Chapter 53
“Whoever came up with the Fall Festival should eat these freeze-dried crickets,” said Taz as he paced the countertop of the Driftwood Pointe Animal Clinic. “Natalie brings me fresh earthworms. That’s what hedgehogs were designed to eat, not this preserved crap.”
Thomas shook his head. His familiar was spoiled. He should have stopped his assistant from giving in to Taz’s demands, but someone had to placate the little, spiny creature. Now it was too late. Taz’s palate had developed into that of a Michelin chef. Only the best for his hedgehog.
“She’ll be back tomorrow, and you can have your worms. Everyone in town is helping with the festival preparations tonight. You know how important tourists are to our economy.”
Taz stopped his waddle and sat back on his haunches. If hedgehogs could give dirty looks, then Taz was giving the filthiest.
“Not everyone, I see.”
Thomas cringed. Taz was right. He would rather be helping Evelyn, Marian, and the rest of the town decorate with lights and banners, but he was putting the finishing touches on his plan to raise money to renovate the animal shelter.
To make it work, he needed to adopt out the remaining animals in the shelter this weekend and raise the last $10,000.
Without those two important things, the contractor couldn’t move forward.
“I’m behind the scenes, remember?” said Thomas. “Not everyone gets to have fun decorating.”
Taz puffed out his quills in irritation. “I don’t see why you are bothering. These normals don’t appreciate what you do around here. Besides, who else could keep the Lost House under control?”
Thomas rubbed his temple at the mention of the building just outside of town. He debated whether he had anything under control, especially the Lost House. He’d ignored the sadness he felt from the house all afternoon, but something told him he would have to address the issue soon.
But he didn’t need to tell Taz that. It would only give the familiar more ammunition for his argument.
“Taz, we’ve talked about this. Everything is interconnected. Magic and non-magic folks. We need humans.”
“Humans can’t even help themselves. How are they going to take care of animals?” Taz shook his head, making his beady eyes bob from side to side. “This conversation is boring me. I’m going out front to see if Natalie left anything in her desk.”
Thomas watched his familiar slide down the board he’d installed. Each counter had one so that Taz could come and go as he pleased. Thomas could magic his familiar places, but Taz preferred moving on his own four feet.
When the hedgehog was gone, Thomas flicked his hand. A thick tome flew from the shelf across the room, landed on the counter in front of him, and opened to the last page Thomas had read. This was one of the many things Thomas enjoyed about his magic—never needing a bookmark to find his spot.
He’d only read half a page when a strange force pulled at his energy. His vision blurred, and a wave of exhaustion washed over him. He knew it was the Lost House, but the building seemed even sadder than normal.
Thomas considered calling Taz. Despite the familiar’s prickliness, the creature bolstered his powers, which he needed right now.
Splitting his time between the clinic and the house made sense, but Thomas had underestimated how much attention the house needed.
While his love of animals and the clinic replenished him, Thomas wondered if he’d taken on too much.
Thomas ran a hand over his face, blinked away his weariness, and focused on the book in front of him. It had supplied him with answers before, and if he were lucky, maybe it would give him some more tonight.