It Pays to Be Evil

Aeluri had accompanied Louie to this meeting of individuals with curiosity. There was potential in working with other dark mages, especially when there was money involved. The two themselves were business partners in a sense. She was hired to guide and protect him. Thus, at a meeting with unknown people, her presence was a necessity. If something were to happen to Louie, she wouldn’t get paid that sweet, sweet reward. She was alert, scanning the room every few minutes and listening with heightened hearing to the other people in the restaurant.

As the guests started arriving, Aeluri had ordered a glass of whiskey. She sat just to Louie’s side, dressed in the same red blazer and black shirt as the day she had met him. This was a business meeting, so she decided to dress the part. The dark mage was quiet as usual. She took another sip of the liquor. Crimson and gold eyes peered over the edge of the glass as she observed them with a sharp, calculating gaze. The one who introduced himself as Odhran was quite peculiar. He seemed to throw caution to the wind as he announced himself and his celestial spirits in a bubbly tone. Aeluri found his carefree attitude and eclectic collection of magical companions entertaining.

The other woman seemed to hold herself in high regard and was focused on getting the meeting going. Impatience was something that annoyed Aeluri, but she let it slide. This was Louie’s meeting and she didn’t want to stir up trouble just yet. It was clear Rekka felt nothing but disgust about Odhran and his spirits by the way she glared at them. She had called him an idiot to his face without so much as a blink! Her interaction with a waiter didn’t go unnoticed either. If untucked shirts set her off that much, who knows what else would? Aeluri raised a single brow.

Louie began his introduction and welcomed them all. His polite tone would seem genuine to others, but Aeluri had come to know him well enough to know it was a facade. Under the surface he was surely boiling. The corner of her mouth twitched in a slight smile. His rage was entertaining when it was pointed at other people. Such trivial things riled him up, she both loved and hated it.

Odhran’s spirits began to introduce themselves one by one. The black-haired lady in the kimono skipped introducing herself, instead apologizing to Louie. She added a snide remark about a girlfriend at the end. Aeluri bristled. Did this smug little spirit really think she was dating Louie? Disgusting! The golden-haired man was an annoying little rich twerp. She would rather die than consider him romantically for even a second. Mismatching eyes narrowed at the kimono-adorned spirit. She’d have to keep an eye on that one.

Rekka seemed to be pushing for an explanation. While Odhran had explained that he wanted exposure and for his name to be known, the impatient woman seemed to want to right the wrongs of the “good” people in the world. Each individual’s goals were acceptable. Aeluri was intrigued to see how exactly they would all work together. While she didn’t like relying on others, she couldn’t deny that a grouping of dark mages was a deliciously dangerous thing. Together they could do some lasting damage. The possibilities hungered Aeluri.

She glanced at Louie once more to gauge his reaction. Would he really want to work with the likes of these two? There was potential, yes, but there was a risk in the endeavor. While she waited to see what he would say, the dark mage took another sip of her whiskey, watchful as ever.