“I can’t find her anywhere.”
“She wasn’t in her apartment?” I had to shout to overcome the loud ‘music’ that was currently banging my head like a sledgehammer. Marie’s gay club wasn’t for me. I was getting groped without my consent, the sounds were blazing my eardrums off and the smell of sweat and sex was overpowering everything else.
Marie gave me a worried look, unrelated to my discomfort.
I had accepted to return here because of something that had happened last night.
A few weeks had passed since our meeting with Mr. Marak, and everything had been…uneventful. Well, as much as it was conceivable with an old god as a roommate.
There had been a ceremony the week before, where some people invited themselves inside our tiny apartment to give her offerings and pray in her name. They were all dressed in white silk gowns and nothing else. Ten individuals, almost naked, all in our living room.
She had obviously not warned us beforehand, and if I hadn’t smelled them and heard their creepy singing, Stan would have witnessed it all. This had happened after our restaurant evening with him. We were hoping we could tell him Marie and I (as Ray) were dating as we invited him back to have a last drink. The plan had gone out of the window, maybe for the better, because explaining to him that Marie was still also technically going out with Igris would have been a pain.
Still, after quite rudely sending him off, Marie and I had experienced a really weird ceremony.
Astarte had apologized for the event, albeit with a giant toothy smile on her face as she did.
But, if we forgot about that episode and the one where a creepy necromancer came to my classes to ask me for some blood, everything had been smooth sailing.
Until the night before. For lack of better words, I was frolicking in bed with my girlfriend when she received a text message from Natasha.
When we woke up the next morning, in other words today, the message had disappeared.
Which was weird, we both remembered the buzz of the smartphone, and even though I hadn’t seen the screen, Marie was certain it was a message from her succubus friend.
She had tried to contact her all day, to no avail.
We were not that concerned at first, as Marie had explained to me that Natasha often didn’t answer her phone. Still, since Marie had entered the U, Natasha had been more responsive.
So, to reassure my girlfriend, and also me, we had decided to go back to the gay club, as we knew she was living there, on the third floor.
We had taken the subway to go there (urgh), as at those hours of the day it was the only reliable way to get to the city center then arrived at the club.
We asked around. The barman and the bouncer told us Natasha had been here two days ago, but neither yesterday nor tonight.
Marie then decided to go knock upstairs. I had refused to follow, because to get to the third floor, you needed to go through the second.
“No-one there.” Marie repeated her findings. I was sitting at the bar and had fought valiantly to keep her seat away from creeps wanting a piece of my ass.
“Is it really that weird?” It wasn’t the first time I asked her the question.
She took a few seconds to think.
“I…no. Natasha has always been a fickle one. I often stopped hearing from her for weeks. But…”
“But?”
“We talked a lot recently.” She confessed.
“Oh?” I said with no jealousy in my voice.
Wait, was I growling?
“Stop that, Gray. It was mostly to talk about you.”
“Oh?” I repeated, now worried.
“…I wanted some advice.”
“Oh?” I said with interest.
“Anyway, not now.” She cut me off.
Dang, sounded juicy.
“Since I found out about the U, we have been much better friends. Now that I know who she really is, she’s much more open than before.”
Didn’t seem you could get much more open than…
“Don’t finish that sentence, you know what I mean.” She threatened.
“I haven’t said anything!”
“I saw it on your face.”
“I have the perfect poker face.”
“Your eyes are a dead giveaway.”
“Only to you.”
She smiled, but the happy expression quickly fizzled away. “In any case…I feel something happened.”
I sighed. “Ok. I’ll go check out upstairs. See what my wolfy powers can find.”
“Thanks.”
“Of course.”
“What the hell was she doing?” I asked out loud.
“Well, I think it was a fi…”
“I don’t need an answer!” I stopped my best friend from explaining what we had witnessed on the second floor.
“You asked!”
“Don’t!”
Marie grinned, but her expression once again faded away, as we arrived at Natasha’s front door at the top of the stairs.
I knocked heavily on the door. “Nat?”
“There is a doorbell.” Marie noted.
“Oh, oops.”
“Don’t you hear or smell anything?”
I pressed the button next to the door. I heard a rather classic ‘ding dong’ inside, but nothing else.
“Too much noise downstairs, and my nose is stuffy after the subway and the club, I can’t be sure.” I explained.
“Dang. What do we do?”
