Chapter 9
"So, my lady, I'll drop you off at the nearest ladies clothing shop while I head for the jewelry store," Dave told Dania as soon as they had gotten to their room. Dave didn't even bother to unpack as he knew that somebody would come and do that for them.
Dania didn't say a word when Dave took his wallet out of his pocket and handed her about $25. To her was a lot of money.
The fact that Dave had paid five dollars for a room with a private bath was really very expensive to Dania. Still, the room came with a lot of amenities, including meals and a laundry service so Dania supposed it was worth it.
"Sounds good," Dania said, and Dave looked rather pleased that she wasn't going to put up an argument.
"Feel free to spend all of that money I just gave you and if you need more when I get back, just tell me," Dave said. "I have no idea how expensive women's clothing is or things like makeup."
"I've never worn makeup in my life!" Dania told Dave looking incredulous.
"Well, here's your chance if you want to," Dave told her. "You don't have to of course, as I think you're beautiful with or without makeup, but if it's something you've been wanting to try then that's OK with me. I know at least most upper class women wear makeup even if it's very subtle."
"Even if I had wanted to, I wasn't upper class before I met you and I couldn't afford the makeup to try," Dania said. "Remember, I was barely scraping a living before you came into my life. There was only so many extra hours that Sid would give me and that I had the energy to work."
"That's in the past," Dave told her giving her a light kiss on the mouth. "You don't have to work anymore unless you want to of course. I'll be happy to provide anything you want or need. All you have to do is ask."
"It's not like I'm sad about leaving the grill," Dania said. "My plan was always to go to college, as that was my dream before my family was killed. I know I'm too old for college now, which is one reason I'm glad those men finally got what was coming to them. What those men did destroyed my dreams, even if they never knew it."
"So, your father supported your desire to go to college," Dave and Dania nodded.
"Yes, he did and said he would send me when I reached the appropriate age, but that never happened as you know. I got over not being able to fulfill my dream, but that doesn't mean I didn't believe that those men didn't deserve to die not only for what they did to my family, but for destroying my dreams."
"Those men wouldn't have cared if they had known," Dave said, and Dania nodded in agreement.
"I know. My family weren't fighters. We were just a normal family where the men farmed and the woman did things like knit and sew to make things like blankets and clothes. They also took care of the house and the animals. I know there were rumors going around about us that those men heard the rumors and decided to get rid of our family just because they thought of magic users as evil. One thing they didn't consider, though, is that the rumors were not necessarily right, and that rumors are often exaggerated. Those men didn't even bother to check to see if we really could perform magic or if it was just rumors. They didn't bother to find out if we were using our magic for bad things, they just broke down the door and killed everyone but me.
"It's not like it would've been very difficult to break into our home and kill everyone because we had no weapons to speak of other than things like cooking knives and my mother's cast-iron frying pan that she could have hit one of the men over the head with, probably caving in his skull, as that thing is really hefty."
"Cast iron frying can become weapons if a situation calls for it," Dave pointed out with a smile.
"I know they can, as I have already mentioned, hitting one of the robbers in the head, therefore, likely killing him or at least giving him a concussion," Dania said, "All I was trying to say is, that mom and dad were overwhelmed quickly, as they weren't exactly expecting to be attacked in their own home. Mom was in the kitchen fixing dinner when those men busted down the door and while I know she grabbed a knife she couldn't take out all four men by herself. I don't believe that she ever thought about using her frying pan as a weapon not since there were perfectly good, sharp knives in the knife block anyway. If mom's frying pan had been the only weapon in the kitchen then she likely would've thought of using it to bash those men's heads in, but she never got the chance.
"My siblings of course, tried to defend mom and dad and got killed for their trouble, but they should've done the smart thing and run because then at least some of them would've have escaped. Theodore, who we called Tad, was the oldest, as he was 20 and therefore of legal age. He only still lived with us, because he helped out on the farm and he had not yet married. The next oldest was only 18 nearly 19 as my sister Serena was a little bit less than a year younger than Tad was."
"I'm surprised your sister wasn't married since she was a legal age," Dave said. "Most girls are married by the time they are 15 or 16 in this century, though it used to be much younger centuries ago.
"No man seemed interested in tying themselves to our family at least not in our community and even if they had Serena would've had to agree before my dad would've consented to let them court. Other than old Mr. Leger, who was old enough to be my grandfather, that was it for marriage prospects, except for those that passed through our small community. Dad would never allow such an old man to marry or even court one of his daughters not unless Serena or any of my sisters, actually wanted it."
"Mr. Leger sounds like a bit of a lecher," Dave grimaced.
