Fallen Angel

Chapter 4

Copy write - No pocky was harmed in the creation of this fan fiction.

[Although a few chocolate digestives were viciously nibbled]

The door tinkled as a bell attached to the top of it rang. Loki and Marla entered into a small, cramped looking shop, its walls bare except for a counter directly opposite them. A small shutter with a wall mounted speaker and camera the only obvious features.

Marla looked over to Loki, "is this guy reliable?"

"What, Fagin? Sure I trust him – well about as far as I'll trust an alligator not to bite me in half"

"And we're here to see him now - why?"

"Because, demon first class Marla", came a tinny sounding voice coming from the speaker, "There is always a need for my services, regardless of the price".

"Hello Fagin" said Loki, seemingly nonplussed, "we need information".

"Ah yes," said the voice, smugness oozing from the speaker, "always business with you, isn't it?"

"Yeah well, I'm not one for small talk – you know why I'm here"

"Indeed – you know my price?"

Loki put his hand inside his jacket and produced a black bag, its contents jingling inside.

He placed the bag on the counter and stood back as the counter rotated around, leaving an empty counter once more.

"I Might have had…dealings with this girl of your – bit of a looker, well stacked –know what I mean?"

Marla and Loki merely stared.

[Ahem] "well, she was askin' for particular information-"

"What sort?" said Marla, impatient, an unusual anger in her eyes.

Well, there's the minor matter of what its worth to you" Fagin's voice sneered.

Marla, her face a mask of stone, clenched her fist; red and black spark erupting as she did so.

"Loki, would you mind waiting outside" she spoke though her teeth, "aunty Marla needs to do not-nice things to this mans soul"

"Nownownow" spoke Fagin, his panicked voice raising an octave "Loki, call her off will you?"

"Well" said Loki, crossing his arms, "there's a minor matter of what's its worth to you"

There was a hushed moment, and then the counter practically flew around, a large brown envelope deposited on it. "That's all the info she was after, but she never came back for it I swear"

At this, Marla's rage suddenly vanished as quickly as he lightning and, with a ladylike grace, she walked over to the desk and stuffed the envelope into her jacket.

"Nice doing business with you" she smiled at the camera.

Loki turned towards the door, "come on Marla, we're going"

"What?" said Marla, faking bemusement, "but we just got here."

"Look its simple," said Loki as he and Marla passed through he door and into the light of day, "I can't exactly dial up heaven and ask for information right?."

"Right, because you're banished, I know, you told me"

"Yeah, well amongst other things. Look the point being is, despite things, I also need Fagin's services to act as a contact for me"

"Who do you need to contact?"

Loki at this grinned and tapped his nose "people in the know. Now are you hungry? I fancy some noodles….."

The waitress of Wagamamas looked confused at the man and woman sitting at the table before her.

"Y-y- you want to talk to the head chef?"

"Yes" said Loki irritated.

"And you want me to tell him that the puffa fish –"

"With fries"

"With fries, yes" said the waitress, "was rotten"

"That's right dear. Now run along now" said Loki, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.

The waitress walked away, confused – since when did Wagamamas serve puffa fish?

Loki turned toward Marla seated opposite, who was happily slurping and chomping way at her chicken ramen,

"Enjoying yourself?" he said, his own serving of the thick noodle and chicken laden meal half eaten.

Marla slammed her now empty bowl onto the table, a look of bliss beaming across her face "this must be where all Ramen goes to when they die".

"That good huh?" Loki said archly.

Marla lean back, dreamily, "ooh, yeah, just like that old guy at that ramen stand back in-" but at this Marla stopped, her mood suddenly melancholy. "In a previous assignment" she hurriedly finished, looking over to Loki's bowl of cooling chicken and noodles. "You having that?"

Loki looked at the bowl and, sighing, passed it over, "go knock yourself out".

Marla eagerly began her assault when he suddenly noticed a shadow –a large shadow- appear in front of her.

And the unmistakable aura of a god.

She instinctively summoned the power to create a lighting bolt when she felt a strong hand grab her arm, disrupting her concentration enough to dissipate her spell.

"For Almighty's sake Marla cool it!" whispered Loki, who had near jumped over the table to grab her "we're here to see him, not blow him up!"

