Chapter 3: Chapter 3
"Son of a Bitch. Did you all see the notification that just popped up on Avalon. Some rookie accepted the quest for tomorrows goblin raid." An annoyed man, who looks like he's in his late twenties grumbles out, interrupting the planning session the group was just having.
"Fuck, what does that mean? Is he a part of our team now? I don't wanna have to cut in another person on the bag that this mission is promising to pay out." One of the women on the team voices out, getting grumbles of agreements from around the table.
"First the Italian chick, then the weird silver rank guy that never shows his face, now some rich kid pretty boy. What the fuck are we going to do boss?" Another teammate asks, dreading the fact that their biggest pay day to date is getting smaller and smaller with each passing moment.
"Shut up. I'll think of something, but for now keep your traps shut. Pretty boy incoming, 12 O'clock." The leader of the group commands, noticing that the guy in the picture from the Avalon notification was coming their way.
-:][:-
The group of adventurers had tried to hide their annoyance as I was walking over to meet them, but they couldn't hide their conversation from me. Not when my senses where enhanced to the degree they were.
I introduced my self none the less, hoping to make a good first impression.
"Hi, don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to come over and introduce myself. My name is Darrian Quetzal and I'm new in town, but it looks like I'll be joining you all on the Goblin Raid Quest for Grand Master Eric."
The group's reaction was lukewarm at best. A couple of the female adventurers looked at me appraisingly, but most of the group glared at me as if I was the one being rude.
All except one member.
"A pleasure Darrian. My name is Blake Summers, the leader of this rag tag team. I actually just saw the notification come through Avalon, of you joining the quest. We're always looking for an extra set of hands and call it fate but fortuitously we were just going through our game plan for tomorrow." Blake, a brown haired well-built man says, welcoming me with warm words and a friendly smile.
"Then I hope I can be of some service. This is my first quest, so you might have to be a little patient with me." I reply, ignoring the group who looks like I just asked for their lunch money.
"Brilliant, then please take a seat." Blake motions to a seat at the end of their table, before getting everyone else back on track and continuing their meeting. "Bethany, if you'll continue were we left off, and Darrian please feel free to jump in if you have any questions or if something doesn't make sense."
A smile on my part is the only response I give, taking the offered seat, prompting Bethany to begin explaining their plan.
Although I had never joined the Guild in Spain, that didn't mean I was wet behind the ears. From a young age, my parents taught me the value of life. My first hunt was when I was 7 and it was also the day I saw a life being taken. Although the life was just a Stag, the gravity of the situation was still felt.
It wasn't until I turned 13, that I first took a life. My mother had allowed me to accompany her on a Supernatural Hunt. We we're hunting for Dodo birds, which should have been pretty straight forward. The only problem was that the fuckers had the ability to go invisible, often times leading you on a fruitless hunt, disappearing at the last second and leaving you lost in the middle of nowhere.
That's what had happened to me. I had seen one of the little fuckers out of the corner of my eye, so being the arrogant 13 year old that I was, I chased after it without letting my mom know.
The stupid bird led me around the forest for a good while, before disappearing when I almost had it within my grasps.
Turns out it had led me to a nest of Acromantula's.
Before I knew it, I was surrounded, with no one to blame but myself. The first attack came from above me, knocking me down to the floor and robbing me of the air in my lungs.
If I hadn't rolled out of the way, I'm sure I would have been a goner.
Luckily, I still had the knife that my mom had made sure to strap to my waist before going out into the jungles of India. The battle lasted for what felt like hours. My blade swished and cut everything that it passed through, while my body took the brunt of every bite they dealt with their massive fangs.
I should have died that day, but I didn't. I held on long enough for my mom to get to me. She used potions, that could easily go for hundreds of thousands of dollars, to save me from how badly I was poisoned. That moment was when she became overprotective to the max, she didn't let me leave the house for months.
To this day spiders still give me the heebie-jeebies, but that day I learned that when it's me or them, there's no honor when facing death.
"So how does all that sound Darrian? Although any 3rd rate adventure can take on a goblin, a group of them can pose a problem for even Obsidian Rank adventurers, much less a day one porcelain rookie like you." Blake asks, jogging me out of my reminiscing.
To any outsider looking in, his gesture would seem caring. The experienced adventurer looking out for the newbie, but the snickers and taunting eyes his group are sending me, mute the thoughtfulness.
"You gotta start somewhere. What better place then with a group as capable as you lot. Just tell me when you want me to show up and I promise not to disappoint." I answer, causing the group to grow more irritated with my nonchalant attitude.
