Taking sides.

Paul Long, as Amelia remembered, was the man around his late-30s or early 40s that introduced himself as a doctor during the underworld party. They had exchanged numbers, but that he was calling now of all times couldn’t be a coincidence.

“Nanami,” Aoi said.

“Yes!”

The younger girl ran to stand behind Amelia and put her hand on the back of her head. Amelia felt an odd kind of warmth, but little else.

“I’m sorry, you should be fine but it’s a precaution against mental attacks,” Nanami said. “You can answer.”

“Don’t do it on speaker. He won’t talk if he realizes there are more people listening,” Aoi said.

Amelia took a deep breath, put one arm below her chest and answered her phone.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, miss. Am I currently speaking to one of the co-owners of the Second Circle Consultation Office?”

“You are. Mr. Paul Long, correct? The doctor.”

“Ah, you remember me, Ms. Wilson. I’m flattered. But as much as I’d enjoy spending time chatting, I’m sure you’re not in the mood, so let’s get right to business.”

Amelia’s body tensed up. She gripped her own elbow and dug her fingers into it, but kept her tone calm and collected.

“And what business are we talking about, exactly?” she asked.

“You’re missing a partner, are you not? I have information you’ll find useful.”

Amelia’s jaw also tensed up, but she avoided gritting her teeth, afraid the slightest sound could give away her current state of mind. “Information? You’ll have to excuse me if I’m a bit skeptical. My man goes missing and suddenly you make a call?”

No need to play ignorant. He obviously already knew Will was missing. Now the question was whether he is involved or he just happened to learn something.

“You’re wise to doubt me, and under normal circumstances I would stay true to my policy and not involve myself in the matters of others. After all, what I’m about to do is a big breach of privacy. However, I believe this is worth a little rule-breaking. I am very invested in the success of your business.”

Amelia swallowed silently. “Go on.”

“I will tell you everything I know, but I have one condition. You will give me first-buyer rights to the elixir and the privilege to negotiate the price.”

“...” Amelia wanted to bargain, but his terms weren’t unreasonable and she wasn’t willing to risk Will’s safety over it. Like Aoi said, this was a price they could pay. “Negotiate, not set. If the information you give me is good, we might even offer you a generous discount.”

“I recently made a home visit to a customer of mine. A girl with a bad injury on her shoulder. It was urgent so she was in quite the hurry. Not only that, but she had me check on an **** young man. Helga Cooper has your man, William. He’s alive and she wants to keep him that way. However, when I examined him, something felt off. He was drained of aether and his aura wasn’t as strong as I remember it being. Helga did something to him, but not knowing the details of his original condition, I can’t know what. Rockway Avenue number 68, apartment 55. If she has working brain cells, however, she’ll have moved. Scout the place at your own risk. If you mention my name to anyone, your business never takes off and you’ve made another enemy.”

“Who are you again?”

“I love when deals go smoothly. I’ve said all I know. Don’t call me back.”

Paul hung up before Amelia could say anything else. The man wanted to say his piece and involve himself as little as possible.

Amelia let out a heavy sigh. “You were right, Aoi. One of our contacts did have info on Will. That injury the incubus gave Helga helped us find her. She called Paul to her place to heal her and he found Will there. He’s alive but drained of aether and ****. Also… Paul thinks there’s something different about him. He gave me the address, but he thinks she might have left that place already.”

“I’m going regardless,” Aoi said. “Even if they’re no longer there, I’m not wasting our only lead. Turns out I’ll have to call Johana sooner than I thought.”

“What can we do to help?” Reina asked, stepping forward.

“Someone stay here in case he shows up,” Aoi said. “Beyond that… This is the territory of combatants. We’re facing a specialist with unknown abilities. I’ll stab her in the back if I get the chance.”

Reina bit her lip, and Amelia could practically feel her frustration and impotence in her own skin.

“Auntie…”

Aoi smiled and patted Nanami on the head. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. This isn’t my first rodeo, and I promise you it won’t be my last, either.”

Nanami smiled back, but it was hard to tell if she really was comforted by that. Amelia, at least, still felt her chest hurting. All this stuff about magic and fighting had felt so far away from her, yet now Will was missing and Aoi was putting herself in danger for him.

“Aoi.” Cynthia stepped forward, arms crossed below her chest and looking straight into Aoi’s eyes. “I know this isn’t fair, but… Please, bring him back.”

“There’s only a small chance I’ll find anything right now, but even so, I will. I promise.”

“Ah! Wait!” Nanami shouted and rummaged through her backpack, bringing out a small flask with a bright pink liquid inside it. “Take this with you. It’s from another test batch of the elixir. It was made with sexual energy, so if Will is out of aether, this could give him a quick pick-me-up.”

Aoi nodded and put it in the inside pocket of the jacket she had just put on. “I’ll keep you updated if I can, but if I don’t call it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m out of commission. This could be a long one, so be patient.”

Amelia, Cynthia, Nanami, Anna Ruth and Reina watched Aoi leaving the apartment like it was little more than an errand, yet the look in her eyes gave them hope. Aoi was a pro. She’d see it through. They had to believe she would.