GRAY’s weekend adventure
Tida L.
Copyright © 2011 by Tida L.
Smashwords Edition
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Chapter One
My name is Genevian Roxanna Armini Yoit and I am currently having a very horrible, horrible afternoon. It started with me being born a witch, followed by me thinking I could try and be normal, make a life outside the world of magic and power. I fought hard to go to college and live a life was made of dreams. Not that it had happen for me but that was another story together.
Then I had to be stupid enough to come back home for tea with my aunts. It was the lure of good strawberry jam and almond scones that got me in this mess.
So here I am back where I began, miserable listening to a conversation I rather not hear. The reason was my aunts had decided it was time for the birds and the bees talk. I’m not sure if they know that I’m too old by any standard for that talk and if I was anyone else that ship would have sailed long ago, not to mention the small little fact that dating is not possible for me in any known shape or form. I can’t even touch a guy without mirrors breaking. My first date caused mini explosions at the restaurant we were at, six people were hurt. After that I accepted my fate and tried to live my life with its limitations.
“I really didn’t need to hear all that I am almost eighteen. By witch years it’s like two hundred and I feel every year of it.”
“We aren’t that old!”
I raised an eyebrow. Not old indeed, they were before this day and age. I’m not going to start on that because a lady should never have to tell her age.
“Don’t start on that topic. We need to know. Do you even have a clue about it?” Aunt Morgan asked raising an eyebrow. She was the demanding one in their group of three.
“I know what sex is Aunt Morgan. I’ve seen it enough with Diana. There is much of an opportunity these days.” I whined, “Have you been listening to me?”
“My dear, bonding is a complicated process that requires more than sex. It is the binding of two souls to an irreversible gratifying effect. Something that one never regrets or would act irrationally, after all not everything is what it seems to be.” Aunt Morgan answered smiling.
Every word that was said made me wanted to bang my head against the wall. It was tradition I know but it wasn’t for me.
Two years seemed like forever. I had long learned to come to terms with my conditions. The loneliness was not a foreign emotion to me. Life continues after a small set back. Pushing forward and never look back was how I live my life. I can afford to feel sad about my life, it did nothing for me.
“I know. I don’t want to talk about it anymore, please.” I said smiling sadly.
They knew it was a painful topic for me for not being a pure blood, having to pay for my mother’s sin. There were three golden rules a witch had to keep at any cost. Never kill, never lie and never have a child with other race.
My mother broke that very rule by having me, a minx. The consequence was more than any being should have to suffer. For I her only child was destined to be on my own when I was younger I had hope but it had long since pass. I believe that if I could mate it would have happen to me already, like hundreds of other witches that married before they were sixteen as it always has been done almost as if it was ingrained in their blood. Long ago in ancient times males would stop at nothing for their mate was the most prize possession so even when culture had evolved since but old instincts were hard to control usual a wedding fallow by a bonding would happen after the happy event.
I don’t blame mother and father for anything. They were mates so they could not be apart. The powers be were just restoring the balance back in place.
Don’t’ get me wrong I did try to have relationships but they just ended with disaster. The males that could live without the touching, they just couldn’t stand out the bad luck. Six months after my Sixteen Birthday there was a flair event that scared me. It was enough to know how bad it could have ended so for the sake of innocent’s lives I vow to wait until I found my mate. It was a choice I didn’t like myself but I live with the knowledge that there was no death on my conscious.
“Stop making faces and listen. Never exchange blood and don’t bite each other or you are bond for eternality.” Aunt Morgan said as she drank her tea.”Forever is a long time to stay together if you are not sure of it. I know you are less spontaneous than Diana but still it is a possibility.”
“Yes, Aunt Morgan I’ll be careful.”
“You can do either one but don’t do both.” They said in chorus.
“I know. It takes all three to form the bond but if you just want to active the protection it just takes a few drops of blood. I mean preferably I’d tend to not take any of those approaches.”
This was more than enough information. I sign knowing that Aunt Morgan usually had a hidden motive for everything she did and rarely was it straight forward as meeting a potential mate in the timely future.
A hint of some sort or a question waiting for an answer, I think. At three in the afternoon I really have no desire to know. Being a prawn in anything that involves my aunts is not on my wish list or any other list but it didn’t mean I wasn’t on a list. Given the facts as far as I was seeing I don’t think I was going to make it out unscathed, it was bad enough that I had to do a lot of leg work for them lately. There even were moments when I wonder if they were doing it on proposed but with the council backing their ever move, I think not.
“I don’t think I am going to mate.”I added finally.
“Everyone has a mate my dear. Some just need to find each other. Most the male does the finding but for you it will be a journey for two” Aunt Selene said smiling. She was the kind one in the group and also the scary one.
“I don’t think I am going to mate.” I repeated.
“You will.” They said in chorus.
