KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
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”Oh, that’s because you haven’t seen Avery shirtless lifting weights. If that doesn’t turn you gay, nothing will,” I say, knocking my hip back into his.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I looked away from the cats running about to Nero and smiled. I wrap my arms around their waist, looking down at them. ”Well, them not acting like regular cats for one, and your power. I think you were probably a witch before you ended up in hell. Most demons were witches since they make deals for power, which is one of the reasons Cassiopeia doesn’t like witches or being called a witch. Her power comes naturally,” I explain to Nero, my curiosity about their past growing with each word.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I look away from Kimiko and pick at the fibres on the armrest of the couch. It made sense why Caden was called in. He had this way of connecting with anyone and anything, not to mention he was good at healing people. I try to ignore what Kimiko said about chasing down her mom and never finding her, but I can’t.

”Are you sure you should even be looking for her? I mean, it doesn’t sound like she wants to be found.” Or know you, I think to myself. I glance back at Kimiko, thinking I probably crossed a line and she’ll storm off now.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
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I send Nic Avery’s contact information before I slip my phone into my bag. ”If you are feeling up for it,” I told him. ”Just make sure you shower before,” I tease him and start walking towards the parking lot.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle and caress Nero’s cheek. ”Of non-supernatural cats, yes. Some of them can be destructive.” I relax further when Nero says they are good at listening. I look at them curiously. ”Are they your familiars?”

Most demons end up that way because they are witches. Witches get their power from making demon deals, and if Lucifer turned Nero into a Knight of Hell, they must have had power already. It makes more sense as I think about it. Witches usually only have one familiar at a time, though.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I feel Kimiko’s eyes on me while she talks. I wait for a commercial before I look at her. My eyes widen in surprise at her story and how eerily similar it is to mine, at least where Caden is concerned. ”Your mom abandoned you?”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I laugh and shake my head. ”No, I think we are safe to head back now. I can do some more research to prepare for tomorrow. Are you sure you want to go tomorrow morning? You’re doing that workout with Avery, right?”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Oh!” I laugh and turn around to look at the cats. I smile as they roam around, smelling the instruments and furniture. ”We’re going to have to reorganize the house a bit. Are they like normal cats and knock things off of high shelves?” I ask, looking back at Nero.

I’m tempted to ask Nero for a fashion show, but part of me also wants to be surprised when they put on a new outfit every day.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I nod as I watch the football game. I was happier that her fox was on edge as well. It did make my reactions seem a bit more justified, although it seemed Kimiko had a better handle of her fox than I did, and she was younger than me. That made me feel ashamed more than anything.

I was unstable, slated to be killed when Caden entered my life. I was still struggling with that, even though it had been ten years. I was still learning to trust my wolf.

”Men of Letters legacy, and yet you're a supernatural creature yourself?”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
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”That should be fine,” I said, nodding happily. ”Where is he located?” At least meeting him in the morning meant I would have enough time to prepare in case he became agitated or resistant to our being there.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I chuckle and relax my hold on Nero. ”Of course, it’s still okay. I’ll let the staff know, and you can tell them how you want your cats cared for when we are away,” I say and brush my hand over their hair. ”Now, when do I get to see everything you bought? Particularly the items in that little brown bag.”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh at Kimiko and her discomfort. ”In a roundabout way. He also reminded me I need to relax, but it’s difficult when my wolf is so agitated around you,” I confess.

I reach for the remote and toss it to Kimiko. ”Feel free to find whatever,” I tell her, fine with a little TV to distract.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I nod my head, putting my phone away when Nic tells me I might be right. Sometimes I hated being right. ”What did he have to say?”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I frown when they tell me they are scared of something or someone. I pull Nero in close, wrapping my arms around them. ”I won’t let anything happen to you,” I murmur. Even if it was a demon from hell wanting to hurt Nero, I would do everything in my power to make sure they didn’t touch Nero.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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We walk into the living room, and I collapse on the large couch facing the fireplace and TV. I rest one of my arms on the back of the couch, the other on the armrest, and put my feet up on the coffee table.

”Apparently, I’ve hurt your feelings, and I must be more accommodating. I guess the big bad wolf persona is dated these days.”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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Mr. Singh shares some of the story behind the fountain and his family’s involvement. It’s a good story, and I ask if he has any pictures of the stone in question to send to me. I try to assure him that we’ll find the stone. He seems ready to phone the police or the temple, but I tell him we might have a lead already when Nic gives me a look.

”Please, give us a day to find it before you call anyone, Mr. Singh.” He reluctantly agrees, and I sigh, thanking him before hanging up the phone. A few moments later I got an email with pictures of the stone.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Like what?” I asked, confused. I rub my thumbs along their cheeks. Despite the conversation we are having and the reception I had coming home, I’m grateful to have Nero in my arms again. To be touching them again and in their presence.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”I did not scream,” I said and smoothed down the front of my shirt. ”And they teleported above my head before cannonballing into the pool.”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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Luckily I get a hold of Mr. Singh right away. He has an accent but it isn’t too strong, so I can still hear him clearly over the phone. I’m usually good at understanding people even with accents, but it’s easy when it’s not over the phone.

