Chapter 1: Introduction
The bell above the door jangled loudly as Sal stepped into the alchemy shop. The place was small, tucked away in a quiet corner of the city where the buildings leaned in and whispered secrets. The air was thick with the scent of herbs and oils, an aroma that hinted at something darker, more potent beneath the surface. It reminded him of the old days, before his life became a game of chess with the law.
Esmeralda "Esme" Blackwood looked up from her workbench, her eyes narrowing as she took him in. She wasn't surprised to see him; she had been expecting someone like him.
The city was buzzing with whispers of the heist at the ancient tower, and it was only a matter of time before the thief came looking for a way to disappear. She was just surprised that he was so... large.
Sal towered over her, his broad shoulders blocking out the dim light from the window. He moved with a surprising grace for a man his size, his eyes scanning the cluttered shop with a sharp intensity. He lifted a finger to his lip, tracing the scar that ran from his mouth to his chin, a reminder of a job gone wrong.
Esme leaned back in her stool, her eyes never leaving him.
"You're not here for a love potion, are you?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Sal smirked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Not exactly. I hear you're the best in the business when it comes to... disappearing."
Esme raised an eyebrow, her fingers still dancing over the worn pages of the spellbook. "Disappearing, hmm? Well, that depends on what you're looking to vanish from. The law? The past? An ex-lover?" She paused, her gaze shifting to the scar on his lip. "Or perhaps something more...
serious?"
Sal shrugged, though his eyes never left hers. "Let's just say I've got some very interested parties looking for me, and I'd prefer they don't find what they're looking for."
Esme leaned forward, her elbows resting on the counter. "Interested parties, huh? And what makes you think I can help with that?"
"I've heard things," Sal said, his voice low. "Things about you. About the kind of people who come to you for... assistance."
Esme's lips curved into a slow smile. "Ah, I see.
Word travels fast in the underworld, doesn't it?" Esme said, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. She stood up from her stool, the spellbook forgotten for the moment. "Well, you've found the right place, Mr....?"
Sal took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble. "Sal. Just Sal."
Esme's smile widened. "Just Sal, huh? No last name? How mysterious." She circled around the counter, her eyes appraising him like a piece of artwork she was considering for her collection. "So, Sal, do you have any idea what you're asking for?
Identity alteration isn't cheap or easy," Esme mused, her voice more curious than accusatory. She leaned against the counter, her gaze intense and unwavering.
Sal nodded, his hands tucked into the pockets of his worn leather jacket. "I'm not looking for easy. I've got the cash, and I'm willing to pay a premium for discretion."
Esme's eyes flicked to the empty street outside, then back to Sal. "Discretion is something I value highly. But you understand, I can't help just anyone."
Sal's mouth curled into a half-smile.
"I figured you'd say that. So, what's your price? Not just in gold, but in information. What do you need to know before you decide if you're in or out?"
Esme lifted an eyebrow, her gaze never leaving Sal's face. "Well, Sal, that's the thing. I don't need to know everything. I just need to know enough to make sure you're not going to come back and bite me in the ass later."
"Fair enough," Sal said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I pulled a job. A big one. The kind of job that gets people talking.
The kind that attracts unwanted attention."
Esme's eyes gleamed with interest, her fingers tapping lightly on the countertop. "And what kind of job are we talking about, Sal? Something... magical?"
Sal shook his head. "No, nothing like that. It's... complicated. But suffice it to say, I've got some very powerful people looking for me."
Esme's eyebrows shot up. "Powerful? As in, the kind that can make people disappear without a trace?"
Sal's expression darkened, his jaw clenching. "Exactly. I need to be someone else.
Completely. New face, new life, new everything," Sal said, his voice steady despite the weight of his words.
Esme's eyes flicked over his scarred face, her expression thoughtful. "A clean slate, huh? That's a tall order, even for me." She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "But I do love a challenge."
Sal chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "I figured you would. So, what's the next step?"
Esme leaned against the counter, her fingers drumming on the worn wood. "First, we need to discuss the details.