'Him' made a polite, and none too subtle cough. The man, clearly oriental in origin, had receding hairline, his hair tied into a ponytail. His forearm, visible due the sleeves of his cook's outfit being rolled up, showed strength earned through many years of hard labour rather than of cooking.

"If you've quite finished?" The cook said, his arms crossed and his face showing irritation, "you wanted to see me?"

"We want to talk to you – in private" Loki said, leaning back over to his side of the table. Marla just looked at the cook suspiciously.

The cook, first looking at Marla and then turning to Loki cocked his head towards the kitchen." this way" was all he said.

The trio passed through the kitchen, the kitchen staff either too busy or deliberately not taking notices of the strange visitors. All around them wafted the mesmerising aromas of spices and meat. Marla drooled at the oh-so familiar smell of fried teriyaki, the ginger and chicken melding their aromas perfectly.

The cook finally came to a sturdy wooden door, the words "STORAGE" clearly marked on it. The cook, producing a key, quickly unlocked and opened the door. "Inside quickly" he said quietly.

The room they entered was square, about 20 feet by 40 feet, and full of boxes. A small striplight offered what little illumination it could offer. After Marla and Loki entered the cook checked outside and then firmly closed the door. Marla sat down on a pile of boxes as the cook and Loki looked at each other intently, neither acknowledging her existence.

"You want it don't you" the cook said, finally breaking the silence.

"You knew the agreement we had" said Loki.

The cook sighed and, turning towards a solid wall, seemed to pass his hand clean though it. After a second he retracted his hand, to reveal a long cylindrical container, its black exterior absorbing what light touched it. He quickly thrust the cylinder towards Loki, his face grim, "take it – just, take it - but be warned" he said as Loki went to take it "ill not be blamed for what you do with that - you take it and only you will answer for it".

Loki merely looked at the cook and, taking the cylinder, stuffed it into his trench coat. He turned and headed for the door "come on Marla we're done here".

Marla chased after her, confused, "what the hells was that all about?"

"Insurance, protection, – something like that" he mumbled and said no more for some time.

The cook watched the pair leave and, sighing, returned to the kitchens to work, advice -anything.

It's his problem now, not mine he kept thinking to himself as he received an order for chicken teriyaki.

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the woman leave the storage room, her golden, cat – like eyes gleaming in the shadows.

Loki didn't know what he hated more about the rain.

Maybe it was the fact that it seeped into him, dampening his clothes, and chilling his body to the bone, or maybe it was the atmosphere that it created - a soulless, colourless mass, that covered the world with a grey, mist-like shroud.
Loki had received the message from Fagin that had brought the two of them outside the door of a rather grand, Edwardian period house about two hours prior, and the rain wasn't helping his patience much.
The fact that Marla was grumbling continuously didn't help much either.
When the door first opened a woman - oriental and about late teens, Loki guessed - had appeared. She had shoulder length hair, and wore a smart black suit, with a black skirt and a white shirt that bore a mandarin collar at its neck.
"May I help you?" the woman said looking at Loki dispassionately.
"We're expected" answered Loki.
The woman looked Loki up and down. "Wait here" was all she said, and before Loki could say anything more she closed the door.
That had been an hour ago and she had still not returned. Marla turned to walk away.
"Sod this for a game of soldiers" she grumbled.
"Look" Loki said, his irritation showing, "Do you want to know where your friend is?"
Marla turned and glowered.
"Then quit your whining and wait - if these guys don't know where she is then no - one does".
The door opened and the girl once again appeared.
"They will see you now" was all she said before stepping aside to allow them in.

