Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Sonya clenched and unclenched her hand, glancing again at Amos. He either paid her no mind or didn’t notice, his focus was more on Marta who was walking alongside them. She looked away, her mind whirling. He has multiple abilities but he only was public about one of them. Is it active? How do I ask? She bit her lip, More importantly, can he possibly be the only one? If he has multiple, why can’t others? Who else? She thought about how untouchable Otis had been in his hayday. I thought it was just some absurd power, but what if there was more to it? Each power has rules, limits, restrictions. If he had more than one, could he have had more than one restriction?

She glanced again at Amos, I’ve been too cocky. I think. Broker made me feel all powerful, but... I have a bad feeling.

“You alright Sonya?” Marta asked, glancing past Amos and towards her. There was concern clear on her face.

Damn, I was emoting too much. Sonya chastised herself, “It’s nothing, just collecting my thoughts, it’s been a busy day.” Man half-truths are harder than I thought.

“We did just move in!” Marta laughed, she seemed so calm after fighting those things.

“What about you?” Sonya asked, giving her a meaningful look. Amos shrank a little between their exchanged glances.

Marta hesitated, “I may have been... over excited about it,” Marta admitted, looking down at her hands as she knit her fingers together at her waist, she sighed, “I’m angry.”

“Your husband?” Sonya asked.

“Mhm,” Marta murmured, “I wanted to feel like it was worth it.”

“Was it?”

Marta let out a sigh, “I feel better, I guess.”

“Um!” Amos cleared his throat, “Should I be listening to this?”

Sonya snorted and shook her head, “Probably not but you’re here anyway,” She chuckled, glad that she was able to divert the attention from herself. She glanced at Marta who seemed to realize what had happened and frowned at her. Sonya winked and glanced back at Amos, “So where is your shop?”

“Right up ahead, around the corner,” Amos said, gesturing just ahead to a lonely looking street corner.

Sonya glanced around, this part of town was remarkably quiet for how she remembered New York. She guessed people in less secure areas weren’t as confident about being protected from the monsters. It’ll be more and more often, until the dungeons start appearing at least. Sonya thought grimly as they rounded the corner and spotted a group of men standing outside a particular storefront. They were hitting the windows with bats and laughing.

Amos brought his hands up to his head and practically tugged at his hair, “My store! What the hell?”

Sonya grimaced, she hadn’t stopped him in time. The gathering of men all turned as one, eyeing the trio. They all looked at one another before starting to approach. Sonya clicked her tongue, she’d hoped to come to an arrangement with the thugs after getting a better lay of the land but it seemed like she’d been right. She’d overestimated how easy this was going to be. They didn’t look at all inclined for a civil conversation.

“Whoo ee! Look at that! Amos! You scored!” One of the men shouted and was joined by the others in a few cat calls and jeers.

“What are you doing? I told you I’d pay!” Amos barked, ignoring their mocking.

“Not quick enough,” Another one said, slinging his bat over his shoulder, “Obviously you had better things to do than figure your situation out anyway. Hey ladies! Why don’t you come hang out with us, yeah?”

Marta growled and Sonya reached out a hand to forestall her, “But!”

“Maybe I’ll consider it,” Sonya said with a shrug, “But the atmosphere isn’t very good for business, boys, my friend here can’t even go into his shop and check on it. That’s a shame,” She said with a frown and tilted her sunglasses down, her glowing eyes bright enough to be seen across the distance. The men hesitated for a moment and looked at one another. “Come on, guys, it’s not like he can do business, he just needs to grab a notebook. A notebook isn’t worth your time, is it?”

She lowered her voice, “Amos? When I say go inside, you go and you stay there until I tell you otherwise, no questions,” She hissed, “Understood?”

He stared at her in confusion before she started walking towards them, she had to be careful now, they shifted a bit and she held her hands up casually as Marta hissed her name urgently from behind. She waved her hand to calm the girl down, Now or never Sonya, time to weaponize this thing. The men looked amongst themselves uneasily for a moment as she approached.

“How about we make a deal? I try to work out a business arrangement with your boss and you don’t cause any problems for us until he comes out, I think that’s fair, right? I’m sure you guys could use some better gear, maybe a few cars, who knows?” She offered, drawing in even closer.

The men exchanged looks again and grinned at one another, they had no intention of upholding the deal, but that wasn’t their call now was it. There were seven of them present. Seven quick handshakes. He just needed one of them to take point on the deal. The one that had been leading the conversation took a step forward as she reached them and extended a meaty hand. “Sure, lady, deal,” He said and she took his hand.

No time for Appraisal, Process Exchange!

Be blinked, surprised, just as she darted away from him with a brilliant smile, “Oh thank you boys so much!” She said, shaking each of their hands in turn, they grinned awkwardly when she touched them, one even blushing, “I really do appreciate you agreeing to this for me!”

“Hey!” The first one called even as she turned around and waved to Amos.

“Amos! You can go inside now!” She called, he didn’t hesitate, he darted for the door faster than she’d expected he could run. He fumbled with his keys.

“Hey!” The thug barked and she turned to face him.

“We made a deal! Is there a problem?” She asked.

“You’re damn right there is! What did you just do, my hand tingles,” He growled and the other men gained dark looks on their faces. One of them lowered his bat to his side and stepped forward. “What kinda bullshit are you pulling, lady?”

“Amos! Get inside the building, now!” Sonya barked as the men started to crowd her.

Hurry you idiot! She snarled inwardly just as the door chimed. Amos stepped over the threshold just as one of them pulled his fist back to strike her. He froze, a confused look on his face. I can’t believe that worked! I guess technically I didn’t lie, I told them it was a deal after all and he shook my hand willingly, but that was really testing the boundaries there. Shiiiiit! She breathed out a sigh of relief and shot a thumbs up at Marta who gave her an incredulous look.

The man at the lead of the group grunted and tried to step forward but froze as well, he looked down at his feet. “The hell is this?”

“I told you,” Sonya said, turning her eyes on him, “We made a deal.”

He blinked at her, confused for a moment, and then horror exploded onto his face. Her smile widened as she loomed over him, “As agreed, I’ll try to work things out with your boss. Let’s hope it goes well, mm?” She tittered as Marta approached. Marta looked at the men who were standing in awkward poses of near violence and then looked back at Sonya. “They agreed not to be a problem until Amos comes out of his shop. Make sure Amos stays in there until I call you,” Sonya said cooly, looking the men over. They stared back at her with hate in their eyes as their postures relaxed. She supposed it would be troublesome for her if they were all frozen when their boss got back.

Marta let out a breath, “That was reckless.”

Sonya turned away from the men and pat her friend’s shoulder, “I know,” Sonya said, trembling a little. Marta looked back at her, surprised. “I didn’t know if it would work,” She said in a low voice, “But I had to try.”

As Marta went into the shop, Sonya chewed her lip. She wasn’t sure exactly what the limits of ‘being a problem’ were. She couldn’t control their minds or make them behave a certain way, she was sure of it. Not without a mind control product, anyway. She shuddered at the thought. He’ll know something’s up if they don’t say anything or move, but there’s nothing I can do about that. At least they won’t be able to join in with their boss if this turns into a fight.

She took a deep breath just as she heard conversation coming from nearby, Alright Sonya, time to make good on your side of the deal.