Mrs. Warren’s psychic readings turned up no suspects. All of the guests had already left, and she had just finished with the last of the event staff.
She huffed. Her pale bosom rose against her black dress. “Well, I’m sorry detective.” She said as she walked over to Zazriel. “At least you know it wasn’t someone who was supposed to be here; that was everyone on the guest list and employee list.” Her eyes were red with exhaustion. “I wish you the best of luck, and please let me know if you find anything else. I simply must get my necklace back. Oh, and can I have one of those cards you’ve been handing out, if you have any left?”
Zazriel nodded, handing her a card. “Of course, and thank you for your help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to check in with the captain.”
He bowed slightly, before motioning for Liel to follow as he strode over to Mullin.
The captain stroked the side of his grey beard with one hand while his other held an all black cell phone. Once his informant answered, they could start their meeting.
To his right stood his detectives, two men and one woman, all dressed in dark business suits with badges on the front. The imposing Val stood to the captain’s left, looking relaxed yet stiff at the same time. Zazriel and Liel were the last to join the huddle, aside from the person the captain was calling.
Relka answered the captain’s video call in about three rings. She smirked coyley. She enjoyed toying with the seasoned officer. She then opened her navy blue robe, and positioned her chest a little better, making sure she was more perky. She answered the call and was excited to see more than one face on the other end.
“Captain, darling, I was just thinking of that ruggedly delicious jaw line. How is my favorite police officer on this most eventful of nights?” She asked with a mischievous laugh.
The captain maintained his composure despite Relka’s behavior. Still, she knew she was under his skin when he introduced her. “Everyone, this is Relka Tir Lohig.” He displayed his phone screen to everyone in the group. “She works with my office on big cases like these, a valuable informant to be sure.”
It was protocol to introduce her to everyone working on the case, but disclosing her full name and showing her face was going a little far. He did this, knowing full and well what he was doing, it was his way of getting back at her for making things awkward for him.
Relka glared at the captain. Names had power, knowing someone's name meant you could find them. What was worse, he gave her name away for free, he would have to pay for that later, she decided.
The captain then turned to face Val. “Now, Mr. Val, I believe you have some information to share, if you would.” He pointed the camera on the back of his phone to Val so that Relka could watch him speak, while the captain could keep an eye on her reactions.
Val’s eyes shifted to the door as it opened and smiled as he finished sorting a few papers. Mrs. Warren and her husband shut the door behind themselves. They were now alone in the large ball room, tucked away in the far back corner.
Val began, “An informant?” He mused out loud, yet under his breath. A quizzical look crossed his face. “Greetings Relka Tir Lohig.” Val bowed as he spoke the name. Was it a true name?
“Seeing as your name was revealed, it is only fair I reveal mine.” Val started with a calm look on his face.
“My name is Valathos Vykos.” As he spoke the words, they sounded strange, as if one was underwater while hearing them. There was power in how he pronounced each letter to his name. It wouldn’t come across the same way if it were recorded. The “essence” would be lost.
“Before I begin, I would like to form a contract, as this information isn’t to be shared lightly. Even so, a verbal agreement will do.” Val started as he looked over the room’s inhabitants and at the phone.
“The information I’m about to share cannot be shared between third parties. Only the people here may speak of it to one another.” He stated as he gestured to everyone in the room and stopped with his hand to the phone. “Furthermore, one cannot write or speak of the information while another person or party is listening or watching.” Val stated, casting another look around the room. The usual smile on his face was replaced with a serious look.
“Quite a lot of secrecy at play here,” Zaz remarked. “Complicating secrecy at that. This information better be worth it Val.”
“Yes, yes, I will adhere to your contract.” Relka answered through the phone. “I value having the information more than I do selling it anyways." She kept her mouth shut about the widespread riots for the moment. She gave nothing for free, and anyone could easily look out a window to see the fires all over the city.
“Fine, you have my word and and the word of everyone in my department. Right everyone?” His question was more of a command. To which, all his detectives nodded in understanding. “But I agree with Zazriel; this better be useful.”
