___
"Elena? Which part of never sneak into my office in the middle of the night don't you understand?" Marian asked the receptionist with a dismayed expression to hide her shame. "I know it's messy but are you willing to sacrifice your career for that?"
"The night shift, uh, they were, asleep, attorney." She fumbled with the keys in her hands, nervously looking for the duplicate she used the night before to get in the third floor's office---the one that belongs to Attorney Marian Aspen, one of the most mischievous people to ever dwell on the city's most crowded streets. Even a respected personnel could beat a beggar's clumsy hands.
"I s-swear I-I, I uh--my intentions w-were pure! I d-din't steal or, move, or touch--well I touched, and uh, moved stuff, b-but I didn't do a-anything wrong. Nothing too wrong! Just--just, you know!"
"Okay." Marian crossed her arms and raised her eyebrow with a concealed smirk.
"O-okay? We're, okay?"
"Well, you sure though?"
"I s-swear! O-on my, on my ex-boyfriend's grave!"
"Huh, okay. Why stutter though?"
"Because you're glaring!" Elena shuddered, her baby blue eyes starting to water because of the pressure.
She struggled to find the right words as to be careful of the terms that might offend the attorney in some way, or perhaps judge the way her words stutter when it is spoken. If she remembered so clearly, one of the attorney's strict advices was to stand straight and talk with confidence in your tone, in your eyes, for the way you speak is more noticeable than what you speak.
Like a politician.
You could talk nonsense, alter facts or give contradictions to the majority's opinion, but if you spoke as if you know you are right, then the people would believe that you are, for it is the assurance in you that makes their perspective change.
"This is my normal face, but, okay. I believe you." Marian teased although she knew from the very start that Elena had no other intentions other than to clean her office. The girl was an innocent furball with her long, straight golden hair and cupid features---charming and shy. The perfect recipe for a badboy magnet. "But this doesn't mean you did nothing wrong." She immediately remarked when Elena was about to speak.
"Y-yes, attorney. I'm, sorry." She handed the duplicate over to Marian who pushed her hand back softly.
"Not okay." She straightened her crimson coat. "I don't want your sorry. I need you to promise never to do it again."
Elena nodded and kept her head down. "I promise never to, b-break in. Again."
"Okay. Thank you." Marian smiled and gave her one quick wink. "Elena, you didn't spend years in graduate school just to arrange my folders, or sort my cabinets. Finance, right?" The receptionist nodded. "How many years left?"
"Just, t-two more, attorney. S-scholarship."
"Ah, that's good! You should be preparing fancy skirts and balance sheets by now. Stop stuttering. I might need your help with numbers sometimes, but if you're bothered by unorganized papers, set me up with your besty right over there." Marian casually pointed at the long-haired blondie standing next to her.
The woman in the reception desk wears a seductive red shirt that is openend in its first three buttons, showing the skintight clothing. Visibly a brassiere pushing up the pulpous flesh inside and forming a magnificent cleavage between the valleys of her breasts---barely contained and begging to breathe. Her hair was flattened and colored with feisty red highlights at the bottom.
"She seems up for cleaning duty. Right?"
Elena's jaw dropped so she covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered. "Cathy?" She looked horrified.
"That's her name? Oh right, the name tag." Marian smiled when the other receptionist made a popping sound after putting on lipstick and raised an eyebrow at them. "Hi! Good morning, Ronan's mistress."
For a moment, the woman's chest looked bigger by how much deep breaths she took, and judging from her face that now looked as red as her lips, she's about to blow. Marian laughed at her mental pun. "You, fucking, bitch! You---"
"Know. Yes, I know."
"That wasn't what I was gonna say."
"Okay. But if you continue to bully my Elena right here, that won't be the only thing you'd be saying to Mrs. Carlson."
'Cathy' silenced immediately but still remained glaring daggers at them, scratching her long nails across the counter. Marian thought it would be good to mock the woman of how tired Ronan was of making up excuses to how a 'cat' from downstreet kept on attacking him---the epic tale of the Scratching Bitch became so cliché lately.
But Marian wouldn't mock her about that. If they had an online platform for it, Ronan's would be on top two most viewed gossip in Figlio. Poor Mrs. Carlson. The polite woman in her late 40s doesn't deserve this in any way. Especially being secretly replaced by an undignified social-climber who came from a business tycoon's illegitimate family.
