The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 7: Atramentous Hunt

Alastor began following the sorcerer's trail by going to the most recent source. He Phased to Cannibal Colony, making his way down the darkened streets to a particular apartment.

He knocked on the door, and the occupant answered, gaping at him in surprise.

"Mimzy-dear!" he greeted. "Would you have time for a brief chat?"

The singer was quiet as they went up to the roof for privacy. The hour was far too late to visit inside her home - he was a gentleman after all, and this wasn't a suitor's call anyways, no matter how much she might have wished otherwise.

Mimzy's shoulders hunched in a sigh, and she looked about to cry, pulling her black jacket around herself.

"Why so quiet, sweetheart? Usually, you never hesitate to speak your mind!"

The blonde demoness frowned, and touched her throat. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out.

"You can't talk?"

She had been quiet when he'd seen her at the Emporium. Had she said anything that day?

He really couldn't remember.

Alastor conjured a small chalkboard for her, handing it over.

She took it eagerly, her dark eyes flashing with excitement as she wrote out a greeting.

Hi Alastor. :)

"Hello, dear," Alastor replied as she erased the words with the edge of her hand.

What can I do for you?

"I'm not going to lie, Mimz, your blue friend is quite frankly the most annoying fellow I've ever met. I would have thought you'd have better taste!"

The demoness' eyes narrowed as she wrote a new message.

He hasn't been around.

She pointed in the direction of the hotel.

Alastor nodded. "Oh, yes, he's quite taken with the place!"

Mimzy's dark lips pursed, and she flicked an entreatying look to him as she wrote again.

"The princess is happy with him?" Alastor read, and Mimzy nodded. "Why, she's pleased as punch! Apparently the hotel where he's from is the bee's knees," he replied with a roll of his eyes.

Mimzy's black brow lifted as she pointed at him.

"Me?"

Mimzy looked at him for a quiet moment.

"What do you mean, dear?"

The singer sighed silently, writing another message.

Are you happy?

"Not particularly, dear. That's why I'm here."

Mimzy gave him a slight, almost hopeful, smile. She wrote a new message, moving to hold it up, but jerked it away before he could read it.

Fussing with the chalkboard, she rewrote her message, only to pull it back to edit it again. Finally, she held it up for him to see.

You can always stay here Alastor. ❤️

Alastor's smile tightened. "That's appreciated, dear, but I don't intend to be driven from my own territory by anyone."

Mimzy's black and red eyes shone as her lip quivered, but she kept her expression steady as she erased her message.

"Some Hotel is missing its Radio Demon. I need you to tell me where he came from, how he got here," Alastor told the demoness.

Her eyes flashed up toward him angrily.