“So,” Noren announced, a glass of wine in his hand despite the fact it was barely past noon. “You actually did visit. I have to admit, I had my doubts.”

  Yeah, I was coming to Noren for help. He was the only other person I could think of that would not only be able to help, but was even around to give us a hand. Of course, there was the little issue of not knowing where he lived, but that actually wasn’t the hardest problem to solve.

  After an embarrassing amount of time spent trying to remember where Jenny’s lab was, I eventually managed to get his address from her. Something I should have done when I was there before, but I had a lot on my mind at the time, so I couldn’t blame myself too much.

  I didn’t expect to have to take a detour into the noble district, though. As it turned out, Noren had a fully staffed mansion here, somehow. I genuinely couldn’t imagine how he got his hands on it. I mean sure, I’d kind of assumed by how he dressed, acted and generally was that he was kind of rich, but this was insane.

  I mean, I was currently talking to him in a huge room with a cerberus skin rug, an unreasonably large lit fireplace and a chandelier. Who even considered actually living in a place like this?

  I sighed. “Yep. Cass couldn’t come, though. She’s busy.”

  Noren raised an eyebrow as he took a sip from his wine. “A shame. It would have been wonderful to catch up with her. Still, I suppose you’ll do.”

  “Wow, thanks,” I muttered drily.

  “You’re very welcome, my dear.”

  Oh. He wasn’t meant to hear that.

  He crossed his legs, leaning further back into a chair that looked incredibly comfortable. “Now, I believe you told Jefferson you needed my help with something, yes?”

  Jefferson, as I had just learned he was named, had been the man who had opened the door. With an impeccable black suit, flawlessly oiled moustache and a comfortable comb-over, he was as close as any mortal being could hope to get to the platonic ideal of a butler. He was also apparently a very efficient communicator, since I had only spoken to him about thirty seconds ago.

  “Yeah,” I admitted. “I need a favour, actually.”

  Noren swilled his wine, a small smile on his face. “Oh, really? Wonderful! Do go on, please. I’m all ears.”

  “Hold on,” I said. “Before I do, I need to know if you can actually help.”

  Noren brought his free hand to his chest, making an offended gasp. “You think me powerless? The shame!”

  I rolled my eyes and powered through. “Listen, I get that you’ve got something spooky going on that you refuse to talk about, that’s fine. I’m talking about social power.”

  Noren chuckled. “Oh, dear me. You’ve gotten yourself in trouble with a noble, haven’t you?”

  I sighed again. Noren was good at making me do that. “How did you know?”

  He gave me a disappointed look. “Come now, Julie. You’re an adventurer! The social class with the highest concentration of foolhardiness, stubbornness and social blindness. It isn’t a difficult deduction by any stretch of the imagination.”

  “Fine, I get it. Can you help?”

  Another sip. “That depends. Is it just you who’s in trouble, or is Cassie in need of aid as well?”

  I crossed my arms. “Just me, technically.”

  Noren tutted in disapproval. “I see. Well, isn’t that a shame. I do rather prefer her, if I’m totally honest.”

  “So what, you won’t help?” I asked.

  Noren leant forward, tapping his now empty wine glass a single time. As if on cue, Jefferson appeared with a bottle. As his glass was refilled, Noren finally answered my question. “Not at all. I would love to help. But you have to understand, I have a reputation to protect. I can’t go around helping people willy-nilly. I need something in return.”

  “Great. Go on then, what do you need?”

  Noren gestured with his free hand as Jefferson swiftly vacated the room, his job done. “That’s a rather dour outlook, Julie. Please, sit. Enjoy yourself while you’re here.”

  I huffed, but I had to admit that the seat opposite Noren did look almost as comfortable as his own. Eventually I relented, sinking deep into the softness of the chair. “Isn’t that better? Would you fancy some wine? It’s imported all the way from Valmere, if you can believe it. Quality stuff.”