"He was and he had already outlived several wives," Dania agreed
"So how old was he?" Dave asked.
"Mr. Leger?" Dania inquired with Dave nodded she said, "He was at least in his 50s, though I don't know his precise age. He could've been in his 70s for all I know."
"I know, older men marry younger woman all the time, but at least it's consensual when that happens. Well, unless the father arranges a marriage for his daughter to someone older just because he offers a large dowry for the daughter's hand," Dave said.
"Yeah, that happens all the time and the father should know better," Dania agreed grimacing.
"Those fathers don't care if they make their daughters miserable," Dave pointed out. "Those type of men, don't really care about their daughters at all other than getting a large fee when those daughters marry whoever offers the most money for their hand," Dave said and Dania nodded in agreement.
"I know and it's sad. My father never would have sold any of his daughters into marriage just for the money offered," Dania said.
"That just shows that your father truly loved you and your sisters and was content with what he had. So many people are not you know, as some people just want more and more and more even when they have plenty already," Dave said.
"It's a sickness," Dania suggested and Dave nodded in agreement.
"Absolutely," Dave agreed. "Let's get going," Dave added.
Dania put the money Dave had given her into the purse that his money had bought her just before they left San Francisco since her outfit didn't have any pockets.
"You know, I really wish that women's dresses came with pockets," Dania told Dave. "Carrying a reticule around is just asking for trouble."
"That's just the style, I'm afraid," Dave said sympathetically. "The styles will eventually change and hopefully, when it does women's clothing will have pockets. Styles have changed a lot over the last few centuries believe me."
"That might be true, but the styles now, are kind of inconvenient," Dania pointed out.
"If someone approaches you and tries to take your purse, let them have it, as the money doesn't matter," Dave told Dania seriously. "I don't want to see you getting hurt or worse when you haven't accepted my tooth yet. If you're seriously hurt, you could die permanently, as I can't support you with my magic because you haven't fully accepted that you're my mate."
"You can support me with your magic if I'm seriously injured?" Dania asked in astonishment.
"Remember what I told you when we first met about you taking on some of my healing ability once you accept my tooth," Dave reminded his mate.
"You didn't mention being able to support me further then the speed healing I would gain while I heal, though," Dania said.
"True, I didn't," Dave acknowledged. "If you're very seriously injured, I can support you enough, through our bond that what healing ability you get from me will have time to heal you enough that you won't die, though I won't say you won't be awhile in recovering. Still, you'll recover faster than an ordinary mortal would once your new healing ability takes over."
"That's definitely a plus," Dania said appreciatively. "Still, if it'll stop you from worrying, I promise I'll give up my reticule without a fight and just scream for help like any woman would. It seems like such a waste, though for some thief to take whatever is in my reticule not just money."
"The money or whatever else is in your reticule doesn't matter as I will replace it if necessary," Dave told her firmly. "I'd rather replace whatever is lost than risk losing you, because some thief had a knife or some other weapon like brass knuckles and injure you severely enough that you die."
"I could always use magic to protect myself, just like I did with Buddy and his men," Dania suggested.
"If you absolutely have to, then you can do that, but you know what will likely happen if the cops or anyone else realize that you have magic," Dave agreed easily then added. "We have no idea what the cops think about magicals here in Chicago, though I'm sure that there are at least some that accept it, but there're probably plenty that do not since humans are as different as shifters or any other species in their personalities and values."
"And there's no telling what kind of cop we'll get an accepting one or an unaccepting one," Dania said.
"Exactly," Dave agreed.
"Well, as soon as you get me a tutor, I'm sure I'll learn how to handle a thief more subtly then with a fireball," Dania suggested.
"I'm sure you will and I'm truly sorry that your mother didn't have time to teach you more about your magic," Dave told her.
"Unfortunately, young witches don't start their lessons until they're at least 10, so I didn't have quite two years of lessons."
"I don't know why magicals don't start their children's training earlier," Dave said, shaking his head.
"It has a lot to do with letting a child's magical core develop and also about learning how to read and write, as those lessons must come first," Dania explained. "A magical child's core is unstable until they're at least 9 or 10 anyway, so that's why they're training starts at the age of 10."
"I didn't know that, and I thought I knew everything when it came to that type of thing, but I guess not," Dave said in acknowledgement. Dave shook his head after he had absorbed the information at rapid speed. "Considering how old I am, I'm surprised that that was something I didn't know, since there are witches in my realm."
"It probably never occurred to you to learn all about the magicals in your realm," Dania suggested. "I'm sure that the magicals in your world are the same as the ones in this one."
