Mayfair Vol 2 #5: Nubibus

The ride on the “car” or that’s what I call it, was certainly bumpy. It’s an Aston Martin, designed time be four seated. Similar to a certain one in those fantasy books...but nothing I know of. With the current technology she has (and stole), it does allow lots of people in.

 

However everyone’s looks are just a bit unsettled, considering it was a lot to take in. I see Edris’ face showing uncertainty. Even Terry doesn’t even know what’s going on anymore. Makes me being in the habit terrible mood as of right now, but nevertheless I nudge Prez, who was almost falling asleep, to give her pep talk.

 

Prez: “Kid, you doing good? It’s a lot to take in right now. Adults are talking.”

Edris: “I’m 23, but probably god knows how fucking long is that in fairy years…and I wanna go home…or at least, fly back if I could

Prez: “First off, that’s still pretty young by magic standards . Tough luck seems it might not give you that at the moment, but sure. We’ll get there…”

Edris: “Ok…but what about Magnus?”

Prez: “Hm. I dunno. That’s what we’re doing, no? What’s the last trick he showed ya?”

Edris: “How to manipulate glass shards. This one requires concentration, years of practice...”

Prez: “Nah I’ve seen you done better. You don’t need years or months, a week or a couple days and you’re doing a great job. At least your magic is much stronger...just don’t let the feelings consume you too much. Been an insomniac myself, but with the meds I’m much better. If I can control my emotions, why can’t you? You got this.”

Edris: “Thanks, Prez.”

Prez: “Anytime.”

 

Terry: “That was great..right, we almost there, no?”

Florence: “Not yet, though we’re close. Gaskin’s really fucking big after the teleporting. We’re almost in Prague. Just give it a while when I’m carrying a bunch of supposed criminals on board…”

Sean: “I’m pretty sure you’d be apprehending us if you were with Vertex right now; you wouldn’t even be present driving this thing.”

Florence: “I would. There’s punishments for breaking the magical laws. Just because I’m laying off the grid doesn’t mean I’ll change my ways.”

Sean: “I bet you’d do that in a heartbeat. But I’d be a defendant for everyone. You’re as guilty as the rest...just like Rowie and Mags. We’re all the same.”

Florence: “Touché. We’re minutes away so strap on when the conversation continues.”

 

***

 

We land in Prague—with a even misty, clouded layer of fogs. It’s basically half of what Japan could look like now. The same could be argued for how onis could mask their presence like that when I fought em multiple times.

 

The Aston Martin is led through the tightly guarded Dancing House as the followers of Eltrocus order us off. Most of the weapons are confined except the ones we carry on. We go through the first floor and the old man greets us, his bald head radiating in slight brightness with a gaunt smile. The room feels like a boaton, where it rots and smells upon entering.

 

Koles: “Here to negotiate? Just in time.”

Sean: “Pretty much, considering we all went through hell because Mags betrayed us.”

Koles: “Right.”

Sean: “Did you know?!”

Koles: “…”

Terry: “C’mon, just answer it. Forge gave the order right?”

Koles: “Precisely. I wish I could explain on how much, but we’re here for the sole purpose of my lost apprentice. And you need help, don’t you?”

Sean: “We could extradite you right now based off on the recent things, we trashed the Louvre when the Serpent came. Did you even know he was a foil?”

Koles: “Of course. The magic rules…I’ve been a layover for it.”

(He snaps his fingers, and Forge arrives with another book)

 

Koles: “This is the second book. Given the occultist I am, I would have naturally alerted to one of my gifted pupils; for he was fluent in Nordic and me in Russian, so we converged. The queen is hungry and I can sense it; the mentors and Brim as vessels…”

Forge: “Daintly fucking twat. I should have been there. But the history is that, fucking demons were crawling up. They’re mutated, because god knows if Satan exists. The King’s a literal antichrist.”

Luc: “Then it’s basically an offshoot cult. Whatever happened to you, I don’t care much. You tell me where they are in Prague.”

Forge: “In her native home. But we had to cut a deal with Vertex so we could interfere on a limited basis; they offered a great sum of money.”

Florence: “You corrupted them with dark magic didn’t you? Blinding and misdirection?”

Koles: “That’s why you’re the switch, just like how they called you. Just like your sister. Sometimes the game rules have to be leveraged. Give me a good reason why we should offer the book, because this is definitely a negotiation.”

 

My fists grip harder as the conversation continues. Now I know why Callan was acting very off in the first place, he was pretending to be sober, drugged under the influence while me and Terry were gone. And they took my love.

 

I can’t believe this to be another encounter of betrayal for a second book of curses, but unless someone’s taken over their mind, it’s probably likely. I step forward, spraying powder in the faces of everyone. It’s the influence.

 

Sean: “You had our friends under control too. You’re playing the big game, aren’t you?”

Koles: “I will do whatever it is best to make it sufficient for our species; so long that we will continue the traditions of Vlad the Impaler. Your United Kingdom will fall further under the hands of us, Irishman.”

Terry: “You could have taken the book straight away, but you haven’t, why?”

Luc: “Everything’s under the illusion it’s hard to tell what’s true anymore, and I’m dubious you could look through the lenses, you bitch. The book you have is a fake. We smuggled the one when you forget the Irishman is a lawyer.”

Sean: “Give me back my friends or we’ll deal with you.”

Koles: “Too late, my plot will continue to further and haste, the seeds will spread and sow. Take them and the book!”

 

In another terrible effort of unnecessary fights, some of Forge and Koles’ men start warping into a swarm of bats, attempting to charge at us. Terry sets and invisible field, but the followers start clawing and attempt to penetrate it. Prez tries shielding Edris while Callan tries finding cover. We are left helpless with our powers, not even Florence could hold them off.

 

Luc, under the amplified stress, starts cursing in Latin and elven tongue again, his eyes flaring in yellow as he teleports in front of the possessed Koles, but Forge blocks him off with a dynamite—and it gets redirected into his face, causing him to fall on the sides. He plunges his fingers onto the old man’s head, chanting loudly as he tries to purge the evil influences that infiltrated Koles mind.

 

A blinding flash engulfs the two in which I can hear the last words translated to “banishing your mind”, but I’m not entirely sure if that was right. Luc emerges unscathed, and takes out a potion containing mabaerf. He forces it down Koles’ throat as he tries reaching for his whip, but we restrain him with the rest of the team stopping the fight as the bats revert back to humans.

 

Luc: “This will cleanse him and drain him of his powers…his manipulates chakra. I guess we’ll see what needs to be done next.”

Florence: “Where is the actual book then?”

Luc: “I may have foreseen it, it’s somewhere in the top floors, but, you need the stronger amulets—niikaams to sense it.”

Callan: “Wait, the book he’s got is a fake?”

Luc: “Yes. It was half a ploy and distraction because I did precognition; but we gotta look for it when everyone’s out cold.”

 

***

Vampire: “Wake up.”

Rowena: “Where am I this time?”

Vampire: “Processing. For the sake of our races.

Rowena: “No, no...”

Vampire: “Please comply, human. Or I will not tolerate further action.”

Rowena: “I fucking swear—no, we’re not going there again, no....no!”

 

 

Glossary:

Niikam: An alternate term for amulet

Mabaerf: Purging chemical, can be for soul cleansing

Boaton: Something poorly made.

Done