“How are we going to find her?” Emily asked openly. “There’s no way they didn’t cover their tracks to make any type of locating magic impossible.”
“Conventional magic would most likely not work,” Marcy agreed but was really leading to her suggestion.
“More black magic?” Emily was against continuing down that path. “No. That’s probably why the Hunters showed up in the first place. Rachael and I have never had a problem with them. I didn’t even know they still existed. But apparently, they’ve attacked you before.”
Marcy became solemn.
“Nothing to say?” Emily was more surprised by the silent response.
“You’re probably right,” Marcy admitted, though, her doing so did not seem to be from a place of regret. “This is my fault. Constantly pushing the boundaries of magic would bring notice. Something like this was bound to happen. But, what of it at this point? We’ve already been discovered. And I’m not wrong when I say conventional magic won’t work.”
“There’s got to be another way?” Emily disputed. “Ligaya?” who appeared. “Can you find her?”
“No,” Ligaya told. “I’m not bound to her the way I am with all of you. The best I can do is ask other spirits. But those that would most likely know would ask something in return, which isn’t much different than what Marcy is suggesting.”
“I don’t like this,” Emily continued to protest.
“There’s no turning back,” Marcy asserted. “At least not for me. Leave this in my hands. I’ll save Olivia no matter what it may cost me. You two continue toward getting Andy back.”
The idea left Emily momentarily stunned. It was not something she considered, but having been presented with the possibility, she entertained it in her mind for only a second. Of course, splitting up was not an option. “We save Olivia together.”
“You don’t trust me?” Marcy questioned.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you—…” Emily was surprised by how honest she had said that. “We just can’t risk going at these problems apart. We might end up losing everybody.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Marcy expressed happily.
Then Marcy turned her attention to Rachael, becoming concerned, as did Emily. Rachael had been very silent during the discussion and was found chewing on her nail nervously.
“What do you want to do from here?” Marcy asked.
Rachael did not answer right away. She only stared back at the two with guilt. She sadly expressed, “I don’t know. We’ve already wasted so much time. I can’t keep wasting time. Andy could be dead. The longer we wait, the more likely he could be dead. Going to save Olivia might take too long. We might not even make it out alive and then who’s going to save him?”
“Then you go,” Marcy was allowing. “We can handle this.”
“Are you sure?” Rachael needed to hear approval once more.
Before Marcy could offer such, Emily spoke in opposition, “Think about this.” She was given uncertain looks. “We need to stay together.”
“What are you saying?” Rachael was becoming disheartened.
“I know you’re worried about Andy, but he could already be dead, like you said,” Emily spoke bluntly. “Olivia isn’t. At least not yet. We need to save her first. We were the ones who dragged her into this mess. And, if Andy knew what was going on, he would put her over himself in a heartbeat.”
“Don’t say that.” Rachael was struggling again.
“I know you’re worried,” Emily understood. “Of course, you are. He’s your brother. But we need to do this first. It’s the smart thing. It’s the right thing.”
“Again, with this bullshit.” Rachael hated not being able to save her brother. And having to make this choice was difficult. Her agreement was desperate, “I get it. Yes. I get it. Just— Let’s go save her.”
Emily cupped Rachael’s face, bitterly happy they could agree. “Thank you.”
Marcy spoke, “I’m glad we know what we’re doing. But, as I’ve said, would you be willing to cross some kind of line?” was the real issue that needed to be answered. “We’re already wasting precious seconds. And trying to figure a different method will only waste more.”
“What are you suggesting?” Emily was loathingly willing to hear the darker option.
“We need to go to the Bizarre Bazaar.”
Emily expressed her miserable feelings as she accepted what was needed, “Then let’s go.” Rachael did not say anything, but it was already pretty obvious she was willing to do whatever was needed. Ligaya had no objections, because as a spirit, that place was not something she was unfamiliar with. And Mark, having little agency in the magical world, was simply willing to go along with whatever the situation may be. They all seemed to be in agreement.
