The room was dark, not because there were no lights, but because someone had deliberately turned them all off and closed the blinds. Gale was the one who did that. Rachel told him to. She said something about needing the dark to pull out information from the kid they just pulled from the hallway.

She didn’t need to tell him that. The dark hunter obliges anything that the light of the city shouldn’t see. And this kid was about to get the information pulled out of his teeth, mostly metaphorically.

A single desk sat in the middle of the room. Pristine condition. No scratches anywhere. Touching its surface with his tendrils, it felt like stone. Shiny white stone. Rich kids and their desks were something else.

Enzo sat on one side. Kyle, Clyde, and Rachel all stood on the other side, shining a light on Enzo’s face with Rachel’s glowstick hand. No Erin, though. Rachel said finding her could wait after confirming with Gale that Erin’s signature was still around the school.

The metal door clicked shut loudly on purpose as Gale leaned by the door, hands in pockets, darting his eyes around as menacingly as possible.

Kyle’s hand slammed down on the desk. “Who did it?! Who killed Lucian?!”

Clyde hit the back of Kyle’s head. “Which clique does Lucian usually hang out with?”

Enzo leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Eh yo, this ain’t a fair deal. Where’s the chips? The candy? The stuff students actually want! I gave you information outside already! You can’t treat me like this!”

“We were never going to pay you anything in the first place. You want compensation? Ask the Path. If you can.” Kyle nodded at Rachel.

Rachel looked at Gale. “Gale, growl.”

Gale stepped forward. A low guttural growl emanated from him, filling the whole room and shaking the desks.

Enzo shrank back, hands coming up. “Okay, okay! I’ll talk! Everything for free, just tell the feral to stop!”

“Gale,” Rachel said once.

The growl cut off. Gale straightened up, nodding in satisfaction. Why did people get so scared when he just acted like a dog? Kinda fun, though. Maybe he should try other animal noises next time. Maybe a deer next time. Or a rabbit. Or a cat’s roar.

Enzo took a breath and leaned forward, wiping his palms on his pants. “Fine. Fine. You got me. Lucian hangs out with the CAA.”

“Canadian Automobile Association?” Rachel asked.

“No, you idiot! Combat Artist Alliance. One of the cliques here that practices combat religiously. They’re always in the gym sparring.”

Rachel rolled her eyes and made the glow brighter. Enzo flinched, raising a hand to shield his eyes from the bright ray.

Kyle walked around the desk slowly, coming up behind Enzo’s chair. “Why isn’t he hanging out with the other Tablemasters? The nepo babies who get into Sterling through money?”

Enzo’s head turned slightly, trying to track where Kyle was. “Because Lucian was ostracized in that group.”

“Why?” Clyde asked.

“His mom’s an Aurian. Dad’s mundane. The Tablemasters think he’s not part of them because of that.” Enzo’s hands gripped the edge of the desk. “They made it real clear he wasn’t welcome. Even said bad things would happen to him if he shows his face again. But eh, that’s just kids spreading rumours.”

Kyle’s hand landed on Enzo’s shoulder. “So he went to the CAA.”

“Yeah, yeah. Found a home there instead.”

Clyde leaned forward. “Who’s he close to in the CAA?”

“The leader. Guy’s name is Mikael. Last senior year and late-awakened.”

“Just the leader?” Rachel asked.

“No, no. There’s also this girl he liked.”

“Name.”

“Ariana.”

“Last name?”

“Don’t know. She doesn’t use it much around campus.”

Kyle’s hand squeezed Enzo’s shoulder slightly. “What do you know about her and Lucian?”

“Everyone thought they were gonna start dating soon. Like it was obvious they liked each other, you know?” Enzo shifted in his seat, trying to ease away from Kyle’s grip without actually moving.

“But?” Rachel asked.

“But one of the Tablemasters started talking to her.”

Rachel’s eyes narrowed. The flame grew brighter again. “Which Tablemaster?”

“Zachary. Zachary Argus.”

“Lower Aurian family, Argus. Keep going,” Clyde said.

“Yeah, yeah. His family’s just one step below the major Aurian families.”

Kyle let go of Enzo’s shoulder and walked back around to the front of the desk. “We know the Argus. Mom works for the Path.”

“Department Manager of Territory Defense. Had a bit of a tussle with Ollie a couple of times.”

“Oliver Glory?”

Kyle slammed the desk again. “We’re the ones asking questions, capisce?!”

“Sheesh. Alright, alright,” Enzo said.

“What about the dad?” Clyde asked.

“Heads the Baker family’s supply chain for rift materials.”

“So Zachary’s got money and connections,” Kyle said. “Typical nepo babies.”

“Tons of both.”

“What about Ariana? What’s her family like?” Rachel asked.

“She came from a mundane background.”

“Completely mundane?”

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“Yeah. No Aurian blood at all, far as anyone knows.”

