A crazy plan is just a genius idea with poor time management.
Plan
When Rolo and Mose finally appeared, dragging the unconscious blood mage between them, I feigned surprise, though the corners of my mouth betrayed my amusement. "Well, would you look at that!" I exclaimed. "You two have outdone yourselves!"
Mose shifted uncomfortably, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment, while Rolo swatted my hand away as I tried to ruffle his hair. He protested furiously at my attempts. Ungrateful kids, I thought affectionately.
With a determined grunt, I decided to haul the mage out to the garden for a proper interrogation. As we stepped into the living room, I found Alex sprawled across the couch, completely absorbed in his phone. The moment he caught sight of the bound blood mage, his expression morphed from boredom to shock. "Who is that?" he asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
Dragging the mage by the collar of his cloak, I shrugged. "I think he works for Belizár."
Alex pushed himself off the couch, his movements surprisingly measured. I had never seen him so deliberate before, and an uneasy feeling settled in my gut. Had he sensed something I hadn't?
The wolf's keen gaze darted over the unconscious mage, nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air. "Something's not right," he declared, his voice low and serious. "He doesn't smell like a human."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confusion knitting my brow.
Alex straightened up, scratching the back of his head as if wrestling with a puzzle. "That's why I didn't notice him at first. All I can smell is blood."
Before I could respond, the blood mage chuckled, a low, sinister sound that sent a chill down my spine. His eyes sparkled with a twisted excitement as if he were enjoying the show far too much. I felt my lips curl involuntarily in disgust, realizing too late that we had been lured into a trap.
Rolo's eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in their depths. "A blood vessel?"
His question hung in the air like a portent.
"I didn't think I'd be caught so quickly," the mage crooned, a gleam of relish in his eyes. "You have valuable subjects, Hueless King."
I crouched down to meet the mage's gaze. "Belizár sent you?" I pressed.
To my surprise, the man shook his head, his dark eyes boring into mine with a ravenous hunger. "I've heard a lot about you. I just wanted to know what was true."
"Well?" I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What did you find out?"
The blood mage's grin widened, stretching across his face like a predator's. "I've got even more curious."
"He who is curious," I began ominously, "dies quickly."
"Only if you catch me," he replied with a wink.
I felt the familiar surge of Moses' magic envelop the blood mage, intensifying the gravity around him, while Rolo muttered an incantation. But in a heartbeat, the body of the blood mage began to dissolve, melting into a thick, viscous mass that oozed eerily like blood but bore an unsettling quality. I instinctively pulled my hand back, shaking off the liquid clinging to my fingers as I stepped away.
"I'll see you again, Your Majesty," the mage's voice echoed, his disintegrating head twisting into a grotesque smile.
"You can be sure of that," I shot back cooly.
As he laughed, the bloody mass splattered across the floor, losing its shape like a discarded shadow.
Rolo scowled, while Moses stood in stunned silence, staring at the dark puddle that marked our failure. I glanced at Alex, who seemed to sense the impending doom, his body tensing as if ready to flee. I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't run away," I said with a teasing smile. "Who's going to clean it up?"
Alex grimaced, shaking his head. "Well, I certainly won't."
"Okay," I shrugged, stepping over the puddle and heading toward the kitchen. "Rolo, Mose—do you want some cocoa?"
Rolo jumped up, instantly following me into the kitchen, while Moses hesitated, casting a regretful glance at Alex before joining the cat.
I pulled out the cocoa and poured milk into a pot, placing it on the stove. Rolo plopped down in one of the chairs as if he owned the place, while Moses chose his seat carefully, a cautious demeanor hanging around him.
"Shouldn't we try to catch him?" Mose asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
I turned, raising an eyebrow. "Why? Can you track down where his real body is?"
Moses' eyes drooped, shame creeping into his expression as he shook his head.
"Then there's nothing we can do," I replied, turning back to the pot, and sprinkling cocoa into the milk.
"What if they come back later?" he pressed, worry lacing his words.
"Don't worry," I reassured him, stirring the mixture, the comforting aroma filling the air. "I wanted to buy some new hideouts anyway."
Mose pressed his lips together, an internal battle raging in his eyes as if he wanted to voice his concerns but couldn't find the words. I poured cocoa into cups, holding one out to him. He looked up, guilt written across his face, blaming himself for drawing unwanted attention.
"Mose," I said soothingly, "they're not the only ones who know where to look for their enemies."
Moses took the mug, fingers trembling slightly. He savored the comforting warmth of the mug against his skin, letting it ground him in the chaos of the moment.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Mose set his mug down, the cocoa still steaming. "I should get going," he said, glancing at the door.
"Already?" I raised an eyebrow, but I could see the determination in his posture. "Fine. Just be careful out there, okay?"
He nodded, a grateful smile ghosting across his lips. "Thanks, Shay. I'll be fine." With a quick wave, he slipped out of the kitchen, leaving me with my thoughts and the fading warmth of the cocoa.
Once I heard the door click shut, I turned to Simon, who had been hovering nearby. "Can you see him home?" I asked, my voice low enough so it wouldn't carry.
