Cars zipped to and fro as two individuals stared at one another unsure who the other was. On one side of the street a young woman in a white pea coat and pencil skirt tried to maintain eye contact as she moved about in the crowded streets. On the other side a young man in a black leather jacket, and dark blue jeans glanced down at his silver analogue watch and half watched the woman, half watched the ticking second hand slowly follow its course. They had spoken only moments before and arranged a meeting in a local cafe, but now she was as isolated as two individuals could be in the city. The man then took his eyes off of her for a second to call for a taxi and when he looked up once more she was gone. Puzzled, the man got into the cab and headed for the cafe.  

 

Earlier that day.

 In the wee hours of the morning Rorik and Phoebe Hildegard swooped down into the crowded streets of Manhattan. Their unusual avian appearance did not seem to phase any who saw them as they dove out of sight from everyone. Transforming back into people Rorik pulled his light brown leather wallet out of his back jean pocket and handed Phoebe a hundred dollar bill. 

  “Hand me your katana and go buy yourself a more business-like outfit.” He requested. “We have a lot of ground to cover and I am not in the mood for any foot races because someone questioned your attire. Besides we have a fresh start, so how about a fresh wardrobe to match?”

  Phoebe reluctantly obeyed. She didn’t like the idea of being unarmed in such a large and unfamiliar city, but deep down inside she knew her father was right. Stuffing the bill into one of the inner pockets of her hooded vest she took a letter from her father’s backpack and waved goodby as she vanished into the crowded street. Behind her she could hear her father take off on foot and when she glanced back he was gone. What he was up to was a mystery to her, but the letter in hand was addressed to a Mr. Mavric Pendragon with the world trade center as the address.

  Eyeing where the building was in proximity to her current location Phoebe made her way to a local boutique for a new wardrobe.  Wandering in she was suffocated by the vast variety of color that demanded you attention wherever you looked. Putting her mask in her pocket she wandered about until she found the womans’ suits section. Perusing the aisle she glanced at the white paper price tags as she felt the shoulder of each suit. She didn’t like the idea of changing like this. She wanted to change her circumstances not herself, but her father apparently saw them as one in the same. 

  Seeing that her way of living would be constricted any way she wore a suit she tried on several styles and colors before she looked in the mirror and couldn’t believe the reflection. She was in a white pencil skirt, with a white cammy and suit jacket to match. She had always befered dark colors, but this time she was ready to try something new for a change. Changing back into her dark tight clothes she made her way to the check out as she doubled the bill in her pocket.

  On her way to ring out she also grabbed a white pea coat, tan wedge shoes, a set of gold studded earrings, and a thin gold chain necklace to complete her new look. Now the hundred dollar bill was four hundred dollars with enough variances between them to pass as originals. Checking out she made her way to another store and there she changed her wardrobe.

  Now in her uptown, high class attire she made her way back to the alley where she had last seen her father. Arriving at the place she was pleasantly surprised to see him casually leaning against one of the buildings. His arms were crossed and his ball cap covered his face, but she knew it was him. Walking up to the ragamuffin she called dad, Phoebe tossed her old clothes in front of him.   

  “Can you put this with the rest of my stuff?” She asked, drawing him out of deep thought.

  Rorik looked up to see his daughter’s choice in attire. Breathless he stared at her typically hidden beauty. It had been so long since she wore anything that would constitute being called dressed up that he almost didn’t recognize her. Before him stood a tall, confident young woman in a white business suit and pea coat looking like she owned half the buildings around her. When he told her to change her outfit he thought she would have gotten jeans, a t-shirt and sneaker, but this made his little girl look stunning.

  “Excuse me, Miss. I don’t believe we have met. Do you own this town?” He teased scooping up her black attire.

  Phoebe smirked at her father’s pretending.

  “Dad, it's me.” She replied standing up straight and tall. 

  “I know my light.” Rorik chuckled, “You just dressed up nice. That’s all. Now go deliver your letter so we can move on. This Pendragon fellow won’t be a work forever.”