Val looked somewhat displeased as he looked over the room. The only ones who answered the verbal contract was the one on the phone and the one holding the phone. He let out a small sigh and looked at Zazriel. “A verbal contract requires a yes or no. Either that or one’s word.” He stated, as he shifted his gaze to the officers who only nodded. “Not the word of someone else on your behalf.”
“If the information is useless then saying yes to it isn’t going to harm anyone.” He started. His eyes shifted to the evidence that had been accumulated, the papers in his hand. “But, I can guarantee that my information will shed new light on the case.”
Zazriel sighed, squeezing his eyes shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a moment to deliberate the situation. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, fine. You have my agreement and my word.”
Then, the three detectives, following a silent cue from their captain, all answered, "You have my word." and other variations of the phrase.
“Then the contract is sealed.” Val affirmed as a smile crossed his features. He then began pulling papers out of the files. The first were an assortment of pictures. He handed these pictures out one by one.
“What is the same but different?” He asked in order to see if anyone could spot the difference. Each photo contained the fingerprints left behind at different crime scenes. Each belonged to someone different and not in any database. Then, he produced a new document. It was a picture of his lord, with all his finger and thumb prints. His right thumb print was a perfect match for the one the thieves left in the foyer, on the welcoming screen. His lord’s prints wouldn’t be found on any database, because the man lived above the common masses, and he had never been arrested for a crime. He allowed the information to be digested for a few moments.
“Shifters.” Val informed them as he looked across the room. These could be anything from mages to ancient demons, depending on the information one knew.
“Well this muddies things,” Zazriel says, examining the prints. “A lot.”
“That would explain why my people have been unable to gather any information on those behind the attacks.” Relka said in a pondering tone. “I will have to pull some volumes here, see if I can find any information on Shifters. Though I am unsure if I will find much.”
Val was silent while they rolled the information around. It seemed they believed him. However, he wasn’t someone to leave room for doubt and broke the silence.
“How do I know they are shifters?” He asked the room. “What evidence do I have other than my word? To be honest, I wasn’t sure until tonight, or more sure that is.” He clarified with a wave of his hand as if dismissing something.
“Evidence…” He paused. “Each fingerprint was manufactured. Each one was clear, near perfect. During a heist, it is possible to rub against something, but the chance of every single one being perfect?” He paused again. “I believe that it is a group who has been acting since ancient times. It is possible that they are making a statement, that each of these people aren’t as safe as they may think. Either that or each is a target or possible target. Have any of them died recently?” Val asked everyone in the room because he didn’t have much information on these people.
“Not that I know of,” Zazriel remarked, rubbing his chin. “But I’ve not looked into any deaths recently, so I’m just as in the dark on that as anyone else here.”
"Nothing like this has ever been pulled in this city, I would have known about it. So for once my information on the heist is limited. I would not allow something of this scale to happen. It disturbs the balance of power within the city. And since Mrs. Warren is there, I assume she has properly vetted those in attendance. But do we know if anyone who was there left before the actual robbery took place?" Relka said to her large computer screen while searching through her immense volumes.
“From what I could tell, everyone at the party was an invited guest.” Val said as he mulled over her question. “Everyone after the robbery took place that is...”
Captain Mullin cleared his throat. “I’m sorry,” Something was weighing heavily on his mind. He couldn’t wait any longer. “How long have you been looking into all this? And how did you get these pictures, when none of these other heists happened in this city?”
A look of surprise and hurt crossed Val's face. “Captain, anything that could harm my employer is information worth gathering. I have been collecting information related to this for some time.” Val informed the captain vaguely. His eyes settled on the phone the captain was holding. Val presumed that Captain Mullin wouldn’t ask Relka the same question and tried to point that out with his glance.
“Honestly, I only have trustful data specific to my employer. Everything else I looked up online.” Val admitted, as he moved around the circular table they were all gathered around, positioning himself beside the captain. He then opened the laptop he had set on the table before their meeting began. It looked strange, the way he handled the keyboard. Some would call it chicken fingers, as he used only his index fingers.
