Chereads / Magni Nominis Umbra / Chapter 3 - Endeavors

Chapter 3 - Endeavors

In a very extensive condominium, Robin resides; where Kristiaan feeds him, gives clothes to, but keeps him from other people and other immortals to discern. It is becoming a habit of Astrid to visit and have a little chat with Robin, every so often.

"Remember when we talked about second chances and redemption?", Astrid sincerely asks as Robin subsequently nods.

"I think I just found my chance at redemption.", Astrid says in earnest.

Robin keeps sipping from his juice box while paying attention to Astrid, "Really?".

"Her.", Astrid replies, pointing at Fleur's picture on a board.

"Your sister? I thought she was dead.", Robin makes a very accurate remark.

Astrid quivers as she slowly realizes that the resuscitation of Aster Frigard is no accident. "I thought so too.", she whispers underneath her breath.

"On second thought, I might be busy.", Astrid adds as she leaves Robin with his juice box.

———————————————————

Kai walks through a door of what looks like a brasserie as he meets up with Fleur, who has been sitting on the same chair for quite some time now.

"I'm so sorry. I needed time for a quiet contemplation.", Kai explains.

"Mr. Parkerson, if you don't mind —", Fleur says, getting interrupted by Kai.

"Please, call me Kai.", Kai insists in the most polite way he can.

"Okay. I was just wondering about the email you've sent me. I'm guessing this is about the name of the suspect.", Fleur says with forthrightness.

"I'm here to tell the truth.", Kai, once again, interrupts Fleur.

"Well, yeah. But I'm kinda getting the feeling that I don't want to know any of it.", Fleur accurately guesses.

Kai grovels at his feet, not making eye contact with Fleur. "It's not just about this case. Astrid, Astrid Frigard. Sure, the Mikaelsords had helped solve many cases. But there are some incidents that they covered up for her, crimes of Astrid.", Kai explains as Fleur's blood went cold, once she heard the name: 'Astrid'.

Fleur freezes as if somebody took away her soul. "Ms. Christensen. Fleur. Fleur! Fleur!", Kai persistently calls her.

"Don't worry, I'll get back to you.", Fleur says as she leaves Kai, thinking if he made a mistake going behind Astrid's back, once more.

———————————————————

In the midst of their personal endeavors, Rosaria finds herself in a state of hyperconcentration with the very intention of finding a cure to Maeve's forthcoming demise. Her room is, purposely, decorated with ancient books and artifacts as she tries everything in her will to decipher each one.

Xavier knocks and enters her room and subsequently asks "How can I be of assistance?".

"You cannot. Not unless you have an expertise on necromancy.", Rosaria declines.

"I don't need an area of expertise to help my dear sister.", Xavier jokingly insists, making Rosaria scoff.

"You found anything?", Xavier is determined to help his sister at any cost.

Rosaria shakes her head and begins to explain their grave situation, "You remember when we reached the age of 22 and there were those ceremonial things we, immortals, do where we voluntarily and peacefully die and then wake up as a complete immortal? Our first death is kinda part of how we activate immortality.".

"Yeah, but you can die early on, like Astrid did.", Xavier nods and argues.

Rosaria continues to explicate "But because of Maeve's human blood fighting over immortality, she only has 22 years to exist until we find an escape route. Think of it as a virus. Human blood and immortality don't exactly go well together. So when she dies, she's not coming back as immortal because she's also...".

"HUMAN", they utter in unison.

———————————————————

After her rendezvous with Kai, Fleur takes a quiet saunter on her way to the police headquarters. She stops for the pedestrian traffic light as she gazes at Keane on the other side of the avenue.

Keane waves a warm hello at Fleur as she looks around, checking if Keane's wave is for her. Keane walks the crossroad towards Fleur and smiles at each other.

"We meet again, she who must not be named.", Keane teases as Fleur subsequently laughs.

Fleur extends her arms and says "Fleur Christensen".

Keane reaches for Fleur's arms, the way he did for the last thousand year, and says "Keane Darnell Mikaelsord".

Another eye-opener is then brought to life as Fleur stutters "You're a Mikaelsord? Have you been following me?!".

Keane realizes the weight he, mistakenly, threw at Fleur and explains "No! I'm not. I swear I'm not. It's just...".

