Murder and Breakfast

Malachai followed a few blocks behind Sagacious for his entire trek back to the precinct house. He could feel his prey's confusion and fear and it was sweeter than honey. His handsome and perfectly groomed face appeared calm as he stalked, replaying the conversation he'd just had with his Patron. Talbot was playing his own game, of that Mal was certain, and as long as he was pleased that Mal was working to fulfill his compact, he was fairly certain that he could rely upon Talbot.

Memories of New Vael crept into Malachai's mind, a simmering rage built up in his belly as he continued to stalk Sagacious. Ten years ago, Mal was barely a lad of thirteen summers, gone to New Vael with his family. He could smell his mother's perfume, his father's aftershave and almost hear his sister's laughter. In his mind, their memories flitted around like mosquitoes edging him onward. He swore he could hear his mother's voice whispering in his ear.

"He killed us, Mal." He spun around and searched the streets for the source of the voice, nothing by glances from myriad people going about their day.

"Executed us without trial, son." His father's stern voice taunted him from beyond the veil. Mal clasped his hands to his ears and leaned against a trash bin, stepping into a nearby alley all the while trying to follow Sagacious' trail.

"Father. I'm trying to…. I can't…" He fell to his knees, and several passers by noted his distress. Mal stared about himself wildly, desperate to regain the trail. He found nothing, and a feeling of panic began to well up inside him.

"Excuse me, sir? Are you okay?" A woman's voice, so close to his sister's, emerged from the fog of panic. Malachai whirled around and fell into the arms of the young lady who had spoken to him; she seemed young, perhaps in her early twenties. As he looked at her, the dead eyes of his little sister, Lorelai. He gasped and flung himself away from the woman as he saw a great, gaping wound in her chest, as if it was missing two thirds of the flesh. He blinked again and the wound was gone, in Lorelai's place was the same concerned woman he'd seen before. She spoke again, asking, "Are you okay? Do you need help?"

"I…" he shook his head and again desperately sought to find the connection to his prey. Nothing. "I'm okay. Just confused. Please help me up?" He reached up and grabbed her offered hand. As he did so, his right eye went black and a jolt of magical energy stunned the woman through the hand to hand contact.

Malachai smoothly stood up and wrapped an arm around the woman to keep her from toppling forward. She was still alive, Mal could feel the beating of her heart with his chest pressed against her. He smiled charmingly at several onlookers and continued to head into the alley, taking the young woman with him. Once they were out of sight of the main street, Mal uttered a few magical phrases and the two of them stepped into the shadows, disappearing.

He'd lost Sagacious' trail, nothing could be done about that. But, given the correct sacrifice, he'd find it again. And this time, he'd make his enemy pay for everything.

*****

The body was discovered later that night, gutted like a fish, heart removed and her empty husk set to hang on the doors of the Grande Theatre. The ritual had taken Malachai many hours to complete, and had involved many spells.

His prey had long ago taken steps to hide himself from scrying magics, and required a great many delicate steps to reacquire the trail. All of which Malachai performed with relish and zeal. When his work was completed, he stood across the street in the pre dawn hours, covered in her blood, and sighed contentedly. As he felt the Infernal gifts being granted to him, he knew the blood of his prey was a powerful focus, and it shielded him from the eyes of onlookers, they couldn't see him unless he wanted them to.

The trail was clear to him now, and like a hunting hound with a scent he was locked onto it. The echoes of his family still called to him in voices only he could hear.

"Avenge us, son." His father admonished him.

"No trial, he just murdered us!" His mother whispered.

"He tortured and used me, brother. Like a common whore!" Lorelai's cries hurt Mal the most. His prey had eyes so like hers, which is why she was perfect for the ritual. He smiled at the memory of his blade slashing those perfect eyes closed forever. He revelled in the feeling of power and the warmth of her still beating heart in his hand.

Malachai stopped suddenly and turned to the wall of the theatre, inspired to leave another message only his enemy would receive and understand, using the remains of the heart to scrawl a careful sigil in Celestial on the stone wall. He stepped back and smiled, taking the scene in and whispered to the night. "I know you, murderer. And I'm coming for you."

*****

Across Valais, Mister Talbot sat awaiting Scarlett the next morning. He smiled and reached out with his mind to speak to Scarlett through Charlie. Animals were easy to dominate normally, some of them could prove difficult if they'd been around magical folks long enough. Luckily for him, he was easily able to speak through this one.

After his invitation had been accepted, he ordered another coffee and some breakfast for two. He smiled broadly and stood when Scarlett appeared in the entryway of the cafe, gesturing for her to come and take a seat. He was aware of her nervousness and tried to be as charming as possible. He had to be careful with this one, he could feel her power easily. Such potential!

"Good morning, my dear," he began smoothly, "I trust you slept well? You look radiant!"

Scarlett scowled at him and took a seat. "Look. I don't like being out here, but I came." True enough, small beads of sweat were forming on her crimson skin and her eyes darted about nervously. "Who are you and what do you want?"

He doffed his hat revealing iron grey hair and smiled again, all too smoothly. "My name is Mister Talbot. I do many things here in Valais, many whispers reach my aged ears, Scarlett." He locked his green eyes with her own white ones. "I wanted to meet the person who had saved the life of a God."

Scarlett immediately blushed a dark purple and waved his comments away. "Oh, that." She began dismissively, "I was really more of an unwilling passenger than a hero. Your information greatly exaggerated my participation in Everon's rebirth." She asked the server for a cup of black tea and nibbled at the breakfast she had been brought, before looking up and adding, "Thank you for this, but you didn't answer my real question, Mr. Talbot. What. Do. You. Want?"

He smiled and laughed a little out loud, nodding approvingly at her. "Right to the point, hey? I like it!" He began to spread a small jar of preserves on a slice of his baguette. "I want to offer you a sense of belonging, Scarlett. Haven't you missed it? Being a part of something bigger than yourself?"

She hid her shock behind a drink of tea. How did he know? She glared at him and spoke flatly, trying to conceal her emotions. "Go on." She waved the server over and asked for a box of half dozen pastries to go, for Sagacious.

"I am, in my day job, a collector of antiques and rare oddities. I want to offer you a job, Scarlett." He spoke in a measured and reasonable tone.

"And which of those do you think I am?" Scarlett was determined to get to the heart of the conversation, she never did have patience for niceties like small talk. Mr. Talbot held his hands palm up in surrender, smiling charmingly again.

"Were you to force me to choose one, I would say 'rare'." His brilliant smile flashed at her, "But I don't want you to think that I regard you as a commodity. Far from it. I think you are a brilliant young woman with a bright future, one that I would like you to fulfill." he winked at her then, and added, "There are no limits to what a young woman who is free of Fate's whims can accomplish."

So, that was it. Scarlett had heard Mercy's proclamation in her dreams over and over since she had heard it the first time. And this guy, whoever or whatever he was, knew about it. Her anxiety began to spike again, and she knew she had to get out. She stood awkwardly, accepting the wax paper bag from the server. "Thank you for breakfast, Mister Talbot. When you want to tell me what you *really* want, you know how to find me. Apparently."

He smiled indulgently at her. "That I do. Take care Scarlett. If you want to discuss any future… opportunities with me, just ask Charlie to find me. He's a bright fellow." He doffed his hat again as Scarlett withdrew, pouring himself another cup of espresso. He smiled to himself while paying the bill, that went better than he expected.