*************Raymond***********
Waiting isn't exactly my forte, but right now we have to keep waiting and planning. I feel my self getting more and more withdrawn. I just can't help it.
I see her in my dreams, beaten and sad. When I reach for her, she disappears, causing me to loose sleep and keep running till daybreak. When I run, I keep pushing myself further and further beyond my limits. I like the pain I feel when I do. It feels like an atonement for not trusting my gut that day.
If I had left when I felt uneasy, I would have incurred a lot of losses but not enough to loose my standing in the company. She would have been here beside me, we would be at work right now. Probably joking about something and bantering.
But here I am, sitting in dimly lit conference room, watching my men argue back and forth in exhaustion. This past few weeks has been hell for them and more hell for me.
Just one clue, Artemis. One.
"It's enough, you can take the rest of the day off." I said, leaving my seat and walking to the door.
"We can still stay here boss, it's just Kammy that wouldn't understand." One of the men said giving another one a pointed look as the others nooded.
"I understand. But you are tired, I can see it on your faces. We can continue tomorrow, okay. Have a nice day". I stood up to leave mind linking Darius to follow me as I turned to leave.
"I need to speak with Margaret." I said to Dar as we walked to my room.
"Why?"
"Because the Elders would be sending an old witch to me soon and I need to know why she didn't tell me what she found out that day."
"You think she knows something?" Dar asked inching closer.
"The Elders said so. She was terrified because the magic that was used had been banned ages ago and it's use is punishable by something worse than death. So it was a bold and terrifying move."
"Oh my God. But doesn't the witch know? Like he or she could die."
"I wouldn't know, Dar. We'd know when we see the witch. Till then we just have to speak with Mag."
****************
"Thanks for coming on short notice, Mag." I said showing her a seat.
"It's okay, but with the aura you are emitting, I do not feel really welcome, right now." She said shifting in her seat.
"Why didn't you tell us what you found out at the scene, Margaret?" I spat.
"Okay?? I didn't think this was supposed to be an interrogation..and do not give me that look. I do not owe you honesty, Raymond." She snapped.
Aggressive, as always.
"Even at that, Margaret. You know how important this investigation is to me but you kept such delicate information from me so forgive me if I'm not very welcoming right now!" I snapped back, seething heavily.
"Okay guys! That's enough." Dar said coming in-between us. " We have limited time right now so you'd have to continue this banter next time. Margaret, we need to be sure that we can trust that you would help dedicatedly. This case is delicate to us, we can't have you hiding things. You have to understand." He said turned to her.
"I do understand, Beta, but I do not need to be scolded." She retorted throwing death glares at me.
"I'm not sorry, I'd do that again and again." I snapped.
"Raymond, you are not helping." Darius said.
"I'm sorry, just worked up." I said leaning further into my seat.
"What is the problem. Why was I summoned?" She asked.
"We want to bring in another old witch."
"What?! That's batshit crazy, Brooks. How would you even find one? And if you do, how do you encourage one to practice such magic? You know what the repercussions are right?"
"Margaret, the witch wouldn't have to wield the dark magic if he or she can wield white magic. We were hoping he or she would be able to identify whose magic was at work and would lead us to their location. All this without incurring the wrath of Hades."
"Hmmm, Raymond. Out of 10 cases, that works in 1-0.5 of them. And do you know how tasking it is to wield both types of magic. Besides with how old and wise the witch might be, finding one would be harder than finding a needle in a hay stack"
"About that, I asked the elders for help. They offered to find one. He'd be brought here as soon as they can."
"Hmm, I hope you know that this is really dicey, Raymond. It's a bold move though. But what do you need from me?"
"We'd need to know what to do and how to act around him or her. And if you can send someone to shadow the person that would be perfect."
"That can be arranged." She said giving me a curt nod.
"Thank you, Mag."
"It's okay. Uhh..I heard your sister's back. Is that true?"
"Yeah, she is. How did you know?"
"Uhh..A little birdie was nice enough to tell me." She said looking away from my gaze.
"You spied on me, didn't you? That's why you weren't surprised when I told you I met with the elders."
"Noo..it's not like that. I just..I didn't want to be taken unawares okay? I knew you were gonna find out that I lied that day and that what happened was utterly suspicious, I just couldn't help but spy. I'm sorry." She said looking down at her hands.
Mag was born the same day as Lizzy and I. Although we were of different species, we bonded quite well and wrecked havoc in highschool. We were best of friends...until things began to happen.. but we are cool. We keep it normal..I guess.
"Isn't it suspicious that she doesn't want treatment? She looks really bad, Ray."
She knows that tooo?
"I...what do you suggest I do, Mag. I can't force her. She's powerful, she's an adult but at the same time she's my sister. I'm angry, confused and sad at the same time. I don't know what to do."
"I can get you a really powerful seer. She's good. She might be able to help."
"How? Look into her past?"
"Dumbass. No. She's not gonna look into her past. She might just be able to assess her mind, read her thoughts without Lizzy getting suspicious."
"She's got a good plan there, Ray." Dar said nodding in approval.
"Coffee, anyone?" Sofia called from the other side of the door.
"Yes, baby. Come in." Darius said running to the door to help.
What's he turning into?
"Hey, baby." She cooed at me, making me turn to Darius to see his sour expression. She does this whenever she's mad at him.
"You still haven't changed this tactic, Sofia." Margaret said, all of us laughing at Darius's sour expression.
"But I apologized, Babe." He said wrapping his arm around her waist.
"It takes more than an apology to undo what you did, Darius." She said turning to Margaret, giving her a hug. I turned to Darius. He looked solemn.
I asked him what happened through the mind link but he didn't reply, he just sat in his seat.
"I'd leave you guys to continue. Later Margaret!" Sofia said walking to the door.
"Later babe!" Margaret called.
"I really wonder what you did this time, Darius Parker." Margaret said as soon as the door closed.
"I fucked up." He said
As always.
***********************
As soon as we were done with the meeting, I raced up the stairs to my room only to find Sabrina seated on my bed, in nothing but her underwear.
I was seething..hard! Ritchie threatening to burst out of my skin when something caught my attention.
A paper, a brown envelope on my bed. I moved closer, turning to the other side of the bed to pick it up. My fingers shook as I opened it in fear and anticipation.
"Your package is on its way..use wisely" It read.