I saw Marie’s expression. She was scared, I didn’t like seeing her like that.
“Remember, you tried your best to stop me.”
“What?”
“If we get caught by the cops.” I hadn’t studied law to break it, but well, things change.
I took the handle and pushed. The lock mechanism gave out immediately, and parts of the wall holding the door together visibly cracked.
“Gray!” Marie shouted, appalled.
“What? You have any better idea?”
Marie gave me a confused stare, grabbed her nose between two fingers, sighed, then answered: “No. I don’t. I’m the one who’s going to have to apologize, you know.”
“Of course not! You tried your best to stop me!” I stepped inside.
“Wait!”
Too late, I looked back at her.
“I don’t expect Nat to have an alarm, at least not technological in nature. But Illy taught me about protection spells to ward your home and things like that.”
“Didn’t feel anything.” I honestly answered.
“That’s good. Or bad. Witches should have wards.” She knelt and examined the wooden planks at the entrance of the flat. “Look.” She said.
I did as she asked and looked at the wooden planks. The one plank under the door was…different. It looked like lightning had passed through it.
“What’s that?” I stared questioningly at my girlfriend.
“I have no idea. I would need to ask Illy. Maybe you broke the ward… but you would have felt it, wouldn’t you?”
I had explained to Marie what I felt when someone else was using magic, obviously, and that was what she was talking about.
“Maybe. If it’s a magic trap or something, would it feel the same, though?”
“Same energy, should be.”
“Then this.” I pointed at the burnt plank. “Didn’t happen today. It’s older, feels like it would have been warm.”
We sat there in silence.
“Would be funny if she just arrived now and saw us crouching in front of her entrance like this.” Marie noted.
The image was funny, but I didn’t smile. “Marie, I think you may be right about Nat. Something is wrong.”
Marie gulped. “…let’s explore the rest of the flat.”
“Yes.”
Everything was neater than in my memory. The dinner table next to the kitchen counter was still there, and the room clearly also served as a living room, as there was a television with an old gaming console in another corner. But the place looked cleaner and smelled eerily pristine. It was still messy, games were not organized, some cd’s were not in their cases and dirty dishes were piled up in one of the sinks.
Two large books were still opened on the little buffet in front of the TV. Her bedroom was also a mess, clothes everywhere, and even a phallic sex toy right next to her bed.
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“Something is not normal here.” I announced.
“Really? Everything seems ok to me?”
“No-one is here, that’s for sure, but more than that…it smells like no-one was ever there in the first place.”
Marie gave me a quizzical look.
“No odor whatsoever.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, if you go to someone’s house, you’d expect it to smell like him or her, yes?”
“Yes.”
“That’s how it was last time we went here, everything smelled like Natasha, and was mixed with lots of other body odors.”
“Which wouldn’t be surprising.”
“No. What is surprising, is that now, I can’t smell any body odor at all.”
Marie sat there, in the middle of the living room, thinking heavily.
“Could someone have cleaned everything?” Marie had a very worried look now.
“No. I would smell the detergent, or the chemicals used.”
“Isn’t it just your nose being dysfunctional?”
“No, the lack of smell helped, my nose is fine now. The dishes, the badly closed garbage bag under the sink…every object smells what it should, but it’s like they were all handled by robots. Also, there is no dust anywhere.”
“Shit.” Marie swore.
“I’ll give you a free pass. I really hope Nat is okay. Call Illy, I’ll call King, we need some help here.”
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to call King? She has been pretty clear she didn’t want anything to do with us anymore.”
“That’s not exactly what she said, but yeah, I know what you mean. I think it’s necessary, though.”
“Ok.” She got her phone out of her pocket.
“Not here, we’re still technically breaking and entering.”
“Sure.”
We both left the flat, and Marie closed the broken door behind her.
“What’s the point in that?” I asked.
“Shh, I need to visualize the spell.”
I raised an eyebrow, then felt energy coming out of her core. The spell she used clicked in my head, even though I wasn’t touching her.
Magic that makes you feel you shouldn’t enter somewhere, I learned.
Something like a shimmery wall appeared in front of the entrance, then disappeared.
“Cool.” I honestly admired.
“You learned the spell, didn’t you?” She asked.
“Yup. I could also tell how much magic you have stored, it’s good, you’re being careful.”
“Thanks mom.” She raised her eyes up in the air.
