Garrison Fawkes’ POV

“Well, does anyone have anything to report?” asked Michael imperiously.

The Madame spoke first. “I do,” they said. “People under my protection are going missing.”

“Is that unusual?” asked Ramiel. 

Instantly, the air thickened with tension. “One of my Incubi disappeared, leaving his belongings behind. I knew him well, and he would never have done that. There have been others who have also disappeared. Some of which are under your jurisdiction, Ramiel,” they said coldly. “Or are you unaware that your people have gone missing?”

Ramiel sat back and sulked.

The Madame continued. “The only thing that hasn’t been reported is missing humans.”

At once, everyone looked at me. I blinked at the sudden attention, but I supposed I was the only representative of humanity in that room. Only my friend didn’t turn. 

“How much do we understand of these disappearances?” they asked.

The council members at the table glanced at each other, waiting for someone to speak. I was shocked. “Do none of you know what is happening?” I demanded. “Do you not know anything about the missing people?”

“What is it to you?” asked Azrael sharply. “Your people are not missing.”

Her indifference stung. I slammed a hand on the table. “There is no ‘your people’ or ‘my people’ in the Kingdoms,” I told them. “The races live together and everyone will be affected if their friends, their family or their leaders go missing.”

It was only then that Gabrielle, the Sphinx spoke. “Your future King is one of us.”

Her lazy demeanour hid a sharp intellect that I hadn’t noticed until she spoke. “Yes,” I confirmed. “I do not know which one of you he falls under,” I admitted.

“That would be all of us,” she said. “If only humans are safe from this unknown entity, then it can be concluded that only magical beings are not.”

I frowned. It did make sense. But what was this ‘unknown entity'? 

“I do not have enough information to draw better conclusions,” Gabrielle remarked and sank back into her previous position of reclining. 

“Well, has anyone seen anything? Or have people simply vanished into thin air?” 

“None of my people have vanished,” Raphael admitted. “At least none in my city. I do not know of those on the outside. Our borders are heavily guarded from non-elvan citizens.”

“How do you get your information?” I wondered. 

The Elf looked uncomfortable. “We allow an Elf on the outside to come in every century. Our usual informant was not present at the last gate opening so we have not had any reports until now.”

“What happened to your informant?” Cassiel asked curiously.

“We…do not know.”

The look of sheer disbelief on my face probably said everything I needed to. He winced. 

“So, no one knows much,” I clarified incredulously. “Do you not talk to each other?”

“We do,” answered Michael. “We have regular meetings. You must understand that our lives are so much longer than your human ones. Meeting every month would be enough for you, but it would feel like every five minutes for us.”

I grimaced. “Right. Well, we need more information, and I don’t imagine any of you are going to do it. So, I will.”

“You are volunteering your services?” Michael asked doubtfully.

I nodded. “Yes. This is clearly the beginning of a problem. I’d rather eradicate the cause before it becomes truly uncontrollable.” 

“I agree,” said the Madame. They had been silent for most of the discussion. I shot a grateful smile at my friend.

“There is something I need though,” I added. “I need your respective cooperation when I investigate. I will have to travel a lot and I ask that you inform your people of my arrival, so they know to expect me.

“And if you can, find out what you are able to about your own people first. It will be easier to figure out the source if I know these things already. Time is of the essence and fortunately, humans understand that better than anyone else,” I finished.

“Very well,” said Michael. We will do what we can and await your arrival. “However, I ask that you visit the rest first. Us Dragons will need more time to find each other.”

“I see. I will come to you last then.”

Michael nodded his acknowledgement. “Does anyone have anything else to add?” he looked around at the rest of them. There was a collective murmur of negation.

One by one, the members stood to leave. Eventually, only Michael, the Madame and I remained. 

“Will you come with me?” I asked the Madame.

They nodded. “There is a stronghold that I must visit first. After that, we may travel together.”

I smiled. Their lips twitched upwards in response. It was strange, but knowing that we would be travelling together, made my chest warm with anticipation. I rather thought it would be fun to see the world with a friend.

~

Outside the great doors of the hall where we had first arrived, the Madame took the pendant out again. I hesitated very briefly before I took their hand, remembering the unbearable urge to vomit of the previous trip. But they said it would get easier, so I held their hand and we appeared outside another tavern. This time, the nausea was just an uncomfortable ache in my belly.

“Where are we?” I asked, looking around. Unlike Edenis, which had become a ghost town, this one was relatively thriving. The Madame looked heartened to see people walking around—their colouring had improved slightly.

“This is Gaiala,” they said. “The Nymphai are technically under my protection too.”

As I studied my surrounding more, I realised I had been there before. But it looked so different. There were far more folks than the Nymphai, though they were still around. “I didn’t know that the Nymphai went under Lust and Chastity,” I said distractedly.

“Come,” they guided me off the streets and into the building. “They are, though I’m sure you know why.”

“Why?” The general air of lust was incredibly disconcerting. Then my friend’s words were processed, and I said, “Oh.”

Gaiala was far less discreet than Edenis was. There were people blatantly pawing at each other against the walls and even a pair on the streets earlier. As we bypassed all these groups, I wondered aloud whether the Madame needed to feed.

“I haven’t had to feed in a long time,” they said.

“Aren’t you…hungry?” I frowned. “I could…um, help,” I offered red-faced. 

They squeezed my hand. “Thank you, but I assure you, Captain, I am stronger than I look.”

Clearing my throat embarrassedly, I nodded. I don’t know what I would have done if they had actually agreed to it.