Chương 16: Putting the Investigator Cap On

Clack, clack, clackity-clack.

With the most unenthusiastic expression on his face, Alric typed in a serial code, followed by the handwritten notes Ming-Ji had left him. Despite the software streamlining the process, it was still a painstaking task.

Aodhan dumped a pile of antique rolls on Alric's desk. The dust from eons ago was released into the air, forcing the angel to sneeze several times.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" The Fae exclaimed, waving his hands in a futile effort to drive the dust away.

"Stop, stop!" Alric wheezed as more particles flew in his direction.

Panicking, Aodhan immediately froze still, waiting, hoping that the situation would eventually settle.

"I'm really sorry," Aodhan repeated once everything was back to normal.

"I'll live," Alric answered, occasionally coughing with tears in his eyes. He took a closer look at the scrolls. "Any idea what they're about?"

"Dunno," his friend shrugged. "They seem to be sealed, so it's not like we can easily read them."

The angel examined the seal of the topmost piece. It consisted of lead that had been used instead of sealing wax. Etched into the hardened material were symbols very reminiscent of Enochian.

"This almost looks like Enochian?"

"Huh, why would the Underworld have scrolls in Enochian language?"

"It's Infernum, an ancient language that has its roots in Enochian." Ming-Ji had popped up from around a corner. Or at least a facsimile thereof. The first thing Alric noticed was the image of Fiera phasing in and out of Ming-Ji's likeness. The second dead giveaway was that she was not carrying her precious spellbook. Surprised, he looked at Aodhan.

"I see!" Aodhan said, blissfully unaware that he was conversing with his Matriarch. "Thank you!" He then turned around to Alric. "No wonder you thought it looked like Enochian!"

Alric merely shrugged. He was more interested in why Fiera had suddenly popped up. Sensing his inquisitiveness, Fiera said, "I would like to borrow your skills."

When the angel didn't immediately react, she added, "now," with an urgency in her voice. Suddenly, Alric felt compelled to abruptly stand up, like a puppet who was not master of his own limbs. Alarmed, his gaze fell upon Fiera's tattoo, dimly glowing red beneath her disguise.

Without losing another word, Fiera turned around and walked away, with Alric involuntarily following her. All he could manage to do was look at Aodhan with begging eyes, but his friend misinterpreted the situation wholly. Wiggling his hand with a grin, Aodhan signaled he would be waiting for Alric to report on his escapade with Pride's Gamma.

The two left the archives and headed straight for the elevator.

"Could you kindly cut out the crap?" Alric complained once they were inside.

Fiera laughed, releasing him from the spell and undoing her shapeshifting. "Well, I had a lot of fun."

"I bet you did."

"Aaw, did the poor little angel not like becoming a puppet?"

Alric glared daggers at her. "There's no need to remind me who's boss here."

Fiera continued to laugh. She closed in on him. "Seems like you got out of bed with the wrong foot." Her ruby eyes were so alluring that Alric found it harder and harder not to want to drown in them. Angered, he pushed her back with his body until she stood with her back against the wall. With a loud "bam!" he slammed his right hand into the mirroring metal.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, but just cut to the chase."

He noticed her eyes widen in surprise. She then put on the sweetest smile he had ever seen.

"I see. There's still some of that old you left."

Alric's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Fiera could not resist caressing along his cheekbone to his chin. "What do you think? We've actually met before. Several times, even." She moved a little closer to him, almost feeling his breath on her lips.

Ding. The doors opened to the floor where Fiera's office resided. Alric looked at her surprisedly. "Huh?!"

Ducking under his arm and exiting the elevator as if nothing ever happened, the succubus leisurely walked out. She transformed into a busty, petite brunette with grey eyes and a mole on her right cheek right before his eyes. Because of the overlapping images, it took a while for Alric to recognize who she was.

"What?!" His jaw dropped, making Fiera laugh out loud again. It was an escort he had often booked at the beginning of his career. A human girl that had been timid but very interested in what he was doing. How many hours had he rambled on and on about work, and Fiera had listened to all the bullshit he was spouting, often knowing better?

"And this is why you never scored with her," she explained as she transformed back.

"You bitch," Alric hissed, reluctantly following her.

"Aw, come on, not like I was intentionally toying with you." She continued to walk to her office. "I was actually posing as a friend who fell ill on the day she was to entertain you. And somehow, I ended up covering for her every time you booked her."

The angel remained silent and simply watched her open the door.

"So your first escort date was, in fact, a date with yours truly." Fiera beckoned Alric to come inside. "And to be honest, I quite enjoyed your company. I recall you brimming with excitement."

"And talking crap."

"... And talking crap, indeed. But you did your best to provide such a pleasant environment, it didn't matter.

