#and i like to think this is because her warlock patron keeps slapping her on the wrist and going 'NO'

[ammoniteflesh]

Hey. Hey. Look at my Durge gal. She is tiny and stabby. Look At Her.

[video-killed-the-radio-host]

Heartbeats on the Airwaves chapter 8

So just a forewarning. I intended this to be a good chapter but I accidently made it angst. Oops. Well you meet two new characters and get a peak into Cecil's past just a tiny bit.

For the amazing @acealex-blueiguana

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Carlos didn’t sleep much that night. He couldn’t. He stayed awake, watching Cecil sleep beside him. He knew Cecil was a vivid dreamer. Carlos had found that out when he woke up with a pale arm across his face that wasn’t his and Cecil was mumbling French beside him. It made for an interesting first morning after.

Now, Cecil was curled up on his side, arms wrapped tightly around himself. Carlos lays beside him, entwining their fingers together. He made a vow to himself to keep Cecil safe, even if it killed him.

The pull of sleep finally won at three thirty and Carlos gave in. His sleep was light and dreamless, but he did wake up when Cecil shoved him off the bed. He hit the ground with a thud before jerking awake. He sits up, rubbing his head. “Cecil?”

He peeks up over the edge of the bed to find Cecil sitting with the blanket draped over his head and sporting a sheepish smile. “Good morning. Why are you on the floor?”

Carlos raises an eyebrow and stands, stretching and making his joints pop. “Yes. I do wonder why that is.” He says, shaking his head with a smile and sitting on the edge of the bed. He leans over and goes for a kiss but stops halfway, not wanting to scare him again after last night.

Cecil lets out a giggle and leans over, meeting their lips together. He presses against Carlos with a hum as he leans his head back with a giggle. Carlos wraps his arms around the small of Cecil’s back and kisses him once more.

“Hello there.”

“Hello Carooos.” Cecil drawls in a way drove Carlos crazy.

Carlos groans, rolling his head back. “Cecil, if you keep talking like that, I’m going to be late for work.”

“Doctors are never on time anyway. At least not in my experience.” Cecil muses with a smirk. He stretches, arching his back like a cat.

“Now that’s just rude.” Carlos scolds, smacking Cecil’s back playfully.

“Rude but not untrue. My job is to report on the truth, is it not?” Cecil purrs. He leans his head to the side, making his tangled hair fall to side. “I’ve been told I’m very good with my mouth.”

“I see.” Carlos hummed before rolling them over. Cecil yelps in surprise, falling flat against the bed. The blanket hits the floor with a rustle of fabric. Carlos just chuckles. “You should wear my clothes more often. They look good on you.”

He is referring to the red flannel Cecil had slept in. It hung a little on Cecil’s smaller frame but looked amazing in Carlos’ opinion.

“If I did that, you’d be tripping over yourself all day and getting nothing done.” Cecil points out.

“Maybe so.” Carlos agrees, leaning down and kissing him deeply. His eyes close as he feels Cecil reach up and bury his fingers in the mess of dark curls. Carlos lets out a moan as Cecil’s hand slips from his hair to tighten in the fabric of his shirt. Carlos breaks the kiss but doesn’t pulls away. “Ceec, I have to get ready for work.”

Cecil tightens his hold. “Shower at work.” He protests. “You’re warm and I’m cold.” He moved his free hand down and stuck it under Carlos’ shirt. “I don’t want you to go yet.”

Carlos’ eyes go wide. “Holy shit!”

“I told you.”

Carlos squints down at his lover and smirks before sitting up and reaching for his glasses. “I have something for you.”

“Oh?” Cecil propped himself up on his elbow, reaching for his own glasses.

“I know that your ring is…. missing. So, I found my class ring. It needs resized and I know it’s not much but until I can get another one, I was thinking- “

“Carlos?”

“-this one. “Carlos stops talking and looks up. “Yes?”

“I would love to wear your class ring.”

“Well then, in that case, Cecil Gershwin Palmer, will you marry me?”

“My answer was and still is yes.” Cecil beams, taking ahold of Carlos’ shirt once more and pulling him close. He kisses him deeply, nipping at his bottom lip. Carlos takes the cue and opens his mouth, He lets out a soft sigh as he feels Cecil’s tongue slip past his lips. Carlos pulls Cecil onto his lap and rolls his hips up once before breaking the kiss. “Cecil, I really have to go or I’m going to be late.”

