Morning Coffee and Millennium Secrets
The morning light filtered softly through the glass walls of "The Blooming Cactus," the most discreet coffee shop in Bloom Town. Rose Blib, with her sharp eyes and detective's poise, listened to Maya, who held her teacup as if it were a fragile artifact.
"...It was in the depths of a place of worship, a sacred spot where I had gone to pay homage to my god. It wasn't a myth or a magic lake, but a simple spring, protected by glyphs that no longer exist today..."
Maya paused to blow on her tea. Her appearance—a vibrant woman in her thirties with dark curls—poorly disguised the millennium she had spent traversing the Earth.
"SO THE FOUNTAIN IS IN EGYPT!" Rose exclaimed, not realizing her voice had carried over the ambient murmur.
Maya offered an amused smile, shrugging. "Calm down, Miss I-can-turn-into-anything." She resumed, her voice a thread of honey: "Unfortunately, no. That's the little secret of immortality. Once it is found, it moves, retreating into the flow of time to be even better hidden. I doubt any human will find it for centuries more. But the water... the water does its job." She tapped her chest.
Rose shook her head, still fascinated, even after years of dealing with the occult. "And to think I'm silly enough to think it would be on Google Maps, under 'Historic Sites.'"
"And Christian? Is he still dining alone tonight?" Maya asked, her tone growing more serious.
Rose sighed, the smile fading. "No, I promised him. I have to go soon, actually. I think if I invent one more emergency at the office tonight, he'll hire a private detective to follow me."
The Secret of Bloom Town and the Razor's Edge
Rose stood up. Walking through the busy streets, the city's hustle seemed strangely muted to her ears. The shapeshifter allowed herself a brief, silent monologue—a thought she could never share:
"Bloom Town. A beautiful façade of red bricks, trendy shops, and well-kept parks. But essentially, the city hides something. Speeding gargoyles, basement vampires, dimensional rifts in the subways... And I hide inside the city, too. I am the lie that maintains the peace."
She reached the apartment she shared with Christian Cilantro, the journalist.
"I thought I was supposed to cook tonight," Rose said, kissing him on the neck.
"Surprise, detective. I finished early. We have two full hours with no 'professional emergencies' or 'secret appointments'," Christian replied. There was a faint strain in his humor.
He turned on the television for background noise. The local news came on.
News Anchor: "...Authorities in Bloom Town confirm the ninth murder in three months linked to the suspect nicknamed 'The Gambler.' The body was found this morning under… theatrical circumstances. The serial killer's method, which forces victims to gamble for their lives, continues to escalate panic in the city..."
Christian turned to Rose. "So? Are you on the case? This is the story on every national front page."
Rose picked up the spatula handle, looking detached. "Me? No. It's above my pay grade. We handle small-time fraud at the Bureau. Besides, that's a police matter, right?"
RING RING!
Rose's phone, the one she rarely used, vibrated loudly on the counter. An unknown number. She knew who it was.
Christian slowly set the spatula down. His eyes, usually full of affection, were clouded with disappointment. He didn't even need to ask the question.
"It's work," Rose said, a weak excuse.
"The ninth murder. 'Not your business,' is that it?" He gestured with his hand. "Go. But please, Rose... don't tell me it's small-time fraud. And don't ask me why I don't believe you anymore."
Rose felt a pang of guilt, but an innocent life might be at stake. She only had time to cup his face and kiss him passionately, trying to convey everything she couldn't say.
"I love you. I'll be back as soon as I can," she murmured.
The Skin Change and the HQ
She grabbed her jacket and bolted. Leaving Christian, the urgency of duty replaced the guilt. Rose shifted. Her body thinned, her hips narrowed, and her features sharpened. Her vibrant red hair faded to a night black, and her skin became paler. Her casual clothes darkened, transforming from relaxed jeans to dark, functional wear—her Knight Stalker "uniform." In the span of three blocks, she had gone from loving partner to efficient tool.
She entered the anonymous building of the Bureau of Criminal Affairs.
"Hey, Jimmy," she greeted the dim-witted-looking receptionist, who never truly looked at her.
Rose headed for the seemingly empty office. In the center stood an antique marble bust. She approached it and turned the bust's head toward its right shoulder.
"The party's over here," she whispered the pass phrase.