"Good Man! I think we can end it here then. I'll send out the coordinates through Avalon, of where we should meet and at what time, tonight. Make sure to respond, so I know you received the message."
Saying his peace, the team starts packing up their things, saying goodbye to one another, acting as if I don't even exist and walking out of the Guild Hall without a second glance my way.
"Well so much for making new friends." I grumble to myself, annoyed with the fact that the group would have such negative feelings for me just because of money. I didn't even want the money, not that I would say no to it of course. I was only doing this so I could get the second half of my order from the old man. "Well, not like I'm going to lose sleep over it or anything."
Throwing my backpack over my shoulder, I put the whole ordeal to the back of my mind and instead retrace my steps until I get back to the elevator that I used to enter into The Oasis. It's not too hard to find on the account of the elevator being visible from any point around town.
The ride up isn't as interesting as the ride down was, but a sense of accomplishment still fills me. I got everything done that I needed to and even signed on to The Guild, which would be sure to provide plenty of interesting adventures that would aid in spreading my name around the supernatural world.
"So how was your first time? Did you enjoy yourself." I hear the now familiar flirtatious voice of the mischievous kitty that introduced me to The Oasis.
'Maybe I did make a friend.' I think to myself, a smile spreading across my face.
"It was a little overwhelming at first, on account of all the new stimuli, but with a girl like you showing me the ropes what would I have to complain about?" I tease back in an innocent tone, getting weird looks from the mundane customers in the Jewelry shop.
Her cheeks blush over with a dusting of pink, but her own lips spread in a mischievous grin, never being one to back down from a challenge. "Mmmm, well next time, swing by on one of my day's off, so that way we're not pressed for time and can enjoy one another's company without any interruptions."
"Hahaha, see ya around Kitty Cat." I noncommittally reply, winking at the pretty cat lady before exiting the store, a bubble of excitement filling me when I see my beautiful new car waiting for me.
-:][:-
I may have gone a bit overboard the last few hours as I intimately got to know the work of art I now get to call my car. The first cop to pull me over did so when I was reenacting some of the scenes from Tokyo Drift through the Hollywood Hills. The second was when I thoroughly thrashed a Lamborghini Driver in a race from red light to red light. The third wasn't even my fault, how was I supposed to know the 'Speed Enforced by Aircraft' signs weren't just for show?
I thought this was America, where cars were fast, guns were loud, and women were loose!
"You know how fast you were going son?" A man with black aviators, one of those funny cop sombrero looking things that don't even sit on their head properly, and an ugly khaki uniform, condescendingly asks trying to intimidate me.
"Uhhhh…. No hablo Ingles?" I innocently reply, barely containing the shit eating grin from spreading across my face when his brow twitches in annoyance.
"I clocked you going 180mph. You better learn how to speak Ingles real fast boy, before I throw you in the back of my squad car for reckless driving. License and Registration." The sheriff answers back in a slightly accented Spanish, smug in seeing my slightly surprised reaction.
"Tch. Your no fun, last guy at least pulled his gun out on me, and I was only going 130." My comment seems to ignite alarm bells in the cops head, his hand inching towards his holstered weapon, but before he can take any preemptive action, I wave my hand in front of his face saying, "These are not the droids you're looking for. You will go back to your squad car, have a nice wank to the first Fast and Furious movie, erase all footage of this interaction, and forget ever seeing me."
A purple mist extends from my palms, seeping through the man's nostrils and glazing his eyes over. He repeats my words, my mind manipulation easily taking root just like it did with the other cops that tried to give me a ticket or arrest me.
Mind magic was a tricky thing, few supernatural beings able to use the talent, but damn was it useful.
"You're a beauty, but damn do you guzzle gas like crazy." I chuckle to myself after the cop gets back in his car and I go put my own in drive, only now realizing how much gas I've used today.
Luckily, I was almost back to Beacon Hills and sense driving too fast would deplete my gas even faster, I decide to go the speed limit and enjoy the scenic cruise back into town.
"Jackson, why can't you just come pick me up?! How am I supposed to get home? I barely made it to the gas station."
I heard come from a girl who looked to be around my age as I pull into one of the local gas stations. She was yelling at someone through her phone while staring at what looked like to be a deflated tire of a black VW Beetle.
"I told you already, my parents are out of town for a couple of days, I literally have no one else I can call!"
I keep an eye on her as I fill up the tank of my own car, slightly amused at how progressively annoyed she's getting, only to stare at her phone in shock, start stomping her feet, and cursing whoever this Jackson bloke is.
