Zoe stood in the hallway. Upon seeing her, the tension in Juliana’s muscles immediately drained away. She was just standing. Not fighting. She didn’t even have her dagger out.
She didn’t look particularly happy.
Juliana wouldn’t be either if there was a man half her height sticking a finger in her face while shouting at the top of his lungs.
Standing there, Juliana found herself stunned. Zoe never struck her as the type to just sit around while being verbally assaulted. Perhaps not the type to retaliate with lightning bolts—that would be more in the style of Juliana’s mother—but somewhere in between.
It took a moment to actually clue into the words that the man was saying. Judging by his repeated gestures towards the room and loud complaints about getting ‘black muck’ everywhere, he was the landlord. If the complaints weren’t enough, the threats about suing Zoe and the school for all they were worth sealed the deal.
Zoe just watched him with a blank expression. Perhaps she had already tried to interrupt or to calm him down. The only time she moved was to wipe a bit of spittle off her cheek.
That movement did bring her eyes off the landlord. She locked gazes with Juliana for just a moment, giving a rueful smile as she did so.
“You think this is funny?” the landlord shouted. An open palm swung out towards Zoe.
It struck skin with a loud smack.
But it didn’t hit Zoe’s cheek.
Ylva hadn’t been in the hallway before.
She was now. It wasn’t a teleport. Juliana had seen her move. It was less of a walk or run and more of a glide. The sudden drop in temperature with her appearance was plain to see on everyone’s breath.
The landlord’s wrist was caught in her firm grip just an inch away from Zoe’s face.
Black lines started spreading up his arm. He watched, face surprised but still angry. That surprise and anger bled away into fear as he started screaming.
“Ylva!”
Zoe’s hand was on Ylva’s arm almost as fast as Ylva had caught the landlord’s.
As soon as her fingers brushed against Ylva’s skin, a pair of cold, dead eyes turned towards Zoe.
Zoe’s back stiffened. She did not release Ylva’s arm. “Thank you,” she said. “But he doesn’t need to die.”
Ylva’s gaze slowly drifted back to the landlord. “This man attempted to harm one under Our protection. Moreover, his duties do not require the harming of others. His actions came unprovoked.”
“I know. But it was not an offense worth his life. Incarceration and fines for assault or battery would have been the standard procedure. However, if you let him go,” she said, turning to the landlord, “and he leaves us to our investigation, I’m sure we can all forget about what happened.”
Ylva stared for just a moment before releasing his arm.
The landlord fell to the ground. He scrambled away, using one arm and his legs to push away from Ylva. His other arm, the one that Ylva had touched, was slowly returning to its normal color. The black veins were receding.
“I’m sorry Mr. Murray. But we need to get back to work.” Zoe paused with a blink of her eyes. “Wait. Who was it that rented out that room?”
The landlord just stared. As if he couldn’t quite believe that he was being asked a question in such a calm manner after what had just happened. Being told that he doesn’t need to die, thereby implying that Ylva had intended to kill him, would be enough to shake anybody up.
At least, it would have shaken up Juliana. As it was, she could barely believe that Zoe hadn’t even asked if he was alright.
Maybe the situation was just that dire. Or maybe she didn’t want to offend Ylva.
Once the disbelief riddling his face passed, it looked for just a moment like he was about to start shouting again. That stopped the moment Ylva moved.
It wasn’t a big move. Just a light shift of her shoulders.
“Some woman and her boyfriend,” he said as fast as he could. “They destroyed the wall a week ago. I should have kicked them out after that, but they repaired it and promised to buy enough paint to give the entire hall a new coat. I swear, if I see them now–”
“You should find me,” Zoe interrupted. “Or a member of Brakket’s security team. Do you have their names?”
There was a slight pause as the landlord got back to his feet. “I got the names they registered with. Gertrude and Clementine, I think. No last names but they paid well so I didn’t ask.” He took a few steps backwards. “But I want you and your friend out of here by five o’clock. You hear me? Consider this your eviction notice.”
He didn’t wait for a response. The landlord backed up another three steps, turned, and started running.
The key word being ‘started.’
Both Eva and Juliana had stepped to the sides to allow him to pass by unhindered.
As soon as he caught sight of Eva, he jumped back again, this time towards Zoe and Ylva. He clutched one hand to his chest, taking a moment to breathe before edging past Eva. The moment he made it past, he flew down the stairs. Juliana could barely hear him mumbling about freaks on his way down.
If Eva heard him, she gave no indication. Her attention was solely focused on Zoe and Ylva.
“That was interesting,” Eva said as she walked up to the two women.
Zoe sighed. “He isn’t a bad man. But,” Zoe trailed off with a glance towards the room, “we did cause an explosion in his building.”
“If you need a place to live, there’s always room at the old prison.”
“Thanks Eva. I think I’ll try to remain around Brakket Academy. If anything happens,” again, she glanced off towards the destroyed room, “I’d hate to be too far to notice. The dormitory buildings are going to be empty enough that it shouldn’t be a problem to find a room inside.”
Eva’s shoulders dropped ever so slightly. “That’s probably for the best. With how empty the prison is these days, I’m going to be spending most of my time at the dormitory.”
After a quick, noncommittal hum from Zoe, she said, “Lucy?”
“With Nurse Post. I think she’ll heal. The important thing is to ensure that no one is around to hurt her anymore.
“Now,” Eva said, “did those hunters leave anything behind for Nel to track?”
“The room was devoid of personal affects. Not a single hair was found in the shower drain or on the pillows.”
“They knew of Us,” Ylva said. “They would have researched those that serve Us. Nel’s abilities have been taken into account.”
“Before we were… ah… interrupted by the landlord stopping by, we did find this in the bedroom.” Zoe held up a small rectangular sheet of paper.
Eva took it in her hand and Juliana read over her shoulder.
Hello! How are you doing today? Not too well, I’d guess, given the mess you had to wade through to reach this note.
In case this letter has been found by someone random, perhaps a first responder or another resident of the apartment building, please see it delivered to the secretary at Brakket Academy. She’ll know who to deliver it to.
Now that this letter is being read by the proper peoples, I’d just like to say that yes, that mess in the apartment room is one of your security guards. Well, half of the mess is. Oh. Right. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should probably ask whoever delivered this message to show you to the apartment room.
Don’t worry. I’ll wait.
Now that you’ve seen the room, I should point out that the scorch mark at the door was not from your security guard. Just some hel that, as far as we can tell, isn’t associated with everyone else. Don’t worry about it.
You might be looking around and wondering just where your other missing security guard is. I assure you that he is not among whatever remains are left behind.
He’s alive for the moment. Can’t say for how long, but I’m sure that if your devil hurries up, he might be able to save the bastard. He’ll be able to find the morail at a dainty little penitentiary just outside of town. It’s maybe half an hour away by car. I’m sure you all know the place. Sundown seems a fitting time to meet, no?