44- The Magic Shop and Her Mysterious Mentor

Tau stared at the back of the apartment door after Yechiel left.

"Something wrong?" Quayleigh questioned as she watched his unmoving form.

"Do you really not trust him?"

"I trust him to act as expected. Anything else, doesn't matter. He only needs to believe that I don't. He'll be more careful now, trying to get back on my good side. And as for you, you can now choose if you want to be friends with him or not."

"Would it be alright if I want to spend time with him?"

"Yes, Tau, it is perfectly alright. He really is a well-intentioned person. He doesn't always make the greatest decisions, but he doesn't seem to have a malicious bone in his body. Anyways, get dressed. We need to head out."

"Where are we going?" Tau asked as he returned to the couch and opened his duffle bag.

"To the Magic shop. I need to speak to the owner. He's a friend of sorts, a teacher more accurately."

"A teacher?"

"Yeah, he's the man who taught me everything I know about magic," she explained as he gathered his clothes and began to dress.

"Someone taught you?"

"Yes. While I learned what I could on my own, which was just enough to get our ritual to work, and a few runes and sigils, the truth is, I didn't fully understand anything about what I was doing. I was basically stumbling around in the dark being lucky enough not to break myself. Then one day, I was introduced to Cole LeKing, a La'jhirawah from La Bata'roy. He's the proprietor of the magic shop I go to. He's one of the few willing to sell to the unregistered practitioners, like me."

"Who introduced you?"

Quayleigh gave him a regret-filled smile as he approached her. Taking her outstretched hand, he pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms, whispering, "I'm sorry I asked," as he hugged her tight.

"You had no way of knowing. But yes, it was who you think it is. I don't know how he found the place, but it was where he went when it was time to buy the items I asked for. It didn't take him long before he brought me along for the ride, and in the long run, it benefited me. The first time I went into the store, I remember being taken to the counter. Tim had ordered supplies in advance, but when Cole handed over the package, he looked directly at me, and it was if he knew all my secrets. He asked about what the supplies were for, and I told him. He gave me this nod, and this smirk. It was like he was saying that he impressed and concerned all at the same time. Then, in the most distinct accent, he says to me, 'Hey cher, there be a better way. What you say about letting ole Cole teach it to you?' I wish I could remember more, but somehow; I ended up there on the weekends and Cole did as he promised. He showed me a better way and so much more. Anyways, he's been good to me over the years, not enough to give me discounts, but he's usually fair. That being said, are you ready to go?"

"I am," he replied as he leaned forward and gently kissed her.

"Good, because we're taking your car," she said with a smile as he released her.

Gathering everything they needed, they put on their shoes and headed out the door.

What normally took over an hour via public transit, took around twenty minutes by car. However, finding a parking spot proved more difficult than expected and eventually landed them in a public parking garage off of the main street on the south end of downtown Turnage City, leaving the rest of the journey to be made on foot. They walked hand in hand, glancing in windows, the crisp air circling about them as the leaves swirled and rustled against the buildings and crunched beneath their feet. For two blocks they headed north up the main street, before turning right on 5th, and a quick left down a narrow back alley. After passing two doors, Quayleigh lead Tau down a set of stairs stopping before a bright red, basement door.

When they arrived, Quayleigh turned to Tau and smiled bright. "Looks as if he's open. Shall we go in and say hello?"

Tau was alight with a jovial glee, his eyes having not ceased their constant wandering, curious about everything they could take in. Even in the dark and shaded alley, now standing below ground level, he eagerly nodded. "Of course, but how do you know he's open?"

Quayleigh pointed to a small painted stone in the corner of the lower landing, a rainbow visible on its surface. "When the rainbow is showing, everyone is welcome. If the red side is up, it means try again later."

"What a quaint idea," Tau commented as Quayleigh opened the door and lead him inside.

Despite being below ground level, the inside of the shop was bright with a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The walls had been painted a shade of vibrant red-orange, and were covered with a variety of merchandise, from tapestries to floor mats, fur rugs to bedspreads. There were paintings, posters, drapery, and wall décor. Shelves of candles, incense and holders, statuettes, crystals, stones, essences and oils, knickknacks, bric-a-brac, sundries, curios, and oddities. As well as a modest selection of jewelry, clothing, and books. Literally, anything and everything one would associate with a magic shop, with the bonus of eccentric, everyday merchandise like mugs and giftable socks, could be found within. Every nook and cranny, and even dangling from the ceiling, there wasn't a spot without something in it.