Marla quickly stepped in past Loki "Took your bloody time didn't you?"
The woman didn't answer and silently lead the way to a flight of ornate stairs.
As she entered the house Marla noted the fact that, for all its exterior grandeur, none of the rooms contained any furniture or paintings – they were either empty or what furniture there was was covered with dust cloths, there identity masked by the heavy cloth. She walked pass these rooms, her footsteps echoed loudly through the house.
Marla shivered, as much from the emptiness as the cold. "How the hells can anyone live in a place like this?"
"I see no problem with it," said the woman, her voice as cold and emotionless as her face.
The woman lead Loki and Marla towards a set of ornate, winding stairs, the passing of time it seemed not affecting the woodwork of the ornate hand railing.
The woman stopped at the foot of the stairs and stared directly at the two of them.
"Up the stairs straight along the corridor and knock at the door in front of you – do not delineate from that course" she said in an unemotional voice, almost as a drill sergeant barking orders at a private.
Loki walked towards the stairs but as he put a foot on the first step he turned towards the woman.
"So, what's a nice girl like you doing working in a place like this?" he joked.
"Having pricks like you trying to chat me up" she replied coldly and turned and walked off.
Marla sniggered at Loki, who simply sighed,
"What's biting her?" he wondered, and continued up the stairs.
"So much for being the ladies man." Marla muttered under her breath.
"I heard that," said Loki.

The stairs turned to the left and as Loki and Marla walked upwards he noted the dust outlines where once pictures hung on the walls in a previous time. Their absence seeming only to heighten the emptiness of the house.
The stairs terminated at a darkened, ornate landing with a t-junction crossing Loki's path, their contents cloaked by shadows. Without much thought he began down the centre path, pausing for second to drag a curious Marla from the left corridor.

"Ow-I was only going to have a look"

"The cats last words" said Loki, sarcastically.

At the end of the corridor was, as he was told, a large set of oak wooden doors, their surfaces unadorned and blank.
Loki and Marla walked towards the doors, knocked three times, and waited.
The doors opened, despite a lack of anyone opening them, and both of them were blinded for a second by the sudden glare of light from in the room.
Loki and Marla waited to allow their eyes to adjust to the light, and then entered.

The room, in contrast to the rest of the house, was filled with bookshelves and piles upon piles of books of all types, colour and size. The only other furniture was a pair of desks, set at opposite sides of the wall and facing each other. Behind each desk was sat a slim built man, in their thirties, with bald heads, and dark, round rimmed glasses. Both were dressed in tweed jackets with black shirts and ties.
Both looked as alike as each other - identical twins almost - but Loki knew them both easily.
"Munin, Hugin" said Loki to the two men.
The man on the left turned towards Loki, "You're late," he said gruffly.
"Munin" the other - Hugin presumably - said scornfully.
Munin grunted and pointed towards a pair of chairs in the middle of the room, set between the two desks
"Sit there".
Loki sighed and duly did so, Marla following a slight hesitation. Munin sifted through a pile of papers and after finding the one he wanted he studied it carefully.
"Loki, god first class, type one license unlimited restrictions." Munin recited in a droning voice, devoid of emotion. Munin looked up at Loki, waiting for a response from him.
"What?" asked Loki.
Munin merely grunted and continued
"Previously assigned to systems programming you received quite a few commendations, in particular for the Fenrir program"
"Tyr didn't think it was so good" he mumbled to himself.
"Ahem…" Munin said.
Loki put his hands up in supplication "Sorry, sorry"
"You had a somewhat shining career," Munin continued "until your trail and conviction for the murder of Balder, the son of the almighty" these words he spoke with unmistakable venom in his voice.
Here we go thought Loki.
"The trail at which you were stripped of your powers and banished to midgard until the day that you shed a tear of regret for Baldur and the crime you committed"
"Hell'll freeze over before that happens." said Loki.
"Yes," sneered Munin "I believe that you said at the trail as well - prior to sentencing," Munin put the paper down "did I miss anything?"
Loki merely glowered at him.
Munin then turned towards Marla
"And as for you - Marla, demon first class no limitations, formerly assigned to system security, currently working as a field agent for demon central. Currently assigned to deal with a... Morisato of Nekomi Japan, with hardly much success."
Marla merely glowered at Munin. A dark though came to mind.
"He's not worth it" whispered Loki.
Marla cocked her head towards him, "What?"
Loki just smiled.
"Well, well Mr Loki, you certainly keep...interesting company" said Munin.
"At least I get out - which is more than you can say" retorted Loki.
Munin was about to answer when a not too subtle "a-HEM" could be heard from the direction of Hugin. "If you three have quite finished?"
three of them - Loki, Marla and Munin - looked over towards Hugin who, despite being Munim's twin in looks and attire, had a warmer, less cynical expression.
"I trust that your reason for contacting us is important - I sure your aware that we're very busy people."
Loki knew that fact well - Munin and Hugin were the Almighty's personal information gatherers and archivists, and could access the largest repository of data, lore and information in the known heavens and hells. If these two men didn't know it, then it wasn't true.
Although he never understood why humans portrayed them as ravens, looking at their hooked noses and passion for black clothes he could sort of see the resemblance.
Loki gestured to Marla "She's your demon, you go ask"
Marla looked over towards Hugin "We're looking for a demon...."
"Have you tried demon central?" interrupted Munin, who got a cold stare from Marla.
"An operative," Marla continued, through clenched teeth," assigned to earth some years ago, who went missing about two weeks ago."
"Munin, demon operatives file please" Hugin asked Munin, who promptly started looking through a shelf of seemingly similar looking books.
"Hey?" Marla whispered to Loki, confused "Why ask him - can't he do it himself?"
"Because Hugin deals with recent data," Loki whispered into Marla's ear "Its Munin who handles past information"
"That's a stupid way of doing things isn't it?" Marla whispered back.
Loki shrugged "Works for them".
Munin returned to his desk, a large red book in his hands, and started thumbing through the pages
"Demon's name" Munin asked.
Marla looked towards Munin "Astartae"
Munin looked through the book till he stopped at a particular page
"Ah, Astartae, demon first class no limitations, assigned to midgard as an observation agent. Hmm," at this Munin looked puzzled "strange"
"What?'
"I don't have anything on this Astartae, after about the time you stated - Hugin, you forget to update her file?" Munin glowered.
Hugin came from behind his desk and came over to Munin, who thrust the book into Hugin's arms, and pointed to the section.
Hugin looked at the page puzzled
"Strange, it should have updated" and, book in hand, went back to his desk and looked through a pile of papers. Loki looked concerned at this turn of events, as did Hugin and Munin.
"I take it that this isn't normal?" said Marla
"No it most certainly is not," answered Hugin, scouring a pile of papers, "we pride ourselves on being absolutely accurate with our information - we have to be, considering who we work for."
Just then the door opened and the Asian girl entered and, not paying any notice to Loki or Marla, handed a piece of paper to Hugin
"This arrived just now" was all she said before turning and leaving the room.
Hugin, taking the piece of paper, was just about to add it to his already large pile when he stopped and looked at it again with more detail.
"This Astartae, was she female, dark hair, tanned complexion?"
Marla blinked "Yeah that's her, why?"
Hugin's face took on a more sombre expression, and handed Marla the paper
"I believe I know why her file hasn't been updated recently...."