"Mostly, from what I have observed from both realms," Dave agreed. "Which means you're probably right about the reason that magic training doesn't start until a child is 10 on my world as well. Not that I know that for sure, of course as it wasn't something I learned during my education in my realm. I'd certainly be interested in finding out the answer sometime, but it doesn't really matter at the moment. Besides, the witches have always been secretive about their practices so that has something to do with not knowing about a child not starting their magical education until they're at least 10."
"No, it doesn't, so let's go shopping," Dania told Dave, who nodded glad to know that Dania was eager to get herself some new clothes.
"After you, my lady," Dave offered gesturing at the door to their room and Dania knew that was her signal to exit first with Dave following and locking the door behind them.
Dania exited and turned watching as Dave locked the door before both of them headed down to the first floor together by taking the elevator.
"You know I've never ridden in an elevator before we came here," Dania said.
"Elevators have been around a while, though not electric ones of course, but the concept has been around for centuries. The first ones were powered by slaves pulling on a rope attached to a platform, but there's also been ones run by a water wheel and also steam. Ones that are electric are relatively new since electricity wasn't invented for a long time. Still, ones powered by electricity have been around for decades now."
"You sure do know a lot about the history of elevators, sir," said the operator.
"I like to learn new facts and you pick up a lot of things just by living your life," Dave answered, before the elevator stopped on the first floor and the door opened.
Dave handed the operator some coinage out of his pocket and then escorted Dania out of the elevator and towards the front doors.
~~~Dave and Dania~~~
"I'll pick you up after I'm done at the jewelry store if you get done before I get back," Dave told his mate.
"Sounds good," Dania agreed, as she clutched a small reticule on her lap.
"Now, what do you do if you don't have enough for what you want to purchase," Dave asked his mate not for the first time.
Dania wanted to sigh, as she knew this was Dave's way of testing her to make sure she remembered his instructions and would actually follow them.
"I'm to tell the sales person that you will cover the rest of my bill as soon as you finish running errands," Dania recited in a monotone. "I am to wait for you inside the store until you arrive."
"If you're good we'll go to the best chocolate shop in the city afterwards," Dave promised.
Dania well knew that this was a bribe to make sure she obeyed Dave's instructions but since she loved chocolate and knew, Dave wouldn't treat her if she didn't follow his instructions to the letter she was just going to have to do so in order to get her promised treat afterwards.
Dave sure didn't know how to get her to cooperate without arguing, Dania thought not at all upset that somebody who hadn't known her for long at all knew her so well.
Chocolate had been a real treat for her, because she could so rarely afford it, ever since she had been living on her own and it was always the cheap kind not the really expensive brand names, which were much better.
Dave had treated her to Ghirardelli's Chocolates before they had left San Francisco and it had been divine. She had hated to leave San Francisco behind just because that's where Ghirardelli's Chocolate was located.
However, she knew that there were plenty of other chocolate shops in other cities that would be just as good she was sure. She was definitely looking forward to trying some of the chocolate here in Chicago.
Dania exited the cab and entered the boutique and knew that Dave made sure she was safely inside before he told the cab driver to take him to the best jewelry store in the city.
Having Dave protectively watching over her didn't feel smothering at all, but loving and protective.
Dania knew that she had fallen for the gentle dragon shifter and so she would tell him that she would accept his tooth as soon as they were alone. She knew that she hadn't known David Rossi very long, but that didn't matter, as all she knew was that she loved him. He was gentle, generous and kind, and also compassionate. He went out of his way to make sure she was safe at all times, and while some people might've been feeling smothered by that protectiveness, Dania hadn't felt that loved ever since her parents had been murdered.
That she had fallen in love with Dave in such a short amount of time amazed her, but the fact that he didn't keep anything from her when she asked him a question, really put him ahead of other men who kept things from their wives supposedly for their own good. To most men, women needed to be protected in cotton wool, as they were supposedly too delicate to handle the harsh realities of life, which was utter bull.
Women were tougher than most men believed or gave them credit for being other than ones, like Dave. Dave had centuries of experience under his belt though, which was one reason he treated women with respect and like they were intelligent.
Also, he'd had a fine example in his parents when he'd been growing up, as Dave had told her how they were mates as well and that his father never would have demanded his mother flee with him, knowing she would disobey such an order because she loved him.
He'd had that positive example in front of him every day about how his father treated his mother like an absolute equal in all things. Dania doubted that Dave's father had kept anything from his wife and also didn't try to protect her from the sometimes harsh reality of life. Dave had had that behavior right in front of him for hundreds of years before he had come to this realm, so this was at least one reason that Dave would never treat her like a second class citizen.
