A Musician’s Tale - Chapter 2

-Cannon/Catherine’s pov-

After the kids asked about Bella Notte I let them play their game then go to sleep. But I couldn’t help but wonder…

‘Who told them about Bella Notte? A friend from school? It would be almost impossible, there is only one musician in their school. Their music teacher.’

It was Saturday today but I still had work. The kids would either hang out with their friends, but asked me first of course, or stayed at home playing with their ps4.

I worked in a small cafe called ‘Jade Fox Cafe’ owned by a friend. Only very few people know who I am and she’s one of them.

It wasn’t near so I take my bicycle to work every day. I loved the wind in my hair and missed traveling. Maybe I’ll take the kids… Someday.

I arrive at work and chain my bicycle. “Hi, Sam,” I greeted. Sam was a Brunette with brown doe eyes.

“Oh, hi, Catherine, the Sando special and an arctic fox milkshake at table 7 please~” She said carrying four trays at once.

I laugh. “Let me get changed first,” I said walking straight to the changing room.

“Okay!” She said happily rushing to the kitchen to get the other orders.

After I get changed I relieve Sam of a few trays and serve table seven’s order.

“Is the boss here yet?” I asked passing Sam.

“Ah, no, I think she overslept again,” Laughed Sam.

“Excuse me?” Jade had just arrived and just in time to hear what Sam had said.

“Oops! I think chef is calling me~” Said Sam running to the kitchen to put in her dishes and get more orders.

“You always have the best timing.” I said jokingly.

“Of course I do,” She said with a small hair flip. Jade was a brown skinned filipina who had hazel eyes, and long straight black hair that shone gold when hit by the sun.

“But she was right wasn’t she?” I asked poking her arm.

“Umm, maybe? Kinda…” She said sheepishly.

I laughed then continued working it was 3pm already then I was relieved from my shift.

I changed then went to Jade’s office. “Are you ready to go, Catherine?”

She wears her black leather jacket and holds her bike helmet and tosses me one too.

“Yeah, let’s go.” We get on her bike and ride to her house.

When we arrive she turns to me before opening the door.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“What?” I said confused.

“You haven’t said anything the whole ride something is wrong. Is it about the boys?” She asked worriedly.

“Well… They did request something I didn’t think they would.” I said hesitantly.

Opened the front door then gestured for me to come inside.

We went to the living room then sat down. “So, what happened?” She asked.

“Well… The boys they– They asked to go to Bella Notte.” Jade’s eyes went wide and I thought she was going to blow her fuse. But she didn’t.

“It’s already dangerous to live like this, in plain sight, but now you want to go to a musician’s gathering?” It was much worse than her shouting at me. I got chills listening to the tone of her voice.

“Where did they even hear about Bella Notte?” Her aura was cold and over bearing which meant she was raging mad.

“I don’t know. They told me it was a friend from school but…” She looked at me again.

“Who? What’s their name?” She asked.

“I didn’t ask.” I said looking out the window.

Jade heaved a heavy sigh. “You spoil those kids too much, Cannon,” She almost never used my old name.

“Here’s your assignment. After that come straight back here.” I took the file from her.

This was my real job. I was one of Jade’s many informants. I missed the danger of missions with kalis when we were field agents but after the incident I became a normal informant. It was almost too easy getting the kind of information Jade needed and I think she does that on purpose.

“The difficulty level is on a medium but why is the bounty so high?” I asked curious.

“Five pictures. They’ve only ever gotten five pictures of this man all on the same day, same camera, within 30 minutes. Find his location, it’s on medium because it’s only going to be a recon mission. That’s everything you need to know. Oh, and be back before five,” She said as I nodded then walked out the door.

My mission was easy enough. I walked to the highest building I could find nearby here. I climbed up an old abandoned building made of bricks. It was never finished.

When I got to the top I sat down and studied the picture carefully. I then close my eyes and start.

I let out a soft whistle. The whistle blended with the air and searched for me. It was quicker, easier, and safer using my powers instead of actually looking for the target myself.

Sometimes it would take me only a few minutes to find them but it could also take hours since the targets sometimes leave to far off places, but I’d still be able to find them, and they wouldn’t know.

After about 1 hour and 38 minutes, I found a trace. This man was good at hiding, to take this long to only find a trace. He was an old man, normal build, brown eyes, black hair greying at the sides, and an outstanding rap sheet.

I focused everything on the trace it lead me to all four corners of the city but I found him. Hiding in a small place, hidden in the forest. It was too small to be noticed by anyone. Actually it was just a tool shed. But even so there could be a giant warehouse underneath.

It’s stereotypical. I get up, brush myself off then headed back to Jade’s place.

I knock on the door and she immediately answered it. “You’ve got it?” She asked. I smiled at her.

“No, I just wanted a cup of tea… Of course I do,” I said sarcastically.

She smiled back at me and let me in. “Great,” She said.

“A big white family house near the edge of the city, number 19 in Tōri subdivision, in the back of the house you should find a small white shed, twist the yellow screw driver on the right 9 times, then pull it, it should open up a secret staircase to the guy’s lair or whatever he calls it.” I said pacing around tired from sitting for nearly 2 hours straight.

“Good job. Now come with me.” She said going into her room.

When I entered I saw a manekin dressed in a beautiful, bright red mermaid style dress, and a sweetheart neckline with black lace, the fabric looked expensive and flowy, and it even came with a matching hairpiece. A big rose decorated with shiny pearls, and black tulle.

“Uh– Jade? What is this?” I asked baffled.

She pulled out two tuxes, one with a sky blue satin bow tie and one with a ruby red satin bowtie.

“Your going to need a good dress going to such a prestigious event like Bella Notte. This is for Skyler, and this is for Melodious.” She said handing me the tuxes.

I look at her in shock. “I- Uh–” She shushed me then continued on talking.

“Don’t worry, I’ll designed three more identical to this one. There’s a hidden compartment in on of the folds of the dress keep this in there,” She handed me a long blonde wig that had beautiful curls.

“What? Is all this?” I asked still very confused.

“Plan B. If anything goes wrong, these are just safety precautions. The girls will all be there so that you don’t need to worry about anything or anyone.” She said happily.

“O-oh, you always have been good at planning,” I said wearily.

“Come on, don’t be like that! It will be fun! And safe.” She said with a sliver of doubt.

“Okay, I trust you, but I need to head home now. The kids might be looking for me.”

“Okay, let me just get something for these clothes.” She gently took of the dress from the manekin and folded the dress gently in a purple box.

Then she put both tuxes inside two separate boxes, one black, and one gold, with blue and red bows.

“When did you start on these?” I asked curiously.

“I just bought the tuxes, then put the custom bows, I embroidered their intials on their bows. Then the dress… It took a while but I finally got that perfect ripple on the dress! The lacing wasn’t hard and the hairpiece was an old piece I used.” I found it amazing how much she could do in less than two hours.

We rode Jade’s bike back to the cafe, we exchanged goodbyes, then I biked home.

“Boys! I’m home!” I shouted.

The two boys rush to me suddenly. “What took you so long!?” Asked Skyler.

Melodious looked at me worriedly. I gave them their boxes. “I got you guys gifts. For Bella Notte.” I smiled patting their heads.

“Woah!” Exclaimed Skyler.

“These look expensive,” Commented Melodious.

“Don’t worry they were actually a gift from my boss. You’ll meet her and my other friends at the ball,” I said enthusiastically.

The two boys looked at eachother eyes shining. “We can’t wait!” They shouted in unison.