[IC] Chicago After Hours

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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”Who says I didn’t have one? Maybe I just wanted you to feel included,” I say with a wink. I jot down a little note in the corner that they used to do crossroads deals. Then he hands me a hex bag, and I frown. I examine it before wrapping it up and setting it aside.

”Sorcerers don’t normally use another's work. I could see about doing a secondary spell to have this track the creature but tracking is easier when I have something of the creature itself. The spell we are doing tonight is to find its location. That’s fine to do by using something — or in this case — someone they last touched,” I explain.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I let out a small snort of laughter over her comment, but ignore it. Then she starts going on about the magic we’re using tonight. I let her explain this all as I smile at her, my eye twitching. I might not be a sorcerer, but I wasn’t born yesterday. When she’s finished, I clear my throat. “Yes, I know what we’re doing tonight.” I try not to let my irritation with her seep into my tone. “I’m planning ahead for when we finally are in the same vicinity as the beastie.”

I hold out my gloved hand to her. “But if you don’t want it, I’m sure I’ll find some other use for it down the road.” I finish with a brow raised and a smirk on my face.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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I narrowed my eyes at them and shook my head. ”No, I’ll keep it for now.” Even if they had a sorcerer as a friend, I didn’t want Nero having hex bags. ”Thank you,” I added before tucking the hex bag away.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I glanced at the two of them, looking at Cassi through the rearview and chuckled. ”Zumindest versucht ihr beide miteinander auszukommen.” I pat Nero’s leg. I could understand Cassi’s hesitation. Her concerns were valid and what she told me about Nero’s reactions in the afternoon did make me question some things, but it was hard to remain subjective.

I headed into downtown Chicago, all of the city lights highlighting the other side of Chicago that wasn’t seen during the daylight.

Translations

At least you two are trying to get along.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Turning around with a huff, I reply to Caden in a pout. “Sie hat damit angefangen.” But I can’t really complain, Caden’s warm touch felt nice and momentarily made me forget why I was irritated. I steal a glance at him out of the corner of my eye before I shift to look out my window. “Ich vergesse immer, wie lebendig die Stadt nachts ist.” I observe as we enter downtown Chicago.

Translations

”She started it” “I always forget how vibrant the city is at night”

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Nic Wu

Location: University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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With a little bribery, the assistant lets me slip into the morgue. They told me something about someone else visiting tonight, but I really don’t care at this point. If I’m caught by anyone outside the hospital, I had the fancy title of ‘Head Nurse’ to save me.

I take a few steadying deep breaths as I stand in front of the freezer slab that holds my mother… Or her body rather. My hands shake as I try to muster the nerve to do this.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home —> Driving – Chicago, IL
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”Waren Sie schon einmal in einem der Nachtclubs?” I ask him. There was one specifically that I had in mind. It was no ordinary night club. The room was always packed with supernatural creatures of all types. It was a sort of “neutral” area as there was a lot of rivalries within the supernatural community. It was a good place to get information, make contacts, and have a hellish good time.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden's House —> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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As we near the hospital, I pack up my bag once more. Caden and Nero’s voices sort of fade into the background as I watch the city pass. I feel bad for Nic and even more so for what I am about to do to his mother. Of course, she won’t look any different, but defacing a body is disrespectful. Unfortunately, I have long lost my compassion in that area.

I sigh as we pull onto the right street. There was no turning back now, and what we were going to do was to save the people of Chicago. We were doing a good thing.

Translations

Have you been to any of the night clubs, yet?

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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“Warum hast du vor, mich in die Stadt mitzunehmen?” I ask with a flutter of my eyelashes before I snort and gesture to myself. “So sehr ich Spaß liebe, dieser Körper kommt in Menschenmengen nicht so gut zurecht.” I tell him with a tilt of my head. It’s true, although I’m more than capable of handling myself, getting squished into a nightclub full of people was not my first choice. I sit up a little straighter as we get closer to the hospital.

Translations

“Why, do you plan on taking me out on the town?” “As much as I love fun, this body doesn't do so well in crowds.”