  Straightening her new outfit and fixing her hair Phoebe shot a quick smile at her dad before heading off to the world trade center. She knew she was not going to be allowed in, but that would not stop her. Copying her father’s abilities she assumed the ability to mentally sift through the company database until she found Mister Pendragon and the names and pictures of all he worked with. Grinning with glee as she spotted Jason Porter, one of Mavric’s closest coworkers, Phoebe approached the middle aged man and handed him the letter.

  “This is delicate information for Mavric’s eyes only.” She instructed, handing the light brown envelope to the well dressed, and impatient coworker.

  “Ok, but who is giving it to me?” Jason inquired, tucking the envelope into the inner pocket of his black suit coat.

  Turing to ask again Jason realized that Phoebe was gone and that there was no sense in trying to catch her. Clicking his well polished black shoes together he headed into his cubicle next to the allusive Mister Mavric Pendragon the letter was addressed to. Mavric was well known to Jason and finding him would be a sinch.

  Entering his floor Jason made his way towards Mavric with not obvious intention of stopping, but that was never enough for Mavric. Sensing that his coworker had something for him the allusive young man called out from his cubicle. 

  “Hey Jason, What do you have there in the right inside pocket of your suit jacket?” Mavric demanded already knowing the answer. 

  Unsure how Mavric always knew when something was for him Jason removed the envelope from his coat and handed it over. Fascinated as he watched his coworker react, Jason studied Mavric’s peculiar movements as he turned the envelope in his hands. Running his fingers over both sides of each edge Mavric swiftly reached out and grabbed an elegant sword-like letter opener from his assorted office supplies. Slashing the envelope in one swift, fluid motion Mavric gently put the letter opener back in its rightful place as a tiny sliver of light brown paper lackadaisically floated onto his steel blue desk. Unfolding the envelope the slightest bit he removed a manilla post it note and placed the envelope on his desk. 

The note held nothing that would draw attention in normal circumstances. It only said “Dinner at Del Frisco’s 5:00.” The letters were slightly curved and meticulously level and sized which Mavic assumed was because the writer was female. 

  “Who gave you this letter Jason?” Mavric asked seeing that Jason was still around as he picked up the envelope once more.

  “She…” Jason began trying to recall all details he could, but failing at it. “She was in all white.” He finally got out.

  Mavric shook his head as he rose from his desk and wheeled his leather armed chair back. Opening the envelope a little more he extracted the letter without a sound. Waltzing over to the nearest window he gestured for Jason to come take a look.

  “Do you see her down there?” Mavric asked, scanning the throngs of people scurrying about. “I see several dozen people in white down there. Which one of them gave you the letter?”

  Jason scanned the swollen sea of people moving about like ants beneath them as Mavric opened the letter.

  It was addressed to him from a Mister Caspar Willowsbi, but as he read the letter Mavric could find no clues as to who the mystery delivery woman was. Not really interested in the letter at the moment Mavric tucked it back into the envelope and began to walk back to his cubicle.

  “When you spot any useful way for me to identify the woman let me know.” Mavric huffed, annoyed he was interrupted for a lack of information. “One color of  a person’s attire does not count as a valid description.”

  Jason couldn’t believe the he was having this much trouble recalling the woman. He was typically a flirt who could tell you more than you needed to know about a woman, but with this woman in white he was drawing a blank. Distraught Jason yielded that his memory had failed him as he went back to his work space just beyond Mavric’s.

  “Is this her?” Mavric asked as Jason was about to sit down.

  Jason groaned and reluctantly rose from his padded brown leather chair. Staggering into Mavric’s cubicle he was shocked to see Phoebe’s face on Mavric’s screen. 

  “That’s her. That’s the woman.” Jason stammered amazed at Mavric’s results. “How did you find her so quickly?”

  “She knew you and I work together and gave you a mysterious envelope with an invitation to a restaurant outside of company grounds.” Mavric pointed out. “That makes her seem very suspicious so I called up security and asked for all footage of women in white around the time you were out there. Then I found you and subsequently her as well.”

   Jason was beside himself, but not entirely shocked. Mavric had pulled stuff like this off before, it just usually took him longer.

