103- Mistakable Orders

Quayleigh, Phaedra, Folsten, and Harlowe were sitting around a table in the large conference room, where all of the files pertaining to the case were being stored. File after file, they examined and sorted the details, chatting as they worked.

"With Hakan out of commission, Yechiel's going to need another partner," Folsten remarked causing Harlowe to grumble as he tossed a file onto the table.

"I should have just assigned him to you," he stated casting a glare in Quayleigh's direction.

"If it was an option, why didn't you?" she asked, being curious since the day Folsten had been assigned to her.

"I had my reasons."

"Obviously," Quayleigh replied, aggravated by his non-answer.

"I must say, Ms. Landry was quite thorough in her assessments. Her theory appears to be sound," Phaedra spoke up, clearly attempting to avoid any further discourse.

"I agree," Folsten commented as she added another file to the growing pile in the center of the table. "All of the victims, with only the group as a possible exception, fit her theory, and we know from the video, this thing, it isn't what we initially thought."

"Which leaves us with two questions, what is it? And how do we stop it?" Harlowe remarked.

"As to the what, I believe our assessment to be correct," Phaedra stated closing the file he had been reading before glancing at Quayleigh. "This is most likely a servant of one of the gods, Death, being most likely, based only on the way he speaks. That being said, something is clearly wrong given his behavior. Death's realm exists outside of our reality despite overlapping it. Regardless of how difficult it is to explain, the truth is we know very little about it. His servants shouldn't be visible to us."

"He could be trapped here," Quayleigh suggested, seeing the opening to strategically seed the concept.

Phaedra tilted his head and pursed his lips, the idea seeming to hold some merit in his mind.

"That is highly plausible, and it does explain several things. However, that doesn't make it any easier to identify what god he may serve. Death, as a god, is a broad subject. It's identity changes between cultures, locations, dynasties, to even how it might be perceived within each of those. We have at least one book on Baandahg's adversary Mohalbás, and if there is even a hint of something worth studying, there is always the option of sending a request to Javötpur for additional study material. Unless you have a passport, then it may just be easier to go there directly. Either way, it is the best lead we have, based on the statements that it made to your Detective."

"Yechiel," Harlowe said with a huff as he stood up.

"Yes, that's the one," Phaedra replied as Harlowe stormed out of the room. "Where is he going?"

Quayleigh reached out, setting her hand on his arm as he went to stand.

"It seems when I told Dylan to keep an eye on Yechiel and not let him come into work, he misunderstood what I meant," she remarked, Phaedra sitting back down as he watched Harlowe move across the squad room.

"He didn't completely misunderstand," Folsten remarked as she motioned towards the entrance, causing Quayleigh to turn around.

"If you'll excuse me," Quayleigh said as she stood up and headed to the door, stopping in the doorway when Tau turned and looked at her from across the room.

Her heart throbbed relentlessly when he smiled and moved towards her, ignoring Harlowe who was telling him to stop.

"You look beautiful," Tau stated as he stood before her, sweeping his hand up against her cheek.

"Why aren't you listening?" Harlowe angrily stated, grabbing Tau by the shoulder, "I told you to stop."

Quayleigh watched as Tau did nothing more than turn his head, only for Harlowe to immediately back down, his handing slipping away as a bead of sweat appeared upon his brow.

"Take it easy Harlowe," Yechiel said, redirecting his attention. "He only wanted to see his girlfriend and I already got him a visitors' badge."

"My apologies, Detective Harlowe, I didn't realize I was the one you were addressing."

"More like you didn't care," Harlowe snapped back as Tau returned his full attention to Quayleigh.

"Also, accurate," he replied, taking a hold of her hands.

"Gentlemen, if you would please come and join us," Folsten said, appearing in the doorway behind Quayleigh, tapping her lightly on the shoulder.

"Right! I'm glad you're here, there's someone I want you to meet," Quayleigh said, turning and walking Tau into the conference room, Phaedra standing from the table as they entered. "Dylan, this is Archivist Phaedra Vershinin."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Archivist," Tau remarked with a bow. "I wanted to thank you for giving Quayleigh her father back. Regardless of all that I'm capable, that truly was the one thing beyond my reach."

"I was pleased to be able to do that for her, but I must admit to my own selfish intentions. As I told her, Sebastian was a father to me as well, and there is comfort in having a sort of sibling in which to share my memories."

"Your name is Vershinin? You're her brother?" Folsten nearly shouted as Harlowe, and Yechiel came into the room.

"As close to one as I'll ever have," Quayleigh replied, keeping her answer as vague as possible. "I assumed everyone on the contract already knew. Imagine my surprise when I found out."

"You didn't say anything." Folsten's reaction was one of bewilderment and disbelief, proving to Quayleigh that she had been a convincing witless friend to the professional behavioral analyst.

"I was still processing. And don't take it personally Hayden. As I said, I thought you already knew," she replied with the sweetest smile she could muster.

"Enough chatter, who cares if they're siblings," Harlowe snickered. "We all have fucked up family trees. I'm betting even the Kirkwood has a bent branch or two."