Simon rolled his eyes but nodded. With that, he disappeared in a shimmer, ready to follow Mose discreetly.
Alex stormed in, arms crossed and brows furrowed. "You know," he began dramatically, "I'm starting to think I'm the only one in this house who cleans up after anyone! I swear, if I have to deal with another puddle of blood or a stray shoe again, I might just start charging money!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Alex, it's not like we asked the blood mage to come over for tea! We're kind of in the middle of a magical crisis here!"
He threw his hands up, exasperated. "Oh, right! Magical crisis! My bad! I totally forgot that makes it okay for me to clean up after a freak show!"
"Okay, okay," I attempted to diffuse the situation. "It's really not fair. So Rolo, you should clean too since you're such an expert in creating messes."
Rolo choked on his cocoa. "WHAT?"
"Me? Clean? Oh, come on! Do I look like a housekeeper to you?" Rolo exclaimed.
"You've got enough magic to throw a cleaning spell at it, right?" I teased him.
"Why would I clean when I can use my magical prowess for more… important things?" he replied crossing his arms.
"Like what? Napping?" I quipped.
"Hey, cats need a lot of naps," he shot back.
Alex groaned, leaning against the counter. "I'll add 'unpaid housekeeper' to my list of titles then."
I chuckled. "I can pay you, mate, no problem."
"Really? How much are you offering for my 'professional cleaning services'?" he asked, crossing his arms, his face a perfect blend of skepticism and amusement.
I thought for a moment, putting on my best business-like expression.
"Let's see... how about twenty-thousand for a full cleaning shift?" I offered, trying to keep a straight face.
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Is that supposed to be a fortune or a joke?"
"Hey, it's a fair price for dealing with all this chaos," I said, gesturing to the imaginary mess. "I mean, you'd need to be compensated for your trauma."
"Trauma, huh? So now I'm a trauma victim for cleaning up after you lot?" he asked, deadpan.
"Exactly!" I said, nodding vigorously. "And for your bravery in facing rogue blood magic!"
"Bravery, huh?" he laughed, shaking his head. "So what if I want to negotiate? How about also a lifetime supply of cocoa?"
"Deal! But that means you'll have to do the shopping for cocoa too!" I shot back.
"Great, now I'm the cleaning service and the grocery delivery," Alex muttered, rolling his eyes. "Just how many jobs do I need?"
"And you need to cook as well," Rolo chimed in, his expression mischievous. "Or else you'd have to deep clean the kitchen every day too."
"Cooking? Oh sure, just add that to my résumé! 'Alex: Professional Chaos Manager, Housekeeper, Grocery Delivery, and Chef!'" he exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air for dramatic effect.
"Yeah, and don't forget the snacks!" Rolo added, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Alex rolled his eyes. After the laughter settled, I felt the weight of the situation pressing down again.
"So?" he said, plopping down into a chair and crossing his arms. "We're just not gonna talk about you going alone to the enemy base?"
I sighed, setting my mug down with a soft clink. "We need the intel, Alex. So, yeah, I have to go."
"There's got to be another way," Alex countered, his tone sharp with frustration. "You always choose the most effective way… but that doesn't mean it's the only way."
"Maybe," I admitted. "But we need that intel fast. We don't have the luxury of time to think up a dozen different plans."
Alex leaned back in his chair, his arms still tightly crossed in front of his chest. His jaw clenched, and I could see he wasn't happy about any of this. "I hate this," he muttered, looking away for a moment.
"I know," I said softly, meeting his gaze again.
Rolo, who had been unusually quiet, finally chimed in. "You're sure you'll be able to get in and out without getting caught?"
"I'm not planning on sticking around for afternoon tea," I said dryly, though the joke fell flat. "I'll be quick. Gather what we need, stir up some trouble to keep Belizár busy, and get back."
"Stir up trouble?" Alex snorted. "That sounds like an understatement coming from you."
"I'm good at distractions," I said with a smirk, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "You both know that."
Rolo narrowed his eyes. "What's the backup plan? In case things go sideways?"
"I'll keep Mazen on standby. If I get in over my head, he'll know," I said, not offering any more detail.
Alex stood up, rubbing the back of his neck, pacing the room like he was trying to work out an argument that would change my mind. Finally, he stopped and sighed. "Fine. Just... don't get yourself killed, okay? We kinda need you alive."
I chuckled. "I'll do my best."
Rolo shook his head, muttering under his breath, "This is insane, but I guess that's just how we roll."
With a final exchange of glances, the plan was sealed. There wasn't much else to say. We all knew what needed to be done, even if none of us liked it.
"I need you two to get another house and new supplies in the meantime," I said putting a credit card on the table. "Also have Mose handle the protection."
"Right," Alex said, nodding.
"Make sure the wards around the house are strong," I instructed. "I don't really have other requirements, just choose a place that you like. And if you sense anything unusual, don't hesitate to reach out to Simon or me."
They both nodded and my heart felt a bit lighter.