A/N: Quick update :) Enjoy!

BOOK 0: The FOOL

No Rhyme or Reason

Ilya mumbled and scribbled non-stop over the scrolls scattered across his small desk. Someone was screaming, dying in the room next door, and the sounds of chains and the clatter of bodily instruments and tools echoed across the dark dungeon's halls.

So close… He was certain this time there would be a breakthrough, even if it took a few more weeks, at least it would still be something close to solving this.

He reached for his mug, but it was empty. He allowed his dry mouth to settle in as he wrote some more notes down, then reached for the parchment meant to be in his bag at the foot of his chair.

He finally averted his eyes from the desk when his fingers could not grasp the notes from last night. Ezi had written down the details of subject four-zero-one, and she had promised to put them in his bag…

Now his attention was fully on the bag, and as he digs through the scraps in it like a dog through the dirt.

"Damn it, where is…" His lack of results spore into anger, and it needed to be directed.

"Ugh, where is it? Ezi? Ezi!" He leapt from his seat and unlocked his office door, swinging it open like a mad man.

"Ezi? Where are you? Hey!"

He marches around the bloody slabs and tables and tools, his eyes roaming around the red room and carcasses blanketed in white sheets. Someone is groaning for him, and he kicks his foot over them as he heads for the gateway out.

Valdemar was coming from the surface, casually, with a mask covering their gleaming teeth and their fingertips touching across hands.

"Oh, doctor 069, you really should wear a mask."

Julian is slightly scorned with Valdemar and their way of thinking; merciless, cruel and sadistic, but in most cases these days necessary.

"Quaestor, have you seen my apprentice? I can't seem to see why I have one if she can't even do the simple tasks in her job!"

"I'll be assigning you a new apprentice, if you see fit."

"What?" Ilya blinks furiously. "What happened? Where is Ezi now?"

"You mean apprentice 069?" Valdemar tilted his head to the side like an owl, as if inspecting the doctor's expression on every turn.

"You know who I mean! Where is she?"

"That's actually why I'm here, doctor… I bring news that you may find rather unfortunate…"

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BOOK V: THE HIEROPHANT

Pat Him Down

In the market, the wagon jolts beneath me, bouncing on the uneven road and lurching from side to side. I'm headed to town with Portia, to make the announcement, The sun is just rising when we arrive at the market.

" All right everybody, listen up!"

The chattering servants, loaded with baskets, fall silent and congregate around Portia.

"Noon o' clock, we'll be making the announcement at the city square. Til then, you all know your errands. Talk to me if you don't. As for you, Ezi, I thought you might like to check on your shop."

Her words set off a cascade of emotions, the first being relief.

"I would like very much to check on my shop!"

"Good! I'll try to find you, but if I don't, try to be at the square by noon. Bye now!"

The servants depart, spreading out into the marketplace. I head in the direction opposite, straight for the shop.

My very own oasis. Even in the misty, overcast light, it seems to glow. My shop. Hopping up the steps, I press my palm to the door and release the sealing spell. Hastily, I turn the first two locks, fumbling and dropping my keys before I can get to the third. When I dip down to retrieve them, I spot a small leather pouch resting on the stoop. It is rough in make, and heavy with energy.

Someone left this for me… picking the knot, I open the pouch. Inside is a magic mixture. Herbs, bark, resin and incense. I pour a little into my palm and sniff. Myrrh is strongest, but there are scents of sage and marrow root. A mixture for protection. I cast a glance to either side of the street, quiet under the cloudy sky. There's no one nearby.

I fetch my keys and turn the third lock. Just as I lean on the door… It sings open, and I nearly collapse into the last person I expected to see. Doctor Devorak! The sight of him freezes me in my tracks, the pouch dropping from my nerveless fingers. I struggle to speak, but he beats me to it.

" …Well, hello there. Fancy seeing you here. Ezi, I, ah, I was in the neighborhood, thought I'd check if you'd gotten home alright. And here you are, getting home all right."

"Here I am." I say sternly.

"Marvelous, I'll stop wringing my hands, then!"