  “So, what are you going to do?” Jason asked, leaning against the cubicle corner furthest from Mavric.

  “A mysterious woman invites you to dinner. What do you think?” Mavric asked, leaning back in his chair and looking over the contents of the envelope. 

  “I for one would be very suspicious of the entire matter.” Jason coldly replied, “She hands me a letter and says to give it to you, and there is an invitation to dinner inside. Meanwhile, you have no clue who she is or if she is alone. Maybe dinner is a trap into something you are not prepared for.”

  “Like a blind date.” Mavric teased. “This sounds like one of my little sister’s shenanigans. Sequoia was always one for the most unusual of ideas.”

 “I’m being serious right now.” Jason warned. “I don’t trust her. I’ve never seen her before and she seems to know too much about you and I.”

  “All right you can come.” Mavric sighed, getting ready to rise from his seat. “Just don’t be too close as to embarrass me.”

  Jason stood erect. “But I just punched in. I can’t leave for lunch now.” He protested.

  “Oh the problems of arriving to work after sunrise.” Mavric mocked, swinging his black leather jacket over his left shoulder. “We’ll see if duty or curiosity wins out in the end.”

  With that Mavric strolled out of his cubicle and downstairs until he reached the main entrance. Checking the time on his analog wristwatch he counted the last fifteen seconds of a full minute.

 “And now.” He whispered, as Jason collided into him in a hurry. “Looks like curiosity wins.”

 “Yeah, yeah, knock it off.” Jason shrugged, “It’s not every day a woman invites a translator out to dinner. Especially if that translator is you.”

  Mavric put his hands on his heart in mocking offence. 

  “My word. Are you actually concerned about me?” Mavric sarcastically replied.

  The two shoved and staggered out the door until they were out front amidst the sea of people. It was now 4:15 pm, and they had to be at Del Frisco’s by 5. Jason waved down a taxi, but Mavric refused to get in.

  “What are you waiting for man?” Jason groaned as someone else took their cab.

  “I don’t want to arrive before our hostess.” Mavric solemnly replied.

  “What are you talking about?” Jason sighed, exasperated at Mavric’s sudden pause to let the world go by.

  “Our hostess is across the street.” Mavric smirked, finding the elusive Miss Hildeguard amids thousands. 

  Jason tried his best to find her, but in his efforts he didn’t notice Mavric walking away until the two of them were separated. 

  Meanwhile, Mavric effortlessly made his way over to his mysterious guest. He showed her the letter and she told him that she would be there soon. Crossing the street to wave down a cab for two Mavric looked around for Jason. Cars zipped to and fro as two individuals stared at one another unsure who the other was. On one side of the street a young woman in a white pea coat and pencil skirt tried to maintain eye contact as she moved about in the crowded streets. On the other side a young man in a black leather jacket, and dark blue jeans glanced down at his silver analogue watch and half watched the woman, half watched the ticking second hand slowly follow its course. They had spoken only moments before and arranged a meeting in a local cafe, but now she was as isolated as two individuals could be in the city. The man then took his eyes off of her for a second to call for a taxi and when he looked up once more she was gone. Puzzled, the man got into the cab and headed for the cafe.  

  Arriving at Del Frisco’s at exactly 5pm Mavric was surprised to see the woman he had just encounter and an older man about Mavric’s parents age waiting for him. The man was in blue jeans, a grey polo shirt and had a grey baseball hat on. Standing next to the woman who was dressed for a business meeting he looked out of place, but in the crowd he could vanish whenever he so chose.

  Coming in together the three of them had a seat at a dull brown booth as the waitress took their orders.

  “I’m so glad you could come on such short notice.” Phoebe began, “I am Phoebe Hildeguard, and this is my father Rorik. We are here on behalf of Mister Caspar Willowsbi to offer you a position in his latest endeavor.”

  “Why didn’t he come himself?” Mavric asked.

  “He is very busy making sure everything is ready for your arrival.” Rorik informed.

