[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I looked at Cass while Nero wrote down a way for us to contact them. She merely smiled at me, but she really did look like a cat who had found a mouse to play with. I frowned at her before focusing back on Nero.

I stood straight when he finished and smiled. ”Of course, we’ll call before heading over tonight. Do make sure to keep your hands in your pockets as you leave,” I said with a wink before watching him go.

Cassi opened her mouth to speak, and I waved my hand to silence her. I didn’t want to talk until Nero had left. I walked out of the library, watching them retreat down the hallway. Once they were out of the house, I turned and looked back at Cass.

”What the hell happened while I was gone?”

Cassi shrugged and stood, grabbing some of the treats I brought in. ”She let me ask more questions, and I guess I hit a nerve. They were very interested in the swords, so I decided to show them more. They kept going on about Crowley not viewing them as a threat — that seemed especially important since they noted it specifically twice — and then I decided to mess with him a little. I cut my finger, and he seemed to lose it even more. Whoever or whatever he is, he isn't just a demon, and I have half a mind to find out.”

”Neugierde brachte die Katze um.” Cass frowned at me and I didn’t elaborate. I grabbed a biscuit off the tray and tossed it up once. ”You keep researching. I’ve got other things to do.” I left without any further explanation.

Translations

Curiosity killed the cat.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Once out of the house, I tug my gloves off my hands, stuffing them in my pocket. My left hand feels oddly numb and I anxiously rub the scar tissue as my mind buzzes with questions. I have never encountered something like this before. Sure there have been moments where the veil was a little thin, especially anytime I was in Germany, but this is different. This is scaring me.

I unbutton a few of the top buttons on my blouse so that I can feel more of the cool air on my skin. Taking off my suit coat, I drape that over my arm as well. I’ll want to finish this little monster issue quickly if I want to avoid the Cat and her curiosity. That will mean less time being shameless with Caden... I scowl to myself at this thought. I really do want to have a little fun while I’m topside.

”Stupid cat.” I say before kicking a large pebble.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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After Caden left, I flipped to a new page in my notebook and started writing down what Nero said and what his reactions were. Whatever they were, Crowley wanted to keep them on a tight leash. Crowley liked to collect unique things, but he also liked to keep what he feared close to him. That’s why he tried to claim me and why he tried to please Nero. There was something there that I needed to know more about.

It isn’t until after supper that Caden comes back. He’s changed into a black on black number, for what purpose I don’t really know. We have permission to view Nic’s mother's body, but I just shake my head and stand.

”I need some supplies,” I tell him.

”Check the storeroom for anything you might need. If I don’t have anything, we can stop by your shop and gather the rest of what you need.”
I nod and stand, bringing my notes and bag with me. ”Where did you go?” I ask him,

”No where,” he says with a shrug. ’I’ll call Nero while you do that.” I watch him for a moment until he takes out his phone to call the demon. I leave to go check and see what Caden might still have.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Nero’s Home, Chicago, IL
Skills:

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After Caden’s, I had sent some of my more capable demons back down to hell to investigate what they could of the beastie. I had told them to specifically look into Asmodeus as discreetly as possible to see what they could find. It doesn’t surprise me that one of them ends up dead from being caught - the demon has a temper after all. They were able to get a nice report of their findings though and it confirms my suspicions. Asmodeus has been experimenting on both natural and supernatural creatures and creating chimeras. Most of them have end up dead, but he had obviously been successful when creating this one.

I’m just finishing up reading the report when the antique phone in my office rings. I set my papers down and prance over to answer it. I’ve changed into what I like to call a ‘German School Boy’ look; a pair of puffy, black shorts and white blouse with a short black tie. I’m hoping if Cassiopeia gets under my skin again, wearing less layers will prevent me from totally losing it.

”Na?” I say into the phone.

