9 Expletionem

"I am not always there, but I am always where you wish me to be."- Rosealinde

You know those days when you wake up with a start with sweat on your forehead and a looming question present in your mind? Today was that day, also it was the day where I was going to begin my training. I roll off the bed and land crouched on the floor. I might've have continued to the bathroom if I hadn't glanced at my reflection in the glass wall. And I screamed.

Zombie.

Oh no, wait. Was that me? My skin was pale, my eyes were turning red around the sides and I could clearly see my veins.

"The mythological world isn't for the faint-hearted." I spin around and find myself staring at white-bleached hair and violet irises. Seriously was privacy not a thing in the mythological world, especially for the damn Shadow People?

Jillian Sleuth sat at my dining table wearing jeans and a smart blazer with a shirt, it was funny how much younger he looked compared to Rosealinde. Seeing him again made me remember she had never asked me for the files I had found or the picture unless my phone was tapped as well as my mind. And I needed to read the letter I was given by the reception lady.

"Sorry about the lack of privacy." Jillian tells me, then he spreads his arms and I watch as golden dust started to materialise food.

"Please, eat, the food will help." He says.

Again, with the mind reading!!!

As much as he was nicer than Rosealinde, I still felt uncomfortable with him, so instead of screaming or whining as I would've done with Rosealinde; I thank him and sit as far away from him as possible without making it too obvious.

"So big day today!" He says, he sounded pretty enthusiastic about it. I force a smile and nod. Jillian suddenly waves his hand and a box appears on the table by him.

"Rosealinde wants you to have a different phone for her, and also I want you to have a pager for me." Was it me or was he trying to be cool with a pager?

"Why?" I ask.

"I mean why a pager?" I correct myself.

"The pager is to warn you so you'll know when I will want to speak with you telepathically." I was surprised, that was actually very nice of him, maybe Rosealinde should be taking tips from someone like him.

"What's the difference between telekinetic and telepathic?" I ask him.

"Telepathic is anything to do with the mind, for instance, talking in someone's mind is telepathic. Telekinetic on the other hand is moving objects with the power of your mind. Like this." I watch as suddenly my dining room table moved from under me.

Jillian didn't look like he was concentrating very hard, he had a relaxed smile and he was reclining back in his chair. I watch grumpily as my food ran away from me briefly, then it returned.

"You will be taught as much as possible as fast as possible and as well as possible." He was repetitive.

"Wait! I have magic?!" I stare at my hand in amazement.

"Well, that's why you need to be examined again, we need to see what atoms Rosealinde put into you."

"I have R and E blood type if it is any help." Jillian laughed probably at my ignorance but smiles. Again it was warm, it wasn't sarcastic it was open and childlike… Rosealinde lacked this. And it made him seem more human then she had ever done. Did Rosealinde have not much emotion? Maybe she was incapable of expressing emotions to people she hadn't known for a long time.

"I will wait outside whilst you change. We must leave at 10:00." I look up at the clock and notice it was only 8:00. The hell??? Why was I awake this early? And also, what was I to do for two hours?

"I thought girls took a long time to dress." He says frowning.

"You must be confusing me with the average typical girl and not ex-assassin, now turned into a Hybrid girl."

"I must be, yes." He chuckles. If it weren't for his eyes, and Rosealinde's warning I could grow to… not hate this thing. Oh no, not like, I wouldn't go that far. Just… not hate.

"Um, not to be rude but I thought Russo…?"

"Russo is… how shall I put it? The watchdog, he will keep a close eye on me and you and report to Rosealinde. Ironic really considering…" Jillian trails off eyeing me with his strange violet eyes. I feel naked. I look down, ah thank heaven Rosealinde had dressed me! I wasn't naked; however, his eyes still don't stop the 'I- can- see- through- your- clothes- because-I'm-an alien-weirdo' thing.

"Why is it ironic?" I ask him edging forwards. Unlike Rosealinde he answered, properly too. Not in riddles and songs and nods and quiet smiles. No, he used his mouth, and air and tongue and those nice vocal cords… yah Rosealinde you might use them for singing, but you can speak with them as well. Did you know that? I sense the powerful wave of discontent in the room, I roll my eyes. Great, my room was another of Rosealinde's 'tricks'.

"Russo is a double agent." Though Jillian was good at giving answers he was lacking with the answering them properly thing, these Shadow People, seriously four words don't clarify anything! Before I could ask him to further his question, he stood up and continued.