Cecil wines, hugging him tightly.

Carlos chuckles softly. “I mean it this time. I have to go.”

“But- “

“I promise I’ll make it up to you tonight.”

Cecil huffs and climbs off of Carlos’s lap.

“I love you.” Carlos kisses his cheek.

“Oh, I’m sure.” But Cecil cracked a smile.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes sir.” Carlos smiles and kiss Cecil one last time, on the cheek before changing quickly and heading to work.

-----.-----

‘The club is busy tonight’ he thinks, making his way down from the stage after his set. He looks around the crowded floor. He looks for his usual. It was Friday, meaning he would get paid well tonight. He gets flagged down and smiles. So, the night begins.

He saunters over to the man sitting in the dark corner. He knew exactly what the man was doing. Adding the air of mystery.

“Hello their Kitten. How may I satisfy you tonight?” He purrs, dropping gracefully onto the seat beside the man in the shadows.

“Come now, Sunshine, you know exactly what I want. My tastes haven’t changed.” Said a voice that made his blood run cold.

“What are you doing here?” He demands. He tries to get up, but he is held down by the man’s arm.

“I’m just a paying customer here for the services offered.” The man drawled. “And you remember the last time you tried to refuse a service?” He ran his finger along the scar that peeked out from under the short yellow shorts. The stripper shudders and lets out a soft whimper.

“I see you do remember.” The man pulls his hand away. “Shall we?”

He nods and stands on shaky legs. He forces himself to slip back into the persona of Sunshine, the always happy, always smiling stripper. He was known for his good mood. If he does as is expected of him, he would be safe.

“Of course, Kitten. Right this way.” Sunshine drawled, extending a hand and forcing himself to meet the man’s eyes.

Those eyes were burned into Sunshine’s memory. They were a steal grey and paired with the platinum hair, he looked like an ice warlock. Sunshine lead him to a backroom. Once in the room, Sunshine drops the man’s hand and closes the door.

“Since you are a repeat, you know the rules. Three songs in an order, sixty dollars a pop. No touching below the waist.”

“Of course, sugar.”

Sunshine flips on the stereo and begins his dance. The first dance didn’t involve any touching at all, just Sunshine rolls his hips, circling the pole in the middle of the room. He slides down, easily dropping into the splits before picking himself back up. He circles the pole once more before the slow sensual beat drops. Hooking one leg around the pole, he pulls himself up, hanging upside down for a minute. The dance was full of twists and flips and spins. The glitter in Sunshine’s hair got everywhere but he didn’t care. When the song finally ends, Sunshine carefully climbs down from the pole and crosses the room to take a drink before the next song. Setting down the bottle of water, Sunshine stalks across the room and stands in front of the man. He climbs onto the man’s lap with an anxious feeling in his stomach.

“Remember the rules.”

“Of course, darling.” He purrs as Sunshine begins to move to the beat of the song.

Sunshine fought the urge to roll his eyes as he grinds his hips down, the forced smile plastered on his face. The man brings his hands up, resting them on the clef of Sunshine’s ass. Sunshine stops abruptly. “Above the waist.” He growls, taking ahold of the man’s arms and moving them off his body.

“Oh, my mistake.” The man purrs, putting his hand on the small of Sunshine’s back, pushing the boundaries as far as he could.

“I’m sure. “Sunshine retorts, keeping his tone light but his words dripped with venom.

“I get the feeling you don’t like me much.”

“Gee I wonder why that is? Maybe it’s because you hurt my brother.”

“Speaking of him, I saw him the other day. Got this pretty little gem off of him.” The man pulls a chain from under his shirt. On the chain was an elegant and very old silver ring. Sunshine recognized the band instantly. He stops moving again and tries to climb off but is held in place by the man’s tight grip. “The song isn’t over, Sunspot.”

“Sunshine. Now let me go!” Sunshine begins to squirm in the hold, desperate to get free. “That does not belong to you.”

“I will get my money’s worth you whore.”

