We had been sitting on the overstuffed red couch for over an hour now, as I recounted my journey to The Boiling Isles. Eda was rummaging through restricted book after restricted book, as Raine scrolled through the crystal ball. Eventually, all that was left was research, and being the only human of the bunch, I could not make heads or tails of any of the advanced magic they were reading.
Leaning back on the couch, I let my backpack slip off my shoulders. With a soft yawn, I realized I had about three hours of sleep in the span of two days, and it was catching up with me. It was like magical jet lag. That was when the lights in the room began to flash. Jumping bolt upright , I noticed the light was coming from the crystal ball. The face of the girl at the front desk appeared, Lilith.
"Dinner is in ten, Edalyn," Lilith whispered, "If mom doesn't find you here, we're both dead."
Turning from her reading, Eda frowned, "Alright,"
The crystal flicked off and Eda turned to me, "Looks like it's been one heck of a day for you. How about you get cleaned up and crash on the couch? Bathroom is just around the corner. Snacks are behind the Die Bard II poster. Just press the button" I could not agree more, as my eyes blurred with sleepiness.
Raine turned to me and said softly, "Whatever you do, don't leave the clubhouse. We don't know if you can make it back in if you leave"
Nodding, I watched my two new friends go through the front door, and I was torn. My insatiable curiosity told me to snoop, and explore every nook and cranny of the space. The need to function without feeling like I was just at a wild college party told me to get cleaned up and go to sleep. I opted for the second, reasoning my snooping would be better when I was more awake, after all, that's what adults do. Mandatories before electives.
With a sigh, I stepped down the hall and into a surprisingly spacious bathroom. My mind flicked to Eda, and that mischievous grin. Clearly, she had to lay low to warrant a bathroom this big for a 'clubhouse.'
The space was lit by candle and smelled of pine and clove, as if it could tell those were my favorite scents. I could already hear the water running. A pile of dark blue cloth shimmied as if to get my attention. It was a towel and dragon themed pajamas. Whatever Eda did to this room was perfect, absolutely perfect.
Then I realized the bath. It was a tub, complete with an icey blue light underneath. Memories flashed to my childhood. Bath tubs were a luxury where I was from. Only the rich could afford to spend that much water. It wasn't always that way, however. As a child, it was the only way I bathed, but in my adult life, it was never an option. I smiled, before enjoying a relaxing soak.
I sighed in pleasure as I exited the tub, slipping on the dragon pajamas. It was nice to let my hair down, even if it was only temporary. Now, all I had to do was find a toothbrush and get ready for bed. Turning to the mirror, I wiped off the steam to peer into the gray-blue eyes before me. 'Still me,' I smiled before noticing the purple smudge above my eyes.
Turning to the towel, I uncovered the whole mirror and gasped in horror. It was me, but younger. Not only was I younger, but my hair had turned a deep violet. Grabbing my cheeks, my hair, I pulled. Definitely still me.
I turned to the bottles of soap, snagging the shampoo bottle. 'Aura Shampoo: Dyes Your Hair the Color of Your Aura.' That answered one question, but looking at my face, I remembered how tall Raine and Eda seemed.
I ran from the bathroom, and hopped onto the couch, pulling out my cell phone. I turned on the camera feature,and growled. Still a kid. I had spent years looking younger than my age. Even at 26, I was assumed to be 20 at the oldest. It was frustrating leading an entire branch of the Organization and being mistaken as a child. 'At least I was more energetic,' I noted, remembering my time running in the woods, before recalling how long I had been up. Flopping onto the couch I sighed. 'Maybe sleep would turn me back?'