Doctor Mariah Eaton had officially finished her shift for the day, and was she glad for it.
She had worked at the county morgue for nearly five years but yet the tall, Afro-Caribbean woman always felt uncomfortable about working with all those dead bodies -And the latest body she'd worked on was no exception.
Mariah shook her head "I definitely need a drink."
She walked through a set of double doors into the reception area. A guard, in his fifties with greying temples, sat at the reception desk, a set of camera screens placed behind him.
"Heading home?" said the guard as Mariah passed by.
"Yeah, I think I've had enough for today," replied Mariah "see you tomorrow Barney"
"See ya," said Barney, who pressed the release button for the door and watched as Mariah left.
Barney went back to reading his book when he heard a loud tapping in the door.
Barney looked up and saw Mariah tapping on the door. Puzzled he buzzed Mariah through.

"Forgotten something?" asked Barney as Mariah entered.

"My purse." Mariah said a look of embarrassment on her face.

Barney smiled "Don't be too long," and returned to his seat.
Mariah walked through the doors and, after a minute of looking found the door she was looking for, and entered the morgue.
Looking around she found no sign of any security camera. She then put her hand into her pocket.

"Okay Marla, rise and shine,"

"Hey, watch the threads," said a miniature Marla as Mariah, picking her up by the scruff of her jacket, placed her on the ground.

"Don't complain," said Maria as her form shifted and blurred until it assumed the familiar shape of Loki, "at least it got us in here."

"Oh yeah right, like that guard would have been a challenge," said a now full sized Marla, "I mean one lightning bolt..."

