The City That Never Sleeps (Messenger Owl Part II)

Flying above the sparkling street lights in New York City, broom side, was a time to be had. Not just because of how beautiful the city looked in winter time, but because of the commentary that could be heard on the sidewalks down below.

"What the heck is that?!"

"Is that real?!"

"Hold up—that's that magic kid!"

"OH MY GOSH! SIGMUND THE SORCERER!"

"YO! SIGMUND! MY DAUGHTER LOVES YOU!"

"I HAVE TICKETS TO YOUR NEXT SHOW!"

Over his first year at Milkweed Academy, Sigmund's fame had taken off. Instead of spending the winter holiday back home, he'd been ushered into a tour that spanned a couple different major cities across the globe. It was an exciting time for the sorcerer. He'd never been to New York and it seemed he picked the best time to visit. The city was notorious for having a beautiful winter season, as urban as the landscape was. The contrast between the sparkling white of the snow that had freshly fallen that evening and the bright lights around him made Sigmund fall in love with the city. The weather in New York wasn't the only thing he'd fallen in love with in the city though.

Landing carefully at the bottom of a staircase, Sigmund looked up at a beautiful Manhattan brownstone building as he hopped off his broom. Letting the broom vanish, he searched his pockets till his gloved fingers brushed over a folded piece of paper. Pulling it from his pocket and unfolding it quickly, he checked the address, then the building once more. Confirming he was in the right place, Sigmund took in a deep breath, paused and exhaled, a trail of airy smoke from the cold bellowing out. He conjured a gift box into his hands and figured he'd run through a greeting before he knocked on the door.

"Ahem...hi there! Happy holidays! I bought—no...not good. Okay—um. Hey! How are you? Ugh..."

When the door to the brownstone suddenly cracked open, Sigmund jumped and scrambled to collect the gift box that had flown from his hands. It wasn't who he was expecting though. In fact, it was a younger girl with pigtails and a red, holiday dress on who peered at him with wide eyes.

"Oh my goodness!" She gasped, finally fully opening the door. "It's really him! ERIC! COME LOOK! IT'S SIGMUND FROM TV! I KNEW I SAW HIM FROM THE WINDOW!"

"What are you talking about, Ellie? Close the door! It's cold outs—!" A tall, older boy this time, also dressed seasonally in a holiday sweater, and he was frozen at the door just as the younger child had been. "Oh wow...yeah. That really is Sigmund...wow."

"Hallo!" Sigmund smiled and waved sheepishly as he ascended the building's stairwell. Meeting them at the door, he held up the gift box he'd conjured earlier. "Ja, I erm—I came to visit Erin. I wanted to give her this. T-this is the right place...right?"

"Erin?!" The siblings seemed to ask in unison. As the younger sister, Ellie, dashed off into the house, the older brother, Eric, ushered Sigmund inside. Tapping the snow off his boots quickly, the sorcerer hesitantly complied and stepped in, letting Eric close the door behind him.

The inside of Erin's home was filled with warmth and the smell of something sweetly spiced baking. A tartan hall runner trailed down the entrance to the front door, past a spiral staircase that was decorated with a lush holiday garland. Family photos, elder portraits and academy photos followed the staircase. Above them, hanging from the tall ceiling in the entranceway, was a beautiful crystal chandelier that gave the room a warm yellow glow. Eric pointed at the coat hooks on the wall.

"You can hang your coat." He told Sigmund. "I'm almost positive you're gonna be here for a while."

"O-oh, sure!" Sigmund stammered, not quite sure what he meant by that. Juggling the gift box from one arm to another, Sigmund wiggled his leather coat off and hung it carefully.

"Here to see Erin, huh?" Eric suddenly asked, crossing his arms as he eyed the blonde. As usual, Sigmund was impeccably dressed and Eric's brow raised at the green, velvet vest he'd been wearing beneath his leather jacket. Bold, but classy. "I'm her older brother, Eric. How do you know Erin?"

"Nice to meet you! I actually met her after the relay this year." Sigmund responded, doing his best not to fumble over his words. "She's a wonderful athlete."

"You have an accent. You're not a New Yorker, are you? Where are you from?"

"Oh, haha! No, I'm not. I'm from Germany!"

"Aren't you touring this week? You're probably busy. Why are you wasting time visiting Erin? And how did you know where we live?"