The Bizarre Bazaar was open from dusk until dawn and accessed from any shadow. The fee was one of three options: a key that must belong to a home, the actual cost being the lives of the occupants; enough blood to fill a tub; or a secret that not even the Devil knows. By simply sinking the key into the shadow, spilling the blood on it, or whispering the secret to it would then the way be opened.
Marcy approached the shadow of the nearest tree, and she was able to offer the third that she said so softly that none of the others were allowed to hear for their safety.
The darkness bubbled as an entrance, similar to a doorway that was covered by a black curtain, rose up.
“Shall we?” Marcy ushered the group forward.
“What about Mark?” Emily wondered as she turned to look at him to find he was staring curiously at the door that was visible even to him.
“This is the purest form of magic that even the magically inept can experience,” Marcy assured. “So, he can come along.”
“Should he?” Emily worried about his safety.
“I don’t know if leaving him here alone is much better,” Marcy felt. “The Midnight Man is still wandering around somewhere and won’t be gone for another three hours.”
“Right,” Emily remembered. “I guess you get to finally see what this is all about. Not just us screaming weird words and random things then suddenly happen” like an interpretive dance. That was because the magically conjured barrier, lightning, and fire were invisible to his eyes. Only their effect on the mundane world was noticeable.
“Would you think less of me if I said I was afraid?” Mark commented.
“I’m afraid for you,” Emily expressed her own worry as an answer.
“Well, at least I’m not alone,” he said having somehow been reassured by her statement. “Lead the way.”
The group stepped through with Marcy in the front. Immediately on the other side was a street of stone that stretches infinitely in both directions. No sky existed above, but instead, what appeared to be an ever-churning cosmos of darkness like a desert of black sand. Small particles trickled down all around similar to an hourglass. The world was only hazily visible. More light was definitely wanted but the fact there was any at all was thanks to dim, flickering streetlamps lined in a perfect row down the center of the street.
Nothing but shops lined both sides of the street. The shades, demons, and apostates here offered anything and everything that could be wanted and more. For the cheapest of barters, a single breath could be traded for memories forgotten a day ago, or something colored blue for knowing tomorrow’s weather. As well, as things became more costly, certain limbs and organs could be traded for certain types of demon blood, or a person’s very emotions could be exchanged for things such as youth or strength. There was no doubt that somewhere in this place was a thing that could be purchased to find the location of a person regardless of concealing wards. The only thing to worry about was the cost.
Mark was the third through the door following behind Rachael. Bewilderment immediately overcame him once crossing the threshold. He had never before seen a phantasm of the likes, and he could not help but gawk at the anomalous surroundings. So much held similarities from the world only to then be twisted to the point that it was no longer familiar.
Emily passed through the black door right after and stood close by to act as both a guardian and a mediator. “You good?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted as he turned his head to look at her. That was when movement was noticed out of the corner of his eye. He looked back to see a person who he had never seen before, passing through the door.
Ligaya had been the last to cross over, and the moment she entered the bazaar, she was caught off guard by the eyes staring at her. She felt like a deer in the headlights and stared back at Mark with just as much confusion. Realization struck, “Oh, shit. He can see me.”
The other women were more astonished by this than anything else that was happening in this world. “Really?”
Mark sensed the positive mood in the reactions. He knew then that there was nothing to worry about. He also quickly came to the assumption that “You’re the ghost that’s been haunting us.”
“Sure am,” Ligaya said as if it was no big deal. However, she turned a bit to the side and began floating off in a direction away from the others. Though she appeared disinterested, she was actually very happy that Mark had finally interacted with her. She was also embarrassed that she was happy and did not want the others to see the stupid smile on her face. “I’m going to look around for a bit on my own.”
“Wow,” Mark casually exclaimed. Then he was smiling stupidly but was not afraid to show it. “She’s been with us for so many years, and I’ve finally gotten my chance to say something. Damn it. Should have said something cooler.”
