(no subject)
Title: Family Bondage
Prompt: Blood is thicker than water
Bonus? no
Word Count: 838
Rating: PG (for the slightest bit of cursing)
Original/Fandom: Original
Pairings (if any) n/a
Warnings (Non-Con/Dub-Con etc): none
Summary: Being related by blood doesn't always mean much.
Andra carefully resettled her glasses on her nose; it looked like she had finally gotten the last of the greasy smoke off the lenses, but if the frames didn’t cool down soon, she was going to assume a second side-effect of that spell was permanently heating metal. Thankfully, this time they didn’t feel hot enough to burn.
It could have gone worse, but she was still taking this as a lesson not to cast spells of uncertain result in a hotel.
Now that the room was reasonably aired out (she supposed she should be grateful the blast of magic had also blown out the fire alarm rather than setting it off), she took a moment to get another look at the symbols now burned into her map. Not that she needed to-the flash had nearly burned them into her eyeballs, as well. But… the longer she pondered the results, the longer she could put off the phone call she needed to make.
Unfortunately, it didn’t take any kind of expert to interpret the symbols etched in ash in front of her. A pack of undead monsters here, the solitary haunt of a malevolent spirit there… and the sign of another type of being. One she still needed to take care of, but in a different manner of speaking than most of her problems.
As much as she wanted to, there was no purpose in delaying; so, with a sigh, Andra picked up her mobile. It would be so much nicer if she could just email her findings… or at least call someone specific instead of what amounted to her family’s agency. Honestly, she was somewhat surprised they kept her updated on the latest call signs.
“You have reached the Dalakis Academic Library,” a voice droned in the driest tone imaginable. “How may I direct your call?”
Sadly enough, she was relieved to hear a voice she didn’t recognize. “This is Nina Easton-Unmei,” she replied simply. “I would like to make a donation.” It was beyond her why they had to use codes to so much as get transferred to a secure line.
“Oh really?” Now the speaker sounded interested. “Andra, is that you?”
So much for security. “Yes,” she said, trying not to sigh. To put them on more even footing, she tried, “Is this Eugene?”
“Spot on,” he confirmed. Though he was nearly old enough to be her grandfather, they got along well enough on the rare occasions they spoke. “How confidential is this finding, you think?”
“Very,” Andra replied. “It’s about a girl.” In their family, that could only mean one thing.
Not that it prevented certain members from teasing, sometimes… “Oh really?” She could almost hear his eyebrows waggling.
“Eugene!” It was very nice that he would have been happy to meet the one girlfriend she had ever had, but did he have to go that route?
He laughed. “All right, understood. I’ll see who’s available to talk.”
“Thank you.” Reaching him first was a good sign, right?
A few moments of holding later, a different voice picked up. “Yes, Ruxandra?” the speaker asked, already impatient; his tone just barely bordered on polite.
Dammit. “Good afternoon, Uncle Costel,” she said, keeping her voice neutral. “I’m in Ohio right now-”
He interrupted, “You’re investigating the disturbances there?”
No, I’m causing them, just to give you a headache, she managed not to retort. “Yes. Most of what I’ve discovered is no surprise, but… there’s an awakening Hunter here. I haven’t tracked her down yet, but I have some hints regarding where to look.”
“What?” He didn’t sound surprised so much as angered. “No. Ruxandra, you are not approved for that task.”
“Then approve me,” she replied evenly. “I may not be authorized, but I have the knowledge. I have the training.”
“Hardly! There are children here in middle school who know more than you do!”
“And how many are here?” Andra pointed out, voice going cold. “If you like it or not, I’m the only Marandici close enough to find this girl in time to help her instead of potentially having to put her down like a rabid animal.” And he couldn’t deny that she was of the Marandici bloodline, no matter how much he clearly wanted to. The real question: what was more important to him, an unknown girl’s life, or family protocol?
It said a lot that Andra honestly didn’t know.
Her uncle was silent; having said her piece, and not willing to waste her breath on him, she waited. He could say no to spite her, but acting without “proper authorization” was almost her modus operandi these days and he knew it. If she did have permission, then they got her reports.
Finally, he snapped, “Find her and get her under control. Once that’s done, a replacement will be sent.”
Ha. As if we have anyone to spare. “Thank you, Uncle Costel,” she said sweetly, the picture of familial piety.
And then, she hung up on him. She had work to do.