Chronicles of Eden - Act V (52 page)

“Oh my,” Serle said waving a hand to fan herself with a curious smile. “Apoch, Astreal, what brings you two to my little hole in the forest?”

“We are here on behalf of our alpha,” the twins replied in unison.

“Charlotte,” Serle breathed out before she quickly tried to control herself and keep her composure. “Well, whatever can I do for my grace?”

“We are spreading word that Ms. Charlotte is after some very important artifacts,” Apoch said as the two walked up to the bar and sat on the stools, with the three other witches timidly backing up from them.

“And there is also a human which is
strictly
off-limits to all,” Astreal added with a stern tone.

“Oh dear,” Serle said worriedly. “I do have some humans I’ve been playing with at home, I do hope I haven’t touched what is hers, I’m sorry if I have.”

“Relax, you couldn’t hold the human in question prisoner even if you wished to,” Apoch said with a wave of the hand. “He has proven to be very resilient to the powers of witches and thus has captured Ms. Charlotte’s attention.”

“However if you or any of our sisters do come across him,” Astreal mentioned glancing to the three others to the side. “You are
not
to touch a hair on his head. Understand?”

“We would never touch one of our alpha’s toys,” one of the witches insisted with a nervous smile.

“How may we be of assistance to my grace?” another asked. “I’ll do anything she wishes.”

“What is it she is searching for in this world?” the third questioned. “I’ll find it right away for her.”

Apoch and Astreal brought out two scrolls and waved their hands to have them float up and pin themselves to the wall above the bar, with the witches looking to them curiously while Tabitha was more focused on sulking and eyeing her drink with a quiet growl.

“There is a picture of the human,” Apoch said pointing to an inked picture of Daemon. “He is a very skilled swordsman and sorcerer, and is hereby the property of Ms. Charlotte to all witches in Eden.”

“
Rawr
,” Serle purred while eyeing the drawn picture with a curious eye. “He looks feisty.”

“And there is a picture of the artifact Ms. Charlotte seeks,” Astreal said pointing to an inked picture of a fragment of Eden. The witches all looked at it carefully while Tabitha sighed and glanced away from them. “It is a special relic, of which there are eight of in Eden. To any that bring those fragments to either us or Ms. Charlotte shall be rewarded
greatly
.”

“What
is
that?” Serle asked tilting her head in question.

“Something that belongs to our grace,” Astreal answered with a stern tone at her. “Never mind what it is or does. If you find it or know where one is summon for us immediately.”

“They belong to Ms. Charlotte,” Apoch informed them. “To any that try to keep them from her will answer to us.”

The other witches looked up to the picture of the fragment with wonder as the twins tapped their fingers on the counter in unison, with Serle then looking to them with a nervous smile as the two sisters were eyeing her with dull expressions.

“You haven’t offered us a drink yet,” they both stated in unison.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Serle quickly apologized before fixing up two glowing purple drinks for them. “Here, Ornate Passion, just as you two like. On the house of course.”

“Thank you,” both sisters said before drinking the beverages together. They set the glasses down with a single clink then glanced around at seeing other monsters inside the saloon going about their own business still, most dressed in cloaks and cowls while some were practically naked. “Wasn’t this once a witch-only tavern?”

“It was, but I’m making more now serving the local monsters of the forest,” Serle reasoned with a shrug. “It’s not so bad, Betti outside keeps the less reputable ones out of my place. She has a way with dealing with the ruffians.”

A loud boom of thunder and a crackle of lightning were heard outside, with a painful scream of a woman while the lanterns above swayed about slightly from the sudden explosion. The cackling of a witch outside the door prompted Serle to giggle as she started wiping the counter with a rag.

“See?” she said before humming casually to herself.

“Indeed,” Apoch and Astreal said before standing up together. “Well then we must be on our way. Do let us know if you spot either the swordsman or the artifacts.”

“Of course. Have a great day, my ladies,” Serle bid with a small bow. The other three witches quickly bowed as well before Apoch and Astreal started walking across the room towards the door.

“Hold it, you two,” Tabitha called out.

