Jenna knocked timidly at the door of the upstairs room. A muffled call told her to wait half an hour. She fidgeted and sat down in the hallway outside the door, picking at the dirt still lodged beneath her fingernails. Only newly arrived, she still wasn’t accustomed to meeting the wizards, and this was the first time she’d dared to interrupt a meeting. The wizards were an odd assortment – mostly wealthy business executives and the like. Not what first comes to mind when you think wizards, Jenna mused. Still, they didn’t seem to be a bad bunch. After all, they’d helped her out when she first came to the city, given her a job and something to hope for her younger brother.
Jak, another man the size of a tree, came out after a bit and smiled down at her with strange gold eyes. She was surprised that he showed his true eyes to her, most people at the post were so used to pretending to be people that they rarely took off their glamour. “Well, hello Jenna, aren’t you supposed to be at another post this morning?” “Hi! Well, yes, I was there but I saw something odd and came straight here.” At Jak’s nod she continued, “ I saw… well, I think I saw an elf… I know it’s so strange to see one in the city.” “An elf? Well, come in and tell the committee. I hope you recorded it?” Jenna nodded and Jak ushered her into the room. Scattered around a table full of papers and briefcases were gentlemen and women in suits, of various looking human ages, listening to a very respectable looking dark haired gentleman lecturing and pointing to a power point. A strong looking woman in a power suit with ice blond hair captured Jenna’s attention when she looked coolly away from the speaker towards Jenna’s direction. A few younger-looking wizards were sprawled across cushy leather chairs and couches while others sat formally around the conference table, taking notes or reading. Jak cleared his throat and politely interrupted the speaker, and Jenna tried not to die from embarrassment. Luckily, she thought wryly, I’ve got enough dirt on me still to cover up the blush. While Jak repeated what Jenna had said, Jenna focused on trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, which is difficult when people are sniffing and flinching away from you.
A slight man in a business suit from a chair to one side of the room stood up – Jenna realized with a start that it was Andy, the wizard who’d found her. She’d always seen him in jeans, so the business suit surprised her. Until today, she’d just assumed that he was a junior wizard. He nodded to her, “well done. I’ll call Carl up to come administer the recording. I’d like for Mack, Cindy, and Jude to stay behind as they’re our resident elf experts. May and Jak, please stick around as well in case security needs to become involved. Everyone else, we’ll continue Dr. Poleen’s lecture next week. Thanks.” The room quickly emptied, as people swerved wide to avoid coming into contact with Jenna.
Andy smiled at her, “Come in! Sit down Jenna. Want some coffee?” Jenna nodded gratefully and quickly sat down in the nearest chair. Jak was talking quietly to the blond woman, whom she surmised was May. Mack, a tall, thin wizard that had the faint air of agelessness, introduced himself along with a Cindy, wizened tiny woman Jenna thought must be a fairy in real life, and Jude, another indescribable suit with an impatient smile.
“How are you doing?” Andy asked as he handed her a cup of coffee. “Good, much better thanks. I’m so sorry about interrupting…” “Oh don’t worry about it,” Cindy winked “I think we were all dying for a break anyway.” The door opened suddenly and a quiet-looking young man entered the room. Andy waved him in, “Ah, Carl. This is Jenna. If you could…” “Will do, Andy.” The young man smiled cheerfully at Jenna as he placed a hand on either side of her head. “All righty luv, this will just hurt a bit…”
And the next thing Jenna knew, she was waking up with an excruciating headache next to her younger brother Jeb.