The Partisan Chronicles [Dystopia | Supernatural | Mystery]

Feargus

Days Until Rhian Arrives: 5

Obligatory Strauss Check-In:

Hour 1:
• Fine.

Hour 2:
• Still fine.

Hour 3:
• So fine.

I knocked the special knock on the back door of the Widow's Peak that afternoon, and Ivana answered holding a bucket at her hip. She nudged me inside with her head, and I locked the door behind us. She left the office straightaway, though, back into the common room. And once she was done with her chore, she joined me at the desk.

"You keep up on Jaskan nightlife gossip at all?" I asked.

"I try. What's this about?"

"Do you know anything about a society couple, last name Trager?"

V betrayed her surprise with a quick jerk of her eyebrows. "Della and Derek? Why?"

"I may have clocked them for shilling Ambiance, the city has a problem, and someone's dead because of it. And I might try to sleep with them."

Ivana chuckled. "You probably could. And from what I've heard, you probably should. But you should also know they're Anima."

That hadn't stopped me before, and I'd had a suspicion they were. Remember back when I spoke with Vivienne for information on the big players in town, clients, and employees? There was nothing on the Tragers. But when I met them, they were clearly from some upper-level stock. Whatever high society they were part of, wasn't the living one.

"What's their thing?" I asked.

"Well," V replied.

My very favourite way to begin a thought. I worked my way around behind her, planted a kiss on the top of her head, and gave her shoulders a rub while she explained.

"They're friends of Alexander's. Acquaintances of mine, but they're really more his circle. My 'thing' demands that I don't get out much, unfortunately."

"So let me take you on a date."

Ivana tilted her head back, regarding me with a puzzled, upside down smile.

"Right, it's settled then. I'll need some time to think of something brilliant, and a few days to get this Ambiance business sorted."

Ivana chuckled and shook her head. "If you say so. Have fun with the Tragers, and even though they won't kill you, be careful. I'd talk to Alexander for the details."

Councilwoman Faust still hadn't returned to the estate, but I expected she'd resurface around the same time the others arrived, so I wasn't exactly fussed. Alexander and I settled in the library with my Pig and his pipe. He shook his head slowly.

"I fear there's no easy solution to this problem," he said. "Derek Trager has supplied Ambiance to the city for centuries."

"So why is it only a problem now?"

"It isn't. Ambiance accidents have typically been covered up gracefully, but the new Captain has a different way of handling things, it would seem."

"So you're saying his way is a nuisance to those in your community skirting the law. Yet, Faust was the one who wanted him in there."

"Something along those lines."

"I don't think he knows about the Anima," I said.

"Perhaps, perhaps not, but Zelda will decide if and when he does. Her reasons for uplifting Kavelin are her reasons, and they don't concern me."

"Even now the Tragers are involved?"

Alexander shrugged and puffed his pipe.

"So how old are they?" What I really wanted to know was: were they created before or after the Zack nap? BN or AN?

"Three hundred fifty odd years."

AN, then. Meaning: Zacharias didn't know them, or even of them, and so unfortunately I couldn't call him on his crime math theory. "Who made them?"

"Their maker is no longer a factor. She was slain by Partisans somewhere around two centuries ago. She was a brothel madam."

"Let me guess, at the Gander?"

"It wasn't called the Gander then, but yes. Della worked for her, and Derek was a client."

"The madam at the brothel isn't an Anima now, is she?"

"Who, Tanis?"

I nodded.

"No."

"Is she aware of them?" I asked.

"Yes."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Is the brothel protected under Faust's watch?"

"Yes."

"Ivana implied the Tragers are dangerous. How come?"

"Well, they won't kill you. They are rehabilitated."

"How would they have killed me in the past?"

"Seduced you into their bedroom, and they may still do that, but you would survive."

"So, I noticed their hires are men."

"Yes—Della can't provide everything Derek desires, but she enjoys watching him get it."

I puffed my cheeks out.

Alexander shrugged again. "They're dangerous, mister Finlay, because their world is enticing. Sex, drugs, wealth, and a complicated web. All things which can easily spiral."

Everleigh and I met in the cellar that night while I was on a break. I knew she was floating around, because she'd been invisible making things move behind the bar. So I took the hint, and there we were. I had a question for her, anyhow.

"Update on Zack?" she asked.

"Not yet," I answered.

Everleigh sighed.

