"That's what you think," said the Cat, finishing his coffee. Then, in a softer voice, "Can you hide my teacup?"

"Of course," I placed it under the counter, but it suddenly sank into the wooden shelf. Safe and sound.

"So, about these imps… what should I be aware of?" I asked, trying to figure out a little more about these people.

The bells on the door jingled, but it didn't open. Or if it did, it was quick enough for me not to notice.

"Here we go," grumbled the Cat as his eyes darted around the room, landing on the jars on the righthand wall.

Something small glittered near the lid of a jar, about the size of my fist. Then it shot across the room to the bookshelf at the back. One book suddenly pulled free before falling to the floor.

I stood from my stool.

"Welcome to the shop, how can I help you?" I asked, taking a step toward the end of the counter.

"Don't you dare move from behind the counter," growled the Cat. "They can be dangerous."

His words made me pause my movement as I studied the direction of the glittering light.

It darted to the counter and paused in front of the sign. The one I hadn't really thought about in a very long time. It read:

Do not upset the cat

The cat is always right

Do not go behind the counter

Do not upset the cat

It didn't move from its position in the air. The glow surrounding it failed as it hovered there. Then, suddenly, it wasn't just the size of my fist.

A small horned humanoid creature stood there with small dragonish wings rising from its back, wearing a pair of jeans. It even had brown hair and eyes, though it now appeared to be the size of the Cat.

"I need some herbs…" drawled the imp. "Some moonflower and silverweed."

"I can help with that," I said with a smile.

"In the canisters behind you," whispered the Cat in my mind.

I turned and grabbed two of the small envelopes sitting on the shelf behind me. "How much do you need?"

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"A scoop each."

That unit of measurement wasn't a great one, but I pulled each canister from the shelves and set them on the counter. Then I carefully opened the moonflower. Small round flower buds filled the glass container, though when I opened the lid, light pulsed out of the top.

I added one scoop to the envelope, then sealed it, before moving to the silverweed. This one reminded me of shavings from some metal, yet somehow it smelled like grass. Still, I did the same as the first.

After I placed the canister back on the shelf behind me, I glanced up to find the Cat gone. The imp remained where he was, watching each of my actions.

Under my eyelashes I spotted a dark shadow racing across the floor to the book that had been dropped earlier. The book shifted a few inches closer to the door.

I said nothing as I stepped closer to the register.

"Alright, just the two herbs?" I asked, glancing back at the imp, waiting to see what he would do.

"Yep."

The two items appeared on the screen of the register, along with an amount.

"Three gold bullion," I said out loud.

The imp nodded and tossed three bright gold coins to the counter. One rolled off the back edge of the counter.

I pressed my lips together as displeasure rippled through my body. I hated it when people tossed money down on the counter, not even bothering to count it. Or, god forbid, a stack of coins that's probably right, then take off with their coffee. Your drawer was always short, and you had to deal with your boss being mean.

"That was rude," I stated, unable to help myself. I held up the envelopes pitched between two fingers.

Why did these imps need to be here today? What needed to happen?

A whimper came from beyond what I could see, and the imp flinched. His eyes grew wide, but he didn't leave.

I tapped the counter, and the book sprang from the wood, appearing under my finger.

The cat followed, leaping up, with something glittery dangling in his mouth.

"Ah, was this something you planned on getting?" I asked the imp pinched in the Cat's teeth.

Neither of them said anything.

"I guess we aren't doing business, are we?" I said as the missing golden bullion also appeared on the counter. "Take your coins and go…"

I nodded to the Cat, and he opened his mouth.

A smaller imp flew and hid behind the larger one, still in its small glittery form.

I grabbed the book and the envelopes, turning toward the hallway.

"Wait!"

I resisted smirking as I turned back.

Sweat dripped from his forehead. "I need the herbs and the book."

"Well, what do you have to pay…"

There was something missing… That golden light hadn't appeared yet.

"I…" He emptied out his pockets, showing 4 gold bullion and a leaf, outlined in gold.

"This is all I have, I swear…" The light behind him bobbed in the air. "My brother too…"

I approached the counter, and I set the envelopes on it, along with the book.

"Are you sure?" I kept my voice level and stared at him.

Two more of the leaves appeared next to the first. All three had the golden outline.

"That will do. You get the book and these two envelopes, we get the 3 bullion and the 3 leaves."

The imp frantically nodded.

I handed over the items, and he snatched them before darting to the door with the smaller light stuck on his shoulder.

The door snapped open and closed behind them.

The three leaves still glowed on the counter.

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