"I can't do this right now.", Fleur replies as she attempts to leave Keane's orbit.

Keane runs after her, unlike giving up on Aster a thousand year ago. He blocks Fleur and says "Let me explain. I didn't know that you were going to be one of our clients. Because if I did, I would've told you not to sign any contract.".

"Look, I don't want any part of this. I'm already feeling nausea just by thinking of all of this.", Fleur interrupts.

"I know. I also want you to have a perfectly normal life. But I need you to just go with the suspect's name Kai gave you. Trust me, it'll be a lesser pain if you do.", Keane replies with concern.

"Please", Keane lets Fleur go and walk on her own path.

———————————————————

Astrid makes haste towards her expedition on unraveling the truth as she encroaches on the Parkersons. Adrianna initially hears a continuous demanding knock on the door, while hiding every trace of endeavor she has.

She opens the door with a deep breath as Astrid enters their house calmly yet guarded. "I guess Lukai still has you locked away, huh?", Astrid paced around the house.

"Uhm yeah. I mean, no. What are you doing here, if I may ask?", Adrianna replies as her heart feels heavy from within.

"I need you to do something because your brother probably won't do it for me.", Astrid supposed.

"If my brother wouldn't do it, why do you think I should?", Adrianna argues.

"Well 'cause you're different from your brother. It's your time to shine, honey.", Astrid banters.

Adrianna slightly chuckles and replies "That's funny".

Astrid looks at her seriously "Oh, I'm not joking.", as Adrianna nods in assent.

Astrid continues to march around the room, taking in the sights of their house. "Are you busy? Looks like you've been pretty busy yourself.", Astrid notices all of the crumpled papers on the ground that Adrianna, unfortunately, left out.

"Uh, no. Just killing time.", Adrianna denies.

Astrid gets a chair to sit on while she asks "Imma need you to prioritize this one. Remember when we were kids?".

"You mean when I was a kid and you were a fully-grown adult?", Adrianna clarifies as Astrid, afterwards, scoffs.

"I was 19, okay? Anyway, we had the idea of resurrecting someone, right. And we kinda just fell out of it, 'cause we were told that it was impossible. What if I told you that that's impossible at all?", Astrid says, making Adrianna shiver with frailty.

"Astrid, even if we prove that's possible, resurrecting someone who's already dead is against Magni Nominis Umbra.", Adrianna exclaims, showing a slight tremble in her voice.

"Tell that to the person who resuscitated Aster.", Astrid replies.

"How do you know if it's really her? What if maybe she just looks like her?", Adrianna pretends to be clueless of Aster's existence.

"Okay, I'm going to pretend you didn't ask me that stupid question. But I just need proof. Please help me find a way.", Astrid solemnly asks and Adrianna agrees, as if she isn't already looking through every book to do so.

As Astrid was about to depart, she added "Oh and keep your mouth shut on any of these.". Adrianna, like everyone else, is left pondering on Astrid's imminent courses of actions as well as her pure intentions.

———————————————————

Once more, Astrid transports instantly across another distance so as to be near Fleur. She alights from a Tesla Model X, as she sets foot on the threshold of the police headquarters.

However, Astrid's first step forward ultimately costs her three steps back as she receives an alarming call from Kristiaan.

"You have to get out of there NOW!", Kristiaan exclaims, while Astrid furrows her eyebrows in disapproval.

"Kai is on his way to that building.", Kristiaan warns her.

"What the hell is he doing here?", Astrid bursts out as she exits through the fire escape, restless to fade away.

"We'll talk about this later. Get out of there!", Kristiaan exclaims, putting the phone down.

In the intervening period of time, Kai enters the workplace in search of Fleur as well as news on finding Astrid Frigard. His mind could not bear any more second to think of the Frigard sisters, without having reassurance from Fleur.

"PSST!", Kai catches Fleur's attention.

Fleur approaches Kai and grabs him in a corner to discuss discreetly. "Have you told them the name?", Kai blatantly asks.

Fleur keeps biting her nails as she replies "I just..".

"So you haven't.", Kai notices Fleur's compulsive habit.

"We have to talk to the Mikaelsords first. We will set up a meeting of some sort.", Fleur explains.

Kai scoffs and argues "You can't set up a meeting with the Mikaelsords. THEY will set up a meeting with you, whenever they want to; in which in our case, they will never do so.".