“Yep,” Emily’s acknowledgment was a tease, but her real sentiment was shared right after, “But I’m happy for you.”
Rachael, on the other hand, was looking annoyed because all this sentimentality was wasting time.
“So good that we can bond like this,” Marcy interrupted the couple’s joy by agreeing along at first only to follow up with “But we came here for a reason. Let’s not get distracted.”
Rachael gave an appreciative glance over to Marcy for getting the situation back on track.
“Right.” Mark put his smile away.
Emily glared. “You can’t just appreciate these moments, can you? So, what are we looking for?”
“How to find a person,” Marcy presented the request. “Feel free to start asking around,” and after giving that suggestion, she did just that. Her raised-up arm got the attention of a being made of smoke who she began to talk to, “I’m looking for a way to find someone?”
The smoke monster appeared to be in thought before answering with courtesy, “Sorry, I wouldn’t know. Would you know where I can get a piece of the first flame?”
“Find Periphas.” Marcy looked up and down the road and somehow knew the direction. “He’ll be that way. You’ll need the liver of a human male for trade. Preferably one from a man that defied God.”
“Thank you.” The smoke monster then looked at Mark. “Would you be willing to trade anything for that human liver?”
“I’m sorry,” she acted graciously so as not to offend, “I can’t part with any of those particular pieces today. Though, I do have some on hand.”
“Well, well,” the smoke monster sounded pleased. “Anything that I can trade for one. . ?”
Seeing how casually Marcy had been able to interact with the Otherworldly dweller, the others began doing the same. Their attempts soon drew the attention of one who knew.
A baby-armed armadillo-like creature with a weaselly expression scuttled up to Emily. “I hear your party is trying to find a method to locate a person. Look for Laplace. But be careful. He’s a demon. Their kind tends to ask for outrageous compensation. Now then, how much do you want for the human male?”
Instead of acting offended, Emily answered politely, “He’s not for sale to you.”
“You want nothing at all?” The armadillo pressured. “I know Witches love their ingredients. I have a pinch of void cap spores that are worth, at the very least, two human males and I’m offering it to you for just the one. How could you say no? They’re easy enough to find replacements in your world, unlike this rare material.”
“The answer is still no,” she answered easily and held up her hand to show the engagement ring.
“Aha,” the armadillo was able to understand now. “A soul bond. Sorry that I asked.”
“Excuse me,” Marcy had approached and sought the attention of the creature. “I don’t have a whole human to offer, but” she pulled out four human hearts, “could I possibly get that pinch in exchange for these? I assure you they are all male and fresh.”
The armadillo deliberated for a moment and shrugged. “I guess I can’t be that picky. Hearts are the most valuable part. Four of them are probably as good as one whole human. It’s a deal.”
Emily stared at Marcy with an appalled expression during the entire transaction. Once over, she demanded, “Where did you get those?”
“The Hunters weren’t going to be needing their organs,” Marcy answered.
“You butchered their corpses?”
“I guess I did,” Marcy admitted. “But I wasn’t acting vindictive when I did so. I just did not see the point in wasting good material. Anyway, they did try to kill us. Shouldn’t you feel satisfied they got what was coming to them?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” Emily was revolted. “They’re still humans which deserve some kind of respect.”
Marcy pondered. “Why?”
Emily clenched her fist angrily. “This is why they’re trying to fucking kill you.”
Marcy did not like the scolding and appeared annoyed. Not interested in having an argument, she moved on quickly, “Shall we find Laplace?”
“For fuck’s sake.” Emily stormed off. “Let’s get this done before I lose my goddamn mind dealing with you. I just—” she interrupted her rage to take a calming breath. “Once this is over … I don’t care what you do. But stay out of my life.”
