"I have no clue how you talked me into this…" Shadow grumbled as he walked lazily down the sidewalk with his cobalt and yellow colleagues, the heavy leather book tucked inside a brown leather mail-bag.
It had been two days since Sonic's encounter with Aurora, and in that time Tails, Shadow and him had taken long walks and kept an eye out for this "Kyra". So far they hadn't seen anyone with a spiral in a necklace, nor had anyone approached him or them and said that they were Kyra. Tails was still hopeful, but didn't really believe anything that Sonic had told them. Shadow on the other hand was getting irritated with all this nonsense and was about to give Sonic a good punch if he said they were going out again. In all, they were getting quite exasperated with the cobalt speedster.
"Simple" Sonic began in reply. "I woke you up at noon two days ago and then annoyed you half-to-death until you agreed to come with me and Tails." A snigger came from the said fox, desperately trying to hide it from the ebony hedgehog beside him, whom was glaring at Sonic (like that's new).
"It was a rhetorical question." He growled, getting even more irritated at Sonic. "So? It was still a question." Rolling his eyes, Shadow adjusted the hard strap on the bag, trying to ignore Sonic's attitude at the moment.
A small rumble sounded from Tails's stomach. Looking over at him, the two older males raised brows quizzically at him. "You getting hungry, buddy?"
Nodding his head, Tails pulled out a twenty dollar bill from the upper side of his right glove. "Yeah, are you guys? I can pay for two of us if we go to a restaurant." Shrugging his shoulders, Sonic glanced over at the ebony hedgehog beside him. "Is that alright with you, Shads?"
"Whatever. I'm in the mood for a cup of coffee or something anyway." Nodding, Sonic pondered where they could go. "What about the Sunrise Café? They've always had decent food." He suggested.
"Sure."
"Sounds great, Sonic!"
"Alright then, let's go." Sonic said as the trio started across the street. Walking through the doors of the quaint coffee shop, Sonic, Shadow and Tails sauntered up to the counter. A purple and black streaked badger was on the other side of the counter, blue framed glassed resting on the tip of his muzzle. "Welcome to the Sunrise Café, what can I get you ?" He asked in an deep, raspy voice.
"I'll take a chocolate mocha, pal." Sonic nonchalantly said as he placed the money on the counter as the badger fixed his drink. Muttering a 'thanks', Sonic padded over to the small door at the entrance of the shop. Waiting next to the door as the others ordered their food, Sonic found himself gazing out the window at the street.
A maroon mustang GT pulled over to the other side of the road, attracting attention from some nearby people. Sonic's ears perked up at the sight of the convertible, gaining interest in the machine. The driver stepped out of the car, blocked from Sonic's view due to a line of cars meandering down the trafficked street.
Sonic felt a warm breathing on the back of his neck. Turning to see who was behind him, he was met by the face of a gawking Tails, a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and a chocolate-sprinkled doughnut in the other. "Woah! That's a '65! I've never seen one in person. Whoever owns it sure is a lucky guy!" A smile formed across Sonic's muzzle as he nodded in agreement. He wasn't sure about the model (though he didn't doubt Tails's confirmation), but it was a nice car.
The jingle of the small bell on the door caught both of their attention as another customer came in. Now it was Sonic's turn to gawk, well, raise an eyebrow in surprise. The person was the driver of the mustang, the ironic thing was that it was an 18 year old human girl- the same one that was at the bar the night he was jumped by the gang.
Her look reminded him of Joan Jett, only blonde. She was wearing a black leather jacket this time, a charcoal tank top, black leather pants, and black leather boots. Her hair looked a bit curlier than the last time he saw her, but she wore the sunglasses over her eyes and the bronze necklace with…a spiral in the middle of it.
Gawking, literally this time, Sonic stared in utter shock as she ordered a coffee. Glancing over at him, she spread her red lips in a small, amused smile, making sure he saw her. 'Damn! I should've known! Gah, oh well. Now we just have to persuade her to help us.' Sonic thought as he closed his mouth, Shadow had walked over to them with a black coffee in a hand.
"Shadow, it's-"
"Yeah, I noticed." He interrupted as he took a sip of his coffee. The two paid attention to Kyra as she started out the door, pausing and glancing behind her at them, eyebrow raised as she peered over her glasses at them expectantly.
"C'mon Tails, we gotta go." Sonic said as Shadow and him started out the door after Kyra. She was waiting patiently by her car, letting them get closer before ducking into a dark, deserted alley.