"Okay, but do you know where they reside? Or Astrid's whereabouts?", Fleur directly asks as Kai shakes his head in denial.

"I'll tell them. They're just currently in their lunch break.", Fleur reassures Kai.

As Kai turns his back against Fleur, she halts Kai and lets him know "I've just met one of the Mikaelsords —".

"They had you followed?", Kai interrupts her.

"He said no, he wasn't following me. But I don't know.", Fleur with all honesty replies.

"Who did?", Kai quivers in trepidation.

"Keane, Keane Mikaelsord.", Fleur answers. "If you want, we can send someone to assure your privacy. But of course, we will be needing you on some questions.", Fleur offers him.

Lukai immediately realizes that Fleur's identity has already been tarnished, along with his duplicity, ultimately leading to his finality.

———————————————————

The sun glinted off Astrid's wayfarer sunglasses as she instead took a seat from a wooden bench by the police headquarters. Thereafter, from a cafe, not far from Astrid's sight, Rhaylee calls Astrid out and refers to her as "Fake Ring!", which catches Astrid's attention.

Rhaylee approaches Astrid and sits beside her. "Our kismet's weird.", Rhaylee mutters, making Astrid smirk.

"What?", Astrid pretends to be confused as if she hadn't already had a road trip through Rhaylee's mind.

"It's just you don't always meet a stranger twice.", Rhaylee explains.

"Maybe we're meant to be more than strangers.", Astrid says with a smile on her face.

Rhaylee smiles back at her and utters "Rhaylee Bloom, nice to meet you.".

"Jasleen Vanworth, likewise.", Astrid replies as she sighs with relief. "Seriously though, you deserve someone who would give you a real-ass ring.", Astrid sincerely says.

"I'm actually working on it. We're gonna hit some clubs tonight, my friend and I.", Rhaylee apprises Astrid.

"Oh no. That's a bad idea.", Astrid scoffs.

"No, I know. But I just need my friend to clear her mind, even just for a moment.", Rhaylee answers.

"Your friend who's always there for you.", Astrid supposes her relationship with Fleur.

"Her name's Fleur. And yes, we've always been each other's soulmate. I think we've known each other for a lifetime now, actually. We met way back in foster care. And since then, we are inseparable.", Rhaylee says.

"But you do have a family? Foster?", Astrid asks.

"Yeah, but we don't really communicate. 'Cause they kinda just treated me as no one but a foster child. Fleur, on the other hand, didn't have any family but me.", Rhaylee replies.

"For the record, you two have a very nice life. I mean, there are always gonna be setbacks but, so far, you have a nice life, a nice career.", Astrid comforts her.

"Sure. But there's like this daily reminder that we're incomplete, a continuous endless reverie.", Rhaylee opens up to Astrid.

Astrid gazes at Rhaylee's eyes, for a while, and hands Rhaylee one of her rings, "Here".

"What is this?", Rhaylee slightly chuckles.

"It's not a fake ring. Congratulations, Rhaylee Bloom. You are officially Jasleen Vanworth's friend. There are currently seven of you guys right now. So, if you come across those people who have the same ring as you, you should know that they're friends with me.", Astrid jokingly says as she shakes Rhaylee's hand, making her laugh.

"I'm kidding. There's only you.", Astrid adds.

"Well, this means a lot to me. Thank you.", Rhaylee says with a smile on her face.

Astrid stands up and says her goodbye to Rhaylee "I ought to go. My car's waiting. Good luck on your hunt!". Rhaylee also stands up to go back to her dull workplace as they part their own ways.

———————————————————

"Did you buy a real-ass ring without me?!", Fleur exclaims as soon as she sees the ring in Rhaylee's index finger.

Rhaylee consequently smirks, "Someone gave it to me.", indicating Astrid Frigard.

Fleur is stunned and stares at her. "It's the girl, isn't it? The one you met from the Mikaelsords.", Fleur accurately guesses as Rhaylee nods. She smiles at Rhaylee like a proud puppy to her owner.

"Relax, it's a friendship ring. I honestly can't believe I met her again. I got your lunch, by the way.", Rhaylee explains, while giving Fleur her lunch.

And just like that their conversation has been, once again, put to cessation by Barb. "How'd your meeting with Parkerson go?", he directly asks.