Mark stepped in as a voice of reason, “You don’t mean that—”
Emily turned and pointed at him accusatively. “She doesn’t give a shit about anybody but herself. She’s just an autistic fuck up that isn’t even trying to be human anymore. She isn’t even human anymore actually. Remember? She gave that up. Don’t defend her. All the shit that’s going on right now is just her trying to fix her own mistakes. And thinking that fixing her own mistakes, which shouldn’t even exist in the first place, is somehow the right thing, is not the right thing. The right thing would have been not to make those mistakes in the first place. It’s only been a few hours since we’ve seen each other, and I’m already so tired of her. Let’s get this done and be on our separate ways.”
Mark knew not to say anything. And Ligaya and Rachael felt they could not say anything even if they did not agree.
Hearing that made Marcy furrow her brow in self-directed disappointment. She had messed up again.
The group stood before the storefront of Laplace’s Directory. Rachael did not bother wasting time, and the moment she knew this was the place to be, went inside. Emily and Mark followed right after, not wanting to leave Rachael alone in the building belonging to a demon. That left Marcy and Ligaya alone for a moment.
Marcy turned to Ligaya to make a request, “Do you mind staying out here to keep watch?”
“Being excluded again I see,” Ligaya pouted in her apathetic way.
“No,” Marcy assured. “That’s not it at all. I’m trusting you to keep us safe in case Laplace tries to trap us inside.”
“I guess I can do that,” Ligaya halfheartedly agreed.
“Thank you,” Marcy appreciated. “This should be quick. Be ready.”
Ligaya sighed which caught Marcy’s attention and then sympathy was given, “Are you alright with what Emily said?”
“I’m just fine,” Marcy assured with a neutral expression, and she did not wait any longer to explain as she entered the building.
On the other side of the aperture was the rest of the group who had been waiting. The area they stood was the beginning of a wide passage that led deep into darkness beyond. Little did the lights in this building help. The hanging fixtures only worked to illuminate the drifting dust to create a haze that concealed what was beyond. And the dark coloring of the wooden floors and walls seemed to absorb the light.
When the door closed, Emily wondered, “Is Ligaya not coming in?”
“She decided to wait outside,” Marcy lied. “Anyway, why are you standing around? I expected you to already be talking with Laplace.”
“You’re the black magic expert,” Emily said as an accusation. “So, you probably know how to deal with a demon better than the rest of us.”
“Maybe so,” Marcy seemed to agree using the same neutrality in her voice and expression. “But maybe that’s a bad thing. You wouldn’t want me making morally corrupt deals on your behalf, right? Why don’t you try to deal with Laplace on your own?”
“Are you being passive-aggressive right now?” Emily assumed.
“No,” Marcy assured. “You know that I’m always straightforward with my aggression. This is me trying to be courteous, I guess.”
“Both of you,” Rachael barked as the arguing seemed to never stop no matter how close it came to the end of the issue. She took it upon herself to say what was needed, “Stop. We get the location of Olivia, save her, then do the same for Andy. Hell, I’m going to ask the demon if it knows where Andy is, too.”
With that, she took it upon herself to go further into the store and be the one to make the deal if she had to. The wooden flooring made each of her footsteps echo as she disappeared into the haze.
Emily quickly followed out of concern, but also to get away from the person she did not want to be around.
Mark decided to stay with Marcy for a bit to try helping in some way by starting to say, “I know she said some harsh things—”
But he was interrupted by her telling him to “Go.”
He shut up and did as she told, leaving her behind.
Rachael reached the end of the passage soon followed by Emily and then Mark. The room they had found was the size of a normal office space, but with a more open feel because of the complete lack of furniture. Instead, there were only crisp papers scattered everywhere creating several large piles. The walls were also covered in layers and layers. Each was a map of some kind, ranging from geographical landscapes to city plans to diagrams of the universe. They could easily be read thanks to the glass ceiling that glowed like a fluorescent light, which made little sense since outside had no light at all.
However, there did not seem to be anyone here. That was when one of the nearest piles began to tremble, several of the sheets cascading down like a little avalanche. The contents then shifted, lifted, and scattered as spidery legs emerged from within and beneath. Sharp clicks of pointed appendages dragged out the monster that was like a giant hand with too many fingers. But there was no pink flesh but the hard, bloodred shell of an arthropod. Mounted on its back was a torso that had both arms and head replaced by more appendages. That body was dressed in a white shirt, black vest, and a tie.
