Nothing prophetic came to him in the night, and this made Dominic wake up even grumpier than usual. He still was not sure where the heck he was, Luna was not curled up at his side, Spark wasn't bugging him about being starved to death...and..

Well, that last part isn't so bad, he smiled, and sat up and looked around the room. There was was green couch he was sitting on, a phone to his right on the wall, and a small shelf to his left. A foot or so away from him stood a low lying table, with all sorts of publications spread about. A long tall container housed pencils and pens, and across the room their was a drawer filled with different colors of paper. Right behind that was a window, and when he walked up to it, he got a good glance of the rather spacious backyard that Lina had.

Of course there were several things he did not recognize right off. There were many cases that held discs with writing on them, the language they were written in he could not pinpoint. On the table with the pencils, there was also a strange device that had several buttons on it, and a little light that glowed towards the top of it. He reached over and picked it up, examining it as best as he could.

"Well, I'm lost as to what this is." He set it back down in his place. His eye then caught a large box on a stand in the corner of the room. He stretched and headed over there carefully, but froze in place just as Lina walked in the room.

"Oh, you wanted the TV?" She grabbed the remote from the side of the couch and snapped it on. Dominic, completely caught off guard by the sudden bright flash of images and noise, stumbled back over the table, his legs flying up and his head going straight into the couch. Lina blinked. Dominic blinked. Then Lina shook her head and helped the poor confused guy sit up.

"Are you okay? I guess you mustve been pretty sleepy. Im like that too when I first wake up." Lina looked him over, going over in her mind what horrible experience he mustve been through after being hit by her car. She also thought of any mental injuries the doctors mightve picked up on. Her mind once again wandered to law suits. She swallowed hard in her throat.

By now Dominic was waving his hands in front of Lina's face. "Are YOU okay?" He asked, keeping one eye on the flashy noisy thingy and the other on Lina. Lina smiled and tried to push her worries to the back of her mind as she nodded.

"Yeah I'm fine. Do you mind if I watch this cooking show? There is a great chili recipe program coming on, and I want to be able to hear it from the kitchen."

Dominic played the silent one and nodded. This is definately not the world I am used to. But I cant tell whether these contraptions are magic based or not, not with my own abilities lacking. I should remain careful, but if she is really ignorant of where Im from, I don't think its safe for me to let on.

He leaned back and watched the flickering TV screen. It was amazing to him, even though it was more interesting to him to figure out how it worked rather than what was actually on. He crossed his arms and studied it carefully, but was interrupted minutes later by a familiar but obnoxious noise.

"MeeeOooOW!" In trotted in a black and white cat with yellow eyes. It hopped up on Dominic, rubbing himself all around him before settling into his lap.

"Spark you silly cat!" Lina reached over and scratched his ears. "Do you want me to get him off of you, Dominic?"

"Its fine. " He petted the cat and Spark looked up at him like he was the best thing in the world. Now this is true appreciation, right here. I gotta introduce you to my cat, buddy. You are one fabulously fantastic feline friend.

The cat gave him an odd look.

Heh. Just because he can't talk doesn't mean he can't understand. He scratched under Spark's chin and recieved more purring.

"Just to let you know, Dominic, " Lina spoke as she tidied up the room, " I am going to attend a big chili cookoff today right here in town. The best cooks from all around the country are going to be there, and Im really looking forward to showing my cooking skills. Hey, you should try and enter yourself! Everyone loves chili."

"Is it hard to make?"

"Basic chili? Nah! I mean, the first time I entered I was a real rookie too.Listen, if you can cook at all, and follow a basic recipie, you will do great. May not win all top honors, but you will gain a name for yourself just by trying. The best part is, you get to make a lot of friends." Lina beamed at that last statement. "Why don't you give it a try for me? Please...I promise you won't be disappointed."

Dominic shrugged. "I am a decent cook. Not too sure how good I will be at chili, but I've been in the kitchen long enough."

"Great! Listen, do you..have any extra clothes on you? If not I'll have my friend drop off some for ya so you can get clean clothes after you wash up. Afterwards I'll give you a private chili lesson. Does that sound, A-OK?

"You are rather upbeat this morning, and yes," Dominic smiled.

"I am when it comes to cooking. Its a real passion for me. Im going to go run in the shower, get cleaned up myself, and by that time my friend should be here with the clothes. I'll get you all set up, and we will let the cooking begin! Until then...watch what you can of the show! It'll teach you something. Maybe you will have a culinary vision that will inspire you." She blew a kiss to Dominic and left.