Before he knew what was happening, Sunshine brought his hand back and slapped him. It was loud and surprised even Sunshine himself. He shrinks back the best he could.

“I’m-I’m so sorry.” His eyes are wide, and he starts to shake with fear. One of the biggest rules was to not strike the patrons under any circumstances.

“You bitch!” The man growls. He backhands Sunshine, making the dancer cry out and fall onto the floor. He tries to get up but is kicked back down. He brings his arms up to protect his face but that leaves his torso vulnerable. He is kicked in the chest twice before he hears a pocket knife flipping open. Sunshine felt true fear for the first time in two years. He closes his eyes and waits for the cut that ended his life. He felt the cold metal on his arm and then there was pain. It was down his arm. Then he was kicked in the face again. He felt a crack and cried out in pain. He was bleeding from both his arm and his nose. He hears the dull click of metal and then retreating footsteps. He doesn’t react. Just closes his eyes and embraces the blackness.

The next hour or so passed in a blur. Sunshine had woken to find the money he was owed and the ring next to him. He gathered them up and made his way to the hospital. The nurse at the desk asked for his name and without thinking, he told her his name is Sunshine. She asked for his legal name but before he could answer, a familiar voice asked,

“Kevin?”

Kevin turns his head and nearly wept with relief. “Carlos. Thank god. I need help. I need stitches and I think-I think- “He wheezes and groans in pain. “I think my ribs are bruised.” He leans against the desk to keep from passing out. He vaguely hears Carlos telling the nurse-he catches that her name is Parker- to call Cecil and tell him that it was an emergency. Then he wraps himself around Kevin and begins to walk slowly.

“Let’s get you to a room and get you cleaned up so I can fix you up.”

Kevin just nods, letting himself be guided. He felt horribly exposed in his outfit of short shorts and a crop top, especially in the cold air of the hospital. He gets guided into a room and then sat down.

“This may sting.”

“’s fine. I’ve dealt with worse.”

“Who did this to you?” Carlos asked gently, starting to wet a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol.

Kevin doesn’t meet his eyes. “Tyler Brooks.” He says softly.

He sees the shadow of Carlos’ arm stop moving. “Cecil’s ex Tyler Brooks?”

“I got his ring back.” Kevin says softly, wrapping his uninjured arm around himself. He still doesn’t look up.

“Wait-Kevin, why? Wh-why is he hurting you?” Carlos begins to clean the cut again.

Kevin hisses in pain. “I started stripping to put Cecil through college. He’s always been there for me, so I wanted to help him. He-he started dating Tyler and everything started off fine. Then Tyler found out that I-that I’m a stripper. It’s not like I hide it. I’m not ashamed of my job. He started coming to shows, Requesting one on one dances and the like. He said that if I told Cecil, I’d never see him again. That no one would. He was-he um…very manipulative. He was emotionally abusive. Got angry and drunk a lot.” He pauses and shudders. “He said that he’d beat Cecil within an inch of his life. So, I started to pull the punches. I let him hurt me to keep Cecil safe. Because if he hit me, he promised that he would never raise a hand to Cecil. And he never did.”

“You never went to the cops?”

“I couldn’t-Couldn’t break Cecil’s heart. Its stupid, I know but…I don’t know. One time he brought a knife. He had lost his job.” Kevin shudders and then cries out in pain, sucking in a sharp breath. “That’s how I got this.” He touches the scar on his leg.

Carlos opens his mouth to answer, a gasp from the doorway caught both of their attention. They turn and see Cecil standing there, his face paler than usual. Shit. Kevin felt his heart drop.

“Ceec. How much did you- “

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Cecil’s voice cracked.

Fuck. He heard it all.

“Because I didn’t want you to get hurt.” Kevin doesn’t look away. He is surprised when Cecil crosses the room and hugs him. He is shaking and looked like a scared child.

“I am so so sorry. You could have been killed and it’s my fault because I let my emotions cloud my judgement.”

“Cecil, I would go to hell and back before I let anyone hurt you.”

“He did this to you didn’t he?”

“Oh please. This is far from the worst I’ve experienced.” Kevin shakes his head, but from the look on Cecil’s face, that was the wrong thing to say. “Look, I would gladly do it all again, if I could keep you safe.”

