For a while now, Kole and Shera's apartment building had been getting an unusual wake-up call. Rest assured, there was no rooster crowing on the rooftop and it was doubtful that one would even survive in the city. It's supernatural cousin, the cockatrice, might have been able to survive but there wasn't a single one in all of Massachusetts. Cockatrices had a nasty habit of petrifying things and eating them, so the council got rid of them all ten years ago. Kole took care of the Massachusetts portion personally, mainly motivated by annoyance at the noises they made. There's no telling what he would do if he became fed up with the saxophone player across the street.
The bombastic melody that jolted the reapers awake every morning wasn't all that bad though. Shera was the only one who had problem with the street performer's presence. Shera didn't care for the man's sketchy mannerisms or the music itself after a while, and when it jolted her awake this morning she pulled herself out of bed and into the shower where rushing water could drown out the sound.
Meanwhile, the oriental man on the street played his song with great enthusiasm. Passerby greatly rewarded him with applause and tips. Usually the generous ones didn't show up until later in the afternoon, but on this foggy monday morning a green paper airplane came sailing out of the gloom and hit the saxophone player in the head. The startled musician unwrapped it to see that the airplane was actually a ten dollar bill.
"I need to go to my boss' house more often." Said a certain blonde, freckled man as he stepped out from the fog. "You've got talent, buddy."
The sax player just stared for a moment, probably confused about why his tip had to be a plane. "Uh.. Thanks." He said finally.
"No problem, Mr. Sax. Or is it Saxy?" The customer responded.
"It's-"
"Nevermind. I'm not interested." The expression on the blonde customer's face was a hideous toothy grin. He shoved his hands into his pockets and strode back into the fog, vanishing from sight. "I'll see ya later, Saxbomb."
"Ok..." Said the exceedingly confused musician.
Some time after that, Shera stepped out of the shower and didn't hear any more saxophone music. I bet he went to buy booze. She thought. Somebody must have paid him a big tip.
The Forest God handed her a towel and she dried herself off. As she did, the Forest God flew to her wardrobe and grabbed the dragoness an outfit. He returned to Shera with the clothes as soon as she was done drying and quickly dressed her for the day. That's when the doorbell rang.
That better not be... Shera walked to the door and opened it. Standing in the hall was not the musician as she had expected. Rather, it was her obnoxious coworker holding a clipboard.
"Shera Kinsley! Good Morning!"
"Royal?" Shera asked.
"Obviously." The Terrow teased.
Shera suddenly remembered a possible reason for Royal's intrusion. "Are you here to tell me about the Cathburn reading?
"Oh... that." Royal scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "It was alright. That Celia chick is an odd one. I don't see why Kole seems to find her more reliable than his real subordinates..."
"Cut the crap, Royal." The dragoness said bluntly. "What information did you get from the reading?"
The freckled terrow ignored her comment and swaggered inside her apartment. He started to look around, spinning around in a circle like a child. "You've got a niiice place here, Shera. I'm jealous..."
Shera turned to face Royal. "Yeah, it's nice. I didn't invite you in though."
The terrow was still running his motor mouth. "My 'apartment' is just a treehouse in the common. It's embarrassing, and that's why I try to go to the woman's house when I-"
The Forest God picked Royal by the throat and threw him against a bookcase. Shera crossed her arms and shook her head.
"I may have deserved that." Royal rasped as the wind returned to his lungs. The terrow got up and was now facing two quite annoyed supernaturals. Shera and the Forest God were both far more powerful than Royal and he knew he had to choose his next move wisely to avoid a confrontation.
"So... you want to know about Cathburn?" Royal stuttered. "I'll tell you."
For the next ten minutes, Royal told Shera about the visions that Celia had described to him during the reading. The details were blurry, as dead readings often were but there were a few notes that were memorable about the identity of Cathburne's killer. The person had been wearing red, used a dagger, and was likely a female with dark hair. Her face could not be seen by Celia during the reading. After listening to this, Shera forgave Royal for his slight idiocy and showed him the door. The terrow didn't leave immediately, but he had his reasons.
He handed Shera his clipboard. "Can you please sign this?"
"What is it?" Shera said, skimming the document that was attached.
"Just the authorization for a new spell I've created. I need a reaper's signature before I bring it to the council." Royal grinned.
"Can't Kole do this?"
"He's at headquarters with Tibias and Faroth." Royal explained.
"What's he doing there?"
Royal shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe they're recruiting her?"
Shera sighed. "If I sign this, will you leave."
"But of course." Royal replied with smile.
Shera's signature was on the page in an instant, she hadn't even read the spell. She handed back Royal his clipboard and went to the door. The Forest God watched Royal carefully until he back outside the apartment. At the door, Shera realized that there was no cold energy coming from the next apartment.
Shera looked at Royal. "Is Kole really gone for the day?"
"Yes." Royal nodded, then he added. "You should be careful."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shera replied, almost insulted.
"Mammon is still on the loose and he ain't even the baddest thing in this city." Then Royal seemed to frown. "During the reading I felt that the woman who killed Cathburn had some pretty twisted magic about her. All I'm saying is, don't get reckless. I'd hate to see a fellow Irelander get hurt."
"Thanks, Royal." Shera said, thinking about the vacant room next door and it's lack of a grim reaper. "That really helps."
"See ya round!" Royal waved and disappeared down the hall, finally leaving Shera and the Forest God alone in their apartment.
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