Tetra & Xer

Over the next week, Rex managed to narrowly avoid Victoria. She didn’t try to talk to him either, which made it easier.

He wasn’t completely responsible for his actions while drunk, but that didn’t change what happened.

He’d kissed her. He’d scared her. He didn’t know how “I thought you wanted it too” would go for an explanation, no matter how true it was.

She probably preferred it like this anyways.

It was stupid to care, but he probably wasn’t going to be her date for a gallery show now.

He busied himself with work, and work, both of them just enough to keep his mind occupied until he saw her door again.

It had been a long week, and would probably be a long whatever amount of time Victoria spent here. Rex debated moving out so it wasn’t permanent, but he didn’t have a cover story yet since his workshop was so close.

Tetra had found her water mage again. So too, had Xer.

Though annoying, the man had skill. She understood why people called him Elemaster.

“You seemed very adamant about this being your guy last time, so I’ll leave the plan to you.”

Definitely annoying.

“I just need to catch him when all’s said and done,” Tetra explained, “If you’re going to get involved, just incapacitate him and let me know where he is.”

She learned this was the best method when it came to Xer. He was stubborn, and hard to refuse.

She took a breath, glad it was the middle of the night, though a darker moon would have been better, and felt the shadows gather around her.

She opened her eyes and immediately shut them again. It was annoyingly bright inside the building, which, though anticipated, she hadn’t prepared enough for.

“You could afford to dim the lights,” she said, forcing her eyes to open into a squint as she searched for her target.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a master,” a voice said, “I thought you’d be, well, a master.”

She shot a hand out, and shadows caught the source of the voice.

“Nice work, princess,” the voice said, “But you got the wrong guy.”

She wasn’t enough of a fool to release him. True she couldn’t really see, but she wouldn’t let herself—

“Uh,” Xer said, “Your guy’s getting away.”

She threw her quarry down and ran the way Xer gestured, but she already knew it was hopeless. She didn’t even have the man’s name, and last time she tried to just track a water mage it didn’t succeed.

“Shite!”

She kicked the wall.

“I got the accomplice for you.”

The only thing that stopped her from dragging her hands down her face was that both were covered in metal, and nobody needed to hear that.

“What’s your obsession with this guy anyways?” Xer asked, “You don’t seem to be focusing on anything else, and there’s a lot going on in town.”

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what could be a long conversation.

“I don’t do this because I want to help people. I do this because I have to. I’m a Master.”

“Master of what?”

“In my case, Shadow.”

“You said that before, I think.” Xer said.

“The Masters are mages who keep other mages from harming those with less power,” she explained, “In my case North America specifically. If a mage is fucking with mortals, it’s my job to stop it, and this ones a toughie.”

“Okay,” Xer said, “What did he do? Because I haven’t seen him do much.”

She’d seen the damage. Sparky—still a ridiculous name—was very lucky to know so many elves after what happened.

“He severely injured the last master, who went after him because he forced a family to do whatever he wanted.”

Xer’s face darkened.

“And what did he want?”

Tetra shook her head.

“I didn’t feel their pain was mine to know. I just have to stop this bastard from doing anything worse, or the same.”

He crossed her arms.

“So this is some kind of cop killer vengeance. You don’t even care what he did?”

“I do, but I trust my senior’s judgment. Not to mention his injuries are enough to tell me this man is dangerous.”

“Do you deny being a cop?”

She scoffed.

“My work is well above a cop’s pay grade.”

“But you do the same thing?”

“If what they do is catch dangerous people so they don’t do more damage, yes, but your tone implies they do something else.”

Xer looked mad. Tetra made sure she knew the words to the reflect spell, because she might just need it.

“How do you not know?”

“Magek, and I was an isolated child. What do you want from me?”

He seemed a little less like he was going to attack her after that.

“I don’t trust you, and I didn’t trust you when you showed up either.”

“I would never have guessed after you accused me of lying about a whole world existing.”

“It wasn’t just you,” he said.

“How is that better?” she asked, “The feeling is mutual by the way. I don’t trust you, though it’s more a general mistrust of people who make my job harder.”

“Who grabbed the wrong guy?”

“It wasn’t my fault the warehouse was too bright.”

“So you have light sensitivity?” he accused.

“Yes. I’m a shadow mage, magek’s return makes my eyes more sensitive to light.”

“Then why do you use magek at all?”

“Why do you use your powers?” she asked, “Sure it’s not tied to our metabolism like your abilities are, but magek is just as essential part of us as it is you.”

“Magek isn’t a part of me.”

“You know what I meant, you—”

Sirens started blaring as red and blue lights illuminated them. Xer grabbed her arm before she could object and pulled her onto a nearby roof.

“What was that for?”

“Cops. They don’t like us.”

“Because you’re doing something illegal.”

“Because we undermine their authority. Even if you’re legally untouchable, they’ll try to keep you around for as long as possible to make your life miserable. Consider it a free tip.”

He stayed with her on the roof, as if waiting for her to test him. She finally pulled her arm away from him.

“I’ll see you next time you interfere.”

She let the darkness absorb her.

Rex checked off a mental list of bridges burned. First Victoria by being too friendly, then Tetra by not being friendly enough.

