Chapter 43 - A Bit Competitive

  Alex isn’t exactly sure when the ‘sunrise’ bell would ring, he can only hope that he didn’t rest for too long and that Uril wouldn’t be upset at their leaving before he got up. The darkened streets are nearly empty as the trio move in rapid zig-zags, intent-movement speeding them along back towards Zephyr Courier Services. Alex has to pause a couple times to check his surroundings, getting his bearings and referencing the map he’d been given the day prior. Though even when looking at the map, Alex finds his eyes drifting back over the path he’d taken and thinking about how to find his way back.

  The wandering focus doesn’t go unnoticed. Corvus inwardly sighs, observing Alex from above where he flies in his crow guise. Twice the boy misjudged their position and had to double-back. He’d already seen how the incubus had affected Alex, but he trusts that his charge has the will to continue moving forwards. For now, however, there’s no harm in allowing Alex the enjoyment of a harmless infatuation, it might even be good for him.

  For her part, Hara is just happy to be moving. The repeated leaps from street-corner to street-corner gives her ample opportunity to capture snapshots of the city scents. A quick intake of breath through her sensitive nose each time they pause is all she needs to learn where a food-cart would be later, where another more animalistic denizen of the city passed by, or any number of other subtle details that would go utterly unnoticed by her little pack. Her pack. She doesn’t know when she started thinking of Alex and Corvus that way, but it just feels right. She also wonders if Alex will try to bring Uril’raya into their pack too.

  Alex starts to recognize some of the buildings and storefronts, zeroing in on his destination. The windows along the streetside had begun to light up as they’d been moving, hinting that the sunrise wasn’t too far off. Turning the last corner, the courier’s depot comes into view, with several other almost-late arrivals hurrying in too. Most of the large bay doors are closed, but the one nearest the office entrance stands open, spilling orange light onto the street. Alex slips in, joining a small crowd of people milling around on the depot floor.

  Within minutes, the door into the office area swings open and the man Alex had met yesterday steps out. He looks around, seeming to do a count, and his eyes eventually land on Alex. He gives a small nod of acknowledgement, then clears his throat. “Alright, alright. Most of you know the drill. We had some late drops last evening, so those are the priority to go out. The satchels and destinations are prepped, so whoever fancies an early sprint, get to it. We’re anticipating a somewhat slower day, but that doesn’t mean you can take it easy. A slow day means more competition, so do your routes quickly if you want to make your usual rate. If you go home with lighter pockets, it’s your own fault.” He calls out, voice echoing a bit in the large bay. The spiel had the feel of an often repeated speech. “Davis! We’ve got a new runner. Show him around and explain our process.” He finishes, pointing out Alex.

  As soon as Dale turns back to the door, the other couriers burst into activity. Several bolt for the neatly lined up satchels arranged on a counter. Each parcel gets claimed quickly, snatched up by whichever hand could touch them first. As the scramble sorts itself out, the dawn bell rings out, signaling the official start of the day. Only two seem less inclined to compete for the first runs, Alex and the one he assumes is Davis.

  Davis, as it turns out, has a secondary reason for not joining the race. A lean and tall woman, Davis has the classic runners build and would likely be one of the fastest among the couriers if it weren’t for the splint and bandage wrappings around her left ankle. She walks over, barely limping on the bad foot. “So you’re the new guy?” She asks, voice a touch gravely, fitting well with the somewhat boyish appearance that her short blonde hair and athletic build gives her.

  Alex nods and offers his hand. “I’m Alex, and you’re Davis, I assume?” He introduces himself. With the prior night’s events still fresh on his mind, Alex can’t help but give his new acquaintance a once-over. He does find her appealing, but there’s no sense of attraction like he’d experienced with Uril. Thankfully, Davis doesn’t seem to notice his surreptitious looks, given that she was doing the same and examining Alex and his companions.

  She grimaces slightly as she shakes his hand. “Please don’t call me that, I hate that name. I’m Jewel. ‘Davis’ was what I used to go by.” She says, looking annoyed. Thankfully it doesn’t appear directed at Alex. “Dumbass Dale is just so sauced most of the time he always forgets.” She says, shrugging. “Anyway, let me show you around.”

  Jewel leads Alex around the depot’s warehouse room, pointing out the various aspects of the operation. “Full satchels are lined up on these counters. Each has a number stitched into it.” She points up to boards hanging above each counter. “Match the number to the delivery listing and you’ll know where it’s going. Orders are first-come-first-served, so grab the one you wanna do quickly, or someone else will.” She explains then continues the tour. She shows him where the clerks fill and sort the satchels, prepping them for delivery, then the return drop for empty satchels to be returned. “Make sure you take the ticket off the satchel before you dump it, it’s how you get paid at the end of the day.” She says, reaching in and rummaging for a moment before pulling one out with the ticket still attached. She unpins it from the fabric bag and pockets it. “General rule, if someone forgets and you find it, it’s fair game. Keeps us all more attentive.” She explains with a wink.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Alex takes it all in, nodding along with her explanations as he follows her around the space. “Seems simple enough.” He says, picking up one of the empties to examine it. It’s nothing fancy, just a single-strap satchel-bag with the courier logo stitched into it, a wing with a wind-gust. “Seems like things can be a bit competitive.” He muses.