Sigmund was starting to get a little annoyed with all the questions. What was this, an interrogation? And what did he mean wasting time? Before he could answer this round of questioning, Ellie rushed back into the entranceway and frantically pointed at Sigmund.

"Look, Erin! Look!" Ellie called, hopping in excitement. From around the corner, Erin suddenly appeared and Sigmund's stomach fell to the floor in an instant. Her hair, pulled into a ponytail and lightly dusted with what looked like baker's flour, paired with an equally dusted red apron was the most casual he'd ever seen the witch. There was a theme here, and Erin was also sporting what looked like a holiday sweater. As her eyes met his, a gasp escaped her.

"Oh! Sigmund!"

"Erin! Hallo!"

"Hi! Oh, goodness—I'm a mess right now. Sorry.."

"N-no! Don't apologize! I should've told you I was coming. I wanted to surprise you. And it smells lovely in here, so don't worry!"

"Haha! I'm baking while my parents are picking up a couple things for dinner tonight. I should really finish up though, they should be back any minute now." Giving Sigmund a warm smile, Erin sighed and shook off the surprise of the moment. "Please, come into the living room. The fireplace is going right now, I'm sure you're chilled."

Sigmund smiled back and followed behind Erin, her siblings trailing close behind. In the living room, the fireplace crackled faintly and illuminated the pagan styled alter in the corner of the room beautifully. It was clear that the home was very serious about practicing magic judging by the size and decoration of the alter and with another corner of the room being taken by a bookshelf that housed encyclopedias for spell-casters. Taking a seat together, Erin untied the apron she was wearing and pulled it off over her head before speaking again.

"You definitely surprised me. My sister especially."

"Your sister?"

"My baby sister, Ellie, is a big fan of yours." The younger child nodded quickly, making Erin giggle softly. "She thinks everyone wearing a long coat is Sigmund. Or every blonde man on the street is Sigmund. When she said she saw you from the window, we didn't believe her." Sigmund laughed this time, which honestly calmed him down. He'd been holding his breath for a while now.

"That's precious."

"It's funny that you're here, actually." Erin added. "Ellie was really bummed about not being able to see you. We weren't able to get her tickets to your show in time. They sold out so quickly! So it's nice to have you visiting! Congratulations on the show!"

"Yeah, congratulations!" Eric chimed in. "I waited in a queue online to get those tickets. They sold out just as quickly as they went up!" Sigmund's mouth dropped.

"Oh, Erin! You should've told me!" The sorcerer gasped. "You never need to buy tickets!"

"Don't be silly! Of course I do!" Erin chuckled. "How else would I see the show?" Sigmund shook his head.

"No, I mean it. Just say the word and be my guest." Turning his attention to the younger sister, Sigmund smiled gently, an action that made her shy away behind Erin. "How'd you like to be my guest of honor, Ellie?"

"Wait, really?" Erin gasped. Hugging Ellie, Erin smiled brightly. "Did you hear that, El? Sigmund said you're the guest of honor for his magic show!"

"Too cool!" Eric laughed as Ellie squealed with excitement. "You're a good kid, Sigmund!"

"Yeah, thank you!" Erin spoke warmly, setting her hand gently over his on the sofa. "Honestly, that's so kind of you." Sigmund's eyes sparkled and his face had instantly gone red. Thankfully for him, the front door opening suddenly and timer in the kitchen going off distracted everyone from his compromised state and sent them scrambling in different directions of the home. Erin into the kitchen and her siblings towards the entrance.

Two adults had already made their way into the living room though, handing off grocery bags to the siblings to take into the dining room. The woman pulling off a brown fur coat, who Sigmund guessed to be Erin's mother, was elegantly tall and trim. Her face was graciously made up and the pin curls set in her hair cascaded over her shoulders in perfect spirals. Her posture was upright, straight and it was clear from her aura that she, herself, was an enchantress. Erin's father was also well dressed and groomed. The fragrance he was wearing was prominent and was the first thing Sigmund noticed, apart from his curled mustache. Spotting Sigmund, who stood from the living room sofa, the couple smiled brightly.

"Wow! What an honor!" Erin's father boldly exclaimed, holding his hand out to Sigmund. "My little one is a big fan! I'm Levitt, Erin's father. Nice to meet you!"

"Ellie, ja! We've met! Nice to meet you as well."

