KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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”Hey! I say and throw another cube at him. Nic climbs out first, and I smile at the back and forth the other two have with Nic. Now that I know nothing is going on, the brother-sister energy comes across more clearly. Nic reaches his hand down to help me, and I smile at him. I tighten my grip on his hand and yank him back into the pit.

”That’s for being cheeky,” I say and lift myself out of the foam pit.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving ---> Mobile Shop – Chicago, IL
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”Well, sometimes it's easier to see, but in a nutshell, Caden is the dominant wolf, or the alpha to my wolf, who is also rather dominant, but Caden is more so. My wolf responds well to Caden’s authority and has calmed down. Before, my wolf fought for status, but I’m also older. I’m eighty. Wolves don’t have a long life expectancy. We are constantly fighting for dominance unless your wolf is submissive or an omega. Omega’s are rare though,” I add-in.

I don’t mind answering Nero’s questions. I’ve been doing it most of my life. The werewolf pack hierarchy is a fascinating subject for most people.

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Caden

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Location: Driving —> Mobile Shop – Chicago, IL
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”I was being groomed to be the head of my family eventually. Dragons used to live for thousands of years. With my family being wiped out, I am automatically the alpha, except I don’t have a formal pack. Bringing Avery in saved him and me as well. It gave me purpose beyond drifting from place to place,” I add. I park in front of the mobile shop. I look back at Avery.

”Are you hungry, Zain? Setting up a new phone for Nero will take a few minutes. Feel free to grab something to eat,” I say and hand him my card.

”Thanks, boss. Do you want anything, Nero?” Avery asks.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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My flushed face gets redder, and I look away from Nic. I pick up a foam hunk and toss it. ”But I’m so old, and you’re so young. I should really give your dad a chance first,” I joke. I toss another hunk of foam before I look at Nic and nod. ”My personal nurse tells me I should do more things for myself, so yes.”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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”It’s kind of a funny story,” I say with a bit of a chuckle. ”I’m originally from Washington state, but we were across the border in Vancouver, partying for a weekend in the early 1990s when Caden walked into the bar. Every heard turned, and the girls we were talking to instantly got caught up in his presence. I was amazed by the people who gravitated to him. Anyways, we got territorial and destroyed the bar. Caden kicked all of our asses. There were six of us. I was second of my pack then, so I was pretty dominant, but Caden had all our wolves submitting to him. We’d never experienced anything like that — especially since Caden isn’t human. So, we called our Marrok, Bran Cornick, and he demanded to meet Caden. After that, I ran into some trouble with my pack. I was becoming unstable; my wolf was getting more territorial and violent. Bran called Caden in, and he took me in - saved me. For werewolves, when our wolf starts to take over the human, Bran sends in firstborn to…well, kill us. Bran saw an opportunity in Caden though and sent me to him. I’ve been loyal to Caden ever since. He keeps my wolf stable.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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I yell and laugh as we are thrown from the beam. I was ready to dive in, but as I pitched forward, Nic grabbed hold of me and tucked me into him as we tumbled. I’m surprised he took on such a protective take even though the fall was safe. We land in the pit, squished together by the foam chucks, and I wiggle in Nic’s arms to get my head above the foam.

I watch as he knocks Kat and Jane off, and I laugh. I look over at Nic, my face flush from exertion and fun. ”I’m more than okay,” I assure him.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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I simply laugh rather than answer Nic about how old I am. Besides, he already knows. Once the rules are established, mainly no hitting Nic below the belt and avoid faces, we start.

I go off of what Nic does, making my strikes when I can. I'm rather enjoying this. I laugh with every hit, either that I land or they land on us.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Driving – Chicago, IL
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I sit in the back seat again, reading over the bottle of perfume when Nero speaks to me. I look up and blink.

”Um, twenty years or so?” I look to Caden.

”There abouts,” he agrees as he turns a corner. It's weird to be the one in the backseat while Caden drives. Although I rarely drive Caden anywhere.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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”Old,” I respond and try not to laugh. I take the staff from Nik and take a deep breath. If I was doing this by myself, I'd have no doubt that I'd win. With Nik being my balance and me being the muscle, I wasn't sure. It was a more even match now I thought.

I looked over at Kat who was on Jane's shoulders and smiled. ”Alright, any rules?”