  His trainer nods, chuckling. “Oh yeah. There’s usually enough to keep us all busy, the nearby routes always go first, then the ones further out. No one likes starting with the long runs, because by the time you get back, only the long runs are left.” Jewel answers, then sighs. “Trying to rush the long runs is how I managed to get myself injured.”

  Wincing, Alex looks at the bandaged ankle. “Yeah, took me the better part of a day to heal up after getting some nasty burns during my trip to the city. Guessing it happened last night?” He asks.

  Jewel’s eyes widen as her brows climb nearly into her hairline. “No, it’s been four days.” She says, then eyes Alex with a bit of suspicion. “How bad were those burns?”

  Alex rubs the back of his head. “Almost full-body first and second degree burns. And I was basically blind from it too.” He answers, unable to suppress a shudder at the memory. “If it hadn't been for Hara, I’d be dead. Again.” He says, leaning to rub the hound’s ears.

  The woman’s expression turns sour for a moment, and she lets out a muttered “Fuck.” She sighs and collects herself, then shakes her head. “I guess what I got warned about was right. Hitting a higher threshold and then going faded again, you’re worse-off than if you’d just stayed at the lower thresholds.” She says, seeming a bit deflated.

  Corvus had been quietly observing the discussion and adds his own two-cent where only Alex and Hara would hear. “She is correct. As I taught you before, higher thresholds help to align your body with your nature more completely. If the changes were significant, losing the Animus would incur a draw on the spirit which would slow the healing process. Not debilitating, but something to be avoided.”

  Shaking off the discomfort, Jewel motions for Alex to follow her again. “Come on, got a few more things to show you.” She leads him through the door into the office area. “When you’re done for the day, come to this office here.” She pushes open one of the other doors in the hallway and introduces Alex to the person inside. “Hey Mack, we’ve got a new one. This is Alex. Alex, this is Mack.”

  Mack barely fits behind the desk he sits at, and the only term Alex can think of to describe him is Ogre. Reddish tan skin, a pair of nubby horns, and enough raw mass to easily make him the largest demon Alex had seen yet. Mack lifts a hand to wave, giving Alex a smile of pure friendliness, despite the two tusk-like teeth protruding from his lower jaw. “Welcome to the crew.” Mack says, the voice matching his appearance, deep and resonant.

  “Hey, nice to meet you.” Alex says, stepping in to shake Mack’s hand. The huge demon’s own hand completely engulfs Alex’s, but the shake is shockingly gentle.

  “Mack takes care of the pay. You turn in your tickets to him, he gives you the coins. You can turn them in at any time, I usually give him mine every couple of days.” Jewel explains, then hands Mack the one she pocketed earlier. Mack takes it with a lifted brow, but dutifully pays out from a lockbox on his desk. “Someone forgot to take theirs.” Jewel says. Mack gives a snort and nods.

  “I was about to give you a stern word for pushing that ankle of yours.” He says, waggling a finger at Jewel. “You really shouldn’t even be hobbling your way here until it heals.” Mack good-naturedly scolds the woman.

  Jewel scoffs and rolls her eyes. “I have to at least earn something, and Dale gives me a couple coins a day for helping in the bay.” Then she flips the coin, catching it in the air. “I’ll be back to running the routes soon enough.”

  Alex can’t help but smile at the pair, it’s clear they’ve got a long history together. Seeing that familiarity and ease with each other, Alex’s mind drifts unbidden back to Uril, and how easy it had been to talk to him after the initial suspicion was laid to rest. His smile falters slightly, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. But thankfully Jewel misinterprets the cause.

  “Oh, sorry Mack, can’t hang out here all day. I’m sure Alex is eager to get out there and try some routes, and doesn’t want to listen to us give each other grief.” Jewel says, waving to Mack. “Probably see you tomorrow.” She calls out as she leads Alex back out into the hall. Alex gives the ogre of a man a polite wave too before hurrying after Jewel. “You’ve already seen Dale, and the front, so I think that’s all you really need for now. Got any questions?” She asks, turning to look at Alex while moving back towards the depot bay.

  Alex mulls over everything Jewel had explained, and shakes his head. “No, seems pretty straightforward. I appreciate you showing me around.” He says, smiling as they move down the hallway.

  Returning to the main work-floor, all the bay doors had been opened and the other couriers were gone. “Ah, we can hear ourselves think out here now.” Jewel jokes, giving Alex a nudge with her elbow. “If you know a chunk of the city, or have a map, why don’t you take a route and see what kind of time you can make.” It’s all the encouragement that Alex needed to hear.