Realistic or Modern The Witching Hours [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Pia got through the last page, but she still pushed it towards Emmett to review. She saw no further issues, but she’d let Emmett read before she signed anything. It was such a tedious process with Edwin.

“Everyone has a price,” Edwin said with certainty. Of course, that price didn’t always mean money, or even positive rewards. Some people were ‘bought’ with fear. “As for specific individuals, however, I haven’t paid enough attention to know of a weak link.”

It didn’t mean they weren’t there, of course. He was of the opinion any of them could be bought.

“Presuming you can find one, I can bind them into an oath to only speak the truth, or whatever else you may need,” he offered, “the problem being they do have to be willing.” He couldn’t force the oaths on people.

Unfortunately.

~***~

Asher heard the exclamation, and as he got the last of his luggage into his room, he couldn’t help but go over to see hers. It was the same, of course, but he understood, “Yeah, this…this is a lot, isn’t it?” And they got to stay there for free.

Everything would be free for them.

“I’m still not used to it, living with Pia,” he admitted, “this…must be even more strange for you.” Given the apartment he found her in, as well as what he could suspect of how she lived beforehand, this had to be significantly more wealth than she was used to.

“Maybe we can stay here a week after everything is done to actually enjoy this place,” unlikely.

But it would be worth asking about.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett nodded his head. He’d expected that answer, but it never hurt to ask. He had a feeling Landon had these people dwelling in fear- but if his magic wasn’t powerful, what did he have on them?

He intended to find out.

He tucked away the tidbit about Edwin’s oaths for the future. It might now be a bad idea.

Then, he took the last page and read it over carefully.

“Mm. Seems worded well enough to me.” He told Pia. “Think you should put something in there about free alcohol though. Unlimited, of course.” Emmett smirked as he sipped the whiskey.

~***~

Jasleen looked up to Asher and nodded a little. She allowed Oliver out of his crate to sniff around, and he trotted over to Asher, laying down on his back to beg for a belly rub.

“It’s different.” She agreed. “I think my parents stayed here once. Before I was born. I read in one of their Grimoires that it was controversial for them- staying at a hotel owned by a vampire.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oliver, seriously? I’m sorry. He’s not used to getting attention from people other than me.” She pointed out, trying to shoo him away from Asher’s feet.

 

[Lucyfer]

“No,” Pia flatly denied the free alcohol, “I don’t drink,” it was only for her, after all, “if you want to enter an oath for free alcohol, go ahead,” it would not end well for him.

Edwin chuckled, but didn’t go on to elaborate how that was a stupid, stupid idea. Emmett no doubt knew that, as he offered the pen to Pia. She pricked her finger and put blood to ink to sign it, followed by Edwin signing. The witness had no role in actually signing – no role in anything, other than reviewing the wording.

“Pia will be paying for that alcohol,” Edwin noted, “and every other charge you rack up. You can keep that in mind for your stay, Astor.” He took the documents and folded them back up, “I’ll have a copy sent to you, Pia.” That was a part of the agreement anyways, but copying still took a little bit of time.

“By tomorrow,” or else it was all null and void and they had to go through this shit again. “I’m going to get…clean,” she let out a sigh, and checked the time. Time enough, “then I’m going to grab Corydon. I presume one of the vaults is empty.”

“You’re…bringing him here?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

~***~

Asher knelt down immediately when Oliver offered his belly and reached out, giving Jasleen a bit of a startled look as she tried to shoo him, “There’s no need – I do like animals,” he reminded, but he’d wait to at least see if he’d be allowed to pet the cat.

Otherwise, if it wasn’t her will to socialize Oliver, he’d get back up.

“I’m surprised your parents ever stayed here. I can’t imagine a room is less than $1,000 a night,” it was likely more than that. Maybe there were some that were just $1,000, but these rooms? Definitely more.

He wasn’t going to check, though. He didn’t need to know how out of his price range this kind of lifestyle was.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett made a face and rolled his eyes, but decided he wouldn’t needlessly fuck up any more alcohol.

