Angelique stepped into the building, the dim candlelight illuminating rows of papers on the wall. She read them as she stepped across the creaking floorboards. They were all wanted posters or information for missing individuals, each with parts bloody or rotted off. Minnielle followed, closing the door behind her and shielding her face with her scarf.
A towering man stood behind the counter of the store, folding papers neatly. It was like a skeleton had been brought to life, with old leather stretched across its bones. Angelique pulled the top of her hood down to cover her eyes and tapped the desk for service.
“Hello there.” the man said. “How may I help you?”
“I need information. Have you seen Audertion Slick recently?” The man nodded with a chuckle. “Ah, yes. Audertion Slick. I haven't seen him in a long time. He came around her once a week two months ago actually." The man lowered his voice and inched closer to Angelique's ear. "He was dipping into the pot with sugary fingers if you know what I mean.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“He was working 2 cases at the same time. Opposing ones. I’m not sure about the information, but they both were women. It's no wonder he got silenced.”
Angelique’s head shot up slightly. “Silenced? He was silenced?”
The man nodded. “Yeah. He went missing. He's probably been silenced.” The man held out his hand. “That’ll be one gold coin.”
Angelique dropped the coin into his hand and turned to Minnielle. “We need more information. Can you distract him for a moment?” Minnielle looked reluctantly at the man and sighed. “Be quick, and leave no stone unturned.”
Angelique nodded firmly and turned away to walk behind a bookshelf at the center of the room. Minnielle leaned on the counter and struck up a conversation. “So how are you doing today?” she began, jingling a pouch of gold from hand to hand.
Angelique seized the moment to crawl across the floor, past the man, and into the back room, gently closing the door noiselessly.
Candles lit the walls of the room, which was grimly decorated. It had paper files, artifacts, and a small safe. In the corner was a pile of clean skulls, haphazardly thrown together.
Angelique rushed to the files and checked them. The sound of flipping paper filled the room as she searched for the accurate date and alphabetical ranking. She could see dates of files from 100 years back, with dusty papers and crumbling ink. Some files, when she rubbed them with her thumb, came apart into a dusty flake.
Eventually, she reached the correct timing for the file. The name Slick caught her eye and she lifted the folder, opening it carefully.
‘Audertion Slick’s file. They put everyone who has ever contacted them into a file, and research them before providing information to ensure no cross-kingdom affairs. They are thorough as hell, his age, his close family, his job. It's all listed.’ Angelique turned past the page with his own information to see the information he had gathered. First, it was all about Tracey, and Sumiatra, and every girl after that, the file group had the name The Angel on it. ‘I assume that was the alias I preferred him to use.’
His next file seemed smaller but more detailed. It was under the name Lace. Angelique pulled out the papers of information. Each page included was information on Angelique, and Julian as well. ‘This is even more strange. The front desk attendant said Slick was double-dipping. That means…’ Angelique flipped back to the paper on Tracey. ‘I bet that he was doing work with Tracey Delmont behind my back!’
Angelique bit her nail as she held the folder. ‘Why would she want information on me and Julian...and what did she do to Audertion.’
The sound of Minnielle stammering in her conversation broke Angelique from her thoughts, and she crawled out of the back room. The file was tucked into her coat pocket. Minnielle, upon seeing Angelique crawl out, nervously backed away and walked out of the store with a wave.
“I have the file,” Angelique said, holding up the folder. Minnielle smiled. “Thank goodness, if you had come out any later we would have been broke. Let's head home."
They locked the doors of their hotel room and spread out the papers on the bed. “I read a bit of it in the backroom. I think this Lace woman is actually Tracey Delmont, the last to see Slick.”
Minnielle looked at the file carefully. “What makes you say so?”
Angelique tapped her skull with a smirk. “Tracey said she didn't hurt him when she let him go, but he was covered in bruises when his mother saw him. She would have mentioned his injuries since those things don't go away for a long time. That means something else was happening around Slick, and Tracey was involved.”
Minnielle sat back with all this information. “I recall from a while ago, before you came to this world, a dinner party.” she began, “I had seen Tracey Delmont at a party held by the Emperor for the kingdom's anniversary. She clung to Julian all throughout the day.”
Angelique lifted the file on Julian. “Then I’m going to guess, she was my love rival. My worst love rival.” Angelique sat on the bed and read Julian’s file. ‘He was born by Concubine Lucantion, who died when he was 12.’ Angelique shook her head. ‘He may be a jerk, but I can't help but feel bad for him.’ Angelique skimmed the page and found the section on illnesses. She froze as she read. ‘Insomnia since he was 12 years old. He can’t sleep for more than 3 hours a week. This was rumored to be a result of his own mother's involvement with sorcery and devil-worshipping.’
Angelique covered her mouth in surprise. ‘That explains why he chose to sleep with me.’ she thought. ‘I must have been able to ease his sleeplessness with my healing ability. Now I just feel worse for him, it must have been torture.’
Angelique looked to Minnielle and put down the paper. Clearing her mind of the troubling news about Julian, she began her speech.
“I’ve got my theory. Lady Tracey was different from the other women. Sure she had her wealth, which I took, but worse, I took the man she loved. She could live without her money, but Julian…” Angelique lifted the paper. “It's clear he meant a lot to her. And as the old saying goes, love is the strongest motive for murder besides wealth.”
