Chapter 9: 9. Lunch Date

"I think we should bring her with us," my demon ghost friend repeated with another little shrug.

"But why?" I asked as I stared at her. "She's a stranger, she might be dangerous. We don't know what her real motivations are. Maybe she's some kind of demon hunter or something?"

Eva shook her head, "I couldn't read her mind as clearly as I can most humans, but I could tell when she was lying and when she was concealing things from us. She was honest when she said she wanted to help, and that she was curious."

She added with a smirk, "She was also honest when she said she thought you were attractive and she wanted to know you."

My cheeks went red and I busied myself with another gulp or two of my soda. After I'd regained my composure I asked, "So you want to bring her along because she thinks I'm cute?"

Eva sighed as she turned to face me. "I know you're lonely Lexi. You told me the other day you have no friends, and you've fallen out with your father. On top of that I told you to avoid your cousin and not to contact any old friends or family. I realize now that was unfair of me, especially when I'm asking you for help to find my own family. Beyond that, I think it would be good for you to have a friend who's not a six thousand year old incorporeal demon. Someone who's human and closer to your own age would be ideal."

"Plus," she added, "Marianne could actually be very helpful. You don't speak any other languages, this is your first trip overseas, you don't know your way around. And all my knowledge and information is three millennia out of date. Having a local European who speaks a few different languages might prove very useful. And the fact that she's studying ancient history may come in handy as well?"

Eva finally shrugged, "I'm not ready to share all my secrets with her, but she wants to help and I believe she can help. She thinks you're cute, and I know you find her attractive. So why not bring her along? Tomorrow when you meet her for lunch, tell her we're going to Santorini. If she wants to come, we'll book passage for the three of us and leave as quickly as possible."

I didn't respond right away, I just sat quietly sipping my cola as I thought it all through. I couldn't deny the practical benefits Eva pointed out. Like I didn't know my way around and I didn't speak anything but English. I was willing and eager to help Eva find her family but I didn't know how to do that, and I wasn't much use other than being able to walk around and look at stuff. Like I could go where Eva wanted and look for things if she told me what to look for, but that was it.

Marianne was apparently studying the Bronze Age, she was obviously smart if she was a university student, and she said she was studying at a research institute so she knew how to do research. The fact that she recognized Eva's bracelet on sight and was able to walk me straight to a spot in the museum where nearly-identical pieces were on display was proof enough that she was good at that sort of thing.

Really the only bit that felt a little too weird for me was Eva playing some kind of matchmaker, trying to hook me up with the smart attractive brunette.

Ok and the other weird bit was how Marianne was some kind of psychic who could see ghosts.

I drained the last of my soda then set the empty tin down next to the bed and sighed. "I'd still like to sleep on it Eva, before I make up my mind. I agree with you that she'd probably be really helpful, like definitely more helpful than me at this stuff. I just need some time to figure out how I feel about the rest of it."

"Of course Lexi," she replied. "I understand."

The rest of the afternoon and evening were relatively quiet. I spent most of my time surfing the net on my phone, reading up about Santorini and following links on the web as I tried to learn a little more about that part of the world.

I also did a little research on Marianne. I found one of her social media accounts, as well as a listing for her with the university. She was a grad student in the History department, with a focus on ancient history like she said. Her social media was more interesting. It didn't reveal any great secrets, but it confirmed what she said about being from Paris.

I found out she was an only child, she was twenty-two years old, and she lived with her mother before she moved to London. I didn't know if her parents separated or if something happened to her dad, but it struck me as something we had in common anyways. Not that it was that rare to be raised by a single parent, but it was at least something the two of us shared.

When I got hungry I only went as far as that little pizza place, I was too lazy to do anything else or try anything new. A couple slices and a beer later I was back in my room for more research, and eventually turned in early.

And for a change I was up early enough Saturday morning for the free breakfast. After that I had a nice shower and took my time getting ready to meet Marianne. Without really thinking about it, I was almost treating it like a date. I spent extra time doing my hair, I wore my nicest blouse and my good black jeans and ankle boots. I picked the cute little black jacket instead of the hoodie, and paid extra attention to my make-up.

"I really need to get my ears pierced!" I said to myself as I stared at the cute blonde in the mirror. "Maybe this afternoon?"

There was a good half hour before I was to meet Marianne, and I spent that time researching local piercing places, until my phone's alarm buzzed to remind me to head out.

My heart was beating a little fast as I left the hotel. I did remember to check both ways before setting out across the street, there was no way I was going to get myself killed on the way to meet a pretty girl. I was trying not to rush or look too eager as I walked through the park, but I still felt a wave of joy when I spotted her.

She saw me at the same time, and there was a wide smile on her face as she waved. I waved back, and felt a little giddy at the realization that she was probably as anxious and eager as me. And I couldn't help but wonder if she specifically picked her outfit for me. Not that I was ready to admit I tried to dress up for her.

