Unspoken // Theseus Scamander

Chapter Twenty - Paris

Word Count: 2,520 words. 

Warnings: None. 

I had found myself comfortable lodgings in Paris, or at least the best that the Ministry could offer me. I was technically still working under their jurisdiction, even though they had no idea what it was that I was doing in France. 

It was quaint, much smaller than the room I had stayed in while in New York, but I wasn't there much. Only to sleep and eat, and I wasn't doing much of the latter lately.

It had been a week, and I had found nothing. I hadn't expected to walk right through the gates of Paris city and find Credence within seconds, but I hadn't expected to go a week with nothing but radio silence on both ends of the stick. No Credence, and no Grindelwald.

I was sitting at a small café outside the entrance to the French Ministry, where I had been making quick use of their resources to try and locate both the boy and the murdering wizard.

Reading the latest paper, I tried to find any hint towards even the movement of something illegal, or an incident that might lead me down the right path. There was nothing but the weather and the latest new from Wizards Fashion.

"Miss Clayton?" a querying voice asked. I placed the paper down, turning to look at the waiter that had brought me the coffee I sipped on. I had never told him my second name.

"Yes?" I asked, straightening in my chair and reaching for my wand.

"A man left this for you," he explained, holding out a blank envelope.

I relaxed, taking the letter from him with a smile. "Merci," I thanked, using just about the only French I knew.

Facing forward, I turned over the white envelope. There was no name on it, nor any sign of who had sent it. The logical thing to do was to go to the Ministry across the street and get it analysed before even thinking about opening it. I wasn't being very logical at that point in time.

Quickly unfolding the lip, I took out a single sheet of parchment, opening it. Fear bundled in my stomach as I read who it was addressed to.

Natty, it read.

I turned my head quickly, searching for his face in the crowds outside. My eyes only met those of a woman I did not recognise. She smiled, giving a small wave before disappearing.

I noticed your arrival in Paris and would like to see you. You can find me at the park, 9pm tonight.

I expect your arrival.

It wasn't signed, but I knew who it was. "Fuck you Grindelwald."

"Did you hear the news?" a wizard began from behind me, in a conversation with the woman across from him.

"What news John?" she posed, and I leaned back in my chair to hear her better.

"About the new attraction at that underground circus."

"That illegal circus?" she countered. "We went once, I do not think we should go again."

"Apparently she's some kind of maledictus. She was added to their troop after that weird kid."

"The one with the American accent?"

"Yes, that one."

It was convenient, entirely too convenient that those two wizards were discussing the very thing that I had spent the past few days searching for. It had to be Credence, and it had to be a trap, but did I had any other choice? I was out of the café within seconds, the paper and coffee abandoned. I shoved the letter into my pocket.