"Vision. That is what I need, allright." Dominic's mood soured as he rested his head in his hands. "I know the key to everything is something about that book. If only I would-"

"One more thing!" Lina popped in and smiled at Dominic. "Someone spotted your glasses. They escaped unharmed from what I hear. Im gonna get them dropped off along with your clothes."

Dominic gave Lina a thumbs up and Lina left again. He focused again on the TV, this time, trying to see what the people said about chili.

"Did you doze off ?"

Dominic opened his eyes to see Lina hovering over him. "I thought it might be nice if I just prepared you a nice warm bath. The shower head has been acting up, and a bath is relaxing, even for guys, right? Fresh clothes are sitting on the sink, so, I'll show you to the bathroom. Oh yeah, your glasses are in there too."

Lina lead Dominic out of the sitting room, into the living room and then down a hallway to the bathroom in the corner. She flipped a switch and a nice scent permiated the air, and she grabbed some towels off the top shelf and handed them to him.

"If you need anything just shout. And don't worry, my eyes are sealed. Not that I could see anything anyway, all those bubbles provide a nice cover. She stuck her finger in the bathwater and pressed it to her cheek. "Its just the right temperature. Enjoy. I'll even turn on some soft music for you. " She looked to the CD player sitting on a higher shelf above the towels, and on tip toes she flips it on. "There. " She waved to him and left, shutting the door behind her.

This Lina girl is different, I can say that for a fact. He got undressed and slipped into the bathwater. This would be the perfect time for a nice smoke, but thanks to Gregory, I hate smoking now. Guess its better for me anyway... He made a face. I wonder if its too late to start up another life threatening yet extremely relaxing addiction.

As he did his best to get comfortable in the bath, he almost jumped in surprise as he saw a rubber ducky float in from behind him. He squoze the thing. It squeaked. What in the hell is this thing doing here? She isnt a child. He looked around the well decorated bathroom, and then noticed that the rubber duck, juvenille as it was, fit the decor.

Outside, Lina was setting up the kitchen for her little chili lesson. She got out all the ingredients she needed from the various shelves, and then went around searching for the necessary utensils. "I really need to better organize this kitchen." She muttered to herself and then grabbed a recipe card from her countertop organizer.

"Okay, the recipe calls for..:

1/2 pound sliced bacon

4 pound boneless pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large white onion, chopped

1 to 2 fresh jalapeno chiles, seeded and chopped

4 large garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled

1/3 cup chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 (14-ounce) can beef broth

1 cup brewed coffee

1 cup water

1 (28 to 32-ounce) can crushed tomatoes with puree

2 (19-ounce) cans small red beans or kidney beans, rinsed and drained"

She scratched her head and starts searching for all the ingredients. "Maybe this one is a little too tough for a new chilli head. But then again, learning something like this might give him a real advantage as a newbie...but.." she stops and crosses her arms. "We are missing oregano...wait, I bought some over..here!" she grabs the oregano out of a bag on the table and smiles in her success. "Brilliant! Now all I have to do is wait for ol lazy to get out of the tub and we can get cooking. Hope I didnt make that bath too relaxing."

It turns out Lina wasn't too far from the truth. Dominic had about fallen asleep when he noticed that he had been sitting there for quite a while. He stood up and grabbed a towel, wiping off his face and then wrapping the towel around his waist. He looked in the mirror at his tangled hair, and grumbled to himself. "Next time Im abducted Im bringing a good hair brush." He undoes most of the tangles with his hand and then shakes his hair to get most of the water out. Next, he toweld himself off again and grabbed the clothing provided for him. A T-Shirt that said, 'Let us establish a formal government of anarchy' and jeans that had little skulls on them. He couldn't read what was on the T-shirt anyway, but black was a good color so he slipped it on anyway.

About then was when he caught a whiff of the ingredients being prepared in the kitchen. Must be time for my lesson. He hurriedly finished dressing, put back on his own shoes and made his way to the kitchen.

"I was just about to get you out. This isnt the easiest chili recipe to start off with, but I think you can handle it. Read it off to me so you can get familiar, okay?" She handed him the recipe card.

GahhH! What in the heck does this thing say? I can't read this language. Im going to have to either own up or think of something. Or maybe there is a way to...yes, I got it.

"I can't read this. Im sorry." He straightened his glasses. "When I said I was new to the area I wasn't kidding, and haven't learned the written word yet." Hope that was vague enough.

"So you are from overseas?" Lina asked.

Dominic nodded. "Yeah I am. You know what they say, its easier to speak it than to write it."