For the sake of Pia’s wallet, at least.

“We’ve grave robbing?” Emmett finished off the whiskey. “Sounds fun.” In that regard he invited himself.

He wasn’t about to let Pia do all the fun stuff, anyhow.

“They don’t fuck with you, right? The witches?” Emmett looked at Edwin. “Which means bringing him here is the best option. The only option, really.”

~***~

Jasleen settled a little and allowed Oliver to receive the attention he desperately craved.

“My mother can from wealth.” She admitted. “My dad’s family was… I mean, middle class. Maybe upper. But the Bishops were very wealthy. They cut my parents off and out of the will when they refused to marry me off to Landon.”

Her voice was quiet, small as she recounted the events to Asher.

“They already didn’t care much for my father. He was from another coven and he didn’t have the same morals. But the last straw was my mother embarrassing their good name.”

Oliver meowed softly, as if to interject.

“I’m sure my grandparents have stayed here multiple times. I don’t have their Grimoires, though.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia arched a brow, but she wasn’t terribly surprised that Emmett was coming. If anything, that was likely to put Edwin at ease, even with the contract in place preventing her from doing anything to help Corydon in the long-run.

Edwin sighed, moving a hand to his temple, “You are correct, but they also have no reason to fuck with me,” Edwin massaged his temple, “I do not have a better idea, but it…does make me uncomfortable, considering Pia and myself would be the first two on Corydon’s hitlist.” The two childes he made, that somehow survived long enough.

“No one else needs to know.” Pia said, “Just make the preparations,” as she said it, Edwin set her key on the counter. She took it, and headed off to the elevators, anticipating Emmett would follow. She didn’t know which room he’d chosen but it would only be a single floor difference so it didn’t matter.

~***~

With Jasleen relaxed, Oliver was able to receive the affectionate attention from Asher, and he was happy to give it. He scratched under the cat’s chin and also offered it belly rubs. “Why didn’t your mother just…leave?”

Evidently, she could marry outside the coven. Why not leave to another coven?

“It’s probably a lot more complicated than that,” he sighed, imagining it was hard to leave behind family. They should have – considering it led to their death – but they didn’t know the future that was ahead of them.

“Are your grandparents still alive?”

Had they accepted the death of their daughter?

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett chuckled at that remark. They hadn’t yet had a reason to fuck with Edwin, but the longer he and the others were there, the more reason they’d have.

That was exciting.

Emmett hummed to himself as he followed Pia to the elevator. “I’m on the same floor as you.” He informed her. “I figured the lovebirds would want to room beside each other.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Are you sure we shouldn’t bring your guard dog? What if the witches are waiting in anticipation?”

~***~

She nodded. “Well… at first, it wasn’t that bad, you know? I mean, things escalated… quickly. And after her parents took everything, they really didn’t have the money to uproot their lives. I think they were saving up. I found their stash, it’s how I got out.” She admitted.

Then, she sighed. “Yeah. They’re alive. They still live here, in Salem. Kissing Landon’s ass in the meantime.”

She shook her head.

“After my parents died, they told me I could have their fortune. Inherit it all if I’d married him. I told them to go fuck themselves and haven’t spoken to them since.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia wasn’t surprised by the choice, but couldn’t help but comment, “Are you sure the penthouse didn’t simply seem more alluring?” she hardly knew who was given first choice, but she could imagine the idea of the penthouse room seemed far more enticing than a mere suite. And Astor likely had the knowledge to appreciate the difference, as she pressed the button for the 39th floor.

As for Asher….

“If you feel the need for extra protection, you can go fetch him,” she intentionally used dog language for Emmett, “as I’ve said before – the witches should have no reason to even suspect I’m here, and if they do? They shouldn’t know where Corydon is.”

So they wouldn’t know where she was going.

“If they know where he is, then we’re already too late.” It would take a ritual, but they’d have time to do it, and free Corydon from his stake. Then…well, then there’d be trouble.

The elevator dinged at 39 to let them off. Their luggage would have already been dropped in their rooms.

