Excerpt: Mystic Tastes

From Lux Luxury:
“So… What now?” Lux questioned as they all stood in what appeared to be a store. Instead of wooden shelves holding a couple different items, there were rows of these shelves holding handfuls of different items. Soft strange noises and beats were coming from somewhere. It seemed to be music, but it sounded so strange. Lux kind of liked it, however.
Phasma, having taken on a more solidified appearance to keep attention away from him, watched Atrum at the counter at the front. His wild, white hair was still a distraction though, it seemed. As was Lux’s.
“How do you pronounce it?” the Summon of Darkness questioned, turning the box upside-down.
“Sig-uh-ret,” the man behind the counter answered.
“How do you use one?”
“Seriously?”
Atrum grimaced a little. “I’m foreign to this country.”
“Apparently. You smoke it.”
Atrum proceeded to open the box.
“You gunna pay first, bud?” the man questioned.
“Oh…”
“Here, Atrum.” Phasma walked forward, handing the other several conjured pieces of gold.
“Will these do?”
“The hell are these?” the man exclaimed.
“It’s gold. Are you stupid?”
“We don’t pay in gold.”
Atrum glanced around for a second. “Then… what do you pay in?”
“Cash. Greens. Bills. You ain’t buying my stuff ‘til you go get some. Got it, foreigner?”
Atrum scowled. “How dare you speak to me that way? You’re a mere mortal! I could--”
“Atrum, it’s time to go,” Phasma interrupted, grabbing the angry Summon and leading him out of the store. Lux took hold of Sapor who had just finished off an entire rack of sweets and dragged him out as well.
“What an insolent bastard!” Atrum fumed as he pulled one of the white sticks from the box and looked it over. “He wouldn’t except our gold, even.”
“Things have apparently changed quite drastically in the future,” Lux stated.
“I need fire,” said Atrum. “I can’t smoke this without fire. Which end do I burn?”
“I think this part goes in your mouth,” Lux stated, holding the orange side toward Atrum’s lips. He let his fingertips glow as he held the other end of the stick. After a moment, a nice orange glow lit the end of it as Atrum inhaled. He was lucky to have already known how to smoke a pipe.
“Cigarette… Cigarette…” Atrum mumbled. “What a funny word.”