”Mr. Singh, my name is Cassiopeia Alistair and I recently went to the Hindu temple in Cary, Illinois and I noticed the fountain in the back had been recently restored, but there are some discrepancies. There seems to be a stone missing,” I explain to them. ”Do you know if the stone was moved anywhere?”

Mr. Singh seems quite unhappy when I tell him what’s been going on with the fountain. From what it sounds like, his ancestors had a great deal to do with the original making of the fountain.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Nero… If I made you uncomfortable or was too forward in asking you to move in with me, I apologize. If you want to maintain your own space, I completely understand,” I assure them.

I hold the cat for a little longer before I set them down to explore the room. If the cats are staying, I’ll have to do some rearranging to make sure they don’t damage anything of great value.

I cup Nero’s face in my hands and kiss them softly. ”You can talk to me about anything. Even if you think it might hurt my feelings, you can still tell me.”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I give Kimiko a sideways glance. ”Oh? How about you go jump in the pool and I’ll hide all the towels.”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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”Mmm, try that charm I’ve been hearing so much about,” I say. I pull up my phone and dial Mr. Singh while Nic handles Mr. Scott.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I want to protest Nero’s statement. They are more than good enough for me as they are. I don’t, though, because they really want it, and they deserve it, even if their becoming human means I’ll lose them one day. At the very least, I’ll have a few decades with them before they pass on.

I watch Kiki go to leave, and I stop her. I pull her in and kiss the top of her head. ”We’ll see you in a few hours for supper,” I say before letting her and Avery go.

I look back at Nero and raise an eyebrow at them. ”Clearly, something happened during girls' day that you didn’t inform me about.”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I practically shoot out of the chair when Kimiko suggests she and I go off and leave Nero and Caden to their own devices. ”I know a great cave; let me show you,” I half-joke and beeline out of the room and down the hallway.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I smile sadly but step forward and kiss Nic’s cheek, although it hits more of his jaw than his cheek due to the height difference. ”Who do you want to call, Mr. Singh or Mr. Scott?”

I completely understood why Nic hesitated to deal with the police, but that was because he was a human, and they were trying to keep him away. Of course, when his parents initially went missing, they didn’t know it was a supernatural incident. It wasn’t until they called Caden and me that they figured out what was happening. Working with them was frustrating; sometimes, this treaty created more roadblocks than anything, but they were trying. I just hoped that Nic wouldn't be hurt if we went through with this.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I turn my head when Nero enters and look into their arms to see their cats. I grin when I see them. That was a good sign. I offer my hand to the cats to sniff and take the one who seems more inclined to me and hold them to help Nero out. I scratch the cat’s head and look back at Kimiko.

”I appreciate your concern, Kiki. I know you worry about me like I worry about you, but I want this. I want this like I haven’t wanted anything in a long time.” I look from Kimiko back to Nero and put my fingers under their chin to turn their head to look at me. ”They make me feel like living for something again,” I say softly, looking into Nero's eyes.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Nero enters the room carrying cats, and I shift awkwardly again. Oh great. I expect the situation to get more awkward, but it oddly deflates. I glance between all three of them while they talk. Caden’s declaration makes me happy for him but also sad at the same time.

Werewolves mate through a mating bond that is supposed to snap into place by the wolf inside the human immediately, but it won’t take if the human doesn’t accept it. Of course, humans almost always accept it. Of course, I’ve seen it happen, but I’ve never believed it. Mostly because I am in my eighties and haven’t found anyone. I’m glad Caden has found someone, but it just reminds me that I haven’t.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Hindu Temple – Cary, IL
Skills:

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I nod and stand beside Nic. I look at the fountain, watching the water from the statue’s vase into the pool. ”I do, which means we have a decision to make,” I say and turn to look at Nic. ”Do we hand this over to the police, or do we take it on ourselves.”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I cock my head to the side when she calls me out on my sex life. Several different options pop into my mind of what I could say, one being cruel towards her but I refrain.

”As you say, you haven’t seen me in years, and people can change. I’ve been around for three hundred years, Kimiko. Three hundred years with only one serious relationship that almost had me married for life. I think it’s high time I found someone else that makes me feel like settling down, don’t you? I can assure you that I am aware of Nero’s activities in hell, and if I have to remind you how many villages I burned down and how many people I’ve killed out of cold blood, I will. I am no saint and neither are they, and I am fine with that.”

I could understand her concern and protective nature over me, as I was the same as her. Despite our intimate history, Kimiko was like a sister to me, and I would kill anyone who harmed her or give any of her significant others the talk as well, but it was ultimately her life, and we lived very long, lonely lives.