Translation

”What’s up?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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A smile instantly graces my lips when I hear Nero answer. I clear my throat at the realization and try to speak normally. ”Cassi schnappt sich Vorräte, dann machen wir uns auf den Weg. Sind Sie bereit?” I lean against the table, looking out the window as the sun slowly sets.

I’m not sure why it feels effortless to speak with Nero. I get along with most people, having an act for fitting in any place, but to speak with Nero is like speaking with any old friend or lover. It’s common and relaxing. Odd since demons are inherently untrustworthy, but I don’t seem to be concerned by that notion.

Translations

Cassi is grabbing supplies, then we will be on our way. Are you ready?

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Nero’s Home, Chicago, IL
Skills:

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A smile slips onto my face as soon as I hear the perfect German before I smack myself to get ahold of my sanity. ”Ah, mein Prinz, so schön, deine Stimme zu hören. Ich bin jederzeit für dich bereit.” I practically purr to the phone as I shamelessly flirt despite trying to control myself. I find myself clearing my throat, flustered, like I’m the one being flirted with. ”Lassen Sie es mich wissen, wenn Sie etwas benötigen. Ich habe einen guten Vorrat an Zutaten und dergleichen.”

‘Decent’ is an understatement. Since I can remember, I’ve been stockpiling supplies I’ve found while adventuring. I’m a bit of a hoarder. I pick up Luci as she hops onto the table the phone sits on. ”Who’s a good girl?” I coo to the cat, fitting the phone between my ear and shoulder.

Translations

”Ah, my prince, so nice to hear your voice. I’m ready for you anytime” “ Let me know if there's anything you need though, I have a decent supply of ingredients and such.”

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I look towards the door, almost afraid Cassi is going to walk back in and inform me she’s heard this entire conversation. If there weren’t something more important on the table, I would fly to Nero’s house at this moment. Driving would have taken far too long. I shift away from the table, clearing my throat once more.

”Ich werde sie wissen lassen. Ich bin mir sicher, dass mir einige Artikel fehlen.” I grab my jacket and step out into the hallway to find Cassi. Nero’s comment makes me pause for a moment. I chuckle, and fling my jacket over my shoulder.

”Ich könnte einen weiblichen Körper für dich unterbringen, aber es ist mir viel lieber, ein guter Junge zu sein.” Of course, I can hear the shuffle to hold the phone while being busy with something else. I assume it is one of the cats Nero has.

Translations

I will let her know. I am sure I am missing some items.
I could accommodate a female body for you, but I much prefer being a good boy.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I nod along with what Caden is saying until he responds to what was meant for the black cat in my arms. Coughing in surprise, I feel my ears grow hot and nearly drop the cat. She mews at me angrily and hops out of my arms to go do something else. I pull the phone away from my mouth so I can take a couple of stabilizing deep breaths. ”Gut zu wissen,” I manage to say after a moment. ”Aber ich habe mit meiner Katze gesprochen.” Trying to move past the embarrassment of whatever schoolgirl nonsense has just happened to me, I ask ”Is there anything in particular that I need to bring?” I twirl the phone cord around one of my fingers.

Translations

”Good to know, but I was talking to my cat.”

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laughed while Nero had a moment. I reach the storeroom and lean against the doorframe while Cassi packs up. ”For you to bring yourself, whatever you need to break into a morgue, for Cassi…” I raise my eyebrows at her in a silent question.

Cassi pauses and looks around. She double-checks the items in her bag. ”A map.” I glance at the map next to her, but Cassi just smiles. I shrug. ”A map, apparently. Looks like she has everything else she needs.”

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I blink slowly, confused by the strange request. ”A map…? Of what, exactly? Won’t the hospital have some sort of map on its website? I grab a few throwing knifes, attaching them to a garter just under the bottom of my shorts. I don’t think I’ll need them, but I like to be prepared. ”What does she need a map for anyway?” I ask after straightening back up to stand.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I turn around and walk out of the storeroom, heading for the front of the house. This information I already know. ”Map of the city and the surrounding area if you have it. She needs one to do a locator spell,” I explain to him. I set the phone down momentarily to pull on my jacket. I pick the phone back up and grab my car keys.

