Today was the day. I swung my legs out of bed and wiggled my feet. No tingling and no pricking needles. All was good on that front so I eased my weight onto my legs. They didn’t quiver in the slightest. A good sign that they were going to turn into pool noodles and collapse beneath me.

  I stood and strode over to the closest. A quick change and I was attired for the long day ahead of us. Arian had packed two knapsacks stuffed with clothing and provisions for our trip. I tucked them one under each arm as I did yesterday. They still fit comfortably so I could be able to hide them under the cloak.

  Speaking of that fantastical item, I eyed the shimmering cloth with hope mixed with apprehension. The cloak lay folded atop the vanity. I set down the packs and picked up the lighter-than-air fabric. The cloth was as soft as silk and my hands disappeared into its wonderful magic.

  I unfolded the cloak and swung it over my shoulders. The cloak closed at the front and my body vanished except for my head. That was the work of the hood that hung invisible on my back. I stuck out a hand and marveled at how I still couldn’t see my wiggling fingers. No gloves were needed with this thing.

  Arian strolled into the room and froze on the threshold. Her wide eyes examined me from neck to vanished feet before she clutched her hand over her heart. “My goodness, but you frightened me.”

  I sheepishly smiled at her. “Sorry. I was just seeing if it still worked.”

  “It has worked for many hundreds of thousands of years,” she reminded me as she set down the breakfast tray on the vanity. “I am sure we need not worry about the magic fading now.”

  “Yeah,” I mused as I rubbed one front end of the cloth between two fingers.

  I reached back and drew on the hood. The cloak fell in front of me and I was completely invisible. A quick look in the full-length mirror confirmed my hope. I was gone. Arian stood alone in the room.

  Which means here was my chance I had to go see him just one last time.

  “I know you wanted to get an early start, but do you mind if I go somewhere for a bit?” I inquired of my friend as I adjusted the cloak to guarantee there wouldn’t be a wardrobe malfunction. “This won’t take long.”

  A faint smile slipped onto Arian’s lips. “You wish to see Lord Eastwei?”

  I winced. There went my hopes of not making myself look like a lovesick fool. “Yeah, but it’ll be just for a second. I just. . .I just have to go see him one last time. This might be my only chance for a while, or maybe forever.”

  Arian waved her arm in the air between us and I understood what she meant to do. I laughed and slipped the hood off my head. She could finally clap her hand on my shoulder and sheepishly smile at me. “I understand your feelings completely. I will be waiting here when you are ready.”

  I patted her hand. “Thanks.”

  I drew the hood back on and slipped out of the room. Arian’s early departure request meant there were very few people out on the streets. I reached Dadan’s palace without mishap but I hesitated on the threshold of the palatial grounds.

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  What if I found him as his usual stoic self? What if he had already forgotten about me?

  You’re not going to find out unless you get in there!

  I stiffened my jaw. My inner voice was right. Standing around wasn’t going to answer my question.

  Still, I was reluctant to enter through the front door so I slipped around to the western garden entrance. I’d left through there before without being seen, so why break a good habit?

  All was quiet and calm. The only sound was the gurgling brook that ran through his property. I tiptoed toward the entrance into the palace hall but something caught my attention.

  It was a basket.

  The container sat lonely beside one of the benches. I veered off course and over to the container where I lifted the blanket. A pile of delicious, if slightly melted, chocolates stared back at me.

  I tightened my grip on the edge of the cloth as my blood boiled. That witch had stolen them to get into Dadan’s good graces and here she was now letting them go to waste.

  An idea popped into my head. There wouldn’t be any need to go inside. I tossed the blanket off the basket and pressed my hands together with the palms turned upward. My glistening silver magic threads flowed out and wove themselves into a chocolate bar, but not any ordinary one. This one was shaped like a cat.

  I focused hard on those shining silver threads, pouring my heart and soul into each slender ribbon. Please let this make him feel better I thought to myself as I recalled his crystal. At least just a little!

  “Who is there?”

  The voice startled me and I jerked my hands apart. The finished chocolate landed with a soft thud atop its partially melted brethren. I whipped my head up and my heart skipped a beat.

  Dadan stood in the doorway to his house and his eyes were focused on where I stood.

  I wrapped the cloak tighter around myself and fled the scene. My traitorous footsteps pounded loudly on the stones. Dadan rushed across the distance with his superhuman speed and blocked my path. His gaze, however, was no longer completely focused on me. Rather, his eyes flitted to and fro as though searching.

  I darted around him. His hand shot out and missed me by a hair’s breadth. He pursued me but I stopped a few steps outside his palace.

  The ancient dragon god stopped as well. His eyes scoured the area while I tried to hold my breath.

  “Who are you?” he called out.

  I set a hand over my mouth to stifle my chattering teeth. We stood opposing one another for what felt like an eternity before I finally risked taking an easy step backward away from him.

  It was probably the hardest step I’d ever taken in my life. Every fiber of my being was telling me to rip off the cloak and reveal myself to him. Every molecule in my head, however, was screaming at me not to do it. I’d be captured and imprisoned, and Arian would suffer for harboring me.

  Each step was careful and soundless. I was halfway down the wall when he reluctantly retreated into his garden. That was my cue. I turned and raced away as fast as I could manage.

  I should have stayed. I would have seen Dadan approach the basket with its discarded blanket. He peered inside and his eyes widened.

  The almighty lord knelt on one knee and his hand shook as he reached inside. He drew out my adorable cat creation. The mouth smiled back at him with its tail curled around its front paws.

  Dadan brushed his hand over the tiny object and a faint sliver of sorrow but mostly confusion filled his eyes. He gently set the creation back with the bars and took up the basket and blanket. The lord strode inside and to his room where he set the chocolates in the darkest, coolest corner. He carefully draped the blanket over the top before stepping back. His soft bright eyes studied the basket for a moment before he strode out of the room.