Warlock chronicles vol. 1: Cuban detective

7

"Good morning, my precious wonder woman. You look gorgeous as always." He said the following day when Drina finally opened front door of her apartment. Despite it was almost noon she still wore her sleeping gown and sleepy expression. Her hair was messy, and she looked at Manu very strangely. Surely, she didn't believe him.

When he had finally forced himself out of bed that morning, he had gone to the market to check if Andres hadn't showed up. When Manu had seen he hadn't, he had gone straight to the nearest patisserie to have some breakfast. With a few donuts for Drina he had gone to her apartment.

"These are for you." He said and handed her a box with donuts, but it didn't change her expression.

"What are you doing here?" She just asked.

"Can I come in or do you want all your neighbours to see a handsome young man standing in front of your apartment?" He answered with a question and grinned. Drina let him in, but she continued looking at him sceptically. Her apartment was very nice, actually. Small and old, but nice. Manu was sure she used to live here with her brother, but Drina's taste was visible in every corner. Living room where Drina led him was connected with small kitchen. There was an old couch and lot of flowers in flowerpots. On the walls decorated with colourful flower wallpaper hung a few photos in frames.

Manu stood in front of them before he could stop himself. Adalia's beautiful face was looking at him from single picture in golden frame. She looked older than he remembered, but still stunning. All the memories of her seemed to punch him at the same time.

With a sore heart he finally managed to look away and his eyes fell on photo of young boy with curly hair. The boy he was looking for. Manu remembered photo Drina gave him that first night. He still had it in pocket of his suit.

"How old did you say your brother is?" He asked frowning at the picture.

"Twenty-four." Drina answered. Manu just nodded blankly.

"So... What are you doing here?" Drina asked again after a moment.

"I think I have something." He answered. He sat on a couch and placed donuts on little table in front of it. "I'm not sure if it's all connected with your brother, but there may be something big happening in this city." He told her about missing people from Magic market and about missing werewolves. And about Andres. Guys in tavern were talking about missing people too. He had been hearing about it all along, but he had never let himself link it up.

"It's just too much demons of night missing in too short time. I think someone is kidnapping them. I don't know why, but it may be connected with that storehouse your brother worked in." He explained. It was just a theory, but it was worthy investigating. Besides, he had nothing else.

"You think someone kidnapped my brother? Who?" Drina asked a little startled.

"I don't have a clue. Maybe someone who is collecting wolf paws for a good luck." he guessed, "I don't know. But I want to find out. There is something wrong about the storehouse. Boss who never shows up and workers who promise every day that he will come tomorrow. Secret they keep behind the locked door. I don't know what it is, but I will find out. This is my city and I don't want anyone to make a mess out of it!"

She considered it for some time. Processed all the information nervously pushing golden ring up and down on her finger.

"I may need your help with that." Manu added when Drina didn't speak. She then looked at him with a surprised glare.

"You want ME to help YOU?" She asked.

"Your wolf senses may be useful. And going alone into an enemy territory would be foolish even for me. I need back up." He admitted. He knew it would be dangerous, but if Drina was Adalia's daughter, she would make it just fine.

Smile slowly appeared on her full lips when she said: "Where do we start?"