“The main reason I believe they are shifters is because they can see in the dark. Yes, this could have been done with technology or another source of magic, but...”
With a definitive keystroke, he started a video. It was security footage from the party, starting right when the lights went out. The camera went into different spectrums, adjusting itself, first infrared, then night vision. It showed a few nimble figures as they moved throughout the party and stole from the guests. It also showed Val moving to intercept one of the figures. Both Val’s and the mystery person’s eyes glowed in the dark. It wasn’t something that could be seen through normal means, Either the camera lense or some software being used created the effect. Val then did a sweeping motion as if to say, “Nothing to see here, go play elsewhere.” The figure didn’t seem to press Val and quickly backed away. Moments later, the figures were gone; the lights came back on, and the video stopped.
Relka watched the footage on her large screen very closely. Something was nagging her about it, which raised quite a few questions. She reached down and grabbed her glass of wine, as she did so her robe slipped off one of her shoulders exposing even more pale blue skin.
“Mr. Val, this video doesn’t prove anything about shifters. In fact this raises more issues than solves them. To start, the eyes can be enhanced by magic, and if so we suddenly find ourselves looking more towards the higher class. Because as most of us know, magic users hardly ever come from the lower or middle caste. That’s not to say they don’t, but statistically speaking, we need to start there. Also, I know the security of that building, there are only regular cameras installed. So why during this particular party do they suddenly have different spectrums? Lastly, and most likely the most important question, you had the chance to actually grab a suspect, but instead waved them off. Why didn’t you capture it? You were close enough, and by your eyes could have easily tracked the thief down.” She took a drink from her glass and placed it back down.
Val’s eyes made a micromovement when her shirt shifted revealing her skin. Relka was pointing out informational holes or ones she thought she knew. His face twitched into a frown and then into a grin. After that, he started to laugh.
“You wanted me to apprehend a criminal?” Val questioned. “While it is possible I could have, my priorities were to protect the young ladies.” He informed those within the room as his laugh finally ended. “Could I do this if I were wrestling with some hooligan?” He asked the room.
He went on before anyone could answer. “The reason the cameras were changed was because of me. I had it done a week before the party. Your information there is clearly outdated. Furthermore, I had personal cameras on each of my helping hands.”
“I…” He paused thinking, as he looked over the room. He wasted no time, moving to sit in his original chair. “I’m not like I once was.” He stated with a dejected sigh as he sat down in the chair, and it looked like something was crawling under his skin. However, it only happened for a second.
“The reason I know they are shifters is because of a gut feeling.” He informed the room as he entwined the fingers of both hands. Everyone could see that he was fidgeting now. It didn’t take long for his leg to start pumping up and down where he sat.
"You realize there are many ways to apprehend someone without harming others?" Zaz remarked, making a silent note of the shifting under his skin. "That aside however, I'd like to know more about this 'gut feeling' of yours. Surely you see it's not the most concrete of evidence?"
“Indeed,” Captain Mullin agreed. “Gut feeling? Definitely suspicious. Plus, both you and the other person in the video had similar eyes. Almost makes one think you have some sort of connection to them. Clearly, you’re holding something back. So what is it?”
Val’s leg stopped bouncing up and down at the captain’s question. It wasn’t like the motion stopped to the point where he was relaxed. It was more like someone pressed pause on him. He didn’t breathe or look around.
“Well, seeing as you’ve all already made a deal with the devil. I suppose I can tell you why I have a gut feeling.” His skin started crawling again, more obvious this time. Slowly his body shrank, and he started to slouch. His hair lost it’s vibrance and became silvered. Some of the skin on his body stretched and wrinkled. While other parts filled with fat and started to sag. When the transformation was finished the clothing looked entirely too big. Val pulled out some glasses and placed them over his now almost colorless eyes.
