Lucian gave Darcy a rueful smile, but shook his head. âYeah, I'm fine," he replied, reaching inside of the cooler by the counter, and pulled a bottle of water from it. He twisted the top off, took a drink, and sighed softly. He really did need to get a good night's sleep. All the research he'd been doing last night wasn't bringing him any closer to the answers he wanted. But of course he couldn't share this with his employer nor his coworker. This was something he had to do, and no one else.
âThough I wouldn't mind any help with the counter. If you man the register today, I can take care of the cleaning and orders," he stated, glancing in Darcy's direction. Cassandra made a soft huffing noise, like she'd found something amusing, however; Lucian raised a brow in her direction. âWhat's so funny?" he asked in a curious manner. There weren't many things, he'd learned, in the shop that were in any form, amusing. Cass glanced in his direction and rolled her eyes.
âI wasn't amused; it's not amusing when you're out of sugar," she responded, giving him a flat stare. It was his turn to roll his eyes, and shook his head. âHey, Darcy?" Cass called out, glancing in Darcy's direction. âCan you watch the store with Luc? I need to make a quick run to dad's," she spoke, causing a ghost of a smile to cross Lucian's face. She spoke of her own father as if he was their father too. It was like her to think of it as a small family, but he supposed he didn't mind.
âAnd Luc, behave yourself while I'm gone, okay?"
She didn't have to tell him that.
Rashid watched as the snow-haired woman exited the café, and head in the direction he knew his roommates to be in. It wasn't hard to know they'd left the inn when he had trackers on them. But he supposed that was just a byproduct of his abilities. It was mainly the reason the Council assigned him as part of the group. Each individual, different as they were, were all under the Council's watchful eye. Especially the le Valnosia woman. She was believed to be a dangerous entity, sentenced to eternal slumber for her crimes, but Rashid didn't really care much about that. He was, by far, the oldest member of the coven, and whatever deeds or crimes she, or the others, committed, were none of his business.
As long as they received results for their mission, that's all that mattered to him. So, he allowed his feet to carry him in the direction of the café, and entered the shop with a bit of confused smile. The pink-haired man Rashid saw earlier, was no where to be seen, however; he spotted a peculiar woman behind the counter. Dark-haired, fair-skinned, and grey-eyed. She couldn't have been younger than twenty, but the sort of youth she exude was one of someone who'd seen her fair share of hard work. Rashid supposed he could appreciate that kind of fulfillment in a human. He'd, after all, forgotten what it actually felt like to work. So many years have been lost to him, but he wasn't going to complain. He had nothing but time, and he would go at his own pace to live a fulfilled life.
âHello Miss," he greeted, smiling in a way that made him not as threatening as he could be. He wasn't here to scare anyone, after all. He just wanted to know why she, and the other two people he'd seen, smelled so... nice. Maybe it was something in the water around here?
The chiming of the bell in the General Store signaled the arrival of a new person. If Selene and Vicentius looked, they would have noticed a young woman with snow-like hair, enter the building. She seemed lost in thought since her lips were pursed thinly and her brows were furrowed. It looked like she was chewing the bottom of her lip in a thoughtful manner, but when she glanced in their direction, she blinked in mild surprise.
âOh, did you need help with anything? I'm sure Mr. Aldric would be more than willing to help you if you did," she stated, smiling in their direction. A throat being cleared, however, managed to catch her attention.
âYou know you're not supposed to help when you've your own business to run, Cassandra," the newcomer spoke. He was older, perhaps in his early sixties from the looks of him, but he wore a gentle smile in Cassandra's presence. She chuckled softly and shook her head.
âYou've customers to attend to, dad. I'll go make myself un-useful elsewhere," she stated, placing a hand on his shoulder before turning away. Mr. Aldric, however, turned towards Selene and Vicentius, grey eyes narrowed, and tilted his head as if he were trying to study both of them.
âIs there something I can help you with?"