“Okay. I need you to sit very still so I can put the stitches in.”

Kevin bites his lip and nods, looking away.

“Kevin, please please never keep anything like this from me ever again.”

“Cecil- “

“No. I need you to promise me. Right now.”

Kevin hesitates but meets his twin’s eyes and nods. “I promise.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I actually made myself cry writing this🙃

@mrtacothethird

[cryptidvagabond]

Some stuff about my aasimar celestial patron warlock Nora that no one asked for. (under the cut)

She's pact of the chain and her familiar is a dragon plushie named Nokk. (many thanks to Griffon's saddlebags for that particular magic item)

She was raised in the wilderness by her Kirin ancestor and has slight feral child syndrome. She calls him "Grandfather" and he's also her patron.

She gets mistaken for both a Tiefling and a Faun very often.

She is too friendly for her own good.

She likes to touch all the things, but she tends to break stuff, so she's not allowed into shops without a babysitter. (Usually my partner's pc Thuul takes that job)

She's the youngest member of our party, at only 20, but she's so small and petit she's often mistaken for a child. (She's literally five feet tall, not counting her antlers, and flat as a board. She could pass as a, particularly pretty, tween boy.)

She's full of love and not embarrassed to show it.

She is learning what a "filter" is, but from time to time she just says stuff.

Gender was a concept she didn't understand for a long time, so her pronouns are a very loose 'she/her'. She thinks it's fun that people sometimes say 'him' or 'boy' to her because of her (slightly) androgynous appearance. (Officially, Nora is nonbinary, even if the concept is still not clear to her/them.)

So far, Nora is the closest thing to a healer that our party has, and she takes her job as seriously as possible. Nobody's dead yet, is what I mean.

(My hands don't wanna do the art thing lately, so I don't have any that I drew of her. Have a picrew I slapped together instead. Many thanks to Eure for this maker. So far the only one with the right stuff in it to make her as accurately as possible. )

Behold her in all her moonfaced paleness!

Bit of homebrew for her, instead of the typical golden, single horned dnd kirin, her ancestor is more staglike and silver bodied, hence her white hair and antlers. Her eyes are pearlescent and glow with a soft, white light, like moonlight. The sclera, iris, and pupils are all the same color and coupled with her tendency to avoid direct eye contact (because that's a threat display) people often mistakenly think she's blind. She doesn't care enough to correct them.

Her hair has the same volume and consistency as fluffy cat fur (think Norwegian forest cat or Maine Coon), sticks out all over the place, and is silvery. She cut it with a dagger when she left home, save for her forelocks which she usually keeps braided with bead and metal clasps decorating the individual strands.

The kirin blood was particularly strong in her (for plot reasons) so she has deer-like legs and hooves, which are covered in fine, silvery white fur. Her hooves are also slightly pearlescent, similar to ivory, and pure white. As are the antlers sprouting from her head.

Her cheeks are dusted with silver freckles that only barely stand out against her milky white skin.

She looks very obviously not human, is what I'm saying. But it's not obvious that she's not just a weird tiefling or faun. Causes a lot of confusion.

She speaks with a scandinavian, almost norwegian accent, and it's a lot of fun at the game table. Nora has high wisdom, low intelligence syndrome. 🙃

This post was supposed to be short...oops.

[cryptechhq]

CrypTech: A Cultist Conundrum

I’m throwing up the first story written in the CrypTech universe. Fey wrote this one out and I love it so much. Minor editing was done by me, but it was her creation and it’s great. I’m only uploading it because I work nights and was awake while building this blog. Enjoy!

The bookstore was wedged like a cut of cheese between the buildings as he glanced up from his book. Shelves like honeycomb and the air thick with the scent of liquor. Tonight was game night, the night he waited for since the last blue moon. The night where the eye over the world flickered and he saw what lay deep within. Those who were never allowed to walk in the daylight, those who hid themselves.

Fixing his favorite shirt, the one with the flowers, palm trees and surfboards, he remembered his vacation. He had walked around looking for a certain book he never did find, but instead he found this shirt under a pile of blue and neon pink button up shirts. The ocean scent on the air, it had been the last time he saw his mentor.

