Chapter Text
I heard footsteps approaching the cell again, but it wasn't Agent Taylor this time.
As he came closer to the window of my cell, I could see that my visitor appeared to be a tall, middle-aged man. He wasn't wearing a uniform—instead, he had on…well, um…robes, I guess. I don't know a better way to describe his outfit. He was wearing brown wizard's robes. And, for some reason, a bow tie. He looked like a medieval fantasy AU version of the Eleventh Doctor.
He met my eyes through the window. "Mallory Avalon, I presume. Pleasure to finally meet you," he said.
I looked away, breaking the stare. "Who are you supposed to be?" I asked, trying to sound flippant.
"Benjamin Smith. Consulting wizard for OSC. Mind if I have a word?"
"Do I have a choice?" A wizard, working with the anti-wizard secret police. In other words, a fucking collaborator. I crossed my arms, suddenly angry. Fuck that.
"There's always a choice," he said.
"Then no, you can't have a word. Sod off. I'm busy." I picked up the James Patterson novel (which I had not opened, because if they could make potions, they could probably also sneak a glyph trap into a book) and waggled it in front of the window. "See? Look, I'm in the middle of this book. Very engrossing. Did you know it's a New York Times bestseller? I couldn't possibly put it down."
I heard Amy giggling behind me.
He sighed. "What if I could offer you a scroll of polymorph any object?"
I stiffened.
"I thought that would get your attention," he said.
"What do you want from me?" I demanded. Polymorph any object was an 8th-level spell. Incredibly powerful. Incredibly valuable. And, most importantly, one of the rare spells capable of turning a cat into a human. Permanently.
"For now? Just a chat. Will you join me in my office?"
He was probably lying. Why would he just have something like that lying around? No. I didn't believe him.
But…he knew that it was a spell I would want. Did that mean he also knew about Kate? What else did he know?
I groaned. I couldn't afford not to hear him out. I just had to hope what I learned from him would be more valuable than what he learned from me. "Fine. Lead on, asshole."
"Please, Asshole was my father! Call me Ben."