The Dark Magic 2

Part 17

Austins POV

Despite the minor intrusion of Kevin and Tracy, I continued my conversation with the mercs. I figured they were trustworthy since I knew them since 11 and the leader, Sharktooth was almost a brother to me. Almost.
As I continued to discuss the details, I heard a heavily distorted voice behind me.
"Wraith!"
I turned around and grinned. I quickly excused myself from the table and walked to her.
"Storm, just the person I wanted to see,"
"Likewise," She said. We shook hands. We both ran assassination/other jobs businesses.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked.
"I have a job for you," She replied, sitting down at a nearby table. The girl with a long dark cape sat beside her and I took the seat opposite to them.
"Before we discuss anything, would either of you like drinks? On me," I could tell Storm was rolling her eyes. I grinned. It was the oldest trick in the book for making job deals. get the other person drunk enough and sway them to take less or give more.
"No," Since I was rather heavyweight when it comes to drinking, I shrugged and waved a waiter over, ordering a beer, figuring I might as well enjoy it during the talk with this ''friend''.
"So. About this job. What is it?" I asked
"I need you to keep tabs on a group of students up in Lonerth," She stated.
"Who?"
Storm leaned forward "There's this...kid. Black hair, smart, dating a white-haired girl. Goes by the name of Austin," I froze. Am I supposed to spy on myself? I used years of skill to conceal my surprise.
"May I ask why?"
"Extra gold for you not too. I also need you to keep watch over his three other friends. Go by the names of Kevin, Tracy and Bell," So Storm wants me to spy on my friends? Hmm. Let's see if we can squeeze out at least some reason. The beer arrived and I took a long gulp before I said anything.
"Alright then. Ill pay you to tell me," I leaned back. Storm shook her head and my ears began tuning into her every word.
"No. No matter what tricks you pull, Wraith, I won't give you a reason. Either take the job or leave it," It was hard, but I could make out a distinctive youth in her voice. Probably around my age.
"Let me think about it," I could always lie, just in case. And if I didn't, morals were definitely not an issue. I'm not proud of it but I've double-crossed dozens of people in my day.
"Alright fine. But first, how much gold are you paying?"
"Just enough to get it done," That normally meant a decent 40 gold, minus no questions.
"Alright then. Now, before I go on with the reason I was looking for you, may I ask who is this lovely young lady you brought along with you?"
"Shes a frei-,"
"How did you know I was young?" She cut in.
"Body shape, your way of walking, the fact you still wear skin-tight clothing, and now your voice," I replied. I was incredibly good at picking up the little things. My perception is through the roof, and my special Wraith costume only enhanced it, as well as looking badass as all hell.
"What's your job?" Storm asked.
"This might be asking a lot, but I need a mole up in Arlium," I said. I knew I was treading in dangerous waters, but I needed someone in the school badly.
"Hmm. Why?"
"Just to keep tabs on a group of girls and her company," I replied, taking another sip of my beer. I kept my eyes trained on both of them.
"Who?" Storm inquired.
"Purple and blue-haired girl. Goes by the name of Skylar," The girl beside storm shot up in surprise. My hand instantly, but discreetly landed on the set of throwing knives in my jacket. They were heavily modified to instantly cloak the body of their victim. And if that wasn't enough, they were also coated in venom.
"Is there a problem?" I asked the girl politely.
"Uh, excuse my friend. She can get a bit...jumpy around mercenaries," Storm said "Anyway, this job? How much are you paying?"
"As much as you to get it done. No questions asked. Actually, I have a preposition. how about neither of us charges inquiry because we both don't need questions asked?" I asked. Storm nodded.
"Alright. Ill, uh, do the job. When can I meet you back here?"
"I'd say about a month. How about you?" I said
"Same time," We stood up and shook hands.
"That's all, I assume?"
"Yes. See you in a month," Storm walked off with her female companion. I leave my beer and consider returning to my conversation with Sharktooth. But this Storm characters seemed intriguing. I was confident that my charismatic charm would be able to pull it off, so I quickly walked after them, making sure I was far enough away for them not to suspect anything. Still, I think they caught one or two glances at me. I followed them into a small restaurant and quickly ducked into a stall near them. I tuned into their conversation, with the aid of a small hearing spell to hear them over the din of the other patrons. After, of course, I ordered my favourite drink. Dead Mans cocktail. A furious blend of beer, vodka, wine, and pretty much every liquor in existence. I was also pretty sure they added a couple of drops of filtered blood, but hey. It's just flavouring, right? I had enough trust in the staff that they would filter the blood before adding it. Besides, I added a quick filtering spell anyway.
I tuned in as I drank.
"-can we lift these stupid voice-altering spells? They're irritating," I grinned under my mask. Perfect.
"A Pucker is a sparkling lemonade with a bit of vodka. It's my favourite drink here. ANd no, the spells stay," I frowned. Dammit, Storm. Just let her do what she wants.
"Bite me," The voice changed. My grin returned. I took a mental note later to talk to her. I like her, she's defiant.
"Whatever, it's your funeral," Well, not really Storm. I had no idea who this voice belonged to. A second passed until she says something.
"Mm, it's good," Puckers were pretty good. I sometimes ordered them, but preferred Dead Mans cocktail, not only because it was good but because it reinforced my image. The assassin at every murder scene, holding a bloody weapon above the victim. Perfect. Another something about the drink. Thats when i heard something interesting.
"So, you want that guy to spy on Austin and his freinds? Who are they?"
"Well, Ill tell you more when I get back, but-" I couldnt hear what she said next, because of the sudden loud crashing of a waiter tripping and spilling all his drinks by accident.
"Light casters. You gotta love their clothing choices though. You look great."
Wait, what?
My brain paused for a moment to take it all in. Was the girl a light caster? In the Black Market? Was she crazy? Or was Storm crazy? Or did I misshear and was I crazy?
They suddenly stood up and began walking out of the restraunt. I gathered my bearings and decided to follow them, intruiged.
I follosed themnfir a few minutes when i was suddenly grabbed and forced against a wall, dagger to my back.
"Wraith? What are you doing? You betyer not be followimg us," i let out a laugh.
"So all of a sudden im not allowed to walk past you?"
"We know youve been following us," The girl said. Well, I figured as much.
"Okay, okay fine. I was following you. But in my defence your job is really intruiging," I turned into smoke and leaped though Storms ingers and landed on a spot a few feet away, makimg a epic smoke tornado as i rematerealised.
"I thought we agreed on no questions," Storm said, crossing her arms, midl surprise etchingnher face. It was a uncommon ability, sure, but something at least 3 other people i knew coild do.
"Look, you let me go, amd ill stop following you. Ill even donthe job for half the price, alroght?" Storm looked uncertain about this.
"Is the job the only intruiging thing? Cause i think your trying to find out who we are,"
"I will admit that the job isnt the only interesting thing," I looked at the other girl, immediatly turningnom the charm. I could see Storm visibly tense up a bit. Alright, possibly gay. Ill put that on the list.
"Just leave. Ill forget about this, since im short on time," I noded and she walked off.
"Whennwerenyou ever the one passing outnthe threats," I mumbled. I could take her, hell i could probably takenon the entire marketplace. I watched her go and breathed out, green smoke emitting from my mouth. But then i noticed something on the griund. It was a dagger. Evidently Storm had dropped it during my breakoit spell. I picked it up and observed it. It was a pretty good dagher. I could feel enchantments practically glowing off of it. I pocketed it. Worth good gold or maybe a spot in my throwing knife collection.