~***~

Asher could see that. He didn’t look up to Jasleen, imagining the hardship of it all crashing down on her and her family at once, and how horrible it was that her grandparents still didn’t care when they lost their daughter. They were more concerned with their family name, and having Jasleen marry Landon.

“That’s terrible,” he murmured, shaking his head, “I’m sorry.”

She lost all her familial support, unless her father’s parents were out there somewhere, and still decent. He hesitated to ask, in case that would only bring up worse memories. “I hope we won’t have to confront them during all of this.”

It was her family. Even if they were terrible, he could imagine the complication of confronting them. It would be better if they just…stayed in the background.

 

[awkwardradish]

“Hey, little witch had first dibs. She chose Asher over the penthouse.” He smirked pointedly. “Can’t say I’m disappointed, thought.”

As the elevator dinged, he followed her off with his hands still placed casually in his pockets.

On one hand, he didn’t want to seem overly cautious. If Pia didn’t think they needed Asher, then maybe they didn’t.

But still.

“You’re calling the shots here.” He assured her. “And you’re right. They shouldn’t know where he’s buried. I just don’t want to walk into an ambush.”

~***~

“I’m sure they’ll make themselves known.” She muttered, less than enthused.

She was tired of talking about it, though. It felt like that was all Asher knew of her.

If they were writing a story, she didn’t want it to be like this.

“What about your parents?” She tilted her head a little. “Where’d you grow up? All that stuff.”

She then hesitated. “I mean- not that you have to tell me. I just… uh, feel like I talk about myself. A lot.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia didn't want to walk into an ambush either, but Asher wouldn't prevent that. He might have been able to scent others before them, but it wouldn't exactly stop Pia from going forward. She needed the body. She needed to be sure that he was still staked.

“You didn't seem to care about a potential ambush when you followed me into an alley,” she noted, reaching her room. “I'll be done in thirty minutes. Corydon is about twenty minutes from here.”

An hour. Another twenty back. About a half hour to get the body itself…she was going through the math to make sure she could best the sun, and so far it seemed an acceptable risk. “Go check out your room.”

The thoughts from the plane would have to wait; Edwin always a killjoy, forcing her to need to get cleaned up.

~***~

“I don't mind if you want to talk,” Asher said, “I imagine you haven't had a lot of opportunities to share what happened to you with a sympathetic ear,” not in full detail. How many people could she tell she was a witch to? People just didn't believe in these things.

“But I don't mind letting you know me, either,” he shot a grin up at her before sitting down a bit more comfortably to better give Oliver attention. “I'm an only kid of divorced parents, I'm from a bit further north than LaCroix – I'm from Illinois. I just got into the university in Louisiana on a scholarship, and got a job…haven't thought to move back home yet.”

His parents didn't know anything.

“I…haven't told my family what happened to me. I'm not sure if I will.” It was different from vampirism. He was normal most of the time, and he had a human lifespan. He could still see them as a regular person.

But….

Well, being turned was a major reason he hadn't gone back home. “I haven't really seen them since. They've tried to visit but I always claim to be busy.” he sighed, “I hate lying. I know I should just…tell them…but I haven't figured a way.”

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett also mentally did the math to be sure they could beat the sun.

Even if he decided it wasn’t an acceptable risk, he knew he wouldn’t be able to talk Pia out of anything.

“Twenty minutes.” He confirmed.

Sure, he was a man, and he was eager for their time together, but he wasn’t so blind that he couldn’t see that now wasn’t their time.

They had a while.

“I’ll be waiting.” His voice had a flirty lilt to it, but he only retreated into his own room.

The luxury wasn’t lost on him, but he wasn’t shocked. The Astors had stayed at plenty of nice places before.

He allowed himself to settle in, and when twenty minutes had passed, he left his room, leaning against the wall in the hallway to wait for Pia.

~***~

That grin was… something. It made her stomach flutter, her heart skip.

Damn. She was having a hard time keeping him at arms distance. Why did she want to do that again?

She sat down across from him, with Oliver in between them, much in the same way they had at Pia’s house.

