How dare she? A mortal!?!? Standing up a god!?!? His glow was bright and the phone in his hand crushed after the third attempt to call her. The god wasn’t good at texting and the cheap ‘burner’ phone that he had been holding on to wasn’t the best for it. The buttons were far too small for someone of his stature. She was two hours late, and the show was almost over, no phone call and no animals coming to notify him that his date was going to be a no show.

Now the god knew better, this wasn’t like her. Elizabeth was a responsible and compassionate mortal! One capable of understanding an immortal such as she. There would be no way she would intentionally stand him up right? The glowing god took a breath and released some of his fury into the breath. The doorman next to him stepped away after observing the destroyed phone.

“They stand you up?” the doorman asked looking to his watch and then to the big guy, “Shows almost over, I don’t even think they’d let you in.” he said confidently. The god sighed loudly and chuckled trying to remind himself that this wasn’t like her. She must have gotten dragged into something or lost track of the time.

Shaking his head he boomed, ”Not even gods or goddesses have the capacity to stand me up!” his glowing continued as he walked away clearly upset by the turn of events. Was this what his shows meant when someone was ‘ghosted’? Had he become the victim of said ghosting? Walking to the nearest garbage can he dropped his phone in it and then walked off, heading in the direction of the mansion.

”I shall get to the bottom of this!” the doorman waved after him, “Good luck man!” only to quickly lower his hand when the behemoth leapt into the air to the nearest building then leapt out of sight. “New York. ****ing crazy man.” before returning back to his post.

”Liz! You missed training! And all the calls! You better not be getting cold feet about training! Not gonna look good when you’re leading the search and rescue teams!” he said taunting the woman as he hollered on the other side of the door. There was a scratching at the door, Sam thought better on it and waited for a response from her. There was none just more noises from inside the room.

Did she have someone over? Sam was about to walk away and give her some crap another day about ditching when he heard more scratching at the door followed by a whine. ”Liz. I’m opening the door.” he knocked again knowing it was an invasion of privacy, he also knew Zorro wasn’t one to scratch at the doors unless there was a reason. Maybe she hadn’t been home in some time? That too wasn’t like her. She would have asked someone to let him out.

It took a second for Sam to will an ice clone on the other side of the door to unlock it, something he didn't’ advertise he could do, Sam was a teacher after all and breaking and entering was not very teacherly. However he knew if she heard Zorro was trying to get out and no one helped him well, the bird would have had a few choice words to say.

The door opened and the lights were out, ”Hey bud!” Sam said to Zorro who zipped down the hallway towards the nearest exit. Clearly he had been in there for some time. The session was mid afternoon. It was now the evening. Had Zorro been in there all day?

Sam looked to his phone and texted Liz one last time. ‘Zorro was scratching, I let him out. Next session will be twice as worse for ditching. All good?’ before closing the door behind him. Nico squawked at Sam and started muttering some choice words that seemed all to familiar from another mansion resident. The accent was a dead giveaway. Rolling his eye he shut the door behind him.

The god landed in all his glowing glory still in the tight-fitting suit, he wasn’t petty but he knew he looked good in the new suit and thought he should give the animal telepath a show of what she was missing. Sometimes Hercules just wanted a compliment.

The door shook with each knock, they were in threes and still polite despite his frustration with being stood up. Hercules was frustrated with Elizabeth, no need to kick down doors where others lived as well. It wouldn’t be fair to them, he was sure they had enough on their plates anyways what with the short lifespan of mortals and trying to control their own abilities. The mansion was indeed a magical place. Well, without the actual magic.

There was no response, so he knocked louder knowing it was late. It would have been rude to just walk in.

The mansion hallways were quite, silent even which was a great time to test the acoustics of the hallway and every major room while they remained silent. Sure this was also a chance to give the mansion something that they didn’t know they needed given the time of evening, his voice.

”Glimmering more than the night sky, fiercer than a hurricane, ya give me a reason ta keep me feet on the grouuuuunnnnndddddd!” the Irishman sang strumming his six string a little piece he wrote for the Princess. She might have been difficult but she was the best kind of difficult for the shifter.

