KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Mmm, well, if they are still alive, they won’t be for long,” I state. I release Nero to look at them more clearly. I smile gently and fix their hair. ”You do? Did Cassi jog your memory?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I laugh awkwardly and nod. I didn’t realize that Asian stereotype was a real thing, but apparently, it is. Thank god Caden and Nero weren’t here. I would never hear the end of it.

”I’ll call you later,” I tell him. I stay outside for a moment longer after they’ve gone before I go back inside. ”Mother goddess, this will not end well.” I sigh and go back to doing…something else.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I continue to stare at their hand, running my thumb over the burn mark over and over again. I stop when they tell me it isn’t just on this body. It’s a part of them. A mark on their soul. I look from their hand to their eyes

”You’re human life. Someone marked you in your human life.” My voice is low, but even and deadly calm. And they had no recollection of their human life. I sigh, releasing the coiled anger in my body. I tug on their left hand, pulling them in and wrapping my arms around them. I kiss the top of their head and just hold them.

”I hope when you became a demon, you still remembered what happened to you, and you killed whoever did this to you.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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Maximilian and I walk Nic and his father to the door. Nic stops just past the doorway, and I stop. I look at him curiously, until he asks his question. I fiddle with my hair and wave goodbye to Mr. Wu before speaking.

”I understand, but Nic… Demons aren’t the worst thing out there. I have my problems with them, but Nero was instrumental in helping us get your dad to safety. I understand wanting to ease your way into this, but we can only do so much easement.”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I barely hear them speak; it’s like being underwater. However, I am hyper-focused and attuned to every movement they make. So when they move their left hand, I grab it to stop them. I want to turn them around, to examine the scar on the back of their neck further, but something on their left hand feels strange.

I look down, turning their hand over and see the burn mark covering the entire palm of their hand. ”Do you know what happened to this body?” I remind myself they are a demon, and the body they ride is the one who had been tortured, not Nero.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I laugh and shake my head at Nic. ”You’re a head nurse, not head doctor,” I defend.

He takes the herbs well enough, and I’m grateful. I take the paper from him and nod. ”Yes, I’ll call Caden and see. I believe he is preoccupied today, but we’ll need to speak to the police about what happened. I’m sure you will hear from me today.”

Before I set the paper down, I am wrapped in another warm embrace from both Wu men. I’m squished, but I am not fully mad. I laugh and swat at them. ”Okay, okay. That’s enough. Time for you two to go,” I declare. It warms me to see how much Nic is like his father and that they still have each other to navigate through all this.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I mull over Nero’s question, wondering if I have a favourite language. I’m enjoying German again, but are there any others? I decided I didn’t have one. Each language has a unique rhythm that adds something to the expression of words and emotion. I look up to tell them this and realize I have puzzled too long over the question.

I chuckle at their short attention span and penchant for shiny things. While they are distracted, I take a moment to admire Nero in my clothing. The sweater was big enough that they probably could have just worn that if they wanted. It wasn’t terribly scandalous, but it did shift this way and that to reveal skin around the neck and shoulders as they moved. My eyes narrowed, and I found myself standing without realizing it. I moved silently across the room, my eyes on Nero’s scars. They looked like they had barely healed. I can’t seem to bring myself to say or do anything. I just keep staring.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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”What!? Are you telling me there is no Dr. Sexy MD? Well, what is the point of a hospital then? I mean, really,” I say, feigning shock. I smile, amused when Nic practically inhales all his food. I glance around to see his father in my living room.

”Why don’t you take your dad home? I checked him over last night. He had no life-threatening wounds and I healed all his minor wounds.” I turn and open up a cabinet. It's full of dry herbs and bottles and other tinctures. I reach up and pull a few down, having to rise on my tiptoes to grab a couple, but I manage well all the same. I start mixing some things together.

”These will help with sleep and any…nightmares he may have. If they are bad, let me know. I can help those,” I say and turn to hand Nic the bottles. I don’t like to remove people’s memories, but if the night terrors are bad enough, I’ll either modify or remove them.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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I watch Nero closely. Is he embarrassed that he doesn't know many languages? I am a rare breed with a thirst for knowledge. I’m never satisfied, and learning new things helps to subside that drive for more. That and I have all the time in the world to learn. I’m not a normal skinwalker with a life expectancy. Most of my kind, my cousins, don’t have long lives. My family line, however, is quite different.

I swivel my chair, tilting it back to look at Nero even though they took a couple of steps back from me. ”Of course, which languages would you like to broaden your horizons on?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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My eyes widen in alarm, but I can also feel my skin heating up. I turn around to turn off the stove and hide most of my blush.

”No. I mean, I’ve never had an apprentice, and maybe you should wait and talk with Caden and me before deciding if you really want to be in on this world. It isn’t anything like the movies.”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”All of them,” I say and set the tablet down. I turn my head to look at Nero. ”You say you grabbed this tablet for us. Why? It was your prize; surely Crowley had something of more value for you.” Of course, I was grateful he wanted to share this victory with me, but I couldn’t help but be curious about this sudden-giving nature they had.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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What was with this man and not wanting to eat? My eyes follow the plate and I reach out to pick it up to hand to him again, but I fall short when his fingers lift my chin. I’m forced to look at his face, and I swallow once. He starts to talk, and I desperately want to run or look away, but I can’t. And Max has conveniently sat on my feet again. I swallow again when his fingers shake under my chin and he starts to tear up, my empathy showing as I also start to tear up. Goddess damn. He’s thanking me and understands me. Well, maybe not fully, but he gets what I did. I can’t think of the last time a human said something nice about witchcraft and sorcery.

