Chapter 7 - Chapter Five.

~𝔖𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤~

Hey there lovelies, here's another update!

Hope you enjoy, some more Dalia and Lilith vibes.

( ˘ ³˘)♥︎

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"What?!" Dalia exclaims, now out of her seat entirely.

The woman pulled up a chair and sat down. Her fingers pinching her forehead.

"They disappeared this morning." She sighed. "Look, I'm going to be real with you. I wasn't supposed to let you in on this, but the department hasn't come up with anything solid." She huffs. "Some of the teachers that worked with the victim Mr. Don hang out at the garden center though so if you're looking for some more info that would be the best place to look."

I planted back into my chair, taking it all in.

If Mr. Don, was poisoned and his students are missing, somebody must really want the case to be dropped. The only clue that there's any hope in finding is with the teachers.

"Alright, let's go." I look up and see both Dalia and the woman staring at me in surprise. Their argument at a complete standstill.

"Lilith. You've got to be kidding me? How can we trust her?! Moments ago she just confessed to withholding important info regarding the case. On top of that we don't even know her name!" Dalia exclaims.

"My name is Caeli, if you must know. I am private Caeli Solera, chief and figurehead of the people of Solis. Listen, I get it. I wouldn't really trust me either but it seems like you've got no choice but to follow my lead. I know you may not know a lot about the inner workings of Solis, but I do. This place was really shaken up by the news of Mr. Don, because we don't have activity like that around here often. Solis, is peaceful but with the riots getting even worse in the capital, violence is spreading. Fast." She sighs again, pausing to catch her breath. "So will you help me? And figure out what the hell happened in my region? I heard you're the best detectives in all of Ecrea."

A smile begins to creep onto Dalia's face, the side of her mouth slowly turning upwards in confidence. "Oh there's no need for flattery, we were going to solve this case regardless ma'am. But yes we are the best damn detectives in Ecrea, that is a proven fact." She responds straightening in her seat.

"Rest assured Private, will figure out why this happened and all the gory details. Just try not to withhold stuff, it makes things a bit messy." I glance towards Dalia, and give her the look. She stands up and Caelie with her. We both shake her hand, and leave the table walking in the direction our Inn.

The sky dims as the dark lights turn on across Solis, their magic spreading like wildfire across the buildings and streets.

"You didn't tell her about the whole serial killer thing. How are we going to explain the fact that we have to leave after gathering everything we need from here?"

Dalia turns, keeping in pace as walk.

"I have no idea. But you know what telling that will do. If anyone finds about the severity of this case, those riots in the capital? They'll turn into massacres."

"Serves them right though, the royals have never once looked out for anyone besides themselves." She mutters.

"Careful Dalia, they're always listening. We aren't supposed to speak ill of them, as detectives we uphold the law. That's all. You remember what happened to Evans?" I sternly whisper, my tone urgent.

The subject of Evans made me shake with an unnatural cold. He was a good kid, super intelligent and very good on his feet. Though, quite young for his age passed the ranks in hq quickly. He climbed the ladder all the way up to detective, only to meet a tragic end.

As enforcement officials, we see a lot of things we shouldn't see in Ecrea, especially the capitol. And majority of the time when it comes to nobles we're told to look the other way. Unbalanced and unfair, but if we meddled the higher ups promised punishment. Something worse than death itself.

Evans wasn't one to look away though, everyday he saw something cruel he would get involved. Thinking he could change things for the better. For a while he did, things seemed to look a little brighter, maybe Ecrea could be better. It's history of violence could be changed, but that hope is what made things dangerous.

Evans started to piss of the nobles, and too many nobles were beginning to notice him. It took one complaint.

One.

And he was gone.

They told our unit they transferred him, to cover it up, so that we wouldn't get out of line too. But it was impossible to ignore the rumors amongst others on the streets.

He was taken to the pit.

The one place all the bad things go.

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"Woah, this place is big." I stood mesmerized by the clean beige counters, in open air underneath a tent, holding up plants of every kind. Everything on the tables was green, some plants started that color and changed into others while others did the reverse. Big, small, tall, and short. Plants of every shape and size were being tended to.

A woman walking and checking each plant spotted us, and approached us.

"Hello, what can I do for you today?" She smiled brightly. Her face splitting into a wide tight smile. While her face seemed kind her eyes held distaste.

"Hi, we just wanted to ask around and see if anyone knows anything about a case we're working on." I pull my badge out and show her my ID. Her face instantly goes blank, a frown appearing where her smile was. "My name is-"

"We know who you are." She cuts me off promptly. "We don't take you people here." She hisses at us. Her face now in full blown anger, her mouth tightly clasped together and eyes illuminating vividly.