Sitting there looking at them, I was reminded with the importance of my duty. In the haze of madness, there was function, it kept my life with resemble of normality. Overall it was fair trade as far as I was concern. Being normal was something that I would do everything in my power to make it work even if it meant kissing up to my aunts. Not that I didn’t love them but I do not appreciate being compared to Diana the perfect niece every five minutes. It is not how I would like to spend my Friday afternoon. It was bad enough that she was a great heroine saving the world from evil and saved lives.
Grandmother did enough of praising Diana on her own. So I didn’t need it for them, I mean I know she was the perfect niece with the perfect joy at the family interior design firm, she was the heir to the family legacy worthy of the Armini name.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hate my cousin. I just don’t approve of the way she lives her life and does things. To the others she was perfect, they can see the flaws. It was like they painted her with shiny glossy paint. She could do nothing bad while everyone was so sentiment to my mistakes. It was maddening since I like to pointed out she was the reason why the world would come to an end in the first place, making a deal with a demon lord from hell, if it had been me I would have been spending six weeks on probation and she gets away with it.
“Look I understand but Diana almost mated. We are worried for you.”Aunt Belladonna said ever so kindly. She was the glue that held my aunts together, without her Aunt Selene and Aunt Morgan would be fighting on opposite side.
“I know. I’m not like her.” I answer in a hissed.
I could not seem to find the right words. It came out wrong but all I was a little sensitive, me and my issues. Being born to a union of two people too different to make their marriage work when they were mates was a rarity in our circles as mating is for life.
After my parent divorce, they both move on wanting nothing to do with the other. So there was a problem. In short they didn’t really know what they wanted to do with little old me. A seven year old child, old enough to know better but not enough to take care of herself and not legal to let her wandering an empty house. During the time it took to decide my fate, they shipped me to stay with grandmother. A time in which was consider the dark age of my life.
My dad move back to Scotland and open a pub, not the ideal place for me is it?
Mother married an old man for his money and lots of sex, not the ideal place for me either is it?
Leaving me, their only child with the option of going to boarding school or continue living with a grandmother that hated me as much as I hated her.
I can’t tell you how happy I was when my aunts had step in and gave me a home. Even if they were a little different than the normal people but they loved me and everything else didn’t matter in the end if I had been home school all my life and never gone to Disneyland. My aunts had strong ideas; they just wanted to teach me all their values and way of life. I may have a different childhood but I love them for everything they’ve done. For better and for worst, they love me no less than they love Diana even if they could never stop saying a good word about her and her boyfriends. I don’t want to sound like sour grapes but those males were not suited. They had been fallowing her around since they could walk. Peter, James and Roy everyone dances to her tune at were sickening to watch. I mean if they really want her they should grow a backbone.
“I’m not looking for it, okay.”I added finally trying to soften my words.
“Please, don’t get me wrong. It could happen. When you are not careful, accidents happen. I know it doesn’t make sense but eventually it will.” Aunt Morgan said adding more riddles.
“Doubt it. I mean he would have been here when the time came. It’s long come to pass and still no male has knocked on your door. Next door, Julie’s fifteen and he is literately waiting in the shadows for her to be old enough so he can court her, then there is good old me. I don’t see anyone lurking in the shadows hoping for my hand, do you?”
“Not in the shadows, in plain sight is much more appropriated.” Aunt Selene added flashing me a sly smiled. Interesting, she was up to something.
“Interesting, is there something you want to tell me.”
I will myself to stay silent, hating it when we had these disputes and lost my temper. Not that this was the worst of them. I had mellowed over time, having come into myself, started handling things with more poise and pose. Sense and sensibility applied with politics makes me a better negotiator than I once was.
“Now dear we trust explicitly you and you’ve proven capable but things can become complicated. I mean Diana just tried to sell a small hand mirror.” Aunt Belladonna intervenes.
“I know I’m smarter than that I use Beth for trade and the internet. I don’t go out looking for trouble. Don’t even start on security when she lives in a flat and I live in a big strong vault.”
All three of them glare at me. They never liked it when I remind them I didn’t live at the manor any more. The worst dispute had happen when the time came to leave the nest and fly. My aunts insisted that I should continue to live with them and do my courses online.
So I had fought long and hard to fallow my dream. Not that it was easy. Things were hard for a while because for the first time I had to take care of myself. I had no choice but to succeed. It was the whole sink or swim situation and I made it barely but I did. I was happy knowing that if I had stay home it would have been different. My aunts just wanted what was best for me and to them it was for me to reach my full potential. Sadly it wasn’t what I wanted. So after a long talk they let me go because they love me but not without conditions.
The deal was I had to find a secure place to live, enough food to keep me well nutria and money to put myself to class. I was to stay home until all the conditions were met.
“Your mother helped.” Aunt Morgan added never letting me forget.
A little fact I like to forget. In an act of desperation I called my mother for help. This time the old girl and her old husband came through for me.
“I called for it and she’s my mother.”
“Please, she paid for it and kind of bought you love.” Aunt Belladonna added she never been subtle.
