The Human Girl's Response

Lief lay crouched on top of a pile of books, groaning, his hand massaging the left side of his face. Just as he turned to see Aine approaching, she hit him square on the jaw before he could teleport.

“So I guess you messed up again.” Cheddar was on top of a stash of books, looking down on him.

Still massaging his jaw, Lief replied, “I just didn’t get the potion.”

“Yes. That’s called messing up.”

“The Book has been summoning you for a while now, too. It seems you haven’t responded to it. So you’ve been following the human girl, but still haven’t managed to get the potion. And now you have stopped writing her story, too. What if the story concludes without you having written it?”

“That’s not a problem.” Lief sat, stretching his neck that was also grazed by whatever it was that was thrown at him. Seriously, does she carry murder weapons in her bag? “The story doesn’t matter at this point.”

“It matters when you start running out of hearts. Unless…you’re really planning to risk it all this time, Human.”

Lief did not respond.

“Well…” Cheddar stretched, then began scratching on the book cover. “You at least need a better strategy. You tailing the human girl like a creepy stalker, but with below average thievery skills is not going to help.”

Lief knew he needed a more concrete plan. He could not keep on simply stealing from her. But for now, while he was still sorting things out, he had no other choice.

***

Aine twirled the paintbrush on her fingers as she lay on her bed, staring at her new satchel bag. She could paint as many magic circles on the bag or even on the glass tubes, but that probably would not suffice. She couldn’t allow him to steal her potions. And she wanted to catch him, but how? He could dispel magic circles and appear and disappear in a flash. And what’s with the hearts he leaves behind?

Her forehead wrinkled. “But then again…He controlled my body that time, didn’t he? Why can’t he just do it again? He can just control me to make potions anytime. Or could it be he can’t do it anytime? Does his power have limits as well? And why the love potion? Why does he need it? And if he needs it, why doesn’t he look for the recipe instead? He could steal the recipe rather than the potion. Then he can make his own. Or he can’t?”

Aine dropped the paintbrush. “If he can’t…and his power does have limits, then…But my magic circles are useless…catching him is impossible…So…why bother?” A playful smile spread on her lips as an idea popped into her head. “He wants the love potion, doesn’t he?”

***

The light on the bedside lamp was kept lit, and playful shadows were cast on her face as Aine Darien lay asleep on her bed, hugging a bag. Lief must admit he did look like a creepy stalker at the moment. This was probably the fourth time he was watching her sleep. He had never done this before, at least not without summons from the Book. In truth, lately, he had been ignoring the Book and doing things a chronicler should not be doing. He was aware he had been rash and careless. Cheddar was right. He was risking it all. Throwing it away. Is this what being hopeful was about? Putting everything on the line, holding on to a single thin thread, not knowing if it’s strong enough or if it would snap at any moment.

Lief watched as Aine tossed and turned, but her hand never let go of the bag. He grimaced. She was definitely not the most obnoxious or strangest person he’d ever come across. There were way more outrageous people than her. But he couldn’t deny she was…something. However, he was quite something, too.

Lief clapped his hands, and the hearts flew. Slowly, the bag slid off Aine’s hands, slithering down the bed. Once the bag reached the end of the bed, Lief swiftly grabbed it. It had some weight, but didn’t feel as heavy as he thought it would be.

Aine’s body then suddenly shifted, making Lief freeze. He checked, and her eyes were still closed. Her breathing remained steady.

Lief clapped his hands again, and instantly, he was teleported back to his castle. See…He smiled. His thievery skills were not below average after all.

***

Lief poured out the contents of the bag onto the dining table. A large stainless steel canteen, which seemed full, fell first. And then a handful of glass tubes…which…were empty.

“What the—” Lief sifted through the glass tubes. They were all empty.

Then he noticed one tube, which had something inside it. He removed the tube’s lid and saw a folded paper. He pulled the paper, and written on it in cursive writing were the words: I gave you some of my father’s infamous tomato juice. It’s in the canteen. I hate tomatoes. But if you like them, give it a try. I can’t vouch for the taste though.

Lief’s brows furrowed. Then, he saw written at the very bottom of the paper: P.S. If you need my love potion, ask me personally.

Lief’s mouth fell open, but he couldn’t utter a word. He crumpled the paper and tossed it on the table.

Cheddar hopped onto the table. He snatched the paper and spread it open. “Ooohh…” he crooned. “I like this human girl.”