MINERVA

WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE PLANNING?

She killed people, she made someone kill a human being and she just stood there, watching everything happening and she was now walking to the side stairs as if the entire world belonged to her.

I wanted to see more.

I can make you see more

Someone whispered behind my ear. Turning back I could see Nezha and Arsu opening the door and walking slowly downstairs.

‘’Wait’’I whispered. Nezha looked at me and I offered him four fast needles and a small dose of a drug rather than poison. I couldn’t say what I had done to him. ‘’I will stay here for…guarding’’I shook my head. ‘’If anyone comes I will’’

Nezha nodded and moved back to me as he embraced me tight.

‘’What is…’’ I whispered, feeling my hands cracking.

‘’I just want to say thank you.’’He muttered. I could feel his hands trembling around my skin. How scared he was? How was his mind working on that darkness with the drug near him?

I hugged him back tight. He was alright. He was alive. None else was gone.

‘’I will be fine’’I smiled. ‘’We will see the sun together remember?’’

Nezha’s eyes snapped wide as he made a wider grin.

As they were now far gone, I heard the voice once more. Did you keep the poison for yourself?

It was Ghost.

‘’How do you do that?’’I asked and then I could see his figure close to me. How could he be here?

‘’Are you ready?’’He asked me.

Ready for what?

‘’We have time.’’I insisted.

‘’Is it for revenge?’’He asked. I shook a no. I hated Stolas. But not of what he had done in the past. But the fact that there would be a possibility he would never stop and none would.

‘’Please’’I frowned.’’Just a little more time.’’

In the end, Ghost nodded.

‘’It is a gift Owl’’He said but now his voice sounded less intimidating but..gentle.

I hesitated before taking his gloved hand and walking outside without anyone completely ignoring us. Even Ao Bing was looking at us and walked upstairs ignoring us completely.

‘’What did you do?’’I whispered to Ghost.

He did not speak. And after two seconds I realized.

I held my screaming. ‘’You are a warl-’’ I tried to say but Ghost’s hand covered my mouth.

‘’Alright Owl let’s go find Judge’’ He replied with a pat on my shoulders.

I could see the old man’s body still at the table while a few people tried to carry him far from the room. The man who looked at us gently as if we were actual humans was nothing. And nothing more than dead.

Moving closer to Stolas’ office Ao Bing opened the door and Ghost held it for me and him to enter.

I could see the skinny man now smiling as he was sitting on the velvet chair in front of Mara who was counting the three men and Ao Bing stood and yet she looked at my side. No. It felt as if she could see me. See right through the warlock’s incantation.

‘’Is everything alright?’’ Stolas asked her.

Mara nodded and turned back.

‘’I think that you two know each other.’’He said, showing with his index finger Ao Bing.

‘’Yes,’’ He forced a smile. ‘’I helped…’’

‘’He put this collar on me’’Mara interrupted, showing the leather.

Ao Bing’s face became tense. ‘’I was following orders.’’

Mara did not speak.

‘’I taught her how to fight’’He said after with a stutter, holding on his face a fake grin.

‘’Is she good?’’Stolas asked.

Ao Bing did not answer.

Stolas laughed and his curious eyes drew even deeper to Mara’s face.

‘’Cut her collar’’He commanded Ao Bing. ‘’She won’t need it anymore.’’

Ao Bing gasped and drew a knife from his pocket and slowly cut off the leather, making Mara breathe normally. But before backing away, he whispered something to her. Something that I could understand by only reading his lips. ‘’Was that what you wanted from the start?’’

‘’It’s funny isn’t it?’’ Stolas grinned.’’They put collars that can be cut so easily, so fragile, and yet people are still wearing them.’’

Mara’s shoulders rose.

‘’Same with contracts. In such a vulgar place, they are still obeying diplomacy politics.’’His eyes fell on his papers and then back to the girl.

‘’Do you know the reason?’’

Mara lifted her head.

‘’Fear.’’ She answered.

‘’Of what?’’He asked once more.

But Mara stayed silent.

‘’Now, we can talk like two free people’’ Stolas leaned back to his chair.’’I assume you have questions. But it’s no good if you did not answer first.’’

‘’Of people like you’’She answered.

His brow arched. And he smiled.

‘’What will happen if they find out I am free? What if someone tried to take me away? What if I die without protection?’’ She started asking questions where they were not answered. Questions that everyone was thinking about.

‘’Collars, contracts are a trick. The real prison in this area is fear.’’

Stolas scoffed with amusement.

‘’Thank you Miss Mara.’’He whispered.’’Now you can start your questions.’’

Mara nodded and drew her hand to her pocket. Everyone let out their guns at her. Stolas halted them, letting Mara move her hand out, exposing a red stone. Just like what we found on Typhon’s body, just like…When did everyone start wearing red? Was it in the district? At one of Azzizos’ bracelets that he used to have? Or when Nezha was returning with rub…Shit.

