Lingual:
The mist rose off the Willamette River and shrouded the docks of the granaries. The darkened hulls of the great ships broke eerily through the fog, appearing more as ghost ships than carriers of goods. A short cry broke the disquieting calm, and a young girl ran blindly through the vapor instinctively heading for the nearest source of light, a lone light pole, flickering unsteadily.
Following the terrified girl lumbered something larger, and darker. The matted fur was blacker than the space between stars, and seemed to absorb light, making it appear larger than it truly was. It growled low in it's throat and was pleased to feel the girl's fear increase. She would soon reach the peak of her fear, it thought, a long pink tongue licking it's chops in anticipation, then it would feast. It shuffled closer, and it's keen hearing could pick out the frantic beating of the child's heart. For a moment it toyed with the possibility of merely scaring the child to death, then decided against it. It craved her soul as much as it craved her blood. It raised a taloned hand.
"A-jem."
Out of the mist sauntered a young woman in a charcoal trench coat, black running shoes and a red evening gown with tiny sequins that shimmered softly in the weak light. The woman tilted her head to one side, a single lock of dark amber hair loose from the carefully piled hairdo. The beast salivated. Dessert. She halted several meters back, and studied the creature. The monster growled warily, for it noticed that the tender munchable held a loaded crossbow.
"You'd better hurry up, 'Dancer, the security just phoned the police." A man's soft voice murmured in her ear, via comm link.
"What am I facing, Zel? It looks like a werewolf with mange." She asked quietly, making eye calm contact with the creature. It paused, torn between deciding which human to make a meal of first.
"Is it missing most of it's left ear?" 'Dancer made an affirmative noise. Zelgadis grimaced, atop the grain tower he was crossing to reach her.
"Might be that boogieman the city has an outstanding warrant for. Incapacitate it if it attacks." 'Dancer grunted, and leveled the crossbow. The monster didn't bat an eye, leaping at her.
"Any day now Zel." She muttered, pulling the trigger. The electrum cross bolt didn't even clear the bow shaft, piercing the creature just above the midriff. 'Dancer cussed silently, she had missed her mark. The bolt stopped the monster in it's tracks, though, allowing 'Dancer time to drop the cross bow and draw her sais.
The beast staggered back a step, and tried to pull the bolt out. The metal bit with a heat more fierce than any flame. Whining, the monster chose to flee.
"Oh no you don't!" 'Dancer gave chase.
"Zel, where'd he go?" She asked, dashing into the swirling fog. Zelgadis stopped on the roof top and scanned the wharf, he demon eyes keener than night vision goggles.
"Keep going straight. In about 20 paces take a 45 degree left and duck. You'll be in a tunnel with a low ceiling. Pass the first two openings the right, then go out the third." 'Dancer followed Zelgadis's instruction and burst out of the mist directly in front of the monster. It snarled in surprise and took a swipe at her, which she ducked to evade. Kicking as she straightened up she slammed the creature in the groin, earning a howl of agony. The beast doubled over in pain and dropped to the ground, exposing it's throat to her. 'Dancer hesitated for a split second, and it was on it's feet before she could so much as draw a breath. Yellowed claws grappled with her sais and with a grunt the beast slammed her against the wall of the granary. Stunned 'Dancer fell heavily.
"Damn." She growled breathlessly, and hurled a sai at the fleeing monster. It flew wide, completely missing the creature as it dived into the river.
"You need to work on your aim." Zelgadis arrived, born on the wings a spell. 'Dancer ignored him, talking softly to the young girl clinging to his black duster. In the distance the wail of sirens could be heard.
Zelgadis arrived at the office early the following morning, and was surprised to see 'Dancer already at her desk, the contents of several files spread out around her as she sat on the floor examining them. Zelgadis leapt lightly from one empty space to another to reach the small kitchen nitch at the far end of the office.
"Have you had any breakfast yet?" He asked, pouring two cups of coffee, one black and one with sugar and cream.
"Hmm...?" 'Dancer looked up, taking the offered coffee. Zelgadis leaned against her desk.
"Breakfast." He sipped from his mug. "You really should get some sleep too." 'Dancer tossed him a briefly irritated look.
"What makes you think I didn't?"
"Aside from not having come home last night? You're still in that ridiculous gown." 'Dancer glanced down at her attire, and seemed surprised to see she was still wearing the red dress.
"Hmph, you're right. Remind me that I need to get this cleaned before I return it to the rental shop." She went back to perusing the files. Zelgadis rolled his eyes and went over to his desk.
"What are all these?" He asked, holding up a handful of yellow sticky papers with her shorthand sprawled all over them.
