Chương 12: Amelia Kruger
Silence, heavy and suffocating, draped over the alleyway. Only the rhythmic drip-drip-drip of a leaky drain pipe and the occasional sizzle-pop of a dying neon sign dared to break the stillness. A figure, slumped against a brick wall, clutched its head in an agony that seemed to claw at the night itself. A muffled groan escaped its lips, quickly dissolving into a choked scream that echoed off the damp, cold walls.
Drawn by the sound, a man cautiously rounded a corner, concern etched on his brow. His eyes, squinting in the meager light, landed on the figure. But the sight that greeted him sent a jolt of ice straight down his spine.
The man on the ground convulsed, his body twisting into impossible angles as bone seemed to stretch and distort beneath the taut skin. It morphed into a grotesque parody of a human, a writhing mass of flesh devoid of any recognizable features.
A chilling snarl ripped through the air, sending shivers down the witness's spine. The creature's eyes, burning with an unnatural hunger, locked onto the newcomer. Its guttural roar, a symphony of primal terror, echoed through the alleyway, shattering the night's quietude.
In a blink, the monster was upon its prey. It lunged, a blur of teeth and claws, and the man vanished in a spray of crimson mist. The creature devoured him whole, leaving behind only the lingering echoes of screams as it retreated into the shadows, a monstrous silhouette swallowed by the moonlit night.
*****
"Great, Damien," Callista deadpanned, squinting through her binoculars as his hulking form blotted out the setting sun. "Your shadow's like a solar eclipse on fast-forward."
Damien, a mountain of muscle awkwardly encased in a leather jacket too small, plopped beside her with a sigh. "Never go alone against a potential vampire queen, Callie." he mumbled, snatching his own binoculars, his eyes following Amelia who was parking her motorcycle outside a bar named 'Fangtastic.'
Callista scoffed, a single, sharp exhale. "Oh, please, I wouldn't dream of getting within grappling distance of her. But hey, next time, a heads-up about the telekinesis would be appreciated. You know, for future reference."
Damien sighed, his gaze following Amelia as she entered the bar with a woman whose blue hair seemed to shimmer under the dim lights. "Did you just say 'Melissa'?" he asked, a note of surprise in his voice.
Callista shrugged. "Yeah," she muttered. "Didn't really pay attention at first, but she kept giving me the evil eye whenever I'm around Natalia."
"Another potential associate then, assuming Amelia is Eydis," Damien murmured, "I'll discreetly check things out from the inside. You stay put."
Callista nodded. Amelia was already wary, and her lingering outside wouldn't exactly blend in. Plus, Damien's last disguise attempt hadn't gone completely wrong...
Bored out of her skull, Callista observed a brawl outside the bar. This one, however, seemed more like a "stiletto and sass-throwing" kind of brawl. Punching a button on her earpiece, she connected to Damien. "Agent D for Discreet Disguise," she grinned, "any juicy intel leaking out of your... social gathering, shall we say?"
Damien's voice crackled through the receiver, strained and awkward. "Uh, well, about that..."
Callista couldn't help but snort. Glancing back at the line outside the bar, she saw a sea of women, their laughter a vibrant melody that seemed to clash hilariously with Damien's stoic facade. Maybe, just maybe, this mission was worth the potential disaster of witnessing his cheeks turn the colour of a flamingo at high noon.
A dry voice, laced with amusement, crackled through the earpiece. "Sir, this establishment caters to an exclusively female clientele. And you, sir, with all due respect, wouldn't be on the guest list even if you brought the entire botanical garden."
Damien froze, his undercover mission going up in flames. A throaty chuckle escaped Callista, sending shivers down his spine.
"Well, Agent 'Discreet' as a neon sign in a blackout," Callista chuckled, barely containing her laughter. Her mind conjured Damien's imposing figure amidst the crowd, a vision if not for the fact that these women, well, preferred each other's company. "Looks like we can call this mission a spectacular flop."
Damien's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Apparently, discreet and I are having a messy breakup," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Callista erupted in laughter, the sound echoing through the deserted balcony. This mission may have been a bust, but hey, at least it was entertaining. Besides, who knew when she'd get another chance to witness the legendary Agent Discreet blushing like a schoolboy?
Meanwhile, Amelia stood observing commotion outside, a hint of amusement playing on her lips.
"Was that a werewolf?" Melissa inquired, a curious glint in her eyes.
Amelia smirked, her golden eyes glinting with intrigue. "Uncertain, but definitely worth investigating, wouldn't you agree, Melissa?"
The nymph bowed slightly, her sapphire eyes mirroring Amelia's enigmatic expression.
*****
Indigo pulled out a corkboard with a flourish, reminiscent of a particularly dramatic CSI episode (or perhaps every episode). On it, a few photos were haphazardly pinned, connected by a web of red string in imitation of those crime documentaries.
He theatrically gestured towards a blurry photo of Queen Eydis, captured through Callista's gas mask. It showed a figure in skin-tight leather pants and stilettos that would put Victoria's Secret models to shame, but the face was obscured. Next to it was Amelia's photo, the prime suspect.
Below her likeness, a makeshift "organisational chart" displayed potential associates: Melissa, a possible ally; Princess Athena, a wild card; and Prince Adrian, her brother, firmly labelled "enemy."
"Should we be investigating Melissa too?" Callista murmured, eyebrows raised. "I wasn't aware nymphs and vampires were besties."
Indigo sighed, his shoulders slumping. "We need council assistance. This mission, with the Queen being so… volatile, is beyond our scope."
Callista nodded, her gaze lingering on Amelia's photo. A certain unease radiated from the woman, something Callista couldn't quite pin down. "What information do we have on her?"
Indigo scrolled through his tablet, his voice monotone. "Not much. She only appeared in Metamorphosis a few years ago, coinciding with Queen Eydis' return."
"Interesting timing," Callista murmured, eyes narrowing. "And her royal bloodline?"
"Minor branch at best, barely a footnote," Indigo explained. "Perfect cover, wouldn't you say?"
Callista pursed her lips, considering the possibility. "Perhaps."
Indigo hesitated, then cleared his throat, a blush creeping up his neck. "So, for the time being, perhaps you could..."
Callista's eyes widened, her intuition sending alarm bells ringing. Indigo's stammer was a bad omen, a telltale sign of something she wouldn't like.
"Spit it out, Watcher," she demanded, her voice firm.
"Would you..." Indigo faltered, "consider accepting Amelia's date invitation? It might be an opportunity to gather intel."
Callista groaned, rolling her eyes so hard they threatened to disappear into her skull. "Eye fillet, aged to perfection. Shiraz full-bodied," she muttered under her breath, a touch desperate. "Maybe three."
Her eyes darted to the nearest exit, the appeal of a clean "dust and dash" momentarily eclipsing the mission's complexities. Had she just dodged advances from Princess Athena only to be thrown into the arms of a potential psychopath with a revolving door of romantic partners with questionable fates?
This mission was turning out to be one giant, metaphorical migraine.
*****
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