Deidre's Death

Thoughtful, she began to put together another plan and rehearse what she'd say. She ate, her attention soon captured by the sensations of the airy omelet and melted cheese in her mouth. She finished everything and returned to her bedroom, going through the rest of human-Deidre's morning routine. When she was satisfied, she rejoined Cora on the main level of the penthouse.

"You might want … shoes," Cora said awkwardly. "There's no carpet in the street."

"Ah, of course." Deidre ran back up to her room and looked over the assortment of shoes. The ones she chose were beautiful, but human-Deidre never touched them. She'd worn either sandals or tennis shoes.

Deidre borrowed her sandals and trotted down the stairs. Cora handed her a purse and sunglasses. Deidre took them, excited at her first venture into the mortal world as a human.

Her eagerness lasted until she stepped from the apartment building to the sidewalk lining a busy street. Deidre froze. In her penthouse, she was able to take in things at her own pace. Here, the world was shoved in her face. The sidewalks were jammed with people and smells, the traffic thick and loud. The buildings blocked the sun, and the barrage of sensations overwhelmed her.

"It's rush hour," Cora explained. "The market is only two blocks away. Are you ready?"

Deidre nodded. Cora began weaving through the crowd. Deidre followed, surprised then angry when people jostled her instead of moving from her path. She was about to summon a spell to clear the sidewalk completely when she recalled she wasn't able to use her power anymore.

Deidre stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, feeling very exposed to the blaring world. Another of the newfound feelings crept into her. This one was worry.

"Deidre," Cora called from a few feet in front of her.

She shook off the strange feeling and followed once more. They walked to a corner and turned away from the busy main street onto a quieter side one. Deidre struggled to take in everything around her, bombarded by the noise, smells and activity. They soon reached an area where the street was sectioned off, and a line of white-topped tents lined the street. People milled through the farmer's market.

She joined them, trying to recall the reason human-Deidre came to these. The displays of fruit and vegetables, homemade food, crafts, and other items soon enthralled her. She stopped to admire the colors of a fruit pyramid and the textures of textiles. They reached the food section, and Deidre's attention shifted to the source of the scents. She followed her nose until she found the one she wanted.