"Phone messages. From INS, the PPD, and the RCMP." She put down her mug and glanced curiously up at him. "Dinner says you can't guess the girl's place of origin."
"Thai or Chinese?"
"Ethiopian." Zelgadis made a face.
"Okay, where is she from?" 'Dancer smirked.
"Iqualuit." Zelgadis raised an eyebrow.
"As in the capital of Nunavut?" 'Dancer nodded. "I suppose that would explain the RCMP and Immigrations..." He cast a distasteful glance at the sticky notes. 'Dancer nodded, standing.
"See if you can't find any connections between these cases." She pointed to the papers on the floor. "Gaston thinks they're related to last night's attack, but he's having trouble getting cooperation from the federales." Zelgadis nodded.
"Where are you going?" 'Dancer stuck her tongue out at him.
"No matter how much you try to cover up the flavor, I can still taste that dreamberry. I'm going to take a catnap, and when I get up I'm going to kick your ass for having slipped it into my drink."
Zelgadis smiled faintly as she laid down on the leather couch under the office window and pulled her coat over her head. He hadn't even sat down on the floor when she began snoring.
"Eh, sweet dreams, negrita."
Zelgadis was so deeply engrossed by the paperwork that he didn't notice 'Dancer was awake until she brought the broom down on his head.
"Good afternoon to you too." Zelgadis muttered sourly as 'Dancer tossed the broken broom into the trash.
"What's for lunch?" She asked, peering into open takeout containers.
"Greta made a special delivery. Have you told her yet that you're not a lesbian?"
"Why should I when we keep getting free food?" 'Dancer fished a fork out of her top desk drawer to eat some left over sauerbraten.
"Because it's mean to lead someone on like that."
"I'm not the one who assumes everything femme in pants is - " The phone rang. "lesbian. Greywrys' Inc." 'Dancer listened for a second.
"Hello Mrs. Cruz." Zelgadis stifled a groan. "I'm sorry ma'am, but like I said before, we're not bountyhunters. I'm - ¡¿COMÓ ME LLAMASTE?!" She slammed the phone back in the receiver, and Zelgadis gave her a sympathetic look. The phone rang again. 'Dancer snatched up the phone.
"¡¿Qué parte de no somos cazarecompensas no entiendes?!" 'Dancer sucked in her breath suddenly.
"Chief Connor, my deepest apologizes, I was totally out of line I'm so terribly sorry I - yes, yes. No, we're not." She waved at Zelgadis to get his attention.
"Mind if I put you on speaker phone so my partner can hear your offer? Okay, one second please." She pressed several buttons before hanging up the phone.
"Alright Chief." The voice at the other cleared his voice hesitantly.
"Hello?" Zelgadis relaxed back into his chair.
"Good afternoon, Sir. What can we do for you?" 'Dancer felt a flash of envy. Zelgadis was always so smooth when dealing with a client.
"Yes... I as I'm sure you are aware, I'm relatively new to this city." 'Dancer scribbled a note and held it up. Must be if he's calling us. Zelgadis snorted softly. Connor continued, blissfully ignorant of 'Dancer's commentary.
"When I asked for the most successful detectives of 666s, your named was brought up." ' Dancer and Zelgadis exchanged glances. 666s were crimes involving magic, specifically in the area of Black magic. 'Dancer scratched her head and considered the comment.
"If that's the case, Sir, it's merely because we have the best survival rate." Zelgadis replied softly, as 'Dancer flinched. The loss of former partners Rodimus and Zolf were still fresh in their minds. It was not uncommon for an entire detective agency to cease to exist after taking on a case involving a Black sorcerer. Connor coughed, as if he was all too aware of the implication of Zelgadis's words.
"That may be, but I was hoping to enlist you help. You are already acquainted with the case in question." Connor had their total attention now.
"Early this morning you brought in a young girl, - " "Sedna? The Inuit?"
"Yes. Apparently the Mounties think she was a victim of an international smuggling ring that has been using Portland as a port of call."
"Why are you handling this case? Shouldn't this be a federal case?" 'Dancer blurted out. Connor sighed.
"It is, but the ring is so large that they want local police help. You'd be working with two federal agents if you choose to accept this case." 'Dancer's eyes glazed over. Zelgadis scribbled a note and held it up. Are you alright? She swallowed, nodding quickly.
"Could you give us a moment to talk this over?" Zelgadis asked as 'Dancer walked over to the sink and shakily filled her mug with water.
"I'm a bit busy at the moment, so if you could call back with your answer..."
"Naturally." Zelgadis took Connor's number and hung up. He watched 'Dancer go through her breathing exercises to calm down.
