Fallen

Chapter 4(edited 4/9/19)

Picture the most sordid, dark, unscrupulous, and danger charged den of misfits you can think of. Then you've probably got a good picture of the Black Dog, a bar for the outcasts and undesirables of the supernatural world, which is where I had walked into. I ignored the untold number of eyes on me and focused entirely on a lithely built, light skinned man in a black and violet three piece suit shooting whiskey at a booth in the corner. I marched right up to his table and slid into the bench opposite of him, making him tip up his top hat to look at me.

"Saul."

            "Gavin," the man answered flatly. "What do you need?"

            "Information. What else are you good for?" Saul regarded me dryly.

            "You know that everyone seeing me dealing with you will start thinking I'm going light on them," he said coolly. "That's bad for business."

It didn't take much thought to figure out what Saul was waiting for.I reached into the pocket of my leather jacket and pulled a small sack of pure gold bits from its depths. I tossed the bag on the table. Saul picked it up with a gloved hand and shook it, feeling its weight and judging instinctively how much the bag held. He grunted, pocketed the sack and pulled a cigar out of thin air. He put the stogie in his mouth and lit it by setting his finger on fire.

            "What kind of information we talking?" he asked, much more friendly now that he had my gold. "The usual skinny on local possessions or hotspots for gates?"

            "Afraid not," I replied coolly. "That bag was just the front payment this time around, if that tells you anything about what I'm about to ask."

            "Oh, well then, I guess I should get serious," Saul replied, taking off his ridiculous hat and stroking his mustache. "Get on with it then."

            "A young woman came into town recently. She's important to both sides, and I know that more than a few demons will be prowling for her. I need to find her before they do, but all of the chatter has gone quiet. So, here I am."

            "I'm assuming you mean the Sword that just popped up," Saul said with a sly grin. "If you want me to find her for you, then the next payment better be a lot heavier than that dime bag you just tossed my way."

            "It is," I replied, expecting the price to be hefty. I reached deep into the exra-dimensional pocket of my jacket and pulled a bag the size of a basketball free. I dropped the heavy thing on the table, making it shake and drawing quite a few surprised stares. "This should cover it, plus your silence."

            "Maybe, but not for very long," Saul answered thoughtfully, his eyes locking on to the precious metals greedily. "Pure gold and silver?"

            "Pure as anything in heaven or earth," I replied. Saul whistled, He picked up his hat and fit it over the bag of metal in one fluid motion. When he lifted the hat again, the bag was gone.

            "It is always a pleasure to do business with you, my fine fellow," Saul said with a broad smile. "As it happens, I already know where you can find this charming young woman."

            "Wonderful." I knew I'd just been taken for a ride, but that was to be expected when dealing with a sleez like Saul. "Let me have it and we'll be done."

            "Gladly," Saul said, placing his hat back on his head and straightening his violet sport coat. "You'll find her in the subway station on Cornwall Street. She'll be arriving in three minutes on the seven o'clock train. From what my sources tell me, more than a few Jinn are close behind her. They'll probably try to jump her after she gets off the train. An untrained newbie like her? They'll take her down without much of a fight."