●●●
"Thank you, Mrs. Staniel. And, my condolences madam. Nobody saw this coming, really." The old lady wearing an expensive beige blouse with a matching long skirt sat in front of her, sobbing. It was a pain to witness how the husband who barely spent time with you suddenly show his face, from inside a coffin. Mrs. Roberta Staniel faced the attorney with a fragile being.
"Oh, attorney, my... My kids..." She offered the older woman a handkerchief. "Oh, thank you." Mrs. Staniel sniffed. "My husband was a good man. He really was, and, many may think---hey, he smelt paint more than his children's own baby soaps, but---oh my, help me so! Holy Ramus!" Marian tried not to flinch at the mention of the name and maintained her soft gaze on the woman's tear-stained face.
"Madam, every husband had become a good man in each of their own ways at least once in their married life." Marian returned her pen inside her now arranged drawer. A lawyer would know what others want or not want to hear, but won't be good if a bad liar. "And Mr. Staniel had shown it. Maybe not by playing ball, but building up his own empire just so he'd have something to leave for his kids."
"Yes, yes, that's right."
"Feed his family for decades, working day and night just to show that his family was no joke, and that his wife, and his kids would grow under the roof of one of the finest mansions in the city center, with buffets for simple meals and Golden Restaurant's finest rojo keso for snacks."
"Oh my, David would do that... He always have. My, darling." The woman sobbed harder.
"The man had dreamt of big things since he was young, and every night in his sleep, there would always be visions of travelling, climbing the highest mountains, meeting new people and loving young women, but he settled for the life he knew would be better. That is with you, madam. That old man always had tales to tell every time he had problems with his contracts and stockholders." Marian checked the time, it was almost time for lunch. "But although his adventures were cut short, and reaching the peak of his career at such a late age, he made bigger sacrifices."
"I know.. oh, we know that.. He was selfless, and we loved him back... Sweet, sweet, David."
"His journey was to raise a family, and working, thinking, then working again, just to make sure his kids would not suffer like he had when he was young. His children will not be laughed at, insulted, or looked down upon just because they had nothing but dreams. Mr. Staniel was a good man, madam, and his greatest adventure was to give all of you the chance to reach all you ever wished for even when he didn't have to chance to do it on his own. Hopefully, someone will take the dream he never had the chance to, explore, madam. Your kids are lucky. And they should honor their father."
"Oh, my..." The lady was now crying uncontrollably by the time Marian stood up and called for the woman's maid waiting outside. She hurriedly went to her madam's aid with a trembling hand opening the bottle of medicine.
"Ma'am, ma'am, calm down. Here, take your pills." The young maiden rubbed Mrs. Staniel's back in a soothing manner while Marian got a cup of water.
"Oh, thank you, ladies. Oh, my, attorney, I, am, awfully sorry! My tears betrayed me." Her slightly wrinkled hand was gracefully placed on her chest in an attempt to ease her breathing. Even her panicked state looks like royalty. Marian smiled and shaked the woman's right hand.
"That's okay, madam. I couldn't stop talking, I'm guilty. Your husband was a great man. A pool of inspiration. I'm sorry."
"For what, dear? Glorious days, attorney, I felt like I've never known my husband better than I did today. Sadly, without his presence! Oh, my, I really miss him, I really do."
"Yes, madam, indeed you do."
"I wish I had been there for him, more. But, now, I'm certain he wishes nothing more than for him to be remembered as the great man he was." The woman stood straight with her maid just waiting behind. "Thank you very much, attorney. I am awfully honored to know that David has left more than just a memory, he made a mark!"
"Yes, madam."
"And to you, dear, it is an honor. I would love to invite you for some coffee sometimes. With, mint chocolate chip? Butterscotch, perhaps?"
Marian gave a humble smile and shook her head slowly, as if amazed by the woman's antics. "Dark chocolate is fine, madam. Bittersweet like your most precious memories."
Mrs. Staniel's eyes were once again filled with tears, struck by the sudden nostalgia. Marian knew how David Staniel ordered dark chocolate and coffee on his first date with his wife, until they married, and if she wanted for this contract to be signed, the emotional lane has to be crossed as soon as possible.
The possibility of the Staniel's household being betrayed by a family member is huge. Roberta is not only crying for the death of her husband, she mourns for the lost love of her children, who, although painfully true, anticipated, or even worse, planned the death of their father. Underground offers great respect to the man who had true power grasping his words, and although his death was sudden, their decision was instant, immediately granting the old man whatever he wished for in his most blissful moments.
