A Spark Between Us

The drive Cyra's house was more creepy than usual. The air in the car was still and the night had a chill even though it was late August.

She pulled into the grand drive way up the large hill. "I guess I would have to give Cyra his car back one day anyway." She took a deep breath and walked up the pavement. She paused at the door for a long moment. She finally raised her hand to knock. Before her knuckles could reach the wood it sprang open.

"Hello Tecto".

….

"Look Natalia, I know you don't like me and I totally get that but right now I need your help. Or Cyra's, but I doubt he wants to see me right now." Clara exhaustedly blurted.

"If I didn't like you, you'd be dead." Natalia said, matter of fact. She turned from Clara and retreated inside, leaving the door open for her to hesitantly follow. "In fact, I like you plenty. You are honest and you keep that idiot Cyra in check." She said over her shoulder.

"The word idiot and Cyra in a sentence together sounds like an oxymoron" Clara trailed behind her looking around.

"Yes, he is an oxy moron, a big idiot ox-like moron" Natalia agreed, nodding. She sat down at the kitchen bar.

Clara remembered that English was was not Natalia's first language. "Oxymoron means contradicting. I meant he's pretty much a genius so hearing him being called an idiot is surprising. Funny, but surprising." She sat down across from Natalia.

"All men are idiots". Natalia said, her hand leaning on her cheek in boredom. "You blondie, make Cyra more idiot. Good for you." She shrugged.

Clara noticed that Natalia was dressed relatively casual in an all black track suit. "Have you been here all day? Where's Cyra?"

"He left, little bit ago. He's backtracking. He went to go see the person who connected him with Emor. Hopefully he has the information when he returns. You said you need help. What is?" Natalia still looked bored.

"I have a number. It was in a wallet that we found at the warehouse. I forgot all about it until today. Are you able to look it up and find out who it might belong to?"

Natalia boredly pulled her laptop in front of her and opened it. Not breaking eye contact she typed a few letters, glanced quickly at the numbers on the paper and then back at Clara, unblinking. A couple of more keyboard taps and Natalia was spinning the laptop around to show a full list of information including a name, registered vehicles, an address and even a list of family members. "You're scary Natalia".

"I thought you were genius. Why not find doxx for yourself." Natalia asked.

"Dox? No this is more than just doxxing. This is evil genius level. I'm just regular old book smart." Clara aimed her phone at the screen and took a picture.

"You can be both" Natalia winked without smiling and spun the laptop back around.

"You would think being invited into a life of unspeakable violence and criminal activity would be a once in a lifetime thing, but here we are, two times in one day, it must be some kind of record." Clara sighed.

"Cyra must really like you to suggest such things." Natalia stated plainly.

"Well, he's pretty upset with me. I don't think he.." Clara started. "He already told me." Natalia interrupted. "He was broken hearted when he called me over. He wanted to go alone and as worring as this is to do, I allowed it". Natalia put her face close to Clara intensely. "Just rub on his, what do you call it? His downfall stairs part? His member. Just touch his member and he'll forgive you."

"Natalia!"

Natalia shrugged. "Men are simple. Don't complicate them."

"Yeah ok, I'm gonna go. Clara sang. "Thanks for all your help today. It's probably better if Cyra didn't know I came here." Clara slipped towards the door awkwardly.

"I won't tell him but next time you learn yourself. I don't mind showing you how to do these things but I won't be used. I'm an expensive tool you know."

Clara drove off into the dark. She stopped at the end of the road where the street started and typed the address from her phone into the GPS. It was close.

She drove for about 5 miles until she reached a convenient store and the GPS lady informed her that she had arrived at her destination. She paused for a moment, debating what to do next. She realized she didn't have a plan other than talk to this person and see what they know. How she planned on getting this information, she wasn't sure.

"I can't exactly go in there unarmed but bringing a crowbar didn't seem like a good idea either." She looked at her hand and strained but to no avail. "These super powers are the worst", she sulked. She took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. "Oh boy."

She walked as confidently as she could muster. She wished she would have gotten Cyra's number from Natalia before she left to have as backup. The glowing neon light brightened up her face as she slowly opened the door. A friendly voice called "welcome" from the counter.

"Hi" Clara managed. Maybe this wasn't that great of an idea.

"Did you need help with something?" A young man only slightly older than Clara asked. Clara tossed her hair over one shoulder and made her way towards the young man. Each stride was with precision, her glowing smile out shining the neon lights.

"Hey, yeah actually I had a question! Maybe you can help me with something? When she stopped in front of him, she leaned in and put her elbows to rest on the counter. She swept her hair back from the other shoulder as well, exposing her long, slender neck. The low cut shirt she wore hung even lower as her posture pushed her breasts forward and arched her back.

The cashier brought his eyes back up to Clara's face, "Ss sure, happy to help" he gulped.

Clara forced a smile. She'd used her sex appeal many times before but this time it just reminded her of how it made her feel when Cyra used his sex appeal…. and actual sex… on the musuem worker to gain access to the moon gem.

She straightened up and stopped the act. "Look, I'm jus gonna give it to you straight …. someone robbed me a few nights ago and I think you may know them."

The boy sobered up from Clara's spell-like charm. "Wait, I might know them? How?"

"My attackers dropped their wallet and your information was in it."

"Attackers? Oh my goodness, are you ok miss?" The cashier scanned Clara for any injuries and stopped at her bandaged arm.

"I'm fine, I just want to know if you know a Ricardo Giordano?"

"Ricardo,Rick? Yeah I think I can help you. Come with me." The cashier opened the associate door and led Clara through. It was cold and there were rows and rows of boxes and crates that made a maze through the room. Clara followed the boy to a man sitting in an office chair.

Jumbo slowly spun in the chair to face Clara. She froze in place.

"Fuck."