"Russo was an Alpha, he was an alpha of the Kronstadt Navy, strongest navy in the whole Mythological world. However, his pack committed the ultimate offense: they shot an omega (who normally is a lone wolf Zoe, but they are normally the most faithful to the Royals) who was a Royal Navy Admiral. Things turned ugly when the Omega's mate wanted revenge. That's the problem with werewolves: so territorial and possessive. It's very destructive. The Royals placated the situation nicely, but the werewolf code stood in their way now. His pack was forced to flee Kronstadt Island: it's off St. Petersburg. Because now the Werewolf 'something-something' can't remember the committee's name, were after him and his pack for breaking the code. He got protection from the Royals themselves, hence why he was able to become a spy. To enable his pack's security, he had to double cross them, even the Royal protection wasn't enough. So, he started selling the Royal spy security information to anyone who wanted it. Turned out the Revolutionaries did (people who oppose the monarchy, there are always some odd bods about). For two months he managed to get away with it, but The Don showed up. She's always everywhere… and threatened him. So, he decided to sell any spy information to her. Rosealinde for some reason unknown even to me, was interested with this proposal and took Russo up on his offer as long as he also worked for her and this is when I don't really understand what's going on." Wow, that was a better answer than Rosealinde would've given me.

"Does that answer your question?" He whirls around to look at me, he had been pacing duing his expositional speech.

I nod grinning. Now I knew Maya's story and Russo's. Maybe I could ask him about Rosealinde's, or was that too nosey? Meh, Too nosey.

Jillian must have decided he had said too much because he straightened himself and left telling me to find him at reception. I nod and say bye.

I would've continued to eat but my Rosealinde phone went off, seriously was she joking? It was too early for her shit, sighing heavily, I answer.

"Zoe- Lakisha Abscond, how may I help?" I hoped to annoy her, after all the times she annoyed me.

"Wake up Russo and tell him to follow Jillian."

Then Rosealinde hung up. I frown at the screen; my suspicion was being confirmed. Jillian was only here because Rosealinde wanted us to keep an eye on him. Also, Rosealinde could use phones? Weird. If she could do that couldn't she ring Russo? Seriously why did she play such elaborate mind games? I quickly pull on a tank top and some comfy pants, then I took off running barefoot.

Another option was Rosealindecould appear by his bed and throw him out of bed? This did however give me an excuse to go to his room. actually, maybe she was playing matchmaker. I run out and onto the lift. Bluster grins, he winks at me mischievously. I grin and nod. Obviously, he was a Shadow Keeper as well, nice to know Rosealinde didn't do prejudice. I paid attention to what he was typing in.

"Block werewolves 1WA (because he was an Alpha, was, is… not sure) corridor 50A room 2C " Bluster tells me, then the lift shoots further down, melting through the glass floor. I notice that last night's fight was being cleaned up, the cleaners were complaining about the blood on the floor.

"Ah them Hybrids! Always leaving a mess. Why can't we use the werewolves around here? Or Harpies, them foul things would be able to defend the building just fine."

"Oh, stop your complaining, I hear only The Don knows where them Harpies habitat is, and she ain't a revealing it to a nobody like us."

"Not us you wanker, them, the Boss."

"Oh shush you, with your crazy ideas and just clean. Oh lookie here, it's the Buster." The cleaner waves up at us. I took a liking to him and waved back.

"It's the second room." He says as we arrive at corridor 50A, we slap high-fives before I run off.

I only had to run two feet, finally I arrived at his room. I certainly regretted wearing training clothes, I quickly straighten my clothes, then I hesitantly knock on his door. No answer came, I figured Rosealinde was in a hurry so I open the door and barge into his room. I tripped over something, suddenly a loud whistle sounds and arrows shot out of the walls and pin me down. Russo awakens and looks directly at me. He understood quickly, I watch as he becomes a blur as he shifted into his wolf form, then he ran out leaving me pinned to the wall. I struggle for a bit, then I watch as the arrowheads start melting in my flesh, I stare surprised. You need to be examined again, that was going to be interesting. Not.

I scowl.

I wait another minute while the arrowheads burn, dissolve, and then fall to the ground. I pick up an arrow for the science department and I went back to the lift. I look at my watch, hmmm…. I had done all that in less than five minutes. I was rather impressed with myself, and my new speed. It was 9:00, what was I to do for an hour. Bluster without my permission tapped in something and then suddenly the lift went sideways and dropped down again.

Bluster took my hand and lead me out of the lift smiling, I found myself standing before a gigantic portrait of Rosealinde. I sigh. I look around and realise that wherever we were, it was in a dimension and only a few people could access it. Interesting. Rosealinde was so secretive, it was driving me up the wall.

He then rolls up a sleeve, where there was a tatto of skull, crossbones and roses. He presses his tattooed arm on the canvas, it swung open and the same office scene in the 0 dimension unrolls before me. Bluster continues to guide me to the main desk. He jumps onto the desk and points at me before saying.

"Master's new follower." The receptionist laughs.

"I see you have met Bluster, Bluster take Zoe to the tattoo parlour."

Bluster nods almost nervously, maybe I was confusing it with excitement. It was hard to tell, when I think he was always super hyped about something or other. His job in the lift would be mundane for me, but the way he always enthusiastically smiled and talked to everyone told me the Bluster owed a lot to Rosealinde and she had probably pulled strings for him to work at the spy company.