To Tau, it was a horde of fascination and delight. The shiny baubles had easily grabbed his attention, instantly causing him to linger near the entrance as Quayleigh, familiar to the wonders about, made her way to the counter at the back of the store.

"My, my, my, to what do I owe this rare pleasure, cher? It not be the usual day you so kindly grace this one with your presence," the man, well known to Quayleigh as Cole LeKing remarked while leaning over his counter towards her.

Cole was a man of modest height, with broad shoulders, and a fit physique, although he wasn't 'chiseled' by any means. His complexion, being the pale tone of a man allergic to the sun accentuated the deep, sea blue of his eyes and the unnatural appearance of his black-cherry, red hair and sculpted goatee, which framed his sharp features. And while he appeared to be a man in his early to mid-forties, Quayleigh knew him to be of far superior years.

"You have some time to talk?" she asked as he rested his head in his hand.

"Now that depends chére, he with you?" Cole motioned towards Tau with his chin.

"Yeah, actually he is," Quayleigh replied as she turned around, and waved her hand to catch Tau's attention. "Dylan, come on over, there's someone I want you to meet."

Tau looked up and made his way towards her, stopping abruptly when she stepped aside, revealing Cole behind her. At Tau's sudden absence of advancement, Quayleigh turned to find that Cole had straightened himself up, his body had stiffened and his eyes, now unmoving, were fixated on Tau, even as he shifted his position closer to her.

"Quays," Cole said, his voice hollowed as the air in the store grew tense, what little color he had in his face, draining away. "That one, he not be as human as he appears, no?"

"That's almost amusing coming from a thing like you," Tau remarked as he moved towards Quayleigh, his hand held out towards her. "Tell me, human, what did you give it up for? Money? Power? Love?"

"Knowledge," Cole replied watching as Quayleigh took Tau's hand. "But for all I have, I still not seen a thing like you before."

"Not surprising either," Quayleigh said as she leaned against Tau, "There's nothing in this world like him. Cole, this is Dylan. Dylan, this is Cole LeKing. Teacher, proprietor, and all round, semi-descent, scoundrel."

"It's nice to meet you," Tau remarked with a broad smile, the tone of his words ringing false and rehearsed, setting Cole on edge.

"Quays, what you be doing with a thing like that?" He struggled to hide the quake in his voice.

Quayleigh flinched, "wait, is it possible?" she muttered. "Cole, can you see him? Can you see what he really is?"

"Nah cher, it be his aura. It don't fit in that corpse, and de color, that be all wrong for the living. You be one of Death's then?"

Glancing to Quayleigh, Tau returned his gaze to Cole and replied, "I am."

"Then what you be doing here? You cannot be coming for me. I've made my deals."

"But you can't make deals with Death," Quayleigh spoke with a tone of curiosity as she looked to Cole, his eyes still locked to Tau's.

"I didn't make no deal with Death."

"Clever mortal." Tau smiled as he bowed his head. "I'm impressed and interested in hearing more. But Quayleigh brought us here for a reason, if we have time after though, perhaps you will indulge me with your story."

"I be tempted to say yes, but that be depending on what Quays come asking for," Cole replied, his shoulders dropping as he finally blinked.

"Your help, and don't worry, I've got the money to back it up."

Cole rolled his lips for a moment as he looked down at her before flipping over the stone on his counter, a loud click announcing that the store was now closed.

"No need for us to be interrupted now. Besides, if you come ask me for help, it must be serious." With a sigh, Cole pulled back the curtain on the wall behind him to reveal a hallway to another room. "Come on then, let's go have a chat. I'll make us some tea. And what about you servant of Death, you drink?"

"I have, and you can call me Dylan."

"But that just be the name of that corpse now, no?" Cole questioned as he led them through to his storage room.

"It is. I take it you wish to know my real name?"

"I do," he replied, motioning to the staircase at the back of the room, "right this way. That is if you don't mind giving it up."

"Well now, that is a question to ponder," Tau said as he followed Cole and Quayleigh up the flight of stairs, passed the main floor at street level, and up to the next.

