Looking through his closet, James intuitively reached for his uniform but stopped and grabbed a plain white shirt, black trousers and a black trench coat. Although it looked the same, the plain back without NPSD on it was a constant reminder of what happened. Looking at his chest and the small bruise on it, he carefully grabbed it and clicked his tongue before getting dressed and leaving.
Before, he knew he was going alone, but now he couldn't help but feel truly isolated. Xavier had made it clear he wanted what was going to happen to transpire; the station had cut him off, and he had to keep a distance from Peter for his safety. Stepping out of the apartment, he looked up at the downpour and sighed, getting into his car.
All he could do was follow what he had. Starting up, he drove towards the Mayoral building and the manors surrounding it. It was a half-hour drive, and pulling up nearby, he stopped outside the Gentleman's manor. It was dangerous, he knew that much, but with nothing else to do, he staked it out, wondering if he would see something.
Multiple white men in suits walked around it. Although it looked like a meeting of the upperclass, James knew better to think that, knowing each one was a member of the Gentleman Society and a soilder of the man himself. It was a small fortress in the middle of the city, and the main reason the NPSD had never taken direct action by storming the building and arresting the Gentleman.
Pulling out his binoculars, he watched and waited. Scanning every window, he saw dead-eyed servants walking around, working. Missing them, he looked for one person out of place and saw one. Maria sat by the window, looking out of it with an empty gaze, her mouth open slightly, as if she were dozing off.
James had seen that many times and narrowed his eyes. Looking past her, he saw people working. Not once did they make her flinch. Part of him assumed it was that they were so quiet, but the look in her eyes, the way her face fell, made him think something else.
'She's on something.' He had seen it enough to know. Looking away, he kept that information deep in his mind. Although unsure, it was worth noting. Looking around, he saw no one else of interest and focused on the servants. Activating his eyes, he tensed up, staring at one.
Inside the maid, he saw the same sickly purple aura that slowly ate away inside a person's body. Although the maid wasn't an ability user, it still lingered, seemingly corrupting something deeper than a person's aura. It was disgusting to look at, as if part of her soul had been infected.
Looking at one and another, all of them had the same thing inside of them. James lowered the binoculars and took a sharp breath. "What is it?" He had wondered time and again. A person's Aura could tell a little about their ability; orange is usually associated with fire, and blue usually with water. Some were hard to tell, like Jeremiahs. Looking at his own, James was like a blank sheet of paper, waiting to be drawn on something that once again didn't make much sense when looking at it.
The one in the servants, however, was strange by normal standards. Purple could have meant anything, but the way it existed was horrifying. Sickly and sticky looking, it seemed to eat from within. 'Like a parasite.' James said to himself, but felt it didn't fit. A parasite lived in something to feed on them. The aura inside wasn't feeding on anything. Instead, he got the feeling it was hijacking them, slowly corrupting them to make it its own.
"I need to see the Gentleman himself." He knew that much, but when he remembered how his mind screamed at him not to look, he couldn't help but feel that it would be a terrible mistake. "One thing at a time."
James snapped out his thoughts, feeling his burner phone vibrate. Picking it up, he saw a private number and frowned. Only the Captain and Xavier knew his number. Unsure of who could be calling him, he answered and carefully brought it to his ear. "Hello?"
"Mr Graham." A cold, almost robotic voice spoke to him, "Please cease all further investigation into Mr Manning in the near future." James froze up.
'Did Cain find out this number, or was it the General. No, they wouldn't give me a warning, but deal with me. Rose playing a trick, no, it's not like her.' James closed his eyes and realised it could only be one thing.
"Which Agent am I speaking to?" James knew it was the ISD. Only they would have the resources to track his burner phone and had the cause to want him to stop. The reason they didn't use his public number, James could only assume, was a subtle threat.
"Agent S. Please confirm you will cease all investigation into Mr Manning." The man said once more, and James took a deep breath.
"I agree," James said, knowing he had no other choice. If they could find this number, then it meant they could find him. If he were an issue for them, they would see to it that he stopped. It also confirmed something, the ISD were investigating and was close to carrying out their plan. "But Mr Manning may seek me out. In that case, am I free to defend myself?" James said, making sure they knew. He didn't want trouble because his life was at risk.
Agent S didn't reply straight away. James waited for the robotic voice and couldn't help but feel that he was being watched. Looking back at the manor, his heart sank. In each window, he saw the servants the Gentleman employed stop and stare at his car. Quickly starting it, he sped off, taking quick breaths.
"The ISD will act before Mr Manning can." The robotic voice spoke, calming James' fears a little. "If we do not, you are free to use all non-lethal means to stop him. We still require him." The call hung up, and James lowered his phone.
'They're coming in a few days at minimum.' James drove, scrunching his eyebrows. Although the sight horrified him, he wondered how they knew he was there. There was a chance they had spotted him when he used his eyes, but their reaction was delayed. Thinking about it, he parked up and patted his outfit down, thinking maybe a tracker had been put in when they broke in.
Feeling nothing, he checked his shoes and saw they hadn't been tampered with. Getting out, he felt around his car, above the wheels and felt something out of place. Ripping it off, he stared at the small black box in his hand with a flashing red light. 'A tracker.' James got ready to throw it to the side but stopped, went to a nearby car, and stuck it under it.
Checking the rest of his car and seeing no other trackers, he sighed in relief, got back in, and drove off. The sight he saw still didn't leave his mind. Even if they knew where he was, how could he have every servant stop and stare at him? 'Mind control. No, his aura doesn't follow any of the normal principles a mind controller has.' James took a deep breath, clutching his steering wheel harder to stop it shaking.
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Lucas opened his eyes and let out a deep sigh, handing the small GPS in his hand back to the servant next to him. Grabbing a nearby handkerchief, he rubbed his forehead and looked at the sweat that had built up on it. "Something wrong?" Alannah asked with concern, hiding the shaking in her voice. Peeking at the servants who all stood by the window, she held her breath and thanked God she had her mask on at the moment, unsure of what face she was making.
"A little crow was watching us. Nothing too serious." Alannah nodded and looked at the servants who broke out of their trance and left the window, returning to their normal routines. Hiding her hand under the table, she couldn't help but hold it to stop her shivering and feel blessed that she wasn't an enemy of the man before her.