A string broke as he walked the halls and a flick of irritation was revealed by his tail. ”Fer **** sakes! Whose knocking at this hour? Don’t ya know it’s quite hours!?!” he started to play again then stopped after another loud set of knocks. ”Someone want ta get the door? Otherwise I got ta stop singing!” he said walking to the large wooden doors of the mansion ones he often was overjoyed to see. It usually meant it was the end of the day for him, either coming or going those doors were a gateway to where he wanted to go. Be a shame if someone knocked them down.

Changing the tone to a song with five strings his pace picked up a bit as he continued to sing this time something a little happier. ”Whose knocking at the door? Ya got me on the floor? Hope yer not a bore! Doubt I’ll be asking mooooreeeeeee!” Carrick sang and swung the doors open only to come face to face with a the torso of a giant.

His plan was to shout at the person, point out why it was rude to be knocking this late in the evening. To come back another day, ideally a time that had more people in the mansion, meaning a time when Carrick wasn’t there. He had better stuff to do anyways. Shifter stuff!

Instead another string broke as he eyed the behemoth before him. ‘Flee!’ the glowing was intimidating, his tail flicked not sure what it should do. His wings ruffled to make himself look bigger. His eyes narrowed on the glowing figure. ”Selling girl scout cookies a little late?” he asked knowing that wasn’t the reason he was here. The man in all his intimidation stared at him. Carrick raised and eyebrow and ignored his instincts that told him to run.

”Well, I didn’t grow up on a barn so if yer not here ta sell cookies, kindly **** off.” he said ready to slam the door shut only to hear the rumbling of the man’s chest as he reached his colossal sized hand to stop the door. In doing so Carrick had to move with the door.

The boy was impudent. Minstrel or not very few talked to the god that way. So few in fact his chest rumbled which quickly turned to laughter. His glowing continued as he reached to hold the door open. ”HAHAHA!” the stitching on his clothing groaned as he slapped his massive leg. The sound made the winged bard before him to jump a little.

”I’m always amazed by how sure of yourself you young mortals are!” Hercules momentarily forgot about why he was so upset, distracted by a good laugh did wonders for the body and mind. ”It has been eons since someone has talked to me sooooo.... boldly!” he continued to chuckle now the booming of his voice died down.

About to discuss why mortals were so great the prince of power became distracted as Zorro, Elizabeth’s dog and best friend bolted forward past the tailed bard and towards him. ”Zorro! I have words to speak with your mom! Where is she?” hoping that if Zorro was here she would be trailing shortly after.

Zorro circled around the god twice and almost looked disappointed before running out to the grass to find a good spot to go. The demi-god was ignored again... What a time to be alive, they almost treated him like a mortal. Hercules chuckled with laughter and then was about to go to Zorro’s side, to great the best friend of the woman he was courting but stopped when he heard the accented musician speak.

”Oh... Yer here fer here.... good luck friend. Hopefully she doesn’t ghost ya!” the door was swinging shut again and the god reached out again confused by the words. He too thought he was being ghosted. Did this boy have insight that would aid him in his search?

”Bard? What do you mean?” The boy’s face widened into a toothy grin and the god was made aware of his pointed canines as if he was part beast. With the tail and the wings he looked like someone he would have fought beside centuries ago. ”Oh ya poor man... come in. Come in.”

”I’ll explain it all in detail, can do it by song if ya want. Wrote a piece just fer the occasion. Might have ta give me a moment ta restring though, best done with set.” Carrick mused as he walked from the door. Should he be messing with the boytoy of his ex? Was this what she liked? A meat head?

Eh, it was none of his business anymore anyways. Lizzy made the choice to break the shifters heart, making it very clear where they stood. Something Carrick never let her forget. So much so he had even wrote a few heartbreak songs. All in all it was pretty grand song writing material.

”Another time perhaps. I am looking for Elizabeth, I was hoping she was alright considering she failed to meet me for our date. Is she well?” the behemoth followed Carrick in and shut the door behind him gently. Something that was surprising for the man’s stature.

