“You didn’t need to close,” Flutter said. The giant red-headed woman bowed respectfully in front of the frail, elderly woman a quarter of her size. “But, I appreciate it. It’ll be nice to eat in peace for once.” Donna Chang, the old woman, gestured for Flutter to stand up and sit at the table.
“If I don’t close…,” Mrs. Chang smiled up at the pale woman. Even seated, the woman towered over the restaurant owner. “Takeru falls behind on his orders. He can’t keep up with your appetite and customers.” Flutter grinned.
“I hope he’s warmed up. I’m starving,” Mrs. Chang nodded, then faced the room’s exit. The two women were in a small, private section of Donna Chang’s restaurant. Flutter took up most of one side of the room behind a large-built table.
“Britt!” the old woman called out the opening. A dark skinned teenager with twin afro-puffs on her head jogged into the room. The girl froze when she saw Flutter.
“Whooa.. You’re huge!” She said. Flutter smiled.
“Wait for Takeru to finish a dish, then bring it here as soon as it’s ready,” Donna told the girl. “Then you’ll go back and wait for more.”
“Keep ’em coming!” Flutter added. Britt nodded and turned to leave. She stopped at the entrance then turned back around.
“Hey, did Dread really move you?” she asked with a skeptical voice.
“Flutter is here to eat not answer questions,” Donna reminded the girl. Flutter waved her hand at Donna dismissively.
“It’s okay. Tell ya what. Every plate you bring me gets you one answer. Sound good?”
“Yeah!” Britt dashed out of the room.
“Unique?” Flutter asked; she tilted her head at the room’s exit.
“An Estrella,” Donna nodded.
“Estrella?” Flutter’s eyes narrowed. “Are you-“
“Forget the first question. Did Dirge & Dread really knock you down?” Britt yelled from the door as she entered the room with a steaming plate of beef and vegetables.
“Tall girl with white hair and a short one with black hair right?” Britt nodded at Flutter as she placed the plate down. “They did, that Calavera’s a strong kid,” Flutter said. She grabbed the pair of chopsticks. “Although, I wasn’t logged in at the time,” she winked at Britt.
“Awesome!” Britt dashed out the door again. Flutter wasted no time and began shoveling food into her mouth.
“Yes, I’m teaching her,” Donna answered the question Britt interrupted. Flutter raised an eyebrow while cycling food into her mouth. She swallowed everything whole.
“As a favor for a friend,” Donna replied. “On the condition that I can stop any time she breaks the rules or reaches her limit. Right?” The old woman asked the doorway.
“Yes, Mrs. Chang.” Britt entered with a new plate of food, and a question, as Flutter finished the first one. “Are you really a dragon like her?” Britt gestured at the frail woman. Smooth golden scales grew out of Flutter’s pale, light skin and covered her entire body. She shook her head.
“I’m only half dragon,” Flutter said. Two sets of transparent, veiny insect wings extended out of her back. “Half fairy.” The wings retracted into her back and the golden scales retreated into her skin. “I can’t shapeshift, the scales are my only trick.”
“Ohhhh,” Britt said. She bussed Flutter’s first plate out of the room. Flutter started inhaling food again.
“She has potential,” Mrs. Chang said. Flutter nodded but did not seem to have any more questions. After a few silent minutes, Britt came through the door again.
“You’re nice,” Britt said. She swapped out the empty plate for a new, full one. “Why do you work for Ballisea?”
“I don’t have a choice,” Flutter replied. “Donna can explain it to you later; it’s kind of long to get into now.” Flutter and Britt looked at Mrs. Chang for confirmation. The old woman nodded. Britt left and Flutter worked on the newest plate of food. Mrs. Chang remained silent while Flutter ate. After several minutes Britt walked in to change out the plates.
“Will you help me train?” She asked. “I wanna see if I can move you like Dread did.” Flutter looked at Mrs. Chang but the old woman did not seem to care what she answered.
“Yeah, that sounds fun,” she said.
“Thank you!” Britt yelled. She turned and headed out of the room.
“Wait, no more food,” Flutter said before Britt left. The girl turned around with a surprised look on her face.
“Mrs. Chang said you could eat for hours,” Britt said. She cast a sideways glance at Donna. Flutter nodded.
“I can,” she stood from the table and looked down at the girl. “But I want to work up an appetite first, let’s go see what you can do.”
