“So, what would you suggest we should have for dinner?” Arthur’s voice got me out of my daydreaming.
“I do not know. Spaghetti with meatballs?”
“Spaghetti with meatballs. It is a deal.”
Sometimes I felt I was taking advantage of his great culinary skills, but he really enjoyed cooking.
“Croque Monsieur, Tartine au Framboise, and a double espresso for the best customer I’ve ever had,” he said as he placed the plates and the cup of coffee in front of me on the table.
Suddenly, a whirlwind of green and lime lights was created in the middle of the kitchen room. As the whirlwind grew bigger, white lightning strikes appeared inside the swirl and a gentle wind breezed across the room.
“Hi, babe!”
I turned around and I saw her. A beautiful woman with sleek blond hair in a perfect elegant updo, dressed in a tight black dress and with bright red lips had jumped out of the portal. With the black veil fascinator she was wearing, she looked like she had just popped out a 1950s noir film.
“Oh, can I borrow your looks?” I almost let slip out.
“Dindrane!”
Arthur’s face beamed when he saw the strikingly beautiful woman walking his way. Their warm hugging made me feel uncomfortable. I forced myself to behave and instead I said, “Good morning.” while I stepped towards her.
“Hi, dear,” she responded and then turned again to Arthur.
“Arthur, dear, can I have a slice of red velvet cake, please?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, red velvet cake isn’t on the menu today. But I have freshly baked opera cake. It is made with layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup, layered with ganache and coffee buttercream, and covered in a chocolate glaze. I also have a lovely coconut cake, frosted with white glaze and covered in coconut flakes,” he replied with a joyful smile.
“Is there anything red? Like the color of blood?” she asked slowly.
“I have amazing Poire à la Beaujolais. It’s pear in Beaujolais wine,” he said.
“Is it red enough?” She giggled.
Why did she giggle? Her reaction made me raise an eyebrow. Was that because she met Arthur? Why was she so happy that she had met him?
“It’s made of pears cooked in a pan with red wine, sugar, a piece of cinnamon and cloves. Since the cooking does not always result in the demy Lorded red color, a bit of cochineal is added to enhance it. It looks like it swims in blood,” he answered and they both burst in laughter, as they had apparently shared an inside joke.
“Jeez, more giggles.”
“I’ll take it,” the woman finally said.
“Excellent choice.” Arthur could not hide his excitement as he headed to the kitchen island.
“Bloody hell,” the black-clad woman with the bright red lips said as she stared at me.
I froze. That was weird. Something was wrong with her. My hands became sweaty and clammy.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I am Gwen. And you are?”
“Dindrane,” said Arthur as he came back to us, “let me introduce you Gwen, our new Time Hopper apprentice. Gwen, this is Dindrane, our Master Time Hopper.”
“Master. Time. Hopper. Quite grandiloquent.”
“Right,” Dindrane said staring at me as if she was trying to see inside me.
After we shook hands, I turned around and moved away from her as fast as I could.
“Is everything alright?” Arthur approached me and whispered close to my ear.
“Everything is fine,” I reassured him as I entered the kitchen. A few minutes later, he came back and asked me again.
“Is everything alright?”
“Absolutely,” I said but I knew that he did not buy it.
“Gwen, I’m going to ask you one more time. Is everything alright?” he pressed his lips together.
“Nothing to worry about,” I said smiling. “Yet,” I should have added.
“I’m afraid I have to leave,” Arthur puffed out.
“Oh, no, you have not finished your breakfast,” I pouted. In fact, it was not him skipping breakfast I was worried about. His presence in the underground apartment made me feel safe and his absence was not what I wished especially after Dindrane’s sudden appearance.
“I’ll be fine,” Arthur said and took a sip of his espresso. “A suspicious pile of ashes has been found in the Park. If they prove to be Time Hopper ashes, then it’ll be the third incident of a murdered Time Hoppers within the last three days.”
“Oh, shit,” I exclaimed.
“Indeed. Someone is after Time Hoppers and I must find out who they are. Dindrane will take care of you,” he said before he walked toward the door.
Right before he got out of the room, he turned around and stared at me in a way that made me swoon.
The door closed behind him and suddenly, a stream of spinning images filled in my mind and my heart raced frantically as the images projected into my mind carried a blast of sentiments in me. Pictures of men and women turning into ashes whirled in my mind. Anger, terror, happiness, grief; all kind of emotions simultaneously whipped my soul. Panic-stricken by the uncontrollable flow of horrifying pictures and creepy feelings, I placed my hand on a nearby table to avoid collapsing to the floor.
“You need to work on your jumps.”
I turned my gaze at the mysterious blonde. What had just happened?
With shaking hands, I straighten my tight black-purple skirt and removed a curl from my forehead. I was scared to death, but I did not know why. This woman was giving me the heebie-jeebies.
Another whirlwind of green and lime lights appeared in the living room. A turmoil of images suddenly erupted in my head, accompanied by a shrill sound that made me place my hands on my ears in a desperate effort to have