“As-” Val was interrupted by his teeth falling out of his mouth. He swiped them all up, looking at them as if it were nothing. After that, he consumed the teeth, leaving himself toothless. “As the saying goes. Seeing is believing.” Val said with a grandmotherly loved filled voice. It sounded strange without teeth but the words were understandable.
Zazriel watched the transformation impassively and with arms crossed. Once it was finished, he silently examined the new figure sitting before him. “So you’re a shifter,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “Makes sense. Doesn’t exactly help us get any closer to finding out who’s responsible for all of this though. Specifically, I mean.”
Relka was a bit more stunned than Zaz seemed, but she hid it well. The actual proof of a shifter could have massive implications on the world structure. People would become a lot less trusting of friends and allies, never knowing if it was a shifter in disguise. Relka’s brain was working overtime at this new information, and her goals shifted ever so slightly. If she could get to those other shifters, maybe she could convince them to join with her. It could expand her network globally. With their help, she might be able to start wars, or end them, depending on her mood. But for now she had to play nice, until they found the other ones.
“So what exactly are the extent of your abilities?” Her voice remained even, being able to stay cool was a beautiful trait to have. “Is there anything you can’t become? Is there a time limit for the form you take? Also I would like to point out that, being a shifter yourself makes you look even more suspect. An inside man, which could be why you dismissed the other instead of subdued.”
“Yes,” Captain Mullin chimed in, “it is very suspect indeed. What kind of magic allows you to shapeshift like this? I assume you could sense these thieves were using the same kind of magic, which would explain the ‘gut feeling’.”
An inside job? The captain mused, considering Relka’s words. Yes, that could be the case, but then, why cooperate in the first place? He could have just as easily not said anything and they would be shit out of luck. Unless... was this a stalling tactic? Val sure did like to take his time getting to the point…
All three radios, carried on the hips of his three detectives, made a beep in unison, followed by a man’s voice. It was Captain Mullin’s second in command. “Attention all officers, we have 901 on our hands. Everyone must report back to their home office for further instructions. I repeat, all active personnel, return to home base.”
The three detectives' eyes shot wide with worry. They looked to their captain for confirmation. “You heard the man,” Mullin answered sternly. “I’ll continue things here.”
They nodded in understanding and started for the door. Mullin called out, before they got too far. “Garut,” All three turned around, but it was clear Mullin was speaking to the stalkier of the two men. “Keep me posted.” The rough detective nodded, and then they were out the door.
“Okay, Mr. Val.” The detective said, returning his gaze to the now elderly woman sitting before him, a new look of determination in his eyes. “Apparently, there are riots on the streets, and we have no more time for long winded speeches. Cut to the chase if you would.”
Val sat in his new form while the others spoke. His eyes were filled with an ageless wisdom as a toothless smile crossed his face. His smile became brighter as he shifted back to his “normal” form.
“You all seem to have the same misunderstanding.” Val pointed out as he lifted his hand. “I said I would tell you who or what was behind this. I have no more information than you do at this point.” He admitted as he looked at each person in the room. “I’m not willing to give information about shifters freely.” He stated flatly at Relka.
He paused, then continued. “As of today, I’m relieved of my contract with my employer. Currently you cannot touch me without evidence. Everything we spoke of in this room cannot be shared. This extends to all of you. If one of you says anything, then all are bound to the repercussions of the contract.” Val stated as he stood up. “I don’t need you all getting in my way when I search for my lost kin.” Val gathered all the information he had. Papers, files, and the laptop.
“For next time, be sure to know which repercussions are attached to the contract. For all you know it could be death.” Val informed them with a smile. “But don’t worry. I made the repercussions a mind wipe. It will take effect after this meeting is over.” He informed them as he left the room.
“It is over.” They could hear him through the opened door.
Zazriel shook his head. “I knew giving our word like that would come back to bite us in the ass,” he muttered, glancing over at Liel, who he knew must have been thinking the same. The whole situation was fucked, as what should have been a relatively simple case had turned into them being stuck between a rock and a hard place, as Val went off doing gods knew what in the search of his beloved kin.
