Nissa wasn't disappointed that the line at Maury's reached almost all the way to the door. She liked watching people. In particular, she liked watching people watch her. Most would glance at her out of the corner of their eyes and jerk their heads away when she caught them. Some, mainly children, would stare outright. A few would ask. They were the most fun. One woman told her of a family in Kentucky with brilliant indigo skin, a genetic mutation. She had no explanation for Nissa's horns and fangs. You just didn't see those on humans. Most seemed to think she was into cosplay although she had once convinced a man that she'd been dropped in a vat of blue dye as a child.
No one spoke to her this morning though so Nissa amused herself by watching them avert their eyes when she glanced over until she reached the front of the line. Becca, from behind the counter, gave her a quick lookover. "You're up early for someone who didn't get home until the crack of dawn."
That wasn't quite accurate but as Becca'd told her about last night's rave, Nissa wasn't about to alienate the girl. "Same back at ya. Did you sleep at all?"
Becca shrugged. "Sleep's for wimps. What can I get you?"
"Dozen bagels. Cream cheese." She scanned the offerings. "Better stick with plain and garden veggie."
"Those are some safe choices," Becca called over her shoulder as she started loading bagels into a bag.
"We have guests. Cordelia thinks their clients."
"You disagree?"
"Not sure." Actually, Nissa was sure. Clients wouldn't have contacted Willow.
It was too nice a day for the bus. Nissa decided to walk back to the office. When she stepped off the elevator, the lights were on in Wen Ning's acupuncture studio. Odd, it was early for an appointment. The studio didn't usually open until ten. Had someone gotten hurt? Maybe she should have gone with Wen Ning on the pickup. She decided to put a couple of bagels aside. Wen Ning wouldn't want to be interrupted during a session but he also wouldn't want his friend or client or whatever to go hungry when everyone else got to eat.
She turned towards the other door and paused to admire the logo, a silhouette of a man in a fedora next to the text Lamont Cranston Investigates. The references to The Shadow tended to drive Cordelia up the wall, but where was the harm? The callers who caught it tended to be interesting and those who didn't were fun to mess with. Nissa chuckled to herself as she opened the door to step into what Cordelia referred to as the reception area.
She didn't make it into the room. Cordelia, sitting with her back to the door, had started in with "About time" when the guy in purple at the far end of the room leaped to his feet and drew his sword. Cordelia threw herself between them, arms wide, with a snarl of "Stop it, mister." before the realization hit Nissa. The man had been attacking her. What? Why? She'd never even seen him before! She dropped the bagels to the floor as she drew magic into her hand, creating a ball of blue fire that sparked with power. Before it could go any further, Wen Ning was next to her, resting an arm on her shoulder. "Tamp it down, Miss Nissa. We don't need a stray spark setting the building aflame."
Oh, good point. Nissa tried to draw her power back but purple clothes guy was glaring and her brain just wouldn't work. Wen Ning removed his hand from her shoulder and Nissa felt a rising jolt of panic until he stepped forward, standing right behind Cordelia, putting himself between her and her attacker.
She jumped when someone else stepped up behind her but relaxed when he shrugged. Oh, right, Wen Ning had been healing someone. The man joined Wen Ning in talking the other guy down. Nissa didn't know many Earth tongues but it was likely Chinese if these guys were from Wen Ning's past and not clients at all which was seeming more and more likely. Purple clothes guy didn't look like the type who'd ask for help in a fight.
He sheathed his sword with a sharp click. It was an angry sound. He still looked furious, as if he were about to attack again at any moment. Nissa stood there, terrified, a blue ball of power pulsing in her hand, until Cordelia started in on him. She read him the riot act, going on about rules of the office – number one: no drawn weapons – and basic manners and had he grown up in a barn or what. Nissa was pretty sure he didn't understand a single word of it but he bowed his head as if accepting her tongue-lashing. The room felt safer. Taking a deep breath, Nissa let her fireball fizzle out.