She reached out to scratch another spot on Oliver, leaving him a purring mess as Asher explained his story.

“You could always not tell them.” Jasleen offered. “I mean, I know, lying is bad and everything… but as long as you don’t see them during a full moon, they wouldn’t know, right? Maybe it’d be better to let them believe you’re human.”

She realized he probably didn’t want the unsolicited advice. “Sorry. I don’t know the situation like you do. And you seem like the truthful type.” She admitted.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia washed the blood from her body and hair, and changed, within the twenty minutes. She pulled her wet hair back into a bun, and dressed in hunter’s leathers; the clothing was reinforced, though it looked mostly like normal leather slacks and jacket. The black tank had a bit of armored reinforcement above the heart, a sort of false belt masking it.

She still knew to be prepared, and nodded at the sight of Emmett. “Valet has the keys, I'll provide directions. There's not really a GPS for this,” it was in a cemetery, but not a large one. One of those family lots from back in the day behind the ruins of a church.

It looked more like an open field nowadays, and definitely involved some back roads to get to, as she headed to the elevator again to keep them moving forward.

Asher and Jasleen didn't need to be involved with her sire. If she could keep them out of that, she would.

~***~

“I know I could,” it was a consideration. Asher had done it for two years already. “But things always come up. My mom night have her birthday on a full moon. A movie night come out…I don't want to have to lie constantly if I move back home. Or even to visit. If a week comes up they want me to visit and the moon is full….”

He sighed.

He was already a terrible son for not seeing them in person for two years.

“If they knew, they wouldn't have to question why I'm gone. I just don't think they'll believe me, and I can't safely prove it to them.”

Having them resent him for a truth they didn't believe in, think he was insane, would be terrible.

“They didn't grow up in this world, either. I…didn't believe my stalker when she said she was a werewolf.”

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett slung the duffel full of weapons and tools over his shoulder, beginning to follow Pia along towards the elevator. He had weapons for every type of creature they may encounter- a gun for mortal witches, wooden stakes for vampires, iron chains, and even some silver.

He did not, however, have a shovel.

As the elevator descended, the thought made him chuckle a little.

“How pissed do you think Edward would be if we asked to borrow a shovel?” He grinned, purposefully using the wrong name.

He decided he liked the nickname.

“I have everything but a shovel.”

~***~

For a moment, Jasleen pondered what it might be like to grow up normal. No doubt the way Asher had.

No worries about who you might have to marry. No thoughts about cursed. No coven meetings.

She almost envied him.

“Well…” She couldn’t find anymore supportive words for him. It was a difficult situation.

“Whatever you do, I’ll help you. Support you. However you need me to.” She finally offered. “That is… you know. If you want me to.”

Oliver meowed loudly, beginning to stalk around the room.

“Oh, that’s his hungry cry. Oh- Fuck,” Jasleen paused herself in the middle of standing. “I have no cat food.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Emmett had the pack, but apparently no shovel. Not that Pia was expecting it. She usually found a shovel there. Of course, she left it there. Perhaps it was too much to ask for it to still be there; they didn't exactly have the time to waste on a trip to buy a shovel if it wasn't there.

“Why don't you go find out? I'll get the car,” not that she could drive it, but she could let the valet know they were ready. “I don't think he'll answer if you use Edward, though.”

No doubt he'd ignore it until his proper name was used.

Presuming he could even be found. He wasn't in the lobby any longer when the elevator stopped, though Pavarti was.

~***~

Asher chuckled, aware that Jasleen couldn't really do anything, except maybe prove magic was real, and get his parents onto the path of acknowledging a world beyond their own. “Thank you,” the moral support was still something. “It's a problem for a lot later.”

After he talked to the institute about his options for work.

After he considered what he even wished to do.

After Jasleen was free to make her own life.

And after Oliver was fed. “I…think I might have seen a gas station not too far. I'm sure my phone can GPS us to a store or something,” either way – they definitely had to feed the cat.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett rolled his eyes a little, but there was an unmistakable smirk on his face. Most men wouldn’t be so okay with Pia taking the lead and calling the shots. It insulted their manhood.