Something tells me he's not being completely honest. For a moment, I think about calling for the guards, but I hesitate. This is the second time he's been in my shop. Will the guards think I've been harboring him? Either way, I still have questions for him. I have no fear of the doctor anymore. I fix him with a narrow gaze.

"How am I supposed to believe you? You've broken in twice now. What are you after?"

"What am I after? Why, I'm not after anything. What would I be-" He stops himself in realization. "Oh, I hope you don't think I'm a thief. I'm a lot of things, but not that. But… you wouldn't take my word for it, would you?"

I fold my arms, trying to keep my smirk down. He is trying very hard to prove his innocence and its amusing.

To my surprise, the doctor shucks off his overcoat, and I grimace as he starts to unbutton his waistcoat. He throws it open with a flutter, arms outstretched, palm-up in submission.

Now, he is the one smirking. "Search me. If you find anything of yours, I'll show myself to the stocks. Go ahead. Search until you're satisfied."

He lowers his eye, presenting himself for inspection. The sight makes me grow hot at the ears, embarrassed, from his the sparkling grin traced above his thin jawline, to the exposed shimmering chest underneath his white top. He won't look away, but I do for a moment, flustered at his willingness to be exposed. He certainly has a flirtatious way about him, but he could also be a thief.

"You did enter the shop again, and I'm not in the mood to search around for missing items…" Now I can feel it, the friction of smoldering desire to find the truth in such an intimate way stirs within me.

"I think I will pat you down."

From the stunned look on his face, he wasn't expecting me to take up on it.

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you? Well then, dpn't be shy. I promise I'll be good."

I take a step closer, roaming his body as to determine where I should begin.

I bite my bottom lip, trying not to reveal the sensation tingling in my fingers. I try to think that its just my magic trying to warn me, but I know this is wrong on my own. Still…

I gingerly run my hands down one of his arms. I can feel how cool his skin is, even through the thin material of his shirt. There's barely a sliver of space between us. The leather of his glove creaks as he flexes the lean muscles of his arm under my hand.

"Ohh, you have such lovely hands. You can squeeze a little harder, you know. I won't mind."

More praise from the rebel. Anyone can flirt, but it seems to be working for me in this situation.

Brazen to his words, he bites his lip when I press firmly on his other arm and shoulder, but he doesn't protest. As I'm roaming his body, I see he is scanning me with his curious eye.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen you up close in broad daylight before."

He reaches for me, trying to close that last inch between our bodies.

I'm flustered—he's so close to me—

"Hey, please stop moving."

He does, and smiles.

"You don't have to be so polite with me, darling. I can handle it—"

When he raises his fingers towards me again, touching my wrists, I smack his hand away.

"Stop moving." I say with a stern expression, trying boldly not to reveal the rush of the action. For a moment, I worry that I've gone too far, but...

Julian doesn't seem offended at all. He bites his lip, flushing, and he obediently drops his arms back to his side.

I circle behind him, and he twists around to watch me, not letting me out his sight. His eye is bright with interest. My cheeks warm under his shameless stare.

"I had no idea you were so… hands on."

"I'm full of surprises."

I can't help this feeling, and he certainly doesn't seem to mind it either.

"How daring of you. Aren't you afraid someone will see?"

I pause for a moment. He is right… what am I thinking? Patting down this wanted man in public for the guards to find him. It is misty out, to the pint it feels like we are alone, though…

He turns his head more to see me clearly with his good eye.

"Or perhaps, you'd like to go inside to pat me down for more privacy?"

I involuntarily make a yelping sound in my throat as my cheeks flare even more, and a shiver goes up my back.

He is chuckling, utterly pleased with himself, and this makes me want to get him back. I find my composure.

"Julian, did I say you could move?"

His eye widens.

"I, ah… no, you didn't."

"Then turn back around, darling."

He complies without hesitation. I can see the tips of his ears turn read and I lick my dry lips with the notion of victory. A fine tremor goes through him when I slide my palms down his back.

"Besides, shouldn't you be the one afraid of being seen?"