A full identity alteration isn't something to be taken lightly. It's not just about changing your face or your name. It's about creating a whole new life, a whole new past. And that takes time, and a great deal of effort," Esme explained, her gaze steady on Sal's face.
Sal nodded, understanding the gravity of her words. "I get it. I'm not expecting miracles overnight. But I need to know what I'm getting into. What kind of information do you need from me?"
Esme leaned back against the counter, her fingers laced together. "Everything.
I need to know everything, Sal. Your full name, your date of birth, your family history, your criminal record, your habits, your quirks, your enemies, your allies—nothing is off-limits." Esme's voice was firm, her gaze unyielding. "The more I know, the better I can craft your new identity. And remember, the more convincing the new you is, the safer you'll be."
Sal let out a sigh, running a hand through his short-cropped hair. "Alright, but you understand, some of this information is... sensitive."
Sal and Esme standing in the shop talking. Sal is a tall muscular man dressed in leathers with a scar on bis chin. Esme is a sexy brown haired sorceress.
Esme waved a hand dismissively.
"I wouldn't be very good at my job if I couldn't keep a secret, would I? Anything you tell me stays between us. Cross my heart," she said, miming a cross over her chest.
Sal studied her for a moment, his gaze intense. He could see the truth in her eyes, the reassurance he needed to trust her. He nodded, resigning himself to the fact that he had no other choice.
"Alright, I'll start with the basics. My birth name is Salvatore Demetrius. I was born in the slums of Calthus, no family to speak of. I've been on my own since I was sixteen.
No official record of my existence until then," Sal said, his voice devoid of emotion as he recounted his past. "I took the name Sal when I started working with the gangs. It was easier that way."
Esme nodded, her eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and empathy. "And the scar? How did you get that?" she asked, her gaze flicking to the jagged line on his lip.
Sal's expression hardened, his fingers tracing the scar unconsciously. "Gang initiation. A rite of passage, they called it. It was either that or die trying," he said, his voice harsh.
"I didn't have much of a choice back then."
Esme's expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. "And now you're here, looking for a way out. A way to start over."
Sal nodded, his gaze meeting hers. This job... it's my chance to get out for good. To leave all that behind."
Esme's fingers drummed on the counter, her gaze thoughtful. "And just what did you take, Sal? What's so valuable that it's got the entire city talking?"
Sal hesitated, his eyes flicking to the door before settling back on Esme.
"I can't say too much about that just yet. But let's just say it's something that's going to change the game for a lot of people."
Esme's eyebrow quirked up, intrigue piqued. "And how does one go about changing the game, Sal?"
Sal's lips curved into a slight smile, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. "With something no one expects. magical."
Esme's eyes widened slightly, her body tensing with interest. "Magical? Like... real magic?"
Sal shrugged, his expression guarded.
"I can't reveal too much, but let's just say I didn't come out of that job empty-handed."
Esme's eyes gleamed with curiosity. She knew she was dancing on the edge of a dangerous precipice, but the thrill of the unknown was too much to resist. She had always been drawn to the darker side of life, the mysteries that lurked just out of sight.
"Fair enough," she said, her voice steady. "But tell me this, Sal—why come to me? There are plenty of other... specialists in the city who might be willing to take on a job like this.
Why me?" Esme asked, her eyes searching Sal's face.
Sal leaned against the counter, his massive frame towering over Esme. He looked around the shop, his gaze settling on the peculiar potions and bubbling cauldrons. "I've heard your name whispered in the shadows, Esme. They say you're not just an alchemist, but an artist. You don't just change faces, you create new lives. And in this line of work, reputation is everything."
Esme's eyes sparkled with unexpected delight at the compliment. She was not one to blush easily, but Sal's words brought a subtle warmth to her cheeks.
"Artist, huh? I like that. But tell me, Sal, what makes you think I won't use this little tidbit of information to my advantage? A heist of magical proportions, you say? That's the kind of thing that can land me in the middle of a power struggle I want no part of."