Emmett was quite enjoying it. He liked the fire within her.

“Yes boss.” He said, only having joking. “I’ll behave.”

He’d try, at least.

But then he saw Pavarti, and he remembered the way she’d blushed when he smiled at her, so he smiled again.

“Ah- I’m so glad I found you. You’ve been so nice.” His tone was warm, not the same type of flirtatious tone he’d used with Pia. “Would you guys by chance have a shovel anywhere that we could borrow?”

~***~

Jasleen was clearly hesitant about leaving the hotel. This town was crawling with witches, all of which hated her.

She shifted, glancing at Oliver.

She couldn’t really let him starve to death, could she? How could she have forgotten cat food?

“Yeah… uh, we probably don’t need GPS. I know my way around decently well.” She admitted. “Actually- maybe a GPS. I have zero sense of direction.” She laughed softly, but it was a nervous sort of laughter.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to go out if you don’t want to.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia let him go over to Pavarti. She went to the door and stepped out to cue the valet in that she needed her car. He was quick to head off and fetch it.

Pavarti, of course, was surprised to see Emmett again so soon, but lit up. She'd received a lot of strange requests in this position, that shovel barely registered.

He wouldn't be the first needing to deal with a body.

It did make her question this line of work. Sometimes.

“I'm sure we have one, let me just give maintenance a call,” she took up the phone at the desk and called out, relaying what was needed, and hung up with a smile, “we should have one in five minutes!” She chimed, “we'd prefer it returned without blood.” A small joke.

~***~

The nerves were obvious. “No worries, I'll just plug in nearby stores,” he offered, rising and taking his phone out to do just that, and keeping his gaze on it as Jasleen again tried to get him to go away.

At least he was getting used to this behavior.

“It's okay, I want to see a bit of Salem that won't all be covens and doom,” he joked, “and a frozen gas station burrito sounds absurdly decadent in this place,” he chuckled.

Were people even allowed to eat fast food in here or would it spontaneously combust?

“I don't think I'm quite ready for caviar,” several locations showed on his phone, “so I'm ready when you are.”

 

[awkwardradish]

Five minutes was probably longer than Pia could wait, but it was quicker than buying one. They had no other options, so Emmett nodded his head.

“Thank you again.” He smiled charmingly. “You’ve been extremely helpful.”

Five minutes passed, all what Emmett chatted up Pavarti. He had no intentions of actually making good on that charm, but he could harmlessly flirt, couldn’t he?

When he got the shovel, he tested it in his hand. “Thank you. Have a good night, Pavarti.” He smiled again, before heading out to meet Pia at the car.

~***~

Asher had a way of quelling her worries that nobody else could manage. She couldn’t help but feel like an inconvenience, but slowly, she was starting to hope she wasn’t.

That type of hope was dangerous.

“Well,” she started, forming a small smile of her own. “Unfortunately for you, Salem is all covens and gloom. Or at least the places your directionally challenged tour guide knows about.” She motioned to herself in a somewhat joking manner.

“But I have to agree that gas station food sounds delicious, and Oliver would much appreciate some food.”

Oliver meowed his agreement, and Jasleen actually laughed softly.

 

[Lucyfer]

Emmett had only one shovel. Pia considered mentioning there were two of them, but opted against it. They could switch when one of them tired; it might even be quicker that way than trying to both dig at the same spot, at the same time.

Probably not, but it wasn't a total waste.

“Looks like you're doing all the work, Snack,” she teased as she offered him the car keys to add to his ‘work’, “I think I can make it worth your while once Corydon is secure.” She'd certainly be in a better mood.

She'd take up her seat as the passenger, and once he was settled, she'd start on the directions that would certainly take them out of downtown and away from the city lights, onto a few country roads, until eventually they'd hit an old cemetery, and the ruins of a church.

