Elektra moved with the grace and poise that came naturally to a Vampire of her stature, yet today she dressed to blend in, ditching her uniform for a more casual look: fitted jeans, a simple gray blouse, and a black leather jacket that accentuated her striking features.
Her silver hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and dark sunglasses shielded her crimson eyes from prying gazes, after all, she didn't want anyone to know it was her.
Soon, she arrived at her destination, apartment #1, the most luxurious apartment in the city's most luxurious high-rise complex. Before Elektra could even knock, the door opened, a FoxKin standing in the way.
The lady was beautiful, with alluring pink eyes that sparkled with mischief hiding behind glasses and long white hair that flowed down to her back in waves. Her Fox-Ears twitched with curiosity and her nine bushy tails fanned out behind her.
She wore a simple, elegant cream-colored dress, casual and fashionable, smiling as she saw who was at the door, "Elektra!" She greeted, stepping aside to let her in, "You're early, and you're looking way too serious for brunch at my place."
Elektra managed a small, fleeting smile as she walked into the sun-drenched living room. The scent of freshly brewed tea and pastries wafted through the air, and sunlight danced across the wooden floors.
"I've had a long morning Ayame," Elektra replied, removing her sunglasses and rubbing her temples, "I'm glad you had time to see me. I know you probably have your own troubles, being the cities most popular and powerful Superhero after all."
Ayame's fox ears perked up, and she tilted her head in concern, "Anything for my favorite Commissioner," she said, leading Elektra to a soft, plush couch.
Ayame poured two cups of tea from a delicate porcelain set, handing one to Elektra as she sat beside her, "Now, tell me what's on your mind."
Elektra cradled the cup, inhaling the calming aroma of herbal tea,"I still haven't found the person who saved Sasha Williams," she confessed, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Whoever they are, they're a ghost. No traces, no mistakes. And Nathan is covering for them. I've tried everything short of dragging him in for questioning, but he won't budge."
Ayame sipped her tea, her pink eyes narrowing thoughtfully, "Maybe your mystery savior doesn't want to be found," she offered, "Some people just want to live a quiet, peaceful life, away from the spotlight. Not everyone is like you or me, Elektra."
Elektra set her cup down with a sigh, "I understand that, but Redux City isn't getting any safer. With Viktor Sokolov in custody, we've taken down one threat, but I can't shake the feeling that something bigger is brewing. Especially with Viktor's last words, he claimed he was working for a Demon Contractor."
Ayame's expression grew serious, her playful demeanor fading. "A Demon Contractor?" she echoed, her voice dropping to a whisper, "That's... concerning."
Elektra nodded, her crimson eyes gleaming with determination. "Demon Contractors are unpredictable. Dangerous. If someone is peddling Soulshade on their behalf, then we're dealing with something far worse than a common criminal syndicate. I need allies, Ayame. And whoever saved Sasha could be a powerful one."
Ayame set her cup down, her nine tails swishing behind her in thought. "You know I'm always happy to help," she said gently.
Ayame's pink tails swished as a ripple of energy coursed through the air. With a soft shimmer of light, a small, ethereal fox materialized beside her, leaping onto the couch with practiced ease.
The creature, Akeno, Ayame's contracted Spirit, had sleek white fur that gleamed like moonlight and eyes that sparkled with playful intelligence. Nine miniature, bushy tails fanned out behind it, mirroring Ayame's.
Akeno let out a tiny, yawn-like squeak, then tilted her head toward Elektra, "I'll help too, of course," the fox said in a lilting, melodic voice that carried an otherworldly echo. "But only if you promise to feed me more of those delicious Mortal treats you gave me last time."
Elektra couldn't suppress a small chuckle, the sound rare yet genuine. "You mean the chocolate croissants?" she asked, arching a slender eyebrow. "I swear you only do these favors to indulge your sweet tooth, Akeno."
Akeno raised a paw in mock seriousness. "Mortal delicacies are too delicious. All the Spirit World food is just dull and unimaginative," she declared. "Consider it payment for my expert investigative services."
Ayame rolled her eyes with a fond smile, "You've spoiled Akeno, Elektra," she teased, brushing a strand of white hair from her face. "But if it gets the job done, then I suppose it's worth it."
Elektra's expression sobered as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "In that case, would you both be willing to look into the warehouse where Viktor and his men were found? Maybe there's something my officers missed. some trace of our mystery savior."
Ayame's pink eyes glimmered with interest, and she glanced at Akeno. The little fox nodded enthusiastically, its tails swishing with renewed energy, "Sounds like a fun little adventure," Akeno said, "I'm always up for sniffing out secrets, especially if it means more croissants."
