Walking ahead of the group, Razor talked as they walked through the palace grounds and into the containment cells.
“So yeah,” He said, his voice echoing slightly on the walls, “I say we finish this. Find the mastermind; this Warlock guy, and when all that’s settled we do a double date. Tsukiko and myself and Herro and Summer.”
Herro smiled, “Yeah we can do that.”
“Yeah,” Tsukiko glanced her brother up and down, “This new optimistic Haru.”
“I would say I’m the cause of that,” Summer piped in, almost hanging off Herro’s arm.
Razor held up his hand as the approached a double door with a pair of well armed amazons in black tactical gear standing guard.
“Highness,” They said bowing slightly.
Razor nodded, “Frank, how’re the kids?”
“Good sir,” The shorter one with jet black hair cut almost in a high and tight.
“That’s good to hear,” Razor smiled, “And you Jeff? How’s the wife?”
Jeff, dark sapphire hair matching his eyes, nodded, “She’s fine. Thank you for asking sir.”
“Now. Let’s see the prisoner gents.” Razor said as one opened the door.
“Darlin’ you are hot when you take charge,” Tsukiko whispered in his ear.
He smiles a bit as they walk past a series of doors. They stop in front of a pair of doors labeled Int-17-O and I.
“If you guys can go in there,” Razor asks, pointing to the O door, “And cast a couple truth and compulsion spells. Summer, no jumping Herro while we’re working.”
The Amazon princess rolled her eyes, “I have more control than that.”
“Yeah well had to make sure,” He opened the door for the three and walked in behind.
Behind a large pane of glass they could see into the room next door. Seated at a table was Calvin, his bared arms and face showed runic markings along it. The manacles holding his wrists to the table also reflected etched runes.
“What language is that?” Herro asked, as he looked the captive mage up nad down.
Razor shrugged, “It’s ancient Amazonian. We use it as part of our magic inhibition spells.”
“Those Permanent?” Tsukiko asked, “If so that’s a dangerous weapon suga’.”
“Nope, something about imbuing them with magic breaks the ink down and it has to be renewed.” Summer added
Razor raised a finger, “We do have permanent ones, but those are insanely difficult to craft and even more laborious to apply.”
“That’s nasty” Herro said with a sigh.
“Never mind that though,” Razor said waving his hand and walked out the door, saying before he left, “Cast your spells while I go on and play grand inquisitor.”
Doing some small incantations the pair created an aura focused on the mage in the room. They could see the spell be repelled around his restraints, but still take on his runed skin.
So you can still cast on an inhibited target, Herro thought before he saw the door in the other room open.
Razor walked in, a small silver circlet on his head and a pair of swords sheathed at his waist with intricate hilts showing.
“I hope my people haven’t treated you poorly,” He started as he pulled the chair out opposite Calvin, “We may have met under less than ideal circumstances but I do want us to get along.”
Calvin spat at him. Razor casually pulled a handkerchief out of his breast pocket and just as casually wiped the spittle off his face, “I see, so you would prefer not to be friendly?”
“I have nothing to say to the likes of you,” Calvin growled through clenched teeth.
Razor grinned and spread his arms, “You Magia are all alike. Righteous and egotistical.”
“What?” Calvin asked, eyes narrowed, “You, a lesser being, think to insult your betters!”
“Hah!” Razor laughed.
Calvin’s brow furrowed, “And you laugh, filthy Amazon.”
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
“Let’s start over,” Razor bridged his fingers, his voice going steely, “Tell me your full name.”
Calvin opened his mouth but shut it again, obviously trying to force himself to stay quiet, “Calvin Marcus Antonio Bachmann, though I don’t know why I would tell you such a thing.”
“Thank you Calvin. I am crown prince Razor James Peacecraft. Now that we know each other let’s try and be amicable.”
“Not happening,” Calvin said, “I won’t tell you anything.”
Razor’s grin spread, “You already told me a lot. Now what is your position in the Carnival of Horror?”
“Assistant manager,” Calvin said, fingering air quotes as his eyes cleared a little “Like I’d answer that! You have got to be crazy ‘prince’.”
“Oh they’re good.” Razor said the corner of his mouth quirking up.
Razor laid his hands on the table and stared at Calvin while starting to make more small talk. Behind the glass Herro could see his sister blushing a bit. He smiles and shakes his head before turning back to hear Razor.
“Now Calvin,” Razor smiled, “Tell me where your true headquarters in this area is.”
“Which?” Calvin’s snap reply came before he sneered, “You already raided it, scum.”
Razor put his hand to his chin and smiled, “The carnival? Hardly, that was a front. Maybe where you stored your meat puppets, sure. It wasn’t however, your base of operations.
“So,” Razor continued, “Tell me all the locations.”
“Two. Warehouse district number 12 and Park at Green Street,” Calvin shook his head, “Fine. If it will get me out of this place quicker.”
Razor smiled, “Yes?”