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Nic Wu

Location: University of CHicago Medical Center’s Morgue, Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I yank the door open and close my eyes as I pull the drawer out. Another couple deep breaths in and out, then I finally look at the body on the slab. I’ve seen dead bodies before, hell, I’ve seen plenty of dead bodies as a nurse, but none of that prepares me to look down at my mother’s body.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home —> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I grin, turning down the street for the hospital and look over at Nero. ”Wenn Sie Interesse haben, kann ich Sie mitnehmen. Ich würde für deine Sicherheit sorgen. Obwohl ich sicher bin, dass Sie mehr als fähig sind, Ihre Ehre zu verteidigen.” I wink at them and park on a side street that is used for deliveries for the hospital. I look back and Cassi meets my gaze.

”Are you ready?”

Cassi nods and smiles. ”As I’ll ever be. Let’s go catch a mythological creature,” she says before getting out. I chuckle and look at Nero.

”Let the fun begin.”

Translations

If you're interested I can take you. I'd keep you safe. Although I am sure you are more than capable of defending your honour.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I raise a brow and smirk. “Ich glaube nicht, dass es mir etwas ausmachen würde.” I tell him coyly. We park on a side street and two of them exchange a few words before Cassiopeia gets out. Then Caden turns to me.

”Finally.” I say impishly before I also hop out of the car. When I land on the sidewalk, I take a moment to smooth down my clothes before I skip over to Caden’s door with a wide grin.

Translations

“I don't think I'd mind it.”

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Nic Wu

Location: University of Chicago Medical Center’s Morgue, Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I pull out my phone and take as many pictures as I possibly can before I close the drawer and shut the door. It shouldn’t surprise me that my cheeks are glistening with tears, but here we are. I take a few moments and a couple of deep breaths before I head over to the coroner’s desk to find the files. There were so many discrepancies between the autopsy report and what had actually happened to her body, it would be hard for them to keep playing dumb with this evidence. I pull out my phone again to take photos of the report.

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Nero skips over to me, and I have the sudden urge to kiss them. I clench my hands into fists, chuckling and shaking my head. ”Komm mit, kleiner Kobold. Wir müssen jetzt ruhig sein.” I wink and lead the trio down the ramp to the service door. I knock twice, and it opens to reveal a feminine face.

I smile kindly and hand them an envelope. They nod and quickly let us in. We were cleared to visit, thanks to the detective, but a little bribery goes a long way to keeping quiet.

She leads us down the hall and points to the appropriate door. I thank her before leading the way to the morgue. I double-check the area before I open up the doors and step inside. What I found shouldn’t have shocked me, but it still did.

”Scheisse.”

Translations

Come along, little imp. We must be quiet now. Shit.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I beam at his nickname for me and practically prance as the three of us are let in and Caden leads us to the morgue. I’m not really watching as I follow Caden in through the door and I run right into Caden’s back. ”Uh, what the fuck-” I start before I hear Caden curse in German. I peer around him to see Nicholas Wu.

”Scheisse.”

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Nic Wu

Location: Chicago, IL
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“Sorry, I just needed a couple files for Dr-” I look up and freeze like a deer caught in the headlight. What in the hell were Caden and Cassiopeia doing here?? And with a… child? The tiny person throws me for a loop momentarily, but I shake it off.

“W-what are you doing here??” I ask in bewilderment, setting my mother’s autopsy report in one of the desk’s drawers. I try to play it cool, like I wasn’t just here snooping around my mother’s dead body looking for proof that there was something bigger going on.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden's House —> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I feel the colour drain from my face as I look around Caden’s other shoulder. ”Shit,” I echo. ”NIc, what a… surprise. Um. Crap.” I really didn’t want to involve him in this. I wanted him to be able to just go on and not be a part of this. The detective wasn’t going to be happy about any of this.

”I’m sorry, I wish I could explain, but we don’t have the time at the moment.’ I walk around Caden and go over to the wall of drawers. I scan the names on the outside before finding Nic’s mom and open the door. I look apologetically at Nic before looking at Caden.

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
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Part of me isn’t surprised Nic is here. He works in this hospital, and his mother is here. We already knew he didn’t believe the story the police were trying to feed him. Nic wasn’t the first human to stumble upon this world. There were human hunters, people who came after supernatural folk. Some even worked with us, others not so much. No, Nic being here isn’t surprising; it just makes everything more complicated.

Cassi’s eyes catch mine, and I stride into the room, clearing the gap between Nic and me in a few steps. ”It would be wonderful if you just sat here and let us do what we need to. We can talk after.” Behind me, Cassiopeia started to unpack her supplies. She rolled out the map on a table and set up the four candles. She set the dagger she took from my cabinet at the centre of the map alongside a dish and some black sand.

