The City of Two Halves

✽Chapter 7✽

"Okay so-" Dorian says, he's immediately interrupted by Cerena, 

"Let me finish eating," 

"Well hurry up," He grumbles. 

Cerena shovels the last of her French toast into her mouth before she says,

"So, I'm an underworld smuggler, we know that and Jeffery Crawdad is an overworld one,"

"Magical objects for regular people?" Grace asks, 

"Yep,"

"And he hasn't been caught?"

"He's stupid rich and Bureau is really corrupted, anyway, we have had some overlap in commissions before but I've never stolen anything from him before, that he knows about, until now."

Cerena launches into a story about a siren's treasure, one that an amulet is a key for, the amulet is connected to the treasure somehow and she learns through her spiderweb of connections that someone had found it. Taking a chance she employed "my best thieves, mind you," she said eyeing them both, "And sent you off to collect the amulet, only after you had given it to me did I receive the email." The email from Crawdad threatened her for stealing the amulet and while she was reading a man in an overcoat had broken into her house with the sole intention of getting the amulet for Crawdad. 

"And so he beats the shit out of me and took the amulet and book with him," Grace and Dorian stare at her, flabbergasted and Grace says, "What the hel-" Cerena starts talking again, 

"But I want the amulet back and I need my laptop,"

"Ok so, you want us to go back to your apartment and get your laptop? What then?" Grace asks,

"I'm hoping you will be willing to help me get it back,"

"You said treasure, how much are we talking," Dorian says, 

"You wouldn't help me out of the good of your heart?"

"It's dangerous Cerena, Crawdad isn't someone to be messed with,"

"Fine, 14 billion," 

"Holy shit," says Grace, looking at Dorian, he's already looking at her, he nods and she says "We'll be back as soon as we can." 

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Quickly getting to his feet, knife in hand, the handle to the front door turns and a man with rippled navy hair walks in, Ashton lunges at the man whose eyes widen at the sight but he steps aside swiftly. The butter knife goes into the door and the navy-haired man kicks Ashton in the head and Ashton falls.

"Is this the guy?" says Dorian, Grace's eyebrow furrows and she says,

"No, this is Mr Yarrow," 

"Mr Yarrow? Tell me I didn't just knock out your boss,"

"You didn't just know out my boss, I suppose I'm not getting any more second-hand book discounts,"

"Well, your boss attacked me first," 

"Ex-boss, but I don't think he's the man who stole the amulet, in fact," Grace looks around, "Seems as though he cleaned up." 

Dorian hauls Ashton onto the couch and Grace inspects the door, with difficulty she pulls the knife out of the wood, "I am convinced he could have killed you with this butter knife," she says, he walks over to her and inspects the hole in the door. "You think he's some kind of werewolf?" Dorian says,

"Perhaps, there was a full moon recently."

But Dorian didn't get to answer,  Ashton's head twitched slightly and the two moved to sit in front of him, Grace puts the knife down and Dorian discreetly picks it up. 

"Hello Mr Yarrow," Grace pipes as his eyes open, 

"Grace?" he says wearily, 

"Yep, did you try to kill Cerena?"

"I- what?"

"Did you or did you not try and kill Cerena for the amulet" 

"Not recently, no,"

"No time for joking,"

"Fine, no I was worried about her so I came here,"

"I believe him," 

"I don't," says a navy-haired man, holding the butter knife,

"Is she alright, do you know?" Ashton asks, 

"Yeah, she's back at ou-" The man elbows Grace and gives her a look, "What? He's not wearing a black overcoat,"

"He could be lying," says the navy-haired man,

"I don't think he is,"

"Do I need to give you guys a minute? I could go for a glass of water."

Grace and the navy-haired man get up and walk to the edge of the living room, Ashton stands up and heads towards the kitchen, he leans against the bench and drinks slowly. 

He catches snippets of the conversation, words of suspicious from the navy-haired man and words of support from Grace. At some point, during their conversation, Ashton hears the man call Grace 'Buttercup' and is overwhelmed by confusion, he could've sworn Grace said she was single last week. Soon enough they walk over to him with the navy-haired man trailing behind Grace like a guard dog, "Ok Mr Yarrow-"

"Please call me Ashton, I'm not that old,"

"Alright, Ashton, this is my friend Dorian and he's willing to trust you if you can prove your friends with Cerena," 

"Wait you guys are just- I could've sworn-" he trails off seeing Dorian's glare, before starting again, "Ok, you guys can look through our text messages." 

He hands his phone to Grace and Dorian takes a step closer to look over her shoulder, after a few minutes she hands his phone back and says, "Alright that checks out."

"You said you know where Cerena is?" Ashton asks, 

"Yep, she's at our place," 

"Our? You guys live together?" Grace nods, "I- are you guys dating or like-" 

"Yes," This time Dorian answers and he looks at Grace silently hoping silently praying she won't correct him and she doesn't. 

"Okay, can I see Cerena?" 

Grace answers yes, and Dorian answers no.

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