Exiting the stairwell, they entered into Cole's lavish studio apartment. It was bright, open, and airy, with a small galley kitchen, high ceilings with hand-hewn beams, polished wood floors, and exposed brick walls. Unlike his cluttered shop, his home was almost completely devoid of any decoration. An abstract metal sculpture hanging on the main wall, was the center piece for his living room, and the furniture was minimalistic, adorned with solid black fabric, and throw pillows. The rug was the most colorful item, and even that was limited to variations of greys and tans, cast across a muted pale blue in a paisley motif.

"Quayleigh, why would I have to give up my name if I was to tell it to him?" Tau asked her quietly as they removed their shoes at the doorway.

"It's a figure of speech. What he meant was if you didn't mind telling him."

"Oh." Tau looked to the floor, tapping his finger to his lip. "In that case, I suppose I don't," he aired his thoughts while moving further into Cole's apartment. "My name is Tauluthet," he told Cole who was standing in the kitchen. "I am one of the thirteen reapers who serve directly under Death."

"I see. But what you be doing here trapped in that corpse then?"

"That's one of the things we've come to ask you about," Quayleigh said as she sat on the couch while Cole filled the kettle, setting it onto the stove to heat.

"One of the things? There be more than just the dead?!" His eyes opened wide as his mouth hung open.

"Yes. Sad but true, and this," she replied motioning to Tau, "isn't even the worst part."

Cole closed his eyes and took a long deep breath, "Well then cher, best you be starting from there. What be the worst thing you bring to my doorstep?"

"Ah, so, besides the identity of the body Tau is in, I've an open invitation into the archives at the MET. And it came from the police."

Cole, who had been reaching for the mugs, stopped and turned his expression clearly one of agitation. "What you mean you have an invitation to the MET?"

"Not just the MET Cole, their archives."

"No, no, no, Quays, that be impossible. There be magisters that don't have access to them vaults. You think they just going to let you walk on in?" he questioned, his voice strained as he waved his hands about before slapping them down against the counter. "And why you?"

"To be completely honest, I don't really know. Circumstances, seems to be the most obvious answer. The MET doesn't trust the police. The Police don't trust the MET. He's friends, well Dylan is friends, was friends, uh, with the partner of the lead Detective on this murder case…"

"You; it's been you. You be the one causing all the panic," Cole concluded as he glared once again at Tau. "How many have you killed since you've come here, faucheuse?"

"It doesn't matter Cole. Tau's been doing his job. It isn't our place to question Death."

"I don't doubt that, but best he be more careful. If cops be sniffing around, they going to figure it out, and they won't be caring one way or the other who he claims to work for. And I don't want you being dragged into his mess, Quays."

"Too late, I'm already in it, and it's why I was asked to go to the MET. The lead Detective is a man named Renford Harlowe. He called me an apostate, but he said he paid for access to the archives, and he wants me to be the one to study the materials."

"Well, well, this Harlowe may be a cop now, but only the tribunal and it's dogs refer to people like us as apostates. Harlowe was one of them at some point. What does he want you to study?"

"Death magic. But if he was one of them, what the hell does he need me for?"

"Chances be that when he left, they castrated him, magically speaking, blinding him to the knowledge he had. He'd only see blank pages and the scribbles of other mages in the margins now. Cops be well known for their dislike of the practicing. I doubt even his partner knows of his connections. I suspect you be the only unregistered he's come across and given your relationship to his partner, he believes he can keep an eye on you. So, what you need from me? You know I can't go in there with you."

"I wouldn't have even asked such a thing. I'm hesitant myself, but I need access to those archives. It's basically a dream come true for me. If there is a way to contact Death directly, it's written somewhere in those books, and this may be the only chance we have to find a way to get Tau back to his life."

"Well, I'm glad you realize he cannot stay here. The longer he's trapped in that body, the more difficult it will be to get him out. Until one day, you come to find, he be more human than whatever it is he be. As for the MET and what you want to know, there be no guarantee. You know I would have told you if I knew how. Regrettably, that knowledge, it wasn't a part of the deal I made."

"What was the original deal?" Tau asked as the water began to boil.

