Raizel stared at the bookstore sign.
"Thunderbird and Whale Bookstore."
Huh.
Either the owner had been high when naming the pce, or they were just really itted to creative branding.
To top it off, the bookstore sat aloop a hill, as if it had been exiled by society. No other stores. No bustling streets. Just vibes.
Raizel tilted his head, mildly impressed.
How had this pot go of business? Who even came all the way out here to buy books? Did they rely on the occasional lost tourist like him?
No matter. He was here for a book, not an eialysis.
With that, he stepped inside.
The store smelled like old paper, ink, and the vague hint of inse. A Native Ameri maed him warmly, and Raizel, with his usual effortless grace (read: minimal effort), expihat he had called ahead about a particur book.
To his relief, the staff had already set it aside. ve.
After paying for it, he started flipping through the pages on his way out.
Five pages in, his eyebrow twitched.
Ten pages in, his soul left his body.
This was not what he was looking for.
He stopped walking, staring at the book as if it had personally betrayed him.
Such a drag...
Raizel sighed. Maybe he should have checked the reviews first.
Just as he was about to close the book and mourn his wasted effort, he felt a presenearby.
He turned his head slightly—
Only to e face-to-face with Bel Swan.
Oh.
Raizel blinked.
Bel blinked back.
She looked nervous but didn't leave, which meant she had something to say.
"Um, hi," she greeted softly. Her gaze flickered between him and the book in his hands. "That book you're holding… I was actually ied in it too. Didn't expect to find someone else here looking for it."
Raizel g the book, as if re-evaluating its worth.
Should he just… hand it over a her deal with the disappoi?
He nodded casually.
Which was true. Just not this particur brand of 'mildly eaining but ultimately useless' books.
Bel hesitated before asking, "Do you his book?"
Ah. There it was.
Raizel, ever the gracious individual, sidered her request. He had already decided the book wasn't worth his time. And if he left it on his shelf, it would just gather dust.
"I no longer ," he said, the book to her. "You borrow it if you like."
Bel's eyes widened slightly. "Oh—I mean, I pay for it if you—"
Raizel shook his head. "It's fine. I'd rather it be of use to someohan sit untouched."
She hesitated, looking a little unfortable about accepting it for free. But in the end, she extended her hand and took it.
"…Thank you."
Raizel simply gave a small nod, watg as she turo leave.
Well, that was ued.
Not unpleasant, just… ued.
He hadn't expected to meet Bel today, though, logically, it was bound to happen at some point.
Now, if he were willing, he could probably meet Edward as well.
But did he feel ined to?
…Not really.
Or—
A thought crossed his mind.
Would it be a waste to not mess with Edward at least a little?
Raizel ged course mid-step.
Yes, he had no reason to seek out Edward.
But no reason was, in itself, a perfectly good reason.
The sed, he moved.
The world blurred around him as he crossed the distah supernatural speed, effortlessly silent, barely visible to mortal eyes. In an instant, he arrived at an open area where Bel was—of course—already in trouble.
Ah. Naturally.
Two men were followiheir iiohan friendly. Their overfidence was almost inspiring in a pathetibsp;kind of way.
Raizel sighed.
Must I do everything around here?
With an unhurried, almost zy stride, he walked toward them.
His presence was noticed immediately.
Because, well—he wanted it to be.
The moment his eyes gleamed red in the dim light, chaos erupted.
One man recoiled so hard he tripped over his ow. Aurned so fast he smmed into his unfortunate friend, sending them both sprawling.
Within seds, the alley was half-empty, and those who hadn't fled ht were wisely rethinking their life choices.
Bel, still in the middle of it all, stood frozen.
She turned her gaze toward Raizel, eyes wide with astonishment, as the st of her pursuers fled.
Raizel stopped just a few feet from her.
Expression unreadable.
pletely posed.
Then, with a voice as casual as if he had just asked about the weather, he said,
"Are you okay?"
Bel, still processing, managed a hesitant, "Hmm."
Which could've meant 'yes,' 'no,' or 'what just happened and who are you really?'
She didn't get a ce to eborate.
Because, in true dramatic fashion—
A car came rushing toward them.
Bel instinctively stepped back, her heart pounding.
Raizel?
Didn't even blink.
The car screeched to a stop mere inches from him.
The driver's door flew open, and—of course—it was Edward.
Bel's head snapped betweewo of them, her apprehension evident.
Edward, oher hand, looked…
Terrified.
Nervous.
And, most importantly—pletely lost.
Raizel observed him with mild i.
Edward's mind-reading ability?
pletely useless right now.
Aed it.
Edward tensed, preparing to make a move—when suddenly, a voice echoed inside his head.
"Boy, you are rude."
Edward froze.
Raizel arched a brow.
Ah. So that worked.
Edward shot him a nervous gnce, but quickly tried tain posure.
"Get in the car," he instructed Bel, voice firm, trying very hard to keep unease in check.
Bel hesitated, looking back at Raizel.
Edward, however, had no time to press the issue.
Because the sed—
Raizel was too close.
Far too close.
Even Bel, who was only huma the shift in the air.
One moment Raizel was standing where he had been.
The —
He was right in front of Edward.
N.
No sound.
Just—there.
Edward barely had time to tense, his body instinctively shifting into a defeance.
But Raizel?
He just smiled.
A slow, knowing smile.
Not threatening.
Not hostile.
Just… uling.
Then, in a voice that was eoo casual for the situation, he said,
"We will meet again."
Edward remained rigid, unmoving, as Raizel stepped back.
He turned his gaze toward Bel once mave a slight wave, then—
Simply walked away.
Just like that.
No rush.
No dramatic exit.
He just… left.
And as if on cue, a sleek bck car rolled into view.
Raizel got in.
Didn't look back.
Didn't aowledge Edward's feelings.
Didn't care.
Then—
The car drove off, leaving Bel and Edward behind.
One speechless.
The other nervous.
