Eerie

I played the city like a game. I knew all its twists and turns, but more importantly, I knew all the rules. And one of the most basic rules in all of Mordium is that if you want information, you go to the Heart’s Den Casino and ask for Haeth.

“Who are you?” Haeth asked, “And how did you get the key back here?”

Right. Technically, one can only enter the backroom where Haeth hangs if one has a key, which are given only under very specific circumstances.

“One question at a time,” I said.

Haeth sighed. “Fine. How’d you get a key? I don’t recall authorizing a faceless one.”

“Stole it,” I said easily, holding up the tiny copper keyplate.

He rolled his eyes. “Lovely. Now who are you?”

“Just a dead girl,” I answered, as though it were nothing.

“And what do you want, dead girl?”

“Information, of course.”

“In my experience, the dead rarely have much money.”

“True,” I acknowledged. “But I have a great deal else worth trading.”

“Oh?”

I nodded. “Sure, pretty soon the whole city will be looking for me. My death is going to be the case of the century. Just knowing that I’m here will give you so much power over the flow of information, but, because I’m feeling particularly generous, I’ll offer you a little more in the mix.” That was a rule too: always act like you’re being generous. Desperate people don’t get shit.

“I’m listening.”

“I’ll offer you my face.”

He looked taken aback. “As if.” His tone was disbelieving, but I could tell that he was listening to me.

“Don’t make me reconsider,” I said coldly.

“We have a deal,” he said. “What do you want?”

I slowly slipped the hood of my black cloak away from my face and held out a photograph. “I’m looking for this man. Where is he?”

Haeth looked surprised and mildly interested. “Oh, now this is going to be an interesting project. Give me five days.”

Flight

“And you think we should come here, specifically, off of what lead?” Arath asked.

“If someone had just tried to kill you and failed, what would be your first course of action?”

“Track them down and bring them to justice.”

“Exactly. And if you’re looking to track something down, you go to the Heart’s Den Casino.” I pushed the doors open. “Let me know if you see her.”

Inside, the casino was brightly lit and boisterous, with gamblers gambling and servers serving and seducers seducing. There was something almost meticulous about the way that everyone seemed to be doing exactly what that person ought to do, and something unnatural.

I walked up to where the bartender tended the bar and ordered a drink. Arath sat down next to me, scanning the casino with watchful eyes.

And nothing happened.

“Come on,” I said after several hours had passed. “If she came here in the first place, she’s already gone.”

Arath nodded. Then their eyes widened. “There she is!” they exclaimed, pointing across the casino at a figure in a dark cloak. The figure pushed the doors open and exited the building. I stood hurriedly, tossing the bartender a coin, and nearly sprinted after her.