"You be a curious one, faucheuse. The deal was simple, my soul for all the knowledge of man. I should have bargained for all the knowledge of a god, but I was still foolish then," he replied as he pulled the kettle from the stove and then brought down the mugs from his cupboard as Tau spoke.

"And there are so many gods from which to choose, but I doubt even your soul was worth more than received. Which makes me wonder, if your soul was traded to Knowledge, what did you offer Time?"

Cole cast Tau a devil's smile, as he swept the length of his hair over the top his head, "Curious indeed. Your friend asks a lot of questions Quays."

"Well, you are an interesting fellow. Can't say I'm not curious myself to hear the answer to his question."

"Traitorous fiend."

"Dirty rotten scoundrel."

"How you come in here asking for favors and then talk to me like that?"

"Technically, it's not a favor if I have to pay for it."

"Come now mon amie, you not paying for the favor, you paying for the hospitality."

"And your silence."

"Well, this scoundrel needs to make a living somehow." He shrugged as he prepared a tea infuser with a blend of tea leaves from the containers on his counter.

"I've no complaints Cole, but still, what did you offer Time?"

"I offered him the only thing he could possibly want," Cole replied as he set the infuser in to a teapot and slowly poured the heated water over it.

"I see," Tau said as he watched the way Cole worked.

"I don't," Quayleigh snickered, having barely an inkling of what they were speaking about, and no answer to the riddle Cole had posed as an answer.

"How long do you have?" Tau asked as Cole brought a sugar bowl and three spoons over to the coffee table.

"I got a thousand years in exchange for eternity. More than half remains, but that's all I'm going to say on the subject. Let's not get sidetracked further. Quays, you still haven't said what it is that you need of me."

"Right, sorry," Quayleigh replied as she shifted her position, trying to make herself feel less uncomfortable. "If I'm going into the MET, I need a way to protect myself. All the contracts and reassurances in the world don't mean shit if they can't be enforced. I need to make sure I walk out of there, without anyone ending up dead, and or me unable to do magic."

"A Whacorum básta rayhai would be the best option. It will shield you from anything they might try, with the added bonus of not letting them know; if possible, of course. The trick is to put it somewhere they will overlook as well as something you will have on you every day. And once you're done at the MET, you're going to need to have it removed," he explained as he returned to the kitchen. "Truly, that leaves a limited number of options, some of which are less than ideal. Especially since they are going to want to search you. Any chance you're willing to sacrifice a tooth?"

"Not particularly, but if you can guarantee it will work…"

"Come now chére, no need to be insulting. I be doing you a favor, after all."

"How is pulling out one of my teeth a favor?"

"Considering the alternatives," he replied, his expression strained, as he carried the teapot and mugs over to his coffee table and set them down.

"What are these alternatives?" Tau asked innocently enough while Cole sat down in one of the chairs across from where they shared the couch.

"Cole, do not say a word. Tau, you don't need to know the answer to that question."

"Oh please, chére; faucheuse just being curious. Not as if he has any delicate sensibilities you need to be protecting. You see, mon amie, our lady here, she has a precious organ on the inside that we as men do not share. A place someone like me can hide things to keep her safe from the likes of those at the MET and creatures like you."

"I'm not a danger to Quayleigh."

"So, you say, but what happens when you become less you and more him? Then what? The joy, the happiness, the love, they be easy. But what about the rest? What about desire? Anger? Frustration? Rage? You think you won't be a threat then? You think you understand what it's going to take to stop yourself when you reach a breaking point?"

"Cole, that's enough! We didn't come here for a lecture."

"Yet it be one you need to hear. He may look human and even be able to act like one but make no mistake of what he is. He said it himself; he be a servant of Death. Ain't nothing going to change that. Even if he stays long enough to become one of the living, he will never part from where he come from. Just like that eye of yours."

"And that brings me back to one of the reasons we're here. The Diama'tara Svöghiir and the Athigoom Irá Tafięk, do you still have copies of them?"

"I do."

"I want them."

"But can you afford them?"

"She can't, but I can."

Cole lifted a brow to Tau as he sat back in his chair, resting against its cushioned arm, the promise of payment piquing his interest. "What did you say that corpses name was?"

"It's Dylan," Tau replied, a devious smile lighting his face. "Dylan Kirkwood."