Used to blend in (1)
The family they had to protect lived in Austria. They had a property in a village in Hohenau, a small city - practically a village - next to the eastern border. However, they spend most of their time in Vienna, where they worked.
As such, Vera and Sara had to take a train and reach them there. The only train for that week departing from Milan was a nightly one. At nine in the evening, they had to be at the station and get on.
The General let them go home to pack their things. The estimated time for the mission was a couple of days, but one never knows what they will encounter.
He went to the station to meet them before the departure, wearing civilian clothes. He knew how to blend in the crowd, so he looked like any man his age, maybe greeting two daughters who were leaving for a holiday.
His plaid shirt made the witches almost miss him. His hair wasn't perfectly combed like in the afternoon, and he was wearing a pair of glasses. He was different from that same morning when he had his uniform and decorations.
He had spent a couple of hours far from them to think, and his decision had been made. He couldn't allow them to go without a backup plan.
They risked arguing again, which would have made their customers think they had sent two newbies. The people who called him that morning were influential and well-off. Their children went to the most prestigious schools; the wife was in a couple of elite social circles, while the husband was one of the most successful businessmen in Austria.
Not to mention that other call.
He couldn't allow them to fail. Not with the names on the plate.
«Vera,» he said, dropping any formality while in a public place. «Come closer for a moment.»
Since she obeyed without thinking, he offered his arm, and they walked forward along the tracks. The train hadn't arrived yet, so they had time.
«I know you're disappointed and offended by how we treated you, but you can't let it hinder your work. You're getting paid for what you do, okay? Is that clear?»
«I am not unprofessional, General,» Vera said.
She didn't care about blending in and not attracting attention, apparently. So much that she called him in the usual way.
«And you have power over me. I can't avoid orders now. Aren't you happy? Isn't that what you wanted? Why are you telling me this now? Any regrets?»
«Oh, not at all. It's not about regret. Just, I don't need an agent who follows orders. I need a brain working on the case. And solving it. Especially this one.»
«Who commissioned us?»
«You will meet them soon enough. Just, don't be impolite, would you?»
He patted her arm as if they knew each other. He was too natural in his role. He had done missions under cover, Vera realised.
Maybe he didn't even want her to know, but he paid attention to every detail. It had become a habit, likely.
«I will solve the case and have our customers happy,» she voiced with a light tone, like a shop assistant trying to sell clothes. Her eyes shined, and her lips curled up. «But I won't do it for free.»
«How much?»
«Not money.»
«How many days?» he corrected himself. After all, she wanted a vacation. That was clear already.
He arched his brow when she shook her head for the second time.
«I don't want to be paired with Sara Troisi ever again. Not even to buy you coffee, General.»
«You two don't get along, do you?»
«You do have eyes.»
«Hmm, agreed! After this mission, I will assign you another partner. It could be Ethan Becket. Do you like him?»
«He's competent and does his job without torturing everyone with his stupidity. He can do it,» she said.
The General chuckled, amused. She had taken the chance to ask something small she was sure he wouldn't refuse. She didn't overdo it, asking to be freed or the enchantment to be changed.
However, she moved when she saw the chance of having a hindrance removed. She was a better agent than they had told him. How many in the office underestimated her?
«Deal,» he said. «After this mission, you two won't work together.»
«After? The completion depends on how she acts. I can go alone, and everything will be over.»
«No.»
«I can take a plane tomorrow; there's time for another agent to come!»
«No, there's not. You two have to go. You and Sara need to be there, Vera.»
«Why?» she asked, her voice trembling in rage. «Is it a test? Or you're just playing?»
«Neither. I already told the clients you two would be there. They're expecting two women. I won't change at the last moment.»
His words made her furrow her brows for some reason. There was something off.
She blinked, observing his aura for a few moments. It was calm overall, even though something was making it vibrate in certain spots. He wasn't lying... He had been imprecise, likely. But on purpose: there was something he was hiding, and he thought he was hiding it well.
Vera nodded, realising she was in front of an old fox. Just observing his aura wouldn't be enough to read his mind. And he likely suspected she had some psychic power: he wouldn't risk lying.
«They're expecting two women?» she said, thinking of any lady she had worked with... But there weren't many. And the few accompanying her during the years were either far away, on secret missions, or worse than Sara.
She saw the wrinkles around the General's mouth when he smiled comfortingly. He thought he had her in his hands, it was clear.
As much as to smile as a father would. He was so natural that it was scary; as if he loved her for real.
«Be careful,» he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. That gesture made Vera lose focus.
She hadn't had a father to tell her those words. No one had looked at her like that, telling her to pay attention. No one had ever worried, except for her grandmother.
The General knew everything, she reminded herself. But it wasn't enough to snap out from her daze.
«They're expecting two witches,» she whispered when he turned to leave. He had played her just like that, and her brain needed quite some time to return to proper functioning.