Chapter thirty-nine—Brother of woe
“How..?” I gasped.
Nikki walked up behind me and she freezed in her tracks. “Where the hell did you get that?”
“I don’t know why you guys had it, but I do know that you took some of the evidence from the crime scene of the Mysterious Woman!” Sierra’s face was pink, and she was seething. “What were you guys thinking?!”
“Sierra, get in here.” I ordered, and before she could protest, Nikki and I dragged her by her arms, and locked the door behind us. How were we supposed to explain the reason we had a tracking potion?
“Sierra, I know what this seems like.” Nikki spoke carefully. “But we are not breaking the rules.”
“In the crime, nobody could find the Mysterious Woman because it’s impossible! Of course you’re breaking the rules, but I do understand why, and it is a good reason. However, how could you do this without the team involved?” Sierra crossed her arms.
I sighed, trying to patch up this problem. “Because…”
“There is something weird going on between you guys.” Sierra stated angrily. “I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know what you’re after, but I’m going to figure it out.” She rushed out of the room, and slammed the door shut- with the tracking potion.
“Dang it!” Nikki slammed her fist into a dresser, making me jump. “Now I’m going to have to mooch it out of her!”
“Well, we should do it as fast as we can. Probably when she is distracted.” I decided.
Nikki and I glanced at each other. We were speechless for the next hour, until a maid came by to tell us the Enforcement Ball was beginning.
People in fancy gowns, long and silky or big and grand, walked down to a large ballroom. Men wore tuxes, top hats, and walked with fancy canes that they didn’t need. Half the population of the guests was animals.
The ballroom was gorgeous; it was as though it was made out of gold and white marble, with silver tables and wonderful decorations. People from the enforcement began to dance, and Nikki and I stood besides a window. I stared off into the distance of the city, watching the sun dye down, and see the night blacken.
A half hour into the Ball, Nikki rushed over to Sierra when she caught sight of her. I prayed and crossed my fingers for the potion, as I began to walk around.
Occasionally I’d catch a woman staring with jealousy, or a man looking at me in the wrong way. However, I thought most of the crowds were charming people: they welcomed me and acted as though they admired me as they talked and chatted and danced.
When I saw Abby, I rushed forward. However, when a sudden group of people danced past in front of me, I had to stop in my tracks. Trying to go around them, I bumped into something hard and tall.
I found myself looking up, and everything froze. My body became paralyzed, as I stared at the young man before me. He had dark chocolate brown hair, thick enough to look grand. His eyes were a magnificent blue, with flecks of green and gold. He had broad shoulders that showed off his “warrior” form, and a face that looked like it was sculpted from the heavens. I felt my heart flutter.
“Well, looky here.” He smirked, “It’s the schizophrenic’s daughter!”
I broke out of my paralyzed state, suddenly furious. “Pardon me?”
He took a sip of something that looked like water, which surprised me, because I was usually the only one who seemed to be not drinking. “You know what I mean- Malistaire. Wouldn’t you know your own father..? I bet you are just like him.”
I frowned, and almost laughed mentally at the complexity of this man’s rudeness. “You don’t know a thing about me.”
“Oh, darling.” He laughed. “I know enough about you; in fact, everybody knows why you’re running around.”
I put my hand on my hip, challenging him. “And what is that, smart-allic?”
He put on a serious face. “Spying. Killing.” Before I could protest, he spoke again. “Oh, honey, don’t think just because you’re in the Police Department that you get off the hook. Everybody knows you’ve got blood on your hands.”
I glared at him, shocked that he would say such a thing. I’ve never met anybody ruder in my life.
Well, besides Malistaire.
This event was happening so fast- why was this boy taking such a random grudge on me?
“The only one with the possibility of regret and blood on your hands will be you,” I growled, “If you keep being so stupid. Trust me, it won’t be my blood on you; it will be your own.”
I turned away, but I felt his grip suddenly grasp my wrist. “Did you just threaten me?”
I glared at him, and I knew he felt my fire in my eyes. “Yes, I did. Got a problem with that?”
He let go of me, as though he had nothing to say-but he wasn’t finished yet. “You’re just like your father.”
Then it happened. I don’t know how, or even that I could, but I slapped him. The sound of flesh against flesh caught people’s attention, and all a sudden everybody was staring at us. I tried not to stare at my hand in confusion, and stood up straight and proud to defend myself.
I felt somebody gently touch my arm, and I turned my head to see Abby. She looked furious, and I noticed her bright green eyes were darker. She was glaring at both the man and I.
The man was glaring at me with such hate, I almost felt the danger I put myself in. I didn’t know this boy- but with the look Abby gave him, I had a feeling in my gut that she did.
“Caspian, why in the world did you provoke her?” Abby hissed at him angrily.
“W-“Caspian, the boy, suddenly looked like he wanted to scream. He jabbed a finger at me. “She should learn to control her manners.”
“And you should learn to control your tongue.” I retorted. I felt Abby take me by the arm, and lead me away from Caspian. I didn’t take one last look at Caspian’s bewildered face.
When Abby was leading me to the exit doors to a balcony, probably to talk, I felt another hand grab my other arm. Suddenly being pulled both ways, Abby stopped in a rush to see what had stopped me.
A boy with tan skin, muddy eyes and greenish brown hair smiled a charming smile at me. “Don’t worry; Caspian can be feisty with girls. However,” he put a finger under my chin gently. “I’m quite nice, and I like girls with self-confidence.”
Disgusted, I wrenched my arm away from him. Following Abby out the door as quickly as possible, I felt relieved as we found an empty balcony. I breathed the cold night air, wishing for more.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Abby put her hands up, exasperated. “Nobody has ever stood up to my brother.”
“You’re… What?” I gasped. “You mean that Caspian is your brother..?”
“Caspian has a different last name than me… It’s after my father. My last name is from my mother.”
“Well, I don’t care about that.” I exclaimed angrily. “How the heck was I supposed to know he was your brother?”
“I don’t know! Guess? Geez, Mary, he’s not used to fighting with people. He was always my parent’s favorite, what all the girls wanted, the teacher’s pet, and so I want to know what you refused him that made him so angry.” Abby watched me with keen interest. However, my mind was on something else.
I saw a shadow dart across the rooftop. “Did you see that?”
“See what?” Abby replied, suddenly watching where I was.
I saw another shadow, and Abby gasped. “I saw it!”
“It’s on the roof.” I noticed a grapevine decoration, and I decided to climb it. Quickly taking off my heels, I climbed steadily to the roof.
“Mary, be careful!” Abby shouted, trying to climb up. “We don’t know whats up there… It could be dangerous!”
“That’s how we know it’s an adventure.” I replied, reaching the roof. It looked empty, but as far as I know, there could be a million things waiting for us.
Abby climbed up, and eventually was standing next to me. “Where do you think it went?”
“I don’t know. Let’s walk forward, but quietly.” I breathed out.
Taking a step, the world suddenly spinned out of control. I didn’t know where I was, or if we just ported to somewhere, but I held on to Abby’s hand as much as I could.
I opened my eyes, and Abby and I stared at each other wide-eyed.
Where we were wasn’t Marleybone anymore.
Then, I saw a flash of green light appear, then a spray of blood.
With dread, I knew by Abby’s scream, that we were in danger...
And Abby was hurt.
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