“No, it was like that at all. The vault is my super sweet sixteen present. I’m sure you’ve watch the show.”
“What show?” they asked together.
“Never mind, I can’t believe that you live in this century”
“We do, we can use the computer.” They said still glaring.
“Her friend’s kids got fancy cars and a party. I’m not about to complain about one nice thing she did for me. Rupert got a real kick out of this so everything’s good. It also is a great investment I mean the market has turn around and they’ve been offers. Not that I am selling.”
“So serious, I wonder if they got the wrong baby from the hospital. Your mother was a wonderful free spirit and you are her complete opposite.” Aunt Morgan said with a heavy sign.
“Good days, she was the life of a party always having fun and happy. I mean it’s how she met you father, you know. I do think if they hadn’t rushed they would have been happy together. Not that they aren’t happy apart. Still I really think you’ll enjoy parties too if you give it a chance. There’s a Rave in Broken heart tonight. You should go.” Aunt Selene tone was Sunday morning casual.
“Sorry, I love to but I’ve had plans.” I said trying to be nice and polite.
“Then cancel. Novels portray immortals as torment and looking forever love. It was nothing like that you know that there is always more.” Aunt Belladonna said as she waved her hand.
“Love is overrated.” I said meaning it.
A napkin appears before me, I paused. Then I grabbed it but said nothing, lesson number one in surviving in the Armini home is keep a good poker face.
“Love is not overrated. That's a rather absurd. Don’t let your mother mistake cause you your happiness.”Aunt Morgan said with a smirk.
“Right,” I mumbled.
For a normal person, love was till death do us part but we aren’t like that as love fades like all other good things until it was but a memory. I knew that if it wasn’t a true mate I wasn’t going to trouble myself with the pain and suffering in my future.
The door screeched as David the butler open the door. I couldn’t help but cringed at the horrible noise making me drop my cup as I tried unsuccessfully to cover my ears that were very sensitive.
Six vampires were there in the hall waiting I could tell from the aura. It was dark and powerful. I never liked the type, risking of the emptiness beyond just to for a chance to fulfill desire. Not to mention they were dependent on magic and a dame nuisance the rest of the time, always bothering us witches for everything. It was one of those unhealthy relationships that I just had to shake my head but bit my lip from commenting. Not my place.
“Sorry, Little girl I’m afraid I have an errand I need you to run at that Rave.” Aunt Selene said looking rather happy at our guest.
She should be I thought.
She was trying hard to destroy my social life.
She had made me too busy to go to any clubs and activities. So what was the point to go college?
Some leaser being would give up and give in. Not me. I could just take the easy way and stay home but I could not live for myself. There would be more time for me to focus on the more important things. Not that I would if I really have the time. The simple fact about me was that I am happy using remembering potions and passive spells. The desire and drive for power wasn’t there.
“Do I have too?” I whine placing down my dripping cup.
“I’m afraid so. This needs to be dealt with discreetly, hence the need of your assistance. The council demands it. We are dealing with a very sensitive matter of great importance.” Aunt Morgan chides.
“Fine, but I don’t intend to have a good time.”
Taking my time, using the napkin to wipe off the tea from my hands and lap. It would be nice if they just told me what to expect but it was never their style. You had to work out the clues and for better for worst sometimes it was too late to change the future so they just tell me and when I figure out too late they were not to blame. They after all did clue me.
A glance over told me all I need to know. It was a serious matter of great importance. To kill time I pick up a magazine from the table.
I flipped through the magazine and there were articles on various aspects magic from the price of readymade potions to creating clothing on a budget. It was enough to give an overall ideal of how things were done but nothing that would alert the council and it hundred of guards. I notice a page that was tag and turn it over to see what it was about.
An entire section covering Diana and her saves the world heroic act from six different angles. It covers everything, starting from Grandmother and her going to the Debutante ball, save a girl that was robbed. They were many covering from those involved. Gray the antique dealer that verify the item and its value. Peter Warne the best friend who help piece the truth. Roy her boyfriend that saved her in her time of need and has yet to fail her. Lena the waitress who gossips and sold potions. Last and not least Diana’s personal view, making me sound like I was a two face Riparian, an ugly creature with a nasty long tongue.
Let’s just say I spend the next ten minutes cursing her in every language I knew. I would continue if my cell phone had not ringed.
“I don’t want to take it.” I mumble look at my phone like it was a two face Riparian.
Pausing over it, I stared at it not sure what to do. I knew the ID and she didn’t like to be kept waiting. Then again this call was a job and I was a little low on cash until I found a place to unload latest inventory I bought at an estate sale or borrow money.
Summoning up my best happy voice I answered the phone. Cross my fingers hopping it was just a robbery like the last two and they only need me to identify the items.
“This is GRAY. Is there a job?”
“If there was nothing Gray I would not be calling. Listen, I need you at the Smallwood Drive as soon as you can. It could be a murder so zip it. Don’t talk to anyone without me. Bring your badge and use the side door. When can you be here?” The voice on the other end asked business like as usual.
