Play time is cut short

Athena and Justin have a friendly rivalry. Something new is encroaching on their territory.

The day wore on. Athena dealt with a few more customers, but the shop was quieter than usual. Athena felt a strange energy coming from the front of her shop. She left the counter and walked over to the door. She began swearing. There was a spell cast on her door that would drive off the sensitive. Most of her customers were among the more unusual members of society.

It took Athena fifteen minutes to counter it. A presence nearby moved closer to the shop. Athena kept her powers active but returned to the counter. It didn't take long for someone to walk through her door.

The emanations from this person were overwhelming. Athena brought up her defenses and released her hold on her own energy. “I was hoping for a challenge,” the person said. The voice was such that Athena couldn't tell if it was a man or woman. “I can see I'm going to be disappointed.”

“Don't count on it,” Athena said. “I take it you're thinking to take control of this city?”

“It almost isn't worth the effort,” the being said. “But I must have a new power base and this will do well enough for me.”

“Don't think we'll let you take over our home without a fight,” Athena said.

The entity smiled. What Athena could see of its face looked human but she couldn't be sure. “You can try.” It turned and walked out of her shop.

Athena waited a few minutes before checking her door. There were no further spells cast on it. She went over and picked up her phone. She hit speed dial on a number she only called in times of emergency. “Athena, I'm surprised,” Justin said. “You're not usually calling me.”

“We have a problem, something far larger than our petty squabbles,” Athena said. “I'm calling a meeting of the Circle tonight.”

“I'll be there,” Justin said. “Does it have to do with the spell put on your shop earlier?”

“That's part of it,” Athena said.

“We may have our differences but even I wouldn't do something so low as to cause you that kind of grief,” Justin said.

 “I know,” Athena said. “You and I have a friendly rivalry. This is not that.”

Athena and Justin

This is a little bit of a short story I've finished and am currently shopping around. Just a bit of the conversation between two of the characters.

“How's business for you these days?” Athena asked, loading a box with his order.

“I can't complain, although I must commend you on getting Dawn's protections up so fast. How did you find out I was targeting her?” Justin asked.

“It wasn't hard when you let slip who you were working for last week,” Athena said. “If you're going to brag don't do it around someone who knows me.”

“The problem with that, Athena dear, is I don't know of anyone who doesn't at least have a passing acquaintance with you and your shop,” Justin said. “At least that moves in the same Circles as we do.”

“That's true enough,” Athena said. “Trying to get one up on you when we're probably two of the most powerful in the Circle here is always a challenge.” She turned and handed him his box.

Justin smiled. “By the way, Athena. I was just in that coffee shop down the road. The barista in there was having a very bad day. It seems she spilled chocolate syrup all over her expensive shoes and managed to spoil seven drinks in a row,” he said.

Athena raised an eyebrow. “That sounds like a rotten run of luck. I wonder if she managed to upset someone.”

“Yes, I wonder,” Justin said. He winked at her and she grinned. Leave it to Justin to poke his nose into her business, as usual. “Well, this takes care of my needs for a while. I'll see you next week.”

“Are you coming to the meeting Friday?” Athena asked.

Justin made a face. “Of course. But there we can't be nearly as polite to each other as we can here, so I'd rather not have to think about that right now,” he said.

She sighed. “Well if you didn't persist in opposing everything I do we wouldn't have that problem, now would we?”

“Ah, but I enjoy opposing those like you who come to this city, Athena,” Justin said. “I've been doing it for a very long time, after all.”

“As have I, Justin,” Athena said.

 “I know. Which is why you're a challenge,” he said. He'd have said more, but the door chimed and a handful of customers wandered in. “Have a lovely day, Athena.”