Tails, claws, eyes and sharp teeth were upon him as he smirked. Here at this bookstore, that had stood since the old days, he felt at home. The store had always been here, along the veins of the earth that ran beneath it. The energy that twisted its inner blood throughout like highways. This small piece of land hid secrets under the dirt, where runes were once carved and people left the dead in the sea of dirt.

Playing with his phone, he went to take a picture of his dungeon and dragons group as the flash went off and he saw a woman hiss as she took off towards the back. Staring at the picture he saw the green like smoke that was around her and those cat like reflective eyes. A whisper she was, as he tried to recall her. Had he met her before? Grasping at his memories, he tried to think, but nothing was coming to him.

A sharp pain came to his mind as he got out of his seat and chased after her quickly. As he caught up, he saw she was in the small alley looking around. Time slowed as he went to say something to only be caught by what he was seeing. The mirror like shards around her slowly coming back up as he saw the pointed ears, reflective cat-like eyes and those sharp teeth. They reminded him of a dream, as he saw the mirrors take whole as she appeared human. As if the image he had saw before was nothing but a dream.

“Wait!” the word vomit hit the air as she stopped tilting her head looking at him.

“Why?”

What was she? He had seen creatures and monsters in the city before, but she was something new. Something different from the typical creatures he saw. Was she a witch too?

“Are you-” He went to ask, but he saw her eyes go wide before she took off down the alley. Turning around he noticed the shadow watching them, and as he looked back she was gone.

He had seen her at the bookstore before, on game night. But recalling her name was hard. He knew nothing about the others, aside from that a few worked in the city. But the dead zone was theirs. The area the city forgot about, with the cenmatry(?) building that once held patrons. Now it was just an empty shell, wrapped around with a grass fence.

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Entering the dead zone, the huge white shelter stood there in the middle of the street. No bus ever stopped here, only rushed down the road like a roach when the lights were turned on. The sign stapled to the boarded up window said “not in business.” as he fished for the keys in his pocket. The city forgot about a lot of things. Here in the center there was nothing, except boarded up shops and stores. Not a living creature dared to come through unless they were quickly passing through. No one ever stopped, unless they were like him. Those who have seen in the back of the eye and know the eyes does not see all.

Popping the door open, he kept trying to figure out what she was. Reflective mirrors, was it a spell or an enchantment. He was still learning more than his craft. Scribbling in his notebook, he came up with ideas, but was interrupted by a dripping sound. A single drip that tattered against the floor, the note played over and over again. As he searched for the source, he hoped a spring would not form from the ceiling, creating a waterfall.

A crash came from upstairs, and he rushed towards it. as he reached the top he saw her there, soaking wet and sniffling. Raising an eyebrow, he went to ask a question, but stopped as he saw blood running down her arm. He went to her side as she took a step back.

“Don’t.” It came out a hiss, and he raised his hands defensively

“I think I have a spell for that.”

“What?” She asked, as he flicked his wrist, and the cut on her arm slowly healed. Looking around she heard a noise and shivered.

“I gotta keep going, bye.”

“You’re safe here, warded the place myself. I’m Jakz, and you are?” He asked, as he looked around. Grabbing up an old shirt, he tossed it towards her. The shirt dropped like a dead bird as she watched him.

“Fey.” One word as she went to the window looking outside. Left, right, and up. Nothing was there. She crumpled near the window, taking in a breath.

“This is stupid, you aren’t CrypTech.”

He raised a hand, gesturing to the room. “This is CrypTech.” She ran a hand through her hair.

“You’re joking.”

“Nope.”

Leaning back against the wall, she let her shoulders drop. “You’re one person, and you state you have supernatural solutions. Ever dealt with pissed off cultist?”

“First time for everything. So what type of cultist?” He looked out the window before shutting the blinds, leaving the room dark. He went over and turned on a lamp. Sitting down in a chair, he looked at her as if telling her to come sit at the table. With a foot he tried to clean up the water on the floor.

“Also where did the water come from?” He asked. She sat down across from him wiping her nose with her arm.

“It was raining in Arcadia.”

“The city?” He asked as she made a face.

“For supernatural solutions you don’t know much. Arcadia is another name for…you know right?” She asked as he looked at her shrugging his shoulders. “Don’t tell me I am your first customer….” She let out a nervous laugh as she took in a sharp breath.