Turning into the alley they found her by the fire escape, leaning carelessly against the stairs leading up to the roof. She was looking at them with the same expectant stare, eyes hidden behind the dark glasses. They stood there staring at each other like two outlaws in a western town in a face-off. Finally she nodded at Sonic, then the roof before starting up the ladder. She moved quickly and silently, and Sonic started off toward her before Shadow caught him by the shoulder.
"Don't forget the book- unless you made me bring it for no reason." Smiling, Sonic took the back over his shoulder before starting up the fire escape.
Reaching the top, Sonic found Kyra on the other side of the building, peering over the edge into the street below. She looked over at him, glasses on the edge of her nose and a mischievous smile spread across her face. Then Sonic noticed another thing about her- she had fangs. Long, sharp fangs that gleamed in the sunlight. Somehow that along with those mystic eyes made a shiver run down his spine.
Finally, "Well, it certainly took you and your party long enough to find me. I was getting concerned that my possible client had been killed." Sonic wearily eyed the girl as a dangerous vibe seemed to come off of her. "Sorry to worry you. You weren't exactly easy to find, Kyra."
A frown spread across her face and her eyes narrowed. "Don't get your hopes up. I said you were a possible client. Not a client. Besides I highly doubt you even know what your dealing with, do you?" Sonic averted his eyes and let out a short chuckle. "Ironic that you say that. I've been hearing a lot about that lately."
"I bet you have. That bloody fish you met two days ago could certainly write for fortune cookie factories if she wanted to." Sonic laughed at the joke. "You can say that again!"
Kyra smiled at his enthusiasm. "Your enthusiasm amuses me." She said. Sonic smiled. "Yeah well-"
"But you're stupid." He stopped smiling and looked back over at her, frowns planted on both their faces. "Excuse me?"
"This isn't a game. This is a choice- a deadly one." She said plainly as she slowly began to walk over to him, her boots making a faint thud on the concrete roof. "How so? And don't say because someone's out to get me and my pals." Sonic asked.
Kyra looked over the horizon, toward the other side of the city. Her face had a grave expression on it as she gazed at the afternoon sun. She hesitated, then sighed. "So you want me to help you, yes?"
Sonic nodded, replying with a, "Yeah."
Her eyes stayed on the horizon. "Very well, but first you and I must make a little agreement." She strutted over to him, electric blue eyes starting at him intently. "You and your little party must do everything I say, when I say to do it. No questions asked. Understood?"
Sonic hesitated. This could be used against both him and the team, possibly resulting in bad things. He weighed the options; agree and possibly be betrayed, or…
"On one condition," Sonic undid the bag and pulled out the book. "You do what I say and we'll both compromise." Fury filled Kyra's face, making her cheeks red.
"Where did you get that…" She growled. Sonic's eyes flashed once he realized why the book was in handy.
"Oh nowhere. Just from a friend. You know, that mermaid I met the other day sure did have some good advise, I guess you and her know each other. Am I right?" He tossed the book up and down, teasing the infuriated girl.
"That damned twat, Aurora! I ought to rip her bloody head off for this! This is…this is…MUTINY!" Kyra exclaimed in rage, her face redder than Knuckles. Running a hand through her hair and then wrapping around her neck she sighed before reached out toward him. "J-Just give me the journal, mate…"
Sonic shook his head, a grin on his face. "Not 'til you agree to the arrangement. After all, I may be your client, so therefore if you agree then I'm technically your boss."
Kyra raised her lips in a growl, her fangs glistening in the bright sun. "You've no clue at all what's at stake here, do you?" She pointed angrily at the horizon in the direction where the hospital was located. "You know your lass in that hospital? Yeah, she's going to die in barely over a week's time if the bastard that's hunting you lot isn't killed before the sun sets on the last eve!"
Sonic's ears flattened back. "W-what?" He stuttered, fear and worry replacing his cocky attitude only moments before.
"You heard me!" Kyra snapped. "So if you think your trained and man enough for the task of killing him- a demon of death, then go on and try! Be my guest! I don't have to help you! You lot can die right now for all I care! Besides," She shoved her face in his, eyes narrowed and fangs bared, like a crazed animal.
"What's a mortal's life to me- someone who's been alive for overtwo hundred years? Tell me that and I'll help you 'till the day my soul finally goes to hell. You answer that, and all your troubles will be gone before the end of the ten days your little girlfriend has left."
Sonic remained silent, taken aback by all that had just been spouted at him. How could he answer that question? He didn't even know any of this just ten minutes ago, and look where his cockiness had gotten him.
Sonic averted his eyes and bowed his head. Kyra sneered. "Huh. That's what I thought." She then backed away from Sonic, a frown on her face. They both remained silent until Kyra sighed, then gave a small smile.
"So, where should we begin?"