”Dunno, not really the best judge of character on that one.” Carrick said strumming the guitar in front of the big guy, he did call him a bard and minstrel after all. It was less impressive with fewer strings but the big guy seemed impressed and distracted for a moment and that was often the best audience to preform for, ”Don’t fall fer her lies, oh-ho nooooo! It’s a all a guise! The truth, oh the truth can be seen in her beady eyes! Carrick sang with precision, with the confidence of someone who wrote the song from a event that shaped who he was. A brilliant musician!

It would have been rude to ignore the musician and search for Elizabeth. He seemed almost over eager to preform. Being the benevolent god he was Hercules humored the young mutant for a moment listening to his song, and enjoying the enthusiasm the winged boy had for his music. After he finished the god clapped his hands. ”A tale of heart ache! Brilliant! It takes me back to a few loves I had over the centuries!”

”What?!?! No! It’s about being lied to! Deceived! Did ya listen to the words at all?” Carrick looked from the giant to his guitar wondering if the lack of strings didn’t deliver his performance. ”Maybe I should play it again fer ya! But ya know... really listen!” Carrick said clearing his throat and starting the newly modified song.

The air got colder, the ancient demi-god turned his gaze ignoring the music for a moment remember his purpose as to why he was at the mansion, to search for Elizabeth. ”No one wants to hear your break up song again kid.” Elizabeth’s friend walked into the room and the god roared at the sight of him as the winged boy started to protest.

”Sam of the Frost! I’ve come in search for Elizabeth! She didn’t show to our date and I-” the sound of laughter erupted from the bard. Hercules looked over and frowned. ”What is so funny about Elizabeth not showing?” the god tensed up and his clothes tightened.

”Kid’s breakup song is about her when they were younger. Apparently she’s a heartbreaker,”

”A deceiver!” Carrick sang.

”Easy Lord of the dance. You really want to say anything to upset the guy?”

Hopping in response”Got me there.” Carrick quipped taking a step back from the deity.

”As I was saying...” his tone was a bit harsher after the outburst and the novelty of the musician quickly faded. Was he the Gryphon she dated? ”I’m looking for Elizabeth is she here?”

”No.” Sam said flatly folding his arms and staring at the muscular giant. ”She missed our sparring session today and Zorro seemed to be in her room longer than he wanted which is weird because she’d never let that happen.” most of the mansionites when requested often helped out the teacher’s and other students with their pets. Especially if they want to make a good impression... most of them anyways.

Sam eyed the Irishman as he fumbled with his strings and then shifted his gaze back to Herc, ”When was the last time you talked to her?” trying to get a time frame. If it was longer than 24 hours there would have been more of a sign that Zorro was locked in the room longer.

”Saw her leave this morning.” Carrick said absent mindedly. Both Herc and Sam turned back to the smaller man in the room who was plucking a string while trying to hear the note.

”You see what she was carrying? Did she say where she was going?” Sam asked quickly, his own concern for his friend was apparent seeing as it seemed so ‘not like her’.

”Hmmm?” Carrick asked before being scuffed by his shirt and lifted off the ground. This time Hercules was doing the questioning. ”Whoa!”

”Elizabeth, boy! I shall not ask again! Did she say where she was heading!?!?” the glowing became more clear as his sleeve ripped with the motions as he lifted the winged wonder. ”Careful! Still a student here! This be considered a threat to some!” Carrick placed a hand on the big guys wrist and wondered if his guitar would be enough to knock himself free. Looking at the size of Hercules’s bulbus head Carrick decided it wasn’t the best choice.

”Sam?” There was no response just Carrick getting lifted higher off the ground till he was eye-level with the giant. ”Teach!” Carrick repeated again knowing he’d get a response better that way.

”The man asked you a question.” knowing Hercules would harm a child, at least he hoped he didn’t. They were in the mansion so Doc the healer was close, not to mention Carrick’s own healing abilities. Sam was curious about them but more curious as to where his friend was. It wasn’t the forty-eight hours to report a missing person but it was enough to be concerned for her well being.