"In case you hadn't noticed we're supposed to be doing this quietly." said Loki, annoyance audible in his voice "Besides, having a guard with a large hole in his chest would not be the most subtle of ideas right now. Now try and look through the records of the most recent arrivals"
Marla sarcastically mouthed Loki's last words and began looking through the sheets of records, while Loki checked the file cabinets.
It took a few minutes until Loki pulled out a piece of paper.
"Here we go," he said triumphantly."Jane Doe, female, found about two weeks ago, cause of death..." at which Loki stopped reading.
"Well?" said Marla, looking concerned at Loki.
Loki simply passed Marla the paper and moved towards the storage areas where the bodies were kept.
Marla looked at the piece and froze at the same point that Loki had.
"Cause of death was the neck being broken".
Loki, after a moment of checking, stopped at one door and, after opening it pulled out a tray, its contents covered by a white plastic bag.
"But this is impossible" said Marla "nothing on earth could do this to her"
"Obviously whoever did this wasn't from earth" said Loki, as he unzipped the bag.
The body that presented was that of a woman, late twenties early thirties, with straight dark hair and a tanned complexion.
If it weren't for the fact that she had a large welt around her neck and her being in the mortuary one could almost mistake her for being asleep.
Loki looked at the body and then over to Marla "Is this her?"Marla checked the body over and then quickly looked away. "Yes its her." was all she said.
Loki looked at her questioningly "Never imagined you as the squeamish type."
"Sod you," Marla retorted, but there was no strength in her reply.
Loki stopped and looked over at Marla, who was still turned away from him.
"Was she someone you knew?".Marla turned slightly towards Loki "I competed with her for the job of earth realm observer - I nearly had the job but her uncle was on the council so she got through."

Marla laughed weakly "I suppose it was just as well... you know... it might have been..." Marla went silent and stayed turned from Loki.
Loki knew what she meant - it could have easily have been her on the slab.

He looked the body over. "Well I wont be able to do a mind scan of her, she's been dead for too long." he grumbled."Then how the hell are we gonna know what happened to her then?" Marla retorted, as she turned back around to face him.

"Hey, hey," Loki replied "let me finish. We can't do a mind scan but we can try something else." and at this Loki started fumbling through his coat pockets. After a moment he produced a small digital camera.

"What's that for?" Marla asked, as she stepped a little closer towards Loki.

"Well, its said that at the moment of death, that the eye captures the last image that it sees and burns it into its retina. So, if we can get a clear shot..."

"Then we can see who killed her." Marla said, completing Loki's sentence.

"Indeed, now lets hope this works" and at this Loki placed the camera lens close to the bodies eyelid as possible. After a few seconds of fumbling though he turned to Marla

"Hey Marla give us a hand her will you?"

Marla's blood froze "What, you mean next to...?"

"Yes," Loki said irritably, "I need a hand over here."
Marla tentatively walked over to Loki and, standing opposite him looked over.

"Okay, now what?"

"Hold this eyelid open for me." Loki replied matter-of-factly, and pointed towards the bodies left eye.

Marla blanched "You want me to do WHA--?"
Marla's sentence was cut short by Loki's hand being slapped over her mouth.

"Shut up will you!" he whispered angrily. After a moment of silent listening for any sound from outside Loki eased his hand off of Marla's mouth.

"Look I can't hold the camera and keep the eyelid open at the same time can I? Now just hold it open, like this." and at this he took her hand and with her index and thumb prised the body's left eyelid open.

Loki saw Marla grimace, and sighed. "Look, I promise I'll be as quick as possible." he said

"Yeah, yeah, just get your shots and lets go" Marla replied quickly, still grimacing as the flash on Loki's camera flashed again.

Suddenly footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor.

"Doctor Eaton?" said the voice of Barney the security guard "are you alright in there? You've been a while now" the footsteps were definitely coming closer every second.

Loki cursed "Damnit! That's all we need - Marla the body!" and ran towards the door just as the guard likewise reached it.

"Doctor Eaton?" said the guard as her went to open the door.

Suddenly the door opened - and Doctor Eaton appeared.

"Yes? Is there any trouble?"

"Oh, sorry doctor Eaton, its just that you've been quite a while now and I was getting worried."
Doctor Eaton smiled and waved Barney away

"Oh sorry, lost track of time, I'll just go get my purse," and at this disappeared around the door.

