Elora snorted and tried to cover the laugh up with a cough.

“Oakley’s friends,” Sylvia said almost absently.

Elora continued to watch her best friend’s mom who she’d known all her life. Elora was convinced she was staring at a stranger or at someone who had high-jacked Mrs. Tate’s body. It was creepy, and frankly she was ready to bolt out of the house to someplace that didn’t feel so lifeless.

“Okay, well we’re going to be on our way now,” she said suddenly as she stood up and began backing towards the door. She kicked her mom’s leg as she backed up and gave her a, what she hoped said, Get your butt up. It’s creepy in here, and I’m really ready to not be here look. It must have been written in English on her mug because her mom was up and saying her goodbyes as well.

“Does anyone else feel like we just walked out of the twilight zone?” Oakley asked as he started the engine.

“Hello ladies and gentlemen, please be advised that you are now exiting Creepville,” Elora said in her best flight attendant voice.

“Are you seriously telling me that you think she was weirder than you two?” Rin spoke up. Lisa clapped her hand over her mouth to cover her laughter.

Oakley looked in the rear view mirror at the light-elf warrior and frowned.

“So says the light elf from another realm who looks like a GI Joe with Rainbow Bright hair.” Elora laughed and after a moment’s thought added. “Don’t forget the quiver. You know the dude has got to carry a quiver.”

Cush chuckled and looked over at his longtime friend. “I should have warned you that the humans these days aren’t quite like you remember them.”

“What do you mean by that?” Elora asked.

“Rin has been away a very long time from the human realm; he’s kept up his knowledge on the times, but that isn’t the same as actual human interaction. He isn’t accustomed to how outspoken the female population has become.”

Elora’s brow rose as she looked over the seat at Rin. “You like your woman silent, huh?”

A wicked grin spread across Rin’s face. “I like my woman anyway she comes to me.”

Elora closed her eyes and shook her head. “I totally just walked right up into that one, didn’t I?”

“It was almost too perfect,” Rin agreed.

“Okay, okay you think we’re weird. But you have to admit that there is something wrong with Sylvia,” Elora told them. “The Sylvia I know was full of life, and she was always up doing something, and she was smart and savvy and that…,” she pointed towards the house, “that person is none of those things.”

Elora didn’t miss the look Cush gave Rin. “What? What was that look you just gave him?”

“Might as well tell her. It’s not like she isn’t going to be your woman eventually and be privy to all our secrets,” Rin said as he sunk back into the seat with his arms folded across his chest.

Elora wanted to snicker at the jab Rin just gave Cush, but she had decided to be mature―for now.

“I told you when we were in there that I felt the presence of magic, or more like the leftover, or residue of it.” Elora nodded, encouraging him to continue. “She hasn’t seen her daughter in months. She didn’t say anything about it. Based upon that, I would say that someone has done some stealing.”

“Stealing?” Elora said taken a back. She sucked in a sharp breath and her eyes widened. “You mean someone stole her memories?”

“Are we talking like Harry Potter type stealing?” Oakley asked from the driver’s seat.

“Not exactly,” Cush answered, much to Elora’s surprise. He looked at her and shrugged. “I like Harry Potter.”

Elora just stared at him for a minute as if she were seeing him for the first time. Then she forced herself to deal with the matter at hand. “Okay, that’s a topic for later. So what you’re saying is someone, and by someone we all know it was one of Lorsan’s cronies, came and stole her memories—and probably Mr. Tate’s for that matter. What do they do with them? Are they on a shelf somewhere just chilling out with the other stolen memories?”

Rin chuckled.

“What?” Elora snapped. “It’s a valid question.”

“They are in the care of the one who stole them,” Cush answered in his maddeningly vague manner.

“Just tell me this; are they carrying them around in a jar?”

“No,” Cush answered blandly. “They carry them in their mind.”

“Crap,” Elora huffed as she sank down into the seat, careful not to touch Cush sitting next to her. “Okay, I’ve got to eat before we get started saving everyone and putting the world back on its axis.”

“I could eat.” “Food would be good.” Cush and Rin spoke at the same time.

“No comments on saving the world, huh?” Elora asked sarcastically.

“I think it goes without saying that I and my sword are capable of saving the world,” Cush answered.

Elora was struck mute by the sheer confidence he exuded. She was trying really hard to not want him, and if he wasn’t so self-assured, handsome, calm under pressure, and funny—in a totally unexpected way—she’d be doing alright. But he was all of those things and he kept saying things that threw her off balance. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. Bad move genius, she told herself. Rule number one; do not look at the hotness. Okay, maybe this could work if she could just set up some ground rules for herself. She could call them: Rules to stay un-elfed. She mentally smiled at her made up title and then mentally kicked herself for basically have a conversation with herself, complete with laughing at her own jokes. She settled down into her seat without responding to his sharp, witty, and admittedly hilarious comment.