"Kirkwood?" Phaedra questioned as he looked towards Tau. "Are you related to Magister Anquiliria?"

"Yes. In fact, she is my mother. Kyffin being my older brother," Tau replied.

"Ah, yes! I can see the resemblance. I've met your brother on several occasions, but I know Anquiliria by reputation alone. More than a decade as head Archivist and she has yet to grace me with her presence."

"If we're done with the introductions, can we get on with this," Harlowe exclaimed as he pointed at Yechiel, "You sit! You are off duty. So, you better have a damn good explanation as to why you're here!"

"I don't need the time off," Yechiel protested as he pulled out a chair and sat down. "I need to be working, and when we found out that Quayleigh was here, we decided to walk over from the hospital to share the good news. Hakan woke up. He'll be up for visitors tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, there's still no word on Skye."

"That's terrific news about Hakan though," Quayleigh commented.

"Agreed. Did you happen to find out what his prognosis is?" Folsten questioned him.

"I'm afraid you'll have to ask him about that. All I'm permitted to say is that he isn't going to be to work for a long while. But since I'm here, what is all of this about?"

"This is no longer any concern of yours, Mazurka!" Harlowe shouted, slamming his hand down against the table.

"Until I've been officially relieved of my duties, I'm still an active member of this squad."

"Fine. You're officially on administrative leave! My office, now!"

Yechiel cleared his throat as Harlowe pointed towards the door looking as if he was about to lose his shit.

"It was nice seeing you again Quayleigh. Let's catch up soon," he said as he stood from his chair and walked out of the room.

"Excuse us," Harlowe added, following closely behind him.

"And as rude as this might seem, you'll have to excuse us also. But we'll be just out here in the hall," Quayleigh said before she and Tau left the room.

"How did he manage to convince you into coming here?" Quayleigh asked once she was certain they were out of earshot of anyone else.

"He said he wanted to go for a walk when we left the hospital, and before I could protest, he had walked us here. He said he wanted to know what Harlowe was up to."

"He showed Phaedra and me the videos they have of Uru. It's as bad as he admitted too, amongst other things that we will talk about later. For now, things are going better than expected. Phaedra just agreed to give me full access to the archives. I wasn't going to go back after what happened earlier, but I can't pass this up."

"What happened earlier?" Tau questioned, cupping her cheek with his palm.

"The magister, Inniken Gerotherine, he was up to something; trying to fuck with my magic, somehow. I'm not going to stay later than I have to tonight, and head over to Cole's as soon as I can. He should be able to tell what Gerotherine was up to. Uru…" She found herself suddenly unable to breath as the sharp pain from earlier in the day returned, striking at the back of her eye. Clutching at the side of her head, the pain intensified to something far worse than before. "Make it stop!" she cried out as she curled over and dropped down to her knees.

"Quayleigh!" Tau shouted as he knelt before her and pulled her to his chest.

"Sister," Phaedra said, coming out from the conference, moving swiftly to her side. "Is this like before?"

"It's worse," she replied, grabbing tight to Tau and burying her face against his chest, desperate to hide her face, for even as painful as it was, she didn't want to risk Phaedra seeing her eye as it was.

And then, as quickly as it had begun, it vanished, allowing her to collapse forward against Tau, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"It's… it has passed," she muttered, leaning back from Tau.

"What did he mean, like before?"

"This has happened a few times today already. I'm deeply concerned but she refused to let me take her to the MET's medical facilities. Maybe you can convince her that it's time to have a proper healer take a look at her," Phaedra stated as she lowered her head.

"I don't need a healer. I swear to you. It's just my eye and nothing can be done about it."

"Even so," Folsten questioned, as she came up behind Phaedra. "It would put all of our minds at ease if you would agree to be checked out. Are you really going to be stubborn about this?"

"Yes. We have more important things to worry about. I've been to doctors before, and the answer is always the same; There is nothing to be done."

"Suit yourself. But remember, you have a job to do. If it's too much, it's better to speak up sooner than later."

"Thank you for your concern, Detective Folston. Dylan and I will speak with her further," Phaedra replied as he looked up at her. "Could you please inform Harlowe that I'll be taking Quayleigh back to the MET as soon as we've gathered our things. She's suffering from a horrid headache and needs to rest."

"Of course," Folsten replied, before turning and walking away.

"Thanks for that," Quayleigh remarked, shifting to sit back on her feet as she lifted her head, "but I think I'd rather just have Dylan take me home."

"Nonsense. Regardless of what you think, you do need to see a healer or at the very least a doctor," Phaedra remarked as he pulled out a handkerchief, carefully wiping the tears from her unscarred cheek. "And as for Dylan, I expect he will be coming with us."

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Please, Phaedra. I need you to listen to me on this. It's really very complicated," she protested, only to find herself staring directly at the silent, frozen form of Phaedra.

For before she or Tau could react and stop him, much to her horror, Phaedra had lifted her eyepatch, and was now staring directly into the eye that Death had given her.