Linda grabbed the recent box delivered, opened it to see the new books and stickers they were planning to sell. The artwork reminiscent of a particular mutual “fairy friend” that Amanda had drawn seemed to sell the most. Linda was amazed at how popular the shop had become since they were mentioned in the paper. Something good came out of the actions of that sorcerer, after all. However, she did dread those who would ask what magic the Doctor used. She especially disliked those asking if they had met any of the creatures. Linda didn’t like lying but knew she had to protect Roween and the others from those looking to make “friends” of the creatures. So she kept her silence and would only tell people, “I’m not certain magic exists.” Not to mention that if others found out Amanda was good friends with a fairy, they may be tempted to use the girl as leverage against their friend.
Linda heard the bell for the shop door and looked up to see a man carrying a large cloth bag. He seemed to be taking care as he walked westward her. He had a kind face and appeared to have an air of curiosity about him. He smiled, asking if she had any recommendations on books about nature spirits. Although the man seemed friendly, there seemed an atmosphere almost knowing of something,
Linda was having trouble figuring out what the man really wanted. And when she asked what he was looking for, the man reached into the cloth bag and produced a Bottle encased in spun metal wire. Linda didn’t recognize it at first, but when she touched it, her wooden ring fluttered. And she thought she heard the faint sound of a scream. Her mind then went back to the Doctor’s basement, and when she realized what the bottle was, she quickly handed it back to him before placing her hand over the necklace. Linda deftly looked down to see if the ring was glowing.
“Would you be interested in buyin it?” the man asks.
Linda is unsure, asking where he got it.
The man gave a simple reply. “I buy and sell stuff at auctions. I got this one from that Doctor that kidnapped that local girl. Figured it might be worth something.”
“Wait, where did you get that?” Linda asked.
“You know from that house that burned down, the one with that Doctor, you and that friend of yours saved the girl from.” The man said, looking hurt by her questioning.
Linda’s throat filled with fear, and in her mind screamed, “I thought the house was still there.”
The man continued to tell her how he acquired the bottle.
“Some company came in and started tearing through it. I was watching them, but something happened, and they left in a hurry. The scaredy cats left all of their equipment still there. And I was able to get into that basement there.” The man leaned in, “I figured they found something valuable and went to see how it could be worth, so I made my way out, taking along some of the things from that place.”
Linda only stared at the man, her mind thinking, that stuff could have killed you.
The man gave another smile, “I’ve been selling the stuff I got.” He looked to think for a moment, “too bad they came back. I could have gotten more to sell at the auction.” Finally, he held up the glass and metal meshed bottle, “this is the last thing I got left. You interested?”
Linda shook her head, giving a meek, “No.”
“You sure? I mean, you helped the girl, right. Maybe she’d want it. I’ve been getting good money for the things I took. Maybe it’d be a good thing for you, too.” The man said Innocently.
Linda shook her head, saying nothing.
The man looked at the bottle, “figured give you a chance. Those other fellows, the ones from that company, took everything away. The lots empty now. They filled it in. there’s even grass and trees growing.” He seemed to think for a moment. “I could have gotten more from it if they left things. Too bad.”
The old man placed the bottle back into the cloth bag and smiled at Linda. “you two did something good. Who knows what he would have done to that girl.” The man looked to be thinking. “It’s strange, others from there kept talking about magic and creatures. Can you believe that?”
Linda did her best to smile back; she kept looking down to see if the wooden ring on her chain was glowing. The man started to fumble through his jacket. “Maybe if you know someone who wants this, you can let me know. I’ll cut you in for a finder’s fee.”
The man handed her a tattered business card, which he looked at for a moment. “I’ve had these for so long. I should probably get new ones.” Linda took the card cautious but graciously only to watch the man lean forward, “I still have boxes of them from years ago. Been doing this business for a long time.
Linda looked at the tattered card. It read Talbert Scrapplin, Scrapply’s Findings, Finings and Things.
She read the card the man tipped his hat before walking to the door. He turned to ask once again if she wanted the bottle. Linda again politely refused. She watched as the man nodded and opened the door. She was looking to see him walk by the window but instead saw nothing. Curious, she walked to the front of the shop and opened the door. She looked up and down the street but saw no sign of the man. She carefully closed the door, her mind racing. She sighed heavily, muttering, “please tell me we don’t have another sorcerer on our hands.”
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