"What's it do?" Sigrid asked suspiciously. Walter snorted at her tone. "It strengthens the holder's link to the realm for a period of time. Amplifies their ability to draw on the magic." "What's to keep someone from using it constantly, to build the strength of their link to godlike powers?" Sigrid boldly asked. "The Reliquary itself. It manages the flow and closes if there is too much draw. You can certainly strengthen your power, probably to two... maybe three times your usual levels but that's it. It wears off eventually and you'll have to wait for the same period of time to use it again or risk having it have the opposite effect. As it is useless to you, you should give it to me." He decided to keep to himself the fact that the old magic was weakening. He wanted that Reliquary! It was Camila's turn to lay down the law. "Not so fast, Walter. First, you're going to help extract Stanley from this mess. Call the Fae as Stanley's legal advisor and get them to back off." He scowled
When they reached the vestibule before the front doors Camila set the clothes on a small table there. "Now Stanley. Quickly please." He blinked at her then dropped the robe and kicked it forward as he stepped back from the ladies. He twisted the ring and snapped back into his human form. Marisa stepped close with his clothes and he dressed himself as quickly as he could. "Camila..." Walter's voice was doing that omnipresent thing again but this time he didn't sound happy. "Yes Walter?" she answered cautiously towards the ceiling, now assuming there were hidden cameras. "How is it that Stanley alters his form like a Dragon?" the voice returned, slow and calm but there was an undercurrent of barely contained rage. This confirmed her suspicions about the cameras. "You would need to ask Baba Yaga that question. This was her doing. Remember, she took Stanley as an infant. She hid his true form from him his entire life. She didn't ask the Fae to give him a glamor and I believe you are
"We've been worried sick about you all day! Roger spotted a video of you being abducted online. We went to your office but you weren't there and no one could reach you or any of the executives." "Was it the Russian mob? Were they after you to get them back door access to the financial data at your office?" Roger blurted excitedly. Stanley looked at him in surprise. "Roger, shut the fuck up!" Dayshia growled. "Can't you see he's still shaken by the ordeal?" "I- I didn't really see them too well. I was drugged and woke up in an old building by a bay. It collapsed while they tort- hurt me but I managed to get away. They didn't." It was the truth or at least enough truth for him to say convincingly. "Holy fuck!" Roger blurted as the others stared at him in horror. "Oh my god, Stanley!" Sandy exclaimed and pulled him into a hug and once more he was enveloped by her hair. When she recovered from her shock she held him out at arm's length to look in his eyes as her locks settled to re
"That's what happened. The building just crumbled and I got out of the room but they fell through the floor." Stanley said. "They?" Morris seized on the detail and pressed. "The small man and two others. I didn't see their faces as it was dark and dusty from the basement falling in." "Then what happened?" Harmon asked. "I found my bag in the next room so I went upstairs and called a friend to pick me up," Stanley said and yawned widely as he was quickly fading. It had been a very long and eventful day. "Why didn't you call the police?" Harmon asked bluntly. Stanley glared at the man and let some of his exhaustion into his voice. "I just wanted to go home. My kidnappers were dead or at least badly injured. Punished enough. I didn't know who they were and at that point I didn't care." "The police have been looking for you ever since the video was released last night. Why didn't you come forward, contact us?" Morris asked. Stanley sighed. "I didn't know about the video and I just
There was a team working on welding in new rebar in place to rebuild the floors. "According to the report, the floors just fell in last night. Wouldn't a safety inspector have to inspect the building and sign off on it before it could be fixed?" Hillsdale asked. "I got the inspector's certificate. I wouldn't send my crew into an unsafe worksite." Reggie insisted. "The building is sound. It's built like a bunker! That's what makes this so weird! I have no idea how these two floors failed so spectacularly. The damage is so localized!" The cops looked themselves but aside from the obviously missing floors they could see no evidence of a blast or shockwave. "Who ordered the repairs?" Harmon asked. "I'd have to check the work order. It's in my truck. I think the company was Ulysses something. The check came from a numbered company and it was good. We were paid in full to do an expedited repair. Replace two damaged floors," Reggie explained. "Let's go look at that work order," Harmon
He blinked in surprise and his face flushed in embarrassment when she finally released him. "What- what was that for?" he asked, flustered. "We're just concerned about you," Sandy said. "Is someone going to address the elephant in the room?" Roger asked when he wandered into the living room with a serious expression on his face. Stanley looked at him with trepidation. Everyone else just waited. "What's in the BOX!?!" Roger whined, pointing at the crate. It was Sandy's turn to blush. "Never you mind. That's just for me. I'll open it later." Roger moaned in frustration while Tish and Dayshia looked intrigued. Sandy waved her hands dismissively. "Let's just get dinner served before it gets cold." Stanley was quite content to let Sandy keep her secret as he had one of his own that he could never share. They got plates and served the spaghetti with a rich meat sauce. The garlic bread was hot and buttery and they went quiet for a while. Stanley brought the wine out of the fridge
"Good night, Stanley," Tish said sweetly and he nodded in a daze. Dayshia's kiss caught him completely by surprise as it was so quick and intense then she was disappearing down the hall to the living room. He turned back to the door and into a deep and sensual kiss from Sandy. God! She felt, and tasted, amazing! As the kiss parted, a lock of her hair reached forward to stroke across his lips. Sandy didn't even appear aware of this as she was looking him in the eye with a smile. Then she stepped back, closing the door and he was out in the hall. He made his way to the elevator and up to his floor. He let himself in and locked up. He had to lean back against the door to catch his breath. He wasn't at all sure what had just happened... but his body sure liked it. He stripped off his clothes and got ready for bed. But sleep wasn't quick to claim him tonight. Back in Sandy's condo the three women were busy grinning at each other. "He's a pretty good kisser! A little gentle for my ta
She threw him a bored look and turned to the other detective to answer. "They're a competitor of VRL. I believe my aunt knew the president." "Used to be a competitor. Closed up shop. No forwarding address." Harmon said with a scowl. Marisa didn't have to fake her surprise and Detective Harmon frowned as another lead seemed to be going cold. "Any idea why this tool Ulysses would want to kidnap little ol' Stanley here?" Morris asked Marisa. The detective was getting under Stanley's skin. He scowled at Morris. "Why don't you go ask him?" "We tried. His office was cleaned out, right down to the cement floors and even those were scrubbed and polished. Anything you'd like to tell us about that," Morris growled at Stanley in return. Stanley just shook his head in confusion at the man. "What the hell would I know?" "I'm not buying this bullshit about the floor just falling in so you could miraculously escape! I wanna know what really happened in that basement! What secrets are you hidi