“When did she awaken?”

“Two years ago.”

Rachel’s glowstick hand. “How?”

“Some kinda accident. Don’t know all the details.” Enzo’s eyes darted between the three of them. “She doesn’t talk about it and the records are sealed.”

“By who?” Clyde asked.

“The school, obviously. Medical privacy or somethin’.”

Rachel tilted her head slightly. “What stage is she now?”

“Mid-Awakened.”

“Mid-Awakened in two years?” Rachel repeated. The flame pulsed once, bright enough that Enzo had to look away.

“Yeah, yeah. I know it’s fast.”

“That’s not just fast,” Kyle said, straightening and leaning on Clyde. “That’s fast without Family resources.”

“Ehhh, she works hard. Always training, always studying. Can’t get dirt on her as well.” Enzo fidgeted with his hands. “Always in the library or the gym.”

“Where does she rank in her class?” Rachel asked.

“Top five. Maybe top three depending on the subject.”

“Combat rankings?”

“Top ten for sure. Could be higher but she focuses more on theory than practical application.”

“So she’s smart,” Clyde said.

“Real smart.”

“She ever contacted the NETS?!” Kyle asked, slamming the desk again, earning a glare from Rachel.

“Never.”

“Never?” Clyde asked.

“Not once. We keep tabs on everyone and she’s never reached out.”

“Did you try to recruit her?” Clyde asked.

“Of course we tried. She said no every time. She’s not even part of any clique.” Enzo loosened his grip on the desk slightly. “Said she didn’t want to get involved in anything shady.”

“Shady,” Rachel muttered.

“Her words, not mine.”

Kyle moved around to Enzo’s side again, putting both hands on either side of his shoulder. “So she’s got a clean record.”

“Completely clean. No contraband. No rule breaking. Nothing.”

“Any dirt on her?” Clyde said.

“Not her. We looked everywhere. Asked around. Nothing.” Enzo turned his head to look up at Kyle. “Clean records are suspicious, you know?”

“Or she’s just a good person,” Rachel said.

“In Sterling?” Enzo faked a laugh. “Nobody’s that clean.”

Rachel decreased the brightness of her glowstick hand. “How did Lucian and Ariana meet?”

“She bumped into one of the Tablemasters.”

“Which one?” Kyle asked, massaging his shoulders as if thinking that was an intimidation tactic.

“Derek.”

“Derek?” Rachel asked.

“The muscle head of this current generation,” Enzo said. “Dumbest rich kid in the school.”

“So what happened?”

“Ariana bumped into him in the hallway. Complete accident, you know? But Derek being Derek, he got aggressive. Started yellin’ at her about watching where she was goin’.”

“Then what?” Rachel asked.

“Lucian was walking by. Saw what was happenin’ and stepped in.” Enzo tried to shift away from Kyle’s hands but was kept in place as Kyle pressed him down. “Told Derek to back off.”

“Did they fight?” Kyle asked.

“Almost. Derek squared up like he was gonna throw magical hands but a teacher showed up. Broke it up before anything happened.”

“And after that?” Rachel asked.

“Lucian and Ariana started talkin’. He walked her to her next class. They exchanged numbers.” Enzo’s voice was getting faster now. “That was about six months ago. They’ve been close ever since.”

“Where do they hang out?” Rachel asked.

“Library mostly. Cafeteria too. Sometimes the courtyard.”

Rachel’s eyes stayed on him. “Did they ever go on dates? Actual dates outside? Maybe like during winter break?”

“Not that I know of. But rumours are that Ariana was planning to invite him somewhere.”

“Where?” Rachel asked.

Gale noticed the brightness of her glow slightly increasing with each passing question.

“Art Gallery of Ontario. During summer break.”

“How do you know that?” Kyle asked.

“She asked around about good restaurants near there. Wanted recommendations from other students.”

“When was she planning to invite him?” Rachel asked.

“Soon. Maybe in the next week or two. Said something about how dates needed to be planned way ahead,” Enzo said. “But now people are sayin’ Zachary’s been taking up a lot of her time instead.”

“How much time?”

“Saw them together in the library three times last week. Maybe more. Courtyard too. Cafeteria. Walking between classes.”

“Does Lucian know?”

“Probably. How could he not, you know? She was spendin’ time with Zachary instead of him.”

“How would he react to that? Did he ever try to talk to her about it?”

“How would anyone react? He liked her. She was spending time with someone else. Guy was too deep into his feelings. How the hell could the man bring it up to her?” Enzo looked between the three of them.

“What’s her expression like with Zachary?”

“Looked like she was laughing and smiling. But who knows y’know. Women.” Enzo said, smirking.

“Then you’re saying that she looked like she was having fun with Zachary? What about Lucian? What’s he look like when he knew she was with Zachary?”

