Chapter 6

October 10, 2016 

New York, Manhattan

12:00 PM 

Blair

“Shut up!” Blair called out, her mouth full with the breakfast sandwich she just ordered. 

Topher stopped meowing and put his head down on his paw, hissing quietly. 

She was seated at the orange sofa with her feet up and laptop propped against her thighs. The screen was filled with different pictures of Stephanie in various mathlete competitions and science fairs from school articles she found online. 

 She ran a background check on the Formans just a few minutes ago and made sure their association with Debby was legit and not some set up by scrolling through their friend's list on Facebook. Karl was an insurance manager and Linda an accountant, not very wealthy but stable. Stephanie was their only child, hence them dotting on her to no end. Their social media accounts were filled with pictures of Stephanie and were always there for every single competition. 

“Jesus,” Blair mumbled as she found floods of Stephanie’s pictures at their galleries filled with every single small moment they had shared with her, “Helicopter freaks.” 

When she got to Stephanie’s social media platforms, she found that all of them had all been set to private with little to five followers or friends in every account. Visiting Stephanie’s Twitter page, Blair found her last tweet dated back a month ago which was a retweet of a cat video that set Topher meowing once again. 

Glaring at Topher to shut him up, she tried to check out her followers list that consisted of three accounts. She quickly skimmed the first two to find them being her roommates but stopped at the third account. 

Sitting up she clicked their icon and placed her sandwich on the coffee table. 

The profile picture was of a woman who looked no older than twenty years of age with a smoky eye and heavy liner. She had blonde hair with brown eyes. Her name was Vanessa and she had no tweets besides a few retweets of poems and political commentary against orcs and werewolves. Her biography was empty aside from a black heart emoji, and her followers list consisted of five spam accounts along with Stephanie. 

Someone knocked on the door and Blair jumped slightly before calling out, “Who is it?!” 

“It’s me!” Acacia’s voice chirped out from behind the door, “Cassie!” 

“It's open!” 

Acacia opened the door and stepped in, her mary jane heels clicking and clacking across the wooden floors. Topher went running towards her, purring loudly as she held and cuddled him. She smiled brightly at Blair to which she ignored and glanced back at the screen, scrolling through Stephanie’s tweets. 

“New case?” she asked, taking a seat at one of the guest chairs in front of the desk, placing Topher on her lap. 

“Yeah, missing person,” Blair mumbled through the bites of her sandwich, “Stephanie Forman.” 

Acacia gasped slightly causing Blair to snap her head to her, “I just saw her on the news last night. She went missing with a bunch of other college students.” 

Blair narrowed her eyes, “From the same school?” 

“No,” Acacia shook her head, “But they all went missing in the same month.” 

Blair tilted her head before shutting her laptop and walking to her desk to grab yellow sticky notes writing down the information Cassie had just told her and sticking it onto the corkboard behind her. It wasn’t filled yet as it only had Stephanie’s picture, dorm address, and schedule all pinned up along with a small flood of yellow sticky notes. 

“She has abilities?” Acacia asked as she held up the notepad on Blair’s desk.  

“Probably,” Blair mumbled as she nibbled on her dry lips, “They acted all weird when I brought it up.” 

“Well, everyone does,” she replied, grabbing a treat from her purse and feeding it to Topher. 

“Yeah but it wasn’t the usual weird, it was they’re hiding something weird,” Blair responded as she picked up a bottle of water and drank. 

Acacia furrowed her brows as she patted Topher, “There’s a difference?” 

Blair rolled her eyes, “You’re an actress you should know.” Crossing her arms, she looked at the corkboard, “Did they mention what time she went missing?” 

“I think it was about four in the afternoon,” she responded, “Right after her Statistics class.” 

Blair looked at the schedule and found that Stephanie’s classes ended right after that. 

Sighing, she realised that she would have to visit the dormitory and question her roommates. As she reached for her green hoodie on her office chair, Acacia asked, “Where are you going?” 

“To the dormitory,” she responded, putting on her hoodie, “Roommates may know something.” 

“What if they don’t tell you anything?” 

“Are you busy today?” Blair asked instead. 

Acacia perked up, “I can come with?” 

Blair held her hand up, “You can come if you promise to help me.” 

She gently put Topher down before standing up, “Of course!” 

