Chapter 18

“You’re sure that works?”  

“Oh ye of little faith.”  Artemvian shook his head at Celine, but his eyes were glued to the diamond in front of him.  “You’re the one who hired me, don’t you think you should have some faith?”

Celine kept her eyes on the road, no matter how badly she wanted to glare at Artemvian.  “I’m beginning to think it was a mistake.”  She said, barely audible.

Artemvian had a small piece of diamond attached to a string, the other end of which was looped around his index finger.  He was watching it like a hawk, ready for the slightest movement.  But all the diamond did was continue to spin around in a perfect circle, despite the vehicle’s movements.

After further discussion with the team, they decided to split up.

Gary, Ashley and Cotner went over to check out Dream Bodies, the Adult AI Services Boutique that the Valdemirs were using.  Of course, they would have to keep it on the downlow.  If for any reason the Valdemir Family Name was besmirched, they had friends in high enough places to make life hell for the Grimms.  And possibly, Artemvian; the up-and-coming mercenary who had just dipped his toes into working with law enforcement.

Celine and Artemvian were checking out the second lead; none other than the one that Artemvian himself suggested.

Tracking down the source of the Darkling.

“I find it hard to believe that Darklings could be controlled.”  Celine said idly, waiting for the light to change.

“They’re not as powerful as you and your team make it out to be.”  Artemvian shrugged a shoulder, careful not to jostle the diamond.  “They’re powerful under certain conditions.  Almost unbeatable really.  But outside of those conditions, they’re weaker than a newborn goblin.  Nothing is unbeatable.”

“And you can track it using that diamond, how?”  Celine asked.  “I’ve never heard of Mages using magic the way you do.”

Artemvian shifted his attention to Celine for half a moment, getting the general read of her.  The almost too casual way she was handling the steering wheel, the barely perceptible way she fought not to look in his direction at the diamond.

Celine was curious.  Almost too curious.  Not just about magic pertaining to the case, but about Artemvian himself.

Artemvian knew his magic was unique in this world, so someone being curious about him came with the territory.  But Celine’s questions were rather pointed.  Then again, she was an investigator; so the questions made sense.  Yet, Artemvian had to weigh it against the situation in which they met.  In a dark alley, right after she was attacked by a Daemon.  Not to mention that she recruited him right after.

Almost like…

Smiling, Artemvian turned his attention back to the diamond, half of it anyways.  The other half, he kept it trained on Celine.  “You have a lot of questions.  I have a lot of questions for you.  I ask you one, you ask me one.  How about that?”

“I’m technically your boss right now.”

“What’re you going to do? Fire me?”

Celine cursed.

“And they tell me, I’m unladylike.”  Artemvian shook his head disapprovingly.

They both knew Celine couldn’t fire Artemvian.  Though Artemvian wondered if Celine realized that Artemvian had just figured out the true reason behind all this.

“Fine.  But I'll go first.”

“Ladies first!”  The Mage agreed willingly.

Celine took a moment to think, carefully choosing through the list of questions in her head.  “Where were you before you came to Nero City?”

“A different city, one undergorund that most people don’t know about.  It’s all Mages.”  Artemvian answered without missing a beat.  “Where all the niceties of this the surface world didn’t exist, but everything else related to magic was better.”

She snorted.  “Really?  You’re claiming to be the mole people?  Why’d you offer to do this if you weren’t going to take it seriously?”

What the hell were Mole People?

Artemvian tilted his head at the diamond.  “I’m telling you the truth here, Celine.  I am from a different world.”  Carefully and slowly, he turned his head so that he was peering at her.  “You know that Darklings aren’t from this world, don’t you?  The beings that the organization that calls themselves Eldritch aren’t from this world.  It’s not totally outside of your understanding.  If being from a different dimension exist, why don’t you believe in a secret underground city of mages?”

Something about the way that Artemvian said those things made Celine pause.  “Because… It’s ridiculous.  Darklings are different from humans.  The theory is that they do exist in our world.  They simply exist on a different wavelength, imperceptible to regular people.  Only those gifted enough to peer into that wavelength-”

“Replace wavelength with city.  Does that suffice?”  Artemvian turned his attention back to the diamond, shaking his head.  “You cops make everything too complicated.  Think simple.”

He could feel the skepticism coming off of her in waves and one didn’t need to be a Mage to sense it.  Celine knew the theories it seemed, but her head couldn’t wrap around the fact that Artemvian –a human in flesh and blood form right next to her inside a car– was evidence of a secret city under them.

Hellfire, Artemvian himself scarcely believed the lie.

But he didn’t want to tell her he was from a different world either, or the past.

Theoretically speaking, the magic required to move one being from another –not a spiritual being who existed only in the Spiritual Plane, but made of flesh and blood– was colossal.  Especially a being who could retain free will.  That was the power of free will, the power to make choices and affect the world around them however they wished.  That’s why even gods seldom left their domains, it would leave them drained and tired.  Easy pickings for the gods of whatever dimension they traveled to.

Or something worse.

Moving through space and time wasn’t easy; but wasn’t impossible either.

Dimension Travel for humans were possible –he was proof of that.  And he hadn’t been drained of his talents either, if anything he felt renewed.  Artemvian shook his head, ridding himself of these thoughts.  Those were thoughts for a later time.  This was a rabbit hole he didn’t want to go down on.

‘Find out more about this world first, and then you can surmise all you want about magical theorems.’  For now, he decided to question Celine instead.

“How long have you been looking for me?”  Artemvian asked.

