A painting with two stories Part 2 (Nathayen POV)

While I was awaiting Dam’s notification, I was thinking further about this strange finding. How was this possible? Who was this Jonas Krewood that he managed to create this art piece? Many things I could have contributed to a coincidence, but that fact it was showing two babies who turned their crystals black? Not to mention the fact the overall picture had been portrayed in a mirrored way. It seemed almost like a message to us. A message which could only be understood by those who knew the true bearing of it. Was it that? Did someone try to convey a message to us through this picture? 

The important message reached me a few hours later. I didn’t waste any more time and went straight for Lyras’ office. The imposing skyscraper throned a few floors over all the neighboring buildings. I pulled my ID card to gain access to the giant building complex. My way led me straight to the elevator, where I pushed the button for the highest floor. As the doors opened, they revealed a large room, Lyras couldn’t have furnished more minimalistic. 

Considering the single glass work desk which stood here, the size of the room may seem absurd. But in moments like these, it was an advantage to have enough space for many people in it. The giant glass front revealed the city beneath us. In the distance, one could make out the White House. It was no coincidence Lyras had decided to go for the perfect viewing angle on it. As I knew my friend, he enjoyed the sight for multiple reasons and I would have joined him in it - if we hadn’t come together for a more important issue. 

Dam had already positioned the painting. Juliel entered the room shortly after me and greeted all of us with a nod. 

“Did you have to pay a fortune for it, Dam?” I took a stand beside Lyras and inspected the image closer, as if to make out another detail I missed before. 

“More than I wanted to, but nothing we can’t afford.” Dam shrugged and shook his head, while Juliel pulled out several photos and notes he handed to us. Information he probably had dug out over the last few hours. 

“So that’s Mr. Krewood? Doesn’t look special.” A typical human with an expression devoid of any depth, pressed in clothing that were just appeasing enough for the camera. He wasn’t what I’d call a beauty, but that didn’t matter. Dam wasn’t supposed to go on a date with him , but we had to find out what was going on with his creation. 

“The only thing spectacular on the man is how much idiots are prepared to pay for his paintings. He didn’t finish many so far as the talk on the event brought up.” Damahir shrugged. “It wasn’t all too helpful. There are barely any photos of the art pieces he created but those I managed to find didn’t seem like that one.” 

Juliel grumbled thoughtfully and focused on the canvas in front of him. According to his notes, not many paintings from Krewood were circling through Washington. 

“That raises more questions”, I noticed sighing. “Is it one or are there more we don’t know about, yet? How did he get the information to paint it?” I frowned as I turned to everyone. “Do you think someone is trying to send us a message?” 

Lyras rose to speak. “In the end there is only one way to find out. We have to ask the person himself.” 

That put the matter in a nutshell. We could waste hours with guesses without ever finding an actual answer to our speculations or we could talk to the one responsible for the painting. 

“Well, then we’ll kidnap him”, Dam explained. “It’s the fastest way to solve the problem. I doubt he’s heavily guarded.” 

No, probably not. Even if he were, I was certain we’d manage to bypass his security. After all we weren’t in the human world for chitchat.

“Alright, I’ll take care of that. Ju can you prepare the warehouse? Dam, you can play the driver”, I declared.

“Why can’t I kidnap him? It was my idea.”

“Because I said first, I’ll do it.” I chuckled amused, well aware it would annoy him. It wasn’t that important to me who’d execute the abduction, but if it came to dealing with the matter as swiftly and secretly as possible, Dam wasn’t the most suitable candidate. He had a disposition to spontaneous decisions, which I didn’t wish to risk in this matter. 

“I’ll interrogate him”, Lyras declared. This basically dropped the survival chances of the artist significantly at this moment. Not that it mattered to me, as long as we’d get our information.