“No, Cassie,” Blair raised her brows, “Help me…” 

Acacia’s smile faltered, “You know how much I hate using that on people. Also, it’s not telepathy it’s-”   

“Whatever it is, I need you to do it,” Blair insisted and as Acacia started to fidget with the sides of her tea-length skirt she continued, “Just think of that poor girl… her family’s worried sick, you know.” 

She furrowed her brows before seconds passed and she sighed loudly, “Alright fine! But if I get involved now then that means I get involved in the long run.” 

Blair rolled her eyes, “Ever the determined glue.” 

Acacia grinned. 

***** 

The train ride was a quick and steady one, but not the same can be said about the walk there. 

As they walked the few blocks that would take them to get to the dormitory, Blair and Acacia met with an overwhelming crowd of protestors. Slowing their pace they both stopped to observe the outcry and listen to the chantings, both of which were targeted against the Fae. 

“Well at least it isn’t the orcs this time,” Acacia said, keeping her voice low as she leaned closer to Blair as people walked past them to join. 

“Yeah, but do you really think those fae assholes will let them get away with this,” Blair mumbled, digging her hands into the pocket of her hoodie. 

The crowd had just kept increasing as people gathered around a large banner that had exaggerated and horrific illustrations of two fae beings barring their teeth out on each end with the phrase: Cut Those Ears Off, plastered on the middle in deep red. Blair leaned her head and tried her best to take a good look at the crowd, most of which consisted of college students. The signs and posters being raised all had heinous drawings of the fae with even more harsh phrases.

“GIVE US OUR JOBS BACK!” 

“GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM!” 

“FREAKS!” 

“THE ACCORD CAN’T SAVE YOU NOW, SELFISH BEASTS!” 

“FUCK THE ACCORD!”

“Madonna,” Acacia whispered, stepping behind Blair. 

People had started taking their phones out to record their surroundings, and Blair pulled Acacia and herself back to hide away from the screens. Around them, werewolves and orcs started walking out from alleyways as they stared at the commotion and smirked. 

Blair grabbed Acacia’s arm, “We should leave.” 

Just then, a man with long black hair stood up on a pedestal with a megaphone in hand. They tried pushing their way out but were blocked by the crowd gathering around him. 

“Shit,” Blair gritted out, as people started towering over them. 

Waiting until the crowd died down, he raised the megaphone to his lips: 

“When the Accord first came up, we were all promised protection, equal rights, opportunities…  a life of fucking peace! But what did we get instead?!” 

“JACKSHIT!” someone yelled over the commotion and was followed with shouts of outrage. 

“The race that benefited the most from the Accord were those long-eared lizards!” he spitted into the megaphone. 

Acacia cringed and Blair pursed her lips. 

“How long are we going to stay silent while they continue to take our jobs? Steal our opportunities? Abuse us with their powers? How long are we going to let them step all over us and treat us like vermin? WE WHO ACCEPTED THEM!” he yelled and the crowd roared along with him. 

He glanced at the werewolf and orc gangs watching from afar. 

“WE WERE PROMISED NOTHING BUT LIES! ORCS, WEREWOLVES, JOIN US IN THIS FIGHT TO TAKE BACK WHAT WAS RIGHTFULLY OURS!” he cried out, except this time, not everyone joined in the outrage. 

“Humans won’t stand by and watch these fuckers take our own land anymore!” people cried in agreement, “THIS LAND IS NOT THEIR LAND! AND WE WON’T LET THEM STEAL OUR MONEY FOR THEIR PETTY PARTIES OR FUCKING MAKEOVERS!” The speaker’s face had gone red with rage as veins popped out his neck and sweat and tears trickled down his face, “TO HELL THE FAE! TO HELL WITH THE ACCORD!” 

With that, he jumped down the pedestal and marched ahead, the crowd following him as they chanted the same two verses over and over again: 

To hell with the Fae. 

To hell with the Accord. 

  The orcs and werewolves stayed behind, however, snickering at the sight. 

There were even protesters who stopped in front of them, giving them the finger. 

Some even spat at their feet. 

Blair and Acacia, who were pushed against the brick wall, waited till the crowd around them emptied out before speed walking the opposite direction towards the dormitory. Their heads bent down, they avoided everyone’s gaze before they started running to their destination. Blair focused on the noise of Cassie’s heels click-clacking against the pavement to calm her jittering nerves until they reached the dormitory building where it was thankfully empty of any sort of outcry about to occur. 