"Oh righty-ho then" Barney said, and was about to turn and walk back when he stopped for a second - why would she keep her purse in the morgue?
Puzzled, Barney walked through the door.
Sure enough everything was in order, the storage areas for the bodies were secure, nothing seemed out of place.
Doctor Eaton appeared at his side, causing Barney to jump in shock.

"Right I'm ready to go," she said with a smile on her face

"Got everything now?" Barney said.

"Yes," she said patting her jacket pocket "I think I've got all I need now"

Doctor Eaton exited the building and quickly turned a corner to walk over towards a Red Morris Minor. The once pleasant face had changed into one of anger and by the time she had gotten into the driver's seat an angry Loki had replaced the doctor.
Loki paused for a second then twice punched the steering wheel.

"GAAAHHH!"

"What's up with you" said a diminutive voice as mini - Marla exited from Loki's jacket pocket and landed on the passengers seat.

"Damnit" Said Loki "Thanks to that guard I couldn't get a copy of the bodies files, and we need them."
Suddenly a pair of brown paper sleeves filled with paper and stamped with the local mortuary's official stamps appeared in Loki's line of vision. On the end of the files was attached the hand and arm of a now normal sized Marla.

"What?" said Marla, a triumphant smile on her face, "You mean these files?"
Loki went to grab the files, but Marla snapped them away, placing them inside her jacket.

"In case you forgot we're suppose to be working together," said Marla, cockily.

"And in case you forgot," retorted Loki as he started up the car "if it hadn't been for your lot keeping mum about this whole mess we might have sorted this out sooner."

"Oh here we go," groaned Marla, as the car pulled out of the car park. "When shit happens blame the demons"

"Probably because half the time it is the demons fault!" Loki shouted back.

"Loki?" said Marla.

"What!?" shouted Loki.

Marla pointed ahead "Red light."
Loki looked at Marla and looked ahead. Instantly his face registered shock and he hit the brakes hard, the car screeching to a halt before the set of traffic lights ahead.
The car stood there for what seemed like an eternity, its occupants remaining silent, neither looking at each other.
Marla didn't know why she said the next thing, and she didn't expect Loki's response.

"It's not as if you gods are all squeaky clean good guys either."

Loki's face remained stone-like "You have no idea..."
the lights changed to green, and the car moved off.
"You got anywhere to stay?" said Loki, after a prolonged silence.

"No,"

"You can stay at my digs." and with that nothing further was said.

Barney looked out of the door and watched the car pull out of the car park and onto the road.
He watched his clock and, after 15 minutes, turned and went to his desk and, after dialling a telephone number, waited.

"Hello? Yes, the people you asked me to look out for..."

"Yes, yes sir, they took the files. What do you wish done with the body?"
Barney listened to the phone and then nodded.

"Yes my Leigh, I'll get right onto it."
And with this he put the phone down and opened his desk.

He pulled out a metallic, five-pointed star, engraved with obscure images that he could not, or didn't wish to, understand the meaning of.

He walked into the morgue and, without looking, went towards the unit that housed Astarte's body.
Upon opening the bag he looked upon Astarte's naked body and, licking his lips, moved his hand towards her chest, his hand eager to caress her soft, cold flesh.

Barney suddenly stopped, and retracted his hand.
No, he thought to himself I must do my Leigh's duty first... then if it pleases my Leigh...

He placed the star firmly on her chest, and pressed a red gem set in the centre of the star. As the gem started to glow Barney turned and walk out of the morgue. He stopped at the desk and looked down behind it.

There was the long dead body of the real Barney, his face twisted in agony from the large gaping hole where his chest should have been.

'Barney' smiled and, grabbing a small black handbag, turned and walked towards the door. As he did so his shape altered and flowed until the figure of a tall slim female, with flowing black hair, and dressed in a black cat suit and combat boots, pushed open the door.

The woman turned back, her yellow, cat - like eyes gleaming in the light - smiled, and left. Walking halfway across the tarmac car park she stopped and turned, expectantly, towards the building.

Suddenly there was a flash of light, and the building was ripped apart by a massive explosion, that shattered glass and ripped up the tarmac like paper.

And all the while the cat eyed woman watched, debris landing dangerously close to her.

She smiled, and walked away into the night.

TO BE CONTINUED……..