She saw him blush and embarrassedly look away. She had fun watching his genuine reactions. In a world full of poker faces, he was the one easiest to read. But that was precisely why she liked him. Liked him? In what way? Embarrassed by her thoughts, she, too, looked away.

The two stood opposite each other for a moment, staring in different directions and not saying anything.

"So... why did you call me here." Alric tried to switch the subject.

"Oh, right. Follow me."

Inside her office, Fiera headed straight to her desk and unlocked the screens on her desk, revealing much information.

"When we last talked, there was some of that excitement you used to have. So I thought you'd enjoy putting the investigator cap on and help me find out who is behind the killings."

Alric approached the screens and studied the images and texts. There was a map showing where the bodies had been found. Except for the Sloth pack, which was eradicated at their base, all the others were murdered close to entry points to The Underworld.

"So this black-feathered person is not a native to The Underworld."

"It seems that way," Fiera said. She then proceeded to drag information boxes over the screens until they hovered above the map. "The remaining pack, Wrath, has contacted me for support, as they have just escaped an assassination attempt. Unfortunately, they are only a small group of close friends, so all they could do is run away."

"Where did this happen?"

She pinched the boxes together, minimizing them and revealing the map. She pointed to another spot close to an entry point.

"As predicted," Alric said, crossing his arms and staring at the screen. He was looking for a pattern. Where the entry points close to each other? No. What was on The Surface there?

"In any case, they're safe for now. One of my Gammas is in charge of watching over them. Currently, I'm putting a larger team together to secure their seal and look for clues."

"I'd love to join the investigation team."

"Absolutely not."

"Why not?" He raised his eyebrows.

"In... keeping with the contract with your brother, I need you... alive." Fiera seemed a little awkward.

"Then my brother can..."

"... Do nothing here. He's still focusing on his other duty."

Alric helplessly raised his arms. "You can't goad me into assisting you if you keep me chained to the base."

The succubus looked at him with pity in her eyes. "I know you well enough to understand you'd jump out to help immediately. But without further information, it could be too dangerous. The killer might be lurking at the base for all we know."

"So you'd rather send some other low-ranks in to die?" He had flashbacks of the human that had died before his eyes when the giant hellspawn had emerged from the seal.

"The Pride pack possesses enough members who go above and beyond to fulfill their duty. There's no need to."

"So what you're saying is that you're making an exemption despite me being of low rank."

Fiera looked at him questioningly. "What, I did not say-"

"You implied that," Alric interrupted her. "Basically, they're all expendable pawns. But I'm not? If it's my brother, wouldn't you promote me to a higher rank just to be safe?"

"Well, I can't do that. The Beta or Alpha must consent as well." She crossed her arms and looked away.

"Damn right, I have to consent." Zan leaned against the door frame. "And if there were any rank lower than Epsilon, then by the three realms, you'd be in it." He switched glances between Fiera and Alric. "So, care to tell me what this is about, Fiera? What's the Epsilon-ranked wingless trash in your office?"

"This trash has no issue seeing himself out, so Pride's little pet dog can get some playtime." Alric glared at the wolf.

"Ho. Are we being rebellious?" Zan's tattoo began glowing blue, as were his eyes."

"Bring it on."

Zan was about to cast a spell when Fiera walked in between them.

"Stop it right now, you two!" Her eyes were as if they were on fire. She sighed loudly. "I'm not asking you to be friends. But can you please not be constantly at each other's throats? Is that really too much? Zan?" She turned around to face him. Her Beta scrunched his nose.

"You know full well the reason why."

Fiera blushed, much to Alric's surprise.

Suddenly, the wolf heaved a tired sigh. "Sometimes, I wonder if you're still just a little girl stuck in an adult body." He then looked at Alric. "In the end, Fiera is the one who chooses, regardless of my approval or not." Seeing the angel's visible confusion, he quickly added, "and this means it's not so much up to me who gets promoted or not. I just perform the spell to rank you up."

Alric's gaze wandered to a succubus who seemingly grew smaller and quieter by the minute.

"Fiera, tell me the truth. Now." She felt his presence grow intimidating. It was his special gift, one he wasn't particularly aware of. But whenever he was furious, he could vacate an entire area just by the aura around him.

"For once, I have to agree with him," Zan agreed.

"Please leave me alone, you two." Her voice sounded a little shaky.

"Huh, but I only just got here a while ago?" Alric raised an eyebrow.

"Now." Her tattoo glowed. Both of them felt how their bodies were slowly losing control.

"Alright, alright, we got it." Zan took a step forward and grabbed Alric by the arm. "I'll take this guy home while you sort yourself out." When he saw her worried look, he had to chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll make sure he gets home alive and in one piece."

And with that, the two left.