Jackson turns to Hakeem who’s pacing in the living room after being kicked out of the kitchen, forbidden to clean up. “Ready?”
Hakeem looks up for a moment, that fake smile plastered on his face, arms wrapped around himself. “Yeah, yeah I am.”
* * *
Sergeant Soleil is a tall woman in a standard navy-blue uniform, with broad shoulders and dark skin adorned by lava-like scars, cracks along the sharp lines of her face seeping with a fiery glow. A salamander, an elemental creature born from the god of fire, Phoenix. Her hair is bright red, like a roaring flame, braided tight across her scalp. The woman beside her is significantly shorter, just over five feet tall in white and gold holy robes. She has a smooth heart shaped face and olive skin, her eyes gentle, shining like polished amber in the light. Sister Estrea, according to Jackson’s intel, a dog shifter—specifically, a golden retriever, a fact echoed by the golden hairs she keeps in a neat bun at the back of her head.
“Sergeant, I’m surprised you came personally. Thank you for bringing the Sister with you, truly appreciated. Please come in.” Jackson opens the doors to the apartment wide and makes way for both women to enter.
Sergeant Soleil and Sister Estrea both give a small bow of their headsand enter. “Mr. Nocturne, thank you for meeting us on such short notice.”
The Sergeant extends a hand. Jackson promptly accepts and shakes her hand with a firm grip, one she returns. “Anything to help, Sergeant. But please, it’s just Jackson here.”
Sister Estrea pokes her head from behind the sergeant, who is inches taller than Jackson. “And where is the patient?”
Jackson gestures to Hakeem, who is still making treads on the floor. “That would be the gentleman pacing. Hakeem!” Jackson calls out and waves to grab his attention.
Hakeem shakes himself out of his pacing and walks over to where the group stood. “Yes—hi, hello. Can I offer anyone coffee, tea, or water?” He falls into host mode easily, even when stressed.
Sister Estrea walks past the Sergeant and Jackson, coming toe to toe with Hakeem. Her amber eyes ensnare his panic in an instant, the tension melting from his shoulders. Her smile is wide and kind, he relaxes from merely her gaze. “No, thank you, Mr. Al-Najim. Please follow me to the couch and I can give you a quick check up.” Hakeem can only nod as he follows the small cleric.
Jackson raises an eyebrow and he watches them, a quiet whistle escaping him, “Wow, she’s good.”
Sergeant Soleil can’t hide her prideful smirk, “Yes, she is. Now about the capture, I have some questions I hoped you would answer, Jackson.”
Jackson let his eyes peel away from Hakeem and Sister Estrea on the couch, certain he would be fine with her. “Yes, of course Sergeant. Right this way, please.”
He leads them to the island where Eddie had finished cleaning up. “Good morning Sergeant, I’m Eddie.” Shaking her hand, Eddie moves out of the way to give the two space to talk.
“You can stay if you’d like, Eddie. And please for today, just call me Helena.”
Helena asks a string of questions: How did Jackson find the cultist? Did he get any information from him before police arrived at the scene to make the arrest? How did he keep them there? Were any injuries sustainedduring the confrontation? Why was their suspect left shivering and looking traumatized when brought into custody?
Eddie quirks an eyebrow at the last question. Jackson struggles to hide the smirk that threatens to form from his lips. “Shadow magic, or Umbramancy in technical terms, was the cultist’s attempted method of escape. The shadows are where my influence is…most adept. I’m sure you’ve heard the fairy tales, Helena. I won’t bother you with details unless you require them for your report.”
Helena looks up from her notes for a moment, a quick glance at the elven man before her. “The Darkest Night, vampiric magic. Its wielder said to rule the darkest corners of our world. I’ve heard the stories, but I’ve also heard your control over your shadows has been…questionable as of in recent decades. Though it seems rumors are just that, rumors.”
She had done her research, Jackson expected no less from the sergeant. He hadn’t had to offload as much mana recently. He grows tense at the thought, the reason why his magic had finally bowed to will. He feels his fingers curl around another’s, looking to see his hand interlocked with Eddie’s. When had that happened? Eddie draws small circles using his thumb on the back of Jackson’s hand, looking oblivious to the act.
Jackson clears his throat, hand still intertwined with Eddie’s. “As for your other questions, he didn’t say anything to me, nor did he have a chance. I was a little, let’s say upset at the turn of events so I bound him fast with magic. I gave him a…” Jackson draws out the vowel, earning a raised eyebrow stare from Helena who sits across from him. “Less than polite warning, to stay away from my-”
Jackson cut himself off before he finishes. His what? Roommate is too casual and ‘my friend’ feels inadequate.
Rolling his shoulders back, he drags his free hand through his black hair, still a mess from waking up. “To stay away from people I care about. Hopefully that didn’t leave him unable to answer your questions when interrogated.”
Helena clicks her pen a couple times, taking down more notes on the pad in front of her. “Not at all. In fact, it seemed he was almost eager totell us everything we wished to know. Your doing, I assume?”
“A firm suggestion.”
“Of course.”
* * *
The round of questions ends soon after it begins, hardly half an hour having passed since Sergeant Helena and Sister Estrea arrived this morning.
Sister Estrea is with Hakeem on the couch, her hand cupping his cheeks gently, her head bowed as she whispers a prayer. A dark miasma slithers off Hakeem’s shoulders, burned by divine magic. Jackson and Eddie nearly vault over the counter at the sight of Hakeem falling back into the couch, eyes slipping closed.
“Hold it, you two.” Helena holds up a hand, a flash of flame erupting from her palm. “That’s a good sign, it means Sister Estrea removed whatever lingering curse might have been on your friend from the encounter.”