I could hear Ghost gasping.

‘’Oh, you figured it out.’’His big amber eyes lit up with excitement.

‘’This is your drug. You are selling jewels, turning them to dust so they could go to makeup, to food…’’

His eyes moved to Ao Bing. ‘’You did not tell me she was smart too?’’

Ao Bing shrugged.

‘’She is but the fact she knows it makes her think she is unstoppable.’’

‘’Is she?’’ Stolas now asked Mara.

Her eyes narrowed. ‘’Who knows?’’She asked with a smile.

‘’And how did you figure it out?’’ Stolas fingers pressed to one another. ‘’I need to know how to fix my business. I cannot have such obvious things.’’

Mara’s lips parted, unsure how to speak.

‘’I am a con artist sir’’She lied with a grin. ‘’I cannot tell all of my secrets.’’

The only thing that she was not was a con artist. Annoying, a thief always causes trouble in messy, terrible drawers… But con artist?

Even Ao Bing was holding a laugh.

Stolas stood up from his seat and walked closer to her.

‘’Do you have secrets?’’His eyes fell on her scar.

I could feel Ghost’s grip becoming tighter.

‘’Everyone has secrets, sir,’’ Mara replied. ‘’Even Spectres.’’

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The left angle of Stolas' mouth curved to a grin.

‘’You caught my interest.’’He winced. ‘’And that doesn’t happen often with human beings’’

Mara searched around the room and so did I. Now, I could see that there was a vase a white normal vase with white and red roots growing from it as if there was a device, showing a bright white light to them.

‘’Daffodils’’ Mara’s lips parted with amusement.

‘’You know about them?’’ Stolas gasped amused.

‘’Mammon, gave me a book to read.’’She said, playing with her sleeves.

Stolas nodded. ‘’I tried to find a way to make them survive here, you see.‘’He walked closer to the vase and noticed that some of them were darker, looking older than the rest

‘’But not all of them survive ‘’He closed his eyes. Mara frowned.

‘’It is because of the poison’’She said and stood up to walk near him with no guard or Ao Bing to interfere.

‘’Poison?’’

‘’Daffodils are pretty, I will agree to it’’She lowered her body and caressed one of the most ruined daffodils.

‘’But they contain poison that can hurt people. And even their kind. Until the strongest one survives’’That makes her voice lower, showing a sharp amount of pain.

‘’Did the book say that too?’’ Stolas asked with more interest.

Mara nodded.

He jerked his head as he kept that smile. ‘’Did the teacher from that school tell you what it was written?’’

I held my breath as I saw Mara’s hands flicker as she turned on grinning Stolas.

‘’I paid a visit no long ago after I heard that dear old Mammon had a daughter…’’

What?

‘’And when I asked about you there, none spoke, everyone lied even the students and that sweet beautiful teacher’’He let out a pathetic sight.’’And when I asked Mammon about you, I decided to ..press some buttons.’’His finger reached for her face and I tried to take a step closer before Ghost pulled me closer to him.

‘’Name your price for her.’’He spat.’’What do you think that he said?’’

Mara frowned.’’He is my father, he would never -’’

‘’He said that he would cut my hand’’He laughed.’’As if I need them anymore…but this’’His eyes opened wider than it could be humanly possible.’’All this father-daughter connection you have, I did not see it in him…I saw only hate…’’

Mara remained silent as Stolas now backed away while he clapped his hands.’’That was it, that was the gaze of his’’He laughed.’’’Oh, you mimic him so well, it’s amusing’’

How could she stay so silent at that moment? I knew that she wanted to snap and yet she stayed silent. Like she was a soldier.

‘’You can detect lies’’He moving all around her, conquering every part of her like an owl trying to catch its prey.’’How about to tell you two lies and one truth?’’

The girl’s brow married heavily.

Stola grinned.’’I was twenty-five when I got kicked from Aztlan because I found…more peculiar ways to enjoy myself with my machines.’’He took a deep breath.’’I had a wife before, she passed from a broken heart’’

Mara’s brow arched.

‘’And, I know who and why burnt that old pity excuse of a school back then.’’

Mara’s eyes snapped as she looked down.’’Everything that you said was a lie.’’

Stolas’ smile faded instantly as he was now wearing an expression of shock.

‘’You were twenty-six when the army tried to after you because of trafficking drugs with your machines to your employers’’She explained.’’They found out because your wife ratted you out. After that, you killed her yourself.’’Mara slowly touched her neck. ‘’And you know that Mammon did it. But you do not know why’’

Stolas stayed silent before clapping his hands like a form of applause.’’Ao Bing, how could you and Mammon hide her from me? She is remarkable.’’’

‘’Now can you tell me the reason why?’’Stolas asked Mara.