She glances at Nic and looks almost pained as she waves her hand. The candles light without a match, and the lights in the morgue shut off. She starts whispering in Latin as she cleanses the knife using the four elements before approaching Nic’s mom.

[Donut Look Now]

Nic Wu

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I blink a couple of times as I try to really comprehend what’s going on. Cassiopeia walks over to the drawers and opens the one with my mother in it. Caden strides over to me, but I don’t really hear him. My eyes are on whatever the hell she’s doing. Shaking my head, I stand straighter so that I’m taller than Caden. ”When I came for help, it wasn’t for you to use some whatever weird occult shit this-“ I stop when the candles light. “What the-”

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Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Not wanting to miss a second of this, I follow Caden, staying a couple paces behind. When the human is finally speechless, I step to stand beside Caden and tilt my head. “Soll ich ihn schlagen? Ich könnte ihn KO schlagen.” I say, peering curiously at Nic. My voice seems to pull him out of his stupor.

“Who even are you?”

I can’t help the snort that comes out. ”Oh, er ist bezaubernd!” I say in delight. The only thing missing is a bucket of popcorn to watch this with.

Translations

“Should I punch him? I could knock him out.” “Oh he is adorable!”

[KazAlkemi]

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Caden

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Location:Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills: Persuasion

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”Nein, es sollte ihm gut gehen. Sie können die Notizen des Gerichtsmediziners überprüfen,” I tell Nero. I don't feel like Nic would try to sound the alarm. Like Cassi, I think he's curious. That being said, Cassi is about to use his mom for part of her spell.

”Sit down, Nic. We'll talk after,” I say, hoping to persuade him.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills: Witchcraft: Locator Spell

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I block out the other voices in the room, concentrating on what I came here to do. I look over Nic’s mom, noting how pretty she is and how kind she probably was. Unfortunately, the creature tore into her. The coroner did an excellent job of stitching her back up again, but it probably wasn't easy for Nic to have seen her this way.

I shake myself out and refocus. I bring the knife down and cut off a chuck of Mrs. Wu’s hair for the spell. I add the hair to the dish, along with a drop of my blood to search for something supernatural and I start chanting the spell. The candles flare and the sand on the map begins to move, tracing a path through old Chicago to the Chimera’s location. Once the creature is found, the sand stops moving, the candles go out and the morgue lights turn back on.

Translation

No, he should be fine. You can review the coroner's notes.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”That’s no fun.” I pout, but I skip over to where I saw Nic hide the file. It’s not rocket science to figure out what this kid had been doing here. I would have just killed him when we walked in and been done with it, but I can maybe see why Caden and Cassiopeia might find him endearing enough to keep alive.

”Excuse me, Mr. Wu.” I chirp before I shove him out of the way towards the chair… Almost gently.

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Nic Wu

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I trip over my feet but somehow manage to catch myself before I fall. How in the hell was someone that tiny so strong?? I open my mouth to yell at the German school boy or maybe argue with Caden, but ultimately just shut up and sit in the closest seat as I catch myself just watching Cassiopeia. I flinch as Cassiopeia plunges the knife down towards my mother’s body, but she just takes some of her hair. I’m in a daze as she performs whatever ritual or whatever she’s doing. I’m only brought out of my daze when the lights turn back on. I blink as my eyes adjust to the lights turning back on. The tiny person skips over to where Cassiopeia and stands on their tiptoes as they peer at the map.

”Has it located the beastie?” I hear them ask, their German accent faint, but still apparent.

I avert my eyes to look up at Caden. ”So… This talk?” I try to joke, but wince at how hollow my voice sounds.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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The map located the Chimera, saying it was in some forested bit, but I frowned. I opened up my phone, and brought up my GPS and widened the map until I could line the two up. Nero came up to me and asked if we found the creature.

”Well, if someone had brought me a better map, I would tell you exactly where they were, but they didn’t, so I know roughly where they are. Looks like we actually do get to go hunting.” I dropped a pin on the old warehouse district in Chicago and put my phone away. I started cleaning up, avoiding looking at Caden or Nic.

