Halloweentown- Calibar's Return
By: Jaq O' Diamonds
Chapter Two- Pancakes? What Are Those?
Author's Note- I am sorry for the lack of updates the last couple years. long story short, personal issues and lack of inspiration.
I hope to change that soon, but regardless, I do apologize. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and if not, please tell me what I can do to improve it, via pm.
Standard disclaimers apply.
*Sizzle...*
"Hm? What is that smell? It's so intoxicating..." Caliban mumbles to himself sleepily, the scent of something cooking drifting to his nose from the doorway of the guest room he spent the night in.
"Oh, you're awake! Did you get some rest? How are you feeling?" a female voice asks, causing him to be on alert for any harm that might possibly befall him, his eyes rapidly darting cross the room, before seeing a young woman standing in the doorway. Upon recognizing her, he relaxes slightly, relief washing over him at the fact that she isn't an enemy.
"You, you're Sophie Cromwell, aren't you? I'm... reasonably well, thank you for asking. What is that smell?"
"That? Mom's cooking pancakes. You hungry?" she asks, slightly blushing at the fact that he is shirtless, and somewhat muscular. "You, uh... You look a lot better after a shower. Not that I was looking at you like that, of course. I'm just saying that... never mind. Breakfast is almost ready. We have some clothes for you to wear, hanging over the chair over there. Not sure if they will fit, but they're all we had on such short notice. Anyways, I'm going to let you get dressed, so... yeah. See you in a bit." she says, slightly flustered due to embarrassment, before leaving him.
"That was... odd. What was bothering her, i wonder? ... Probably not important." he says to himself.
"You are an idiot..." a voice says, the tones echoing in his mind.
"Quiet, you. I am in no mood for your insults and remarks." he replies in his thoughts. He then gets changed, with the clothing slightly loose in some places due to his malnutrition. He then immediately goes to the mirror to look at himself, his Eye activating, an image superimposed on his reflection, in his mind.
"Boy, do you honestly think you can win? That you will even manage to survive? The Cult will succeed in bringing me back as their new god, and you will prostrate yourself before me, as will everyone else in existence. You cannot win, and I will enjoy that look of despair on your face when you fail to save yourself. After all, you are your father's son... hehehehe..."
"You are quite mistaken. I will die before i allow you to return... '_'." he responds, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, the image blowing away from his mind like ashes in the wind, before he goes downstairs to see the others.
"Good morning, Caliban. How are you feeling?" the eldest one asks cautiously, upon seeing him in the kitchen.
"I am... well, Lady Cromwell. I don't mean to trouble you. " he replies courteously.
"Oh, enough of that, dearie. Just call me Aggie. Everyone does. Are you hungry?"
"Yes, I am, Lady Cro- ahem, Aggie." he says, correcting himself upon the look on her face at his formality.
"Well, I hope you like pancakes. We also have bacon, eggs, and toast." Gwen says, adding to a stack of pancakes, while Marnie works on the eggs and bacon.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what pancakes or bacon are, so I can't tell if I like them or not." he responds, causing the others to go still in shock.
"Wait, you've never had pancakes? or BACON?!" Dylan says incredulously, voicing everyone else's thoughts at the revelation.
"No, to be honest i haven't had anything to eat other than moldy bread and gruel, before. Is that bad?" he asks, uncomfortable at the expressions on everyone's faces.
"Well that's something we're going to have to fix. You get first plate. I'm guessing that you're starving, so here. Eat up." Gwen says, piling 4 pancakes on a plate before passing it to Marnie for the proteins and toast.
15 Minutes Later...
"Well, what did you think? Did you enjoy your food?" Aggie asks, Caliban having finished eating.
"It was definitely the best meal I've ever had. Of course, considering my culinary history, that isn't all that surprising. But yes, it was delicious. I have definitely been missing out..." he says, helping with the dishes. The family tried to tell him to leave the cleanup to them, since he is a guest, but he refused adamantly.
"Glad to hear you liked it, Caliban. By the way, we're going to the mall later, to get some clothes. Would you like to come with us? You probably need some new clothes, after all, considering." Gwen asks kindly, a hesitant smile on her features.
"What is a 'mall'?" he asks in confusion.
"Oh you poor guy. Come on, we're going shopping!" Sophie says, grabbing for his hand, causing him to slightly flinch, a movement that does not go unnoticed by the eldest three in the room...