Page 43 of Oracles Always Win

“Ihave the key,”Ilied.

Peopletended to get anxious when they discovered how easily locks succumbed to my magic.Althougheven a mundane human could get inside most locked buildings if they really wanted to.Lockswere more of a suggestion than anything else.

“Ofcourse, my lord,” she said demurely.Thenshe reached in and grabbed a basket from the floor. “Please, my lord, will you accept this?”

Ieyed the cellophane wrapped basket with its bottle of wine, a selection of chocolates and nuts, and what appeared to be a handcrafted metal ornament in the shape of a goat.Thepetite goat,Iknew, was meant to represent my demon.Insulting, but true.WhenIdidn’t immediately accept the gift,Vanessaglanced up before averting her eyes again. “Please.Itis freely given.”

Peoplehad given me offerings in the past, usually after a negotiation when someone regretted what they’d done and wished to be free of their obligation to me.SometimesIfound them acceptable, but usuallyIdidn’t.Butto have someone offer a gift without negotiating?Thatwas odd.Itimplied a relationship, and few people wanted to be linked to one of my kind.

Althoughthat wasn’t entirely true, was it?Ihad vague memories of my grandfather receiving gifts regularly.I’dalways suspected it was another way to bind a demon to a place.Bygiving offerings, the local townsfolk were basically stockpiling the demon’s good favor, ensuring that if something should arise, the demon would then be able to act and use their magic in defense of the town without having to negotiate first.

Thatthis woman, who clearly didn’t feel comfortable with me, would come with such a gift was humbling.

“Ofcourse,”Imurmured and took the basket from her.

Shesmiled and some of the tension in her body appeared to loosen.Shecarefully pulled one ofJake’spaintings from her vehicle and passed it to me.Thenshe retrieved the second one.

“Isit normal for the doors to be locked?”Iasked as we carriedJake’spaintings, his supplies, and my new basket to the inn.

“Theinn doesn’t get much business,”Vanessasaid, like that explained everything.

I’dsuspected as much, soInodded my understanding.Istood betweenVanessaand the door so she wouldn’t see my hand was empty asItouched the lock.Witha little push of magic, it clicked open.

Washis lack of business because of the location or because he kept the doors locked?Wasit his low season?Thatseemed unlikely since it was summer, but would a place likeWillowLakeactually have a high season?

Iknew nothing about the hospitality industry.Butit seemed a shame to have all these rooms and facilities with no one using them.Theplace was run-down, soIsuspected the inn wasn’t doing well.Andlast nightJakehad mentioned he didn’t have the money to hire a consultant.

Washe struggling financially?Icould help with that…

Castingmy eye around the place with that thought in mind,Isaw a lot of areas that needed improvement.Theold building was worn, but it held a lot of potential—good bones, as they said on those decorating showsIsaacliked to watch on his laptop.IfIstayed inWillowLake,Iwould need to do something to keep busy.Mydays of travelling from job to job in my motorhome would be over.

Howstrange thatIdidn’t find the idea of such a massive change unsettling.

Whichbrought my thoughts back to the inn.

WouldJakebe open to an outside investor?

“Isthe potluck still on for tonight?”Vanessaasked as we set the gift, the gear, and the paintings by the empty registration desk.

“Whatpotluck?”

Vanessaglanced at my face in surprise before hurriedly dropping her gaze to the ground again. “EverySundaynight,Jakeopens the dining hall, and we have a community potluck.”

Ialmost asked her to repeat what she said butIhad heard her well enough.Theidea was just so foreign.Wasthis what people did in small towns?Itseemed a little tooMayberry.Myfirst impulse was to say the potluck was cancelled, butIstill had a job to do, and an informal gathering would be a great opportunity to observe people.

“Hestarted it after his grandfather died,”Vanessaexplained whenIdidn’t say anything.

“Right,”Isaid. “Whattime does it start?”

“Peoplestart arriving around four or so.”

Iglanced at the clock on the far wall of the foyer.Thatwas still a couple of hours away.Jakehad thought he’d be awake by then, so that should be fine.Inodded. “Yes.Thatwould be acceptable.”

“Seeyou later, then.”Vanessasmiled happily, although her gaze only travelled as high as my shoulder.Shehad a bounce in her step as she made her way back out.

Assoon as she was gone,Ilocked the door again.I’dopen it later.Fornow,Iwanted to check onJakeand, hopefully, get a better look at some of his paintings too.

Igrabbed the two paintings he’d been working on in the park.I’dcome back for my basket and his supplies later.Thesepaintings were too important to leave unattended—even the colorful one, becauseIsuspectedJakeloved it more than the other.Itwas something he’d created because he’d wanted to do it, not because theEternalMagichad forced it on him.