“Out on the lake, what’s it called, the big one, there’s an island we use out there. That’s where we are headquartered.”
“Good cooperation,” Razor said spreading his hands, “We are getting somewhere.”
Calvin rolled his eyes, “I do what I can. Now are we done yet?”
“No not yet. Are there any defenses at your bases of operations?
“No,” Calvin said, his gaze clearing, his voice coming out almost in a growl, “Yes, all manner of magical traps.”
Razor smiled, “You seem to be getting upset. Let’s go with a different line of questioning. Maybe that’ll soften you up?”
“Not likely,” Calvin sneered.
“I’ll try anyway,” Razor said with a shrug, “You made a comment during our fight at the carnival and I am curious about the meaning. You asked ‘Where’s the third’, I would like to know what you meant.”
“Oh this I’ll tell you. Years ago I used a curse to curse three boys with a hydrosensitivity curse. I’ve used the curse multiple times to change many people into many things, but only one time did I use the one to change the boys into girls.” He tipped his head, “Maybe you can answer my question then. Where’s the third? You, amazon scum, and the traitorous Magia you have at your beck and call are two of the three. Where’s the third?”
Raising an eyebrow Razor shook his head, “You will have to give me more information for me to tell you that one.”
“Now you refuse to answer me?”
“I am the one asking the questions,” Razor shrugged, “However if you want I can answer some questions for cooperation from you in answering mine.”
Calvin scowled, “If we must.”
“Be grumpy, as long as this works we both get stuff,” Razor shrugged, “just what did you hope to gain from that curse?”
“That is something I have asked myself countless times. Especially since my master used the same one on me.”
“Now,” he growled out, “where is the third?”
Razor smiled, “dunno. Didn't even know there was a second until earlier this week.”
“What? This is not a fair trade Amazon.”
“You are the one who asked a question I have no answer to. Why are you so hung up on this ‘third’?”
“Because,” Calvin's eyes glazed slightly, “with him and the Magia you can be complete. He is the final-”
His words get drowned out as an alarm blares and the sprinklers turn on.
Razor pulls her soaking bangs away from her face and tucks them behind an ear as she looks across the table to the bound woman, now bereft of makeup, “what was that you were saying?”
She laughs her maniacal, unhinged laugh, “You'll never know! Neither will I!”
“And why not?” Razor asked with a lavender eyebrow raised.
“Because He won't let me!”
“He?”
“Duh,” she rolls her eyes as the rain plasters her hair to her face, “The Master.”
“Warlock?”
She looks around with a smile on her face, “shh, keep saying his name and he might come.”
Razor looked at the crazy woman, “So he would let male Calvin but not you?”
“Oh no,” her smile widened, “but he… me… he… I… don't see things as clear as… I… she… me does.”
A knock sounded on the door as Razor sat watching the crazy woman mess up pronouns. Standing, she cracks the door and peeks out to see a pair of guards with weapons drawn.
“Ma’am you and the others in your group should leave. We have a,” the first guard says glancing into the room, “situation.”
Razor turns to the captive and sighs, “I will be back.”
She steps out of the room ,as the observation room door opens and the three walk out. Herra looks miffed as her hair is just as wet as everyone else's.
“What's going on?” her eyes held an almost visible rage, “this is going to take all night to dry and condition so it doesn't frizz all day tomorrow!”
“Herra, you don't even have the best hair in this hallway. My boy-girlfriend has double your hair and it's smoother.” Tsukiko rolled her eyes at her sister.
Razor put her hands up stopping Herra from voicing whatever was going to come from her open mouth, “While I love a good cat fight, especially between hot twins, now is not the time.”
Turning to the guards she brushed bangs from her hair again, “Get the sprinklers off, if it’s a fire we’ll deal with it.”
“We don’t think it is ma’am,” Jeff said, “We have security cameras down near the advanced security cells.”
“Who do we have down there right now?”
“Not many really,” Frank answered, “There are a few from orders of his majesty but I believe there is only one we’ve had any issues with. A Magia we know only as <
Razor rolled her eyes, “Really? Can they get any more clichéd?”
“Wait who?” Tsukiko’s questioning voice came at almost the same time as Razor’s
They turned to look and saw both Herra and Tsukiko’s eyes wide as Herra responded, “They said his name. It’s got to be him.”
Without waiting for a reply she darted off down the hallway. She ran down the halls and came to a dead end. She glanced around, seeing only locked doors with numbers. Sighing she turns to see Razor standing behind her.
“What are you looking for Herra?” Razor asks, her head cocked to the side.
Herra’s jaw tightens as she replies, “Where is Sean?”
“The one the Guards mentioned?” Razor’s eyebrow quirked, “If he’s in an advanced security cell that’s down the hall you passed and at the end make a right. The tiling goes to a navy instead of the pale almost white it is here.”
“Thank you,” She says running past the taller woman who watches her go.
“Well that was weird.” Razor says, following slowly behind.