Cassi joins me a couple of moments later, and the pair of us walk outside. I turn towards the garage, open up the side door and unlock the black SUV. It's a little more inconspicuous than my Aston.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
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That makes so much more sense. ”Ah, I can supply that, sure. It might be a little outdated but that just means it’ll be the right aesthetic for a night of magic.” I joke as I start shuffling through my cabinets closest to the phone. Most of the maps I have are from the early 1900s, but surely that would be okay since we just need the general location, not what specifically is there. While rummaging. I find a little hex bag with a note tied to it. The handwriting is Rowena’s and it describes an incantation for tracking. Not remembering when she gave this to me, I grab it and stuff it into my shorts before resuming the search for a map.

”When should I expect you?” I ask, rifling through the last cabinet nearby. I grin when I see a old rolled up paper, stained with age.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Shortly,” I say simply and hang up the phone. Cassi moves to get into the passenger seat, and I give her a little look. She rolls her eyes before getting into the back.

”Are you seriously trying to impress him? That’s pathetic.”

I chuckle, pull out of the garage, and speed down the driveway. ”They don’t need to be impressed, mon amount. It’s just fun to play.” I note the eye roll and the grumblings under her breath, but it only makes me chuckle.

Fifteen minutes later I pull up outside Nero’s home and eye up the building. ”Wait here,” I say to Cassiopeia, who waves me off, nose in her notes. I get out of the SUV, straighten my jacket and approach the door. I look around and ring for Nero. The sun has fully set by this time, and although there is a light on the porch, I am merely a part of the shadows. That was why I decided to dress in all black. It helped me to blend in and go unnoticed.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Nero’s House, Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Setting the phone back on the receiver, I unfurl the map to make sure it’s actually of Chicago. To my delight, it’s of the entire Cook County. Granted, it’s from 1945, but it should work nicely for tracking the beastie. I roll the map back up and tie it with a piece of twine to keep it in place. By this time, I hear the doorbell ring. I do a little skip down the stairs and to the front door, beaming brightly when I open it.

There’s no one there. I scowl a little, narrowing my eyes. There’s an SUV parked in the street that wasn’t there before and it’s been about fifteen minutes since Caden ended the call. ”Are we playing hide and seek?” I ask the darkness, thinking Caden must be playing a prank. Which would make him all the more desirable to me if he is. I fucking love a good prank.

Nero’s House

Exterior: wsj.com/articles/a-10-000-square-foot… Interior: theinterioreditor.com/real-homes-tour…

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Nero opens the door and looks to have changed as well. I look them over, finding them more endearing and intriguing than before. Their next question causes me to chuckle and break the moment. I step out of the shadows and pull my hands out of my pockets.

”Maybe when we have more time,” I tease and offer Nero my hand to take to help them down the steps. ”Did you find a map?”

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Nero’s Home, Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Mein dunkler Prinz.” I say mischievously as I look him up and down. Even dressed in one color, he still looks great. I duck quickly inside the house to grab the map I had set down by the door before I meet Caden at the steps. Tilting my head, I smirk a little at him before I take his hand with my gloved one. ”And they say chivalry is dead.” I sigh dramatically as we descend the steps together. Nodding to his question, I hold up the map with my other hand. ”This is a map of the entire county - I hope that works.”

Translations

”My dark prince”

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I wait patiently until they are ready before walking down the steps with them. I glance up at the rolled map and nod. ”It should work. We can stop on our way to the morgue if Cassi needs something more up-to-date.” We reach the SUV and I open up the front passenger door for them.

”Ritterlichkeit macht mehr Spaß,” I say with a wink.