"Flat tire?" I question out across the gas stalls, successfully getting the girls attention as the gas nozzle I'm using clicks.
Pretty hazel eyes stare back at me, the owner of which is momentarily embarrassed by her outburst but quickly putting herself together, patting away the non-existent dust off her knee-high skirt. "Erm, I mean, yes. Any chance you know how to change a tire?" The cute red head asks, only showing the slightest hint of her previous annoyance, instead adopting a more hopeful tone.
"Well, unless it's done differently here than it is in Spain, it shouldn't be a problem. Do you know if you have a spare in your trunk?" I ask a question of my own, walking over with a friendly smile which only helps put the girl in a better mood.
"Ummm, I don't think so. Not to sound totally ditzy, but I think I would have noticed a tire sitting in the back of my car." The primly dressed girl states, scratching the back of her head but moving to open her trunk none the less.
"Hahaha, I bet you would. But no, there should be a compartment that houses it under the mat in the back." I chuckle, briefly admiring the girls womanly curves and sense of fashion.
Standing next to her must paint quite the comical contrast since the red headed girl can't be more than 5'3", the top of her head only coming up to my chest.
Her stature only strengthens her beauty though, at least in my eyes.
"Under this thing?" The red head dressed in a plaid, purple and grey mid-thigh high skirt, asks while bending over to lift the matt in the back of her car, giving me an amazing view of her toned legs and her lower back, as her maroon crop top rides up. "Huff… Great, just my luck. It's empty."
"Calling a tow truck would probably be your best bet then or I can give you a ride somewhere, if you want. Unless you know someone that would have a spare Volkswagen Beetle tire just laying around." I sincerely offer, since I know she doesn't have anyone willing or able to come pick her up after overhearing her phone call.
The red head takes a moment to think it over. First looking at me and then looking at the only other car at the gas station. She gives one last look at her phone, probably debating on whether to call whoever she was talking to earlier before coming to a decision.
"You know, my mom told me not to get into cars with strangers. No matter how hot they are." She says, whispering the last part thinking that I wouldn't be able to hear her and walking over to the passenger side of her car and taking out her purse. "My name is Lydia by the way. Lydia Martin. My parents are out of town until next week, so I guess I'll have to call a tow truck anyways. Do you mind waiting for a bit?" She then states, walking back over to me and extending out one of her hands for me to shake.
"A pleasure Lydia." I smile at her introduction and earlier statement, extending out my own had while introducing myself as well. "Darrian Quetzal and yea I don't mind waiting around. Actually, it works out better this way. I just moved into town and don't really know anybody, so how about you tell me about Beacon Hills while we wait?"
Hearing my question, Lydia smiles at my offer, still shaking my hand with her own smaller soft one. "I don't mind, not to sound too pretentious but I'm pretty plugged in with the going ons around here." She offers, her eyes traveling across the features of my face only to blush when I meet her gaze with a smile, shifting my eyes from hers and down to our hands that are still joined together.
"Come on. You can call from the car, while I go buy some snacks. I don't know about you but I'm kind of hungry." I state, shifting my grip around her hand in a shameless move while leading her to the passenger side where I open the door for her. "You want anything?"
"You're cars beautiful by the way, b-but no thank you. I'm good." The now blushing girl squeaks out, quickly getting into the passenger's side as soon as I let her hand go.
"Alright, be back in a bit then." I leave the still slightly flustered girl, who just nods in my direction, instead focusing on pulling out her phone from her designer purse.
Walking into the gas station, I first head to the chips isle, getting a bag of garden salsa Sun Chips. Then moving to the candy isle, I grab some peanut M&Ms before going to the fridges and grabbing a Fiji water. Paying for everything, I walk back out catching Lydia's attention as she looks out the passenger window, giving me a faint smile while she talks on her phone.
"Okay, no problem I'll be here. Thank you."
I hear the tail end of Lydia's conversation as I slide into the driver's side of the car. "That the tow truck?" I ask her while reaching into my bag of goodies, pulling out the bag of chips.
"Yea, they said it'll probably be 20ish minutes until they can get someone out here. I asked them if I had to be here when they arrived and they told me it would be easier if I was. Sorry to make you wait." The cute red head explains in an apologetic tone.
"No worries. I figured we would have to wait. That's why I got snacks." I reply, easing her worries with my nonchalant attitude. "Besides, like I said, I'm new in town, so getting to know a cute local on my second day here, I call that a win."