“Well, I am fucked. You’re what a warlock? Mage? Made a contract with a good neighbor?” She kept playing with the black rubber band on her wrist as she looked around taking in the room. The TV, the computer set up with four screens and the carved runes.

“No, I am a witch...and you are?”

“Give me your full name and find out?”

“Rumpelstiltskin.” He replied in a deadpan voice. Smirking she nodded her head.

“But yet don’t know what Arcadia is. Wow, didn’t get into Hogwarts or something?”

“Listen here, Tinkerbell.”

“Oh, so you do know what I am?” He made a face, she could be or couldn’t be, glamour magic was very common, especially around creatures that lived in the dead zone.

“You said cultist and you needed help. I do know some stuff about them.”

“Oh really, Mr. Potter.”

“Tell me everything, Tink.” He saw her smirk as she let the glamour drop.

“Kay, Jack?” She questioned as he shook his head. “Jack isn’t your name, how about another one with a J? Jake?”

“You said you needed help, Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.”

She laughed as she wringed out her hair. “Cthulhu cultist.”

“In the desert?” He blurted as she nodded her head.

“Yes, they been recruiting out here and weren’t happy I called their old one or whatever sushi.”

“You must have done more for them to come after you.”

“I also took something, humans didn’t and shouldn’t ever have, maybe.”

“Easy. give it back, no more cultist.”

“Not so easy, that’s why I am here. If I wasn’t desperate I wouldn’t be here, I would be home googling answers.” She placed a book on the table as he went to touch it, she slapped his hand.

“Don’t touch, it’s the Necronomicon. It does stuff to humans.”

“How-?!” He saw her pull it back. Yet as her hands crossed over the book, it disappeared.

“You think they would have hidden it better. Also they never said I wasn’t…” She paused before finishing her sentence.

“Wasn’t what?”

She shook her head, “So help me deal with them and I’ll pay you.”

“I need more information.”

“I just told, you I took the book and now they are after me. When you took that stupid picture earlier it messed up my glamour, and one of them found me.”

“So that’s why you ran.”

“Why else would I run? We were in a middle of a campaign. And now my poor tiefling rogue is stuck unless you continued game. “

“You play Azura!” She rolled her eyes as he tapped his fingers against the table.

“We will go talk to them.”

“No.” She blurted, “Are you nuts, they are cultists and not the average cultists. They still use blood.”

“Like I said I need more detail.”

“Urgh.”

“Look you give me information about them, and your kind, and you don’t have to pay.”

“I can pay, no problem, but giving information is rather hard. Especially ‘cause your human. How do I know this isn’t going to end up like a episode of the x-files or something. I don’t want Trump coming after us.”

“Even creatures are scared of trump?”

“More like scared of what he can do. Like, hello, you live on this planet too.” Rubbing her eyes, she tapped her fingers against the table, before speaking.

“Fine. Ask and I’ll answer, but you have to help me get these sushi cultists off me. And no, I am not returning the book.”

“Why do you need it so badly?” He watched her as she looked at the mark on her wrist.

“Mostly, no human should have it. It’s like the ultimate necromancy field guide. Bet they can’t even read this.”

“You’re a necromancer, and?”

“You can ask more than one-word answer questions, you know?” Rubbing the back of her neck, she watched as he scribbled more stuff down.

“You didn’t answer the question.”

“Ever hear of good neighbors?”

“What, like State Farm?” he asked looking up from his notebook.

“Fairies, fae folk, elves, trolls, ringing something in that head?”

“Heard of them yes. So you’re a fairy?”

“sort of.”

“Arcadia is what. fairy land?”

Nodding her head, she glanced out the window. “Faerie it used to be called. But with all the fae names and stuff Arcadia was the best. So, Jacob how you gonna take care of the sushi cult?”

Glancing at his notes, “Well Wanda, we are going to go talk to them.”

-----------------------------------------------

“We are going to die.” She stated as she dried herself off downstairs. He grabbed a backpack and a few items from the desks.

“Good thing you’re a necromancer.”

“Can’t re-animate myself, blondie.”