  “Of course he is.” Mavric scoffed, recalling the last time he saw Caspar only hearing that Kathleen Willowsbi passed away and that Caspar now kept to himself. He had been at her funeral and had not spoken to Caspar since. “When are his preparations going to take effect?”

  Rorik and Phoebe both stared at Mavric with alarm.

  “How do you know about any preparations?’ Phoebe asked.

  “I have worked with Caspar before.” Mavric informed, and he always has preparations to cover anything.”

  Rorik handed Mavric a manilla folder with all the details of the preparations for his arrival. Mavric began to read it as Phoebe began to speak.

  “You will be making double your current salary, with living expenses paid for at the company’s expense.” Phoebe began, “Your departure from your current employment will be faded out with nothing that would cause any suspicion, and your housing packed and moved free of expense on your part. You will have the title of Archivist and all the duties that come along with it upon arrival.”

  “Of course you would try and butter me up like that.” Mavric muttered.

  “What’s that?” Rorik asked.

  “When does he want me to leave?” Mavric asked.

  Mavric could sense the waitress was about to return and hid the file under his jacket.

  “We can leave right after dinner.” Phoebe offered.

  Mavric nodded as the waitress brought them their food.

  “Then I guess Willowsbi Enterprises is in a real tight spot if Caspar wants me.” Mavric sighed after the waitress left. “Our last parting was not on the best of terms.” 

  More was said over dinner, but nothing related to Willowsbi Enterprises until it was time to leave.

  “Are we flying or taking the tube?” Phoebe asked her father, sounding very British for a moment.

  “We are taking a cab to the bay and then a ship.” Rorik informed.

  Mavric did not trust Phoebe and Rorik quite yet, but he went along with them because of Caspar Willowsbi. The old man had gathered the trio together for something and typically when Caspar wants new people to join in on something it is going to be big. The size of Willowsbi Enterprises; however, would not be as big a shock as the people Caspar was gathering this time around. Staying with them until they reached the bay and were alone, Mavric handed Rorik a blank piece of paper. Taking the page Rorik looked puzzled as Mavric began to wander off. 

  On the page that was once black just seconds before a letter from Caspar came into view.

  “Rorik,

  Bring Mavric to me by means of teleportation. I need him as soon as possible.”

Caspar Willowsbi 

  “Where did you get this?” Rorik asked.

  “Caspar sent it to me on my phone. I put it on paper so I didn’t have to watch you as you read it.” Mavric replied. “Besides, you aren’t the only Potenthros here.”

  The amount of inside knowledge Mavric had on Willowsbi Enterprises began to frighten Phoebe. If he was so cautious to reveal what he knew her past might be known and he is choosing to withhold that he knows it.

  Sensing his daughter’s angst, Rorik grabbed both Mavric and Phoebe by the shoulders and did as the note requested. Arriving in Willowsbi Enterprises he brought Mavric to Caspar before having Phoebe follow him out for their next assignment. Wanting to ask who Mavric was, Rorik fought the urge and chose to trust Caspar.

  Alone in Caspar’s large dark, cozy office Mavric and Caspar locked eyes. The young dark brown eyes seemed to taunt the aged grey eyes that stared back.

  “How did you pull that stunt?” Caspar asked.

  “I just sent him a letter from you.” Mavric replied, moving his hands out then back in quickly. “It’s not my if he ran with the idea.”

  “Do they know who you are?” Caspar asked.

  “Only what they need to know for now.” Mavric scoffed, “I won’t be treated differently than the rest of your Potenthros, regardless of the fact that you’ve known me my whole life. Although I have to say the title of Archivist was a nice touch.”

  “I thought you might like it.” Caspar smirked, “Are you ready to get to work then? We have a lot we need archived very soon.”

  “It would be my pleasure.” Mavric replied, pulling a map out of his folder and wandering out of Caspar’s office. “Just make sure my information is kept under wraps for the time being. I’ll let others know as they have need of the information.”

  Caspar reluctantly agreed despite the fact that he didn’t appreciate secrets being kept this early in the game. Now he had to make Mavric disappear as he became the first of Phoebe and Rorik’s team of Potenthros they were to relay the invitation to.