“Soon but not soon enough for you, I think. I’m cooking so I need to wait a little until can’t leave the burners on.”
“Don’t make excuses! Step on it!”
I sign. Ronnie Adam was one of the many police that seem to always need my services. This was a side job I had picked up unintentional after help solving a F.B.I case three years ago, thanks to my vast knowledge on rituals and ancient artifacts. They were part of my education so I knew what was happening even if the professors and other specialist were clueless, and in the end I had guessed who was possibly behind it and sent the police in that direction, saving two little boy life.
After the arrest was made, I came highly recommended as a specialist. They paid me good and it was an opportunity to do a little good so I did what I did, even if it brought me headaches.
Let’s just say that I was not keen on taking this job but I don’t think I had a choice. All that aside, corpse was never my thing. My conscious wouldn’t let me turn it down as someone had died and if I could do anything to help I would because it was the right thing to do.
“Where are you exactly?” I asked her.
“The moon! No, MN Club by the old cinema sixth floor if you don’t see me by the door just comes straight up. Remember, don’t talk to anyone and come quickly. I am waiting.”
“Bye” I said before the line was cut.
Rushing I grab my vintage military blazer from the hanger and waved my aunts goodbye. They were busy talking with the vampires looking trough notes and papers. Not too busy to not notice me, they nod.
I could tell that it was important conversation. David was out of the room and nowhere to be seen, he was a good butler knowing his place. Taking a right turn and stepping down a flight of stairs moving towards the Chippendale mirror, an enchanted artifact I bought it at an auction house in Chicago for sixteen thousand dollars as the pair was highly desirable. Had to out bid two others to get it but it is worth the money spent. One of a pair of two that with the right incantation it will act as a door to the other mirror covering traveling at a great distance for nothing. A critical element to my freedom, it let me come and go to my apartment as I please. Helping me meet the conditions my aunts had set out early on.
The gears on my ring moves and I heard Min slam the door close. My tenant who seems to have come home early, for someone claiming to be an artist she was predictable. Tonight she must have had hot date or a hot party, even both.
In my own words, I would describe Min as the eighteen year old typical college student having fun being young and enjoying her life. I was her opposite so boring and busy.
Speaking of roommates I heard Min calling after the bell rings. It was her job to open the doors as it was usually her guest that were visiting and if no then she’d get the door anyway as I did live thirty steps down behind a steel door. So it was a little harder for me to open my door and go to the front door. My apartment is at the basement of an old bank built in the early twenties. Min lived in the area that once was the checking point reception. I live in what had once been the vault. The place was auction after the last owner foreclosed. The vault was last own by an interior design firm with big plans that never amounted up. They had hopes in turning it into a club but in the end the project was too much for even them to chew. After installing the lighting, the pluming and rip way the deity furnishings they were unable to find a way to make the layout work with the concrete walls.
This wasn’t a problem for me. Everything in here suits my needs just fine and the best part is there was nothing bad my aunts could say about it with the existing security features.
I wince as the door was slams closed. It must have been a carrier for me again. This was not good. It meant my weekend was getting complicated again thanks to Aunt Selene meddling. She likes to help me help her. Don’t tell her this but I dreaded what was in the package had to offer more than the task itself.
“Gray!” Min screams.
“I’m going to hate this. She is going to give me a piece of her mind.” I mumbled.
“Gray! Gray!” Min screams again.
Shortly, I heard her stomp down the stairs making me swallowed. This really could get ugly. The heavy vault door of my apartment was push open and Min barge in look very unhappy.
“Gray! Gray! Gray!” Min screams over and over again.
Furious would be the better word to describe her, dress up in a red little number with her hair and nails done she look a million bucks but her aura was an ugly maroon red. I knew she’d be unhappy or angry but I didn’t think she’d be this furious.
“It’s for you!” she screams louder this time and threw the package.
I caught it but didn’t dare say a word as she looks like she wanted to kill me. Then again you usually don’t walk out and greet the mail man in a sheer black kimono so she had a good reason to be angry even if it wasn’t my fault. It wasn’t me who sent the package or ask for it but it wasn’t an issue worth arguing over. So I let her strutted her heels all over me and went off on her way when she was satisfied.
She was mean to me and I hated myself for being a push over. Not making a stand when I’d done nothing wrong and I was the landlord, the person in control. It should be me doing the bullying.
However the room Min’s renting is underground that has two small windows. Over it is noisy ruddy bar, name the Drink. Not too appealing and that is why the old man got it cheap other than the layout and auction thing. He made nice by giving me the place. It was the super saved I need to be able to meet the conditions but it was hard to find a decent tenant, keep up with the taxes and cover the cost.
I stumbled on a Persian rug I was meaning to hand on the wall.
“Great, I really need to put things in place.”I mumbled.
“This is happening too often. It’s a bloody expensive piece too.”