  “I’ll be fine,” I dismissed him. “Are you going to answer or not?”

  Noren’s face twisted into a performative frown. “Tch. No appreciation for the finer things, I see. Oh well. First, some context. I understand that you’re part of a little group known as the Cabal. Four – well, three now - undead supremacists running their operation out of Meria.”

  I scowled. “Yeah. They seem like lovely people, from the experiences I’ve had so far.”

  Noren’s face lit up. “Oho! It sounds like you have some stories! You shall simply have to tell me some time. Now, I’ve been aware of this particular group for some time. You could say we have… competing interests.”

  I tilted my head. “I’m pretty sure they have competing interests with everyone, don’t they? I mean, a mass vampire outbreak isn’t really good for anyone.”

  Noren’s expression was carefully controlled, but I saw the slightest widening of his eyes. “Really? I wasn’t aware of that particular plan. It does sound like something they would do.”

  “If you know so much about them, why not deal with them?” I asked, gesturing to the opulence surrounding us. “You seem like you have the means.”

  Noren’s expression grew tight. “Yes. Well, I’m not really meant to be here, you see. I have a… let’s say a benefactor, who believes that I’m on the other side of the country. Wiping out this group could draw their attention.”

  “Doesn’t sound like much of a benefactor if you’re hiding from them,” I commented.

  “Quite. They can be… overbearing, at times. Nevertheless, the Cabal has something I’ve been looking for. I actually had it for a while, but someone I had thought was trustworthy cheated me. Nonetheless, I want it back. So comes your task.”

  He paused, seemingly for dramatic effect. After a moment, I gave in to the urge to ask. “Which is?”

  He smiled, showing a few too many teeth for my taste. “Well, I’m aware of an operation of some kind that you happen to be a part of. I believe it involves a Revenant, correct? I need you to get me into it.”

  I leaned forward. “And you need me to help with that because…”

  “Because there is a small issue. Barely worth noticing, if you ask me. Undead hate me.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Why?”

  Noren took another sip from his wine before answering. Then he seemed to change his mind and took a second, much larger swig. “Many reasons, I’m sure. Perhaps they simply have bad taste. They are known to dislike sources of life, it may be my expertise in that field that puts them off. I’m surprised you can get the time of day, honestly. You positively reek of vitae.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “I do?”

  He chuckled. “Oh, yes. I see no one taught you to veil it. Oh, before you ask, I certainly won’t be doing so. I have more important things to do.”

  “Like sit here and day drink?” I snarked, slightly frustrated. I wasn’t entirely sure what he meant, but it sounded useful if I was going to be dealing with vampires.

  “Precisely!” He announced. “Now, do we have a deal?”

  I considered his offer. I didn’t see too many ways that having him around to deal with the vampires could go wrong. He seemed to perpetually know more than he let on, which was always helpful. Just because I didn’t love the guy didn’t mean he was going to turn coat, either, and he seemed plenty powerful.

  I wasn’t quite sure how to get through to the Revenant, but maybe I could. I mean, it brought Jenny onto the team without much issue and it seemed to really hate necromancers.

  I sighed. The part of me that didn’t quite trust Noren was telling me that, even with the benefits, this was a bad idea. I didn’t see another reliable way out of this situation with Simon, though. Who knew what he would try once we were sequestered wherever he wanted us? He didn’t really seem like he was going to respect our decision to stay away from him, given the actions he’d taken already.

  “Fine. I’ll do what I can. No guarantees though.” I stuck out a hand, before realising that I was way too far to reach Noren from my seat. I was too comfortable to move though, so I just added another joint to my arm and stretched across the gap.

  Despite the slightly unsightly display, Noren took my extended hand with a smile. “That’s all I ask. Now, tell me all about your problem.”