Max moves off my feet and I think I’m finally free, but Nic pulls me into a hug, lifting me off the ground. Me. All 175 pounds of my 5’6” ass. I confess I blush again at this fact. I hug him in return because hanging there limply doesn’t seem like a good idea.

”I’m just glad it worked out,” I finally say.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”Ah, the King of Hell is a hoarder, and you have an eye for unique things; now it makes sense.” I examine the tablet again, comfortable with Nero’s closeness and their chin on my shoulder. I hold the tablet up so we can look at it together.

”Well, I read,” I tease him. ”I’m roughly three hundred years old. It’s hard to keep from being bored, and time moves rather slowly, so to keep myself from going crazy, I started researching and collecting. I’ve gotten obsessed, I guess you can say, but it’s nice to see how art immortalizes history.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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”Nic, stop apologizing. You reacted the way any human would have.” I finished making his omelette and bacon. I plate it and turn, handing him the plate, but I still can’t make myself meet his eyes, so I just stare at his chest. Was he really that much taller than me?

”I knew you wouldn’t give up on this. I saw it, but I still tried to deter you from it. It would have been better if I had just been upfront and told you what was going on. Yes, maybe you would have wanted to hunt the Chimera down, but at least you would have been protected with us. At least I could have asked you to…to…use your mom that way,” I say, the last sentence little better than a whisper.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
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”It’s incredible,” I breathe. ”I believe it depicts a puk. They were considered small household dragons that would steal items to give to the homeowner,” I inform him. ”The stone alone is in incredible condition, never mind the actual artwork,” I say, completely geeking out over the thing.

I finally tear my eyes away from the tablet to look at Nero. I can see him resisting touching anything, and I chuckle. ”You can touch anything you want in here. I bring all my new acquisitions here to catalogue before placing them in my house or museums or selling them. Don’t touch the artwork on the wall, though. Those are either first renditions or very expensive recreations,” I inform them.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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Maximilian joins me in the kitchen, weaving between my legs before standing on my feet. I sigh. ”You are a child,” I say. I break off a piece of cooked bacon and give it to him. He nips it out of my hand and quickly eats it before Nic comes walking back in. I stiffen, worried again when he starts talking.

He stands close to me in an effort not to be overheard by his dad. My poking at the cooking bacon slows at his words.

”I should have just told you everything yesterday. I knew you weren’t going to give it up, but I had to try…”

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Caden

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

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My office was in another part of the house. It sat below my bedroom actually but it didn't exactly match the aesthetic of the rest of my home. The living room where I greeted Nero was the part of my home all my guests knew. I even had a secondary bedroom for myself when I had more overnight guests. It was the part of me I presented to the world, but the part of the house I was now in was a part of my soul.

It was dark, moody, full of rich tones, and clutter. There was organization but also madness. Bookshelves line the wall behind me, stacked and crammed in wherever they could fit. A few small statues and things sat precariously on books or on the edge of the shelves. Planta lined the top of the shelves, curiosity of Cassi saying I need more living things in my home.

The opposite wall from the door was adorned with a floor to ceiling window, bringing in a large amount of natural light that made my archeological exploits more enjoyable.

The opposite wall from my books housed art work of various types and from various eras. There was also a low coffee table with two plush, leather chairs, framing a fireplace. Scattered throughout were more antiques in various stages of cataloguing.

I sat at my desk with my tools spread out, examining the stone tablet more closely. As I discovered something I'd write it down in my journal before continuing on.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Cassi’s House – Chicago, IL
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I smiled, happy Nic’s dad was enjoying his tea and was safe. ”Oh, no, Nero had to go….I mean, he’s probably at Caden’s having breakfast,” I say quickly. Nic fainted yesterday after Caden told him who, or rather, what we all were. I didn’t need him fainting in my kitchen.

I flipped a finished omelette and some bacon on a plate when Nic asked if I needed help. ”No, no. Just spend the time with your dad,” I assured him. I handed him the finished plate but kept my eyes averted, looking back at the stove to monitor the food cooking.

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Caden

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

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”It is fine. Gives the cleaners something to do,” I inform Nero. I kept my place relatively pristine. Even though I do pay cleaners, I like to tidy the place myself from time to time. They will be happy to have something actually to clean and fix today.

Nero starts to stumble over his words, looking awkward and unsure of themselves. I cock my head to the side, smiling faintly while they struggle. They shove a tablet into my hands, and I quickly take hold of it. As they explain it, my grip lightens, and I turn it over to examine it. I look at it more intently as I understand what this is.

”Unglaublich.”Oh, the bathroom is down that hall, third door on the left.” I gesture vaguely to a hallway before I take the tablet down the opposite way to my office to examine the tablet more thoroughly.

Translations

Incredible.