Elektra let out a small sigh, rubbing the back of her neck. "Alright, meet me there in two hours. I'll send you the coordinates," she said, her voice tinged with impatience but also appreciation. "If we can't find any trace of him, at least we'll be one step closer to figuring this out."
Akeno perked up again, her tails flicking with excitement. "We'll find something, Elektra. Maybe even a few more croissants, too!" With that, the fox jumped off the couch and bounded towards Ayame, her ethereal form beginning to fade as she returned to her usual resting state.
Elektra chuckled softly, shaking her head as she stood. "I'll hold you to that, Akeno," she muttered under her breath, feeling a rare lightness in her chest despite the growing weight of her frustration.
---
Two hours later, Elektra pulled her sleek black motorcycle into an empty lot next to a dilapidated warehouse at the edge of the industrial district. The building was nondescript, the windows long shattered and the walls covered in layers of grime and graffiti.
The kind of place where no one would think twice if something shady was going on, and it was here that Viktor Sokolov and his men had been taken down.
Ayame had arrived just as expected, her usual graceful movements now clad in the form of FoxLight, her superhero alter ego. Her white hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and the glowing blue insignia on her chest pulsed with energy.
Her eyes, typically playful, were now sharpened with a focused, vigilant expression.
"I'm here," Ayame said softly, her voice warmer than usual as she looked at Elektra. She offered a small nod, her eyes scanning the area. "Let's see what we're dealing with."
For the next hour, the two of them scoured the warehouse. They checked for magical signatures, any unusual residue, and even subtle traces left behind by powerful individuals.
But despite their efforts, there was nothing. No lingering traces of the mystery savior, no sign of the Aether they had hoped to find.
Akeno meanwhile, still in fox form, darted between their legs, sniffing the ground with more interest than usual. The little fox was unusually silent, her usual chirps and playful remarks absent.
After a few moments, Ayame crouched beside Akeno, who had stopped dead in her tracks, her nose twitching in a focused pattern. "Did you find something?" Elektra asked, her voice edged with hope, though she had a sinking feeling that the answer wouldn't be good.
Akeno lifted her head, the nine tails behind her still as she spoke. "Nothing from the mystery man, but..." she hesitated, her voice uncertain. "I did sense Aether."
Elektra's brows furrowed. "Aether? Are you sure?" She stepped closer, her attention fully on the small fox, "That's not something you usually encounter here in the Mortal World. Unless..."
Akeno nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing. "It was faint, but definitely there. Aether is the energy of the Spirit World, and whoever saved Sasha... they're connected to it. A Spirit Contractor, maybe? Someone who made a pact with a Spirit."
Elektra's jaw clenched as the revelation sunk in. A Spirit Contractor, someone who had made a deal with a powerful Spirit.
That explained why the mystery savior had been so good at covering his or her tracks, but it only made things more complicated. Spirit Contractors were rare, and typically, they weren't interested in affairs like the kidnapping of a politician.
"So we're dealing with a Spirit Contractor," Ayame said, her tone thoughtful. "That complicates things further, doesn't it?"
Elektra didn't answer right away. Her mind was already racing, trying to piece together all the clues.
As she stood up, frustration and determination mingling in her chest, she rubbed her forehead. "This city is growing more dangerous by the day." She muttered more to herself than to anyone else, "If Viktor's backer really is a Demon Contractor, then we're looking at a devious scheme going on... and I have no idea where the mystery savior fits into all of this."
Akeno glanced up at Elektra with a curious expression. "You'll figure it out. You always do, Elektra."
Elektra's lips twitched in a faint smile. "I hope so, Akeno. But I need more than just hope right now."
The atmosphere grew tense as Ayame straightened and turned to look at Elektra. "We should get going. There's no more to be found here, and I'm needed elsewhere. The city's in chaos again, another incident near the docks."
Elektra nodded, though the frustration in her chest didn't ease. She knew Ayame was right. As a Tier 1 Hero, FoxLight was bound by her duties to protect the city, and Elektra had her own responsibilities to the law.
"I understand. Go save the day, FoxLight," Elektra said, her tone dry but appreciative. "And thank you for coming out here. I owe you one."
Ayame gave a quick nod, her expression softening. "Anytime, Elektra. You know that."
With a final glance at the warehouse, Ayame vanished in a flash of light, leaving Elektra standing in the empty lot. Alone, yet still brimming with questions.
Who was this mystery savior? What was their connection to the Spirit World, and why were they so determined to remain hidden?
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Redux City had just become far more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.