  --------------------------------------

  I left Noren’s mansion (he had a mansion, I still wasn't over that) with a vague idea of what we would be doing to get us out of Simon’s potential clutches. My understanding was vague because Noren had simply said that he’d ‘deal with it’. After assuring me that he wasn’t going to kill Simon for being a bit of prick, I decided that I may as well just leave it with him.

  He sounded like he had a plan, but he utterly refused to tell me what. I should have expected it, really. All I knew was that I needed to specifically make the apology early tomorrow, appear non-threatening and keep away from the windows. However, it did make me realise that Cassie and I had been looking at this all wrong.

  I was the only one with a complaint to their name. It was clearly Cassie that Simon was after, and it was clearly Simon who was orchestrating this through… whatever he was called. His lost little puppy. The kid seemed competent enough, but I kind of doubted he’d ever made a decision alone in his life.

  With that in mind, only I really needed to go, right? I mean, it would suck to go without support, and I had a feeling that Simon would be less ‘charming’ to me than he would Cassie, but it kept her out of reach. I didn’t know what he was capable of, but I didn’t like the idea of him having her at his whim.

  I knocked on the door to our room in the Warg’s Fang. Judging by the light spilling out from under the door, Cassie was already back, so I waited patiently for her to open the door and let me in. She had the key anyway, so if she wasn’t back yet I’d need to break in through the window.

  Fortunately, for both me and the window in question, she opened the door shortly after. She was wrapped in a towel, which implied that she’d visited the baths earlier. I wondered how long she’d been waiting. I also wondered where she’d found that towel, because it looked really fluffy.

  “Fancy seeing you here,” she said, leaning on the door frame. “How did your day go?”

  I tilted my head. “Not bad. I’m kind of disappointed, though.”

  “Really? Why?”

  I sighed. “Well, I had this whole joke planned out in my head, but it only works if you don’t physically answer the door.”

  She straightened up again. “Huh. Well, go on then.” Without a further word she shut the door in my face, audibly walking away from it.

  I waited a few seconds before knocking on the door. “Come in!” Cassie called from inside the room.

  Grinning, I pushed open the door. “Honey! I’m Hoooome!”

  I looked expectantly at Cassie, who was lying sideways on the bed. The only bed, despite there having been two when we’d left this morning. I guess she must have pushed them together. She remained completely silent, maintaining a stony-faced expression.

  A heavy sigh escaped me as I shut the door dejectedly. “Yeah, it was funnier in my head.”

  “How about we just forget that ever happened, yeah?” Cassie suggested.

  “Probably for the best,” I agreed as I sat down on the edge of the bed. “So, how was your day?”

  She frowned. “Well, there were ups and downs…”

  “You didn’t get to meet her, did you.” I phrased it as a question, but it came out as more of a statement.

  “Nope,” Cassie complained. “Just some aide. I guess it makes sense that she’d be too busy to trek halfway across the country for one ingredient. Still sucks though.”

  “That’s a shame. Sorry you didn’t get to see her.”

  She shook her head. “It’s fine. I’m sure it’ll happen eventually. I’ll make sure of it. Did you find a scapegoat?”

  “Kind of?” I answered.

  Cassie squinted at me. “...How could it possibly be ‘kind of’?”

  I shrugged. “Well, I managed to track down Noren and get him to help, at the cost of getting him involved with the whole Revenant thing. He definitely know a ton about that, by the way. I’m certain of it.”

  Cassie grinned. “Really? Good deal.”

  I winced. “Maybe not. Apparently undead hate him, which is why he needs our help to get the Revenant to not… you know.” I gestured waving a hand at an imaginary man, causing that man to explode.

  “Ah,” Cassie caught on quickly, because she’s the best. “I see. Well, that shouldn’t be too hard, right? Also, it doesn’t explain how you could be unsure about your answer.”

  “You know Noren, with his secrets. He insisted on keeping the method he would be using to get us out of it quiet. Thus, I can’t know whether or not my work is done until it all goes down tomorrow,” I explained.