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Caden

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Location: Drug Store – Chicago, IL
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I grin and wrap my arm around Nero's waist. ”I didn't want to assume. I am a gentleman after all.” I said and kissed Nero's cheek before I released them. ”We'll go to another store for the phone. I want to talk to the staff here to see if this perfume has been bought in the last month.”

I lead Nero to the checkout where Avery is already waiting for us, talking with some of the staff. He turns when we approach and nods to me.

”One bottle has been bought. They won't give me the information though.”

I pull out my phone and text the detective. ”That's okay. Costa can do the grunt work from here. We're going to go to the bar tonight. We can do some recon with the locals,” I tell Avery.

We bought the bottle of perfume and headed out. ”We've got another stop to make, Avery and then we'll head home.”

”Sure thing boss.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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I sigh and put my hands on Nic’s shoulders and boost myself up. ”You know vampires don't actually sparkle, right?” I hold onto Nic as best I can and hold out my arms. ”Don't drop me.”

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Caden

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Location: Drug Store – Chicago, IL
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I laugh and title Nero's chin up. ”As you should have been. The reason I ask is that if you plan on having a phone for a longer term, I'd like to get you a good quality one. Internet, high quality camera, the ability to share photos, that sort of thing. Cameras are important in today's day and age, especially if you plan on monster hunting.”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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I enjoyed Nic sharing with me. It almost felt like a date.

I look at Nic and give him a once over. I'm not looking for anything in particular and I point my finger at him. ”If I crush you, no haunting me,” I say. I had enough ghosts in my life. I didn't need anymore.

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Caden

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Location: Drug Store – Chicago, IL
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I glance back at Nero and pause. A slow smile spreads across my face at the idea of them having a phone. ”Do you want something for a short amount of time or do you plan on keeping it for awhile?”

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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I find myself smiling while Nic tells me a little more about himself. I laugh when he tells me Jane wasn't top in the class, implying that he was.

”And why should I believe what you say?” I ask. I'm still focused on the girls sparring until Nic moves to stand behind me. I lose focus for a moment, just thinking about how close Nic is and how I misread the signs earlier. ”Do I make a good chin rest?” I ask teasingly.

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Caden

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Location: Drug Store – Chicago, IL
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”Sort of,” I say with a chuckle. I take a sniff of the one Nero gives me and I shake my head. ”Closer.” We keep moving up the aisle until we reach Avery again. He seems stuck on one. I wander over with Nero and he hands it to me. I take a sniff and I nod.

”That's the one,” I say. Now we just have to find out who sells it and how common it is. Hopefully we could narrow it down more.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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”Is she really?” I look back at Nic. I forgot about the height difference again and I have to look up. It's then when I realize how close we are and I flush and quickly look away. Then Nic tells me who Kat is. I shake my head in amazement.

”So head of emerg, a defense attorney, and a sorcerer. Nic are you attracted to women of power?” I ask teasingly.

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Caden

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Location: Drug Store – Chicago, IL
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”Floral,” Avery and I say at the same time. We grin at each other before we split up. I rest my arm over Nero's shoulders as we walk. In an effort to keep them from running all over the store and just to touch them.

”It smelled like artificial flowers. Just this overpowering tingle. Like they are trying to mask their own scent.” I pull a bottle off the wall and shake my head before I move to the next.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park – Chicago, IL
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I find myself naturally leaning into Nic as we watch Jane and Kat. I don't even notice. I'm so focused on monitoring Jane and Kat’s movements for a few minutes before I make my decision.

”It could go either way really, but if Jane keeps her cool, she'll win,” I state. Playing dirty is all well and good but having balance and precision is best. That way you can time things better.

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Caden

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Location: Police Station – Chicago, IL
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”Good. I'm sure they'll want to go out after, too. We could still go to the bar tonight if you are feeling up for it. It would be a good way to get some Intel as well,” I state. I open up the car door for Nero and wait for them to get inside before I call to make a reservation at a restaurant. It's not as high class as the one I took Nero to but the food is delicious and all sorts of people go.

After that, I get into the car and head to the nearest drug store. They have everything from pharmaceuticals to groceries. We'll find what we're looking for if the perfume is as cheap as Avery and I think it is.