At the end of the meeting, I b-lined for Rodolfo and Jaden, at the suspicious look from Otet I just answered that I hadn’t seen Jaden in over a month. Ms. Macabre followed behind me.

“We’re doing this right?” I said glancing between the two of them.

“Obviously,” Jaden said glancing around to make sure we weren’t overheard.

“Good, shall we head over to my shop to discuss plans?” Rodolfo murmured.

“Excellent idea Rodolfo,” I said a little loud on purpose. “I’ve been meaning to try some of your new flavors!”
“Great,” he said nonchalantly. “I have a new lemon one I think you’ll love.”

“Wonderful,” I glanced back over at Otet as he began to say something. “Otet, I’m heading over to Rodolfo’s shop with Jaden and Ms. Macabre, I’ll meet you at home later.”

The four of us quickly made our way out of the room before the heads could get another word in.

“This is a bad idea,” Ms. Macabre said in Orcish.

“Maybe,” I responded, and she looked surprised that I understood. “But I’m not going to let those we employ and protect get hurt, and I guess if I’m going into this then you’ll have to follow.”

“I guess so,” she said grimly.

“I promise I’ll take full blame for this,” I said looking at her, reaching a handout to rest on her shoulder with a gentle squeeze.

“You know that’s not how this will work out,” she said looking forward. “But I understand why you want to do this; this is your flock, and you must protect it.”

“It is,” I said as we reached the front doorway.

“Now,” I said switching back to common. “Let’s head over to your shop, Rodolfo.”

He nodded and led the way.

---

“This plan is stupid, but it might work,” Jaden said with folded arms looking at me.

“It’s ingenious, not stupid,” I said taking a lick of my gelato.

“It fully relies on Toriko not snitching on us,” Rodolfo wagered. “But he’s loyal.”

“Are your plans usually this..interesting?” Ms. Macabre said looking at me.

“Almost always,” Rodolfo sighed. “But eight times out of ten they work.”

“Eight?” Ms. Macabre said with a raised eyebrow.

“It’s a solid ratio,” I muttered, and then cleared my throat. “My point is, it’ll work. All we need to do is set some bugs, get some gear from Toriko, find the hideout, and kill this person. Simple!”
“Oh, very simple,” Jaden said with her eyebrows drawn narrow.

“Do we have anyone we can use as bugs?” Rodolfo asked.

“I was thinking we could call in some favors, and at worst I can use some magic.”

“Who the hell owes you a favor?” Jaden asked looking at me curiously.

“Oh you know, a couple of people I went to school with. Who may or may not now be working for the various families.”

“You have other Wizards who owe you favors?” Rodolfo said eying me.

“In and out of the families. I’ll contact my friend at the library to see what she can dig up, and I’ll also get in contact with my friend who just so happens to work for your family, Jaden,” I grinned.

“Brilliant,” she sighed.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I would actually like some of the Cherry Gelato…”
“Coming right up,” Rodolfo said pushing himself up.

---

“I think that went well,” I said as we made our way out of the Gelato shop an hour later.

“I think this is insane,” Ms. Macabre said glancing up at me.

“Insanely well.”

“No…I know your part of the Mafia. But this is so illegal.”

“And killing people isn’t?” I said eying her.

“It is, it’s just…this is dangerous. You could get badly hurt,” Ms. Macabre said as we ducked under a sign that hung a bit to low.

“Well, I have you, and like I said, I’m capable of offensive and defensive magic.”

“I have faith in that, but we’re dealing with someone who has killed multiple people.”

“I’ve dealt with that before, the last mission I had was against a Necromancer.”

“Ah…I see,” she went quiet as we approached the street where my family’s estate was located.

We approached the front door and went inside. We were greeted by Zauvith, and he bowed slightly.

“Did you try to anger him?” He asked with an even tone.

“Of course not, who would ever want to?” I muttered the last bit.

“Mm, well he was not happy, something about you wanting to go on another mission?”
“That I do, it’s my duty.”

“If you believe so, maybe it is. Your Otet disagrees.”

“He’s just protective, for obvious reasons. Speaking of, have you met Ms. Macabre yet?” I said gesturing to her smiling.

“I have not, it is a pleasure. I knew your father, is he doing well?” Zauvith gracefully let me change the subject.

“Uh, yes he is. He’s enjoying retirement,” she seemed startled by the sudden shift of attention to her.

“Good, he deserves some peace,” Zauvith smiled, and it seemed somewhat sad.

“Well let him know that I said hello next time you see him,” Zauvith somehow straightened up even further. “I must go there seems to be a mess in one of the bedrooms.”

