Part VIII | Marseille | Black Bird Coffee
The morning sun was warm and bright as Jennifer and Khafre walked down the tree-lined streets of Marseille on their way to meet Lucifer at the Black Bird Coffee Cafe {1}.
Khafre was wearing soft, brown leather, slip-on loafers with vintage embroidery, and metal lion heads, a champagne paisley jacquard silk waistcoat and a white dress shirt unbuttoned at the top.
Lucifer showed up on time in black leather lace-up loafers in a crocodile pattern and a long-sleeve, waffle knit, quarter zip shirt in dark caramel. Jennifer was wearing a champagne colored cami midi dress with a ruffled hem she had recently bought in Paris that matched Khafre's waistcoat.
The trio found an empty table outdoors next to a tree and sat down as a waiter approached with water glasses.
"Good morning!" The waiter was friendly but busy. A lot of people had chosen to eat brunch outdoors that day, but the menu advertised mimosas and espresso, so no one was disappointed.
"I'll have the stuffed pita brioche with scrambled eggs, a small side salad and a mimosa please." Khafre handed the waiter his menu and took a long drink from the water glass.
"What will you have sir?" The waiter looked at Lucifer who was still studying the menu.
"I'll have the prawn salad with a soft boiled egg, a mimosa and coffee."
"And for you miss?" The waiter looked at Jennifer for her order.
"I'll have eggs benedict with avocado, a cappuccino and a mimosa."
"Do you know of any giant snake species that might have escaped recently in Marseille?" Khafre asked Lucifer who was reading the local newspaper - a newspaper with a picture of a local thief named Mered! According to legend, Mered stole the giant snake from an Indian snake charmer along the river Ganges centuries ago and only recently released him somewhere in Marseille while the city was making preparations for the upcoming Masquerade.
A couple sitting at a table behind them overhears their conversation about the snake and asks if there is a problem.
"Is there a giant snake on the loose in Marseille?" The French couple seemed concerned.
"Yes," Jennifer replied. "We saw a dark colored giant cobra last night in our hotel room not far from here. It slipped away through a hole in the floorboards. It must be about 15-20 feet long and has champagne, rust and black patterned skin."
"Is it dangerous?"
"Extremely," Lucifer replied.
"Where did the snake come from? Somewhere in France?" The girl's boyfriend grabbed his phone, stepped away from their table, and made a quick call. Jasper could hear him talking excitedly about the snake and Khafre started to explain what they knew about the giant reptile.
In centuries past, the Egyptian Sun King "Ra" and his wife "Hathor," wanted a snake fit for a king. As a gift for her king, Hathor's Indian Snake Charmer cross-bred a black Egyptian Cobra with an African Rock Python for a larger snake “fit for a king,” resulting in a “King Cobra.” According to legend, the Egyptian Sun King's Cobra is still alive and slithering away somewhere along the streets of Marseille.
Notes
{1} Black Bird Coffee
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