A simple test

Next evening, groceries filled my trusty backpack instead of antiquities when I returned home. After all the ways Andrey and mine and JJ's spectacle for him frazzled my poor nerves, I wasn't in the mood to scout the city. Instead, I spent most of the day catching up on house chores that I often neglected for the sake of things more important at the time.

The entire yesterday's spectacle wasn't for naught, at least. There were no more calls or messages from Andrey, and I was ninety-nine and nine point nine percent sure that he got out of his restraints after I and JJ left. I squashed mercilessly the zero point one percent of irrational worry.

The store was closed already by now, but when I went inside through the back door, I saw the lights on in the office. That was good—I hadn't seen JJ since he walked me back to the store yesterday. Today there was only Panda at the counter.

After leaving the groceries in the fridge, I walked down to the office. JJ sat there, typing something on the keyboard. While he still only used two fingers for it, his speed improved immensely. His hands moved in a blur of inhuman speed.

"Hi, JJ," I said, coming up to peer over his shoulder. It was the store's budget spreadsheet. "Doing paperwork?"

JJ finished typing another number and craned his neck towards me. "Can it be called paperwork if there is no paper involved, ma chèrie?" he asked with a smile.

"But there is." I smiled back and pointed at the several folders lying on the desk next to the computer. "As much as I dislike the necessity of paper copies."

"Then I was doing paperwork, indeed. I also had some good news for you."

JJ turned in his seat so that he sat sideways, his front towards me, his head propped on his elbow that he planted on the table. I stepped back from him and pulled a second chair to sit on.

"Yeah?" I asked, raising my eyebrow. "Bring it on."

"Gladly. I visited Avarice last night and… renegotiated the terms of our deal. In short, she agreed to let me live on this piece of territory for free."

I gasped. "Really? Well, that's just great! How the hell did you manage it?" As these questions grew in my head, suspicion replaced my enthusiasm. "No, really, it couldn't have been so easy."

JJ's lips curved into a smile, thin and mysterious like that of Mona Lisa. "I simply showed Avarice that she has nothing to threaten me with anymore."

I still kept frowning as I leaned back in my chair. "She doesn't? I just realised… you weren't afraid to sell that coffin you came from, too, JJ. I wasn't thinking then, but it would be very obvious to whoever put you in there that you are free from it now, isn't it?"

And with this considered, I was kind of happy to see that there weren't other buyers for the coffin since Croc. That just sounded like setting myself up to something way too dangerous for my good health.

I inwardly bashed my head for only understanding it now. I had so many things to blame, so many distractions, but excuses helped no one.

JJ smiled wider, wide enough for his snow-white fangs to peek between his pale lips. While his body language was as relaxed as before, his cat-like green eyes sparkled with sudden anger. 

"Yes, and that's only better, ma chèrie." Then he blinked, and the malice disappeared from his expression. "Oh, and I also tried to convince Avarice to forgive your debt as well, but she was adamant to only speak about it with you personally. Until then, you will have to pay her monthly. I already set aside the necessary amount from this month's revenue."

"Hey, hey, hey!" I stood up and pointed at JJ accusingly. "But that's basically setting me as a bait!"

JJ leaned back, raising both his hands in a placating gesture. "No need to grow so agitated, ma chèrie. Avarice wouldn't harm you. She is well aware that I will retaliate for it, and it's not something she wants."

"That's not what I'm talking about, JJ, and I pretty sure you know it." I scowled. "I meant the part where you were sending me to meet with people, one of whom is your mortal enemy! Hell, it could've even been that guy we met with the last time!"

The smile fell from JJ's face. "But I was with you all along, ma chèrie. You were and are, safe with me. Don't consider it a pointless bravado, either. Contrary to some other people, I am well aware of the capabilities of both myself and my potential opponents."

The calmness and weight in JJ's eyes made my anger simmer down to irritation. He spoke with iron-solid assurance, something that I wanted to believe in, even if I was too cautious to do it so easily.

"And yet, I found you in that coffin, JJ."

JJ shook his head with a self-deprecating sigh. "No one is infallible. Most I can say is that I won't repeat the same mistake that brought me there, even if it let me meet you." He gave me a cheerful, flirty smile that caused my lips to widen at their own accord.

"I still don't like that part where I'm acting as a bait very, very much," I said, folding my arms over my chest. "Though I guess we can talk about it again when someone will actually want to buy this thing. So, what was it with Avarice, JJ? Why did she want to talk with me specifically?"

"It was a matter of principle for her. She believes in separation of vampire business from everything else, so she wouldn't agree to me to negotiate for you, ma chèrie."

I frowned. That was… "That's just unfair! She forgave you ten millions, why can't she drop off my measly… what was it, two millions? Why can't she drop them off too?" I shook my fist in the air. "JJ, where I can see her? I have to talk with her about it!"

"I'm afraid you will have to find it out yourself, ma chèrie." At my confused look, JJ continued, "It's not that I don't know, but… I won't be able to meet Avarice with you as I don't have a permission to be on her territory. Therefore, this simple test for you, ma chèrie."

"A test," I repeated slowly. "Like, if I can find Avarice's home, I am good enough to negotiate with her?"

JJ nodded. "Exactly!"

"Gah. Well, at least it's not math." 

I shook my head and turned to walk out of the office without as much as goodbye—I was too irritated for that. JJ's words forced a sudden feeling of helplessness to wash over me. While technically a witch, I was almost helpless in the alluring yet dangerous world of supernaturals. I guess it was long past the time for something to change.