Marianne was wearing a cute blue knee-length skirt and a pretty lavender blouse with a floral design. She was wearing tights and heels, which really showed off her long shapely legs. Finally her deep chestnut hair was nicely styled and her make-up was gorgeous. And she was wearing a pair of large gold hoop earrings that I absolutely adored.

The two of us exchanged greetings, then a few minutes later we both had some food and coffee in hand as we found a place to sit and talk. Rather than a table indoors, she led me back outside and we sat together on a bench in the park.

Eva was around as well, but rather than squeeze onto the bench and intrude on our lunch she wandered around the park. I had no idea how far she could go from me, considering we were bound and everything. From what I could see she never went more than about twenty meters away, and she was pretty much always in sight so I figured that was the limit.

Marianne and I shared a bit of small-talk as we both had some coffee and food. I was eating a chicken-salad wrap, she was enjoying a large cheese croissant that looked like it couldn't decide if it was a meal or a dessert.

By the time we were both about halfway through our lunch the two of us had mostly run out of things to talk about. Marianne looked around and spotted Eva, and the two of us ended up watching as my ghost friend crouched down to talk to a small child who was feeding peanuts to some squirrels.

"She's a bit odd," Marianne observed. "Confident, yet there's a sense of wonder about her. I'm guessing she hasn't been around for a while? Probably a century or two at least, right? So the whole modern world is all new and mysterious to her."

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"Something like that," I grimaced. "And I guess we should get to that part of the conversation now?"

The pretty brunette turned to face me with a hopeful smile. She nodded, "Yes? What did you two decide?"

I braced myself as I told her, "Yes. We've decided to accept your help, and invite you to come with us."

"Yes!" Marianne half-shouted, startling a few people nearby.

She also got Eva's attention, and the demon ghost stood up and slowly wandered back over to join us.

I couldn't help smiling at Marianne's reaction, and I added "So first thing is where we're going. Our first stop is -"

"Don't tell me!" she interrupted. She was still grinning as she asked, "It's Crete right? Is it Crete? We're going to Crete!"

I blinked, "Uh, no?"

Her smile faded to a curious frown and her shoulders slumped. "Oh. Hmm. I was certain it'd be Crete. Very well, where are we going?"

"Uh, Santorini?" I responded.

Marianne's mood shot right back up as she grinned, "Yes! I knew it!"

"Knew what?" I asked.

She gestured to the bracelet on my left wrist, "It's Minoan. The whole Aegina Treasure, the style is Minoan. They were centred on Crete, but their civilization spread across the Aegean. They had a settlement on Santorini."

She added, "In fact some theories suggest the volcanic eruption at Santorini around sixteen-hundred BCE played a part in the decline of the Minoan civilization."

It took a moment for all that to sink in, then I glanced at Eva and commented "You're right. She's good at this stuff."

Eva smiled and asked, "So is it agreed? Will she be joining us?"

I nodded, then looked back at Marianne and told her, "Our plan is to leave as soon as we can book a flight. Maybe as early as tomorrow? If you're coming with us, how fast can you be ready?"

Her eyes widened slightly and a thoughtful frown settled on her face.

"I don't think I can be ready that quickly. I'll need to speak with some people at the university, and I doubt I can do that during the weekend? If we can plan for Tuesday, that would be much better for me. I'll make my personal preparations tomorrow, speak to my profs on Monday, and be ready to travel for Tuesday."

She added, "It'll take me that long to arrange funds as well. Do you have an idea of how long we'll be staying on Santorini?"

Eva responded first, "Tell her I'll take care of the cost of travel and accommodations. And that we don't know how long this will take. I'm looking until I find my family."

I passed that along, "Eva will pay for plane tickets and hotel rooms and stuff. I guess just sort out whatever spending money you need? And there's no fixed duration. Me and her are going to look for her family, however long that takes. Santorini is just our first destination, we have plans for another stop after that. And beyond that, I have no idea."

Marianne was surprised but grateful that Eva was going to handle the expenses. Then she frowned at me, "What if this quest ends up taking months? Or longer? Don't you have to get back home to your family and friends? And your studies?"

"Not really," I sighed. "I'm sure you already know I was lying about taking a year off from my education? And I told you my dad and I weren't on good terms. My only other family is a cousin here in London, and that relationship was kind of messed up last week too. I don't have any real friends, there's nobody waiting for me back in Canada. And I'm not really doing anything with my life. So I'm going to help Eva, even if it takes years."

She continued to watch me as a sad look settled in her expression. "I'm sorry Lexi. I find it hard to believe someone as nice and as pretty as you would have so few people in her life. And I think it's very honourable that you're so committed to helping your ghost friend. I don't know that I can promise as much, but I will certainly accompany you both to Santorini. I can commit a month, perhaps even two, before I'll have to return here to continue my studies."

"Thanks Marianne," I smiled. "Me and Eva both appreciate that. So let's book some plane tickets and figure out where we're staying."

She smiled as well, though she still had that sad look in her eyes. "Ok Lexi."