The twins stopped and kept looking ahead for a moment before slowly glancing back to Tabitha, with the other witches also looking to her curiously as she was staring up at the picture of the artifact on the wall. Slowly she looked back to twins and raised an eyebrow at them while raising her drink to take another sip.

“You want that thing?”

Apoch and Astreal turned and started walking towards her, keeping a sharp eye on the neko as she took another drink before she looked up at the picture again.

“Yes, we do,” they both answered carefully.

“How much for it?”

“Are you seeking a job to find them for us?” Astreal inquired.

“I already found one,” Tabitha answered with a smirk, with the twins briefly glancing to each other before watching the neko skeptically.

“Really? Where is it then?” Apoch carefully asked. “I see nothing with you but your little swords.”

“I keep all my valuables hidden away, can’t be too safe in this world after all.”

“If this is some sort of trick you will be sorry,” Astreal warned. “We are not playing around with this matter.”

“Neither am I,” Tabitha replied as she stood up and crossed her arms before them. “I got one of those things, came across it on my last job. No idea what it is or what it does, and frankly I don’t care. The only thing I care about is do you have the gold for it?”

Apoch and Astreal glanced to each other then smirked at the neko while cocking their heads to the side.

“Present your claim,” Apoch requested. “And then you shall be rewarded.”

“Nice try,” Tabitha chuckled. “I don’t trust witches as far as I can throw them.”

“Thanks a lot, dear,” Serle pouted.

“I’m a business woman,” Tabitha purred with a slick grin on her face. “If your leader wants it so badly then I want to see what she promises in return for it first.”

“If this is some ruse then you will not live long to regret it,” Apoch said softly yet harshly.

“All I want is to be paid well for my find,” Tabitha reasoned. “That’s all. Show me you can reward me greatly for it like you say then I’ll hand it over, simple as that.”

Apoch and Astreal scowled at her before glancing to each other while remaining quiet. After a moment they nodded and held their staves towards Tabitha, the neko leaning back with a hiss as the witches glared at her.

“We shall show you what you want,” the twins said in unison. “However you had best have what we want or else.”

Tabitha nodded while Serle and the other witches watched her curiously and kept a safe distance from the neko. Apoch and Astreal scoffed at the cat girl then held their staves behind them together, both the crescent stones glowing softly before a bright flash lit up from them. All the patrons watched with surprise as a distorted ripple of air shot out along with a small bang, with Tabitha shielding her eyes from the light before it slowly died down to reveal a large brown sack resting on the floor. It was nearly as tall as the small witches themselves and was held closed at the top with a silver laced rope. The twins stood aside and gestured towards the massive carrying pouch, with Tabitha then slowly walking towards it with wonder. She glanced to the sisters carefully for a moment then undid the rope, opening it slowly before she gasped with wide eyes at seeing it filled with gold coins. The shiny gilded collection gave off a soft glow with the light from above, sparkling just as Tabitha’s eyes did while her jaw dropped at seeing the massive amount of treasure.

“Holy shit,” she said looking to the twins.

“Well?” Apoch said tapping her foot impatiently. “We showed you ours, now show us yours.”

“Surely that’s enough for your find, is it not?” Astreal quipped.

Tabitha looked back to the massive amount of gold that had just been summoned by the witches then smiled brightly with her tail wagging behind her.

“I think this will do nicely, yes,” she agreed before closing the bag again with its silver rope. With an excited purr she stepped back and brought out her swords, with the witches tensing up before she bowed slightly and shook her head.

“Calm yourselves, I’m not intending to fight you,” she assured as the witches kept on guard. “I merely need to open my treasure trove.”

Everyone watched as Tabitha held the blades inversely as she always did, sticking them behind her with the ends touching as she glanced back with a slick grin. A soft red light flared up around the tips of the swords, crackling with yellow and green light as the blades then seemed to push into nothingness behind the cat girl. Tabitha then slowly parted her blades, tearing what appeared to be a hole in the air that was lined with the red light. The patrons behind her only saw a distorted ripple of air wavering in the circular rift while those in front along with the witch sisters saw the tear revealing a small storage room made of black obsidian bricks which glimmered lightly while lining the safe house were shelves with brown sacks and chests resting on them. A few katanas sheathed in floral holders were set aside on a rack while golden necklaces and jewels were seen from some of the bags that were loosely opened on the floor. Tabitha used her tail to jingle her bells, making not a sound with them but causing the glowing rift’s edges to shift to a soft blue before she then sheathed her blades behind her again. The magical portal remained open as Tabitha leaned into her personal storehouse and rummaged through her belongings with a purr.