"You're in Erin's level, aren't you?" Erin's mother grinned, brow raising knowingly. She held out her hand to shake with Sigmund's and he instantly felt hot under the collar. "Emelda. Wonderful to have you."

"Yes ma'am." Sigmund answered nervously. Her expression alone was telling. "I'm touring New York over the next two days, so I thought I'd visit. And thank you."

"You're welcomed into our home anytime, so don't be a stranger." Erin's mother smiled sweetly. Sigmund smiled back, amused at the similarities between Erin's looks to her parents. "You picked a good night to visit! We're having our holiday dinner."

"Can you stay, Sigmund?" Eric asked, joining everyone in the living room. He leaned close to the sorcerer to whisper quickly. "The parents here can be a little pushy, so if you're busy, ya might wanna leave while you can." Sigmund shook his head quickly, holding back a chuckle.

"It's alright! I've already had my show rehearsal earlier today. I'd be happy to stay. Thank you!" Pointing down the hall, Eric shrugged.

"Alrighty then. The bathroom is down there, to the left if you wanna wash your hands. Come back to the dining room when you're finished. I'm gonna help Erin out."

Giving a nod, Sigmund headed down the hall while the rest of the family scrambled to make things a little fancier than they'd originally planned. Sigmund looked up at the walls of the hallway, gazing at the family photos he passed on the way to the bathroom. The elder portraits were pretty interesting and seeing the line of succession of enchantresses and warlocks in Erin's family was pretty cool. He had a similar line up in his family home. Something caught Sigmund's eye though, it was a modern picture of the current family. A baby in the sitting mother's arms, father standing behind her and on both sides of her, a girl in a dress, one clearly being a younger Erin. For some reason, there seemed to be three daughters in the photo, no sign of Eric.

"Hm?"

Looking for another photo, Sigmund's eyes fell on yet another with three daughters stood beside a cauldron in a pumpkin patch. He spun around, eyes catching sight of academy portraits. A Halfmoon primary school, witchling photo of Erin with her name at the bottom 'Erin Valentine, Level 2', and beside it, another school photo of a witch about her age currently, name reading 'Ericka Valentine, Level 9'.

"Couldn't find the bathroom? My bad, I gave crappy directions."

Sigmund jumped hearing the voice of Eric suddenly in the hall. Joining Sigmund's side, he lifted the picture frame the sorcerer had been viewing, laughing boldly towards his confused expression.

"Ah, the dreaded picture day at Halfmoon! I was a cute kid, huh?" Eric teased down at the frame. "Can't get ya eyes off me!"

"That's you?"

"Used to be, yeah. What a shit show that was! Glad we're passed that."

"Wow. I was concerned for a moment. I thought a family member passed away or something." Eric laughed again towards Sigmund's statement.

"Ah man, Sigmund. You're a good kid." Eric helped Sigmund find the bathroom and once he was ready, they walked into the dining room together.

The table had been made up with a gorgeous red and gold setting. As the boys found places to sit, Erin and her mother emerged from the kitchen and set down two platters of food, adding on to the spread already on the long wooden table. Eric handed Sigmund the gift box he'd left in the living room as Erin finally sat at the table beside the sorcerer.

"What's in the box?" Erin asked, pointing at the red ribbon the box had been sealed with. Sigmund smiled and handed it to her.

"Open it!"

The family watched as Erin carefully unwrapped the box and lifted the lid, setting it to the side of her. Inside, the box was filled with different types of pastries and baked goods. Everything looked delicious and delicate. Leaning over the table, Eric laughed when he caught a glimpse of what was inside.

"Uh oh! Erin's weakness, sweets!"

"Hey! Be quiet!" Erin pouted, turning at an angle so the gift would be out of view for him. She giggled, looking up at Sigmund. "He's right though, I really love sweets."

"And they're usually off limits!" Erin's mother spoke sternly. "I'll give these a pass though, only because Sigmund was so kind to bring them all this way."

"Thank you, Sigmund."

"You're welcome, Erin." Pointing out some danishes in the box, Sigmund smiled. "See those, right there?"

"Yeah, those look so good! I actually wanna try those first."

"My mother and I made them."

"No way! It looks like a professional baked these! Putting those country boy skills to good use, aren't you?"

"I suppose so! You have to let me know as soon as you try them and tell me what you think. Don't be afraid to be brutally honest."

