7.28 – A smile for you and a smile for me

James’ POV

After I’d finished getting ready, I pulled out my laptop and checked my emails.

I smiled as I saw one from Lance. That’s a good sign, I’ll be able to interrogate the weapon again. It’s weird though, this email is from four am this morning.

Bad news. Jane is gone. In the middle of the night three women came and took her away. The staff wasn’t able to hold against them, we have some injured and one death. Two of the kidnappers were fairies and the other was a witch. It’s who you’ve been searching for right?

I won’t be able to contact you for a while. Be careful.

She’s here? In town? Right now? Damn it, I’m not ready! And now she has the Weapon!

Whatever happens I can’t let her keep it, but I have no idea where she’d be in town. I could go asking around town, making people tell me if they saw two fairies and a witch, but I doubt that’ll amount to match if this happened last night.

Dang it, what do I do now?

I frowned as I heard muttering from the other side of my door. I walked over and placed my ear on it.

“Right here? Are you sure this is the right number this time? I’m just making sure! I don’t like knocking at the wrong people’s door.”

I vaguely recognized the voice, but I confirmed it was that guy from the talent troupe from the other day by extending my mind.

I opened the door abruptly, surprising…what was his name again? Ah Kent.

“Nevermind, you got it right, THIS time.” He said before hanging up his phone. “Hi there, I’ve come to give it another shot.” He said smiling at me.

An idea struck me and I motioned for him to come inside. His eyes widened in surprise.

“Really?” My warning look made him hurry inside.

“Okay, great…” He said a bit uncertainly as I waited for him to talk. “So you’re interested in the deal? It’ll be really profitable for you I swear. Is there anything you want or need? Any task too hard for you? We can do pretty much anything.” He chatted, trying to hold in his excitement.

‘Can you track someone down?’ I signed at him, a small smirk creeping up my face.

“Um…what was that with your hands?” He asked looking confused.

Sighing I took the pen and the notebook supplied by the hotel, wrote my question down and gave it to him. Not everyone knows sign language. Obviously.

“Track someone? Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how easy that it? Well for me anyway. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m a pretty good witch.” He bragged. I crossed my arms impatiently. “Yes well, that is certainly doable. But we’ll need you to do something for us first. It’s something really simple that you can do in the next few hours and you’ll be done. We just need you to recruit someone for us.”

That’s it? I was expecting something a whole lot worse. I smiled, satisfied, and he extended his hand.

“Deal?”

I nodded and shook his hand.

***

This is unbelievably boring.

Kent told me the person they wanted to recruit had some business to do in the town square, where I’d spent most of my time in Stonebridge so far. They’d purposefully lured her there so that I could recruit her.

They didn’t give me much to go on to find her though. All I know is that: she’s a green-winged fairy and stands out like a sore thumb. I’d spot her the moment I found her.

I’ve been here for an hour and I’ve barely seen anyone remotely unique. I’m starting to think I might’ve seen her already.

What a waste of time. I should’ve stuck to combing the town instead of doing this. Well, I might as well make something out of this. What should I get for breakfast? Fish or a hamburger?

***

???’s POV

The store door jingled closed behind me, the closed sign bouncing off the glass, and the sound only helped to make me feel proud about the job I’d just done. I stretched out my arms like I’d just done a whole day’s work, which for me is exactly what I’d just done. With this people shouldn’t discover him for another good two days.

This job did seem a touch too easy though…Smells kind of fishy, but as long as I get my promised reward it doesn’t really matter.

An old man walked over and looked startled at the sight of the closed sign beside me. “Closed?” He said aghast.

I shrugged innocently like I had nothing to do with that closed sign.

“I was surprised as well!” I exclaimed enacting conversation with the old man.

“Do you know what happened? This place is never closed on weekends.” He said looking downright hurt. Now I felt bad. It’s okay old man, someone else will probably come and open this place up a bit. You just have to wait a week or two.

“I don’t know. I came here and there was a closed sign on the door. I really wanted to try out their food too.” I said. I really did, the spaghetti I’d smelled inside made my taste buds water.

“It’s really unfortunate. The food here really is good. I have to say that’s a fancy sword you have on your back little lady.” He said, eyeing me a little bit suspiciously now.

“Thank you! That’s very nice of you! I made this with my own two hands mister. If you like it that much, I could probably make one for you too!” I said smiling at his comment. I only wish I’d actually made this, but I can’t forge swords…yet! I want to learn some day though!

“Really? But it looks so realistic! You must be really good in crafts. I’d take you up on that offer.” He said grinning as he tried to get a good look at my sword.

“Next time we meet.” I said, giving him a genuine smile. He’s such a nice guy!

“Next time.” He agreed nodding, and then we parted ways with our respective smiles. Old people are always so nice!

I jumped a few centimeters letting my wings support my weight and keep me levitated as I made my way through the stores.

I don’t have anything else planned for the rest of the morning. That means I can do some sightseeing!