Lina shook her head, "Its the other way around."

Damn. "Is it?"

Lina put her hands on his shoulders. "Yeah, but I understand. I'll read it for you, and go through everything step by step. You'll do just fine, and I'll make sure you get a booth next to mine in case you need any help. Its not technically allowed, but Ive seen enough people do it without being caught. It aint about winning, its about playing the game, after all."

Frustrated, Dominic tapped his fingers against his arm. He didn't like lying to Lina, he didn't like lying at all really. It was diffferent when he was trying to outsmart some dimwitted mage, and it was fun to lie to Stunt and Bumper, but this girl was opening her home to him, and it just didn't settle right with him. Still, he followed her every instruction, and it didn't take him long to catch on, giving pinches of this and that to the chili pot to really give off a great aroma.

Lina was a little more than surprised. "Are you sure you haven't cooked chili before?

"Nope, not at all. I have the general idea of what to do now. Tell me, have you ever put fish in your chili?"

Lina's eyes widened and she shook her head. "I think some people have, but I never tried."

Thanks to my wonderful cat for putting fish on the brain. "Just wondering.." Dominic watched Lina as she set the pot to simmer, and then poured them drinks. Lina handed him one and sat back down in the living area.

"We can sit down for a little bit, but I don't want to leave that unattended too long. It does need stirring."

"I can stay and do that if you want."

"Sure. In 3 hours we leave for the competition. And remember, above all else, have fun."

"You are beginning to sound like my mom." Dominic chuckled.

Lina lowered her head in mock disappointment. "Thats what all guys say. Guess that is why I never get any dates."

The two both shared a laugh, and with the cooking show on just loud enough for both to hear, finished their chili recipe and tasted it before leaving to the tournament.

The sun shined brightly down on the World Championship Chili cookoff. Fifty teams competed for top honors, a parade was marching through the main streets, and music, laughing and dancing were everywhere. A lot of time had passed since Dominic had attended a festival, so he took the chance to explore amost of it before hsettling down in his booth.

He was a whiz at memorizing spells and magical theories, so memorizing a chili recipe was no problem for him. Lina had encouraged him before he left to add just the right seasonings to delight his personal tastes, but never forget the basics of a good chili. Keeping that in mind, he set out all of the ingredients that the cookoff provided for him, and then took out his own. Cooking time had not officially begun, but Lina or his second sight didn't have to tell him the importance of being ready ahead of time. Once everythign was set out, he took a step back from the table and made sure there was nothing he was missing.

"A new one? Well nice to meet you."

He turned around to see a young man, about his age, wearing a long coat, dark grey jeans, and sneakers. Sunglasses hid his eyes, and long black hair cascaded down his shoulders. "Do you need any help? I like giving out pointers to the new ones. Last time I helped a girl out, she won second place overall. I guess i just have that magic touch. Problem is, I can't seem to get it to work on myself."

Dominic tried to keep a straight face. There was something really off about this guy, but nothing he could put his finger on without his second sight. "No Im doign fine. I already have a coach. Do you know Lina?"

"Lina who? Lina Dojin, the really tall girl with the red hair and pigtails, or Lina Starrow, not so tall, big brown eyes, and a cute ass."

You'd think with that sort of talk I was back home. Jerks. "...the latter."

"She is pretty good. Won third place overall twice, and a few honorable mentions for the miscellanious category. Stick with her, I have a feeling she will take you far. Well, its off to spend some quality time with my recipe book." He patted the book tucked under his arm. "See ya.." He turned and walked off.

"Yeah..see y-" Dominic tilted his head and looked at the book he was carrying. Brown, leather bound, a ribbon bookmark, slightly warn...it was the exact same book from his dream.

"Don't tell me that is what I'm supposed to be looking for.." Dominic gritted his teeth together. He stepped out into the crowd to try to reach him, but by then the dark haired stranger had disappeared. "Ive gotta get that thing.."

Lina squeezed her way through and led Dominic even farther away from his target, back to his cooking station. "Everything is about to begin in fifteen minutes. You ready?"

"Umm," Dominic kept looking over Lina's shoulder for the man, "Yeah. Ready."

"Good." She turned his head back toward his station. "Stay focused, go by instinct, and have fun. I'll keep an eye on ya from my station, and make sure you dont dump raisins in their by mistake." She giggled and patted his back, "Good luck."

Yet again Dominic was stuck in a stupid situation he couldn't get out of, and kept far far away from where he actually needed to be. This was beginning to feel like home already.