He didn't treat woman like they needed to be protected from everything. A lot of men would've liked to have put women in a glass bubble to keep them isolated and protected, but not Dave.
Dania realized that she would never find anyone better than David Rossi, so if she didn't take him up on his offer, she would only end up lonely, sad, and also miserable as Dave had quickly worked his way into her heart.
Of course, that also meant she would take on the danger from Dave's brother Miles if she did accept his tooth. Dave had been completely honest with her when he told her about his troubles and what she would be taking on if she agreed to be by his side.
He had told her that he had considered seriously, never officially introducing himself and not getting her involved in his troubles, but had known that he'd be miserable without her, which might even be enough for one of Miles hired assassins to kill him because he wasn't operating at full capacity.
He had explained how he'd be thinking about her constantly, wondering if she was safe and also dreaming about her so he would likely be distracted at a crucial moment and that would be enough to see him dead.
Dave had said it would be her decision that he wouldn't beg her to decide in his favor as much as he might want to nor would he force her to take his tooth.
Dave was so honorable that it made Dania weak in the knees as not many men shared that trait in her experience.
"Here you go, Miss," said shop clerk, as he brought several more selections for Dania to try on passing them over the dressing room door.
"Thank you," Dania called, as she pulled the dresses from the top of the door and begin to try them on.
"You are welcome, ma'am," The shop clerk said.
Dania looked at herself in the mirror and wished that she could give Dave a fashion show, as she suspected, he would enjoy, watching her try on new outfits, but there was no way Dave would be allowed to view her trying on new clothes at least not in the store, as that was one of the things that the shop owner would never allow not even for husbands and wives.
While Dave wasn't technically her husband no one knew that outside of the two of them, not here in Chicago at any rate.
Dania tried on clothes for several hours, but by the time she was done, she had chosen quite a few new dresses, skirts and blouses in various styles and colors. Also, shoes and other accessories. She had chosen clothes in black, gray, white and tan as those were the most popular colors, though Dania knew that would change when the styles changed in a few years. The style changing was something Dania couldn't wait for, as she thought that the fashion currently was dull. She had always liked bright colors and while she could wear things like blue or red or yellow those weren't the most popular colors right now unfortunately.
"I'll take all of these," Dania told the shop clerk.
"Very well ma'am," the shop clerk said happy to be the one to sell this lovely lady so much.
The clerk ran up the prices and it came out to just a little over $25.
Dania found herself wondering if she should put one of the outfits back or ask Dave to come in and pay the rest. She really liked all the outfits that she had chosen though and another couple of dollars wasn't that much.
"My husband told me to tell you that if it was more than he gave me that he would come in and pay the rest as soon as he got back from his errands and he should be back any minute now, as I really didn't expect him to be gone this long," Dania told the shop clerk.
"That's fine ma'am. I'll just ring up the ones you have the money for and then wait for your husband to pay for the rest," The shop clerk said agreeably.
"Thank you, sir," Dania told him with a smile.
"My pleasure ma'am," The shop clerk answered smiling back.
Both the shop clerk and Dania heard the sound of a cab pulling up outside, and Dania went to look out the front window to see Dave finally returned from his errand.
"Well, it looks like my husband has finally returned from errand that he had to run," Dania said. "I'll just wave to him, so he can come in and pay the rest of my bill."
Dania did just that, as soon as Dave had exited the cab and he immediately entered the shop.
"I'm afraid I went a little over," Dania admitted.
"It doesn't matter if you did," Dave told her with a smile, kissing her cheek.
"I'll give you a bit of a fashion show as soon as we get back to the room if you like," Dania suggested quietly, so that the shop clerk couldn't possibly have heard her.
"Oh, believe me, I like," Dave said just as quietly and grinned briefly at her before his expression returned to normal. "You're such a rebel."
"Who cares, as what we do in privacy, as that no one's business," Dania retorted, but with a smile, knowing Dave wasn't serious.
"True, but if other women knew what you were suggesting they would call you a whore or a harridan, as don't you know that you're not supposed to show off your body even to your husband?"
"Some of the rules of society, are stupid. I know you agree with me so don't bother to claim you don't," Dania snorted quietly.
"I would never do that," Dave promised. "You know very well I do agree with you that some of societies rules are stupid. Let's go and finish paying for your purchases and then I'll take you to get that chocolate as promised."
"I can hardly wait," Dania said with a smile, as she headed towards where the clerk was waiting Dave following.
~~~Dave and Dania~~~