Sal's laughter was a low rumble, resonating through the shop. "Because, my dear Esme, I'm not a fool. I know who you are and what you do. You're not just looking for a quick buck; you're in this for the challenge, the thrill of the unknown.
And I respect that," Sal said, his voice low and steady. "But let me assure you, I have no interest in dragging you into my mess. The job is done, the prize is mine, and all I need now is to vanish. I'm not looking for accomplices or allies. I just need someone who can make me... disappear."
Esme's gaze sharpened, her eyes reflecting the glint of a shrewd businesswoman. "And what's to stop me from turning you in once you've paid me?
You're a wanted man, Sal. The price on your head must be substantial." Esme's voice was casual, but her eyes held a keen intensity. She was testing him, probing for any weakness in his resolve.
Sal's expression didn't change. He knew she was right. He was a high-value target, and with the right information, she could easily turn him in and collect the reward. But he also knew she wasn't the type to do something so simple, so straightforward. She was a woman of mystery, of depth, and she was intrigued by the challenge he presented.
Esme leaned back against the counter, her eyes never leaving Sal's. "You know, Sal, you're right. I'm not just in this for the money. I enjoy the thrill, the dance of cat and mouse. But I also have a certain code. I don't cross lines that shouldn't be crossed."
Sal nodded, his gaze steady. "I appreciate that, Esme. And I assure you, I won't cross any lines that shouldn't be crossed either. I just need a new life, a new identity. That's all.
No strings attached."
Esme studied Sal for a moment, her fingers tapping lightly on the counter. "Alright, Sal. I think we understand each other. But before we go any further, let's discuss the matter of payment." She paused, her eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "After all, my services don't come cheap. And I'm not talking about gold alone. I have... other requirements."
Sal's eyebrows raised slightly, intrigued. "Other requirements?"
Esme nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "Ah, yes. You see, I have a certain... collection.
A library of sorts, if you will." Esme gestured to the bookshelves lining the walls of her shop, filled with worn leather-bound spellbooks and ancient tomes. "And I'm always on the lookout for something... unique."
Sal's interest was piqued. He had heard whispers of Esme's collection, of the rare and powerful magic contained within its pages. "I might have something that could pique your interest," he said, his voice cautious. "But it's not something I carry around lightly."
Esme's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh, really?
Now you have my attention," Esme said, her gaze sharpening with interest. She leaned forward, her elbows resting on the counter as she studied Sal. "What kind of something are we talking about?" "It's a... artifact. Not something I can just describe in a few words. And it's not something I'm willing to part with lightly." "Artifact, hmm? And what makes this artifact so special?
And why are you so hesitant to part with it?" Esme asked, her voice a low purr of curiosity. She could see the gears turning in Sal's mind, the wheels of negotiation spinning behind his piercing brown eyes.
Sal leaned back against the counter, his massive frame dwarfing the small space. He was a master of poker faces, but even he couldn't hide the flicker of excitement in his eyes. "It's... ancient. Older than the city itself. And it's powerful. The kind of power that can change the course of history."
Esme's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching in her throat.
She had heard tales of such artifacts, whispered legends of objects imbued with ancient magic, but she had never seen one up close, let alone had the opportunity to acquire one. She felt a thrill run through her, a spark of electricity that ignited her curiosity.
"Ancient and powerful, huh? Now you've really got my attention, Sal. But tell me, if this artifact is as powerful as you say, why are you willing to part with it at all? And what makes you think I'm interested in anything other than gold?" Esme asked, her gaze piercing as she studied Sal's face.
Sal shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Because, Esme, not all power is useful to a man on the run. Sometimes, it's the kind of power that draws unwanted attention. And I've gotten more than enough of that already."
Esme's eyebrows arched, intrigue burning in her eyes. "And what makes you think I wouldn't be interested in the power this... artifact holds?"
Sal held her gaze, his expression serious. "Because, Esme, you're not like the others. You're not just after power or wealth. You're an artist, a creator.