Sighing, he turned away from the door Val had exited through and back to the rest of their little group. “So,” he said to the room at large. “What do we do now?”
Relka stared at the computer, a sly smile spread across her face. Poor little shifter, so worried that people would blab about shifters. Her fingers worked over the keys in front of her, realizing the large loophole of his so-called contract immediately. Sure she wasn't able to talk about the shifters with others, or pursue them to join her ranks at this moment. But after tonight they would be fair play, when everything calmed down she could begin moving the pieces how she wanted. She pulled out her own device and muted herself on the captain's line so he couldn't hear anything.
"Goose darling, how is everything on the streets?" She asked.
"Peace and quiet ma'am, though the fringes of your territory as expected is touch and go. Most people avoid the area all together, we are even arranging transport for the politicians to City Hall to better get a hold of everything."
"As expected of you, now tomorrow we need to discuss our future, I have big plans Goose, and a work around has already been implemented. But I will need your help reminding me. I will explain more later, back to protecting the area." Relka said as she pushed stop on the recording she was taking from the unknowing captain's cell. She wasn't allowed to write things down, but the shifter never said she couldn't record the conversation. Once her memory of shifters were wiped her end of the contract would be null and void. Goose would then get her to rewatch the video and her plans could move forward. She unmuted the captains line once more.
"What is our next plan, besides quelling the civil unrest? They will strike again here; I am sure. Maybe even a higher motive we have yet to see?" She asked the room.
“Yes, well…” The captain began to answer, his eyes still focused on the door Val had exited. “There is a whole police department and military guard unit that can monitor the riots. Those were planned for, given the occasion and all. I think we need to keep working this heist angle. It may or may not be connected with the riots, but that it isn’t the focus right now.”
When Captain Mullin finally took his eyes off the front door, he noticed the phone still in his hand and realized that Relka still couldn’t see him. So he switched to the front camera and set the phone down on the table, leaning it back against a vase of roses and stepping away.
Mullin cleared his throat and continued in a hushed voice. “Relka, would you be so kind as to keep an eye on our butler friend’s movements. You have permission to use every public security camera in the city, and we can get you warrants for any privately held cameras you deem helpful. And of course, you can use your own tactics… so long as you don’t do anything too illegal of course. As the man said, his contract covered everything he told us, meaning anything you find out about him and these ‘shifters’ from here out shouldn’t be covered by the ‘repercussions".”
“As for you, Mr. Zazriel,” The captain crossed his arms, making himself more comfortable. “Can you and your partner work with Relka here, be her private detectives if you will and follow Mr. Val? She’s a lot more valuable behind her desk, hooked into the city’s grid, and I need to keep an eye on these riots. I can even set up a few sloppier details on Mr. Val to throw him off your scent if you think he’s on to you. A good start would be to figure out the source to his magic. I don’t get the impression he personally had anything to do with tonight’s heists, but his ‘lost kin’ might not be as innocent.”
“Thoughts?” the captain finished, opening the floor up to ideas. His presence remained hardened, with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.
"None at all," Zazriel said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Relka had just shot a carefully worded message to Goose, having him ask about the video everyday until she actually forgot and could remind herself and set her plans in motion. As soon as she finished she listened to the captains plans and began running her programs and algorithms to locate the shifter.
"Captain, you may want to know that the commercial district is facing the heaviest riot at the moment. My people can't help you right now, but I can reach out to more, unsightly, people and ask for their help. I am sure that the Fey Mafia can help your men. And if need be I can pay them for you, I just ask for the prisoner records since they are stored in-house and I don't have any in there yet." She said innocently, playfully batting her eyelashes at the captain hoping to get under his skin once more.
The captain rolled his eyes. “No, no Fey Mafia. Just work with Zazriel here, as I asked please. We need more information… something I’m sure you understand.”
Alisdragon911
Cerces22
twannyman
Little Bird
Nanaya
Ersa93
Expendable
Abstract Proxy
Vec