I like Stonebridge’s clear skies. I’ve seen several skies, but I always like coming back to Stonebridge! I’ve never seen a single cloud here! Not that clouds aren’t pretty, but the blue of the sky is enchanting in its whole. One day, if I ever settle down, I want it to be here in Stonebridge.

I already found the house too! It’s not amazingly pretty and it’s not the beach house I imagined when I was younger, but it’s cozy and it’s the one I use every time I have a job in Stonebridge.

I blocked the sun with my palm. But to be able to settle down I have to kill him first, or else my parents will never truly be at peace.

As I happily continued with my sight-seeing my eye caught something dark in the midst of the happy going abouts of the Stonebridge population.

It was so out of place I couldn’t but stare it and it took my breath away.

I tried to take my breath back, but my heart was next to leave as I found I couldn’t take my eyes off the man I’d located.

I could barely glimpse at him from here, but it’s almost like he was right in front of me. The dark tortured air that surrounded him called out to me and I just wanted to go over there and paint yellow over his somber being.

I flew down slowly still looking at him, observing his disappointed face. Could it be possible that he just got stood up? Hope surged up inside me. I sure hope so! Then that would mean I’d have a chance.

Yes! I can just see it! Broken as he is from his last love, I’d come sweeping in and cheer him right back up. Then he’d see I’d be the best thing he could ever get and poof! Happily ever after! Sounds perfect to me!

I gracefully slid into the chair in front of him unable to keep the smile off my face. He was so handsome up close!

“Hi there,” I said leaning to the side to try and get into his field of vision. “My name’s Kyxa, what about you?”

His head turned to look at me and our eyes met, in that instant I was hit with two conflicting emotions. The first one was the one I liked the most, it made my heart skip a beat again and I almost wanted to look away from the impact of the smile that threaten to grow larger on face. The second one was a little less happy, it was shock. I was shocked to see he had the exact same eyes as the one I wanted to kill. Luckily, that second emotion was easy to throw away and I got to relish the jittery butterflies that were having a party in my chest.

It helped a lot that he looked shocked to see me too. Not like a ew-what-is-that-thing shock, more like a woah-impressed-and-slightly-intimidated type. His only reaction really was his mouth and eyes opening slightly, but it was more than enough for me.

He looked a little too shocked to reply.

“This is the part where you tell me your name.” I said with a grin.

He blinked as if he was coming back to his senses and started to, I don’t really know, like wave his hands around. I frowned at him. Was it sign language for no thank you go away? God I hope not!

Seeing my confusion he pulled out a pen and a piece of paper and wrote James on it. Ohhhh he must be mute, well that’s okay. I’ve never met someone mute before and there’s a first time for everything.

“James? That’s a gorgeous name!” I exclaimed giddily. He looked away with a small smile. James is actually a pretty common name, but knowing he wears it just made it more special. “Well James, I don’t know much about sign language so you’ll have to help me out.”

He gave a slight nod.

“Awesome! Can you show me how you say ‘you look beautiful?’” I asked, biting my lower lip.

He frowned slightly confused at my demand, but did as I asked anyway. My grin only grew larger as he did so.

“Aw thank you!” I gushed once he’d finished. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

A small barely perceptible blush inhabited his cheeks as he realized what I’d asked him to do.

But then he gave me a small lopsided grin, shrugging slightly as if he wasn’t going to deny what he’d just said. I wanted to squeal in happiness. Instead I managed to contain myself enough to only let a full-toothed smile burst through.

His eyes suddenly flashed like he’d remembered something important. He scribbled something on the piece of paper and showed it to me.

Do you know of the talent troupe?

I looked at him and then back at the paper and then back at him. Don’t tell me they sent him over? Because if they did they finally did something that has a possibility of working.

“Did they send you to try and recruit me by pure hazard?” I asked. He nodded, looking relieved that he didn’t have to explain the situation. I’m a touch disappointed.

“Well then…” I said, as I got up slowly. I leaned on the table. “You can tell those spammers that my answer stays the same.”

My earlier disappointment dissolved into thin air as a small smirk crept up his face. He nodded leaning back. Looks like I’m not the only one who thinks the talent troupe is annoying. Poor him, he must’ve gotten caught up in the nonsense.

“I hope we’ll see each other again then.” I said giving a wink-smile combo. Then, with my heart happily jumping in my chest I flew away.

 

I shamefully admit. I might’ve squealed or made another sound of equally excited nature while writing this chapter. I’m actually surprised I survived writing this! I kept dying over my keyboard in happiness. Kyxa is quickly becoming one of my unpredictable-does-what-ever-she-wants-because-that’s-just-who-she-is characters. I doubt I’ll be killing her any time soon 😉

Okay, can I just repost this pic for the sole reason that I love James’ face here?

 

Okay guys can I be honest with you here? My original plan was for Kyxa to flirt with James, but he’d reject her advances because the two relationships he’s been in have sucked and bladibla. I was seriously determined to have this happen. But I made Kyxa say hi and something completely different occured! James totally responded to her advances in my mind. It’s like I was writing against my will, and those two hit it off at first sight. I was completely shocked, but it was impossible for me to write the contrary. I’ve never had as much lack of control as I did then!