Chapter 97: Support

A figure clad in a pure white suit materialized in front of us. I don't know how long I stared at it until I realized he was actually standing there.
"Miss Grey-Hatfield?" The man said.
I blinked. "Yes?"
Liam turned to me. "What?"
The man in white continued. "I'm Iridel. I have a few questions about your recent transactions pertaining to the contract of Angandriel."
"What about it?"
Liam looked between Iridel and me. "Are you talking to someone?"
I turned to him. "Can you not see him?" I turned back to Iridel. "Can he not see you?"
Iridel shook his head.
"Can you change that?"
Iridel frowned.
"Please?"
"Fine." Iridel snapped his fingers.
Liam's head snapped to the angel. A low guttural growl escaped him. Iridel ignored him.
"The questions, Miss Grey-Hatfield?"
"Go ahead."
White smoke puffed in his hand, and a notebook and pen materialized. "Are you aware that your recent purchase has broken six of the magical laws restricting the actions of contracts to act without their purchaser's consent?"
I raised my eyebrows.
"Are you aware that your recent contract has been revealing himself to the living?"
I frowned.
"Are you awar-."
"Look, I'm not aware of anything. I had to trade his contract to Karma to repay a debt. Any complaint you have about Angandriel, you need to go take it up with her."
"Ka... Karma?"
I nodded.
He looked down at his notepad. "I see."
"Do you happen to have any other contracts in your possession?"
"No."
"Are you interested in purchasing more contracts?"
"Maybe."
He smiled. "Well, I'm here to offer our services on behave of heaven for the reform and punishment of contracts. We have a very lucrative package with a reasonable rate for long term contract obedience."
"You're a salesman?" Liam growled.
"I'm simply an informant. Would you like to see a brochure?"
"No," I said.
Iridel was not in the slightest bit put off. "Would you like a tour of our section? It could be beneficial for your future purchases.
"No," both Liam and I said together.
Liam stood. He towered over Iridel.
"I don't find you in the least bit threatening. I'm already dead," the man said dismissively.
Liam stared him down anyways.
"Iridel, do you have a card or something?"
"Yes, I do." He fished it out of his suit pocket and held it out.
I snatched it up. "If I have any needs, I'll contact you. Okay?"
Iridel smiled. He beamed at Liam, which just made him angrier. "Very well."
He disappeared in a puff of white smoke.
Liam turned to me. "Contracts?"
I sat on the chaise. "It's complicated. Apparently, when you die, someone owns your soul. You have to work for them."
"And you owned someone?"
I nodded.
"And you sold them?"
"I didn't want to. He made me do it."
Liam sat heavily. "The more I get to know you, the more interesting you become."
I shrugged. "I'm not, though. Weird things just happen to me."
"Kira, weird things don't just happen to people; they happen because of people."
"When did you become a sage?"
He scoffed. "I'm not a sage."
"And my name's not Kira."
"Then what is your name?"
"I don't have one yet."
"Well, I'm calling you Kira until you pick a new name."
"Not beloved?" I asked.
He gave me a half shrug.
"You know, Lanie is actually the one the propositioned you outside the bar."
He lifted an eye ridge. "Oh, really?"
I gave him a smirk.
We both turned as Cherry entered through the open curtain. She set a basket of chicken strips and French fries on the table along with two strong drinks. I could smell the alcohol from where I sat.
"Thanks!" I said.
She nodded. "How's the ankle?"
"It's getting better. I've been focusing on healing it. It should be better by tomorrow."
"That's good. How are the visitors?"
Liam glowered at her.
"That good, huh?" She turned to me. "Beloved, I had your phone charging in the bar. It came back when the boys went looking for you the first time. It keeps ringing." She handed me the flip phone with two fingers like it was the most disgusting thing she'd ever seen. "Would you like me to get you a new one?"
I took the phone from her. "Oh, umm... it's fine. It works."
"Yes, but..." She looked over at Liam.
He gave a slight nod. I only caught it out of the corner of my eye as I flipped open the phone. Fifty-four missed calls from Mr. Kline. My stomach folded in on itself.
"Okay, well, have fun. Let me know if you need anything." Cherry disappeared out of the curtain.
The phone rang in my hands. Mr. Kline was calling again. A low throaty growl came from Liam. He snatched the phone out of my hand. I tried to grab it, but he leaned away from me and held me at bay with one forearm.
"Mr. Kline," Liam answered.
"No."
"No."
"I don't believe you."
"No."
"You can't have her."
"I don't care."
"No."
He hung up the phone. I looked at him expectantly. He leaned back against the pillows while he stuck the phone in his jacket pocket.
"Well?" I asked.
"It's not important."
"Really?"
He shook his head.
The phone rang again. From in his pocket, he pressed the button and the ringer stopped.
"Are you sure it wasn't important?" I asked.
"Very."
The phone rang again. He closed his hand over the pocket. A crunch sounded and the ringing died.
I grimaced. "Maybe I do need a new phone."
"And a new number," he said.
Three orc women walked in through the curtain. Pricilla looked straight at me, ignoring Liam completely. "Beloved, we are here for the touch."
I looked over at Liam. He didn't take his eyes off Pricilla. I looked back at her. "Pricilla, right?"
She nodded.
"Why don't you have a seat? Make yourself comfortable."
Three orc women sat down in separate armchairs. I stood and held my hand out to Pricilla. She took it. I started pulling energy from her. She immediately started moaning and overplaying the pleasure I was giving her. I raised my eyebrows at Liam. He looked away. His eyes passed us and down to the dance floor.
I turned to the next woman. "What's your name?"
"Taryn."
"Nice to meet you."
I held my other hand out to her. She took it. She began moaning. Eyes from down below were starting to look our direction. Both the women got louder. I ducked my head, but I was still in view of a majority of the bar. A few people started climbing the stairs towards us.
I wrenched a large amount of energy from Pricilla. The moan she shrieked this time was warranted. I let her go and moved on to the last one.
"Name?" I asked her.
She was quieter. "Halley."
I nodded. "Here, take my hand." I held my hand out to her.
She took it, and I pulled her energy. She didn't moan out loud, but she did clamp her mouth down against the pleasure she was feeling. I didn't pull too fast with her. I let her enjoy it. The other two sat leaning back, enjoying the lasting feeling. I finished up with Halley and joined Liam.
He stood and left abruptly. I watched him go.
A man poked his head through. "More?"
I cocked my head to the side.
"More people are here for the touch."
"Oh, sure. Send them in."
A line of people filed in and sat in the chairs. I moved from one to the other. The orc women left. Men and women of all races and species filed in. I moved from one to the next until I was brimming with energy.
After what felt like hours, the last of them finally left. I was exhausted but at the same time, felt like bouncing off the walls. Cherry came in to check on me.
"How'd it go?"
I gave her a big exhausted sigh. "Did Matei do this every night?"
She laughed. "Don't worry. It will get better. They are all a little behind and are excited."
"You don't need it?" I asked.
She shook her head. "I just work here. I'm not a sister."
"That's probably a smart choice."
She shrugged. "Maybe someday, but I'm not ready to wear a jacket and ride a motorcycle yet. I'm happy behind the counter playing support."
"I feel like that's what I'm doing."
"Well, it's helping."
I plopped back down on the chaise. "I really hope so."
I looked down at the daggers on the inside of my forearms. Lanie would be so disappointed. We were supposed to be warriors. I shook my head. No. I was supposed to be a warrior. I needed to figure out who I was now.