Cooking with the What Pt2:
Elaine thought she would never face a fellow witch so desperate to bring her son back into the living world. When she found her unconscious body on the floor of the basement before a silver lined mirror. Illustration of the map pinned to the mirror's frame was a sight. One that didn't stop Elaine from kneeling down beside the woman's body. About to whisper into her ear with her eyes glowing an eerie brightness in the darkness. Light didn't turn itself on and shadows surrounding them moved on their own. Familiar whispers of tormented soul and laughing taunts got louder each minute. Until an odd silence took place when shadows stilled in the corner of the room. Elaine watched a young man in scorched armour with sheathed blade with her owl on his shoulder.
"Her highness, Understands your desperate actions since she misses her own son," His voice was barely above a whisper. Quiet and withheld, "What you are doing breaches the divine laws."
Rattle of a chain follows the mirror cracking as body before Elaine awoke breathing like she was saved from drowning. Faced the armour man with great sorrow in her eyes as she tried to move. Stiffness of being forcibly returned to her physical form slowed her actions. Who barely grabbed Elaine before screeching of an owl made her reeling back.
"Hello Mei," Elaine greeted her, "Having fun I see?"
"Forgive Women pleas with Elaine.
"Not for me to decide." Elaine answered her.
"Her punishment will be up to the mortals." Armored young man spoke.
Scratching at the door followed by Elaine having her name called followed from the basement's stairs. Had her answering since the door was magically sealed shut after she passed it. Trying to breed using physical strength didn't seem to work no matter the force.
"Before you leave," Elaine addressed the Armored young man, "Can you unlock that? I don't want Konstantin and my brother to be inconvenient."
"Konstantin?" Armored young man wasn't familiar with that name.
"I wish I could explain, but …" Elaine pointed out the rattling door knob.
Armored young man barely moved one of his gloved hands to remove the magical seal placed on the door. That pack of hounds came scattering down the stairs toward them all. Lioet and Ike came to Elaine's side when she refused to leave Mei's weak form alone. Gurt stood before the Armored young man with a gruff bark as he stood his ground. Vones and Awara stood at the last step when Konstantin joined them.
"See I am fine," Elaine waved at Konstantin, "I think …this young man is the reason."
Attention she drew to an Armored young man where Elaine's owl was being found having his feathers stroked. Who went to send the owl back to Elaine as he bowed to Konstantin. Biting his tongue when he sensed two humans at top of the stairs. as if he was about to Konstantin by another name, unable to face him.
"May we skip the pleasantries?" Konstantin was getting a headache, "Since this doesn't seem to be the right time for it."
"Do you have a name?" Elaine asked the Armored young man.
"Goleon," He answered her, "I must be returning."
"Visit our establishment anytime." Elaine called out.
When back in the shadowy corner the young man went with Konstantin turning toward Elaine, minorly annoyed. He couldn't believe how she rushed into the basement before. Not worried about her own safety when she barely called out to him when the door slammed shut.
"Everyone ok down there?" Serenity asked, "Wywatt went to greet the police.
"We're fine," Konstantin took in the surroundings, "Despite some of us thinking without acting."
"I am alive." Elaine assured him.
Down he went beside her when Gurt ended up sitting beside now unconscious Mei. Elaine removed her shawl to fold into a pillow and lay under her head. Leaving Lioet and Ike to take over looking after her body.
"What a nice young man," Elaine happily informed him, "Who do you think sent him?"
"My mother by the looks of it." He pointed out.
"From what he said," Elaine recalled, "Like any mother, she must miss you."
He grew quiet pondering his answer about his mother for the rest of their alone time. More concerned for Elaine and how she almost put her safety on the line. Not like he was impressed in his own way how she was handling things. Way she stayed calm when alone in the basement without freaking out.
8*8
That headache that Konstantin got never disappeared long after the case ended for them all. To an apartment that one of them called home in a more historic part of the city. Came with hand carved furniture of a gothic theme in black and red. Shelf or two was filled with science or magic related books. Artwork was an array of traditional and hand painted pieces hanging on the walls. Victrola played a vinyl record of some classical songs. One of many wonders that greeted the unnamed guest in the presence of his landlady.
"Miss. Richards?" Konstantin greeted her, "New tenant?"
"No," Humbly old women in pale blue dresses answered him, "She says she is an acquaintance of yours, here to visit you."
In a dark blue, skirted suit with Banded Collar and Bowknot Details / frontal boob window with Button Closure. Lace and matching ribbon bow details on throughout with corset detail. Skirt was above- the- knee length skirt with double slits. In matching stockings held by straps of garters and heeled boots. Wrist length gloves with ribbon bow on the back and hat pinned in place. Holding a single handbag with her hair in swirls updo. Basic wing to her eyes and glossed coated lips. Elaine was found with a covered basket also in her possession.
"Pretty this one," Miss. Richards winked at Konstantin, "I'll leave the two of you alone."
"Before you leave," Elaine pulled a bottle of Amber Cognac from her basket to give, "For you."