"Er, well, I suppose that's true…"

I run my hands over his hips, checking his pockets, and stop when I feel an unexpected hard edge.

"Ah, that, don't worry about that." He answers quickly before I can say anything.

…It's a knife, hidden in his pocket.

"But you know, I am happy to see you. I can show you, if you like."

My face is hot. He's incorrigible, but I can feel him nervously shifting his weight. So, he acts confident when he's really probably just as nervous as I am.

I walk back around to his front, trailing my fingertips over his hip with powerful strides. He sways in my direction, but holds himself still with a visible effort.

His eye is half lidded, yearning for more touches.

I clench my teeth. "Tell me what you were really looking for."

He looks down at his feet. "You're very persistent, aren't you? And, hmm. Thorough."

Julian's throat bobs when he swallows, and he lots out a slow, shaky sigh. I take out my own exhale as we've halted the physical interrogating at the moment.

"I… I was looking for answers. But I didn't find any. Not the ones I wanted."

He seems sullen at his own news.

"Alright. I believe you."

"Huh? I, ah, Wait. Really?"

"Really." I nod my head once affirmatively.

"That's a terrible idea. You shouldn't take anyone at their word, least of all me."

"I can believe whatever ideas I want. And, I believe you, so, deal with it."

"Well, er, I do hope you're satisfied, then. I would just hate to disappoint you."

He retrieves his overcoat with a showy flourish and slips it back on.

He clears his throat. "Well, I'm sure you have things to do, so I'll just be getting out of your way…" He takes a wide step, contorting his long form around me to pass.

"Dr. Julian—Doctor Devorak-!"

He looks over at me one last time with a small smile.

"Farewell, Ezi—"

His broad grin takes a second to fade, before shock takes over his features. I look carefully over my shoulder at whatever has his attention.

The second I see it, I face her fully. Portia. She must have come to find me, but she pays no attention to me at all. All of her focus, the suspended disbelief in her wide eyes, is on the man beside me. When she speaks… The quiet word that escapes her sounds different, an unused voice from the depths of her heart.

"Ilya?"

Portia stumbles, then runs to him. I back into the wall as she throws herself at the doctor.

"Ilya?! Is it really you?"

Her shaking hands come to either side of his face. His eye starts to shine, I notice in wonder.

"It's me."

There's a short pause, before Portia's face scrunches into indistinguishable rage and agony.

"You- you- You bastard! What are you doing here?! Out in the open? Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Her fingers curl, tugging at his ears and drawing a shameful wince.

"You've grown up strong, Pasha. I'm… sorry I wasn't there to see it."

"Ohh, I'll show you sorry! You unbelievable… EZI!"

Spotted, I can only offer Portia a curious, wide eyed look. She releases Julian's ears, tugging him off the stoop.

"I-I… I'll catch up with you later!"

Without further ado, Portia hauls the floundering doctor away to an alley nearby, leaving me to ponder. Didn't they seem like family? I enter my shop, and head straight for the backroom. My curiosity has concocted a theory.

Everything that's happened in the last few days needs some sort of resolution. Who was Julian to think he'd get answers from Asra anyway? Perhaps, the sister was Portia all along?

I linger over Asra's possessions, his clothing and magical relics, comforted by his smoky scent. My mind flickers to me touching Julian's powerful hips as I inspect him with aching curiosity and yearning…

I shake my head and continue my search. I don't have long to stay and search. I collect the magical components I need, but his book is nowhere to be found. He must have taken it with him.

"Damn it…"

If I could locate Julian with his scroll, maybe I could find a way to talk to Asra about everything with a personal item of his own. Before I know it, the sun is high in the sky. A distant clock tolls the hour, shocking me to my feet. The announcement! I can already hear a crowd roaring in the distance. Biting my lip in vexation, I abandon my venture and close up shop, headed for the city square.

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A/N: Part 2 of Heirophant: "What am I to you?" coming soon! It does seem the romance for Julian and the apprentice is a bit rushed with the patting down part, but its still so... so necessary. Thanks for the reviews and enjoy your day~