“Alright, I’m ready.” I straightened my back and slipped the invite out from my pocket. I really wasn’t ready. I still wasn’t a fan of this idea and now I was even more paranoid with the Black Mark chasing after me. I briefly thought about what it might look like if I just turned around and made a run for it, but against my better judgement I decided to stay put.
My heart started racing faster than a police officer stampeding to the breakroom to snatch a fresh batch of donuts. There were two couples ahead of us waiting to check in. I craned my neck around them to see a tall meathead of a security guy validating the invite with a magic scanner, then saying the magic word to set it up in flames.
I was having my doubts, realizing I was putting my entire life on the line for these mysterious people I had known for all of an entire week. They had pinned me in a corner. With nowhere to go in a city— no, entire country—that wanted me dead, what was I going to do? Find a deserted island somewhere and seclude myself from mankind the rest of my life? I couldn’t live with myself knowing I would die branded a murder. I had to do something about it to clear my name. Despite the fact I knew they were using me, maybe I could find a way to turn the tables and use them.
A sharp nudge jabbed the back of my arm. Lizzy nodded her head toward the giant positioned in front of the doorway, holding out his hand to take the invite. He stood there like a stone statue, feet firmly planted on the floor with a chiseled face void of any expression. I envied his perfectly fitted expensive black suit, but not his receding hairline.
The statue finally moved, waving the scanner in his hand over the invite as it beeped to indicate the presence of magic. Unfortunately, he didn’t seem satisfied. His eyes ping ponged back and forth between me and the piece of paper in his hand. He then touched a finger to his earpiece, its wire coiling on top his shoulder and disappearing down the back of his shirt.
“Check, please,” he said in a deep, firm voice. I somehow didn’t think he was asking for a restaurant bill.
“Lizzy,” I whispered nervously.
“I know,” she answered, making a fist with her hand ready to conjure a dagger and take down the whole auditorium like the crazy madwoman she was. At least I assumed she was from my brief time with her.
The guard waved over another black suited man, but this one was not as intimidating. The gauntly older gentleman had wispy white hair and wrinkles like a bulldog. He pressed the invite to the tip of his hooked nose and adjusted his glasses to examine it.
“Hmm…” He investigated the invite up and down, running his boney fingers over the ink, bending the thick textured cardstock, and thoroughly inspected both me and my plus one.
“This doesn’t feel like the same paper I used to print the invites.”
My hands started shaking and I clenched them into clammy fists ready to take out the old guy. I’d leave the beast to Lizzy. My chivalry ended at opening doors, not beating up security guards twice my size.
I didn’t realize I had started breathing erratically. I needed to get myself under control, or they’d no doubt know something was up. I knew from interrogating witnesses that avoiding eye contact was a sign of lying and nervousness, so I could think of nothing else to do but lock my eyes on the old man as he contemplated his verdict.
“Smile,” a voice crackled in my ear. For a moment, I thought the voice in my head was talking to me until I realized it was Eli, listening and seeing everything that was going on. I shot the old man a crooked grin. With my best evil villain stare, I played into my newly given title as the Obsession Killer, reminding him that I was a psychopathic murderer who wouldn’t think twice about killing anyone that gets in my way. He didn’t need to know that the guard could take me down with one punch.
“But it’s legit! Must be my old age getting to me. Let him pass.”
The guard nodded, reclaiming the invite from the old man who scurried off to hide.
“Ignis.” The invite held by the security guard spontaneously combusted into flames, pieces of ash floating to the ground like feathery white snow. Once it completely disappeared, the guard swept his arm out toward the lobby, gesturing for us to proceed.
I relaxed my muscles and moved out of the way. “Phew, that was close. Out of all the things that could have gone wrong with that invite, we used the wrong paper.” We continued into the lobby, the inside living up to expectations with its marble floors and crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. About a dozen well-dressed couples fluttered around the entrance, admiring the portraits of notable figures dominating the walls displayed in oversized antique golden frames. I wasn’t exactly sure where to go or what we should be doing, so I let Lizzy lead the way.