I explained that my time being stretched so thin was a big factor, with everything I was juggling, I didn't have as much to spend with Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. I let her in on the details of the Ambiance case, some of which she was aware of, some of which she wasn't. I also let her in on an idea I'd been throwing around.

"No," she said.

"Why not?"

"Because they're not murderers. Or even jerks. I mean, not directly. They don't force people to take their drugs. And if the Tragers don't control the Ambiance, someone else will. They've been doing it for a long time, so."

"And?"

"And they're Alexander's friends. I'm not touching that again. But I've gotta go."

"Where?"

"Problems at the Jaskar. You know, I really hate that place sometimes."

Another night at the Gander, and I was sorting a new shipment of bottles at the start of my shift when he approached. For a centuries-old man, looking as confident, and fit and fine as he did, there was a measure of shyness in his smile. It could easily be a play. He'd have even more practise than I had.

"Glad I caught you before business picked up," he said. "You've created quite the buzz."

"The tails, right? Everybody loves a good gimmick."

Derek Trager laughed with his eyes. "No, not the tails, Jack. You."

"Aye—well, it was a pleasure serving you and your wife last night."

The night before, Derek had been pretty reserved while Della did most of the driving. She and I had a good bit of banter, and her husband seemed properly smitten with her. So, I hadn't had the chance to talk to Derek directly, especially not one-on-one yet.

Keeping things casual, I carried on organizing the bottles behind the bar. But who are we kidding? I didn't have as much experience flirting with men who might actually reciprocate, and while I'm not saying it's different, it was for me at the time. It wasn't a performance, I wasn't digging for information at that precise moment.

I was just nervous, and he was really handsome.

"Last night's the reason I'm here," he said.

"That so?" I asked.

"My wife and I are having a party two nights from tonight. We'd like it if you came."

"To work the bar?"

Derek smiled easily and shook his head. "No, we'd like it if you'd attend as a guest. You can bring someone if you like. A friend, a lover. Forewarning—our parties tend to escalate."

No kidding.

Well, Ivana did sound disappointed she never got to go to the fun parties, didn't she? And I had promised her a date, hadn't I? That could be a good time.

I flashed a grin. "Sign me up."

"Yeah? Okay. We're in walking distance, so I'll send one of our staff to pick you up here on the evening of, say around seven. And I'll talk to Tanis about getting you the night off."

"Aye, sounds good, mate." I wiped my palm on the side of my pants before holding my hand out for a shake. He took it, and his were surprisingly soft, but instead of shaking it, he leaned across the bar and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

In an instant, I felt thirteen again.

But what's most important is: my plan to get the Tragers' attention worked, and now I just had to come up with a way to wrap everything up.

A Day in the Life with Zack - Entry Log #6

"I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of Ivana."
"She still fundamentally can't be fussed with most men, but aye, no murders for centuries, and we have sex almost every day."
"Remarkable. And now you're planning on asking her to this debauchery party?"
"Come on, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Don't act like you didn't debauchery your way through your best years."
"No, that was Sebastian."
"Mate, you're lying."
"Fine. I went through a phase. Enjoy your party. I expect a full report."

Days Until Rhian Arrives: 4

Obligatory Strauss Check-In:

Hours 1, 2, 3, and 4:
• Held open office hours at the church, consoling the families of those who'd gone missing.

Obligatory Ivana Check-In:
• Invited her to the debauchery party.
• She accepted.
• Lunch.
• "Cookies."

Obligatory Faust/Alexander Check-In:

• Went shopping for something to wear to the party instead.

On the night before the party, I worked a relatively uninteresting shift at the Gander and went to visit Zack.

A Day in the Life with Zack - Entry Log #7

"So, what did she say?"
"Are you ready to get out of here and go home yet?"
"Absolutely not. Now, what did she say?"
"She said yes. Look, what's the worst thing that could happen if you leave?"
"This time we have here together is an effective distraction in a controlled environment, Feargus Finlay. Out there—up there is… no. I'm not ready."
"Then will you sing me a song?"
"…"
"…"
"…Fine."

Days Until Rhian Arrives: 3

Obligatory Strauss Check-In:

Hour 1 & 2:
• Presided over a funeral on someone's property.

Hour 3:
• Sat on the edge of his bed and stared.

Obligatory Ivana Check-In:

• Made sure the dress I bought for her fit and that she liked it.
• It did, and she did.
• A cuddle and a nap.

Obligatory Alexander/Faust Check In:

• V and I learned Alexander would be at the party, too.
• Decided we may as well all go together.
• Faster if we ran, so we did.