The girl took one deep breath.’’It was a lesson from him to me.’’There was no emotion in those words.’’That is what happens when you get close’’Her tone was exactly like Mammon’s. As if it was actually him talking. Something that made my stomach tight like a knot.

Stolas replied with a slight grin on his face.’’Come with me, Miss Mara.’’ And he has begun walking away from the room

Ao Bing narrowed and tried to look away.

Unlike the rest of his guards, Ao Bing walked in a different direction. Downstairs. Where Nezha and Arsu were. Panic planted in my head but I could not do anything at that moment. I needed to see more.

I could still feel Ghost’ tight grip around my skin as we followed Stolas who was talking to Mara about how he created the place.

‘’Are you alright?’’ I asked with a frown to Ghost.

He relaxed his grip.

‘’We changed the deal.’’He whispered into my ear. ‘’You will have to let me take the stones.’’

‘’The drugs?’’ I asked and I realized that we now walked in a completely different direction from the entrance and Stolas opened another door, letting yellow light burn to the room.

‘’I was always intrigued by science ‘’He said walking around the floor with an entire floor being down below and hidden from a thick wall of glass.’’But the area of science and nobility were not ready for my ideas, for my image.’’

I kept looking away.’’When I tried to show them my way, they disagreed. So..I had to’’He opened his fingers wide.’’Make people agree with me. ‘’

Mara stopped walking. Stolas turned on her.

‘’Here it worked better. People are afraid when threats are becoming real don’t they?’’

I gritted my teeth.

‘’Was there a girl with you…’’He pouted.’’The one special on poison I think I have met her before…’’ His fingers tapped his chin. ‘’Oh, maybe I ordered once to take her family down, lovely screams the woman, the man did not seem to put on a fight.’’

Rage started rising in my blood but it was too late with Ghost whispering to me to calm down.

Mara shrugged and kept moving.

‘’That’s how you killed my ment didn’t you? With her poison?’’

Mara nodded.’’Spiders.’’

Did she use my spiders? My spiders? But how could they do such damage to them?

And then there was a sound. No. There was a loud mechanical sound coming from the ground, making Mara’s body tremble. The entire room was trembling meaning the noise from the floor was loud enough to make the entire glass break.

‘’Are you alright Miss Mara?’’Stolas asked.

She nodded and kept her steps calm and slow.

‘’Tell me something Mara’’Stolas kept talking. ‘’What does Mammon offer you to work for him?’’

Offer?

Mara stopped walking.

‘’You told me, Ao Bing showed me that you have no contract. You could run but you still worked for him’’Her hand moved to her neck and kept her silent.

‘’Tell me now, what does he offer you so I can double it.’’

‘’Excuse me?’’Mara panted.

‘’I told you, I have an interest in you.’’Stolas kept walking, moving closer to the edge of the wooden bars. How easy could it be to push him? How easy could it be for him to end up like the old man?

‘’And I want to make a deal with you. Not buy you.’’

Her eyes opened wide.

‘’You know that I am not lying.’’

‘’And what about the others?’’ Mara asked slowly, moving to the left near him.

Stolas tilted his head to the right and fixed his messy brown hair.

‘’Did you plan to take them too? To work for you on their free will?’’

His eyes lit.

‘’You care about them.’’

Mara turned away from his gaze. And then back. ‘’Everything you said to me is honesty. And honesty hides secrets.’’She explained to him.

Stolas’ lips pressed each other making a thin line and popped them.

‘’Come here,’’ He jerked his head.

Mara did not hesitate and walked to his side, hands still behind her back, now crossed.

The Ghost kept walking with me on his side and then I heard Mara gasping with her eyes darting and her fingers now claiming to her braid, to her jewel.

Looking in front, I wanted to scream.

‘’You see an earthquake happened a while ago, so strong to my residence, breaking a small hole in the ground,’’ Stolas explained

But that hole was now twenty feet wide and countless feet deep in the color of crimson rocks glowing from beneath. And there it was. There were men with tattoos, and owl tattoos who were using machines to take the crystals from the deep and then climbing with ropes to get them inside wagons.

‘’Shit’’Mara whispered and tried to cover her ears.

‘’At first, I thought that it was a ruby mine.’’Stolas kept explaining. ‘’But when I started selling necklaces, I could see the effect. ‘’

Mara shook her head shakily.

‘’It took me a few months to realize that it was a powerful drug. You cannot smell it, you cannot feel it in your system.’’

‘’Because there is no drug’’ Mara interrupted him with a pant.

Stolas arched his brow, watching her step away from the bar, and faced him with disbelief. ‘’You are messing with pure incantation.’’ Nails dug on her palms.''This is Spirit blood.''

Spirit blood? My heart dropped. The one that the warlocks stole, the one that could give incantation to anyone? That was what he was selling?

Stolas’ lips twitched. ‘’And how do you know that little con artist?’’