Untold Tales

Chapter 10

10

"We're here," Erickson announced as we stopped in front of a large shop window displaying all kinds of magical sights.

"Wow." I tracked a group of lights as they shot up into the space above the display, sending a shower of sparks raining down and echoing the appearance of a sea anemone.

"It's something, isn't it?" He didn't seem anywhere near as awed as I did. But then, he'd lived on land his whole life. This kind of thing was probably more normal for him.

"I don't know how you get anything done with this kind of wonder around you," I admitted. There was truly something mystical about it. I wanted to see more and not tear my eyes away at the same time.

"You get used to it. Most of us don't see magic very often at all. These shops are only for the wealthy. They bring their children here to choose toys."

"Oh." Which raised the question of how he knew someone that worked here, but I let that one sit for the moment. "How do you know the guy?"

"We went to school together." He left me standing at the window and knocked on the door. "You coming?"

I nodded and rushed over to him, regretting it moments later when I nearly fell over again. I shouldn't be trying to do anything so strenuous before my legs were capable of it. Overestimating myself was just going to end in disaster.

Just as I reached the door, a rush of air flew past me. Aaron? Or just some random weather phenomenon that had nothing to do with him and everything to do with wishful thinking on my part. And if it was him, what was he trying to tell me? I wished he'd take his full form more often, it would make communicating a lot easier.

The door swung open to reveal a scrawny redheaded man, with a scruffy beard and clothes that looked like they'd seen better days. While his rough appearance made him seem older. Somehow, I didn't think that was the case. He was probably the person we were here to see, which put him around the same age as Erickson. Though I didn't know what that was. It seemed rude to pry.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"We need to talk to you, Toby," Erickson replied.

Toby grunted. "You and..."

"This is Mari." He leaned in so he was close to the other man's ear. "She's a mermaid."

"A real one?"

"Why would I tell you otherwise if she wasn't?"

"Lots of reasons. What proof have you got?"

"She's the one that saved my life." Their conversation was in hushed tones, but it was enough for me to know what they were saying. Maybe my ears were just stronger than they were supposed to be or something?

"Hmm. Fine, come in. But make sure she doesn't touch anything."

"You okay with that?" Erickson asked me.

I nodded. If I could go into the shop with all the magical things, I'd be one happy mer. It didn't matter if I wasn't able to touch anything. I'd take that as just part of the price.

"I don't know what you're trying to achieve here, Erik..."

"I'm not trying to achieve anything," he responded. "The mermaid is looking for something precious to her."

"What could possibly be precious to a mermaid?" Toby sneered.

"Her soul," Erickson answered, before leaning in and mumbling something else to him, but I couldn't work out what.

Instead of bothering to try, I let my attention wander around the room, taking in the strange sights the magic shop offered. It wasn't as bright and engaging as the window display had been, but there was still something about the words and the packaging that called to me. Though maybe there was a somewhat sinister reason for that if souls really were the driving force behind it.

"Can you help?" I asked Toby once the two of them had finished their hushed conversation. I had no idea what they'd talked about, but Toby had a broad smile on his face now, and I hoped that meant he was more likely to help us now.

"Not personally, but there's a warehouse not far from here. I've heard rumours that you can buy anything you want from there, including souls."

My heart skipped a beat. "You've heard about the sale of souls?"

He nodded. "Everyone in the magic industry has. Very few people use them, though. They're too expensive and too volatile to work with."

The words sounded more disappointed than anything else, and bile rose in my throat. I wished I didn't have to ask for help from someone like this. He clearly had no respect for life. Not if he was talking about the souls of living beings like that. But I had to take my help where I could find it. Even if I was secretly glad that Erickson had said he knew the other man from school and not because they were friends now. I didn't like the idea of Erickson being wrapped up in the use of souls like that.

"Can you give us directions?" I asked, hoping it would be as simple as that.

"No need. It's the Smith warehouse."

Erickson startled. "Are you sure?"

I gave him a questioning look, wondering what it was that had surprised him so much.

"Absolutely sure."

"What's the Smith warehouse?" I probably should have kept quiet and been glad to have the information I did, but Erikson's reaction was making me warier than I should be.

"It's a toy warehouse," he answered. "I used to work there." Ah. Hence why we wouldn't need directions. That did kind of make sense.

"What an odd place to sell souls from," I mused.

"Or the perfect one," Toby responded. "No one expects anything bad to happen in a place where they deal with things for kids."

"Hmm. I suppose that's true." Though even I knew it was probably more to do with who was selling the souls than the where.

"Do we need to ask for anyone in particular?" Erickson picked up a small box while he was asking and read the label.

"Old John Doe," Toby responded.

"Isn't that the generic name they give to dead people with no name?" Erickson asked. I was glad he did. I'd never have known something like that.

Toby shrugged. Probably because he didn't care what name the man used. "No idea. That's just what I was told to ask for."

"Great, thanks." Erickson flashed him an almost genuine smile. "We'd probably better get going," he announced, walking over to me and putting a hand on my back. It was both welcome and not. I didn't actually know how to feel about our closeness.

"Any time, mate. Just be careful, right? Magic and souls are dangerous. People will go a long way to protect their livelihood."

Erickson nodded. "We'll be careful. Thanks again."

He pushed me towards the door before I could say anything. Was he worried I'd say something wrong? Or was it to do with his friend? I supposed it didn't matter too much. We had a lead, and that was a step in the right direction.