Interestingly enough, I came across it in a furniture store and could not part with it. The design with real gold thread appealed to me a lot. It really put a dent on my expense as I original hoped to sell it to make a profit. My main job was to find pieces, buy them and sell them, making enough to keep funding the expensive life style of a witch ever since my aunts cut me off. I was doing well with myself. Both the normal and the supernatural buy from me but I do specialize in magical items and ritual artifacts. Slowly I was building good reputation and I take pride in my job.
For some that started out as hobby had snowballed into a seventeen hour day job. My talents had manifest early and help assist the job. One talent was the skill with auras, I see and manipulate them.
It was easy just look for a range of color the stood out and buy it. So when I stumble across a memoir of a dark wizard in a garage sale at the age of six, it changed my life. The little old book with blue aura was easy to find in a sea of yellow. It was a good book that if it was judge by it’s cover would never had been bought.
From then I’ve been collecting books and then artifacts ever since. Any place where you could buy I would go there buying and looking for things with the right aura. Over the years, it had been more and more exciting. It had the rush and the trail all in one task.
“Such a merry time” I continue to mumble, hating having to deal with people.
I handle people better as time went by but I’ll never be that nice friendly girl. When I was young my social life, was entwine with moments I visit my parents.
Mother would take me to Christmas and New Year parties. She would introduce me to a friend’s daughter and went on to great her friends. Leaving me alone knowing no one but somehow I had manage to fit in by drinking and laughing at appropriate moments, acting as if I belong.
The summers were no better spend most of my time in a renaissance fair. I sold goods like candle and herbs. Dad had own the land where the fair was held and he let me sell rent free so I could save up for college. He said it was character building and a good experience. It may have been part of the reason but the other part was he didn’t have the money to send me to college and didn’t like the idea of mother’s new husband doing it for him. So it was his away to provide a solution by helping me provide for my own future.
Hated every minute of both worlds, putting it simply I relate to books better than people. It was no great wonder that I don’t have any friends. I was a loner then and I was a loner now. Books were all I ever needed.
“Great, I need to go” I mumble looking at the clock I knew I was running late.
I went down to my lab to check my potions I was cooking. They had infuse properly almost ready to package it just need a little more instant coco and I’ll have a month supply of customize chocolate remembering potions. I turn of the burner, pour them into a mold and I was ready.
Before heading out I place my crystals in place and walk out the door locking it behind me. Turn down the lamp post for security measures, activating extra protection spells and I was off.
It was the life of a witch. Always having to watch over your back, always having to be careful and always finding ways for more power in fact you can never be too careful. My home had more security than the pentagon. I had six inches concrete walls, triple locks door and death curses encrypted into every surface form the front door inwards. Even my furniture was arranged so spells could take effect to its full potential with the help of mirrors. I believe who ever dared step in uninvited or those that meant me harm would regret it if they could tell the tale.
Chapter Two
It started raining a little so I made the walk as short as I could. Walking down the road my heart was heavy. Knowing that I was in for one hell of an evening as things were starting to look really dark, on the bright side I was going to get paid a lot of money. It needed to be done and if it was magic related I had to go because they was no one else and then I had to call in the council since we didn’t have a master of the city it had to be report directly to the guards or one of the watchers depending on who’s jurisdiction we fall under.
When I got there Ronnie Adam was waiting for me. I blink a little pushing the front entrance and entered as I continued to stare. It would seem that miss detective had plans for the night.
“Sexy.” I mumbled, careful that she did not hear it. She’d kill me.
The old girl made a white button up shirt and a black blazer look sophisticated and sexy. It was hard to believe she was forty six and a grandmother. Blond hair blue eyes with great legs that she loved to show off in short miniskirts made me wonder why she was even a detective, she make real money as an actress. In fact she didn’t look like she could do the job. Then again she didn’t look old enough to be a mother, let alone a grandmother so never judge anything by what you could see.
I know I did but after talking about her pregnant daughter I changed my mind. It’s been a long time since the last time we talk and I was looking forward to talking to her but it had to wait.
Lobby of a private strip club wasn’t the best place to make small talk. The place was exclusive and had elite cliental so it was high profile. Meaning I had to be careful with what I say or I could be in trouble, the real type.
One look at me, Ronnie dug her heels said nothing and walk. Leading the way pass to the receptionist without even a hello.
Looking around I could not stop admiring the uniforms. The help were dress in tailored clothing and pink silk tie. The man that was playing a rerun of a couple walking into the building the man seems to be the only one looking excited. His companion looked bored. I look down at the counter and saw where he places his hand had a faint aura print. It was purple, not a good sign if I do say so myself.
“Mr. Carey?” Ronnie called out again.
“Hello officer, what else can I help you with?” he shimmed smiling wide.
Let’s just say I was impress, men usually fall after themselves to impress Ronnie. This one was playing it cool or he had something to hide. I bet money on the later.