“Welcome,” spoke Laplace. “What can a humble demon offer such powerful Witches?”
“We’re looking for a person …” Rachael began to explain without concern.
Back by the front entrance, Marcy was preparing. Her arms were held out at her sides with her fingers spread wide. As she took a breath, she slowly lifted them in front of her. There was a moment of pause as she considered what she was about to do and knew this was the only way.
Marcy quickly swept both arms down as she cast “Lalqus.” There was a sudden turmoil of wind within the room at the end that began to pull back into the passage. As papers were dragged out, so were Rachael and Emily lifted off their feet. That very same Lalqus was used to propel Marcy forward through the passage. The women flew past each other, swapping places. Marcy bit her hand and splashed the blood on the ground creating a red line between her and the two of them. “Doblo Pesimas,” was cast. A glowing, translucent red barrier materialized to seal off the passage. Marcy was now the one in the room alongside Mark who had not been targeted by the spell.
“Hm,” Laplace was curious about what just happened. “This is an interesting development.”
“They don’t know how to make the hard choices.” Marcy gripped the back of Mark’s neck, her claws growing to show how serious she was.
“Marcy—?” Mark tried to question what was going on only for a claw to press against his throat to silence him.
“I offer you this man in exchange for the information …”
Emily and Rachael hurried back through the passage only to find the bloody blockade. Emily screamed as she pounded a fist on the wall, then kicked hard with anger.
“What’s she doing?” Rachael questioned with tension in her voice.
“Something stupid!” was all Emily needed to know. She stepped away and instructed, “Stand back.” Then she aimed her hand at the barrier …
“My, my,” Laplace was intrigued. “How could I not take you up on that offer?” Legs began to reach toward Mark.
Marcy pulled Mark back to show she was not ready to hand him over quite yet. “You think I’d trust a demon to keep his side of the bargain once he got what he wanted?”
“You just betrayed your friends and you’re talking about trust to me?” Laplace was humored.
“A man’s life is worth a lot less than that of a fellow Witch,” Marcy compared, “even if they wouldn’t agree. I’m acting against their poor decision-making for what’s best.”
“Well, I can agree with you there.” They were of a common mind. Laplace wandered away to search for the information, Olivia’s location, that it was already aware of from the prior discussion with Rachael. A moment later, it returned with a piece of paper and laid the sheet on the ground. An aerial view of Darkess was presented and Laplace pointed to a place. “Right here at the old brewery back in your city. An easy find.”
“Thanks …”
“Ret Egra Rikest!” Emily cast a more powerful version of lightning. To both women’s surprise, the barrier dropped before being hit by the spell. That left the arching energy to fire straight down the passage.
Marcy sidestepped and pulled Mark aside which moved them out of the way just in time. An immense lightning bolt shot passed and struck Laplace. The demon staggered and hissed. Energy bounced in every direction from the impact igniting the loose pieces of paper and rapidly filled the room with flames.
“You Witch!”
Marcy turned and ran back down the passage while dragging Mark by the collar of his shirt. When she met up with the others, “Here, take him,” Mark was passed over to Emily who caught him and had him running on his own.
“What did you do!” Emily demanded.
Rachael followed up with her own concern, “Did you get the information?”
“Yes,” Marcy answered Rachael. “Now we need to get out of here. I’ll explain after.”
They reached the end of the passage, and Marcy used her body to smash through the door in case it had been locked. The wood exploded, and they were outside. Ligaya was there standing over several incapacitated creatures that she had beaten up.
“What’s going on?” She also wondered when she saw the others flying out of the building.
No explanation was given again. Only, “We need to get back to our realm.”
Ligaya did not question why and just joined the group as they stormed down the street before the situation in the Bizarre Bazaar became something like a witch hunt.