For Iris, it had been a very long day. She would have liked some explanation for it, but it seemed that Keira either couldn’t explain it to her or wouldn’t. And while they had been distant until pretty recently, Iris had hoped that their shared history would be enough for Keira to know to trust her. It didn’t matter in the end however, as she had managed to get a decent run down from Morgan. In the middle of updating him on what happened in the town, and why Marshall had visited the house, she noticed a shadow outside the house. A humanoid shadow.
“I don’t think I’m alone.” Iris had cut off Morgan, but he didn’t seem bothered about that.
“Is everything okay?”
“I could have sworn I just saw someone watching me from the end of the garden… Do you think it’s just the stress of today?”
“Fuck no. I wouldn’t chance it. Call the station or-“ There was a knock at the door. “Iris?”
“Still here.” She picked up the crumbling clipboard that was still flecked with blood and looked out the peephole of her front door. “It’s Amelie. She looks… distressed.” There was a hole in her tights, her hair was in a mess and there were lines down her face where mascara had mixed with tears. She was looking around frantically and began knocking on the door again. This time not stopping until Iris had opened the door slightly, still keeping the chain on.
“Oh- oh Iris. I’m so glad you’re here-“ she let out a slight choked sob, “it was Archer. It was all him and now the police think he’s innocent and he’s after me because I threw him under the bus and please- please can I hide in your house until the police come?” Iris looked around the surroundings and though she didn’t see anything, she remembered that brief flash of a figure in the garden.
“Do you know where he is now?” Amelie shook her head and then yelped as the bushes nearby rustled. Iris cursed under her breath and turned her attention back to Morgan who was still waiting on the phone. “I’m going to have to hang up to call the police station.”
“Ring me back when you’re done please.”
“I will if I don’t have to stay on the phone.” Then she hung up on Morgan and quickly took the chain off so Amelie would be able to go inside. In the end though, that was her mistake as the second she turned her back of Amelie, there was a sharp pain to the back of her head and the blackness.
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Keira was currently experiencing a mixture of intense anxiety and boredom. She knew what was coming and she didn’t think that she was ready for it, but she knew she wouldn’t be ready for it anytime soon. Wouldn’t it be better to get it out of the way then? But no, she was currently waiting for an indeterminate amount of time in a small concrete room stewing in her own worries. The only comfort she could give herself was the fact that there was quite literally nothing that could happen that would make her situation worse.
After sitting on the temporary bed that had been set up in the corner for some time, she decided to get up and do another lap of the cell. The movement did nothing but break up the monotony that permeated every corner of the little grey room. It did however get the blood in her legs moving, and physical exercise helped alleviate the anxiety somewhat. It also meant that she was right next to the door when she noticed a commotion happening outside in the main waiting room.
Morgan was there gesturing wildly to the police appearing as though on the verge of tears, and they were in turn making placating moves with their hands. It wasn’t working though, and Morgan seemed to be getting more and more frustrated until he looked to his left and made eye contact with Keira. They shared a look of mutual shock before Morgan turned back to the officers and they started talking again. There was much less wild gesturing but even from that distance, she saw his hands trembling. Keira could tell that they were talking about her as there were frequent glances in her direction, and after a few seconds they all approached her. The one of the officers on duty opened the door and let Morgan slip under his arm.
“She’s in protective custody at the moment, and I’m not usually allowed to do this, but I feel like these are extenuating circumstances.” Morgan nodded at the officer.
“Thanks Gary.” Then he turned to Keira. “Iris has gone missing.”
“What?!”
“She was on the phone with me for a while earlier, getting caught up on the… drama, and she mentioned seeing a shadow near her house. Then Amelie knocked on the door and Iris hung up on me. I rung a few times after a couple of minutes, and when she didn’t pick up I went to her house and the door was unlocked.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“We sent people to investigate when Morgan initially rung, but it seems like he wants more of a play by play of the case. I also agreed that this is something you should be aware of.” Keira nodded mutely. “I need to close and lock this door now, but rest assured that we will keep you safe.” Then the door was shut and Keira was left staring out the tiny square window at Morgan who quickly turned away.