"Are you sure you're okay?" 'Dancer nodded over her mug.
"Zel, this could be the big break we need..." She began.
"This could also get us killed. Or worst." 'Dancer grimaced. She had seen what had happened to one police officer who had tried to bust a Black magic deal. He had been sucked into a cursed bracelet that was later sacrificed to a particularly sadistic Mazoku.
"It could also get us into the Archives." She said softly, not wishing to remind him of his curse. Zelgadis nodded.
"I know. Which is why I plan to take the case." His steely gaze held hers. "But I don't want you to." 'Dancer put her mug down with a thump.
"Don't you dare act like my older brother." She snapped, an eyebrow twitching. Zelgadis crossed his arms.
"Even when I am?"
"According to whom?" She wagged a finger. "This is silly, I'm not going to get into this argument with you again. But if you're planning to take this case, plan to have me as your partner." She picked up her cup. "It's not like you could stop me." She grumbled.
"That's true." He muttered, picking up the phone.
"Vacation's were I want to be..." Music floated out from a second story window as Zelgadis and 'Dancer entered the Abyssinia Restaurant . 'Dancer inhaled deeply and let out a small satisfied sigh, the smells of cooking flesh and spices tantalizing her. Zelgadis spoke with the waitress as 'Dancer perused the daily specials.
"They're already here." Zelgadis grounded her back in reality with that single comment. 'Dancer looked over at the table the waitress was taking them to and studied the two federal agents. One was a youngish man, in his late twenties, she guessed, with black hair and an easy smile. Next to him was an older gentleman, slender and somewhat dwarfed by his younger companion. He held himself with great restraint, and 'Dancer felt a chill go down her back.
"Zel..."
"You felt that too?" It wasn't really a question. "He's a mage."
The younger caught sight of them and stood to greet them, even pulling 'Dancer's chair out for her. 'Dancer blushed a the courtesy, as Zelgadis introduced themselves.
" 'Dancer Saisan? That's an engaging name." The young man took her hand into his larger one and gave it a warm squeeze. "I'm Li Blattmeister, and this Special Agent Dimitri Macuciniti." The mage inclined his head slightly.
"If the name is too hard to pronounce," his voice held the tiniest hint of a accent, "just call me Dimitri."
'Dancer and Zelgadis shared startled looks. The Macuciniti were an ancient and respected family, founders of the University for Advanced Studies of Magic. Anyone who wanted to teach magic on a professional level had to attain a degree from the University in Dubrovnik. Li grinned at them, enjoying their expressions. 'Dancer sat down slowly, as Zelgadis hesitantly asked.
"Exactly what are we up against?"
I should have known something was up when Connor called us.
Dimitri frowned slightly.
"I don't understand, didn't the police chief tell you about this case?"
"Yes but he didn't say that we would be assisting a Macuciniti." 'Dancer responded in a stunned voice.
Li burst out laughing, and Dimitri even looked vaguely amused.
"You misunderstand, Miss Saisan. This is not a situation that would ordinarily require the skills of one of my... distinguished kith." He regarded her with clear brown eyes, and she fancied that there was a hint of mirth behind them. He picked up his cup of tea and sipped it.
"I am what one would normally call the black sheep of the family. While being a federal employee is an admirable pursuit, it isn't exactly met with much appreciation among my kin."
'Dancer and Zelgadis relaxed, although 'Dancer both felt a trifle foolish at jumping to the conclusion she had.
"What would you recommend we order?" Li asked, cheerfully changing the subject.
"Copper for your thoughts." Zelgadis said, standing across from 'Dancer on the Max. 'Dancer held the red dress in one hand, and onto a strap with the other, as the train swayed.
"I was thinking that the drycleaners stiffed me on the price for cleaning this, but I don't think that's what you want to know."
Zelgadis smiled at her.
"What's your opinion about our new friends?" 'Dancer thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
"I think Dimitri was assigned to this case because he's as scary as whomever it is we are looking for. Li seems pretty straight forward, even if he is a flirt." Zelgadis chuckled.
"I also think they aren't telling us something. Did you see Li's gunblade? His was specially modified, I noticed arcane symbols on the stock. And the way he moves ...it's almost like ...um, what's that word?"
"A duelist?" 'Dancer nodded. "I saw that. If he is the rookie Dimitri would have us believe that he is, he's a very talented indiviual." 'Dancer stared unhappily at the chimera.
"What are we doing? Los federales are way out of our league." She said softly. Zelgadis smiled reassuringly at her.
"Give yourself a little credit, 'Dancer. Together we're alot more powerful than you think."