"Oh, don't worry! I think you know I'm good at that. Hehe..." Setting the lid back onto the box, Erin set the desserts aside and lifted her plate to the enchanted silverware offering her food. Sigmund did the same, lifting his glass to a pitcher pouring out cranberry soda. Ellie reached for the box of sweets, but was quickly stopped by her mother.

Eating with Erin's family was comforting after stopping in so many cities during the tour. His own family seemed to be consumed on all the business aspects of his professional career and for the first time in a long time, they hadn't done much for the holidays. Erin and her family felt like the home he used to have, before all the fame.

"Sigmund! We don't know much about you. Do you have any siblings?" Erin's mother asked suddenly, catching his attention. Sigmund smiled weakly.

"Ja...well, I did. I had an older sister. She passed away a couple years ago."

"Oh my..." Her mother muttered. The table seemed to go silent for a moment. Erin was surprised, she had no idea. "I'm sorry I asked and so sorry for your loss."

"No! No, please! It's quite alright! My parents are here in New York with me right now, I'm not alone. Actually, I sort of snuck out to be here..."

"No you didn't!" Erin laughed, instantly easing the tension at the table. Sigmund blushed.

"The entire time I've been sat here, my phone has been buzzing in my pocket." He admitted, finally laughing with Erin. "It's not my parents though, it's my manager."

"It must be so cool, having a manager and fans and all that..." Eric spoke, biting down at the piece of chicken at the end of his fork. "I wanna be famous too."

"Famous for what? Poor manners?" Erin spat. "Stop talking with your mouth full, it's gross!" Sigmund held back a laugh after taking a sip of his drink. Eric rolled his eyes.

"It's not all that great, to be honest." Sigmund admitted. "I'm always so busy, I never have much time to just rest and be at home with my family this way. I'm always on the go and when I meet people, they're not interested in me much. Just my show."

"I'm interested in you!" Erin smiled. Her siblings nodded in agreement, as did her parents. Sigmund held back a cheesy smile. The kindness from the family was overwhelming in the best way. "What's your favorite color?"

"Green! Emerald, specifically. Yours?"

"Mauve, on the pinker side though. What's your favorite thing to snack on?"

"Cliché answer, but pretzels. The crunchy ones. How about you?"

"I shouldn't say..." Erin chuckled, glancing over at her mother. Leaning over anyways, Erin whispered loud enough for everyone to hear anyhow. "Sweet breads, like the ones you just gifted me!" The pair giggled as Erin's mother gave her a crooked pout of disapproval. "Hehehe, okay! Favorite animal?"

"Snakes. Vicious and good fashion accessories."

"My goodness, that's a terrible answer! Haha! I really like zebras! Such unique creatures."

"I feel like I'm third-wheeling on a date right now..." Eric groaned, snapping the attention in his direction. With the startled expressions on Sigmund and Erin's faces, Eric and their father had a hearty laugh.

"Now Eric, don't tease your sister and her guest!" Erin's father chuckled. "Let them enjoy each other's company. You know how those academies are, they don't allow any communication."

"That's why I asked him how he knew where we lived earlier." Eric responded. "Never got an answer though. Suspicious..."

"Yeah, how did you know where I lived?" Erin asked Sigmund. "I don't recall giving you my address."

Sigmund blushed furiously. Technically, she didn't give him her address. He'd taken it from the letter she'd sent to Kyle. Would it be in poor taste if he admitted that at the table? Maybe being honest would be best? Before he could speak up, Erin's mother chimed in with a smirk.

"Now Erin, don't play innocent~!" She snickered. "You used your powers, didn't you?"

"Huh?!" Erin gasped. Eric and their father had another great laugh at Erin's expense.

"Stop laughing you two! It's clear to me, is all. I mean, the surprise visit from a celebrity of all kinfolk the evening of our dinner, the gift, the chatter. Erin's simply using her powers. That's what we do! We're enchantresses! She's top in her level for a reason!"

"Mom, I'm not—."

"I can assure you, I'm not enchanted." Sigmund interrupted, finally laughing with the men of the house. Erin's mother pouted when the laughter erupted.

"Are you sure?"

"I mean...I'm enchanted by her, but not magically."

Erin gasped, knowing Sigmund's answer was bound to prompt commentary from her family members. Without missing a beat, the wide eyes around the table instantly roared.

"OOOOOOOOOO~!"

