Chapter 342: 342 - Hangover Clarity
[So, what happens is, he didn"t have any of it on him anymore when we aprehended him,] he said, taking a deep breath. [And since we can"t exactly verify how much essence there was before and after the thing, I"ll need your help to make sure you get recompensated for it, he said, to which Carlos frowned, movign his mouth and pointing at his ear, signaling Noah to take more attention to the next few sentences. [Are you okay with being paid for them in cash?] he asked, almost throwing Carlos into a fit of laughter.
"I"m sorry. I don"t think that is possible. Also, I have a clear number on how many went missing," Noah"s doubts cleared away immediately, as anger started to boil inside him.
[I"m really sorry man, we can figure this out.] Marcel"s voice came over as surprised, but Noah knew from his tone he was just faking it.
"There"s no figuring. Get the people involved, if you can"t get the information on who they sent it to from them, I will," Noah"s voice sounded a little slurred, as he angrilly grumbled under his breath wanting to curse the man.
[Wait, Noah, I"ll se what we can do! Noa—]
Marcel"s voice was still speaking on the phone, as he tapped the screen with a single motion of his hand, before flipping the airplane mode on and shoving it down his pocket.
"Is everything ok?" Carlos asked, seeing Noah take a deep breath, before exhaling slowly, a fearsome pressure emanating from him.
"Yeah, it is. He"ll figure it out," he aswered, his eyes closed, as he channelled patience from deep within hi soul, and slowly lowered his face to the normal position from looking upwards. "So, where are we going next?" he asked with a smile, turning towards Maggie, who was watching him worriedly.
"Umm... I guess... Wanna go to that ice-cream place you always brought for me while I was in the hospital? I know you love their mint flavor," she bit her lower lip, as she excitedly talked about the ice.
"Sure, we can go there first on our way," Noah responded in kin, honestly and wholy, as his sister"s behavior pulled him back from the angry place he"d gone, and back unto his usual self.
"What a f.u.c.king motherf.u.c.ker," Lilith"s voice said in his mind, as she angrily cursed the swindler.
"I know, but for now, let"s enjoy the day off." He walked out the living room, heading outside for the car, only then realizing he had a two seater. "Er, Carlos?" he called his friend, turning around.
"What about it now, finally noticed the blunder?" his friend teased him, with a smile that said he knew it all too well.
"Yup," he conceded, scratching his head. "Can you borrow us a car?" he asked while laughing nervously, a yellow smile on his face.
"Of course, oh best friend of mine," Carlos teased him further, as he waved at the worker out to the side of the path, calling him closer.
"Yes, sir?"
"Go get me a car for the five of us, please. No driver needed," he said, seriously staring at the man.
"Five? But there"s only—"
"You heard me right. Five. A five-seater. No driver. Just go," with all the patience, Carlos spoke to him, keeping his sentences short to show annoyance without having to raise his tone. A technique he master after watching his mother over the course of almost two decades.
The man nodded in silence, leaving altogether. It would be a full minute before a car Noah had seldom seen rolled in front of them, the man whom Carlos had spoken to jumping out of the pa.s.senger"s seat.
"What the heck?" Noah thought to himself, seing the man leave from the wrong side, until he realized the entire car"s dashboard was mirrored, with the driver"s side inverted.
He stared confusedly at Carlos, who shrugged. "What, that"s the newest and best car of our company. It just so happens that this guy from a weird other planet came here and decided our driving was on the wrong side," he said while rolling his eyes. "Are you gonna drive it or not?" he asked, seeing Noah not move a single inch in the meantime.
"Me? Yeah, sure," he answered, finally coming out from his daze, and entering the leather lined interior of the car. "d.a.m.n..." Noah muttered, as his eyes wandered around. The car was lined with dark wood and white leather. Every single inch of it was beautifully decorated, despite the cla.s.sic and simplistic design.
"Did you like it?" Carlos asked, as he entered the back seat, letting Lilith climb over the middle console and seat by Noah"s side, as Maggie and Bel hopped in by his sides.