~***~

Asher chuckled a bit at the tour guide bit, and shook his head, “Maybe later you can show me how a coven gas station differs from a normal one – but let's try normal today,” he would head back out of the room to go to the elevator once more, before he'd show what his phone had to offer.

“Do any of these not sound familiar?” he asked, figuring it'd be better to go to an anomaly. Less chance of meeting any of her former coven that way.

Which, what were the odds of that anyways?

“How many are…actually in the coven?” It couldn't be that many, right? And they were in the heart of Salem so certainly that meant the odds were slim.

At least, he hoped so.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett grinned smoothly. He was sure Pia had tons of people at her disposal to do most of the work for her- but he could also sense she wasn’t afraid to get dirty.

He liked that.

“I’m inclined to agree.” She would definitely make it worth his while.

The drive to the cemetery was filled with less opportunity to flirt. Emmett was focused on Pia’s directions, which brought them through roads that didn’t even seem like roads anymore.

He didn’t want to ruin the car.

Finally, when they arrived, he shut the car off. It looked empty enough, and there were no fresh tire tracks, which meant the threshold for danger was low.

He hopped out, taking the shovel. “Show me where to dig, boss.”

~***~

Jasleen followed him to the elevator, peering over his phone for a few moments. “The first one. It doesn’t seem familiar.”

She stuck her hands into the pockets of her jacket, mostly because if she didn’t, she’d awkwardly fidget with them.

“Well… it’s sort of like, the founding families of Salem, if you want to think of it that way. But the families have grown, and married, and other families have joined.”

The elevator began its descent, and she thought some more. “At one time, when I was very young, the town was small. A lot smaller than it is now. Then, it was only the coven. I’d say there are about two hundred members- five or take. It’s been a while.” She shrugged. “But not all members of the coven are prominent members.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia was glad her memory served about the location. Plenty had changed, but she supposed one didn't forget where they buried their damned father. The church was less prominent now. The headstone were in further disrepair.

But, she knew it.

She stepped out of the vehicle and walked to the headstone without a bit of hesitation. “Here,” she gestured down to the place ahead of a headstone for a ‘James Tanner’. He'd been real.

He hadn't had a body to bury, though.

On looking down, however, she tried to ignore the tell-tale signs of disturbed dirt. It wasn't all packed in well, but that could just be because someone else was added. It was rare but it did happen, and some of that disturbed dirt remained atop the others.

She had to hope that was all it was here.

She masked that fear. “Let me know if you get tired. He is buried way down there.” And she would step in.

~***~

Asher nodded and set the directions for the gas station. With the car it wouldn't even take five minutes, but he wasn't sure if they ought to ask for it up front. Some fresh air and a walk were fine by him.

His eyes widened in shock, taken from those more mundane thoughts by the comment of how many there were. “And here I was thinking maybe 50 at most.” That was a lot more than the was expecting.

He wondered if that was normal or just another thing special about the Salem witches.

“I don't think even werewolf packs get that big before they start splitting off,” hunters were the main reason for that. Too many in one area endangered the pack. Even if they were behaved, some hunters weren't like the Astors.

Some just wanted to kill.

The elevator reached the bottom, “Walking it's about eight minutes,” he said, as a way to see if she was okay with that option.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett also did not miss the signs of disturbed dirt. That didn’t bode well, and in the back of his mind, there was a crawling feeling that nagged at him.

Dread.

He nodded, but quickly began his work. He was anxious to see. Pia didn’t show any signs of worry, so perhaps he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t stop himself.

“Who else knows he was here? How easy could it have been for somebody to figure out?”

He needed to gauge the probability in his own mind that Corydon might now be here.

~***~

Jasleen couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped her at Asher’s reaction. She nodded a little. “Walking’s fine.”

As they exited the hotel, the soft chill of night ran up her spine, and she retreated further into her jacket.

“Most covens are small. Family affairs and all. Salem started that way.” She shrugged little. “With the need for power comes the need for numbers. Dedicated soldiers.”

The streets were fairly empty, save for a few unsuspecting people walking home from late night work.