“Ah, here we go,” she mused before pulling out a black satchel and tossing it to the twins. Apoch caught it as they both eyed the bag carefully before watching as Tabitha crossed her arms at them with a smug grin.

“Interesting trick,” Apoch commented.

“I’ve a got a few of them,” Tabitha replied modestly.

The twins then opened the bag and lowered it to reveal the fragment of Eden in Apoch’s hands, the witches staring at it with wonder while Serle and the other patrons were watching the scene with interest.

“This is it,” Apoch said softly while caressing the relic with her hand.

“Indeed, Ms. Charlotte will be pleased,” Astreal agreed with a smile at it.

“Then we have a deal,” Tabitha concluded.

“Yes, we do,” the twins said with a nod at her. “Take the gold, it’s yours now.”

“With pleasure,” Tabitha purred before she grabbed the large sack and, with a few heavy grunts, dragged it over towards her magical gateway. As she lifted the bag and slowly set it inside with her valuables the twins admired the relic with curious smiles.

“That’s one down,” Apoch giggled.

“Seven more to go,” Astreal concluded.

“About that,” Tabitha said with a heavy breath as she finished putting away her newfound treasure in the gateway. She moved her shoulder around to stretch it out after the strain she endured then waved her tail to jingle her silent bells. The gateway’s edge turned crimson again before it slowly started to close, with everyone watching as the rift vanished into the air with a soft crackle.

“Do I understand that if I find these other seven artifacts and give them to you, I’ll be paid just as greatly as I was now?”

“If you find the others for our alpha you will be paid for each one, yes,” Apoch agreed with a nod.

“The sooner the better, she is quite impatient for them,” Astreal added.

“Any idea where I can find these things?” Tabitha asked walking up to them. “I found that one by accident, no idea where to find any others. If I knew where to seek them out for you I’d be happy to take this job.”

“If we knew we wouldn’t be here talking to you,” Apoch stated with annoyance.

“We know where two are, however we cannot touch them,” Astreal said shaking her head.

“Where are they?” Tabitha asked. “Perhaps I can get them for you.”

“One is in the hands of a succubus,” Apoch said, with Tabitha gulping nervously to that. “I’d be very surprised if you managed to steal that one away.”

“I’d rather not take on a Darker One in all honesty,” Tabitha admitted with a weak smile. “Seems a bit out of my league. And what of the other one?”

“He has it,” Astreal said pointing to the picture of Daemon. Tabitha looked to it curiously as she walked towards the bar while the witches followed her. “However trying to take it by force will not end well, and Ms. Charlotte doesn’t want him harmed at all costs.”

“Interesting,” Tabitha purred as she hopped up onto the counter and snatched the picture in her hand. “So he has one, and as I remember hearing he’s also of great importance to your leader, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is,” the twins replied together.

Tabitha hopped down from the counter while eyeing the picture of the swordsman with a sharp eye before smiling curiously at the twins.

“Does he know where these things are?”

“He has been able to track them down with ease,” Apoch explained. “How he does so is unknown, however it is a high possibility he will find the others soon if we do not first.”

“So let me see if I have this straight,” Tabitha mused with a purr. “Your boss wants all eight of those fragments, one of which is in this human’s hands, however doesn’t want this human harmed at all and as such has not tried to steal the artifact from him, yes?”

“Something like that,” the twins said together.

“Tell me, is his safety worth anything to her as well?” Tabitha asked with a twitch of her eyebrow. “I could not only swipe the artifact from him and deliver it to you but I could also keep an eye on him, make sure nothing bad happens to her… interests.”

“You are offering to be a bodyguard for him?” Apoch laughed. “He needs nobody to protect him; he is quite capable of defending himself.”