The lobby opened up into a spacious hallway that ran straight along the side of the entire building. I noted exactly where the bar was, and we meandered into the main auditorium. Upon entering, the auctioneer was announcing the next item: a book bound in brown leather, cracked and dry with age, described as the lost manuscript of some famous author I’d never heard of before. I lit up my phone to check the time and noticed we were about a half hour late.
“There’s the auctioneer,” I whispered into Lizzy’s ear, leaning over her shoulder.
“No shit.” She shifted herself away from my unwelcome presence.
The place was packed. We found seats in the back of the auditorium near the aisle to keep an eye on anyone coming and going. The floor sloped downward toward the stage, allowing us to easily keep watch on our surroundings. Bidders raised their numbered cards as the auctioneer kept shouting out ridiculous numbers. I didn’t have the full list of criminal targets committed to memory like Lizzy had, but nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
“This is boring. I’m going to get a drink.” I rose from my seat and shuffled around Lizzy to the aisle, on my own mission to take full advantage of the fully stocked bar in the lobby.
“Gin and tonic,” I requested when the bartender asked for my order. I guess one perk of being associated with a criminal organization was the free drinks, although I felt like a prude having no money to tip.
A full mouthful of the fizzy drink produced a satisfying burn in the back of my throat as I gulped it down. I closed my eyes and relished in all its glory. When I opened them, I caught a glimpse of a suspicious man with speckled gray hair darting his eyes wildly around the hallway and heading for the basement staircase. Although he donned a suit and tie tonight, his white gloved hands were unmistakable. Nolan was here.
Chapter 12
T he mission tonight didn’t favor my agenda, but then I reminded myself I didn’t care what their mission was. Mine was to go after this son of a bitch and bring him to justice.
Get him. See? Even the voice in my head wanted me to do it. Finally, something we agreed on. Wait, should I be agreeing with the voice in my head? Nothing good had yet to happen from listening to it.
Let’s get this jackass. I provoked him silently, careful not to say anything out loud. I knew Eli was still listening and something told me he wasn’t going to be too thrilled with what I was about to do. Actually, I was more terrified of Blair’s reaction.
I chugged down my drink, tilting my head back making sure not a single drop went to waste, and then threw the fancy plastic cup into the garbage. When I turned around, I tripped over the tip of my oversized shoe, my face falling forward and planting firmly into something soft and bouncy.
“If you want to touch, all you have to do is ask.” The middle-aged woman’s voice was smoother than a twenty-year aged bourbon. She was a full head taller than me in her five inch heels, licking her charcoal painted lips like a hungry wolf getting ready to feast on her recent kill.
I stood there frozen, unsure of what to say or do. She pretentiously flipped her long raven hair behind her, drawing attention to her pillowy breasts I had just face planted into, and I couldn’t help but notice a black tattoo flash quickly on her olive skin in the shape of a sniper’s crosshair. The hair raised on my neck. This couldn’t be go
od.
“Oh, no, uh, I didn’t mean to—” I lifted my heels to peer over her shoulder, watching Nolan as he fumbled with the door lever. With those spelled magic gloves, I was sure he could break it open rather easily. I didn’t have time to make small talk with this woman.
A third voice joined the conversation. “Adrian, play nice. Lizzy is—” I nervously scratched my ear, trying to shut up the other annoying voice in my head. A three way conversation was difficult enough. I didn’t need to add a fourth.
“Well, that’s too bad.” She pouted at my rejection, then lifted her sultry black eyes to explore every inch of me from head to toe. “Hmm...I do believe I know you.” She moved gracefully like a bird effortlessly soaring in mid-air, the feathers on her black gown gliding with every subtle movement she made. She gently frisked a curl on my forehead, admiring the scar forming right above my left eyebrow.
“Heh. I get that a lot. Got one of those faces, you know?” A nervous smile wrinkled my face, and I turned to sidestep around her. My head jerked forward when a firm grip caught hold of my shirt collar.