“I would never dare take Ana’s position away from her.” I sternly answered.
“Dumbass.”
“Hey!”
“What? Dumbass is not a bad word.”
“Really? Since when?”
“Since you became one.”
“Fine, fine. Let’s leave and make our calls.” I reminded her.
Once outside the club, this was exactly what we did.
“King?”
“Gray.” The lieutenant’s voice had picked up after the third ring. It wasn’t very late, only 10PM, but that was quick. “I hope it’s important, but at the same time, I really hope you’re just prank calling me.” Behind her, I heard the sounds of an office.
“Unfortunately, I have something to ask of you.” I continued.
“Quickly then, I’m busy right now. Just don’t talk about your…well about that on the phone.”
“Why not?”
“Let’s say the U was involved with the NSA.”
“Oh. Okay. It’s not about that anyway. It’s about Marie’s friend, we believe she has disappeared.”
“Kiddo, call the police then.” She said, annoyed.
“She’s part of the U.”
“Oh. If she’s normal, I…”
“She’s a witch.” I cut her off.
“That’s…not optimal, but we can still help. You should call their people first, though.”
“Marie is doing this right as we speak.”
“Why not wait for their help? They are extremely good at cleaning up their own mess.”
“Because this specific witch is not liked by the coven much.”
I heard someone else speak behind King. “A second, chief.” Then: “Say that again?”
“I’m not sure the coven would help her.”
King didn’t say anything for a while. “Shit.” She finally exclaimed. I winced. “Natasha is Marie’s friend?” She continued.
“Yes. I don’t believe we ever told you about her.”
“No, I know about the Elder, remember? Obviously, I would know about his M consultant. Being employed by him is not something I would recommend.”
“Maybe, but she is just…”
“I know. I’ve met her before. She’s a nice gal. Tell you what, I’ll ask around. Wait for my call tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Lily.”
“I’m not doing it for you. It is my job.”
“You deserve even more thanks then, for doing your job conscientiously.”
“If you say so.”
And she hung up.
The street in front of the club was empty. A cold breeze passed through my hair. A few months ago, it would have made me shiver.
Marie was still talking on the phone, a few meters away from me, illuminated by the dimly lit streetlamp, coloring her in a yellowish haze.
“…yes…thank you Illy. No, I understand.” She quickly removed the single tear falling from her cheek and came towards me.
“She hasn’t heard from her either, she’ll help us, but she can’t ask the coven, Nat is not part of it.” Marie explained to me.
“You okay?”
“No. It’s getting too real, Gray. I’ve got a horrible feeling…”
I hugged her.
“I’m here. We’ll find her.”
She sniffed. “Yes, I know. I would just like it if we found her alive.”
“I…” I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“You can’t tell me she’ll be fine, can you?”
“No, I can’t promise you that.”
“If Alik did something to her…”
“Would you want me to kill him?”
She looked up at me. “Your eyes are not yellow.”
“No, but they could be.”
“I would never ask anyone to do such a thing. I’d want justice, not vengeance.”
“I had better luck with King.” I finally said to her.
“Oh? Really?”
“Seems like our favorite lieutenant knows Nat, and she’ll ask around to find her whereabouts.”
“That’s nice of her.”
“When I told her that, she basically told me it was her job and to shut up.” I smiled.
“That’s what a really good person would do.”
And now we would wait for her message.
It came the next day, during the end of the afternoon.
Marie hadn’t gone to her classes and was trying to think about something else by playing video games. As usual, Astarte was absent during daytime, but she shouldn’t be long now.
“Marie?” I walked to her.
“Yes!?” She paused her game immediately.
I sat down next to her on the couch.
“Look.” I gave her my phone.
On the message King sent me was written: “My contact says she’s fine. A special assignment from Elder A. Probably unavailable for a few weeks.”
This should have brought relief, but neither Marie nor I felt reassured.
“What about the apartment, then?” My girlfriend asked.
“I didn’t want to explain to the police officer we had broken in someone’s house.” I explained. “But what King’s contact told us doesn’t make sense with that, that’s for sure.”
“Illy told me about the wooden plank, it’s what would happen if a ward activates.”
“I know, you told me this morning already.”
“Sorry…it’s just…”
“Don’t apologize. Still, if they say she’s gone for a few weeks, it means they know where she is.”