“What type of witch are you? Water, an element?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Locking up the shop, he stopped as she cracked her back. Quiet like always but something felt off.

“They hide in downtown, near the old church.”

His car chirped as she stood near it. “How did you get into my place? I warded it.”

She froze, her eyes never meeting his. “Ever have things go missing in your place?”

“Yes, but answer the question.”

“You left a welcome sign in the window. What does that do?”

“Stop with the riddles, Fey.”

Leaning against the car she crossed her arms over her chest. “You welcomed anyone who needs a welcome in. I am shocked you didn’t know about that rule. So pretty much any fae folk are welcomed, along with blood suckers. Also it's easy getting to places through Arcadia.”  

“Wait, have you been taking my stuff?” She got into the car as he got in the driver seat staring at her.

“Who knows? Could have been anyone in Arcadia going through the dead zone.”

“You better not have taken my Runic black dice set.”

-----------------------------------------------

“Left up here.” The street lights guided the way. There were people out this night, walking along the shops. As he drove into a small parking lot he could see the huge black iron fences surrounding the old church. Large, grey and white stone, it used to tower over the city Now it was just a small building in a shadow of a corporate office.

“Shit.”

“What’s wrong?” He asked as he parked the car.

“There’s iron, if there’s a fight I am screwed. Also there’s not much dirt. More concrete than anything.  If I need to raise the dead I need dirt, they can’t break out of concrete. Modern coffins are bad enough.”

“We are talking not fighting. Let me handle it.”

Her eyes shifted as she curled her hands. He opened the fence, and she followed behind him, trying to not touch anything as she kept an eye out. Fixing his shirt, he ruffled his hair a little as he looked back at her.

“Where to from here?”

Shrugging her shoulders, “Not sure, I came from Arcadia to here. I didn’t have to enter the church this way.”

The door was falling apart as he pushed it open, letting it fall. Inside was a heavy layer of dust and spider webs.

“No one here.”

“We need to move the altar.”

“I thought you said, you never came in this way.” She started trying to push the altar as dust flew all over the place.

“This usually causes something to happen in action movies. Also I can use an extra set of hands.” The altar moved as she was huffing.

“Don’t work out much?”

“Shut up, Blondie.”

There were stairs leading down as she looked at him and then started down the stairs.

“You can see in the dark.” He whispered as she felt the walls as she walked.

“No, I am following the wall.”   A light was flickering as she stopped, and felt him bump into her. She stumbled as she saw cloaked figures running around like she saw before. “Uh.” It came out as she went to take a step back to stay there.

“Go.” He stated as she looked back at him.

She took one step as she saw a hooded head look towards her. “You.” A growl came out from the hooded person as she smiled and waved, “Hi. Sorry about calling your octo god sushi?” She walked slowly as she felt Jakz get in front of her.

“We are here to talk, nothing more.” The hooded figure glanced at him before sniffing the air.

“A human.”

“Middle man.” Jakz explained before grabbing Fey’s arm. She turned to look at him as he mouthed two words Trust me.

“She took something of ours.” The hood was pushed back showing a human with fish like skin. It took Jakz a thorough effort to not start humming a Lovecraftian Christmas Carol.

“Is there somewhere we can talk? Instead of right here? Like a café or something?” he asked. as he took in the hallways and lights.

“The chamber, Elder Craft should be there. This way.”

Following the fish like man, Jakz held on to Fey’s arm as she curled her fingers. The chamber was huge, and looked as if they were under the sea. Blues, greens and the scent of sea salt. A man was pacing as he stopping locking eyes on them. The fish man bowed his head,

“Elder Craft, a human brought the thief.”

“Good, reward him.” Elder Craft stated. As Fey looked at him the green smoke started to form around her.

“I am not here for a reward. Here to talk, Elder Craft, right?” Jakz stated as the smoke started to disappear, still lingering. “Why don’t you tell me about the book she took?”

“It’s none of your concern human.” Craft hissed as Jakz let go of Fey’s arm.

“It is my concern when you start hunting down my client.”

“She’s a thief.”

“Then how come the book belongs in Miskatonic University library? Is a thief a thief, if she took it from a thief and returned a lost library book?”

The elder walked quickly to Jakz face as he was a few inches away, hissing. “She did what? No.”

