7.P.M and the sun had set barely an hour ago, though it didn't make much difference with the skies being painted a gloomy grey, though the snow had stopped and settled into an equally grey slush by the road and on the paths.
Atlas strode out of the Astoria briskly, even under his long coat that swung to his knee and lovely knitted scarf he was still freezing, he could see his breath hanging in the air as he walked, hands in pockets and trying not to make eye contact with anyone by accident.
That was, until he heard a commotion coming from down the street.
"Damn it."
He hadn't gotten around to hiring a new City Guard yet, so unfortunately, he'd have to waste his own time dealing with Mage squabbles and mishaps until he does. Which was a shame, since he liked the way Jesse handled situations, quickly and quietly.
He turned the corner to face The Stone's Throw pub where he witnessed the bartender physically pick up and hurl Tobias into the slush on the street.
"I'm not going to throw you out of here again, boy!"
Tobias sat up and attempted to brush the slush from his legs, but all that did was rub it into his jeans more. "What're you going to do? Refill me?"
The bartender took a step forward, "I'll do more than that, deadeye. Now bugger off and stop pickpocketing my regulars!"
Tobias scrambled to his feet, he silenced himself at what the bartender said, which was an uncommon slur for Soothseekers that was fairly offensive. He had a strong urge to punch the bartender but he knew he probably wouldn't last long in a fight, so he decided to drop it and just walk.
Atlas watched what happened and took a moment before scurrying ahead to the bartender.
The bartender turned to walk back into his pub when Atlas caught his eye, he immediately straightened up.
"High Sage Booker!"
Atlas didn't have time for being sucked up to right now. "What you said, was it right?"
"I umm…" The bartender's face blushed red like rose wine. "My intention was never to-"
"I don't care about the slur!" Atlas huffed. "You called him Deadeye, is that right? Is he a Soothseeker?"
"Well… Yes, sir."
"How do you know?" Atlas kept a watchful eye of Tobias behind the bartender as he slowly walked down the street, struggling to tipsily walk through the slush with balance or sophistication.
The bartender stumbled over his words. "Well, he's fairly new around these parts, sir. H-his eyes are the giveaway. I've seen him hustle my customers by using it, but I...I don't think he should get into trouble for it, he's just a kid."
"The eyes… Are you certain?"
The bartender gave a regretful nod. "Positive."
With the newfound information Atlas had already started following Tobias and was catching up to him, he was about to grab him when he got close enough, but wandering eyes were watching.
He paused and watched his breath escape his mouth, he gently placed a hand on Tobias' shoulder "My dear boy. You must be freezing out here."
That voice.
He remembered Atlas' distinct voice.
Tobias slumped forward before managing to catch himself and turned to face whoever had a warm hand on him, once he laid his chestnut brown eyes on Atlas he knew he was in trouble, and Atlas knew he found what he was looking for, he couldn't hide the curled smirk on his lips.
"Come with me to the warmth of The Astoria."
It wasn't like Tobias had a choice, who was going to stop the person running the country for Mages from doing anything? He wasn't in a position to fight and before he could think of anything to say he found himself already walking, past The Stone's Throw and the bartender who threw him out, the longest walk of his life to The Astoria.
"Are you going to kill me?" Tobias asked.
"Why would I do such a thing?" Atlas mumbled quietly. "You're very valuable, well, your magic is, anyway."
"I'm not a Soothseeker."
"I didn't say you were, but thanks for confirming."
Tobias cursed under his breath, they entered The Astoria.
At least it was warm.
Now that the pair were sealed off from prying eyes, Atlas snatched at Tobias' arm and dragged him through the vestibule.
"What do you want with me?"
But Atlas wasn't in the mood for pleasantries and talking anymore, he dragged Tobias down an array of corridors until he reached his office.
He swung open the door and tightened his grip of Tobias' wrist. He reached into a desk drawer with his free hand and yanked out a pair of handcuffs, "You are staying right here." he slapped one handcuff around a radiator pipe, with the other hand he hauled Tobias to the ground and slapped the other end of the handcuff around his wrist. As soon as the handcuff closed Tobias felt weak, tired and drained, his magic had dampened.
"You're bound now. No magic, no funny business, no escape."
"What could you possibly want with me?"
"Your magic."
"Well, duh." Tobias rolled his eyes as he jerked at the handcuffs in a pathetic attempt to break free.
"You don't seem so terrified, not what I imagined for a kidnapping." Atlas frowned.
"If you're going to need me for my magic, you're going to keep me alive."
"Ah," Atlas' smirk widened. "alive, yes. But that's the absolute minimum requirement." Smoked black tendrils seeped out from under his coat and coiled around Tobias' legs to stop him from squirming and kicking, they tightened uncomfortably. "Bad things can still happen."
Tobias yelped out in pain. "Stop!"
Atlas loosened the grip from the tendrils, "Now, you're going to be a good boy and help some very powerful people out, aren't you?"
Tobias' eyes glazed over Atlas. "My magic doesn't work the way you think it does."
"I know all about Soothseekers, I've been looking for one for many, many years."
"I can't control my magic."
"Don't play games, boy."
"I mean it."
Atlas raised a brow. "And why should I believe you?"
Tobias slumped his back against the wall "Why would I lie to you if I have no other magic and I'm 'cuffed to a damn radiator?"
"Soothseekers are known to be shifty in their demeanor." Atlas kept very under-control and calm as he spoke sternly.
"I've got better places to be!" Tobias snapped. "Don't you think if I could, I would tell you whatever you wanted to know so that I could just leave?"
Atlas stared at him. "I have no intention of letting you go."
"If my magic worked properly before you handcuffed me don't you think I would have known that?"
"How do I know you aren't playing games with me?"
"What the hell could I be gaining from any of this?"
Atlas blinked. "Then what do you know?"
"I know you tried to kill Ant."
Atlas immediately cut him off "Tried?"
Tobias hesitated and tried to think on his feet. "I mean… You wouldn't actually do something like that though, would you?"
"You're the Soothseeker, you tell me."
"I told you, I don't control my magic, it doesn't work like that."
Atlas rose to his feet and growled. "So what you're telling me is that after years of trying to find a Soothseeker, I find a boy that's broken? I get my hands on a child who is so worthless that calling you a Mage is an insult to actual Mages?"
"That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair." Atlas snarled. "Regardless of whether you magic works or not I'm keeping you here, because I have a suspicion you're lying to me. Your kind were wiped out for a reason, that reason was due to your untrustworthiness and your ability to mess with people's heads."
"I'm not one of the people you guys wiped out. I had nothing to do with wars or whatever happened in the past before."
"Well, you know the old saying, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
"You can't leave me here."
"Don't be stupid. You're going to stay here until I can get something out of you."
"I know you want me for information but what the hell could I possibly tell you that you don't already know?" Tobias grumbled.
He watched Atlas about to leave before glancing back at him, "The future. I'll ask in detail when I'm more confident in you and know that you can use your 'gift'..."
He closed the door and left him there, he pulled, yanked and rattled the handcuff against the radiator but it wouldn't budge, nor would the handcuff break.
He was stuck there.
Atlas brushed himself off and calmed himself down. He plucked his new phone from his pocket and tried to call Alisha several times but there was no answer.
"Odd, she usually picks up on the second ring." he mumbled to himself.
He tried to call her a few more times before giving up and texting her instead.
'Come to The Astoria asap.
There's something here that will make our plans a lot more interesting.'