Yes.
Do I still want to do it?
Absolutely.
No… no.
Violence gets us nowhere.
I realize how much I’m clenching my jaw as I head toward the door. I walk out and face the crowd of onlookers. They have their phones up, recording the whole scenario, and strangely look disappointed that I didn’t get maimed or mauled by the wild creature that happened to venture into the city.
Sirens sound and the crowd parts. I decide that my only option now is to go home, order some pizza, and longingly think about the donuts the wyvern is distracted by while the people whose job it is to deal with this hurry onto the scene.
They’ll surround the monster, probably tranquilize it, and move it to a safe location, especially because it doesn’t seem overly interested in human consumption when junk food is to be had.
The unit rushes forward and gets into position, surrounding their target.
“You are under arrest, put your hands up!”
Obviously, they’re confused.Obviously,this is their first day on the job and they can’t tell the difference between a wyvernand a human since they jerk my arms down and place handcuffs on me with runes embedded in them that make my world go black.
I let out a growl of irritation as I suddenly return to being a spectacle. They read me my rights while I seethe. Is everyone determined to ruin my day? Someone grabs the handcuffs and uses them to guide me toward a vehicle that I’m ushered into.
The door slams shut and Kit leaps down to my lap where she tries to weasel her head between my back and the seat so she can chew on the handcuffs. It takes one bite to realize she’s not getting through them before she circles my lap twice, yawns loudly, and settles in to sleep.
I consider doing the same. Maybe when I wake up, I’ll be at home with my donuts and my pizza.
I close my eyes and decide a nap is in order.
“Are you seriously sleeping?” a woman asks on my right.
“I must be in a nightmare if you’re here, Imani,” I say as I feel the handcuffs release, freeing me from their restrictions and their ability to incapacitate whoever is wearing them.
My vision returns, and I see the woman in question standing right outside the car door.
Kit lets out a noise of excitement as I lightly grab her tail with my gloved hand to keep her from rushing to the traitorous woman. “Kit, don’t do it. We don’t like her.”
And then I’m left with a view of Kit leaping into Imani’s arms, making all of these irritating happy noises while she gives the woman little licks and hangs on her.
“I’ve missed you! It must be rough being stuck with such a grumpy loaf. Is he a grumpy loaf all the time now?”
“I was just arrested, and you think I should be pleased?” I ask, making sure to show her my displeased expression. “You could have at least sent stripper police after me.”
“I didn’t know how else to get you here. I tried asking, calling, stopping by your apartment. One time I saw youdivedown behind a car, like you thought I wouldn’t see you crawling your way out of sight.”
“It… wasn’t one of my finer moments,” I admit with a grimace.
“I recorded it and showed everyone here. We laughed at your expense. It was very enjoyable,” Imani says as she beams at me.
She’s a gorgeous lady with dark hair that is currently being mauled by Kit, who is clambering up her shoulder and giving her light brown skin far more licks than Imani should ever want. I’ve always liked the woman… even if I’d refuse to admit it at this second. She has powerful light magic that can create barriers, and I worked with her for nearly ten years before I quit the Magical Interference Unit about three years ago. I don’t interact with her as much as I used to. It’s not because I no longer get along with any of my former coworkers; it’s because I’ve cut myself off from everything.
“I’m not coming back. I’m very happy with my job. So if that’s why you dragged me here, the answer is still no.”
“You work at a library,” she says, as if I’m not aware where I work.
“I do.”
“You are?—”