●●●
The door creaked open followed by a pair of clicks from the heels of Spendex shoes, brand new and ready for bragging. A tall man with brown hair and honey eyes entered, his eyebrow raised and a hint of judgment on his slightly tanned face. His wide shoulders matched well with his physique; not too muscular, not too skinny, and awfully handsome with his black long sleeves, the cuffs of his shirt unbuttoned and folded up to his elbows.
"Hungry?" His deep voice asked. Marian noticed just then the paperbag on his hand.
"Famished." She smiled, he didn't. Instead, he turned back and started walking away. "Hey, excuse me?"
"No, Ion."
"What no?"
"This isn't yours."
"Then why did you ask if I was hungry?" She impatiently stared at the golden mirror that's beside her right arm on the table.
"To make sure you wouldn't be asking for it." He sighed while Marian laughed and held out her hands anyway. The paperbag was indeed for her, and Jared suddenly switched from a serious professor to a naughty brat. "I take 60. Because I bought it in the first place."
"None. Who's to say you didn't eat before bringing this here?" She raised her eyebrows.
"I didn't. 50, because it's my money."
"20. Because you're just being unfair either way. If you have eaten, then asking for a part of what you bought for someone else just proves my second point. That if you haven't, then you purposedly brought this with the intention of asking for 60 and reasoning that it's your money and that you traveled miles to be here, clearly guilt-tripping me, blackmailing and therefore, making this meal a form of bribery that means I have something to give in return now, or later."
"Fine! I ate. But 20's a done deal." He huffed and started choosing from all the take-outs he got from Golden's.
"This...is, a lot." She gasped while opening her water bottle.
"Yes. I came prepared."
"Okay, fine. You take 50."
Elena sneaked in the office the night before and decided to arrange some of the mess not for the purpose of impressing the attorney who owned the office, but to change the darkened atmosphere that seemed to emit from the room. Only the polished wooden table remained in its usual form, the papers scattered on top and a pile of written notes placed inside of each of the stacked folders with different colors.
"So, new life? Did the demons scram? The place looks normal now."
"Elena did that. She had to use the duplicate in the middle of the night because I might have said no if she asked."
"Well, would you?"
"Say no? Of course. She isn't a maid, Jax. She's not studying to be pushed around like some slave." The mirror glowed so Marian decided to calm herself down for a few seconds. "I could've just hired someone to do it. Like 'Cathy' in the first floor."
Jared laughed. "The one with..." he pushed out his chest and gestured his hands in a gigantic circular motion. Marian burst up laughing along as they mocked the seductive receptionist from two floors below. "I didn't know it was that heavy. Reached all down to her waist and, I, feel like.." he took a deep breath while holding his stomach. "She could swing it on her neck like a scarf."
They laughed louder. People from outside would have heard but luckily, clients we barely present on Wednesdays.
●●●
'Men fumbled with their keys for a moment as each of the buildings are now being opened. The employees piling up in pairs and small groups, the phones started ringing, bells clanking, and voices bursted from intercoms, calling the names of people needed in the office, the appointments setting into place and each of the papers on the table being checked by the ones seated on the leather seats.
The bell clanked as a woman steps inside...'
"So far, this is all I was able to think of." Rochelle fidgets in her seat while her face held a wide smile. "It's up for passing this Sunday."
"I won't be here this Sunday." Marian mumbled while searching through the pile of manuscripts.
"What? Aww, then what about theeese?"
"Have Ada take care of it." The woman with straight black hair from across the room suddenly straightened and watched them---silently.
"Uh, no. She's scaring me."
"She's your editor, Chelley, what are you complaining for?" Marian waved only to end up being ignored by Ada, who just avoided their stare and silently went back to her computer. Creepy. "She's pretty like in an apparition kind of way, but what's up with the attitude?"
Rochelle puckered her lips and watched Ada with her chinky eyes narrowing into slits. "It's in her nature, really. D'you know that one movie with the creepy woman wearing white, long black hair and all---and oh! Going down the stairs on all fours with the, uh, body in a weird angle?" She shuddered while giving her vivid description. Marian held the urge to laugh and decided to approach the editor who remained face-to-face with the computer.