Marie gave me a questioning look. “They could just be making an excuse up and have no idea either.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
“What are you thinking about?”
“Something dumb.”
“Gray…”
“If they took our friend, I’ll take her back.” I promised.
“I don’t know what your plan is, exactly, but I’ll help.” Marie exclaimed.
“Not this time, you’ll get in my way.”
“I can use magic!”
“Not well enough. And you can’t use wolfy invisibility powers.”
“She’s my friend!” Marie protested.
“And maybe she is just doing a special mission for Alik and needed her house to look weird for it to work. The vampire doesn’t have anything against you, just me. Let’s keep it that way.”
“You sound like your father when you talk like that.” She lashed out.
“… I know.” I answered calmly.
Marie had a pained look. “Sorry Gray. I didn’t want to…”
“No, I know you didn’t mean to hurt me. If the truth bothers me that much, it’s not your responsibility.”
“You’re thinking about others, it’s not the…”
“He does as well. As long as those others is me or my mother. Mostly him, though.”
“Being logical isn’t wrong.” Marie continued.
“I know.” I repeated. “And in this case, that’s what we need to be. Collected and pragmatic.”
“…Thank you for caring about my friend and trying to help her. But I don’t want you to be hurt.”
A childish voice echoed in the room. “Don’t worry. I’m almost certain that I’m the only one in North America who could do that.”
The short girl with the exterior appearance of a teenager, clothed in a private school uniform, was removing her shoes in the flat’s entrance.
“Arte!” Marie exclaimed. “When did you…?”
“Just now. Entered the flat. With keys. Slowly. You two okay?”
I hadn’t heard her at all, testimony to her skills.
“Hey Arte.” I said.
“Gray. You two in some trouble?” Astarte reformulated.
“No, not us. Marie’s friend.” I responded.
“The one who beats me in line?”
“…yes.” Marie answered.
“Too bad. Licky Licky doing his things again? I’ll let Gray handle it. If you transform though, send me pics.” The God-Child sat down on a chair next to the dinner table, and opened a plastic bag with…three kebabs inside. “What are you looking at? My turn for dinner this time, no?” She explained.
“You bought…kebabs?”
“Friend of mine came to school today, made those for me. Could never find the right amount of spices for those bad boys. I suspect he puts drugs inside, but he never told me his recipe.” She took a bite out of one of the kebabs. “Sit down and let’s eat. I’m famished, and I do have some news as well.” Astarte announced.
“I hope not as bad as my friend disappearing.” Marie went and sat next to Arte, who gave her the smallest of the three-aluminum covered Middle Eastern dish. It was still the size of her forearm.
I sat on the other side, and Astarte gave me the biggest one. “Smells delicious.” I noted.
“It is.” She answered arrogantly.
As I removed the aluminum sheet and bit inside the meaty oriental sandwich, I gave out a slight moan of pleasure. “Mother of Jesus, that’s exceptional.”
“Mhh.” Astarte responded. “Still, this friend of mine brought me unfortunate news, and I’ll need to leave for a week or two.”
“I see.” Marie subtly asked for more.
“An old acquaintance of mine has…need of me. She has apparently reached the end of her lifespan.”
There was a long silence at that declaration.
“Arte? What does that mean?” Marie asked.
“It means she went crazy, and that I’m the only one who can put her down.” The child’s voice went very dark and deep.
I bit in my kebab, not knowing what the right words were.
But Marie knew. “I’m so sorry Arte.”
“I’ve done it hundreds of time, you should worry about her.” She joked.
“No, I don’t think so. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to bury everyone you ever met.”
Arte stopped eating and looked at Marie for a few seconds. I couldn’t see her expression.
“Thank you.” She simply said. “I’ll be gone for a while. I need to go to China.”
“Ok.” I acknowledged.
“Call me if something happens.” She continued.
I had the feeling things were going to happen.
“I don’t think you’ve been called away by accident, Arte.” I felt the pull of a trance.
The God-Child finally looked straight at me, an animalistic smile on her face.
“No, me neither. This thing with your friend, just as I need to leave…But it does not matter. If they made Xiwangmu lose it just to make me go away, I shall not leave this act unanswered. Still, I have to go.”
“We understand.” Marie said. “Go help your friend. We’ll take care of things here. We shall call you only if we really must.”
“Oh, you can send me pictures of Wolf Gray as well, please.”
“…sure.”