"Everyone quit!" Erin groaned. Sigmund laughed with the rest of the family as they continue to poke fun. The remainder of the dinner was full of fun conversation, delicious food and plans for visiting Sigmund's show the following evening. When dinner was finished, Ellie was put to bed and Erin's parents started the cleaning. Eric was dragged into the kitchen by their mother to help and ultimately give Erin space around her guest, free from more investigative questioning. Sigmund and Erin sat in the living room in front of the fireplace while Christmas cartoons sang holiday songs on the screen. Opening the box of sweets once more, Erin quickly reached for the danish she'd been dying for all night.

"Oh, there's jam in it too? What kind?"

"Raspberry. We have a whole field of them at my childhood home."

"Ah, so this is as fresh as fresh can get! Sigmund, you didn't have to go through so much trouble."

"I didn't have to. I wanted to. Eat! Tell me what you think!"

As expected, the dessert was heavenly and definitely something her mother and headmaster would've prevented her from eating for the sake of appearances as a top student. Enchantresses were forced to keep a slim figure, posh appearance and feminine aura. Erin was over the moon and so consumed in the pastry, that she had forgotten to give Sigmund a review before biting down again.

"So, I'm guessing you like it?"

"O-oh!" Erin coughed, covering her mouth quickly. He couldn't help but laugh. "Don't laugh at me! It's fantastic, Sigmund. I'll have to hide these from the rest of my family. My brother, for sure, is gonna devour these overnight."

"I'm relived!" Sigmund sighed, setting a hand over his chest as he exhaled. "I was nervous you'd find it too sweet. My mother says she can't eat too much of those without her teeth hurting her." Erin set the box on the coffee table in front of them and leaned back on the sofa as Sigmund continued. "She actually told me I shouldn't have made these. She had other ideas, but-"

"You're so much different now than when I spoke with you at the Yule ball..."

"Hm?"

"At the ball, I felt like I couldn't speak with you. And to be honest, I didn't want to."

"...w-why not?"

"You were just so...flashy. And I don't mean wardrobe wise, I love how you dress actually."

"You do?!"

"Listen!" Erin giggled. Sigmund straightened up, already dreading the feedback he was about to receive. "I was already inside when you walked into the ball. It was your entire aura, you and your posse."

"They're not my posse!"

"Oh, cut it out! They totally are! And you all walked in, noses high in the air, heels clacking real loud and making a giant scene. It was obnoxious, to say the least."

"Ah..."

"Then you show up here, and it's like night and day! I like everything about you."

"You like me?!"

"Well...yeah. I like talking to you, joking with you, my family liked your company, my father was laughing with you. You've been a total gentleman. Excuse my language, but why the heck were you so weird at the ball? Weirdo!"

"AH! I DON'T KNOW!" Sigmund blushed, quickly covering his face as Erin laughed this time. Sigmund laughed with her from behind his hands and laughed even harder when Erin fought him to move them away. "Stop! Hahaha!" Through the scuffle, Sigmund's phone had fallen from his vest pocket and for the millionth time that evening, buzzed as it rang. Catching a glimpse of the phone, Erin broke away quickly to answer before Sigmund could stop her and placed the call on speaker.

"Hello?"

"H...Hello? Sigmund?"

"Erin."

"Erin? Wait, what? I'm sorry, who am I sp-"

"Can I help you? We're a little busy." Sigmund covered his mouth, hunching over to keep the laughter in. His manager annoyed him to no end, so this was refreshing to say the least.

"Sigmund, seriously, it's been three hours! I've been trying to reach you all evening! You left before we could do your fitting and the stylist can't stay any longer!"

"AYE! QUIT SHOUTING!"

Sigmund finally laughed and Erin hit the mute button to laugh with him, handing the phone over to the sorcerer. His manager continued to shout and after a while, Erin pouted.

"Maybe you should go.." Erin muttered. "He sounds really angry."

"I don't care if he's angry, he never lets me rest."

"Yeah, but you have your show tomorrow and it's already pretty late. If you're gonna get any rest at all, the time is now."

"I'm not tired!"

"Sigmund...answer the phone, okay?" With a deep sigh, Sigmund unmuted the phone and set it to his ear.

"OKAY! I'M ON MY WAY! GOODBYE!" Hanging up the phone, even though his manager was still asking questions, he rolled his eyes and reluctantly stood up from the sofa, crossing his arms. Erin stood beside him, giving a pout.