"Ada?" The woman turned back to her with her usual expressionless face. "Have you seen Rochelle's update for the third page?"
"U-uh, wait-uh--I think it's still rough---"
Ada ignored Rochelle's protest and nodded. "Sent on email. Done by tomorrow."
"Okay. She's a little bit nervous about consulting you to be honest."
"Then?" Ada raised a well-shaped eyebrow, her face now holding an obvious resemblance to ghosts in horror movies. "My fault?"
"Not really. Just take it easy on her." Marian just politely smiled and walked back to where her friend was seated after Ada shrugged and nodded anyway, then went back to her computer. That's a start.
The short visit to the Train's Lit building gave them a chance to enter without being too suspicious. Marian being a former member of the team and former three-year editor-in-chief title helped them hide what they really came for.
After saying goodbye to the writers in the fifth floor, she went straight into the storage room to fetch herself some rejects with Rochelle and Ada's permission then went out the main door, because using the emergency exit would have been suspicious even with a solid alibi. After all, why would she be hiding if she isn't doing anything wrong?
Now, they could just reason out that they borrowed one editor to fix a few rough edges so that the drafts with potential will not go to waste. They have been in good terms with the guy right after he got in the company with the help of Marian's recommendation back then. Marian is the reason for his success and has the least of ill intentions in the eye of their laws. If anything, he will be judged for acting like an ungrateful brat.
"James Kurt, it's a pleasure to see you here indeed! I'm glad I passed by!" She took a seat on one of the wooden chairs in the park nearby while James sat in front of her. Only a round table was between them. "I know you've been busy, but so have we! Makes me question why you managed to escape during working hours."
"It's Christian!---" he cleared his throat. "Cut the crap, Larcus. Rigel here could be sued along with you."
"Sue me for what? Asking you to edit this?" Marian held up her pile of wrinkled drafts. "My word against yours James. Let's see who they'll believe. Even Minrod is on my side. And let's not even mention Rimford." James' teeth gritted in annoyance as he struggled to break free from Jared's invisible knot, tied around his torso.
Jared sat comfortably on another wooden chair beside them, sipping on his cola. People wouldn't notice because they looked like professionaly acquainted executives just hanging out in the park, talking. Simply talking. If they get close enough, they'd notice Jared's glowing eyes. "We could use weak excuses and we'll still win. After all, who are you against us?" The man they made hostage seemed to fume even more at the memory of their compared powers.
He glared in envy at Marian's pair of strange silver orbs. She tried to assure herself that they are doing the right thing. "Okay, James, let's start with the synopsis." She muttered loudly, then whispered. "Who's in-charge of Staniel's case?"
"Attorney Delgado? Pfft." He scoffed.
"You know that's not what I meant. Underground. Who settled the bets?"
"I have nooo idea. Bummer." Marian's eyes twitched and with one snap of her fingers, the knot on James' body tightened. Jared stayed silent from his table but quickly responding to his partner's signals.
James groaned and breathed loudly, the air was needed for a lot of shouting. Oh no you don't. Her eyes changed from silver to crimson in a second, completely wrapping the three of them in an ethreal globe, shutting them out from the rest of the park.
His scream came. "Help! Help me! Someone! They're threatening me! Help! Police!"
"Help!" Marian mocked and Jared laughed. "Not okay, James, stop being stubborn."
"Save me please! Help!"
"Hmm, that's quite enough, James, come on."
"Help me! This lawyer is a scam! A murderer!"
Marian palmed her face and sighed. "I would let you scream some other time but we--"
"HELP!"
"--don't have time for this." She stood up and held his jaw in her hand, tightly gripping both sides of his cheeks with her thumb and forefinger.
With a sharp pull, James' head was forcefully turned her way. His horrified expression was obvious, Jared had no choice but to stand and place his cola on the round table.
"Ion."
"Shh." Marian pulled James' face closer when he tried to struggle from her hold and avoid her sharp glare. "And don't you dare spit at me, James."
He had no choice but to stare back into her blood-colored eyes, his mouth trembling as his voice struggled to come out. His face turned pale and his body convulsed like he was being possessed. Eyes rolling back then coming back to normal almost immediately, but now with a different color.
James' eyes turned into silver.
"Now, be a good bo," Marian calmly ordered, breathing heavily. She raised her hand when Jared almost stood next to her. "I'm fine."