Bottle was taken from utmost care by a grateful Miss. Richards before she hurried off. Mumbling how she would rent out one of her rooms to this kind lass. Not even at full price like she does Konstantin due to her kind nature. Softly slamming the door behind her upon leaving the two alone.
"Thought you would be with Lieutenant Cormiuhael and detective Caol," He watched her, "Absorbed in their attention."
"After our argument about me needing to be more self aware of my safety," Elaine set her basket down, "Dr. Faust is in the company of my brother and Dera is running everything. I thought I would come here and make it up to you."
Then she pulled back the cloth to reveal a few bottles. He guessed the most ones with colorful liquid were potions she brought. Others had to be tea blend of some kind with cowl milk, jagged sugar, and nyamnyam honey.
"Your kitchen?" She offered, "Fresh cup of tea to start."
"Your way of doing things is rather … unorthodox " He directed her.
She ended up removing her hat pin as she walked with an elegance he thought he would never see again. One that brought forth distant memories of his mother and his childhood. Ones with stories about legends of old that humans have long since forgotten. Lessons that went into shaping him to handle politics and socialize with nobles. instructed how to act around higher ranked demons or put them in public. One of many images he hadn't thought about since he started his life within the living world. Put to rest when the smell of a peppermint and honey filled the air, and pulled him from his mind.
"Thirsty?" Elaine offered.
She placed what she could put together on his coffee table, what she called a tea tea. Figuring Mrs. Richards mainly took charge in feeding him and keeping his dwelling clean. She found bare minimum of dishware and food being stored throughout his kitchen. More of a work area for potion craft and spell casting when she visually explored. His collection of potion ingredients was an impressive one when she made his tea.
"Peppermint tea with nyamnyam honey for your headache," She pointed out, "Drink up."
She walked away from what she left for him to look over his collection of reading material. Nothing to attention grabbing while watching him reach toward the tea cup. Which he hesitantly inspected from smelling to looking over the tea.
"I am not my nephew and niece," She reminded him, "I don't test poisons or potions on living people, like they do on Gurt."
"What have they been giving him, this time?" Konstantin brought the tea to his lips.
"A spell jar to fight anxiety, draft of zombification, potion of heroism, and potion of ending." She listed.
"…." He couldn't see how many they were testing as he sipped the tea.
He was taken with the distinctively fresh, minty flavor with a cooling aftertaste with fruity nodes. Not too overwhelming with each sip he took as she further looked over his books.
"Tome of Celestial Sonnets and Selfence," She found two magical grimoires, "One filled with divine lyrical spells and other is where a sword made of ink is used."
"You know, your magical tomes." Konstantin watched her.
"I try to stay informed about what's been written." She pulled Selfence.
She was careful in flipping through the pages as she took in dragon ink everything was written. Stopping to activate the sword creation from the pages after whispering the enchantment. Watch the ink crawl to center and pool while grip to handle is formed. Slowly a rapier is formed as metal takes on a darken sheen.
"Convivent." She looked at the blade.
"Comes in handy during home invasions and cases of self defense." Konstantin put the empty cup down.
"Due share," Elaine wanted to hear, "I would love to hear these stories."
"Aren't your niece and nephew the fans?" He tried to understand.
What he got was an unwanted company in the form of Elaine instead of Serenity, that evening. Getting lost in conversation unlike a few nights later for them. When Konstantin and Serenity didn't understand why they were asked to come by Dera. Her message told them to hurry and come through the back door. Which they did to find a casually dressed face beside a plain wood crate. Wywatt had long since poured this familiar face a single glass. Elaine was the one sitting on the bartop and talking to this person.
"Explain." Konstantin didn't understand.
"7 wines crafted after the 7 sins," Goleon looked toward the crate, "From Princess Aurelia to her brother's romantic partner while I haven't been assigned here."
"I really wanted a Flask of Demonkind or Chronotonic." Hepzibah huffed.
Serenity tried to not laugh at the comment that completely sounded like what a typical teen would say. Being that she stopped being surprised at what these teens could do. Finding herself needing to take a seat and watch how Konstantin handled this one.
"This settles the new hire issue." Wywatt was surprised.
"She does know those potions are forbidden?" Goleon asked, "I think something is wrong with your hodag."
"Potion of True Dreaming." Corbeau explained.
"Normal occasion around here." Konstantin looked toward Gurt.
Habit the teens did to a hodag was an everyday occurrence and reminded Goleon a lot of hell. Experimentation on hellhounds and rodents through potion craft was nothing new. Fact two teen mortals were doing so freely had Goleon rather worried.
"They don't exceed the standard dosage for a hound," Elaine assured him, "You are always going to find him drugged."
"Your others?" Goleon asked them.
Lioet and Ike quickly greeted him while Awara and Vones stayed near the back door. Black cat had long since settled in one of the back rooms with Elaine's owl.
"This is going to take me some time to adjust," Goleon didn't know he'd take to this new assignment, "Are there rules at least I can adhere toward?"
"Let me help you." Dera offered to help him settle.
8*8