A dull click. The wall behind the bust slid open, revealing not a corridor, but a space vibrating with another dimension. Creatures crowded it: werewolves, dark-scaled lizardmen, fairies. Rose walked through the commotion.
She bypassed the open offices and entered the crisis room, where three other people awaited her. The air was electric.
Kaelen Brice and the Rome Wager
Captain Kaelen Brice was pacing. His usual stoic demeanor was broken by a cold anger.
"NINE VICTIMS!" he exclaimed, slamming the table. "And still nothing. I've caught Phantoms that left more evidence than this guy! He's not a vampire, he's not a simple mage... What is this Gambler?"
Maya, sitting calmly, legs crossed, shrugged. "Pull yourself together, Captain," she said soothingly. "This time, we have a witness, and we have a solid lead."
Brice looked up and saw Rose entering. He calmed down slightly.
"You're just in time, RoB," he said, signaling her to come in.
"It's Rose to you too, Captain," she retorted, a flicker of annoyance in her voice. "Only Ccil gets to call me that."
"I'm touched," Brice said. "But now is not the time. We have a lead on Gambler, and we're going to need you."
Rose took a seat next to Maya.
"The witness," Maya began, pointing to a blurry photo of a man in a suit on the screen. "A low-level shadow creature. He informed us he was in contact with one of Gambler's 'moles.' Our source overheard the serial killer talking about a place where he might go for his next 'game.'"
Kaelen Brice pointed to a spot on the projected world map. "The witness wasn't specific about the location, but he mentioned a password and a city: Rome. A major luxury casino. The Palladium."
Brice crossed his arms. "Rose, your shapeshifting ability is our only advantage. You must go undercover. Maya, you accompany her for the occult expertise. You leave Bloom Town in four hours. Destination: Rome. Mission duration... until Gambler is neutralized."
Rose felt the world spinning. An indeterminate length trip. Christian.
"Captain," Rose began, her voice strangely quiet. "I need to call Christian. Now."
Brice looked at her, his face softening for the first time. "Make it quick, RoB. But be brief. We're waiting for you at Gambler's crime scene afterwards."
Rose nodded, her throat tight. She left the office and went to an isolated corner of the HQ, phone in hand. Time was pressing.
The Missed Call
Rose stood alone in the dark corner of the HQ. The muffled sounds of occult conversations and the whirring of machines formed a strange symphony, but no noise could mask the pounding of her own guilt. She dialed Christian's number.
He picked up immediately.
"Rose?" His voice was strained, devoid of the amusement she loved so much. The tone wasn't pure anger, but emotional exhaustion. He knew.
"Ccil. Listen to me." She spoke softly, pressed for time. "I'm so sorry. This isn't a small case. It's… It's the worst one."
A heavy silence settled. Rose could faintly hear the sound of the dinner he'd prepared, which he was probably dumping.
Christian: "How long this time, Rose? A weekend? A week? Or are we playing the lottery on your return?"
The question was hurtful because it was fair. The unexpressed anger in his voice conveyed his bewilderment.
Rose: "I don't know. That's the problem. I don't know. I… I have to catch a flight tonight. I'm going far away."
Christian: (His voice dropped to a rough whisper) "Far away? I knew it. I knew you were leaving the moment I saw the news on TV. That's what hurts the most, you know? Not the new emergency, but the fact that you knew I knew, and you left anyway. Without even looking at me."
Rose's sense of duty violently clashed with her guilt.
Rose: "I wish I could give you a better answer. I would give anything to… to be honest with you." She gritted her teeth. "But I can't. You have to trust me, Ccil. It's vital."
Christian: (A dry, bitter laugh) "Trust is a gift, Rose, not an obligation. And you've spent it. I get it." He took a deep breath. "I understand you have secrets. But I don't understand why you leave me in the next room while the world is falling apart around you."
It was a sharp stab.
Rose: "Don't say that. I have to go. But… but I'll call you. As soon as I can, no matter the time, no matter where I am. I'll call you."
Christian: "Don't put yourself in danger." He didn't say "I love you." He chose duty, just like her.
Rose: (Sadness washed over her) "I… I will."
She ended the call abruptly, unable to bear the silent melancholy that had settled between them. Heart heavy, Rose put her phone away. There was no more Rose Blib the lover. Only RoB, the agent. The Gambler was waiting.