Dalia and I took a step and realized it wasn't just her, the entire garden center was now staring at us. The air buzzing with irritation and disgust, as they stopped what they were doing to focus all their attention on us. We began to take the hint and slowly back out until loud clicking of heels came barreling from further inside the center.

A woman in glasses and messy hair rushed over to the lady in front of us. And began whispering in her ear, they're conversation hushed so that we couldn't hear them. The lady who first approached us, began to nod profusely and squint at us. After they were done she left, walking away deeper into the garden leaving us with her companion.

"Good afternoon! I'm glad you came, though I was expecting you yesterday it's all the same. I'm just glad I'll be able to help out with, Mr. Don." She whispers the name, her genuine look of friendliness facing us.

The rest of the individuals go back to their own thing as she trails off.

"This isn't the best place to talk, let's head over to the maze." She says quietly, and walks past us. "Follow me, please."

She leads the way, out of the tent towards giant trimmed hedges.

"Forgive my manners, I'm Pavo one of the lead teachers here. I believe you are the detectives here to discuss Mr. Don?" She questions, continuing to move forward into the hedges.

"You have to excuse the others, they harbor an old grudge against enforcement officers." She swiftly faced us her eyes turned up in worry. "I was told by Caeli that I should prepare further knowledge on Mr. Don, which is a sore subject around these parts." Looking around, slowly coming to a stop. "This should be a good spot."

Pavo brings out a file, and hands it to Dalia.

"These files have data on Mr. Don's recent attendance." She glowers.

"It says here that he was reported absent for several weeks before his death days later? Did you see him with any strange or new objects, before or after?" I question, looking up from the report. Eyeing Pavo I notice her sharp cheek bones and olive skin. Her upturned eyes, are a dazzling rose matching her flushed cheeks and nose.

She flung her long braided ash hair, over her shoulder and pushed her lenses up preparing to speak.

"Mhm. Yes.." she clears her throat. "He usually disappears from time to time but always returns after a few days. The last time he vanished he had gone for three weeks, with no sign of coming back." Her eyebrows knitted together, as a faraway gaze passed onto her face. "When he returned...he was different. Changed. I think that's when I saw him with the pen as well. It was as if he was faced with a nightmare he was deathly afraid of. He couldn't get any work done, could barely speak full sentences. I told him to take a break for a day and rest. When I had went to his place the next day he was...well you know." Tears were pooling in her eyes, a wide frown tugged at her mouth.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, no one should ever have to see a friend that way." I place a hand on her shoulder for comfort.

Her eyes snap back into focus, as she hastily pushes her lenses away and swipes at her eyes, sniffling. "I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." A cold breeze brushes by, hardening her stare. "Whoever did this, is truly despicable. I want justice for my friend, no matter what."

Dalia steps to her side and patting her on the back. "And Justice, you shall have." Her fist pounding against her chest signaling the symbol of the warrior in Ecrea.

Pavo repeats the action, standing straighter with vengeance in her sight.

"Thank you, both of you. I truly appreciate it. The others may not be amenable to your help but I know for certain they don't know anything anyway." She brushes off. "I have to get back now, or they'll be really upset but if there's anything, anything at all I can help with just send a warp request my way and I'll be there." Pavo shakes our hands, and thanks us again before walking out of the hedge maze and back into the tent with clearly annoyed teachers.

"So, what are we going to do now?" Dalia asks to my left.

"Well we know that he was poisoned, and that the poison couldn't be traced back to this area. The traces of Lead in and on his pen meant he was using it as a result of his death. My only question is, who gave him that pen?" I mutter frustrated, my tense shoulders ache.

"Hey, it's alright it wasn't all for nothing, maybe the answer to your question lies with the next victim. The one in Proluvies." Dalia responds. Her magic hands find their way to my shoulders to untie the stress knots that have formed. I give in and sigh to my own relief.

"Have I told you I love you lately? Because I do. I really really do." I turn around and hold her face in my hands, closing enough to feel the warmth of her skin on mine.

"Oh, I know. How could anyone not?" She chuckles to herself her smile shining brighter than the stars themselves.

My starling.

I can't help myself as my mouth and hers collide. The heat from her passing into me and setting me ablaze.

There is absolutely no better feeling in this world than being scorched by love. It leaves you breathless and filled with everything.

"Mm." Dalia noises and interrupts the moment. Her darkened eyes still running wild with emotion. "As much as I love this moment right now I do think we should hurry to get to our next victim in Proluvies." She snickers, still flushed from our kiss.

"Your right, as always. I wish you weren't though. You must be super excited to see the city, huh." I remark, hinting at her devious grin.

"I mean, can you blame me?! The entire city is literally encapsulated in water! That's extraordinary! Unless you live there, of course in that case it's just ordinary." She trails on, as we walk out of the hedges, holding hands. Listening to her ramble as I go.