw mine away.
“Excuse me,” calls a voice from the other side of the counter.
I hadn’t even heard the door open. I’m a Gatekeeper. I havemagic. I shouldn’t be so affected by things like sugar and flour, but the pastry is so damn good, I’m entranced.
I’ve never had anything this good in my life.
Granted, when you’ve got power like I do, sometimes other senses get a bit dull. Price you pay for magic, I guess.
I take another bite, then another, until the pastry is finally gone.
“Excuse me,” repeats the voice from the other side of the counter and I blink, finally looking up.
“Oh. You’re back.”
It’s the same lady who just bought a pastry.
“Yes, sorry to bother you,” she says, which is really quite nice of her, considering I’m the one who’s supposed to be running a business here, but was spacing-out stuffing my face. “I was just wondering. Can I buy a dozen?”
“A dozen?” I blink.
Normally my pastries languish.