“Where are you off to so quickly? You must entertain me for a while.” I held still as best I could, her long black nails like claws digging into the back of my neck. I didn’t want to yank myself away, but I didn’t want to stick around for the conversation either.
She wagged her finger in my face. “Ah! I remember now. You’re that delicious man on TV they call the Obsession Killer!” She raised her voice, making sure everyone nearby knew exactly who she was talking to. People stopped in their tracks, gasping and drawing their widened eyes in curiosity to catch a glimpse at the elusive Obsession Killer. What kind of monster had the media turned me into?
“You must be mistaking me for someone else.” She dropped the hold on my shirt and I rubbed the nape of my neck to settle the burning pain from her fierce grip.
“No. I do not mistake such handsome men. My boss informed everyone here to be on the lookout for you. He wants you. But I think I want you more. I’m not ready to give you up just yet.” She stroked my cheek with her icy fingers, discreetly eyeing around us for anyone who may be spying, then lowered her voice to conceal what she was about to say. “Who are you working for? I’d love to have such a...motivated man...on my side.”
“I don’t work for anyone but myself. Not interested.” I waved a dismissive hand and scampered around her before she had a chance to ask me any more questions.
“Before you go…” She reached inside her gown, slipping out a business card stored between the crease of her breasts. “If you change your mind...about anything...do come find me, will you? Ask for Raven.” She winked, and I was on my way to chase after Nolan, shoving the card in my pocket so as to not offend her.
I hurried to the stairwell door slowly inching shut and shoved my hand in between to stop it just in case it locked again.
“Adrian, what are you doing?” Eli could still see and hear everything going on. Then the explosive voice of a fuming Blair shattered my eardrums.
“Stop now! Stick to the—” So naturally, I removed the earpiece and stomped on it with the tip of my worn out dress shoe, then ripped the ridiculous bowtie off my collar, dumping it into the trash as I passed by a bathroom.
Where did he go? I wondered. The most obvious place was the vault, so I pivoted to the right ready to sprint as fast as I could to catch up when something caused me to stop in my tracks.
Left. The voice corrected. I paused for a moment, unsure whether to follow the request. What was left? We hadn’t gone that way during the tour, but as far as I was concerned it was just a bunch of boring offices that were off limits to the public. I made the assumption off limits was usually for a good reason, so I nodded to myself in agreement and I did a complete one-eighty, bolting off in the other direction.
Somehow, the voice guided me to the end of a hallway, avoiding guards, where I hear Nolan speaking to someone around the corner. Every part of me wanted to barge in and attack. I had to remind myself I had no weapons and taking on two people, one of which I knew was dangerous, was a guaranteed way to get myself killed. Thanks to my spontaneous outburst earlier, I no longer had any form of communication. It was just me and the voice in my head.
Hey voice. What do I do now? There was a long period of silence as I hoped he was coming up with a plan and not trying to set me up for an execution.
Wait.
Wait? Are you serious? I’m a sitting duck here. Guards are everywhere. Someone’s going to find me eventually and blow my cover.
Wait! It scolded so loud the inside of my brain felt like it was going to explode. So I canvassed the area looking for cover. I quietly jiggled a few office doors, hoping one might be unlocked. The last one clicked open as I pushed the lever to reveal the janitor’s closet. Bingo! I was in business.
I sifted through the shelves of chemicals and other cleaning supplies that filled the small space. My fun loving co-workers had “accidentally” locked me in a supply closet once. I had hours to tinker with everything in it, fantasizing about my revenge.
After pouring some bleach into a spray bottle, I started searching for a weapon to fight with. I sighed, unscrewing the wooden pole from the mop. Nolan could snap this in half with his pinky finger but it would have to do. The janitor didn’t exactly keep an arsenal of guns in his supply closet.
The door creaked open, and the barrel of a gun slipped through the crack.
“Who’s in there?” Panic made my heart jump. A guard must have noticed the door was open. With my back pressed against the wall, I firmly tightened my fingers around the spray bottle and waited. A hand appeared, then an arm came through, and finally a face.