Using difficult spells weaken any rimian's body and although everyone has their individual abilities, each being stronger or weaker than another, there's a limit to how much power they could use. There could only be too much for a human's body to handle. Rimians were gifted but serve no eternal power or immortality, for they are born as humans---like a vessel. It's a risk to abuse power. Some ended up killing themselves unintentionally.
"You used it, fine. But lose the barrier. You can't be having them all at once."
"Okay, Jax." She shrugged and snapped her fingers again. The ethreal dimension vanished and everyone around them started to move in their normal pace. Jared went back to his seat. "Okay then, James?"
The man's lifeless eyes stared back into her. "Yes."
"Good. You're alive." She placed her elbows on the table, putting her chin on top of her joint hands while smiling at the unconscious man. "Let's get to business. The news of David Staniel's death was reported almost a week ago, is that right?"
"Yes."
"What about the investigation?"
"There was no investigation."
"What?" Marian handed him one draft just so their conversation would seem like a normal business deal. "You got a pass. The underground provided you an ID and you got in."
"And no investigation. Chief Elijah. He led."
"Elijah..." She remembered that name. Jared nodded as to take note of their next lead. "What did he say? Elaborate the scene."
"Underground called for Elijah's department and provided me the identification for entry. Staniel's been dead days before he was reported as 'died of natural causes'. He was inside Mnemosyne's. Poisoned. Then taken away. Into custody. By...anonymous hosts. I made the news and Elijah provided stories." James narrated in a robotic voice.
"How is he in a coffin, inside their mansion right now?"
"He was returned when the police were informed." Marian and Jared now stared in interest.
"Now, the case. Underground started two sides; Roberta's and the other is Staniel's child. Who is he or she?"
"I do not know." James now started to blink slowly, which means their time is almost up. Marian handed him another wrinkled draft with only two paragraphs written in messy scratches.
"Who is the ringmaster? And how did he know that it was Staniel's child who did it?"
"He did not know." His voice cracked, his body started to shiver but continued to speak. "He s-started the word. Raven... Ravenshawn!"
Their eyes widened as his eyes closed. James fell limp and Jared was fast enough to sit beside him to catch his body. Marian gathered the crumpled papers and masked her surprise to conceal her glowing eyes, now turning it back to its lustrous white shade. The park was filled with various screams and laughter from playing children and dating couples. Yet it wasn't enough to silence the ringing in their ears. The name must be common in Clerio. It had to be.
"Ravenshawn?"
Marian nodded with a grim look. "Ravenshawn," She confirmed.
The rest of their trip was filled with James' heavy snores inside Jared's car. Marian sat at the back, with the unconscious man whose knees touched the tinted windows, folded, feet on the seat and head placed right next to Marian's crossed legs.
She stared outside the window, feeling a bit of pity for the man who now had drool coming out of his mouth. What bothered her more was how much time and money Jared would spend just to clean the backseat of their prints. She pitied the driver more than the sleeping nerd beside her.
"Did you really have to use bewitch?" Jared asked while slowing down at the crossing lines.
"Nice of you to say that. Last time I checked, you're the one who used snithe to open a can of tuna."
"That was totally different, Ion! You used it on someone."
"On a Rimian," She pointed out with her forefinger held up.
"Who actually is an ally, from the west branch." They turned to Pivonius and stopped in front of a rented apartment with polished windows and walls partially painted with sky blue based on the scattered cans of paint in the living room. "And look at him! He's doing his own color theme! Who does that?"
"Everyone, Jax. Unlike you and your people who grew up in diamond bedrooms and have maids for putting on slippers."
She simply used repel to open the front door while Jared held James steady by putting the guy's arm over his shoulders. When they got inside, he let go. Marian opened her hand. James levitated before he could completely hit the floor.
"I didn't give birth to myself, Ion."
"I'm not complaining! Everything's free when I'm with you. Perhaps that's why we became friends in the circle, am I right?" She gently settled James in his bedsheets. She sighed. "I can't believe, this is how we use our ethrenaura now. Tucking a kidnapped guy into bed after breaking in his house. Okay, wow. We, are, so, so, retired."
"James was right. Maybe we could get arrested." They went down the stairs and locked the door, completely leaving the man asleep in his own apartment.
"That won't happen. We're spoiled, okay? Besides, we kindly put him back in his own place. What kind of bad people would do that?" She laughed while Jared started the engine.
"We're not bad people yet."
___ end of Chap I___