Fleur could not bring herself to utter a syllable nor move a muscle. "It's uhhhm...complicated.", she simply says.

Barb and Rhaylee looked at each other, expecting Fleur to explicate further. "It's the Mikaelsords. They have been burying secrets of various crimes for the name of Astrid Frigard, crimes such as the one we're working on.", Fleur finally explains.

"Okay, so we'll find Astrid and ask her some questions.", Barb promptly decides.

"I was actually thinking if we could ask the Mikaelsords first. And then, maybe they can tell us Astrid's location.", Fleur suggests.

"However, the problem is that we can't contact the Mikaelsords nor we know their residence.", Fleur adds as Barb facepalms in agitation.

Immediately after Barb leaves, Rhaylee looks at Fleur in high spirits and asks "You ready for tonight?".

"Ohhh", Fleur exclaims, revealing that she had forgotten their rendezvous.

"No no no! You're not doing that. You're coming with me even if I have to turn the world upside down.", Rhaylee exaggerates.

"I am going. I'm not going to abandon you, I promise.", Fleur promises, as they touch each other's index finger as a sign of promise 'til death.

"Mmm, okay.", Rhaylee says as she leaves the room.

Rhaylee pauses, comes back and adds "Actually, do you have some spare clothes that a person, like Rhaylee Bloom, could use?".

Fleur glares at her and cries out "Oh God!".

Rhaylee slightly chuckles, "You know what, nevermind.", as she, once again, leaves.

———————————————————

Arriving back at the Mikaelsord Manor, Ezra and his daughter, Maeve, are drenched in sweat after their vehement badminton game only to see Keane frantically pacing back and forth around the kitchen.

"This is getting out of hand.", Keane whispers as he glares upon Ezra.

Maeve notices the atmosphere's growing temper as she consequently leaves, "Shall I call the others?", she asks.

"Yes, thank you.", Ezra replies.

"She doesn't trust us, Ezra. She wants to keep investigating and digging up bones.", Keane cries out.

Roux, Rosaria, and Roux eventually enter the room, wearing concerned looks on their faces. "What's going on?", Roux asks.

"It's Aster.", Ezra answers as Keane interrupts him.

"She's not Aster. It's Fleur.", Keane rectifies.

"Okay, whoever she is we need a plan B.", Ezra exclaims.

The Mikaelsords couldn't look at each other, while pondering of their personal avenues as Rosaria explains "I think we need to focus more on how we're going to tell Astrid that her supposed to be dead sister is alive and doesn't have a clue on who she is and who we are.".

"Rosaria's right. If Astrid finds that out and it's not from us, she's probably going round the bend and killing us all.", Xavier concurs.

Ezra furrows his eyebrows and scratches his head, thinking of what would become of them if Astrid also figures out they had known all along. "We'll invite her for lunch tomorrow. Roux, tell Astrid we need to settle some things.", Ezra instructs them.

Laying everything off the record, all of them already foresee the beginning of many wars to come whilst battling each of their worst ordeal. In fact, Aster's resurrection and its repercussions might as well be the Armageddon of Immortality.

———————————————————

The gleaming moonlight rises upon the Two Bridges as Xavier awaits for Fenelle's appearance. Countless cars have passed by, but not the person he longs for. Xavier's toes froze in time as he sat by the sidewalk bridge hopelessly.

Xavier stands up as he slowly catches sight of Fenelle walking towards him. "Hey, you came.", Xavier's mood lights up instantly.

However, Xavier notices the growing gloom in Fenelle's eyes. "It's gonna be okay. You see that building?", Xavier points at the old murky building on his left.

"There's an elevator inside that only supernaturals use as a portal. It can change our immortal blood into human blood, therefore forgetting that we've ever become immortal. We can go together, we'll forget our dreadful past and we'll live as humans.", Xavier explains.

"I know what it does, Xavi. But I can't.", Fenelle replies with pain in her heart.

"You can't or you won't?", Xavier blatantly asks.

"I can't, until my brother regains his purpose, among other things he needs to do.", Fenelle replies, as Xavier looks away.

Fenelle reaches for Xavier's hands and stares at his eyes. "I know it hurts, but it's okay. Keep holding on to that, 'cause then we'll have something to look forward to: a pleasant future together, out of this netherworld.", Fenelle pulls Xavier closer in her arms, hugging each other.