“I remember my dad being very outspoken against the numbers. I was young, though. I didn’t understand the significance.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Emmett recognized it, too. Otherwise, he wouldn't be asking. “Edwin, and Trystan,” Trystan's history was more tied up in this than he liked to admit. He'd been a mediating party, though. Not directly involved until it was winding down. There'd been arguments against her and Edwin being the only two to know, since they were related.

The childe-sire bond has strength…but not after centuries. Edwin and Pia had been clear of influence. Regardless, Trystan was dragged in as witness.

“There's always spells one can use to track someone, and we're in Salem.” Which meant it was possible. “It usually takes an object they owned – that's what I've heard. Edwin would have any item….”

The bottom was eventually reached. The wooden coffin was closed. It looked as it should, but Pia jumped down into it. With some adjusting, she was able to open the lid.

The body inside wasn't Corydon. It was human, for one, and rather fresh for being a corpse.

It looked like her.

The stake was the same, plunged through her chest, but the enchantment was very obviously broken.

“No….”

~***~

Asher winced at the thought of dedicated soldiers. It was a horrible mindset to have, for anyone. He knew some Christians followed a similar ideology, and wanted to keep the metaphorical quiver full by having tons of kids. It sounded horrible to him.

And they were trying to be positive!

He knew he was to blame for this line of thought.

“I guess now we understand a bit more about the significance if they're trying to resurrect someone.” he shook his head, trying to clear it of this huge mess they were in.

The silent night helped.

The buildings around were tall and illuminated the way towards the station. “But it's more important to think about what food Oliver likes for now,” bad shift, but he tried, “is he picky?” It might be difficult to find food he'd eat, if he was.

They might have to wait till morning to go to an actual pet shop.

 

[awkwardradish]

“Fuck.”

That was the only thing that Emmett could think to say.

This couldn’t be good. This meant the witches were further ahead in their plan than any of them anticipated.

“Fucking weasel witches.” He grumbled now.

He pulled himself out of the hole he’d dug. He panted softly, wiping some of the dirt on his jeans. “What now?” He looked to Pia.

~***~

Jasleen once again chuckled at Asher’s question. Oliver was the opposite of picky. “He was a street cat when I found him.” She smirked a little. “He will literally eat anything. And I mean anything.”

He was known for taking food right off her plate.

“One time he-“ She let out a huff of air when a stranger stopped in front of them, right outside the gas station. She stumbled back, so as not to run into him.

He was older, probably in his fifties, and was dressed in all black. He had a permanent sneer on his face, the type that let everybody in the general vicinity know he knew he was better than them.

Jasleen opened her mouth to apologize, but her breath caught.

A range of emotions swirled through the man’s eyes, but they settled on rage and disdain. “You… lowlife perversion.” He spit at her feet, and she stumbled back against to avoid getting hit, bumping into Asher in the process.

“You are not welcome here, whore.”

Jasleen rolled her eyes a little. “Come on, Asher, let’s just-“ She moved to side step the man, but he blocked her path.

“You’re lucky I don’t hang you myself. Does Landon know you’re here?” He asked.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia's head was empty of thought. Panic ruled, and her limited focus was on keeping that contained. “He has to be hunted,” the words were as monotonous as they were urgent. It was the only thought in her head.

They had to find Corydon.

Corydon wasn't needed to bring Frederick back to life, but he'd hinder them at every step.

Pia pulled the stake into her hands, the mad thought of driving it into her own chest flitting into her mind. She banished it. Now wasn't the time. Suicide would be far more merciful, but she wasn't caught.

Yet.

“Come on,” she climbed out of the hole, panic fueling her, even if she tried to wear the calm facade, “we have to let Edwin know. He can start his own hunt,” and make sure to be on the lookout. Get security up even higher.

No point in covering the hole, at any rate.

~***~

Asher wondered about testing it with things like lemon, and decided if he saw a lemon in the gas station, he would. Oliver might at least make a funny face if he tried to eat it.

Unfortunately, such thoughts were soon sent away. A witch stepped into their path, the gas station not as safe as they'd hoped.

