KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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“Yea? Caden mentioned you wanted to train more. You’re welcome to train with him and me. I could give you some pointers if you’re looking to advance your training.”

I fall silent while the two of them talk. Nic boxes? For some reason, I did not see that coming. He was fit, sure, so I knew he probably went to the gym, but boxing is just different, I guess. Hmm. I turn my head and look out the window. The city lights come back into view as we head to my place first.

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Caden

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

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”The cabinet. If it were hell, there would have been a series of creatures the dragon had to kill first. Much more dramatic,” I said and offered Nero my hand.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Avery and I exchange glances and smirk. I look back at Nic. ”Caden carried you. He trains with Avery, but also, Caden is inhumanly strong.”

“I’m a mixed martial arts fighter and trainer. I can assure you I will be able to carry you.” I nodded in agreement with Avery. He wasn’t as tall as Nic and was even shorter than Caden, but Avery was not to be messed with.

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Caden

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

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I shake my head as Nero falls out of the cabinet, stretching back out. I shut the cabinet before leaning against it. I smile, loving that he actually heard me talking.

”He did. It was buried deeply in another’s cave.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I laugh softly and shake my head. ”Avery’s going to have to carry you into your house,” I tease Nic. Avery looks at me through the rearview mirror and smiles.

“I’ve had to do worse.”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Notice; Shapeshifting

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I searched the library thoroughly. That leaves my office. He could be downstairs, too, but I have my money on them being upstairs. I cross the hallway into my office. There was more movement in here after I left them earlier.

”Hmm, I sense I’m getting warmer,” I crooned. I follow my routine of checking behind and under furniture first. I start opening cabinets by the window. These ones aren’t as full. My eyes catch something a miss out of the corner of my eyes. I smile, feeling particularly lucky now.

I walk over and bend down to open the lower cabinets. My eyes shift back to normal and I open up the cabinet.

”You, my dear, are a difficult one to pin down. Out you come,” I say, stepping aside for Nero to untangle themselves.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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I watch him close his eyes, smirking. He’s definitely going to fall asleep, I think. I glance down at his book and notebook, smiling a little. ”I’m trying,” I say.

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Notice; Shapeshifting

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This room is a little more open, but Nero is small. I check under tables and behind chairs and behind curtains but they are nowhere. I stand in the middle of the room, thinking. ”I wonder…” I go over to the cabinets in the room and open them up. Most of these are full, but I look behind a few. No, there’s too much in these cabinets. I leave the room and walk to the door that leads to the deck. I poke my head out, but there’s a bit of a chill. No, they wouldn’t go outside.

The library, then. ”Once upon a time there was a dragon whose treasure was taken. It made him rather sad,” I state, my voice carrying down the hallway until I enter the library. There were many hiding places here. My eyes scan the room, and I notice a few anomalies. I was getting closer.

”One day, the dragon was tired of being sad, and so, he went out to reclaim his treasure.” I start opening the cabinets, where some of the disturbances are. Nothing. Yet.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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I laugh again and shake my head. ”The Justice League? I think we are a bit darker than that. More vigilante, even though we work with the police. Honestly, they call us into the jobs they won’t do,” I state. ”But yes, Nic, I don’t know why you’re worried, but you did fine. Just be smart, and don’t go off solving mysteries on your own.”

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Caden

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Location: Caden’s Home – Chicago, IL
Skills: Notice; Shapeshifting

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I check the bedroom next to mine, looking in the bathroom, armoire, and under the bed. My eyes sharpen like an Owl’s as I scan for any slight anomaly. Nothing seems out of place or shifted in this room. I walk back out into the hallway.

”Ist das etwas, was Dämonen gerne zum Spaß tun? Oder sind Streiche etwas Besonderes für Sie?” I call out again once I am in the hallway. I could shift my ears to hear more clearly, but that would ruin the fun. Changing my eyes was cheating enough.

I walk down the hallway and enter my receiving room.

Translations

Is this something demons like to do for fun? Or are pranks something special for you?

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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I look at Nic and frown, a confused smile on my lips. ”What do you mean? You did fine,” I said, laughing at him.

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Caden

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

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I eventually get the food packed away, and the main serving dishes cleaned. The others I slipped into the dishwasher, knowing they were safest to go there without damage. Thankfully, my staff had cleaned all the dishes used for the cooking, so I didn’t have to worry about that.

I wash up my hands after finishing putting away food and washing dishes before I make my way upstairs. I whistle a little tune, slinging my jacket over my shoulder as I make my way down the hallway. Of course, I make my way straight to my bedroom's closed doors and open both of them — to an empty room. I walk inside, tossing my jacket onto a nearby chair.

I peek my head into the bathroom and closet, before walking around my bedroom in a circle. A slow smile creeps across my face, and my eyes shift to pick out small details.

”Komm raus, wo immer du bist,” I call, stepping back out into the hallway. I never minded a little game of cat and mouse — as long as I won.

Translations

Come out wherever you are.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden’s House ---> Driving – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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I smile softly at Nic’s comment and tuck my hair behind my ear. He walks on ahead once we step outside. I watch him go before looking at Caden.

”Well I think that went well,” I stated. Caden remained silent for a moment, and my anxiety started to climb. It went alright… Didn’t it?

He turns and looks at me seriously before pulling me into a hug. ”It’s okay to trust other people, mon amour. You and I have been through a lot. We deserve a little happiness every fifty years or so, don’t we?”

I’m hugging Caden back, listening to his words, and as they sink in, I hug him tighter. ”I know… I’m just scared.”

”I know, love. I know. You’ll always have me, but it’s okay to want others, too.” He kisses the top of my head before releasing me. ”I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a fun drive, and give Nic my number.”

I nod and look back at the SUV. I sigh, making my way down the steps, and get into the SUV. Once I’m buckled, Avery drives away.

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Caden

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

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I watch the car disappear down the drive, enjoying the fresh air for a moment before I turn back. Cassiopeia was the most closed-off person I had ever met. She was a shy child, but that shyness became an aggressive reservation for trusting people. I truly hoped she would relax and trust Nic. He seemed to truly care for her. Even though he hardly knew her, I didn’t suspect him to walk away from her once she revealed everything.

I returned to the sunroom to gather the wine bottles and glasses before going to the dining room. I piled everything onto a tray and used the dumbwaiter to send everything down to the kitchen. I made quick work of this, wanting to return upstairs. The longer I took, the more electrical tension built in my body. I wasn’t entirely sure I would be sleeping tonight.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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”You’re welcome anytime,” I assured Nic. I shook his hand in return. I look at the table and then back at Cassi. ”Are you going to clean up your mess?”

She grumbled but waved her hand. The candles remained on the table to cool, but the mortar and pestle were magically cleaned and put away, as well as the scissors and ladder.

”I should have magicked them into your bed,” she stated. I laughed.

”That would have been entertaining,” I said, leading them from the sunroom back into the main hall.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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

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”Ya, I should get back and see what sort of shenanigans the cats got into. I don’t usually leave all three unattended.”

Caden started to laugh and stood. ”Take pictures. I want to see the state your home is in,” he teased me. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Avery.

I frowned and stuck my tongue out at Caden. ”Well, not all of us like living in mausoleums, old man.” He just grins and winks at me — infuriating man.

”If you have any questions, Nic, make sure to write them down in that notebook of yours. If you don’t think they can wait, feel free to call me or Cassiopeia beforehand. Send Cassi the details for the memorial, and we’ll be there.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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

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”Oh, no. It’s fine,” I assured him. ”If that’s all the questions you have tonight, though, I can have Avery pull around to take you two home,” I offered.