Florian Fiser, the secretary
*Mission one: day zero*
The train arrived in Vienna at nine-thirty, with half an hour of delay. It was because of the stops in the Brenner, likely. However, since the overall trip lasted twelve hours, no one complained.
The passengers got off, and the kid in their compartment waved his hand at Vera before following his mother. She smiled at him and waved back, feeling like she was greeting an old companion of adventures. But they had just watched creatures from hell together, nothing much.
Sara and Vera got off and walked towards the start of the tracks. Someone was supposed to come to pick them up since the General didn't tell them any address.
«Hello,» they heard, and they turned to see a man in his late thirties wearing a suit. He even had a tie, no matter the temperature.
In Vienna, it wasn't as hot as in Milan, so both the girls were enjoying the fresh morning. However, seeing a man in a jacket and tie made them sweat.
«Are you Miss Bogdan and Miss Troisi?» he inquired in perfect English, with just a slight German accent.
He had a handsome face and a fit body, his eyes were hidden behind a pair of glasses, and his wrist was adorned by an expensive watch. He was too young to be the man they would work for.
«You are?» Vera said before Sara could deliver her suitcase and just follow that stranger.
«I'm Herr Kaplan's secretary. He sent me here to pick you up.»
«I guess Herr Kaplan is the customer,» she said.
«Yes. Mark Kaplan, the construction mogul.»
«I guess he's the main name when it comes to buildings in Austria...» Vera said, tilting her head. So, there it was explained why the General wanted them to be perfect. They couldn't afford to offend such a name.
«That's right.»
«And your name?»
«Oh, sorry! I'm Florian Fiser.»
He offered his hand to Vera with a proper smile, and she observed him for a second before shaking it.
«Vera Bogdan.»
He nodded, listening carefully even if it was clear he already knew who she was.
«And this is Sara Troisi, my partner for this case.»
«It's a pleasure to meet you,» Florian replied. «The car is waiting for us outside. Herr Kaplan insisted on being the one briefing you, but I will accompany you all the way. Herr Kaplan is too busy to deal with the matter thoroughly, but he appointed me to be of assistance.»
«Will Herr Kaplan and his family visit the house while we're here?»
«Is it necessary?»
«It could help,» Vera said. «I don't know enough yet, but I have my suspicions. If it is what I think, having the family inhabiting the house come visit would be of great help. I will be there to avoid danger, by the way.»
«I see. Well, let's go.»
Sara followed them with a pout. She also wanted to investigate, but Vera had already stolen the spotlight. She had asked her weird questions and made her impolite requests - like asking Herr Kaplan to be present, come on!
Also, Vera had been in a complex mood since early in the morning. When Sara woke up at dawn, she was already awake and staring out of the window in search of something. She had tried starting a conversation, but the other woman had just snobbed her.
Even the kid in their compartment had been infected with whatever bugged Vera because he also stared outside instead of playing with the phone.
Sara's mood improved when she saw the car. Couldn't every mission be like that? It would be awesome if they could take luxury cars every time, instead of uncomfortable trains and second-class flights.
«This is what I call a mission!» Sara exclaimed after getting seated.
Vera barely glanced at her, lost in her considerations. She was thinking about the hell hunt as much as the current mission. She couldn't decide which was more urgent.
«Darkness is returning,» she said then.
Sara blinked, surprised, but had no words to reply.
«It's what Gamayun said. Her message. She was flying to spread that message, four days ago. And now... I think she means that old demons are awakening.»
«And you think that because...» Sara moaned, annoyed. Why talk about such dark things? It was a nice day, they were in a nice car. Why ruin everything?
«I saw a hell hunt this night. Those kinds of events haven't happened in ages. At least a hundred years. Darkness left our world when people discovered electricity and the cities became lit. But now, something is changing again.»
«Are you sure you saw what you saw?»
«I am.»
«Oh, well, we will report to the General. He will send someone to investigate. With some luck, not me. I don't know what to do against a hell hunt.»
«Nothing. You just hope they don't see you,» Vera said. «That's what you do when you meet one.»
«But where did you see them?»
«In the middle of nothing,» was the reply.
But then, the secretary sat in the car with them, and they stopped talking about it. They had to focus on the current mission.
Florian Fiser examined them with his inquiring eyes, but he asked nothing. He took out his phone and wrote a couple of messages, supposedly doing his job. He was Kaplan's secretary, meaning he couldn't use all his time just for the small matter with the house in Hohenau.
The car moved in the traffic of the city, reaching the very centre. They had permission to park in the pedestrian zone since Herr Kaplan lived there. However, they had to move on foot from the parking lot to the company, not far from there. They took the chance to sightsee, but Florian didn't leave them enough time.
He was in a hurry to finish that mission and return to his regular job.
*Herr means «man» in German, often used as «Mr».*