Heavy smoke hung in the air. The old jukebox sputtered a jazzy tune, but it could barely be heard over the loud chatter of the bar. The clacking of glasses, the braying laughter, and occasional shatter came together as one in a loud, shoddy symphony.
Ace was home.
He put his drink to his lips and downed half of it. The thin liquid skated down his throat, cutting into the inner skin like knives. Just the way he liked it.
A cool breeze entered the bar, even hitting Ace in his corner booth. He froze, his fingers tightening around his shot glass. His heart was beating fast and hard, but he took a deep breath.
“Are you Detective Ace Erikson?”
“Depends.” He downed the rest of his drink, “Who’s asking?”
He turned to the woman who was standing next to his booth. She was dressed way too nice for a place like this, wearing a short, black dress and heels. Her curly, blonde hair framed her face and fell to her shoulders, and her soft blue eyes were just begging for help.
“Please . . . It’s about my husband.” Tears started gathering in her eyes, and her shoulders started to tremble. Ace didn’t blink as he kept his gaze on her, and gestured to the “Take a seat.”
The woman slipped in the booth, keeping her head down and hands folded in her lap.
Ace signaled the bar to send two drinks to his booth, and turned back to the woman. “What’s the issue with your husband?”
“He’s been missing for almost a week now. I’ve looked everywhere but he’s just up and vanished. I just-“ A sudden sob erupted from her throat, and she turned her head away.
“It’s going to be alright, ma’am. But, I have to ask you some questions. Do you mind?” Ace comforted.
The woman sniffed. “I don’t mind. Please, go ahead.”
Ace cleared his throat. “First things first, where was your husband last seen?” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a notepad and pen.
The women stifled a whimper. “He was last seen at the Ceyhill Train Station.”
Ace nodded as he dragged the pen across the paper. As he did this, a two glasses filled with whisky were left on the table.
“Okay, Next,” Ace didn’t look up from the paper, but pointed his pen at the woman, “Is there any motive for your husband to leave? Like if he had an affair or was being blackmailed?”
The woman gasped at his question. “No, of course not! My husband was a good man, and he was beloved by everyone who knew him. There was no way someone could use anything against him. He was an open book.”
Ace wrote quickly. “I see, I see. I have one more question for you, ma’am.”
Ace put his pen down slowly, picked up his drink, and gave it a little swirl. He took a long drink, and then turned to the woman.
“When business does a Nymph have with me?”
The women’s eyes widen, but after five seconds, she covered her mouth to give a low chuckle.
“Oh, Acey, Acey, Acey,” The Woman turned to Ace, and flashed him a tooth grin, showing off her row and sharp teeth, “How did you know?”
Ace’s gaze hardened towards her, “There's only a few beings that can make a cold breeze on a warm summer night, and I happen to remember an old friend who used to be able to do that.”
She only giggled, “Ah, observant as always. Anyway, now that that’s out of the way, how have you been Acey?”
Ace didn’t change his face, “What are you doing here, Bea?” He stared at her before his face fell, “Don’t tell me . . .”
Bea looked delighted, “Yup! I was personally sent by Griphire himself to find you.”
Ace groaned, and squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Listen, I told that overgrown Lizard that I was through with the Guild, and that he was to leave me alone-“
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Bea interrupted him, “And he has for, let’s see . . .” She tapped her chin condescendingly.
“Hmmmm . . . Oh yes! For the last 15 years.” Despite keeping a smile on her face, her eyes grew resentful, and a sudden chill found itself spreading on the back on Ace’s neck.
Ace scoffed, and took another sip.
“Bea, I don’t regret leaving, especially after what Griphire did.” Ace was quiet for a moment, before the bitter taste became too much for his mouth, “And the fact you stayed by his side just reminds of how much of a parasite you really are.”
At this, Bea’s smile broke, and her eyes glowed a furious blue. Someone at the bar screamed at the Bartender to turn the heat up.
Bea stared at him unblinkingly, her nails starting to dig into the wooden table.
“You know, for a dirty, worthless Mutt, you sure like to think that your so far above all of us.” Bea slammed her fist on the table, pushed herself up, and got as much into Ace’s face as she could, “Griphire was the one who took you in, who made sure you didn’t die on the streets. He saw you as his own son, and you just took that and threw it back in his face. But if you even thought about anyone but yourself for even just one moment, then you would see that you would be nothing without him.”
Ace kept his eyes locked on her, never breaking the stare. He then swept his notepad and pencil back into his pocket, and slammed money onto the table.
“I think we’re done here.” He stood up and strode out of there without a second glance back to the Nymph.
He stepped out into the warm air, but he only made it five meters before a cold air brushed around him, and sharp fingers curled around his bicep.
“Wait.” Ace stopped but he didn’t turn to her. Bea let out a deep sigh.
“Listen, I didn’t come to talk about the face.”
“Coulda fooled me.” Ace mutter on his breath.
Bea’s grip on his arm suddenly softened, but the air’s chill became intense. Ace could feel her lightly tremble, and his heart drop.
“Lyssamy is back.”
Ace felt the cold entered his body, and his lungs froze. His vision became hazy as the world became a dark, cruel swell of colors, and the once sharp taste of Alcohol threatened to make a reappearance.
Immediately, Ace pulled his arm from Bea, his breath heavy. His body was twisting and burning. Bea still held herself up, though the air leaving her lungs was ice at this point.
“You’re-You’re lying.” Ace stammered, “This is just a trick. This just some conspiracy between you and . . . and . . .”
He looked into Bea’s eyes. They were an unearthly, beautiful blue.
And they looked so scared.
“I would never lie about this Ace. You don’t have to come back. But . . . Griphire wants you to be safe.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath, “The Guild is going to stand against her, like we did before. But if your not going to join, then I suggest you hide.”
Ace barely heard her over the ringing in his ears. Memories were leaking out of old wounds out of his mind, memories of pain and suffering and death. His body felt like it was shattering, and there was no one to pick up his pieces.
As the world spun around him, he saw Bea reach out once again. Without a second hesitation, he swiped at her, and turned ran into the dark alleys of Ceyhill City.
Away from a past that was being reborn.
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