An hour later, all five of them were gathered around the kitchen table. Tapestry had decided on grilled chicken for dinner, with mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad. She served everyone and said grace, settling down in her seat and watching the guest of honor intently.
“It’s delicious!” announced Savior. “You are an excellent cook, Tapestry.”
She beamed at the praise.
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s really just what I had on hand. Next time, I’ll buy special ingredients.”
Malcolm cleared his throat.
“As much fun as it is to talk about cooking, and food, I think we have bigger problems on our hands,” he said. “We should talk strategy, and figure out how we’re going to reorganize the local Champion Authority.”
“But of course!” Savior took a bite of chicken, making pleased noises as he chewed, and then continued speaking with his mouth full. “As soon as… I inspect the damage of your destroyed headquarters… I can send the information to Architect, our resident head of construction at the Champion Authority.”
“That’s helpful,” said Malcolm. “But it’s really only part of the problem.”
“He’s right, Savior,” said Wax. “I’ve had my ear to the ground for the past week. We aren’t just under threat from the demons and sprytes in the city. Public opinion is shifting fast, especially online.”
“The monster rights movement,” said Melanie. “People are even talking about it at my school. There’s a new student union set up that’s organizing a relief effort for at risk monsters in the area.”
“Monster rights…” said Savior. “Or monster wrongs? Think on that one, it’s deep.”
Far too deep for me, man.
“I’m not sure that attacking Rain Dancer and his allies directly would be the best idea,” said Malcolm. “Killing them would only embolden the monster rights movement. It would turn him into a martyr.”
Savior frowned.
“What do you think, Tapestry?” he asked. “Do you agree with your sister on how widespread this movement is?”
“My… sister?” Tapestry stumbled. “Uh… Actually, yeah, I do!”
She smiled at Savior, her eyes fluttering. Malcolm briefly considered revealing the truth, and then decided against it. It would only infuriate Tapestry, and it wasn’t his place to disclose her secrets, anyway.
“The one thing I’ve learned in my time as a champion is how to be tactical and clean,” said Savior. “Like a quiet fart in a crowded elevator. We shall take a… silent, but deadly approach.”
He was totally serious. Malcolm coughed into his hand, trying to contain himself.
“What do you suggest, then?” asked Wax.
“I’m familiar with one of the local monster watering holes,” said Savior. “A little establishment called Terri’s Tavern.”
Malcolm furrowed his brow. He glanced around the table, but if anyone else recognized the place, they didn’t let it show in their expression.
I went there with Rose, right after I first met her. I wonder if she ever goes there on her own?
“You don’t think they’ll mind you, the leader of the Champion Authority, just dropping for a visit?” asked Tapestry.
Savior laughed.
“I have an understanding with the owner,” said Savior. “It shan’t be a problem. So… who is coming with me? Obviously, you and your sister are too young, Tapestry.”
Tapestry let out a small, guilty cough.
“And Wax…” Savior frowned as he considered his balding attendant. “You’re a stick in the mud, when you drink.”
“That’s because I don’t like to drink the way you do,” said Wax. “Your idea of fun is straight vodka shots.”
“A holdover from my college days,” mused Savior. “Cutter, you’re also a bit on the young side, aren’t you?”
“That doesn’t matter,” said Malcolm. “If you help me get in, I’ll go shot for shot with you.”
“Deal!” Savior laughed triumphantly and turned his attention to his food.
Malcolm slowly cut into the chicken. He thought about Terri’s Tavern, and heading back there. He wasn’t sure whether he was hoping she’d be there, or hoping that she wouldn’t.
CHAPTER 7
It was dark when they left Tapestry’s. Savior didn’t seem to mind walking, which Malcolm appreciated. He wasn’t confident enough with his own flight ability to have any hope of keeping up with Savior.
“Have you been a champion for long, Cutter?”
Malcolm had already corrected him twice more that evening. The nickname was permanent, as far as he could tell.
“Only a couple of weeks,” said Malcolm. “It’s been… eventful, to say the least. What about you?”
“Since Day One of the Phenomenon,” said Savior. “It was really quite something. I was already a United States Senator, popular, moderately well known. They were speculating about me making a run for the White House, some day.”
“Is that still something you’re considering?” asked Malcolm. “I’d think you’d already be busy enough running the Champion Authority and passing laws.”
“Oh, I have assistants for all that,” said Savior. “In reality, this is my job.”
He gestured to himself, to Malcolm, and to the surrounding town.
“Hunting down monsters?” asked Malcolm.
“Problem solving!” said Savior. “Helping people! Living by my ideals and being thanked by the world for doing it!”
This guy is too much.
“Well, it’s good to know that you’re staying grounded,” said Malcolm.
Savior laughed.
“Ha! Because I spend so much time flying!” He slapped Malcolm on the back. “Cutter, you are a card!”
Malcolm recognized the bouncer outside Terri’s Tavern. It was a muscular black man, relatively unassuming in appearance. If it wasn’t for the fact that he knew what to look for, Malcolm might have missed the fact that he was a demon.
The dark sunglasses hiding his discolored eyes gave him away as a monster, along with the telltale skull lumps along the crown of the man’s head. Malcolm made a mental note to avoid calling anyone inside a “monster”, as the word was considered to be a somewhat derogatory manner of addressing sprytes and demons.
“Greetings, good sir,” said Savior, addressing the bouncer. “We’re headed down into the tavern. That’s not going to be a problem, is it?”
“Uh…” The bouncer frowned, pulling his sunglasses down to get a better look. His eyes went wide as soon as he recognized Savior. “Jesus… Look, we don’t want any trouble! I’ll send Scribe out, she’ll give you whatever you need.”
“That shan’t be necessary,” said Savior. “We’re just here as patrons. To drink, converse, contribute witty anecdotes, and so forth. Say… isn’t it ironic that you’re wearing sunglasses at night?”
Savior does not know what irony is. Ah, the irony.
The bouncer just stared at him.
“He wants to get a beer,” said Malcolm. “We won’t make trouble, and we’ll leave if asked.”
The bouncer slowly nodded.
“Let me just… let Scribe know that you’re coming.”
The bouncer disappeared down the stairs, returning a minute later and waving the two by. Malcolm went first, feeling an odd thrill of anticipation as he stepped into the rustic, dimly lit cellar.
Terri’s Tavern had a very traditional feel to it. Imitation lanterns hung from walls and the ceiling. The tables were all old polished wood, as was the bar and all the stools. It wasn’t especially crowded, with only a half dozen or so monsters present.
Malcolm scanned the room, searching for Rose and not finding her. He told himself that it was a good thing that she wasn’t there. If Savior got wind of how Malcolm had become friendly with a spryte, there would be consequences.