Leo chuckles, “Don’t worry about it. We’re not going to be paying a dime here.”
Victor looks confused and asks, “Are we going to dine and dash or something? Do you have a company credit card?”
Leo laughs while glancing over the menu. “No, no. This entire restaurant is catered to people like us.”
“Gay?” Victor questions.
Leo’s laugh echoes around the room. “Yes, well, no, but yes, I suppose. Everyone here, including the servers, are people of magic.”
“Question, why do you say, ‘People of Magic?’” Victor ponders.
The server sets down two glasses of bourbon and small ramekin of marinated olives. Leo reaches for a drink as he explains. “Well, it’s just like those of us in the queer community. We all prefer to use either gay, lesbian, nonbinary, or queer, for example. The same goes for magic wielders. Some prefer to be called a sorcerer over a warlock. There are even some witches who prefer the term ‘magician’ or ‘wizard’. So, I use the term being inclusive without offending someone.”
“So, what do you identify as?” Victor asks as he takes a sip.
“Gay and Warlock,” Leo answers, popping an olive in his mouth.
“So, if this place caters to us, and we’re not going to pay, then why do the menus have prices on them?” Victor inquires.
Leo finishes his bourbon and sets his menu down. “This restaurant is in the middle of Manhattan. We could’ve created an illusion spell for the mundane, but we’re greedy and like money. So, we charge these outrageous prices to the mundane. And they pay for it! The food is great, don’t get me wrong, but the steak is not worth $50.”
The server returns with a refill for Leo and takes their orders. Leo orders an eight-ounce filet mignon with mushrooms and a red wine sauce. Victor selects a ten-ounce sirloin topped with garlic butter and steamed vegetables on the side. Once the server leaves, Victor looks around the dining room. He starts to notice a vibrant array of different colors swirling around. Then he realizes these colors are hanging above the other patrons.
“I . . . I think I can see the auras coming off other people here,” Victor remarks, trying not to overreact to this newfound scenery. Victor remains calm, as if this is second nature to him.
Leo looks around and smiles. “I see your new suit is starting to enhance your empathic abilities. Empaths can see auras better than others who try.” Leo looks around the dining room,
“I’m not empathic, so I can’t see what you see. But I bet it’s incredible, almost like you’re looking at the aurora borealis with the number of people here.”
“How do you know that I’m empathic?” Victor questions as he continues looking around.
“Your grandmother was an Empath. It’s been known that this ability is passed down the bloodline.”
Victor is in awe as he looks around, then over at Leo. He starts to study Leo. “What do you see?” Leo asks as he takes a drink.
“I see hints of orange, yellow, and blue,” Victor responds.
Leo blots his lips, “Sounds about right. Do you know what the colors mean?”
Victor shakes his head. “I never looked that much into it. I just angled on the emotions more than the colors of someone’s aura.” He keeps looking around, noticing other forms of energy around the lamps and tapestries hanging on the walls. “I know non-living things don’t have auras, but I’m seeing something coming from everything else.”
“That’s still part of your empathic tricks,” Leo comments. “That will help you when you need to look for another energysource when using your magic; for example, those candles behind me and around the corner.”
Leo nods behind him, directing Victor’s view over his shoulder. “We didn’t see them when we walked in, and can’t see them from where we’re sitting, but I can sense them because of my fire specialty. So, if I need a bump, I can hone in on those candles and use the flame’s energy.”
Victor gives Leo a questionable look. He gets up and looks around the corner. Two candelabras, each holding five candles, sit on a table against the wall. Victor shoots Leo an impressed look. Leo returns it with a wink as he takes another drink. As Victor sits back down, the server returns with their salad course.
“So, how long have you been a warlock?” Victor asks as he starts to eat.
“I’ve been practicing magic for about fifty-eight years now,” Leo responds without hesitation.
Victor almost chokes on his salad. “How old are you?”
Leo swallows his food and smiles mischievously, “How old do you think I am?”
“I would have guessed in your late 20s or early 30s,” Victor responds questionably.
Leo looks up at Victor as he’s about to take another bite of his salad. “Try mid-60s.”
