NOVEL NEXT Book 1 - Chapter 16 - Cold Sores & Pasta Casserole
A mighty thunderstorm was brewing and the air was so thick with humidity it felt like the city had been wrapped in a steaming towel. Alex sprinted through the sweltering streets, weaving with his loot and Coin stuffed pockets through sweaty office workers. He ripped past the magical food trucks selling strange smelling meat, enchanted vegetables, and meals that disappeared after you ate them to make you thin. His stomach rumbled, but he had waited all day to eat in hope that Nina would give him a pre-shift snack. He pushed through the mouth breathing Adventurers he spotted. Everyone sweat and tugged uncomfortably at their armor and clothes, and even the Familiars lapped the thick air for any respite.
[Running] made him feel light and fast and the soles of his shoes sent glamorized flames behind him in a trail. [Blazing Hot] had kicked in. The upgrade to the Skills made it feel like the world was in slow motion and he was made of fire. It didn't do any damage, but a little cool factor never hurt. Sweat covered his back, but he kept moving. 'I Was Made For Loving You' from KISS blared in his ears and kept him on a good pace.
Overhead the sky had turned the color of a swirling bruise. When the System arrived, the weather had also transformed. Now weather was much more extreme, violent, and unforgiving. The heat would blister, the rain would puncture, and the snow would crack. Lightning prepped itself and rumbled in the sky for one hell of a Saturday night full moon storm in Toronto. Looked like it was going to be one hell of a storm. People were looking up and pointing, clearly worried about the night. Alex zipped past them all with flaming feet blurring across the pavement.
A flock of school kids on a field trip shuffled past in matching tiny yellow raincoats. They pointed with stubby fingers at his sweet moves and one even sent a tiny [Firework] Skill at him.
"COOL FLAMES, MISTER!" one yelled. Alex didn't dare break his stride. He gave the cheering class finger guns with a double tap and a wink as he and his flames sped past.
"Wow! Look how fast that guy is!" another pedestrian yelled. "Are those flames!?" Alex couldn't help but grin. He sped down Queen Street. It was its usual mess of vape-wielding necromancers, expensive baristas, and thrift stores that sold junk. Honestly it hadn't changed much since the System, save for the slime the size of a minivan behind dragged by a leather daddy. A bard played sad songs crappily while a two headed crow heckled him. Business as usual.
He ripped past Ye Olde Creamy Creamery, a new ice cream shop that Alex recognized. It claimed its cones were frosted by a real Cryomancer. The line was filled with mages and brawlers and the surrounding crowd licked sparkly pastel frozen custard happily. Alex's stomach screamed.
God, I would kill for a double scoop of Moose Tracks and Runebutter. Unfortunately, his shift was starting in seven minutes and surviving Nina's wrath was his top priority. As he darted past, he clocked a group of very burly adventurers crowding around their dripping pink cones. They all wore the telltale red armour colouring of Krusher Clan members.
Shiiiiit.
He tried to swerve around them, but a damn gorilla sized man with enough body hair and odour to kill someone stepped in his face with a malicious grin. "Watch it!" Gorilla barked as Alex collided with his sweaty, extremely hairy shoulder. Alex stumbled, but caught himself, and turned to yell something nasty back. He immediately wished he hadn't.
Standing in the middle of the stinking group was Britanii. All perfect curled red hair, white tank top, a miniskirt, and a perfect face. It really wasn't fair that she was so pretty and such an asshole. She stared open mouthed at him over her venerable cone of pink ice cream while the surrounding Krusher thugs looked back and forth between them waiting to be told how to act. Her expression? It went from happiness from her frozen treat, to shock, to murder. With an extra large drizzling of smugness. Her ice cream somehow didn't melt and she licked it without breaking eye contact.
"That's him! The one who made Fabrizio get cold sores from the Ass Monster at Snu's! GET HIM!"
"Oh fuck," Alex said and began to turn to run.
The gorilla lunged at him first. 'I Was Made for Loving You' was just getting to the chorus. Giant flabby hairy arms that stunk wrapped themselves around Alex just as he clamped his eyes shut and activated [Phantom Step]. It was the first time he had used it since he had leveled it. He still faced the group, wrapped in the arms of a goon who smelled like hot onions and bad cheese. In the instant that he tapped his Core to activate [Phantom Step], he noticed something different. It was just a feeling, but that's how Skills worked. With the level to the Skill, [Phantom Step] had changed.
I can choose which direction to flash towards? Sweet!
Before the Skill would teleport him in whatever direction he was facing. That would have been right into the hugging embrace of sugar enhanced Krusher goons. Alex chose the complete opposite direction. The phantom of his grinning form was swiped away in the hug of the gorilla as Alex flashed ten feet down the sidewalk. Firmly in the opposite direction of Britanii, where he had been facing.
"Get back here! I just want to talk!" Britanii yelped as her goons grunted and took off after him. Then angrier she hollered, "Get him boys!"
Alex mentally turned up 'I Was Made For Lovin' You' until it blasted through his skull and he couldn't hear anything. He had escaped her again! His legs pumped and he screamed along with the chorus like a man possessed by leather, rock, and facepaint. The Krushers tried to keep up, but there was no way in hell they could when he really got moving.
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"I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU BAAABY!--"
He vaulted over a jewelry cart and barely cleared the delicate gemstone necklaces. Was that a set of Snuggle Sapphires? Those were supposed to improve your cuddling and emotional availability.