He walked out, and seemed to be harder to see the further he got until he seemingly vanished.

“I don’t know how he does it,” I muttered. “Well, we best head up to the wing, I want to avoid Otet until dinner.”

Ms. Macabre paused for a moment before following me.

---

“You know,” Mama said at the awkwardly silent dinner hours later. “I’m not sure what happened, but this is most unlike either of you.”

“She’s just angry I told her no,” Otet glanced over at me for a second before turning his attention to Mama.

“I’m not angry,” I said angrily eating a bite of potatoes.

“You certainly are. I understand that you want to act but you know what…what happened last time,” his tone shifted at the end, and Mamushka reached a handout to hold his.

“I— I know,” I looked down at my plate.

“Then you must understand my decision. You can act from the sidelines, but you are not going out in the field,” his tone held no room for argument.   

“Yes Otet,” I went back to my meal.

I saw my Mama take a glance at me for a second, concern painting her face. I looked away, and looked at Ms. Macabre, whose stony face betrayed just a second a flitter of nervousness. She covered it quickly with a swig of her water.

“So…any plans for tomorrow Gae Lia?” Mama asked trying to break the tension in the room.

“I do, I’m visiting an old school friend. I didn’t realize she lives on this tier so we’re going to catch up.

“Oh? Which one?” Mamushka said trying to help.

“I might’ve mentioned her before, her name is Euphemia, she studies in a school similar to mine.”

“I see, well I hope all goes well with that,” Mama said seemingly relieved that the atmosphere of the room had warmed above frigid.

“Yes, we lost touch because she graduated a few years before me, but she was always friendly.”

---

“This is stupid and insane,” Ephie stared at me with narrow eyes as she used Mage hand to shelve a book. She came to just above my knee, so she was really craning her neck to look me in the eye.

“I appreciate your feedback and will take it into consideration,” I retorted as I stared down at her. She snorted.

“Listen, I’ll help but I’m not getting more involved that some information,” She hopped onto a rolling cart and let its momentum to push her through the shelves.

I followed, easily keeping up, Ms. Macabre behind me.

“Ephie you’re a lifesaver.”

“I know, and I’m happy to help but I’m not getting to wrapped up in your Mafia shit.”

“Shh, keep it down,” I said glancing around before realizing the library was empty.

“The only person besides you that’s showing up in the next hour is my boyfriend,” Ephie said glancing at the clock. “We can speak freely. It’s just you, me, and the hot orc lady.”

Ms. Macabre blushed, “Hey, at least call me my name or my job title at least.”

“Right of course, Ms. Macabre that hot orc lady bodyguard,” Ephie drawled looking over at her.

I sighed at Ms. Macabre blushed. I pinched the bridge of my nose, “I just need any info I can get on Black Tentacles, Necromancy, and any recent newspapers you have.”

“That’s easy enough, I’ll grab those for you,” she whistled, and her familiar Snapdragon appeared.

“Snap, can you grab the newspapers from the last two weeks?”
The cat mewled before trotting off. Ephie then waved a hand and another mage hand appeared and shot across the library. It came back seconds later with two books and dropped them in my hands.

“Thanks.”
“No problem, I would give you more, but we’re required to report if someone checks out multiple books on dark magic,” Ephie said pushing her cart back towards the front as we followed.

“Recent policy change?”
“Indeed,” she glanced down the aisle. “There’s Snappy with the newspapers.”

The adorable cat was trotting with a bundle of newspapers tied with string, her mouth biting down on the knot.

“Thank you Snap,” I said bending down to take the bundle from her. She rubbed herself on my hand in thanks, and then made her way over to Ms. Macabre and began rubbing on her legs.

“Hm, she likes you,” Ephie said curiously, and glanced at me. Ms. Macabre was distracted by the cat so she didn’t notice Ephie wink at me and the blush that ensued.

“She’s cute…and single?” Ephie asked in Draconic.

“Shut…shut up she’s my bodyguard!”

“Denial, classic,” Ephie chuckled. She switched back to common, “Well I’m glad I helped you find everything, if you’ll excuse me my boyfriend will be here in ten minutes and I’m not ready to explain how I have a friend in the mafia.”

“Fair enough, we really should actually get food sometime.”
“Yes, I’ll message you tomorrow or something?”

“Can’t wait,” I said waving as I carried the stack of books out the door, Ms. Macabre holding it open for me.

“Let’s get cracking,” I said grinning at Ms. Macabre.

“Can’t wait,” she said sounding nervous.

“It’ll be fine, I promise.”

I didn’t realize it then, but gods would I regret those words.