As Fenelle lets go of Xavier, he grips Fenelle's arm, "Go to the Manor, tomorrow. Please.", he requests. Xavier gives her a piece of paper with their address inked on it.

Fenelle walks farther and farther away from Xavier's scope, and gets inside a Dodge Challenger, with Manuel waiting for her inside. "Well?", Manuel asks for Fenelle's gained information.

"He said to go to their Manor.", Fenelle says in coercion, as she gives the address to Manuel.

Manuel smirked in triumph as Fenelle keeps her eyes locked away from his tenacious brother. Her arms are feeling numb from keeping a tight grasp of her relationship with Manuel as she also keeps a firm hold on her promise with Xavier.

———————————————————

Fleur flinched at the sight of flashing lights inside the bustling crowded club, in which she entered with Rhaylee, who ended up wearing one of Fleur's light silk dress underneath a leather jacket.

Upon dancing and singing to the lyrics of '7 Rings', Fleur and Rhaylee finally needed some refreshment and took upon themselves to approach the bar and drink a few shots of Gin and Tonic.

Things take a vast abrupt turn, when a holler is made by a man sitting beside Rhaylee. "You have a really nice body. You shouldn't have worn a leather jacket, it's nice to show a little skin.", he says to Rhaylee, in which Fleur took offense.

Many would call it a compliment, or so they say, but not Fleur. With her grim atrocious experience from foster parents, Fleur had gone through the many shades of maltreatment, perhaps, including assault. Unfortunately, her long list of mishaps does merely stop there.

"I'm sorry.", Rhaylee replies with shame and humiliation down her throat. Rhaylee, on the other hand, felt guilty as if she is blaming herself for the way she dressed, how people act and say to her. Her confidence comes cascading down after the remark as Fleur approaches the man, holding Rhaylee's hand on the way.

"Hey! You should be proud of yourself. Not everyone could be a successful dick as you are.", Fleur sarcastically exclaims, as the guy scoffs.

"Why? You jealous I made that remark to your friend, instead of you?", he says, as he touches Fleur's face. Fleur consequently smacks him as Rhaylee grabs Fleur's arms and runs away from the club.

The sky was full of stars as they passed through the sidewalks, having the moment of their lives. "I'm sorry. I know that what happened there brought back some memories to you.", Rhaylee sincerely apologizes, implying Fleur's childhood memories within foster families.

"Stop, you have to stop saying sorry for the things you can't control.", Fleur says.

"By the way, what was her name?", Fleur points at Rhaylee's ring.

Rhaylee initially smiles and answers "Jasleen Vanworth.", as Fleur hyperventilates.

"What? What what what's going on?", Rhaylee asks Fleur, who's having a hard time breathing.

"I'm okay.", Fleur says, as she keeps stroking her stinging heart.

Fleur tries everything in her own will to hide her throbbing heart while her head starts to ache, as if someone pierces through it. Rhaylee looks at Fleur more and more concerned and suddenly, Fleur passes out.

Once more and not the last, adrenaline rushes in Fleur's heart, losing control of her heartbeat. Things escalate after Rhaylee enunciates 'Jasleen Vanworth'. Astrid's name seems to be a slow searing poison to Fleur's mind and soul as she is then rushed to the hospital immediately.

———————————————————

On the prolific Friday night most people are having, Adrianna, in contrast, is having a frivolous night, filled with ancient reading and deciphering. Her predicament goes beyond what she anticipated as she has been learning incessantly about weapons that can possibly kill an immortal but not a weapon that could potentially resuscitate one.

Adrianna settled to go downstairs, seeing her brother have fallen asleep on the couch. She grabs a warm blanket and laid onto Kai's shuddering arms. She kisses her thumb and caresses it on Kai's forehead.

As Adrianna turned around, Kai talks in his sleep. "the dagger", Kai mumbles, which made Adrianna furrow her eyebrows. She began to clamber stairs with her heavy footsteps, finding every existence of a dagger in her ancient books.

"The Void Dagger", Adrianna utters and takes the deepest breath as she ultimately unravels the way to resurrect an immortal. Therefore, proving the fact that Aster is, in fact, alive and is living a human life as the FBI Agent Fleur Christensen.