"Yeah. This car looks awesome," Noah said, looking down to the details on the steering wheel, which controlled almost the whole car.
"Dad went through h.e.l.l to get it this way. Everyone wanted fancy electronics and all the quirky stuff. But seeing a car this cla.s.sic, like the ones from planet E is very refreshing," he dozed off, looking over the console at the simple yet functional touch screen in the middle. "Also, you"ll love to know this car has an actual fuel motor."
"Really? Wait!" He stopped mid sentence, as he tried to turn the keys, which did nothing, "The car"s already on? Where"s the sound?"
"Try stepping on the gas," Carlos instructed him, and the ring of a V6 engine filled the interior.
"Dang," Noah gasped, hearing the clean sound, from silence, and return to it as he lifted his foot. "How did you guys make such a clean engine starting?"
"It took a lot of work. But you know my father, when he wants something, he gets it. And if he can"t, he builds it from thin air." Pride filled Carlos" voice as he talked about his father, and the view of the interior of the car made him happy.
"Oh, well. Guess we gotta go," Lilith"s voice sounded a little annoyed, as she waited for them to leave, fully bored of the car conversation.
"Come on, Lilith. Don"t be like this, you know they are just enjoying the peace for a little," Bel spoke in a sweet tone, almost as if trying to sway the snake.
"Bel, don"t. Look, Maggie is already tired of waiting," Lilith said while turning her head back, and resting it over the shoulder of her seat.
"Huh? But I"m N—"
"See! She"s so bored she forgot it." Lilith lunged backwards, shutting Maggie out of surprise, as the snake dropped onto her lap. Seeing everyone"s gazes on her, though, Lilith slithered back to her seat, "Sorry..." she apologized, making everyone laugh.
"I guess she really has no interest in cars," Carlos joked laughing, while Noah giggled.
"Oh, well. Guess we really gotta leave now, right?" he said, as he accelerated the car, driving down and away from Carlos" house.
On the way, despite having tried shoving the though of having been conned by Marcel away, Noah was still brooding over the call. Maggie and Bel were heartedly discussing what flavor of ice-cream they wanted, and Lilith was snaking in a small bundle of herself, apparently taking a nap.
In no time, the car made its way to downtown, only a few minutes from the hospital Maggie had spent years of her life into.
"Ice!"
"Cream!"
She and Bel had their fun, as they hopped out of the car with Carlos. Noah stayed inside, searching for a place to park, as the three went into the store.
"Lilith?" Noah called her out, as he slowly made his way around the block, searching for a good place to park, that was also wide enough not to risk the new car.
"Yah?" she responded half-drunkenly, still a bit sleepy, her tongle slithing out her mouth without her noticing.
"Not much, just, how did you know about that?"
"About what? d.a.m.n, my head kinda hurts..." she complained for the first time, making Noah realize something was a bit off about her today.
"The whole thing with Marcel. You and Carlos noticed it way before I could"ve imagined it happening..." Noah told her, watching the snake hove her head slowly.
"Dunno. I just knew. Also, my head hurts, what do I do?" she shifted subjects back, focusing on her headache. Noah had already found a place to park, so he didn"t mind it.
"About the head? Drink water, I guess. I"m almost positive you have a hangover," Noah said while looking at her, before going back to the former topic. "If you knew, you should"ve told me earlier... At least then I would"ve been less accepting on his deals and gifts," he regret, having now been officially linked to the Khan Family.
"Don"t get yourself too hard over it. It"s ok. You already know people from other families, and Carlos will help you keep things going," she said, before once again bemoaning her headache.
"Lilith, let"s go," he said, opening the door to leave.
"Can I just stay behind? I"ll take care of the car," she insisted, making Noah tilt his head sideways.
"... Okay, but if you want something from the restaurante, tell me. I"ll see if I get you something for that headache later. Just make sure you don"t get involved into anything too stupid. See you in just a bit," Noah left the car after locking it, leaving the snake inside to rest with the AC on.
"Just what in the world is happening to her..." Noah thought, as the idea of Lilith having a hangover had never ever crossed his mind.