Celine almost stopped the car out of instinct, Artemvian’s question had been posed like a truck at night without its lights on.  He had completely blindsided her.  “What?”

“Oh, come on.”  Artemvian rolled one of his eyes, keeping one fixed on the diamond.  A talent that many others thought creepy, but necessary if one wanted to be a smartass, sarcastic bastard and competent mage all in one.  Yup, he was the complete package.  “Sure, we might have met by chance in that alley.  But you offering me a consulting job with the Grims right after? Without even a preliminary interview?  That’s just too farfetched for me to believe.”

Celine kept driving.

“See, it’s when people clench up like that, that I know I’m on the right track.”  The gears in Artemvian’s head were turning.  “Turn right up there, at the stop sign,”  He continued, “It was chance that brought us together, but it wasn’t a whim that offered you this gig to me.  You’re department must’ve been looking for me, or someone like me.  I just happened to run along.  Isn’t that right?”

“That’s two questions.”  Celine answered.

“Well, answer one of them and maybe I’ll stop asking more questions.”  Artemvian shot back.

Celine growled.

“Clock’s a ticking!”  Artemvian said in a sing-along tune.  “How old are you?  How many siblings?  How long have you been working for the government?  Do they have a list of other mercenaries that they’re keeping an eye on?  How about-”

“Yes, it’s a coincidence that we met but I definitely didn’t hire you on a whim.  No, I wasn’t looking for you, you were simply on the MOI list which was handed out this morning.”

“Ah-hah!”  Artemvian said.  “Doesn’t that feel so much better?”

“My turn,”  Celine muttered and said, “Your magic is unique.  Powerful.  It’s different from the mages that I’ve seen.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Can you teach it to others?”

Now it was Artemvian’s turn to be shocked.

Not because he didn’t see it coming.  Oh, he knew exactly what Celine wanted or rather, the people that were higher up than her.  Eldritch, Gangs, Pharmaceuticals or Governments –they all wanted the same thing and that was power.  Power often meant things like money, strength and magic but that was wrong.  Those were mediums of power.

Power meant control.

“You heard about Eldritch’s recruitment offer.”  Artemvian said, smiling.  “So your boss’ decided that since I can’t be owned… they might as well hire me.  Try to create something similar to me, is that it?”

“It’s your turn to answer, not ask.”  

“Fine.”  Artemvian took a deep breath.  “From what I’ve seen, no.”

Celine frowned.  “Why?”

“From what I’ve seen of this world, the purity of mana inherent in humans is too low.”  Artemvian answered truthfully.  “Too specialized… without the power to back it up.  They’re like needles, good only for sewing or pricking someone.  Fragile.”

“I believe you.”  Celine said after a moment.

“Good,”  Artemvian pointed with his hand.  “Ok, we’re on the right track.  Keep going.”  The diamond was beginning to tug on his hand.  “Second question; when does your boss want to see me?”

Celine let out a small laugh.  “You don’t miss much, do you?  When’d you figure it out?”

“From the beginning.”  Artemvian smirked.  “This isn’t just a consulting job, it’s a job interview.  Of course, law enforcement is interested in a brand new mercenary going around throwing hands with Gangs and other Mercenary groups.”  He pressed, “So when?  Also, stop right here.”

“...After this case is done, we’ll discuss it.”  Celine parked the car, hung her arm on the steering wheel and half-turned her body towards him.

Artemvian blatantly looked down her shirt.

She snapped her finger in front of him.  “Look, Moneti.  A word of advice?”

“Uh huh.”  Artemvian muttered like a brainless zombie.

“You’re smart.  You’re talented.  Powerful, even.”  Celine put a little force in her voice.  “But if you think you’re strong compared to the government, you’re mistaken.  Even among the Grims, my team and I are considered lower down on the ladder.  The higher-ups… you don’t want to mess with them.”

“And you’re telling me this because?...”

“Because you don’t seem like a bad sort.”  Celine sighed.  “And you don’t want to go down the mercenary route.”

“Why not?”

“Because,”  Celine reached out and grabbed Artemvian’s chin, bringing his face up so that they could talk face to face.  It was supposed to be a meaningful and almost dramatic moment.  But the moment was ruined by the fact that Artemvian fought to keep his gaze on her cleavage and Celine had to struggle to bring his head up.  “...screw you, Moneti.  You’re a pig.”

“Uh huh.”  He said mindlessly.

They got out of the car and Celine began again.  “When my bosses offer you a job, take it.”

Artemvian looked around the neighborhood, noting that the faint taste of magic in the air.  “And if I say no?”

Celine didn’t answer until Artemvian turned to look at her.

“Strictly speaking, being a mercenary is legal.”  Celine said, “But the types of job that requires your talent are illegal.  Dangerous.  And there are many people who’d be interested in bringing a powerful mercenary like you to heel.”

“But I don’t want to work for them!”  Artemvian whined like a kid at a candy store.

Celine shook her head, she was done with this conversation and Artemvian’s flippant attitude.  “It was just advice.”  She walked past him, stiff and angry.

Artemvian couldn’t help but jab at her one last time.

“Hey, do you know where you’re going?”  When she turned around, he was pointing at the diamond in his hand.  “Such a dramatic exit.  All flair and doom-like… except you don’t know where you’re going.  You’re turning red?  Why’re you turning red?  Are you blushing?  Ha! You’re embarrassed! Uh… why’re you reaching for your gun?  Wait, WAIT!”

He was lucky she didn’t shoot him.