Asher narrowed his eyes in anger, but hoped they could just step around him. It seemed not, so Asher stepped ahead of Jasleen and but his hands out to push the man to the side as gently as possible.

"Excuse us," was all the words Asher offered the witch.

He wasn't there to start a fight, and some of his security training let him know how to move others so they could avoid the violence – so long as the witch didn't try to strike back.

But then Asher would feel pretty justified in slamming a fist into his face.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett could sense the panic, even though Pia tried to conceal it. He couldn’t blame her for being panicked- he was feeling slightly panicked himself.

He needed to let Terrance know.

“Alright.” He nodded a little. “Let’s go, then.”

He hopped into the car, peeling out as soon as Pia was in. “We should see if Jasleen can
perform a locator spell.” He thought aloud.

He knew Pia hadn’t wanted to involve her or Asher, but it seemed they had no other options now.

Fuck, he forget the shovel.

~***~

The man looked Asher up and down, and then, he broke out into a condescending laugh. “You really are whoring yourself out, aren’t you?” He turned to Jasleen. “For what? Protection? So you could prance around Salem like you aren’t some sort of menace?”

Jasleen stepped forward to gently lay her head on Asher’s arm. “Come on, it’s fine, Asher. He’s all talk, anyway.”

“You aren’t even ashamed, are you?!” He said incredulously.

“Marcus, please move.” Jasleen said tiredly.

“Where is my son?” He demanded.

Jasleen tensed a little, then glanced at Asher, then back to Marcus. “I haven’t had the bad luck of running into him.”

Marcus narrowed his eyes. “You should rot, you filthy-“

He was cut off when a cane suddenly whacked him in the back of the head.

The woman behind him was tall and thin, her hair now silver and braided down her back. She wore a long skirt and a sweater with many beads on her neck and wrists.

“Marcus, don’t you have better things to do than harass these young people?”

Jasleen balked, but her eyes twinkled with recognition.

Marcus huffed, rubbing the back of his head. “Margaret, I-“

“Go on. Shoo.” She motioned her cane at him again, and Marcus shot one last glare in Asher and Jasleen’s direction before scurrying off.

“Jasleen Claire Wardwell, what on earth are you doing here? Let me look at you.” Margaret grabbed Jasleen by the shoulders, then tsked. “You are getting far too thin. Are you eating? Oh- who’s this handsome young man?” She came to inspect Asher. “A boyfriend, perhaps?”

“Margaret!” Jasleen squeaked her disapproval, her cheeks turning dark.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia didn't really want to ask Jasleen for help, but Corydon needed to be dealt with. She and Edwin could both be used in locator spells, she assumed, if Edwin had done away with every material item. They both had Corydon's blood in their veins.

“Yes,” Pia agreed, aware it may not even work if Jasleen was bound too tightly. “We'll have to try it,” though as they drove she took her phone out. She sent a quick text to Trystan, before calling Edwin.

“What do you want?” He snapped, “the vault is–”

“Corydon's free.”

Silence.

Then, a deep breath. “I'll set out hunting parties. Return immediately.” She knew Edwin wouldn't want her to leave. That was an argument for later. She wasn't signing paperwork to stay.

“I am.”

She hung up on that note, and turned to stare it the window, fingers flexing over the stake.

~***~

Asher was able to move by, and open the door, but Jasleen seemed to stay, even grabbing his arm so he couldn't go forward. He gave her a quizzical look, not wanting to deal with this hurled abuse when they could step into the store.

He didn't want to engage with words, so he stayed silent, looking increasingly confused by Jasleen not moving on.

Arguing.

But it was cut off by an elderly woman stepping into things. As soon as Marcus was gone, the woman stepped up and began to cluck over Jasleen. Asher pulled his arm away, crossing both of them in discomfort. When she asked who he was, he was intentionally vague, not able to even crack a smile at her suggestion. “Ash,” he offered only his name.

Fae warnings rang in his head.

He'd leave Jasleen to fill in the blanks, since he really didn't think he could trust anyone here.