He hands over the tape from the player to Ronnie after she glares at him. I’m guessing the two people I just saw were the victims of this supposed murder that I haven’t seen any evidence of yet and looks like would not be seeing for some time to come if this keeps going.
“Is that everything?” asked Ronnie still holding her glare.
“Yes,” he shimmed again.
“There won’t be any leeks to the News, right?” Ronnie narrowed her eyes.
“Nope.” he shimmed smiling showing flashy white teeth.
So far my day had just gone from worst to unbearable. A few people in the lobby gave us side way glances, surprised glances to be précised. After considering them I’m not surprised. They fit in we don’t or to say that I don’t. The vintage style was not sexy enough I think.
“Are you sure you handed me everything?” Ronnie asked one last time her tone that leaves no room for any argument.
“Yes,” Roland answered, shortly.
His eyes flicked up finally handing her another tape from his pocket. It would have paid for his kids’ college fund or pay off his mortgage. This was big scandal so we need to keep it under wrapped, no talking to anyone until it was over. Better than that no talking to anyone ever. I knew the rules and I didn’t have a problem with them.
“Mr. Carey, let me remind you that this is regarding a serious matter,” Ronnie said giving him a death glare. “If you leave out anything I’ll charge you with obstruction of Justice and evidence tampering?”
“I don’t have anything else but I want to make claim on the reward.” he added as he pull up some log files.
“What reward? There is no reward but you better answer her question?” Ronnie said fainting innocent. It was her specialty and she usually got away with it.
“Hey, did the girl say or do anything at all while she was here?” I asked.
“I thought it was odd too. Sonia was never that still and never that quite. It’s not their first time here but usually it more intense. Today it was just tense. It was as if they knew or it could have been that they didn’t like the room. They book late and got the one on a floor that we are renovating into a stage. They are trying a show girl theme.”
“Interesting, how long have they been renovating the room?” I asked
“Six months.”
“Any night shifts?”
Both the reception and Ronnie blinked at the question, I know I sound like a detective but this was standard questions. It was not what they were expecting from a specialist like me.
Come on I knew what I was doing. I need to take out the not possible so I could see the possible clearly. Magic may come in handy but it had limitations. Using spells I can usually see the rerun but places like this had protection. So I’m going to have to use a lot of equipment if I wanted to get to the bottom of this.
“Is there any other entrance that isn’t monitored?”
“Not that I know off.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Ronnie asked glaring.
“There are some secret doors that I don’t know where. I’ve just hear rumors about them being added or something, you have to ask security.”
It was a lot more information that Ronnie had before she was writing it down. Sometimes I wonder if she had a blonde switch. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against her but I mean she really does act so un- detective like sometimes and other times she’s too effective for her own good.
“Who else knows?” Ronnie suddenly asked.
“I’m not sure. The designer and the boss, a few other people I don’t know, I’m just the reception no one important.”
“You have to know something?”Ronnie pressed. “Think about it carefully because if I find out later, you’re not going to like it much. This is not a threat but I think you parole office would like us very much deepening on what we have to say.”
“Listen lady, I don’t know anything.” He answered with an accent sounding spook.
“Is it out of behavior? They just check in a four, isn’t that a little early?
“Sonia works nights and its half price for members before five. I can’t tell you how many people stop by for an afternoon quickie. The turnover rate is an hour and ten minutes. We have sixteen maids on hold just to handle the rooms on a normal day and double that on a weekend.”
“Were the construction crew in today?”
“No, they usually are in nine to five Monday to Thursday.” He answered “Friday as you can see we are busy but the design people came in today, it seems there was designing need to be done.”
“Let me get this straight. The floor was clear with no one working. The couple walked in for their room at around four and then two hours later you called it in.” Ronnie asked sounding professional.
“Yes?”
“Thank for your cooperation. You are free to go.” Ronnie said as she pushes toward the elevators.
I would have liked the stairs but I wasn’t going to complain. We rode the elevator in silence as I look around the walls, as the dead couple may have passes up this way. I tried to find something of them. My instincts scream with a brown aura covering the button with six and nine on it making me wonder, unlike the others that were yellow this was different. It wasn’t good news for me or Ronnie.
“What can you really tell me?” I asked as we strode down the hallway.
“The floor butler came in when the time was up and found the water was running. She walks in to turn it off but found the scene instead. She screams and went to the receptionist. He phoned us.”
“What has been done? Is there a witness?”
“Forensics is still going over the room. No one heard anything as the rooms are in the middle of construction. There is no other guest in all three floors.” she said pointing at large open doors.
Inside as far as I could see were a large collection of crystal place in varies places. There was the fresh smell of paint and faint aura that I could not trace or pull from it was odd. The energy coming from the room was almost overwhelming, a real power surge. Something had to happen here today.
I tried to tap into it, should have been like taking candy from a baby. One tap and drain and done but that wasn’t what had happen. I instead was facing a black wall.
“We don’t have a clue to what happen. Nobody saw anything useful so you’ll our best bet.” she said with an undertone.
