Chapter 75: That Cal

Missing from our party are Jasper, Naomi, and Sachi. I can think of someone else I wish were missing.

I sit heavily, doing little to hide my glare at Toki, who is seated across from me, the sunlight streaming in from behind the heiress casting her in some kind of glow. As usual, Emeka and Declan flank me. Xiao Shen boldly takes her usual seat on the other side of Cal. The reformed rivals share a satisfied look.

"So, Mei, would you flag someone down? I'm starving," Sonja speaks up, seating herself next to an uncomfortable Ren.

I narrow my eyes at her, but then my stomach lets out a rumble, and resignedly I look for someone to help us.

"Is Mei good with the staff here?" Toki wonders, looking to Sonja.

I snap my head back to the table so quickly I nearly give myself whiplash. Next to me, Declan snorts. My shoe accidentally bumps into his. Sonja glances in my direction with a small smile.

"You could say they know her."

My face begins to heat, my hands reaching for a non-existent cup of tea.

"What Sonja means is—" Declan goes on, sending her a look.

"Oh, I remember. She's well acquainted with the inn owner's grandson," Toki recalls, her full radiance turned toward me.

My hand clutches onto Declan's arm with crushing force. With what could be considered perfect or ill-fated timing, a waiter approaches our table.

"The usual for everyone?" he asks, oblivious to the tension.

"Perfect," Sonja answers, ignoring the daggers I am shooting at her.

With a nod and a bow the young man is gone and the table descends into silence. Xiao Shen sits straight in her chair and then faces Toki with one of her best masks in place.

"It was nice of you to stay for breakfast," she begins, with a carefully placed smile.

Toki tilts her head, a light smile in return.

"Of course, why would I miss it?"

"Oh, it's just that you must have better things to be doing than spending the morning with a paranormal team," Xiao Shen answers, not missing a beat, her smile not faltering for a moment.

I smile inwardly.

It is much nicer not to be on the receiving end of Xiao Shen's insult-with-a-smile.

"Perhaps, but in accordance with the festival rules, I'm not to leave Cal's side this entire day, and I don't intend to."

I reach for Declan's arm again, but he pulls it out of my reach. Xiao Shen's mask falls a fraction, an eyebrow rising.

"Even through our investigation? You believe we're chasing nothing."

Toki opens her mouth to reply, looking to Cal.

"Actually, I don't intend to enter the theater at all."

Cal's dark eyes move to Xiao Shen.

"Miss Miyuki experienced some unusual occurrences last night and wishes for me to investigate. I'll be taking Ren, and I suppose in consequence, Xiao Shen. The rest of you will monitor the theater."

I feel my anger bubbling up inside me.

Strange occurrences? She doesn't even believe in the paranormal.

I place my hands firmly on the table and set my gaze squarely on Cal.

"But Mr. Sachi is your client—"

His sharp attention turns on me.

"It's just for a few hours, Mei. There will be enough people at the theater to continue the investigation."

I want to argue further, but there is a finality to his voice that I cannot fight. In frustration I sit back in my chair and across the table Xiao Shen looks equally defeated.

That Cal.

As if to stop me from exploding, a cup of tea is suddenly set in front of me.

Finally.

With an eagerness to drain the entire cup as if that would drain my irritation, I bring the much needed amber liquid to my lips. As the faces of Cal, Toki, and Xiao Shen, who has a particularly strained expression, disappear behind the rim of my cup, I inhale a thankful breath, take a deep gulp, and nearly spray it across the table.

My tea is stone cold.

Coughing and sputtering, I attempt to wave off Declan administering unhelpful swats to my back.

"I'm, it's okay, just—"

"SOMETHING WRONG?"

I freeze. My eyes move slowly toward Xiao Shen, whose pursed lips confirm what I already fear.

Shoot.

"PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP IT ALL GO DOWN."

Just then three heavy platters are deposited on the table with a loud bang. Mrs. Koku looms near my chair with evil delight.

"COURTESY OF THE KOKUS. ENJOY."

With a clap the woman and her wait staff leave our table. A moment of silence hangs in the air as people seated all around us pause to watch the table near the windows receive what they all know to be the Koku specialty: vengeance.

I swallow, and then regaining some composure, turn in my seat to glare down the nosy inn guests. Promptly, talking with mouths full of food commences. With a satisfied huff I face my own table again, but find no one talking or eating.

"This is all your fault, Mei," Sonja snaps, holding up a charred indistinguishable piece of meat with her chopsticks.

A loud growling emanates from beside me.

Declan is stabbing at a piece of lettuce from the nearest platter, unable to pierce it. Heat flushes my face and my hands go cold. There is a light pat on my left shoulder and I look to see Emeka smiling at me as brightly as he can.

"This one looks just fine," he remarks, putting on a show of dishing up the stone cold and unrecognizable food, sending encouraging looks across the table.

No one makes a move for their chopsticks. Even as hungry as Declan is, his roaring stomach making it obvious, he places his on the table and pushes them a few inches away.

"See, just fine," Emeka goes on, bringing a shapeless lump to his mouth.

Across the table Xiao Shen brings her sleeve to her face in horror. I cannot help a nervous frown.

"Emeka," I begin, but he has already taken his bite and is chewing heartily.

And then something about him changes. His chewing pauses. Slowly he lowers his chopsticks, blinking a couple of times, his face quickly tinting green. I cover my face with my hands and Declan leans past me.

"Face that way!" he urges, aiming Emeka toward the aisle.

"I'm fine," he gasps as Declan thrusts what is left of my cold tea toward him.

"Here, drink, get it down!"

"Oh, does he need my napkin?" Toki offers, waving it unhelpfully.

A loud cackling rings from the kitchens and I shrink in my seat.

"I've officially lost my appetite," Sonja announces, tossing her own napkin onto the table in resignation.

After a moment more of chaos, Emeka rights himself in his chair, drinking what is left of my tea generously.

"Thank you," he murmurs when he comes up for air.

"Welcome," Declan answers, sitting back in his seat and shooting me a wide-eyed look. I narrow mine back at him.

This is not my fault.

Or is it? With a burning face I stare at the nauseated people seated around me and sincerely wish the floor would open up and swallow me.

"Well, that was embarrassing. I must apologize," Toki suddenly speaks, a hand placed at her chest as though shocked.

I glance at the woman in confusion.

Apologize?

"If I had known your breakfast would be a casualty of the dislike I've garnered in this town," she goes on, "I would have let you enjoy it without me in peace."

"No," Cal suddenly speaks. "This has absolutely nothing to do with you. Mei seems to have managed to deeply offend the owners of this inn. I apologize on her behalf."

Such a scathing speech leaves me on fire. Unable to contain myself, I stand abruptly, nearly knocking over my chair.

"Well, then. Let me restore peace to the table by leaving it."

And with one more smoldering glare directed at Cal, I storm away.

"Mei!" Declan shouts after me, but I am halfway across the room.

Ignoring the looks I am getting from the tables I march past, I reach the dining room doors and swing them wide open.

That Cal.