Episode Two Hundred and Five: Outcomes

The golden light pulsed from my hand and made me smile as it washed over the room. It felt warm as it sparkled. 

Allisa glowed, but no one else did. Just her. No lines stretching out, nothing else.

I slowly approached her with the second plate of cookies, with a couple more than they’d paid for, and set them down with only a smile.

Fred gave me a nod, along with Samantha, while Allisa texted someone on her phone.

Indigo sniffed in the direction of the plate, her eyes going wide before she launched herself off the table and to the kitchen.

I headed back to the register, careful not to hit the Cat’s sleeping form behind it.

His chest moved up and down slowly, but at least his fur looked better. More glossy. 

I snagged the fork and the first bite of sweet and spicy burst in my mouth as I finally got a taste of the cinnamon roll.

Absolutely perfect. Warmth, and gooey but not soggy with icing.

The bells rang as two more folks stepped inside, a human and a werewolf. I was certain I’d seen them before, but couldn’t remember their orders.

“Can I get an Americano?” the human asked. “What about you?”

“Uh, a hot chocolate,” mumbled the werewolf.

Neither drink took very long, and they snagged a table on the other side of the room.

The door almost slammed open as yet another troll entered. This one I recognized from the last time Allisa was in. He didn’t even head to the counter, and I snagged another bite of my roll.

Indigo landed on the counter with a cookie clutched in her claws. “Yum!”

“They are tasty. Betty is the best.” I patted the edge of the counter with my hand.

Indigo glanced down at the Cat. “No cookie?”

He still hadn’t awakened.

“Maybe once he’s up…” I hoped he’d wake up soon. It was strange having a day at the shop without him.

Indigo nodded and jumped up carefully with her cookie, heading back to the table with the crowd.

“Allisa, I got your message…” The troll yanked out the chair next to her and sat down with a thud.

“Not gonna get a drink?” she asked, glaring at him.

“Oh, I should…” He stood again, knocking the chair over with a bang. His green cheeks turned a little red as he glanced in my direction, before looking back at Allisa.

That troll had gotten a cinnamon roll and a latte last time.

I finished mine off in two more giant bites, since I couldn’t resist it. I licked one of my fingers, then grabbed a rag to wipe them off. Then, I started on some shots of espresso, just in case.

He rushed over my way. “Can I get a latte… and a cinnamon roll?”

“Of course, coming right up.” I already had the latte almost done and set it on the counter before heading to the register. He tapped his card as soon as I rang the two items up. 

He grabbed the mug with the latte while glancing back at the table, before turning back for his plate. “Thanks!”

“What’s going on?” asked the Cat. His bright green eyes were focused on me, then at the cat bed and the counter.

“Just a coffee shop day, nothing to worry about.” That wasn’t quite true, since I still didn’t know what was going on, just something with Allisa.

The Cat stretched, suddenly somehow twice as long as he normally was, before jumping onto the counter. He shook his head twice and then sneezed.

“Are you okay?” I whispered.

“Fine, just off,” he grumbled, before sitting next to the register. Within seconds, the Cat laid down instead of sitting. 

A cinnamon cookie appeared next to my mug on the counter and I moved it closer to him. Then I pulled a teacup out and started on a small latte for him.

“So, what's the important news?” the troll finally asked, after finishing his cinnamon roll.

I leaned a little closer in that direction, and held off on steaming the milk.

“I’m healthy,” she said with a little smile. “Completely recovered. My grandparents have no idea how.”

Not a sound came from the table. Even Indigo paused, though she mostly looked confused.

“That’s great news!” Samanatha was the first to react, before the rest of them chimed in.

It was great news, though I wasn’t sure why it needed to be shared here. I finished steaming the milk for the Cat and set the tea cup next to him.

He stared at Allisa, unblinking.

Without thinking about it, I sent a burst of golden energy across the room. It slammed into the Cat and then around him before heading to the table.

A golden line branched off of Allisa, this time heading directly to him. It didn’t connect, and nothing appeared around him, but I knew.

This was why.

We were here so he could know it worked.

The Cat glanced in my direction and caught me watching him.

“The coffee is good, thank you,” he said without even taking a sip. Instead, he set his head on his paws, looking more like a cat than ever before.

The moment was broken as a group of Elven college students opened the door. Loud chatter filled the shop as six of them spoke about school, home, and all sorts of things I couldn’t follow.

Things got busy from that point on. I made drink after drink and plated cookies, along with all the cinnamon rolls we had.

More than once I caught the other elves looking over at Allisa and whispering among themselves. Finally, it happened in a lull of take out drinks. One of them approached Allisa, very clearly elected by the others to say something.

“Excuse me,” she said after approaching the table. 

The trolls went quiet, and Allisa glanced up with a smile.

“Yes?”

“Is it true? I mean, I heard you have been healed of the wasting disease…” She stared at Allisa, her bright eyes locked on the girl.

Allisa nodded slowly. “Yes, the clan elders all agree I have been healed.”

“That’s good. Others might get better then, right?” Her head tilted to one side, making her ears stand out even more.

“No one knows why I was healed, but the clan elders are looking into it. We all hope that is the case.” Allisa gave her a small nod and turned back to the Trolls, clearly wanting to end the conversation.

“But why you?” the girl asked. This time the question came out in a much less friendly tone.