“Did you check the other floors?” I said twist the ring on my finger hoping that it wouldn’t be too bad.
“Do I have too?”
I hate to nod but I did. Moments like this were when I really wish I was normal and that there wasn’t magic. Everything happening was just one cover-up of a normal crime.
The doors open and the scent hit me. I smell blood. Lots of it, the metallic salty taste was in the air. AB special not as uncommon as many would think I drank it many times before. Blood was an acquired tasted, one that I had develops a liking over the years having lived with my aunts. It wasn’t even considered black magic if it was given freely or receive as payment. In this situation was as I feared the worst had happen, the place that should have tasted of lust and burning energy but all there was a faint aura of light. It was odd and fishy.
Blood of two people or more where in the air and surprisingly there was no trace of it in the room. The place wasn’t screaming with artifacts but there was something here.
I felt it make my skin crawl as I followed Ronnie out of the elevator. Down the hall past a couple of uniform who recognized me and waved me past without asking for ID. On the shiny white plastic tag, it said I was a specialist on rituals and ancient artifacts. It was a fair description keeping most of my secrets safe and the council of my back most of the time. I tried my hardest to stay away from them while doing my job, most of the time I succeed.
The tax payers after all were paying me sixty five dollars an hour with expense or a daily rate of six hundred and eighty with expense. It was a lot of money, I didn’t want it to end abruptly trough no mistake of my own.
More importantly almost no witch wanted to help the normal. Most of the time they were the cause of the incidents and as long as they didn’t shift the balance they were in the clear.
“The butler said he saw nothing else?” I just had to ask.
“She said there was nothing out of the ordinary. They requested for champagne, candles and condoms, gave a big tip too.” Ronnie gave me a glance out of the corner of her eye as we reached the corridor and I saw the butler up close.
“Is that her?”
Ronnie nodded. The butler was a young attractive brunette. Not what I would have expected but should have expected from a place like this. She looked the part dress up in a tight tailor suit with her hair up in a bun with a silver pin. I could tell just by the look at the pale pink aura that she was in love with someone at work. It was common occurrence. Normal people were in love all the time and many times, I envy them. They learn to love again and again. It was amazing. I shrug her off as nothing of importance or significant, a mistake.
“You’re sure that it wasn’t the butler. In the movies it’s always the butler who did it.” I joked.
“There is no evidence to say otherwise. Stay here until Chess come for you. I need to check on the tech guys to see if they have anything new or useful and I’ll tell them to search the building as you told me too.” Ronnie order as she leaved the room.
Taking a right, I enter and look at the room. It looks normal for the place as their aura was yellow just like what a normal human should be like. The bed was big and round with red satins sheets. The furniture was slightly moved and it was obvious that there had been some recent activity going on in the room, a fight or perhaps a struggle. There was two empty bottles of expensive champagne by the floor of the bed. Next to it was clothes, not much from the looks of it. Just a Burberry coat for her and a repair man’s jumper for him, then there were the shoes.
“Very romantic isn’t it? Do you think I should bring my girl here for Valentine?” a man said as he walks in from a door next to me.
“No, No, and No. Keep an eye on her.” Ronnie shouted from somewhere far off.
“Hello, Richardson.” I said still continuing to look at the shoes, their aura was brown.
“Hello kiddo, know a boy you could date. He likes milk.” “What you’re sorry you don’t have any. It’s okay.”
I bit my lip. I was not going to get upset over some mean words. He was not a professional but I would be. Here was Ronnie’s partner, Chess Richardson was in his late thirty but acted like he was three, he always gave me the hardest time. It just could not be help with me being young and ugly, he liked making snide remarks that would put him on harassment list and was consider inappropriate behavior enough for me to sue him if I wanted but we both knew I didn’t have the courage.
Taking a deep breath in I walked pass him into the door he just came out the bathroom. The room much to my regret was surrounded with death.
My heart hammered in slow, sick dread while my stomach turned somersaults. It had me scared and frighten. Nausea built in the back of my throat, and I stared at the faint spiritual energy lingering helping me to estimate time of death at early in the evening. The tub full up with blood, floating on it was two large piece of human skin with tattoos that very few people would recognized as they looked so much like fine embroidery silk. The room was a mess with blood spilling everywhere I was no blood analysis but still I could tell that there was a match between the skin and the blood in the tub, I could tell that at least. Other than that I was walking blind until I could talk to my informant as this wasn’t the normal thing for me either even if I was a witch.
There was the strong smell of sex on the side making me look for the source. Over by the sink were a lot of condoms. It was brown and yellow, that made me wonder what had happen. The brown aura wasn’t that common and no spell I had could trace it back to the person who made it.
“Do you have a bad feeling?” he asked baiting me.
“Yes, and so do you even if you don’t admit it. This scars me, I want to run and hide under my bed. I mean I know it’s extreme but it can’t be worst than you sleeping with a nightlight.”
