Alex is sat hunched over a laptop, the light from the device the only thing illuminating the little home office. Her eyes dart across the screen for a bit, before glancing down at the empty notepad by her elbow. She twists this way and that in search of a pen, opting to leave her seat in search of one when her first attempt comes up fruitless.
She walks past the open window revealing the night sky and full moon, the curtains billowing softly as she moves. Ransacking a crate stacked full of books she hums in victory as her hands settle on a pen.
Alex stills, as she notices the curtains billowing again from her peripheral. With a jerk, she turns and hurls her pen behind her, the makeshift projectile embedding itself neatly in the opposite wall. She scowls at the empty room, arms crossed patiently in wait.
A person materializes in front of her, facing the pen, back towards Alex. “You missed.” He says.
“I didn't miss.” Alex grouses, “You cheated.”
The man eyes the pen embedded in the wall, true enough, if he had been stood exactly where he was 5 seconds ago, he would be missing an eye.
He turns to face Alex with a flourish, hands situated in his pockets.
Alex remains as she is, save for an eyebrow that arches in question.
Viktor raises his hands in surrender. “I come in peace.”
Alex scoffs, “The last person who broke into my house caused me an irreparable damage. The only reason you're currently still alive, is because I have a soft spot for warlocks.” Her hands drop to her sides and clench into fists. “So as a courtesy, you have 30 seconds to explain why you're here, before I kill you.”
It is the man's turn to arch a brow.
Alex shrugs in response. “Principles.”
“What if I said I was here to help bring your brother back?”
Alex and Viktor are locked in a staring contest. If looks could kill, they would both be melted puddles on the floor. Viktor did have a particular spell that could enable him shoot fire from his eyes, but that was besides the point.
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Alex was getting even more pissed off now, he could tell. Her eyes had narrowed into dangerous slits, and Viktor could have sworn he saw tiny bolts of lightning dancing across her fingers. Time to try another approach.
He exhales as quietly as he can. “My name is Viktor, I'm a Warlock obviously, and I'm here to help.”
Alex's fists clench and unclench faster.
He retrieves a small scroll from his jacket as slowly as possible, careful not to spook Alex. Unravels it to reveal old, almost faded writing. “A resurrection spell passed down my lineage, tried tested and true.”
A quick glance at Alex reveals her eyes are no longer slashed, but her posture is still as rigid as ever.
Viktor offers it out to her, “You can have it.”
Alex's lips curl in a smirk, a fickle thing, he can decipher even from 3 feet across. “In exchange for?” She prompts.
Here he laughs breathily, eyes closing in utter frustration, “The truth.” He opens his eyes, with a sigh ”My misguided brother thought it wise to put a bullet in yours.”
Alex's stance changes, body posturing into a fight stance, matter of fact, she looked ready to lunge for his throat. Viktor quickly raises a placating hand.
“I've handled him.” He assures her, ”I also realize it would be in my best interest to confess, instead of letting you find out, and help whichever way I can. Hence ...” He wobbles the unravelled scroll in his hand, “... this.”
Alex seems to calm a little, she approaches, stopping directly in front of him to peer at the scroll. “So he's dead then? The perpetrator?”
“He's currently in an undisclosed location, awaiting punishment.”
Alex halts halfway to the scroll. Eyes snapping to Viktor, “I'm sorry, he's still alive?”
“He will be appropriately dealt with--”
“I want him.”
Viktor runs a hand through his hair, “I can't do that.”
“I will kill him either way, whether by himself, or if I have to go through you first.” Alex says.
“I am giving you the means to get your brother back, take it and leave Erik to me.” He bites out.
Alex considers for a moment, “Erik.” She says finally, testing the name on her mouth. “The exchange for the scroll is that I let Erik live?”
Viktor sighs, “Look, I can't let any harm come to him, he's my brother. I took an oath.” He implores.
Alex leans dangerously close to him, “So did I, and your brother helped break mine.”
She stalks past him to pull her pen from the wall, inspecting it for any nicks, before stalking back to her desk. “Keep the scroll, I'll take it when I'm done exterminating Erik and anyone else unfortunate to stand in my way.” She taps at her laptop which whirs back to life, the screensaver casting a light glow on her face.
Her face had closed off now, his window of sorting this mess out without difficulty slowly slipping shut.
“Last chance Alex, take the scroll and we can forget about all this, forget about each other.” Viktor tries.
Alex types studiously on her laptop, pretending to be engrossed in her work. A couple of minutes later, when she looks up, she is alone once again, curtains billowing quietly. A smirk on her face, she returns her gaze to the work on her desk.