I furiously sprayed the bleach into his eyes, unloading the liquid in quick, successive pumps. A savage outcry of pain fled the man’s mouth. The gun crashed against the tiled floor as he flailed about, sending mops, brooms, and bottles of cleaning solution tumbling from their shelves. So much for waiting.
While he clutched his burning eyes, I rammed the wooden pole into his gut. He dropped to the ground like a twitching fly, rolling around and searching for the exit. I kicked him with my pointed black Oxfords for good measure, wishing it was Nolan lying there instead.
With my cover now blown, I picked up his gun and rounded the corner to see Nolan with the auctioneer standing next to him. But...the auctioneer should still be upstairs right now. That meant...a shifter! Eli had mentioned if they were attempting to break into the vault, they might need a shifter to bypass the eye scan.
I leveled the gun directly at Nolan, ignoring the shifter next to him. Thoughts of revenge and punishment ignited the monster in me. My vision flashed red, the fire inside boiling my blood and pumping it through my veins to my rapidly pulsing heart. There was no stopping me now.
With a smirk on his face, Nolan made the first move lunging toward me. And then I made the second, squeezing the trigger aiming directly for his head.
Chapter 13
I let out a ferocious battle cry, repeatedly squeezing the trigger directly at Nolan’s temple. And repeatedly nothing happened. The empty gun just clicked as I kept hopeful something might shoot out. Just when I was about to throw it at him instead, I noticed the word inscribed on the bottom of the magazine. This was no ordinary gun. It was magic powered, and none other than the MP-Vanquisher. It made sense that if police would soon have access to it, then it would also be assessable on the black market as well.
“Viribus!” Nolan appeared like a blurry whirlwind in front of me, thrusting his fist square into my chest, the strength of the magic gloves propelling me down the hallway. The concrete wall halted my momentum, the impact crushing my body like a pancake against it.
Get him!
“I know, I’m trying.” I stumbled to my feet, feeling for the words inscribed on the gun while my blurred vision slowly recovered.
The imposter auctioneer was staring into the eyes of a portrait on the wall. Within a second, part of the hallway opened
up, revealing another secret vault. I should have known. The other was probably used as a decoy, set up as a trap.
“Apsilio!” Instead of tiny needles of magic energy shooting out like porcupine quills, a sonic blast exploded from the gun rippling down the hallway faster than any speeding bullet. Doors rattled, pictures crashed to the floor, and lights on the walls flickered, then shattered into microscopic shards of glass. Nolan and the auctioneer leaped into the vault, narrowly evading the oncoming tidal wave of energy. I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to do that, but at least it was effective.
Adrenaline blazed through my body. They were trapped in that vault with no way out. I dashed to the opening only to be stopped by Nolan blocking my way in.
Wait.
Wait or go after him? Make up your damn mind!
I needed to buy some time, although I had no idea what for. “What are you doing here, Nolan?” His name felt like poison on my tongue. I stared into his betraying eyes, one still a little black and blue from the punch I had given him last time we met. His face was still marred with remnants of cuts and bruises. He had lost the crutches, but still seemed to favor his left leg where I shot him.
“Well, hello to you too, my friend. Glad to see you’re doing well. As you can see, I’m here with the auctioneer because I’m very interested in a particular magic item they’re selling off tonight. He was so kind as to let me inspect it beforehand.”
His cotton candy words were nothing but fluff. He knew I wasn’t buying it, but that’s how this was going to play out. If someone saw me now, they’d see the Obsession Killer striking again, mowing down two innocent people in his way to get what he wants. The fact we were literally in a vault full of illegal magic items meant nothing. I’m sure Nolan had a backup plan for that.
Every muscle in my body wanted to pull that trigger, but I needed him alive if I ever wanted to clear my name. I was the one trapped, not him. And a smug grin emerged on his face when he realized I knew nothing could be done about it.
How to Hunt a Menacing Magical Shadow Page 9