Tranlastions

Chivalry is more fun.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Outside Nero’s Home, Chicago, IL
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My lips twitch into a smirk as I climb into the front seat of the SUV, purposely sticking my butt out a little as I do so in response to his comment. I’m surprised to see Cassiopeia in the back seat. I gave her a little wave.

”Hello again. This is the best I could find.” I say as I offer her the rolled up map. ”It’s of the entire county, but it’s also from 1945.” With a shrug, I leave it at that. After handing the map off, I turn around to sit criss-cross in my seat.

Nic Wu

Location: University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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I had been able to sneak into the hospital without anyone recognizing me earlier that day and printed out a list of the patients who shared the same wounds as my mother along with their files. Trying to stay low key, I took the files to the park that was near the hospital to review them. Sitting on the bench for most of the day, I wrote down observations and key details that stood out to me both in a notebook and on the printed papers. I was surprised by some of the smaller details I found, but the most alarming fact I found was about my own mother; out of the five victims that arrived at our hospital, only my mom had made it past triage before dying. I make a mental note to reach out to my friends at some of the other trauma centers around. There are some owed favors I want to cash in on, namely I need to know how many victims there are. Using my phone, I send my requests to each of the level one trauma centers in the area.
That list included Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical, but if I include level one pediatrics, there’s also Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. The only center I didn’t need was my own; Chicago Medicine Center. I only ask for the patient files to be emailed to me if the friend is comfortable in toeing the HIPAA line. Surprisingly, all of them send every document they can. I don’t know if it’s out of pity for my situation or my friendship, but I’m grateful.

I’m losing light as the sun sets, but I’ve gotten a pretty good idea of every ‘animal attack’ that’s happened over the last ten months. My hands shake as I recheck my math to make sure I have this correct. “Holy fuck.” I mumble under my breath. It had started off slow with only one or two attacks each month, but in the last three weeks there had been an incident each week. And these incidents were not just one victim, if I’m reading the reports correctly and the tweets I find aren’t complete bullshit, entire households were affected. And yet, there wasn’t a single news report or article on this. Against my better judgement, I browse Reddit forums to see if there’s anything else I can find.

The most frequently repeated post is that there’s no hard evidence left. For some of these victims, there is no family to claim the body so they end up being cremated. My mother’s body is finally going to be released to me tomorrow, but it’s still lying in the morgue at my hospital. Stuffing all my research into my backpack, I head back towards the University of Chicago Medical Center.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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My eyes drop, and I take a moment to stare. I smirk and nod. ”Definitely more fun,” I say before shutting their door. I walk around, get in on the drivers' side, and drive off.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden's House – Chicago, IL
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I glance up when I hear Nero’s voice. I smirk at them, taking the map and opening it up. I frown a little at the age of it. ”It’ll be missing the new streets and neighbourhoods, but it might work. Why do you have a map from 1945 anyways?” I tuck the map aside and look back at my notes, reviewing them while waiting for Nero's response.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”I think the better question is why don’t you have your own map.” I tell her cheekily before I shrug. ”I think I needed it for a crossroads deal… It had something to do with that clown fast food place.” I leave out the part that Ray Kroc and the McDonalds brothers had made a deal with one of my crossroad demons. I don’t need her prying any further into my past than she did earlier today.

But then I remember the little hex bag in my pocket and sigh to myself. She’s only going to ask more questions with this. Still, I need to be able to track the beastie and who better than another witch to decipher the incantation. I pull the bag out and turn to offer it to Cassiopeia. “A friend gave me this and I don’t remember exactly why or what it was meant for, but the Latin on the little note mentions tracking. Do you think it might help as a tracking device?”

Historical Footnote

1955 - First McDonald's Franchise Restaurant Opened
McDonald’s was founded in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. In 1955, Ray Kroc joined the fast-food company and purchased it from the McDonalds brothers. The first McDonald’s franchise was opened in Chicago in 1955 in Des Plaines. The company's global headquarter was moved to Chicago from Oak Brook in 2018.