My compliment earns me a warm smile from the girl, that I return while munching on my chips, while thinking of easy topics that would make good conversation.
"So, you said you're new in town. What brings you to Beacon Hills? Do you have family here?" Lydia asks, trying to distract herself from the delicious smelling chips.
"Hmmm, well it's kind of hard to explain, but my family has some business interests nearby so they sent me to be a representative of sorts. Kind of a like a rite of passage thing since I recently turned 16, but instead of hunting down a lion with my tribe, I have to manage our affairs in the local area." I answer her question in a vague manner, giving just enough of the truth to not cause her to ask for too many more details.
"Ahhh, so you're some kind of big shot then?" Lydia nods along to my story, glancing at my hand as I go in for another Sun Chip. "But at 16? I mean I know a lot of people go into their family businesses but isn't that a little early? Don't you have to go to school and all that? I mean I'm 16 too and as cool as it sounds, I couldn't imagine having to run a business right now."
"Well, it's kind of a trial period. I enrolled into the local high school, so I'll be going there once school starts but after school and on the weekends, I'll be handling the business side of things and trying to get familiar with how everything works." I easily explain, extending the orangeish red bag of chips in her direction.
"No, I'm O… *Grrrrrrrr* … kay" Lydia tries to refuse my offer, only for her stomach to grumble when the garden salsa smell hits her nose. "Maybe just one then. Thank You."
"What about you? Were you born here, or did you move here at some point?" I change subjects, ignoring the adorable embarrassed pout Lydia made when trying to refuse the song of her stomach's people.
"Yep, Born and raised." The red head replies, surprising me with how quickly she can pivot from one emotion to the other. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but, there isn't much to do around here. We have a bowling alley, a movie theatre, and the occasional rave. We do have L.A pretty close by so I guess you could go there for anything else."
"The occasional rave? You mean like an underground disco tec? Not to sound presumptuous, but at least from what I know about the local demographic, they don't seem like the type." Although the legal drinking age is 18 in Europe, a lot of places had 18 and under disco tecs or better known as night clubs in America.
I always found them a good place to hang out with friends, so the thought of having a similar set up here brought a smile to my face.
"Like I said, we're close to L.A. Every now and then we'll get some big-name DJs to host a rave in one of the abandoned factories around town. Since the City is only an hour away, those shows draw in a pretty mix crowd of people." Lydia explains, my expectations of the local area going up a notch. "Steve Aoki came one year but I was still in middle school when that happened."
"Well damn. Back home I would have had to go to a festival to see someone like him. You'll have to keep me in mind if something like that comes up in the future." I suggest, taking out my bag of M&Ms since Lydia commandeered my bag of chips. "You into any specific type of music?"
Shaking her head no, the car enters into a comfortable silence while we wait for the tow truck and I search for a good song to listen to.
Now Playing – Ride Slow By Russ
"Was it hard leaving your friends from back home? I've never had to move before, but I can't imagine it being an easy process. Actually, now that I think about it, where did you move from?" Lydia asks, slightly bobbing her head along with the song.
"Barcelona, Spain. And…" I try answering, only to get interrupted by her.
"Wait, wait, wait. Barcelona, Spain. Like In Europe?!" She asks, slightly bewildered by the proclamation. Probably for the same reason that Melody was, since unless I switch to Spanish, I could probably pass as a Southern Gentleman from Texas in the way I speak English.
"Hahaha, yes. To put it the way you did, I was born and raised in Barcelona. Although we traveled around every now and then, Spain is the only home I've known. My mom is from America though. She's Native American and was born in Colorado. As for my southern twang, well my parents are McConaughey fans." I smoothly reply, chuckling at how many times I've had to tell that story today.
"What the hell! Forget Beacon Hills. Tell me more about Barcelona! That's like at the top of my bucket list for places to visit." The petite girl switches gears on a dime, perking up at the sound of my birthplace, giving me her undivided attention and leaning in closer as if I'm about to divulge a great secret.
"Well, Barcelona is amazing. It's a beautiful city full of rich culture and an even grander History. You could spend a whole lifetime their but meet a new person every day. Like any other big city, it of course has its shadier sides but my little group of friends and I, we made that city ours. Or at least we thought we did…" I begin, weaving tales of the mischief my school mates and I would get into.
Each story either getting a laugh from the pretty red head or a reprimand for how sloppily we would put together one of our many practical jokes. The minutes passed as easily as sand through your hand and it wasn't until someone knocked on the window of my car that we noticed that nearly 45mins had gone by.
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