It was strange being on the receiving end. Not knowing whether or not Iris would survive, whether or not she would walk out of it in a similar situation to Keira. Honestly she didn’t know which one would be worse. There must be something she could do… right? Taking another look at the smooth expanse of skin on her wrist Keira sighed. It had caused her so much unnecessary pain but it would have been useful to have something to work with. If she… she did have something to work with, didn’t she? Keira had picked up Gastele’s calling card just before Gastele showed up at her house and had never put it back. And the officers wouldn’t have picked it up because it was literally a small card and a half empty box of matches… the only issue was making sure the camera in the top corner didn’t see her. There wouldn’t be any cameras in the toilet though, and it would be private from the outside as well as the station was a renovated house. It didn’t have stalls, just the occasional room.
Keira walked over the door of the cell again and knocked loudly.
“I need to go to the bathroom!” She pretended to not see the anxious looks that were shared in the waiting room before the man came back over and opened the cell door.
“Make it quick.” Keira thanked him quietly and walked over to the room and locked it. She was anxious about calling Gastele, but what else could she do? She needed to make sure Iris was safe. Her hand flew to the card and match in her pocket.
Gastele could keep her friend safe. She could find them in time. She might not even need to hurt Amelie in order to do so. It would also mean that Keira would have to decide at that moment whether she would need help in escaping the cell. Or the authorities. Keira took out the card and lit the match, using what she had taken out just a few hours ago. The card then flared up like a bright blue flame that cast a brilliant azure light across the cell. Keira yelped and dropped the card as she swore the flames licked her fingers and watched as it lit up into a brighter bonfire that towered over her. Then in the centre of the scorched floor, stood Gastele.
"Ah, you used my card. I know it's a little flashy, but one must make an entrance if one wants to make an appropriate impact. Now. Why did you call me?" Keira gave a worried glance to the bathroom door. The flames crackled loudly and for a brief moment she thought that the officers outside would hear. Gastele, however, may have sensed this concern. “Don’t worry about them. Senses such as sight, sound or the perception of time can be easily manipulated. They won’t be bothering us. Now, why am I here?”
"Is Amelie responsible for what happened to me?"
"Ah, finally figured it out. Good, good."
"Is she planning to do something to Iris?" Gastele smiled.
"Could be." Keira took in a deep breath.
"What could I give you to stop her? Without killing her."
“Well first things first, I’m not going to accept information for a favour anymore. Secondly, that’s such an impractical restriction. What better way to keep someone from hurting people than to take them out of the picture.”
“Amelie… she- can you stop her without killing her?”
“Ah. You’re saying that you would exchange Amelie’s life for another’s?” Keira gave Gastele a hard look which caused the fey to burst out into a fit of giggles. “Not the point anyway. It is possible for me to do, but rather dull don’t you think?”
“Then do it. She needs to answer to her crimes by our law.”
“Better than ours, are they? And you’re forgetting the payment.”
“I- I could do you a favour in return? You do something for me now I do something for you later?”
“Hm. I’m assuming that you’ll want to follow your current morals, which makes the jobs I could bring you in for a limited… Although you still have that… Oh! Now there’s an idea! How about you get something for me in return for rescuing Iris?”
"What will I have to do?"
"I shall give you more details when it gets closer to the time, but it should not leave much of an impact on your life. Unless you cause it to."
"Why can't you get it yourself?"
"Do you want me to save your friend or not." Right. No matter how cautious she needs to be, she was on a time limit.
“I accept those turns. Find some way to stop her without killing her and I’ll go and fetch…”
“An artifact. And I’m not going to tell you anything more until I have all the details hashed out with all parties.”
“Alright. And Iris comes back as healthy as she can be.”
"Oh dear, you do like making things awkward. Very well, Iris will come back in her best state with no strings attached and I won’t kill Amelie for you. In return you shall collect an artifact when I request it and as long as you chose the most efficient methods everyone will make it out alive.” Keira immediately noticed how much more detail Gastele put into the statement than she did. If this was going to be a common occurrence then that’s the sort of thing that she would need to be on the lookout for. Potential loopholes and how to close them.
"Good... Then I accept those terms." Gastele's smile widened to an alarming degree before she clapped her hands together.
"Excellent. Is there anything you would like me to do about this?” Gastele gestured to the toilet and locked door, “I am always one for another deal."
"No... I think I can handle this." Gastele gave Keira an appraising look.
“If you say so. However, as someone who has recently invested in you I feel the need to leave you with a small warning.” She leaned in closely. “Don’t lie.”
“Okay…” Keira mumbled in response. This seemed to be enough for Gastele as she then pulled back with a smile.
"Do call again if you need me!" Keira blinked and then Gastele was gone. Only leaving her card in her place yet again.