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Caden

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Location:Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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My focus remained on Nic even in the dark, and even when the lights turned back on, my eyes didn’t shift away from him. ”I’m afraid our talk will have to be on the move, but while Cassi is packing up, ask your questions. It may be easier if you ask them, and I answer.” I could bombard him with reality, but that might overwhelm him, and I didn’t want to babysit all night.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I give Cassiopeia a look. “You’re the one who wanted me to ‘feel included’.” I remind her with a roll of my eyes as she starts cleaning up.

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Nic Wu

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I rub my eyes with my hands before I drag them down my face. The first question I want to ask is at the tip of my tongue, but I can’t ask it. “Who’s the child?” I end up asking instead. I throw a glance towards Cassiopeia and the tiny one before looking back up at Caden.

“Who… what are you and Cassiopeia? Are you all witches and warlocks or something? Is magic real? Am I hallucinating?” The questions just start tumbling out of my mouth. “What was Cassiopeia doing to my…” I can’t finish that one, instead opting to just stare at the palms of my hands.

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
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”And did you feel included?” I ask, smirking at them. I turned back around and closed Mrs. Wu's drawer and turned back to grab my bag when Nic asked who Nero was. I snorted to keep from laughing out loud. I coughed and pretended that I hadn't just been about to laugh.

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Caden

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Location:Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
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I smiled at Nic and his tumble of questions and waited for him to stop so I could speak.

”Well, the small child is not a child by any means. Their name is Nero and they are a demon. Tricky little things but Nero is proving to be quite entertaining. As for Cassi and I, well, I am a skinwalker and Cassiopeia is a sorcerer.” I didn't answer his other questions in order to let him adjust to what I just tossed at him.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I narrow my eyes at Cassiopeia. ”I saw that.” I tell her before I prance over to Caden and Nic. “I’ll have you know that this body was at least 21 before I inherited it.” I tell the human cheekily.

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Nic Wu

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I stare at the tiny thing as they made their way over to Caden and me. ”I’m sorry, demon? Like, biblical demon??” Their eyes flash and become fully black for a moment before they blink and their eyes are normal again. I recoil in my seat from them. “What the fuck?” They grin lopsidedly at me.

I shift my gaze away from Nero to look at Caden. “And, and skin walkers?” Cassiopeia is probably the easiest the comprehend - I mean I had met her originally as a psychic. My vision starts swimming, black dots appearing as I start to hyperventilate. I don’t know what I had been expecting, but this… it was too much.

“I think he’s going to pass out.” I hear the demon say.

I look up. “Are you going to kill me now?”

[KazAlkemi]

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile innocently at Nero until they walk away and I stick my tongue out at them. Bloody demon, I curse in my head. I glance up, looking at Caden when Nik asks about them being a skinwalker. Caden was a show off but I always loved this part.

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Caden

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Location:Chicago Med – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I glance at Nero after they skip to my side, announcing their bodies age and what creature they are. I know I'm in for a bad time when I find the black eyes endearing rather than alarming.

”Twenty-one? I stopped ageing at thirty-two. Looks like I'm robbing the cradle,” I joked. Nic looks at me with equal alarm and I take a step back. I shut my eyes and wait a moment for the wings to unfurl from my back. When I open my eyes again the pupils are slits and glow red and orange like a dragons’. I let the effect linger for a moment before it fades.

”I can take many forms. I just have to have touched the creature or human once and I can replicate them.”

And then he asked if we were going to kill him.

”What! No!!!” Cassi cries in alarm.

[Donut Look Now]

Nero

Location: Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I snort at Caden’s comment; I’m not sure how old I am, but I have a feeling I’m much older. Then what he says registers in my brain and I feel my ears warm. Luckily for me, his eyes are closed. I watch him shift, absolutely mesmerized by his ability. “Vielleicht sollte ich stattdessen anfangen, dich meinen Drachen zu nennen.” I say with a smirk and a tilt of my head.

The human finally speaks after a moment. ”Are you going to kill me?”

“Yes.” I say at the same time that Cassiopeia cries no. I know I can’t do anything with the treaty and I doubt Cass would let me harm a hair on the human’s head. The joke doesn’t land with Nic though, because his eyes roll up into the back of his head before he slumps off his seat onto the floor, passing out.

I take a few steps and crouch by his limp body. “I think he thought I was being serious.” I pick up his hand a few inches off the floor and let it limply fall back down.