"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!" Alex roared over his shoulder, wild eyed and flame footed as the Krushers tore after him. "I AM THE SPEED". Alex sprinted like his life, dignity, and employment depended on it. Which it did. Britanii's furious voice called after him and pierced through his music.
"You won't get away with this, Alex! You don't mess with the Krushers!"
He ignored her and dodged a group of selfie-snapping tourists, spun past a bubble tea stand that used vibrating boba, and darted down a shortcut alley he remembered from his street rat days. Just to be safe, he [Phantom Stepped] again and turned a sharp corner straight into the familiar mess of Kensington Market. He slowed with a heaving chest and looked over his shoulder.
There were no brutes or Krushers or most importantly, no Britanii. Sweat poured off him and his stomach felt like it was trying to eat him.
But I lost them.
Up ahead on the street, he spotted his destination. Nino's Pizza was just a few steps away. He glanced at his phone and prayed that he wasn't late for his shift.
[1:59]
Just on time. Phewie.
Alex beamed through his heaving and shoved through the glass door. A wave of glorious air hit him, smelling of crust and cheese and something that smelled incredible. His stomach made an audible groan and shirt was soaked through with sweat, he still had the cursed bracelet, and his ex had tried to…mug him? Beat him up? Kill him? He wasn't sure. But he was on time.
In the back, pots clanged. Heavy glass clinked. Nina's voice swore at Nino in dialect. The pace was spotless with its shining tiles, polished picture frames and their newest little plant that hung in the window. It felt like home.
"Nina? Nin–"
"Chi eh?" the woman cried out.
Nina popped out right in front of him. She wore a different flower patterned apron that was ruined by sauce splatters. Her face turned from suspicion to recognition and warmth. Behind her, Nino appeared as well around the corner while rolling up his well worn flannel shirt. The old man grinned and suddenly was behind Alex, slapping him on the back.
"On time! Good. Work is important," Alex stumbled forward, but Nino righted him. "But you sweat. Save your energy for job, eh?" Before Alex could respond, a cold can of Fresca was suddenly in front of his face. Alex murmured a thank you and took the summoned beverage. He cracked it and took a deep drink. It was cold and fruity and sugary. Pure refreshing power. There wasn't any notification or alert. But it was quickly becoming Alex's favorite drink. He downed the whole can in one giant gulp like it was holy water.
He wiped his mouth and let out a sigh. Nino plucked the can from his hand and flattened it between his giant thumb and pointer finger. Poof, he vanished into thin air. Alex blinked and looked toward Nina. She was there, now with crossed arms and narrowed eyes like she had seen his search history last night after meeting a giantess.
He straightened. "Everything OK, Nina?"
Nina pursed her thin lips. "Your girlfriend order today. Boss one. Last delivery she request. And she order special." She leaned in slightly. "Al giornio d'oggi le ragazze sono scatenate." Girls are wild these days. Alex felt his heart lurch a bit and felt the sudden weight of something in his pocket. Her underwear that was balled up.
"Oh? Uhh…I mean. She's not my…girlfriend."
Nino looked between them nervously. The cigarette he had pulled from thin air was already half smoked. Nina looked Alex over with visciousness and finally gave him a sharp nod.
"You treat her right," she said scarily while shoving a finger in his face. "Non scherzare." Don't fuck around. Then her tone shifted completely. She smiled like Alex had weeded her whole garden for free. "Shift start soon." She patted his arm. "Come eat before. You must be protect before storm and moon," She levitated into the air and floated and beckoned him to the back. "Very many delivery today. People love special," Alex glanced at the chalkboard but saw it hadn't changed. "And love dessert. Especially way I make. Come." Around the corner she went, all sweet grandmother again.
Nino let out a long breath he had been holding. He glanced sideways at Alex and whispered. "This morning she beat me with slipper, Alex. With slipper." He gave a slow headshake. "Come. Be nice to girl. She like you, I think." Alex followed the giant grandpa into the kitchen and stopped the moment he saw what Nina's special was.
A massive wooden table dominated the space, covered in a red checker patterned table cloth. It stood strong under the weight of what had to be thirty lasagnas. Each one was identical and perfectly golden, steaming, thick, and ready to shovel into one's mouth.
Nino gestured proudly. "People love Nina Lasagna. Ours special though. We add extra garlic."
Alex's body refused to move forward as he felt the desire from each perfect pasta casserole. His stomach let out a whine. Then, Nina was there. In her hands sat a corner piece. The edge had caramelized cheese that had bubbled and crisped along the sides, and the top was golden and just starting to blister. He could see the individual layers. Thick meat and cheese stacked perfectly al dente and cooked to perfection. It wasn't mushy. It wasn't undercooked. It was perfect.
Alex took the porcelain plate as an invisible shove plopped him onto a small wooden stool that appeared under him. Nino zapped a fork into his hand and Alex stabbed the lasagna. It crunched, giving way to perfectly hot meat, pasta, and cheese layers. Steam rolled out as Alex brought it to his mouth.
His head flew back as he moaned and the notification hit. It was so delicious that he barely registered Nino's next sentence.
"Eh?" Nino laughed. "È buona? Wait till you try dessert. Nina make you tiramisu. It make you...hmm as kid say, 'fast as fuck,'" It's good.
[You have ingested a Rare Grade Buff!]
[Nina's Lasagna Buff - TIME REMAINING - 7:59:59]
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