Chapter 1
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, agents. A complete fan of your hard work, I’m Alister, a former reporter at Crystal City Agency. I write newspapers based on the best agents that have been chosen for the year! May I please hear your stories about your experience as agents, please?”
“Um … I’m not sure if we have time for that, sir. Come, Izzy. We’ve got to go look for Dimitri and Cornelius,” James said.
“Wait! It’s Izzy, right? I heard all about your curse and whereabouts here on Dreamland. You have a real name though, after your other half was taken, right? The evil half. Why do you use your undercover name? Your real name is I-”
“Let’s go, James. I’m sorry, but like my partner said, we really don’t have time for questions.”
“James? As in Prince James? That’s amazing! I’ve heard you proposed to this young girl. Must be interesting being a couple with a mortal. May I please get a picture of you both?!”
“What?!”
“Leave us alone! We don’t … Get away from us! Come on, Izzy.”
“Wait! Wait! I still have so much to ask!”
“I think you’ve asked enough questions about our agents. I also believe that you’re beginning to harass them.”
“Dimitri!”
“You two, come with me, please. I’m taking you somewhere safe.”
“Agent Cornelius! I’ve heard you suffer with the same curse as Agent Izzy! May that be true? Can you give me more detail, please?”
“Dimitri?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get this creep out of here.”
“No! I need the answers to these hidden secrets of yours. My boss will not allow me to return without an interesting story!”
“Then I suggest you pick someplace else, because you will not uncover their secrets!”
“Agent Dimitri, I appreciate your concern for your partner and your agents, but this is not for you to decide what is good for them.”
“What are you talking about?”
“There aren’t any normal beings living among us, and the world can learn so much about them. Especially after that Great War years ago! I am more willing to go far and do whatever it takes to get their story!”
“You’re willing to go far, in order to ruin their reputation and perhaps even ruin their lives?”
“What would it matter? Wouldn’t it be incredible to have the world finally know the truth for once? Who cares about someone’s reputation or life being ruined. Let me in on these secrets!”
“You can’t!”
“Let’s go kids.”
“Cornelius, you can’t let him ruin us!”
“James, calm down and follow me. Izzy don’t speak a word and don’t look at him.”
“What would it matter? I already have a great picture of both of them. Including you, Cornelius!”
“That’s enough! Security! Get this man out of my Agency! Have him arrested!”
“For what felony, Mrs. Teddy? For being the girl’s pet?”
“Have him charged for harassment!”
“Ma’am!”
“Dimitri, go help your partner. Secure these agents and take them someplace safe.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Let me go! Don’t touch me. I’m only doing my job! You won’t get away with this.”
“Take him away.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Dimitri.”
“Don’t look back, James. Just keep forward.”
“How does he know so much about us?”
“Izzy, please keep your head and voice down.”