You know, you could have asked her nicely.

She’s been too lazy to write. This was the only way I could think of getting her to listen.

If you are sure…

The small cigar shop was closed for the night. He pushed the shutter down till he heard it catch, and then pulled it up again to make sure it was secure. As he did so, the young boy who was his assistant of sorts called out to him.

“Mom’s here, Mr. Kishan!” he started to run off, but Kishan quickly turned and followed him. The mother wound her window down as Kishan approached the car behind her son, her heart skipping a beat. She knew better than to expect a declaration of love though as one of the most sought-after bachelors came up to her car. It was probably something to do with her son.

“He has a paper next week. He can pick up his week’s pay after that,” he nodded, and then went back to his shop, not waiting for her reply.

“Thank you!” she called out after him. Uncharacteristically, he raised a hand in answer.

She drove off, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Kishan began walking home. He did not need any more females to complicate his life anymore, especially since that nightmare incident. He was not sure whether it had been a message from Karma or whether his subconscious working up, but he had not had the dream since he had stopped picking up women and trying to drink himself into insensibility every night.

He reached his home quite fast, not even stopping by the supermarket to pick up some groceries. It had been a rather uneventful day, but this was simply the calm before the storm. With their backgrounds, trouble always came for them, whether they went looking for it or not.

Opening the front door and wiping his feet off the rug, he caught the sense of something. It was not malevolent, but neither was it friendly, so he played it cautiously and addressed it as soon as he closed the door.

“What?”

“That’s no way to greet a Phoenix Lady,” the sweet, almost hynoptic voice spoke from the shadows. He refused to look at her.

“What do you want?”

“Is that any way to speak to a guest?” he could hear the smile in her voice.

“I did not invite you.”

“Nevertheless, I am in your house.”

“So?” Very few except his siblings could stand him when he decided to be rude.

“Make me a drink, invite me to sit,” she drawled, “It’s not that difficult, youngling,” she knew the statement riled a lot of humans that she came across, but this one didn’t care.

“Say your piece, Phoenix.” His tone was preemptory, commanding, so much so that she found herself replying before she could stop herself.

“The Council summons you. Day after tomorrow, at the Conclave of the Elements. Your sisters will not be needed,” she recited, almost as though someone else was speaking through her.

“Rourke,” Kishan nodded, accepting.

He felt the woman disappearing, her small huff the only sign of her displeasure at being appropriated. Kishan let out the breath he had been holding. That was too dangerous, even for him.