“Stop that both of you. Chess go search the building. Gray look around, do whatever it is you do but find me answers. Something useful that’ll help us crack the case. Is it the real thing? Is someone trying to cover up? Why did they do this creepy room thingy?” Ronnie demanded as she joined us in the large bathroom.
“Sorry, I’m afraid it’s the real thing. It’s a lot of blood so more than one person.” I said using a pencil to push the things around.
“Tell me.”
“It’s seemed to be ritual but not African. It’s Asia and probably more like South East I’ll need to dig a little but I think this is a secondary location. You need to find their lair to catch them.”
I push more things around. There was no trace and looking at the powder I would say that there were no finger prints. It was clear that it was not a normal crime.
Smell the air, I sniff and tried to find the source of the wolfsbane smell. It was bothering me very much. This was an uncommon scent especially for this time and place as they’ve been sold out lately in high demand or something. I should know been trying to get my hands on some for a potion I needed to keep my nightmares at bay. Unlike in the movies the herb has other use other than kill werewolves. Looking into the mirror I place my spell and saw the pass. The fragments were nothing impressive, animal teethes and candles. A human wearing a hat of sort and held an outdated spell book that was missing its cover, none of made sense. It was too far away and protected with spells to see anything useful.
The book unsettles me a little. It should not have been usable as the most important part of a book is its cover. If it is torn the power is destroyed.
My line of vision stops at the tub. The small salt circle carefully placed to stay well out of sight put an end to my attempt. I took my phone and took pictures of everything I need even if it wasn’t much, the circle and pick a chip from a tooth was a lead.
“Is this salt?” I asked to be sure.
“Yes, they check its one hundred percent clean sea salt. So it’s not much to go by but it’s why we called you in and the tattoos that didn’t show in our database or anywhere else.”
All this was clearly the work of a higher level being with power. The book may be an angle to work on. Families do not share secrets but there are ways to find answer if I do it right.
Signing tiredly I look at everything. There was so much yet so little. I could tell from the scene that they were treating it as a murder. No bodies and lots of blood, not the best combination but until it is tested that it is from the two people and that they’d never survived the skinning it should be rule a murder. Judging from how the blood wasn’t drying. It they can’t rule out a preplan disappearance either. I understood why I was called in they really need to work every angle possible.
“I’ll test this salt for you. Then I’ll look it up with a tattoo artist that I know specialize on this type of ink. But I need a little more to work with, you know.” I told her after pointing at her partner and her in order. “You go search the building, now. There may be more than one room with victims. You get an ID and then we’ll talk.”
Richardson snorted.
It wasn’t as bad I as first thought. I do need to test if either of them was werewolf then it would be worst than I thought but other than that for the most part it seems amateurish.
The room had too much blood to be a proper crime scene. Professionals wouldn’t leave blood or anything behind. Only the truly stupid would leave evidence like the chip tooth lying around so you could be trace with a spell or an artifact.
Looking around I knew this was a case that I had to call it in. Before that I really need to know what I was dealing and time was running out fast.
The council is an organization consists of kings and leaders from many blood lines. Built long before time start with more levels and layers than one could care but still they were feared as the rightful protectors, the rulers and guardian of magic. It was hard to say if they were the good guys or bad guys, they were complex. They may just kill someone because in the future that person would become evil and do great harm. Other times they were willing to die to stop the evil from destroying the world but most of the time they just try and control everything and dictate how things are done.
I wasn’t going to walk to the council blind. It would be too much like serving my head on a platter. The head of guards hated me with a passion and I held no great love for him. It was his personality that made me want to scream, he had the air of a sleazy lawyer that sent chills down my spine, and he always had a creepy loop side smile.
“We’re not stupid. Already identify the victims from their driver license and registry. I think we are sure who they are.” Richardson snaps back at me.
“Good,” I asked. “So, who are they?”
“It’s confidential police business.” Richardson snapped back at me again, it was getting annoying now and I was tempted to curse him a little. He wouldn’t even know it.
“Chess, I need you to go check the building. Now!” Ronnie said without a blink.
He pauses for a moment and leave huffing and puffing. It was a quite a sight if I wasn’t anxious to know who the victims were I would have enjoyed his suffering a little more and I would have gloated.
“The woman's name was Sonia Price. She worked for the Madame Finex. I have confirmed with her employer that she was off work and with her boyfriend for the evening.” Ronnie said handing me the license in a little plastic bag.
A real curved ball, I didn’t see that coming. There weren’t many that dare defy lady fate. One of those beings was Madame Finex the owner of the five star Madame Finex bar and restaurant. Not only did she run the most exclusive club in this side of the coast, she also cater to her member every taste and desire, if you are willing to pay then anything can be bought they say. She was not master of the city but she was one scary person. Her place also has a merchandise shop with more than T-shirts and socks for sale if you catch my drift. Instead it sold lingerie and sex toys with many displays of magical items or enchanted artifacts into the mix.
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(Pages 1-24 show above.)