”She.. Was leaving the grounds, had a purse and got a cab!” Carrick said almost snarling. This time Sam moved close enough to place a hand on the giants arm, ”See? Pretty easy to answer. I don’t know why you are so difficult.” the tone of voice Carrick had seemed more hostile and more trapped than anything. They didn’t need to deal with his shifted form right now.

”Apologizes boy.” lowering the kid and eyeing the hand that was on his forearm. It was cold but not hostile. ”As you say Sam of the Frost, it is... unlike her and I am worried. I’ve lived a long life and any time with those I care about, however fleeting maybe are important to me.” Hercules said taking a step from the two of them. Offering a slight bow he was about to leave, go and search elsewhere maybe grab Zorro on the way out. If anyone could find her it be her best friend right?

”What if she doesn’t want to be found?” Carrick asked the giant smugly his cat like eyes turning to slits. The thief was still racked with angst from being lifted like he was nothing. Ignoring the cries to shift and fight in the back of his mind he continued, ”What if she just decided to leave and doesn’t want to be found?” Carrick repeated wanting to hurt the giant who insulted him. Carrick was petty.

Hercules cleared his throat and was about to respond in kind, a vein bulged out from his forehead. Before he could respond, Sam chimed in. ”Then she can tell us when we find her.”

Figuring that the teacher would be siding with the student Carrick nodded his head, ”Yea-wait what? Us?”

”HA HA! Yes! Wonderful! With the three of us searching for her I’m sure she’ll be found in no time!” Hercules roared feeling much happier and at ease than when he arrived to the mansion. They’d have to find Elizabeth! She could be in danger! ”Where do you suggest we start Sam of the frost!?!”

”US?!?” Carrick asked already being hefted into the air by an overjoyed behemoth. ”Why would I help look for her?” he asked looking to Sam as he dropped his guitar and was crushed in a hug, one he tired to pull out of the way a cat would try to break free from being held.

”We’ll call it extra credit. I’ll even buy you a new guitar if you find her first.” Sam said rolling his eye and waving the two to follow him.

”I can’t! I was..... going to study!” Carrick protested but was quickly drown out by the giant and Sam.

It was a dark and stinky room. Barely any light at all, except for a single, weak, naked bulb hanging from the ceiling. The room itself was concrete and it echoed ominously as she tried to call out. Nobody had answered her. Nobody human, that is.

The rat was staring at her. She just knew it. She could feel its eyes on her and she’d even glimpsed herself in his thoughts. Before she got pushed out of his thoughts, that is.

It was a definite rat. A real thing. Not some mutant shape-shifter. Not a construct of some kind. She could feel its curiosity - she wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

Elizabeth sat alone. She wasn’t tied to her chair, but she wasn’t free to leave, either. The rat wasn’t the only one there, just the only one she could see. Milling about in the shadows of the room were easily dozens or hundreds of rats. Their minds were almost palpable presences but she could only catch glimpses from any rat for only seconds before its mind was walled off to her. That was why she was still here. Something was terribly wrong with these rats.

“Who are you?” she spoke to the rodent horde, glancing around by force of habit even though she couldn’t really see anything. Rats alone couldn’t bring her here to this underworld of stench and shadow, at least not in decent shape. She was relatively unharmed and certainly none the worse for wear. If rats were the worst thing to happen to her in a day, she counted that as one of the better days.

The zoopath did not expect answers from the rats, at least not direct answers to her question. Intelligent they might be, they were still only animals. No, she was addressing the source of this mystery. Somebody was there, watching her. Had been for hours. Ever since they’d taken her off the street.

Silence answered her. At least, nobody directly answered her question. She was still able to hear the skittering and ticking of hundreds of tiny claws scrabbling over the concrete floor and climbing the walls, covering every service, yet not coming within five feet of her. It had been that way for hours. Exactly how long? She wasn’t sure. Her purse was gone, as was her phone. In this darkness, there was no other way to mark the passage of time, especially after that knock on her head.

So Elizabeth sat there, alone, yet surrounded, a calm flower in a turbulent sea. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

Continued in Tales of New York City (Part Two)