  Cassie grinned even wider than before. “Oh, this is going to be good. I can’t wait to see it.”

  I sat up a bit straighter. “About that. We both agree that you were the one Simon was shooting for, right?”

  She nodded. “Oh yeah, it was obvious.”

  “And I was the only one with a complaint logged, correct?” I prompted.

  Another nod. “Yeah, so?” Her expression darkened. “Hold on, you’re not suggesting that-”

  “I go alone, yeah. It makes sense, doesn’t it?”

  “What? No!” Cassie protested. “Absolutely not.”

  “Why? Shouldn’t we be keeping you away from the weird noble that decided this situation was the only proper response to the mildest rejection in history?” I argued.

  She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter. We should be going together, working as a team.”

  “And bringing you closer to danger for no reason?” I stood. It was frustrating that she didn’t seem to understand what I was shooting for here.

  “We’re adventurers! In what world do we stay away from danger?” She retorted.

  “Yes, we’re adventurers. That’s right. You remember what Neil always says is the first rule of adventure? Preparation. We don’t know what Simon’s capable of. What if he does something untoward? Isn’t it better to have someone free and clear, to get help?”

  “He isn’t what matters here, dummy! We are! That’s the key word here. We. This is a problem that both of us should be dealing with, as a team. We are a team, right?” Cassie asked.

  Oh. This isn’t about Simon at all, is it?

  “Obviously, but-”

  “No buts!” She interrupted me. “I get that you’re worried for me, but you can’t keep me away from danger. I think my life choices have proven that. Do you think I wasn’t worried for you when we went into that crypt?”

  “Of course you were, bu-”

  “Exactly! But I didn’t stop you from going in, did I? It would have made sense to have someone to get help in that situation, too. Yet we went in together. We always have. Don’t change that now.” Silence fell over the room like a weighted blanket. It was the most tense I’d been with Cassie in a while.

  “I… didn’t realise that was how you saw it,” I admitted, my voice soft. I couldn’t believe I’d missed it. I’d completely overruled her perspective. “I thought you were being stubborn again.”

  Cassie smiled very slightly and sidled up to me, taking my hands in hers and looking me dead in the eye. “I know. But that’s how it is. We’ve always done better by each other’s side, right? I need to know we’re a team. That ‘us’ doesn’t change us.”

  I grinned and pulled a hand from her grip, shifting it rapidly much like I had that night under the stars. “I’m pretty sure we’re destined for change.”

  She shook her head and grabbed my hand again. “Maybe. But we can still be the same, even if we have to change to do it.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” I pointed out.

  “Oh, shut up. We’re having a moment.”

  I did as she asked and stayed quiet, just standing there with her for a moment. She sighed. “You gonna say anything else stupid, or can we stop being so serious?”

  “Probably not, no.”

  She smiled and pressed a light kiss to my lips, letting go of my hands and falling directly onto the bed. “Good. I can’t wait to see what Noren has cooked up for us tomorrow. Both of us. Besides, it will be nice to actually do something. I swear I’m gonna kill the Revenant if they make us wait another week.”

  “It’s not that bad, is it?” I asked. “It’s kind of like free time.”

  “Ugh,” she groaned. “Free time that is controlled entirely by someone else’s schedule, which could end at a moment’s notice and drop us both in a battle to the death. It is that bad.”

  “Huh,” I hummed. “Well, there isn’t really anything we can do but wait.”

  “I know,” she complained. “That’s the problem.”

  “I… don’t know how to help you with that,” I admitted.

  She lifted her head. “Yeah, I know. It’s fine, I get it. We just have to wait. No matter how painful.”

  tons of that, but I would be remiss in my representation of these characters if there wasn't any, either, so I've been sprinkling in some build up for what will come in the next while. For those of you who don't love that kind of thing though (yeah, I don't love it massively either unless it's really well done), you don't need to worry. The majority of it is around the next five or six chapters.

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