Minnielle nodded, a tad confused on what exactly the 'old saying' meant, but she agreed anyway. “Now what do we do?”
“Our job is now not to help Tracey, but to find Slick. I’m just not sure how we can do that. Our leads end with this file.” Angelique laid upon the bed in defeat. Suddenly, an idea came to mind.
“Minnielle, get ready to leave I've decided what we must do!” she said, tucking her papers into her bag. “We have one last option and it might just work!”
Minnielle signed from exhaustion. “Fine” she groaned. They carried themselves outside, hopped up on their horse, riding off back to the Alishe Julian’s estate.
…
The ornately decorated salon seemed dimmer today. The air was thick and heavy as well, making any of the pastries brought out taste sour in the mouths of the guests. Minnielle couldn't swallow for fear of making too loud a noise. Angelique felt the same but hid it beneath a forced smile. “How have you been, Alishe Julian?” she asked.
Julian sat, one leg lazily draped over the other and his head on his palm. He scowled back at Angelique. “What do you need?”
She lifted the file she had brought and placed it beside the scones and tea on the table. “It's a long story, let me tell you. It began when I left the house a few weeks ago, I was completing my part of the contact and I came across Tracey-” Julian stopped her speech. “I know that much, what do you need me for,” he said.
Angelique opened the folder to a hand-drawn picture of Slick. “We need resources on this man. His name is Audertion Slick. He’s missing right now and I hope you can shed some light, or provide me with some help investigating.”
Julian lifted the drawing closer to his eyes and nodded. “Ah, yes. I think I can help you,” he said, his tone unchanging. “One of my men saw this man recently, by the alleyway on the outskirts of the eastern market.”
Angelique lifted her gaze brightly. “Really!? What a coincidence!” She turned to Minnielle with a wink, sharing the thought, ‘I told you this was the right move.’
Julian relaxed his sitting position to a more assertive pose, staring deeply into Angelique’s shining eyes. “I’ll help you. I can have the man who saw Audertion at that same alley. Tomorrow at midnight, be there. You’ll surely get your answers.” Angelique smiled and grabbed his hand to shake it joyfully.
“Julian, I know we’ve had our rough patches but, you really are an honest man. Thank you so much, I just knew you would help me!” she linked her finger with his, still grinning, “I promise, once this is all over, I’ll give you the gift of a lifetime!”
Julian watched as the two dashed from the room, both in cheery moods. He sat upright and wiped his hands off with a cloth napkin.
“Your story checks out. You now have my full trust now,” he said. Tracey stepped out from the curtain behind him, gently sighing. “Oh my, I was terrified!” she said, stumbling towards him.
He got up and helped to ease her onto the couch. “I apologize that you had to sit through such a traumatizing event, in the same room with that monster,” he said. He poured her a cup of black tea and lifted it to her lips. She took a sip and her eyes fluttered. “Julian…” she whispered, “You are so kind to me.”
Julian placed the cup back down and sat beside her. “Of course, we are in a partnership.” Tracey lifted her hand to trace his jawline.
“Can we not be...more? Why don't we take the partnership further?” She stared into his eyes, a glint of evil intent behind her own. Julian was slightly shocked by her statement. “Another marriage partnership?”
He glanced at Tracey, with her fair features and coquettish mannerisms. Something within him felt nauseous. He thought of having another marriage, with Tracey, the life they would lead. ‘It is an easy way to get to power, have an heir. But why can't my lips say yes? Why does my body say no?’
Julian stood and lifted her with his hand. “We’ll discuss this another day. But we must be ready for tomorrow.” He said.
Tracey pulled a feather fan from her dress pocket and flicked it open. “Rest assured, partner. My side has it all ready. All you need to do is send me a soldier to distract her. Then, we can finally rid ourselves of that Angelique Vosce.”
Tracey walked out of the room after a formal goodbye, and another form walked in. He bowed deeply, removing his helmet.
“Sir Wilson Mortia. Just the man I was looking for! You must have been my guard on shift for today?” Wilson nodded, still bowing deeply. Julian blinked at him with a confused face. “Why aren't you standing?”
Wilson kept his nose to the ground as he spoke. “Forgive me Alishe, but I must leave. Permanently.” Julian’s surprised expression turned to a scowl. “What did you say?”
“I’m leaving, today. I’ve decided to retire.” Wilson then stood up and handed Julian his sword. “I swore loyalty to this house till death. Which means I shall leave with dishonor on my name.” He turned after bowing and was just about to leave the room when a blade crossed his path.
Julian’s face was twisted in shadow, possibly from a mix of anger and sleep deprivation. “Tell me, why?”
Wilson bowed his head. “You may call me weak for not performing properly in my duties, but I couldn't help but listen in on the private matters of my Alishe. I wish not to harm my Alishen, and I do not want any part in the job to harm her.”
Julian’s scowl only grew more violent. The sword slashed across the room in a second, and Wilson’s cheek was bloodied. “Leave, and never return. You are truly a coward for falling for a sorceress' schemes.” Wilson looked up at Julian, his eyes still confident. “I just hope you won't regret your decisions, my Alishe.”
With his final word, he left. The only thing he took was a sack of belongings and a weak horse. Julian watched from his bedroom as Wilson rode away, and he threw the sword into his fireplace.
“It looks like I’ll have to do the job myself,” he whispered.
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