“Lucian been hanging out a lot more with Mikael. Heard that he’s training to be stronger in magi-combat or somethin’. But who knows? Maybe he’s letting off steam after Zachary just parades her around.”

“But Zachary’s high profile with his status, how could Lucian not know what he’s trying to do?!”

“Enough!!” Kyle shouted. “Why are you asking about drama?! This is about Lucian missing, not some teenage soap opera!”

“But it was just getting to the good part…” Rachel grumbled as she turned off the glowstick hand.

Kyle and Clyde looked at each other. The silent twin telepathy again, but then they noticed Gale’s eyes on them.

“Mikael or Zachary,” Kyle said.

“Mikael’s the safer play,” Clyde said. “CAA leader would know Lucian’s daily routines.”

“But Zachary’s got motive. Rich kid trying to steal his girl.”

“Alleged girl. They weren’t dating yet.”

“Close enough. Crime of passion type shit. Steal the poor boy’s girl.”

Clyde shook his head. “Zachary’s too high profile. His mom’s a Department Manager at the Path. If he did something, there’d be cleanup involved. Professional cleanup.”

“You’re saying if Zachary’s involved, we won’t find evidence?”

“I’m saying if Zachary’s involved, someone else did the actual work.”

Kyle put a hand on his chin. “So we start with Mikael. See if Lucian mentioned anything about Zachary before he disappeared.”

“Mikael would notice if Lucian was acting weird.”

“Training harder too. Enzo said Lucian was letting off steam.”

“Could be nothing. Could be everything.”

Rachel opened her mouth to speak.

“No,” both twins said.

“But what about Ariana? Don’t you think we should talk to her first since she’s connected to both of them?”

“No more relationship drama,” Kyle said.

“We’re here for a missing person, not gossip,” Clyde added.

“Then why not Zachary? You got me here that can put him down. We should at least consider it.”

Kyle held up a hand. “We’ll get to Zachary. After Mikael. Start with known associates, work outward.”

“Mikael’s less likely to lawyer up too,” Clyde said. “Combat types don’t play political games.”

“Unlike Tablemasters who’d call their family lawyers before answering a single question.”

“Exactly.”

Rachel grumbled, “I’m not like that…”

“Yes you are. Don’t even lie,” Clyde said.

Gale looked at Enzo who was still sitting at the desk, looking relieved the interrogation was winding down as his shoulders relaxed.

“What’s the most popular snack students like in this school?” he asked.

Everyone turned to look at him.

Enzo’s eyes narrowed. “That’s contraband information.”

“So?”

“So I ain’t getting paid for this one.” Enzo leaned back in his chair, hands in his pockets. “You already got everything about Lucian for free. I ain’t spillin’ more info without compensation, capisce?”

Gale stepped forward towards the desk and let a growl build up again in his throat.

Enzo’s confidence crumbled immediately. “Wait, wait, wait!”

Rachel jumped from where the twins were to beside Gale, hands already glowing bright to shine on Enzo’s face again. “Cough up the gossip now. Who does Ariana like out of both of them?!”

“Seriously?!” Kyle said.

“These aren’t even about the case!” Clyde said.

“But I want to know what snacks are popular,” Gale said, growling softly, but loud enough to make Enzo flinch when he shot a stare at him.

“Rachel! Now, you’re enabling Gale?!” Kyle grabbed Gale by the hood.

“I wanna know the tea!” Rachel shouted. “The tea!”

Clyde grabbed Rachel by the arm. “We’re done here. Enzo, get out before these two start asking about cafeteria menu preferences.”

Kyle grabbed Gale, dragging him while he was still growling low.

“I just wanted to know the tastiest snack…” Gale mumbled.

“Mistake number 1,” Kyle said.

“Didn’t realize these two were a pair of idiots,” Clyde said.

Closing the door behind him, the group stood in front of the classroom. Gale and Rachel both looked down as they stood close to each other.

“So where’s the CAA?” Rachel asked.

“Probably the gym. We go back through the courtyard, take the westbound hall and go to the gym,” Kyle said as the group started walking.

“What you guys think about Lucian??” Gale asked.

“Kid’s probably depressed somewhere and hiding reaaal good,” Kyle said.

“No way,” Rachel said.

“Girl gets stolen? Check,” Clyde said.

“Gym not working? Check,” Kyle said.

“School feels like a prison? Check.”

“Ostracized in his own group? Check.”

“Get to the point!” Rachel shouted.

“It could only mean he’s dug himself into a hole to hide from reality. Typical teenager shit,” Kyle said.

Gale nodded while clapping as if that was an amazing deduction.

“Anyways, get to Mikael first. Gale, you might have your chance to shine on this,” Kyle said.

Awesome. Growling was already fun. This investigation also. This was also the dark hunter shadowing the genius special investigators of the Path in their hunt for the culprit that stole the poor soul of the man named Lucian.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep