64 Curiosity Caught the Cats 2 (1/2)

Frank had never seen Charles so panicked before. What could category P possibly mean?

\”Leave now.\” Charles repeated.

\”I refuse until you tell me what's really going on, is Qi Zhou in some kind of trouble?\” Frank replied obstinately.

Charles snorted, \”Rather than her being in trouble it's more like she is the trouble. So it's best if you don't get involved with her and leave now.\”

\”Is she that dangerous, is category P something highly classified? Will you get in trouble for telling us about it?\” Zhao Detong asked.

\”Yes I would get in trouble but you would be in more trouble. Once you learn about things like this you'll never be able to live a normal life again. You'll be pulled into a lot of danger. Danger that I will never forgive myself for dragging any of you into.

That's why I want you to stop, leave now and forget about any of this. Okay.\”

Fei Bing Bing stepped forward, \”Charles, we weren't entirely honest with you. We are already involved in this dangerous world. We aren't just looking for Qi Zhou because she ran away from Detong but because she has some answers that we're seeking.\”

Charles frowned, \”What do you mean?\”

Frank interrupted, \”At high school I had two best friends, one was Zhao Detong and the other was this naive-stubborn-nice guy named Mao Lu. A few months ago Mao Lu began disappearing and becoming hard to contact. Suddenly he got a lot of money and became an executive of a company. A mysterious man is with him almost all the time, and the recent terrorist incident in Chaoyang…\” Frank explained in further detail all the strange things that had been happening around Mao Lu. \”We believe that he's in some kind of danger and we want to find out what it is? I want to know what's going on.\”

Charles went silent, \”Mao Lu, it is a common name but I've heard it recently…. No No it couldn't be.\” Charles's heart began to race.

Aloud he asked, \”Your friend, Mao Lu, was his former name Zhang Lu, by chance?\”

\”Yes, he changed his name due to personal reasons… Wait how do you know that?\” Frank's eyes widened.

Charles shook, that boy was the new- the 888th- Gatekeeper of this realm.

\”Then forget about your friend, he can handle himself a lot better than you think. You guys getting involved won't help him, it will hinder him.\”

Charles opened his front door, \”Now leave.\” he said with a commanding and final tone.

Frank could tell from his expression that they weren't going to get any more out of him. He sighed, \”Guys let's go.\”

They all walked out of the apartment, Fei Bing Bing was the only one who lingered behind. \”Mao Lu may be in some life threatening danger, all we want to do is help him. Can't you tell us what's wrong, please.\”

Charles pushed Bing Bing out of the flat and slammed the door in her face.

Zhao Detong sighed, \”What do we do now?\”

Frank slumped against the wall, \”I don't know. I never expected Qi Zhou or Mao Lu to be involved in some top level government secret. I think we are in way over our heads….

From what Uncle just said… Whatever this is, it seems like Mao Lu can handle himself but it's us who will become burdens to him, by the end of this. Maybe we should do what my Uncle said, let's just go home and forget about all of this.\”

\”But how do we possibly forget any of this. Mao Lu is deep inside some type of conspiracy!\” Fei Bing Bing shouted.

\”Yeah but we can't do anything!\” Tanaka yelled at her, \”We have no power we don't even have the clearance to know what's really going on here. I agree with Frank. We should just go home before we get dragged into this too deeply. Next time we see Lu, even if he can't tell us about it, as long as he's okay that's all that should really matter.\”

\”So you're saying you're no longer curious!?\” Fei Bing Bing shouted hysterically.

\”Bing Bing this shouldn't be about satisfying our curiosity, it should be about Lu's safety. I agree with everyone else, there's nothing we can do let's just go home.\” Zhao Detong said softly as patted her shoulder.

Fei Bing Bing grumbled, \”Fine let's just go.\”

____________________

SOMEWHERE

\”Wow look how far the mighty has fallen. \” came a mirthless voice.

Crisp clip boots could be heard against the stone ground.

\”Fuck off Max!\” Qi Zhou shouted weakly

Max was a handsome Warlock (male mage), dressed in a black reaper suit. He had silver coloured eyes that shone like moonlight.

He laughed mockingly, \”I bet you never thought Lady Winter would cripple you. You arrogantly believed that as her precious student she'd be especially lenient on you. But you took it too far. Offending the Gatekeeper can affect the entire Coven, with a blink he could kill us all if he wanted to.

Many of the elders were demanding your death, Lady Winter crippling you is a merciful act in comparison. Now you can live out your remaining days as a mortal. And you can forget about all your lofty dreams.\”

\”Just leave Max, I get it. My life as a witch is over. My dreams of becoming a Grand Mage are over!\” She cried, bitter tears dripping onto the stone floor below her, \”So just leave. Leave me alone!\”

\”Do you think I came here just to taunt you? Although it is admittedly fun, actually I was ordered to throw you out. Knowing Lady Winter she'll probably keep you on as a mortal servant or something, but the other Elders want you gone. Especially Elder Morgana, I'm sure you know how much she despises you. She and the other Elders have come to a consensus, and the result is that from here on you are exiled from the Coven.\”

Qi Zhou's already pale face became ghostly, her expression contorted in horror. \”I've already been crippled, exile is too much!!! You can't make this decision without Lady Winter!\”

Max smiled, \”It's a majority rule, even if Lady Winter opposed it, it would make no difference.\”

\”You can't, a crippled Witch who is exiled from the Coven is a worthless outcast in the magic communities. No other group will accept me. I won't even have the opportunity to marry into a magic family and continue my bloodline. Being crippled like this will make me helpless against those witch hunters. You're sending me to a fate worse than death, I won't last two weeks without the Coven's backing. Please Max don't do this to me. Long ago weren't we friends?\”

Max's smile faltered, \”Ha! Friends. That was a very long time ago. And sadly the decision can't be changed.\”

He snapped his fingers and the magic suspending her in the air disappeared. She fell into his arms.

\”For old times sake I'll take you wherever you want to go in the Mortal world. And after that we shall have no connection.\”

Qi Zhou's eyes burned with anger, helplessness, and a desire to survive, \”Then there is a place I would like you to take me.\”

_____________________________

As Zhao Detong began driving, there was a sombre mood in the car.

No one really spoke. Except for Tanaka who hated awkward silences…

\”It's Christmas tomorrow guys, I can't believe this year is moving so quickly. Any of you have any plans? Bei Lao and I were just planning on watching movies all day and opening gifts in our pajamas.\”

\”Opening gifts…\” Fei Bing Bing looked out the window, \”This will be the first Christmas where I haven't been able to give Mao Lu his present, and this is the first time I haven't received one from him. No matter how busy he used to be or what he was going through, he was always adamant in getting us all gifts. And he'd always spend Christmas with Detong and I. Yet now….Well he's probably continuing his new dangerous life and leaving us behind this Christmas.\” she said.

The atmosphere became even more strange.

\”Honestly I was trying to start a normal conversation and you had to twist it. Bing Bing stop being so annoying!\” Tanaka snapped.

\”Being annoying! I'm just stating the facts!\” Bing Bing snapped back.

\”Oi both of you shut up! Why the hell are you fighting! Are you children?!\” Detong said angrily as he swerved towards the entrance of Frank's building. But he quickly stepped on the brakes.

There was a crowd forming around the entrance, making it impossible for Zhao Detong to drive in.

Frank frowned, \”What's going on?\” he jumped out of the passengers seat.

Zhao Detong was also curious, and he didn't want to stay in a car where Tanaka and Fei Bing Bing looked like they were about to start wrestling, so he followed Frank.