Tetra. He had heard that name before. Victoria mentioned it while talking about Feyrie genocide or something, but that was also just Tetra’s name, though an alias.

The phone rang to interrupt whatever connection he was forming.

“Arden Botanical Creations, how can I help you?”

“Your mother wants to talk to you,” a gruff voice on the other end said.

“Then why didn’t she just—”

“Darling,” his mother said, “How are you?”

“I’m doing fine. I owe you two a visit, don’t I?”

It was how he kept the apartment, because the plants definitely didn’t: One monthly visit to his parents and they’d pay for his solitude.

“Well I was calling just about that.”

No. Not another play or musical, or whatever event he had to dress up for. They always judged his suit, and he never cared about what was on stage.

“Technically, dad called,” Rex said, as if pedantry could save him, “Then just handed the phone over.”

“We got five tickets for the opera. One each for me and your father, one for your sister, and one each for you and your date.”

“I’m not dating anyone,” Rex said.

“Maybe this time try not to bring Mr. Gionelli,” his mother said, making it clear she was both well aware of the facts, and ignoring him, “He’s very charming, but not what we really want for you.”

“You’re already making me get dressed up, probably last minute. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

“Be that as it may. We expect to see you there, Friday at 5.”

Today was Wednesday. He had two days to get a date and make sure he had something to wear.

“This isn’t like a torture method because I’m a disappointment is it?”

His mother hung up.

“Guess I saw that coming.”

He immediately dialed up a better number.

“Hey!” Pete answered, weirdly excited.

“Hey. I need a date Friday. You like the opera, right?”

“No,” Pete said, “My dad speaks Italian, so he winds up translating the whole thing for us, in song, and he never took lessons.”

“Well, my parents didn’t invite him, so you’re safe.”

“I am also not available Friday night,” Pete said, “Or most nights for an indefinite period of time.”

“What?” Rex asked.

“Top secret project, and maybe something more. Good luck finding a date.”

He hung up.

“What do you mean ‘something more’?” he asked empty air. Everything he wondered about just made him more confused.

Who else could he get last minute to deal with him and his parents without asking questions? He didn’t talk to anyone from highschool, and doubted any of them would recognize him by name. All of his current friends would ask questions he didn’t feel like answering, and his parents would ask even more of whoever it was.

Then the stupidest idea came to him.

He left his room, went across the hall and knocked.

Victoria answered in a loose smock covered in green smudges. Her hair had flecks of the color too.

“I owe you an apology for that kiss about a week ago. I should have asked, and I’m very sorry that I freaked you out, but I’m sober right now, and…” he wasn’t sure what else to add to the apology, but there had to be more.

“You don’t have to apologize, Rex,” Victoria responded.

“I don’t?”

She shrugged.

“Obligations.”

That word hung heavy for a moment. It told him he hadn’t read the situation wrong, but that it couldn’t repeat itself. He didn’t know Victoria by any means really, but that hurt.

“Um, I might have a favor to ask of you then.”

“What is it?”

No, he couldn’t do it. He had just needed an excuse to talk to her again, and now the air was clear. He did not need his parents involved in this.

“Nevermind.”

He turned around, and walked back into his apartment.

Victoria knocked on the door. He opened it.

“What favor?” she asked.

“One I realized I don’t want you to fulfill.”

“Why not?”

“Because I actually like you as a person, which means I don’t want either of us to deal with the inevitable questions that come from you meeting my parents.”

She gave him a look of scrutiny.

“What questions will come from meeting your parents?”

“The ones they will ask you, and the ones you’ll ask me when you see how we interact.”

“Then I promise not to ask questions,” she said, “At least not about your parents.”

“What?”

“You seem to dread the prospect of them, and fate knows I carry my own secrets. You don’t question me. I don’t question you. We move on with our lives and enjoy whatever activity you do with your parents.”

“It’s the opera.”

“The opera!” she beamed. She seemed genuinely excited at the prospect.

“You really are a proper English lady, aren’t you?”

Her face turned dour.

“Right, no questions, sorry.”

She didn’t smile.

“Accent aside, I was born and raised in Scotland.” she said it assertively, like he’d insulted her whole family.

“And that makes a difference?”

“Absolutely.”

Rex looked her up and down, then realized something.

“I thought you said you were a mage.”

“I am. My family just spends more time on Earth. Maybe I’ll take you to our castle sometime.”

“Castle?”

She closed the door behind her, then knocked again.

“What time is the opera?”

“We’re meeting them there Friday at 5.”

“Oh that’s quick.”

“Right?” Rex said, “And they always complain that I wear the same suit, like they could actually tell.”

“Do you?” she asked.

“Do I what?”

“Wear the same suit.”

“Yes, I don’t have the time or budget not to.”

“Give it to me.”

She extended a hand.

“What?”

“I’ll do something to it, make it look like new, plus I need it to match my dress anyways.”

What beast had he unleashed? He grabbed his suit from the closet and handed it to her.

“I will see you…” Victoria rolled her eyes up like she was calculating something, “When do you need to leave for the Opera?”

“It’s about 20 minutes away.”

“I will see you whenever that means.”