Alcohol & Economics - Something Dangerous - Part 4

“How could you get me involved?” Titus demanded, readjusting his already immaculate clothing. Crypt rolled his eyes at his brother’s actions. After telling his twin it wasn’t his idea four times already, Crypt hardly found a fifth time necessary. It was almost amusing to see the ‘perfect’ one of the pair whine, but Titus almost always ate away at his patience at an alarming rate.

“Why are you wearing robes?” They were in the surface world, waiting roughly twelve steps away from Michael. It was protocol, of course, for Michael to bring along an angel just in case he was met with something that was too much for the archangel to handle. But the twins were only there for show until their targets were identified, when their real mission would begin. Ariel hovered not far from them, just barely out of sight. She was Michael’s actual guard, having watched over him for the past decade without any major incidents.

Work on the surface had its perks, of course. Most assignments in the Mythical Plain allowed them to blend in with the general population, and that meant wearing clothing befitting the area and time period. Such an allowance was almost immediately abused by Crypt, who donned a tank top printed with a less than agreeable slogan (using several words he was unable to utter) and a faded pair of dark jeans. Titus, however, had gone for the traditional robes that most angels wore during their duties.

Ariel, though she’d never admit taking her eyes off of Michael, could not see how they were twins to begin with. They didn’t look alike; they didn’t act alike, nothing. Someone must have lied somewhere, she reasoned. And yet, Ariel’s gift allowed her to see their Threads of Fate and how they were intertwined in such a way that required the two be kept together, as most ascended twins were. It was a mystery several millennia old, yet to be tackled let alone solved.

“Who is he talking to?” Crypt was beginning to get impatient, and it showed. The people surrounding them were boring, in his opinion, and Michael was taking way too long to accomplish his task.

“I believe Michael said something about him being a professor,” Titus supplied, but the information did nothing to quell his twin’s growing irritation.

“It’s obvious he’s a professor. You didn’t answer my question.”

‘Smith,’ the name jumped out in Crypt’s mind, which was definitely not a common occurrence. He could not recall being told the professor’s name, not even by Ariel. Titus’ response, whatever it may have been, was lost to him as Crypt tried to figure out just where he’d picked up the name. Titus, however, didn’t particularly enjoy being ignored and lightly touched Crypt’s shoulder to get his attention.

“What?”

“Look,” Titus pointed toward Michael. Joining both him and the professor was a young redhead. Crypt, having lost his previous train of thought, settled on studying her.

She was roughly five foot six, and unhealthily pale. Definitely not human, Crypt concluded, as humans didn’t usually have a lean build and an obviously albino skin pigment without the usual reddish purple gaze and other outward signs. That particular mix was almost purely associated with European vampires, but that didn’t seem quite right either. She lacked the blue tinge to her skin that would signal a lower heart rate.

“Why must everything about this case be rather unusual?” Crypt muttered to no one in particular, just as Michael waved them over. He grabbed Titus, who seemed to have become tongue-tied and mesmerized, by the collar of his robes and half led, half dragged him over to the archangel before unceremoniously dropping him on the floor.

“Crypt, Titus, this is Miss Merci Sin,” Michael introduced the redhead. “And this,” gesturing to the salt and pepper professor, “-is her Protocols professor, Smith.”

“A pleasure,” Crypt, the not so obvious ladies’ man, greeted while Titus was busy tripping over himself and melting into an emotional pile of angel goop.

“Likewise,” Merci’s icy response cut at Crypt more than it really needed to.

“Now, Miss Merci, I’d like you to introduce these two to your sister, if that’s at all possible.” Michael suggested rather warmly.

“I’m not making any promises, Saint Michael. She’s particular about the company she keeps, as you're well aware.” Merci turned to Crypt, her bangs nearly covering molten turquoise eyes. Too bad they froze upon landing on him. “Follow me, and don’t do anything stupid.” The command was curt, and Crypt nodded. She paid no mind to the emotionally broken angel.

“I will check in with you two in a few days time,” Michael assured them before taking his leave. The shady professor from earlier, Smith, was nowhere to be seen.

“Let’s go.” Merci didn’t bother waiting for them to get their bearings, instead turning toward the door and heading directly for it. If they didn’t have enough common sense to follow the only redhead on this part of campus, she didn’t want anything to do with them. Titus, after tripping over himself for several moments, was hot on her heels- leaving Crypt to follow at his own pace. He could almost guarantee that this case was going to give him one hell of a headache at the very least.