I expected to see a sterile room as the tattoo parlor, instead I found myself in some kind of hippie environment. And the man wielding the needle was…. Blind!!

"Is this safe Bluster?" I ask hesitantly.

"Very safe, very safe." He chants nodding his head and grinning, his emerald orbs seem to move about in his pinky skin. The blind man asked me where I wanted it, I told him on the back of my shoulder.

He spoke to me, probably to distract me from the fact he was blind and he was doing a task that required sight.

"What colour Miss?"

"Um coloured?" I suggest. He was blind, what colours did he know of? Had he ever seen colour? Was he able to see any form of light and dark?

"So red rose, black skull and red blood and green for the leaf and stem?"

"I don't know… is that tacky?"

"Your choice, there are several who have it coloured." I thought about it for a bit.

"What does it look like in black?"

"Pretty good, oh would you like it stylised or traditional or liberty or hippie style?"

"Why are there so many options?"

"Because we wouldn't want people to be forced to have the same tattoo, also it looks less like a clan thing or a gang thing or a cult." He had a point, people who had the same tattoos looked odd, personalising them was a great idea

.

"Black and liberty style please. Wait how long will this take?"

"Do you not remember? You are in the 0 dimension, time isn't accounted for here." He smiles. However nice he was, he was creepy as hell.

Jeez, I was right, Rosealinde only employed weird looking people. Damn her, now I had to think about what was weird on me.

I think it took an hour, that was a wild guess the 0 dimesnion didn't do time, I'm only ex-human I still need time. It wasn't just a tattoo, it was infused with golden dust and white cream was religiously poured over my back. After that I had a shower, and then I was taught how to activate it and what certain symbols meant. If it glowed, it meant Rosealinde was near or she wanted to talk to you. If it flashed, it would mean that when you tapped it you would be transported to wherever Rosealinde needed you to be. The tattoo also could disappear completely if you rubbed it, so as to hide it completely when need be. I was also told that getting this would allow me to get others called expletionem. Expletionem were tattoos that appeared on a person's skins, either over a scar or as a reward for certain feats, if the scar was deep, instead of keeping the scar you could ask a tattoo artist like this blind man to tap into it's expletionem, to discover its symbol, so instead of a scar you're left with a tattoo that has the flesh memory of what it symbolises.

After all this, I was lead back to my world and time slightly dazed. When we arrive Bluster suggests I go to the science department. I never went to meet Jillian, I really hoped he didn't mind, I paged him nonetheless and asked Bluster to tell him I would be unable to meet him at reception.

I went in search of Esmeralda and Mango and Francois. I was surprised to find Jillian talking to them, wasn't I supposed to have waited for him in the lobby? I quickly duck behind a corner and slower my heartbeat, it looked like Russo had lost him. I press my tattoo, another thing it could do was act like a camera, it projected into the 0 dimension and it was also able to record what was going on live. Probably to use as blackmail. That wasn't my problem, this was why I had been saved.

"So, has she got any of the vampirism signs?" Asks Jillian quietly, I edge closer but then I remember they could probably raise the volume themselves so I stand further away. Better safe than sorry.

"Haematodipsia (thirst for blood), no. Hemeralpia (day blindness), no and porphyria (sensitive to light and teeth turn reddy-brown) no." Jillian aggressively runs his fingers through his hair.

"What the fuck is Rosealinde creating with this Hybrid? Why does she have no vampire traits? How much use is she going to be?"

Why was Jillian worrying about how much use I was going to be to Rosealinde, anyway Maya didn't have all of those. She might be allergic to getting up in the morning, but she didn't have an actual scientific illness against it, the thirst for blood she did have though.

"Sir we looked at the news article of her escape. It was the 15th of April at 7:42 on Tuesday." So?

"Umm… interesting… wasn't that when the moon was full?" Was I a werewolf secretly, cool?

"Try and test that theory." What theory? Had I missed a part of the conversation. Suddenly my phone went off, it wasn't my Rosealinde or Jillian one so I rush off to answer it. It was Russo.

"Is wanna-be punkstar with you?" He asks through gritted teeth.

"Yes." I answer.

"What is he doing?"

"The Spanish inquisition to the scientists."

"Why?"

"No Idea. Do you know why the moon is an important fact?"

"Hmmm… give me some time to ask a few people. Then meet me tonight at 12:00."

"But… sleeping….???" I began.

"Not important, not if Jillian is trying to do what Rosealinde thinks he's doing which he is."

"And that is?"

"None of your business." He snaps curtly.

"Hey!" He hangs up just as a hand descends on my shoulder, I freeze.

I turn around Jillian was smiling warmly. Creepsville, completely.

Um, hi Jillian what a coincidence to find you here because I would tots never spy on someone in a spy company!

"Hi, Jillian." I say spreading my arms in mock surprise. He smiles before guiding me back through the steel coated walls and asylum-like room.