"Oh, c'mon! Don't be like that. You know I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Ja, I know..." He sighed, unfolding his arms. He couldn't act mad at her for the life of him. "Your family has been so kind. I've really enjoyed my time."

"I think they'd say the same about you too, Sigmund. You really kept up with all our jokes and jabs. I'm impressed." Giving one another a weary smile, Sigmund started for the entryway with Erin close behind. Before he stepped out of the living room, he waved towards the dining room, which caught Erin off guard when she noticed Eric peeking out from behind the arch of the room.

"Bye, Eric! Please thank your parents for me!"

"O-Oh! Hahaha! You caught me! Bye, Sigmund! See you tomorrow!"

"Obnoxious..." Erin grumbled, handing Sigmund his coat as they walked over to the front door. The comment made Sigmund chuckle. It felt as if he'd been laughing all night and he really appreciated that. This tour had been a tough one, but knowing he'd be performing for someone special tomorrow actually had him looking forward to getting back to work. Erin watched as he buttoned up his coat and pulled on his gloves. "Do you have a crystal ball?"

"Ja. Do you?"

"Yeah. Call me when you get back to wherever you're going, okay? So I know you made it back safely."

"I will. Make sure you answer as soon as I call. Don't let the crystal ring twice!"

"Hehehe~! I will."

Opening the door, Erin watched from behind it as a cold breeze swept in and Sigmund headed out. She frowned watching him descend the stairwell and quickly turned back to grab her boots. By the time Sigmund conjured his broom and turned to wave goodbye, he'd been swallowed into a tight hug that nearly knocked him off his feet and backwards into the snow. Regaining his balance, he paused for a moment and in realization that it was Erin, he quickly hugged her back just as tight.

"Erin! You scared me!"

"I wish you could stay a little longer..."

"Erin...don't say that. You know I'll stay."

"Hm..."

"You don't have a coat on. It's cold. Go in."

"No."

"Fine." Reluctantly pulling away from the hug, Sigmund unbuttoned and pulled off his jacket, quickly draping the heavy leather coat over her shoulders. Hopping on his broom, he gave her a warm smile, which she returned. "You look nice in my jacket."

"Aren't you gonna be cold flying back?"

"I'll just conjure another one, don't worry about me."

"I'll give it back to you tomorrow."

"Keep it. Wear it when you go back to Halfmoon and tell me what your peers say."

"Oh, you'd just love that, wouldn't you! Troublemaker!"

Sigmund reached out to Erin for one last hug, which she instantly complied to, standing on the tips of her toes to reach him on his broom. Even after pulling away, she hugged onto his arm and he didn't exactly object. He also didn't mind the kiss she set on his cheek and he tested his luck, pointing to the other side of his face.

"One more~?" He grinned. Erin rolled her eyes and turned away.

"Bye, Sigmund!"

"Please?"

Looking over her shoulder, Erin sighed towards his pleading expression. She couldn't believe she'd actually grown a soft spot for him, but it was there for sure. Reaching up to him the best she could, Erin leaned in to kiss him again, but fell into shock when he'd actually kissed her instead. With a jump of surprise and wide eyes, she quickly backed away. Her hands quickly covered her mouth and she paused while Sigmund laughed. The laughter didn't last for long when a sneaker suddenly hit him over the head. Sure enough, Eric had been at the door and caught the entire scene.

"OUCH! Was that a shoe?!"

"AYE! Get back in the house, Erin!" Eric shouted over Erin's laughter. There was too much going on at this point and after picking up the tossed sneaker, Erin pinched Sigmund's arm harshly.

"Ow!"

"Hehe! Call me~!"

Quickly rushing into the house, Erin looked back and gave a wave before her brother closed the door behind her. Sigmund waved back and smirked to himself as he took off in the direction of his hotel, rubbing his forehead where the sneaker had hit him.

The flight back was one big daze. The shouting from his manager when he returned to his room was also a daze. He could hardly wait to see her again in the audience, it was the only thing on his mind besides the kiss. As soon as the fitting was over, Sigmund bypassed his parents and rushed into the room in his hotel suite to rummage through his suitcase for his crystal ball.

"Wow! Look who finally decided to call! Didn't I tell you to call me as soon as you got back? It's been a while, I was worried you got mugged or something!"

"Didn't I tell you to answer on the first ring?"

"Nope! No! I asked you something first, sorcerer!"

"Erin..."