Fey glared, her eyes locked on the elder. As she glanced around she saw there were bloodstains being cleaned. The elder went to grab her, but stopped as lighting crackled from Jakz.

“Don’t touch my client. We done here? If you want your book, you’re going to need a library card.”   

Fey rubbed her wrist as she heard foot steps coming quickly. A growl as the elder looked at her.

“Sorry for calling your god sushi.” The elder made a face as he turned his back to them.

“Never come back here. Else when he wakens, you’re going to be the first sacrifice.”

“Bye.” Jakz went to say something she grabbed him as he felt sea sick. Everything was turning as he saw trees and lights and then they were back at the car, Fey taking quick breaths as he looked at her dizzily.

“What was that?” He tried focusing on something to stop the feeling of being at sea. She looked beat.

“A glimpse of Arcadia. I didn’t like that they were surrounding us, and they looked ready for a new sacrifice. Couldn’t have the guy helping me end up a soul for some sushi god.”

“Now to get the book to the library.”

She glared as she looked at her wrist. “No, our deal was I keep the book.”

“I have a plan. But more questions.”

-----------------------------------------------

Smoke danced from the coffee cups as they sat in the studio apartment. Morning crept through the window, and Fey added another spoonful of sugar to hers.

“What now?”

He took a drink from his cup as he placed a hand on the table. “Can I see the book again? I am not going to touch it.” Crossing her wrist over the table, it appeared.

“I need it for a day.”

She took a drink as she glared. “What are you planning? You can’t touch it.”

“Why not?”

She sighed. “It corrupts human minds. The whispers of it often causes people to kill and, well, you saw the cult.”

“Then how come you can touch it?”

“Fae blood. Also, that library…”

He smirked as she looked at him, “It doesn’t exist.” She looked shocked as she took a spoonful of sugar and placed it into her mouth.

“You tricked a cult…who knows, maybe you have fae blood in you.” She smirked as he saw her rub the cover.

“Why didn’t you hide in Arcadia instead of coming to me? You said you were desperate but yet you seemed to be taking note of everything? What are you hiding?” She tapped the spoon against the coffee cup.

Cracking her neck, she had a smile on her lips, “It’s a long story as well...” She flipped out a knife, as crackling could be heard. She looked at him as she craved a symbol into the window’s glass. She put the knife away as she sat back down. “To keep other fae from entering. And blood suckers. And it’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

“Trade you a tale for your full name?” He let out a laugh as she put another spoonful of sugar into her mouth.

“Hey.” He blurted as she looked up at him shrugging. “You’re going to eat all the sugar.”

“I need to get my strength back, jumping to and fro is tiring.” He looked at her as she leaned back in the chair. He stared at the cover as blue lighting danced from his fingers. She saw him point his hand, and the sparks went to the computer.

“What are you?” He looked at her as he was focusing on the book.

“Hey.” She blurted as he closed his eyes. Sparks dying out as he smiled as she leaned over the table looking at him. Before slapping one of his cheeks like a seal  “Don’t be possessed. Come on I don’t need another corpse.”

“Boo.” She almost fell back as she glared like a house cat.

“What did you do?” She grabbed the book checking it over as she opened it looking at pages, flipping through them quickly.

“I made a copy.” Raising an eyebrow, she hugged the book to her chest.

“You downloaded the book…that’s new.”

Putting the book away she finished her coffee with a yawn. “This has been one hell of a night. Still can’t believe you ended that conflict with a lie.”

“I do that sometimes. How long were you running from them?”

“Four months. Any other questions, tech wiz kid?” He let out a laugh as she looked at the desktop screen to see the typed words moving as if alive.

“Want a job?”

“I don’t know, let me check my schedule.” She pretended to flip through a book as she nodded her head, “I can move grave robbing to tomorrow at midnight, and... oh no. Well, I can move that to next blood moon.” She looked at him. “I figured you were going to need help.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked

“You don’t know everything. Some things, yes. And you got yourself a silver tongue.  I did say I would answer any question. We made a deal.”

“What does that have to do with a job?”

“Don’t know much about fae folks, a deal is a contract. You’re looking at you new co-worker, Jules.”

“That’s not my name, try again co-worker.”