Storyteller's Universe // See Through
Fool Moon



“Mr. Wormwood?”

I’m pulled out of my thoughts as the Administrator of PERSA’s Field Operations brings my attention back to the meeting. Asher has been reporting all his findings for the past half an hour or so and I have chosen to doze off.

“...What was the question?”

That got her annoyed. Fuck yeah.

“Was the demon at all related to the mass unveiling?”

“No, possession took place after the event.”

She turns back to Asher.

“Afterwards we spent the rest of the time interviewing Nix’s residents. Neither us nor the numerous experts and investigators you sent to assist us were able to discern anything beyond what we already knew since day one. The RERA readings have not dissipated since our arrival and I’m afraid we may have to treat it as the new baseline reality reading for Nix. Unveiling was without reason, instantaneous and it is unclear if it can or will repeat.”

“That is very concerning, as—”

“It wasn’t instant, the event took somewhere between four to six days.”

Both of them look at me, Asher does so in disbelief, Administrator is intrigued.

“Please elaborate, Mr. Wormwood.”

“Lycanthropes have found ways to manage their symptoms, most of which are dependent on the moon cycle. The local werewolf near Nix has been taking note of passing days and noticed an anomaly in her calendar — six consecutive days without an ‘X’. She has lost memory four days before the expected full moon and interpreted it as the full moon beginning sooner and lasting till expected. They lose memory during the werewolf phase, just to be clear.”

Administrator nods, she knows how lycanthropy works. The explanation was for the other pain in the ass in this room.

“When we interviewed locals, I noticed none of them were able to acknowledge that time frame found by the lycanthrope. All our interviewees rationalized away the missing time with mundane excuses. You know, like being tired, distracted, not keeping track of time et cetera, behavior you would see out of someone still under the Veil. In my humbly unprofessional opinion, people of Nix have been unveiled to everything but the very thing that unveiled them.”

“And why am I hearing this theory from Mr. Wormwood and not you Asher?”

“We did those interviews together and he hasn’t told me shit about that theory!”

“Admittedly you were distracted during our werewolf visit, I’m not surprised you missed that clue.”

“Explains some of the weird fucking questions you’ve been asking. You were confirming your theory without letting me catch on to it...”

The administrator looks at me, I look at Asher.

“Correct.”

“Anything else you’ve been hiding from us, Mr. Wormwood?”

“Yes, that I would like to leave.”

“I wish you were better at it. Very well, you may leave.”

I correct myself in my chair. It’s very uncomfortable.

“That squares away my debt to you.”

The Administrator shakes her head.

“It is my understanding that Agent Asher has already paid you with classified documents. Since you accepted payment for this job, the debt stands unchanged.”

Asher freezes in place and sits there dumbfounded and wide-eyed. I suppose PERSA caught on to the shady move he tried to pull. I can’t help but smile.

“Not yet, but he will, isn’t that right Asher?”

“Fuck you, man. I’m not gonna do shit.”

“You shook on it. I don’t recommend breaking the deal.”

I turn back to the Administrator, she looks surprised that the gray fox has accepted a demonic deal from me.

“If you choose to send more solicitors my way, make sure they’re assholes just like Asher. Much more fun to deal with than the usual pencil pushers. You can’t deny he actually did get me to accept the job.”

“Don’t make me say it a third time — Mr. Wormwood, you may leave.”