1
EMMA
The morning sunwas being a sneaky devil, peeking through the car window and warming my face, even though it felt like a time for gray skies and the patter of rain. I groaned thinking about the events of last night, wishing it had all just been a bad dream. Unfortunately for my group of friends and I, it wasn’t. There had been a fire at Deva's Delights. A bad one.
Smoke had billowed around the building, obscuring most of it from sight. It was a small relief when the fire was put out and Deva’s Delights still stood, but that only lasted a short time before we realized that most of the fire damage was likely on the inside.
The fire department had deemed it too dangerous to enter last night, so we'd been left to worry and wonder until this morning. My stomach churned thinking about what we'd find when we finally got to see it. I was bracing myself for the worst, and for offering Deva as much support as she might need. Her restaurant was everything to her.
Daniel had gone off to take care of some pack business, leaving me to face the wreckage with Deva, Carol, and Beth. Beth's car, affectionately known as "Big Bertha" by those of us who were subjected to her frequent raves about it, rumbled beneath me as I stared out the window. It was like sitting on a cloud if clouds smelled faintly of lavender and had leather upholstery. The verdant landscape zoomed past in a blur, but I couldn't shake the knot of dread that twisted in my stomach.
"Hey, you okay?" Carol asked, concerned as she peered at me in the rearview mirror from the front passenger seat.
My gaze moved to her. Normally, the bright purple and yellow dotted hat and matching outfit she was wearing would have been enough to brighten my day, but not now. It just seemed out-of-place right along with the shining sun. Somehow, it felt like all of us should wear gray.
But I didn’t say that. "Fine." I forced a smile. "Just thinking about the café."
"Me too," Deva said softly from beside me. She gazed out the window, her eyes glassy and distant. I could only imagine how she felt, knowing that her beloved restaurant was quite possibly destroyed. My stomach clenched further.
I placed my hand on hers. “Whatever happens, it’s going to be okay. We’re here for you.”
She flipped her hand around, squeezing mine. “Thanks. I know.”
Deva leaned further back in her chair, and ran her free hand through her short, black hair. Her face was a shade paler than normal, and her dark eyes were filled with worry. Whether she was wearing it intentionally or not, I don’t know, but she had donned a black shirt with “Deva’s Delights” written on it, andbeneath it was a piece of cake with pink frosting and berries on top. It suited her, even though it made what we were doing even sadder.
"Buckle up ladies." Beth's grip on the steering wheel tightened as we approached our destination. "We're almost there."
Now Beth was dressed for the occasion. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, her makeup was light, and she wore a dark gray color that felt completely out of place in comparison to her typical wardrobe. Although, her somber air likely had less to do with her outfit and more to do with the fact that my normally cheery friend practically hummed with sadness.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” I said, but I wasn’t sure if I was saying it to them or myself.
The sight of the restaurant made my heart drop into my shoes. From the outside, it didn't look too bad, but I knew better. We all did. The fire had been no ordinary blaze, and the damage it left behind would be anything but superficial.
Sometimes magic was a blessing. Sometimes it was a curse.
We pulled into the parking lot, and Beth cut the engine. Silence surrounded us for a painful moment. Why did it feel like we were going to a funeral rather than to a restaurant we loved? Loss, I guess, was an interesting thing. Yet no matter how long we sat in this car, it wouldn’t make what we were about to do any easier.
"Here goes nothing," I said, pushing open the door.
"Wait." Deva hesitated for a moment, staring at the building that represented so much of her life, her heart, and her soul.
"Deva, we're here for you." Carol took one arm while I took the other. "Let's do this together."
She nodded resolutely. "Yeah, okay." As one, we stepped forward, our collective fear heavy in the air.
"Let's head inside, but carefully," Beth said, leading the way with a backpack slung over her shoulder. I couldn't help but wonder what arcane tools and trinkets it contained, and whether they'd be enough to save us from whatever malevolent force had targeted Deva's Delights.
“It has to be just small damage, right? This has to be something that can be fixed,” Deva whispered as we moved closer.
"Whatever we see, we’ll deal with it." I squeezed Deva’s hand as we crossed the threshold and entered the restaurant.
The air was thick with the acrid scent of smoke, and my eyes watered as they adjusted to the dim, dusty light. Beside me, Deva swallowed hard. The dining roomlookedas pristine and welcoming as ever, with its warm lighting casting a cozy glow on the neatly arranged tables. Too bad it smelled like a campfire.
Carol looked around in amazement. "You'd never know there was a fire last night if not for the smell."
Deva was about to burst into tears, by the look on her face. "That’s good, at least, but we still need to check the kitchen."
My stomach churned at the thought of what we might find. If the front looked this good,maybethe damage in the back wouldn't be too bad? Maybe the smoke yesterday had made everything look worse than it really was.
