Collateral and Damage

“Name, collateral, and loan amount,” A woman’s bored voice sounded from a speaker just above the steel grate separating Milo from the teller. The impatient clacking of her fingernails came across with her voice.

Milo, radiating with unwavering confidence, stepped forward and deftly retrieved a black velvet pouch from the innermost pocket of his dinner jacket. With a steady hand, he opened it, revealing a rough-hewn yet clear emerald. He cleared his throat and confidently declared, “Milo Collins, putting up a green star emerald as collateral for two hundred credit chips to be paid back by the night's end.”

The woman didn't hesitate; Milo knew she wouldn’t. The emerald, a gem of significant value, was worth far more than two hundred chips, but the vault was the safest place in this forsaken casino. As the credits clanked down the chute, Milo swiftly swept them from the tray into the pouch before moving away, not bothering to count them. The house’s precision and integrity were beyond question– to do so publicly would be seen as an offense. The thrill of the game was palpable, and Milo was ready to embrace it.

With chips in hand, Milo went to his favorite table, a spot he had frequented many times. He tipped his hat to this night’s dealer, a man with a perpetual poker face. Milo slid two credit tokens to him as a form of appreciation, not much or enough to accrue favor but sufficient to ensure Milo was not forgotten. Brushing elbows with his fellow gamblers, he picked up a glass of champagne as the tray passed Milo, the familiar sounds and sights of the casino enveloping him.

This was Milo’s sixth, no seventh, time coming to the tables this month. It had taken him years to acquire the eye of the Inducior– a powerful relic of previous ages. Breathing in deep through his nose and mouth, he closed his eyes. So long as he returned the 200 credit chips with a modest interest by the night's end, the eye would return to him. Milo could still feel the relic. He chose this table so he would not be too far from it. Opening his eyes, the dealing began, and he counted cards.

Milo lost a few hands before betting all his chips on what he knew would be good. His goal wasn’t just to get back his trinket but to turn a considerable profit– but not so substantial that the house would become suspicious. The casino was not the only faction he owed, and he would hate to see them wait, like Virion, who had already sent one of her goons to rough him up. He had not been beneath her loan a week yet. But, he had confidence, so long as the eye of Inducior remained close, it was by its power that Milo kept track of every hand.

Focusing, he grabbed another drink and downed it quickly before calling his opponent’s bluff. Milo eagerly watched as the old man folded. However, before Milo could sweep his winnings into the velvet sack, he felt a hand on his left arm. A pale blue silk glove made him pause. With sky-blue eyes and caramel-colored skin, she was easy on the eyes, “Pick up your chips quickly,” She whispered into his ear with a heavy accident he did not recognize, “then follow me.”

Milo’s curiosity improved as he swept up the chips and followed the woman with sky-blue eyes to a side room flanked by two imposing men with earpieces. Milo still held the sack of chips in his hands, keeping his eyes on her. Only when the door clicked shut behind them, did he want to run. Tendrils of cerule light flowed from the back of her navy blue strapless dress like butterfly wings.

“Sit, Milo.” She ordered, and he complied without a thought, coming to sit on the stool in front of her, compelled by her cerulean light. “ You’re meeting with me because of this,” she said, rolling the eye of Inducior across her table toward him, her eyes narrowed. You know it’s illegal to use magic to influence the outcome of any of our games.”

“I hid nothing,” he replied, finding his voice, but his mind was still groggy from her influence. If he guessed correctly, she was a faerie—a high-ranking one. Weighing his options, he knew it would be foolish to lie to her when compulsion was within her skill set, “I anticipated getting caught eventually, but the fact you caught me so quickly is a testament to your establishment.”

“A testament to what?” She questioned, peering through her long lashes at him, “We are not as foolish as over casinos. Be careful. My family operates every casino in this sector.”

“I do not mean to detract from the reputation of other venues I’ve frequented to improve yours. I’m just impressed.” He smirked.

“Buttering me up isn’t going to help, Milo.” She warned, “What is your plan now?”

Milo shrugged, “Bold of you to assume I’m a man with a plan. I’m sorry, I did not catch our name,”

She blinked at him a few times before shaking her head, “You may call me Lady Capri.”

“Lady Capri, how do you plan to reprimand me?” Milo questioned, the eye of Inducior sitting arm’s length away from him.

“Our usual policy is to confiscate the contraband and exile the offended from every casino in the area. However, I am willing to make an exception. Our mutual friend is vested in your continuing to accrue credits.” She raised her eyebrows, “Lady Virion.”

“You’d just let me go because of a friend like Lady Virion?”

“Not at all,” Lady Capri chuckled, “You just so happen to have a set of skills useful to Virion and me.” She smiled, sauntering forward after picking up the eye of Iducior, “You’re going to work for us to pay off your debt.”

“Who’s Lady Virion to you?” He is curious and getting the best of him.

“That’s our business,” Lady Capri stated, “Do we have a deal or not? You do one job to help us and consider your debt cleared, or I keep the eye and find someone else to do it.” She held the eye out, and his fingers itched to take it.

Clearing his throat, he dried his sweating palms on his pants before reaching for the stone, but she had not yet released it.

“I need your verbal agreement and to sign this contract,” she said, looking at the table. The cerulean lights behind her resembled a long scroll.

Milo did not like the pallor the light cast behind her. It gave him pause, but he made himself release the stone and move forward to read the constraints. He was surprised to see his ability to sever the contract at any time, but a sour taste filled his mouth as he realized that an addendum to that severing was her keeping an eye on Inducior.

“Well?” She asked, holding out a pen made of the same magical binding light as the contract, “Do you agree to our terms?”

Milo, the man without a plan, picked up the pen, sure that he could break the contract and make away with the eye if he needed to. The contract said he had to keep an eye on him at all times, in his breast pocket, oddly specific, but it would not be difficult. He signed Milo Oswald Collins, and the contract rolled up and became one with the light.

“That is all, Mr. Collins.” Lady Capri beamed, “An associate of mine will contact you tomorrow night; for now, take your tokens and trinket and continue to gamble. Ferret out any other holes in our security.”

Milo nodded, putting the eye in his pocket and carrying his tokens outside. He scanned the crowd. He debated continuing his luck at the tables and thought better of it. If the ladies required his presence tomorrow, he should be well rested. Walking out, he caught the next hover bus toward his meager apartment– wondering if Lady Viron would send a contact to ensure Milo’s end of the deal was upheld. He shook his head as he held his scan card to the door.

Listening, the door lock beeped, and he let himself inside; he did not startle as he saw the sharp-faced woman sitting in his armchair. The fae had short-bobbed violet hair and large green eyes. Like Lady Capri, she had deep caramel-colored skin. She would have been beautiful if her aura did not speak to something dangerous within her. As he had guessed, Lady Virion had sent someone to check on him.

“And who might you be, lovely?” Milo asked, clearing his throat. I just met with Lady Capri; I wasn’t expecting to see someone from Lady Virion so soon.”

“I’m Olessa. I have been sent to collect your good-faith payment.” She smiled, holding out her hand for his credit chips.

Sighing, he handed her the coins, and she stood there, not counting them. He could have pocketed a few; Milo doubted she would have noticed. But, he also should wait to test someone courageous enough to work with Virion.

“Good lad,” she said, weighing the credit chips. I’ll be back every night to secure reimbursement for our investment.”

Milo nodded as he watched the faerie woman turn her back to him and walk toward the door. He could have sworn he saw a vermilion glow beneath her long gloves– magic, “Until we meet again, miss Vermilion.” He smiled.