Blair braced on her knees and tried to calm her quickening breaths. The sounds around her started to fade away as her heartbeat accelerated. 

Acacia leaned on a black stone fence and caught her breath as she rubbed her ankles, “You’d think almost seven years of pageant training would make me immune to heel pain,” her voice sounded distorted to Blair, it was as if she was underwater, “Oh gosh someone’s cigarette got on my skirt,” she started to dust off the soot.  

Police sirens sounded in the background which only made it worse as sweat coated her forehead. 

“I never knew Fae protests got this bad,” Acacia mused before her gaze finally landed on Blair and her eyes widened, “Oh crap.” 

She grabbed Blair’s arm and almost immediately Blair’s heartbeat slowed down. She felt a hand catch her just as she was about to drown. Her rising panic was blown away by a cool wind that travelled from her heart to her mind. She heard the sounds of two different birds chirping before the other noises of her surroundings slowly came back to her. Releasing a long breath, Blair opened her eyes and met Acacia’s concerned gaze before snatching her arm away. 

“I told you to never do that to me again,” Blair gritted out as she turned away. 

Acacia pursed her lips, “I’m sorry but you were literally-” 

“I had it under control,” she snapped, “I don’t need you to use your… shit on me.” 

Acacia closed her mouth and glanced away. 

“Let’s just get this over with,” Blair sighed, as she pushed past the iron fence and walked up the stone stairs. Acacia rolled her eyes but followed behind and they both walked into the brick building. 

*****

As they stood in front of the white wooden door that had a cliche Save the Turtles sign hung on the front, Acacia received a text message. 

“They want me to do a gig tonight,” she thought out loud, quickly typing back a response. 

Blair ignored her and banged the door causing Acacia to jump, “Jesus, you seriously have no manners at all.” 

Blair rolled her eyes, “Manners waste time.” 

Footsteps could be heard stomping towards the door before it swung open and revealed a guy with a beanie and a tape recorder as a necklace, Blair already recognized him as Adam Taylor. 

“Can I help you?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. 

Blair was about to respond before she saw the tape recorder’s wheels turning, “Is that thing on?” she asked, raising her left brow.

The guy grinned, “Yes, it’s for a Sociology project where I record continuously for-” 

“I don’t give a shit,” she interrupted, “Lose the recorder.” 

“I’m sorry, who are you?” he asked, “You’re the one coming in here-”  

“We’re here for Stephanie Forman,” Acacia stepped in and smiled, “Her parents sent us to look for her.” 

Adam’s left brow lifted up as his gaze met hers, and he leaned on the door frame and smiled, “Stephanie’s not here, she’s missing,” he replied.

“Yes, dipshit, that’s precisely why we’re here,” Blair grunted. 

Acacia cringed and gave an apologetic smile, “We’re just here to ask a few questions and we’ll be on our way.” 

The guy sighed, “Alright, fine,” he moved away from the entryway and walking in, he called out, “Sally! Get in here!” 

They took their seats on the brown patched up sofa just a few metres away from the front door. Acacia crossed her legs and sat up straight taking a look at her surroundings. Blair leaned back on the sofa only to push herself back up as the horrible stench of beer mixed with flaming hot Cheetos was etched into the sofa. 

“What is it!” someone called out from behind them. 

They both turned to see a girl with round glasses, dark hair, and grey pencil smudges on her face. 

Blair recognized her as Sally George, Stephanie’s other roommate. 

Narrowing her eyes, Sally walked slowly and sat in front of them, “You’re here for Stephanie?” 

Blair was about to reply when she noticed Adam stepping closer to them with the tape recorder outstretched. “Get that thing out of here.” 

“I can’t it’s a-” before he could elaborate, Blair pushed herself up, grabbed the tape recorder and flung it across to the end of the room. 

Sitting back down, she faced a wide-eyed Sally, “Yes. Were you two close?” 

“Not close enough, apparently” she responded, rolling her eyes, “She’s not missing, you know. She’s probably holed up somewhere with that blonde chick.” 

“There’s a girl?” Blair asked, leaning in. 

“Of course there is. Why else would little miss perfect run away.” 

“Her parents never mentioned a girl,” Acacia replied, furrowing her brows. 

“They only talk to her about school,” Sally muttered, rubbing her hands across her jeans. 

“Who’s the blonde chick?” Blair asked, tilting her head, “Does she have a name? A job?”