A Sinister Arrangement
Original Works
Written by Silquer
Edited by mckennq
Simon hated London. It was crowded, it was grimy, and it was
loud. Still, here he was, strolling through the crowds in search of that one sign no unmagical could see.
Ah, there it was. It caught Simon’s eye in the midday light, brightening up the dull black sign and highlighting the white lettering. The Cauldron Inn. He stepped out of the street and pushed open the dilapidated wood door. No unmagical deigned him a glance as he shut the door behind him and entered.
Simon grimaced as he walked further into the room. He always forgot how filthy the entrance to Diagonal Lane was, despite how often his line of work brought him here. He crossed quickly, avoiding the tables with patrons littered around them, before reaching the secluded tables at the back of the room and opening the door nestled between the empty booths. He slammed it behind him with a shudder.
He shook away the smog the Inn had put over his mind, took out his wand, and tapped it on the brick wall before him. He had to stay focused, or everything could fall apart.
The bricks turned and twisted in on themselves, creating a path convenient for his size, and stepped through into yet another crowd, this one filled with witches and wizards and children, all going about their way. He slipped his wand back into his pocket and began to make his way down the uneven street.
He reached his destination soon after his entrance to the lane. Past Grimlott’s, through a line of shops, and there it was. A set of stairs led down to a small basement door hidden in the brick. He opened the door and entered the shady pub.
The pub was almost as grungy as The Cauldron Inn. The place was slightly illegal; each patron had to bring their voice to a murmur, if not a whisper, so as to not attract the attention of… unwanted guests.
Guests like him.
Simon, scanning the room, slid into a creaky wooden booth in one of the corners. He only had to wait a moment before another man, hunched over and cloaked in a black robe, took a seat across from him.
“Hello,” The criminal said with a toothy grin. “My associate told me you’re searching for a dragon egg?”
Simon’s heart beat a bit faster hearing those words. A dragon egg. A rare find in this kind of market but doable if you knew the right people. Simon, of course, did. “He told you, right? Where can I find him?”
The man chuckled. “Straight to it, I see. I like that.”
Simon did not like how he said that, but he let it slide. Cloak Man (The name suited him, Simon thought) continued. “You can find him in an alleyway, not far from here. When you walk out, take a left, right, then left again. You’ll see the alley.” Cloak Man grinned again. “But beware, you’ll have to pay a hefty price for your prize.”
Simon smiled coldly back and patted his pocket. It jingled slightly with gold. “Oh, I’m aware.”
Simon left the pub and was out in the streets again, setting out along the stone roads; left, right, left. He stopped and saw the alley immediately.
It was dark, and he couldn’t see inside it. He entered anyway, leaving the bright sun and embracing the cool shade. After a quick scan, Simon could see a figure within; presumably his seller.
Simon approached him. “I’m here for the egg.”
The figure (Simon thought this fit him) nodded, as if he had been expecting Simon, which he probably had been. “I have it, but it isn’t cheap.”
Simon had been ready for this, and he pulled the hefty pouch of gold from his pocket. “How much?”
“Ten-thousand.”
Simon almost gaped.
Ten-thousand? Sure, he had brought twenty-thousand, but he hadn’t expected to use half of it… He sighed and pulled out the gold, and, in return Robe Man revealed, tucked underneath his robe, the dragon egg.
They exchanged, and moments later Simon found himself the proud owner of a dragon egg.
“Thanks,” Simon said sarcastically, tucking the egg safely away in an empty pouch he had brought just for the occasion. “But I’m afraid you’ve been backstabbed.”
The next few moments were a blur. Robe Man barely had a moment to mouth the word “What?” before Simon pulled out his wand and yelled, “Stupeficus!”
The criminal, upon finding his magic rather useless, flung himself at Simon with a snarl, but he was too slow, and in moments he was disarmed and cold cuffs were clamped onto his wrists.
Not a moment later, there were blue blurs around the alleyway, and they were suddenly surrounded by Aurorlocks. Simon’s boss nodded at him, and Simon gave him a tired thumbs up.
“What the─”
Simon turned and grinned smugly at Robe Man and, passing the criminal along to some other Aurorlock, pulled out his badge. “I’m an Aurorlock. I sold you out.”
It wasn’t quite as dramatic as Simon would have liked (he was tired and had enough of the city for one day), but it seemed to do the trick. Robe Man cursed at him, but Simon wasn’t listening, already turning his back to let his team take care of the rest.
As he walked out of the alley, his mind was left to wonder. What was he supposed to do with a dragon egg?