A Legacy of Evil: Snakes and Serpents

I pulled my hood up and over to obscure my face as I entered the market proper. Luckily, it seemed to be a fashion trend here as I walked among the crowd, just one among many and not even the only humanoid as I saw far smaller figures likewise using the same. Around me, while English seemed to be the main language of commerce, the accents and other tongues I listened to seemed to come from all over. From South African accents to New York and even German and Russian, though the majority seemed to be Mandarin and Filipino. Under any other circumstance, I might had been fascinated enough to pay attention further as I looked about the market and its various levels.

Cages full of magical creatures laid stacked before a particular stall, shuddering as customers would pick one and the tall, veiled skeletal figure extracted it and butchered it before them, dressing and skinning it with a nimble expertise before cooking it on the spot for them. In this case, a Diricawl that attempted to teleport, but to no avail as the owner snapped its neck with a flick of their hand before magically prepping it. Further on, what looked like a wizard and a hag argued before an apothecary, as I caught a snatch of the conversation in passing as the wizard said hotly.

"Five galleons?! For Ghoul Knucklebones?"

The hag hissed under her veil. "Last shipment was seized by Trese, if you have a problem-".

Laughter rang over the crowd, my eyes caught toward three monstrous looking humanoids. They looked human, but gaunt and starving but for the sharp teeth in their maw and the claws on their fingers. Each one was dressed in wifebeaters and they all had guns, as paired with beer cans was a bowl of what I realized were human eyes as they snacked on them as if they were roasted nuts.

And then my attention was caught by another stall. White, koi patronus swam lazily around what looked like a stall made up of books and scrolls, some of them under a glass counter that took up the front. As a wizard read a newspaper before it, it was the figure behind the counter that made me pause. A dark, hooded creature wearing leather gloves I knew would hide skeletal hands beneath. An infamous monster, a Dementor that would have been feasting on people around if the patronus was gone.

Currently reading what seemed to be a copy of Pride and Prejudice as it gently, turned a page in apparent concentration.

"If you're looking to buy, you can talk to me." The wizard said idly, folding the paper up to reveal a rather short, Chinese wizard as he pushed a pair of green shades up his nose before adding. "Zhōng Kuí prefers to leave matters of business to me. You look new to the Flesh Market."

"If I was, would I admit it?" I returned with amusement in my voice as I tried to avoid a reaction outwardly to the sobs and screams that seemed ever-present from the lower levels. The wizard chuckled, shrugging once as he spoke in turn.

"Fair enough. We get a few from Great Britain, we ask no questions of em as any other customer. What sort of information are you looking for? We may just have the tome you need." I glanced back at the books and felt my willpower waver, till another scream was heard. That was enough to get my attention back as I spoke.

"Information mostly. I was going to visit the Flesh Market in Manila, when the raid happened. Does anyone know who squealed?"

The wizard snorted. "Oh, that's just normal. For obvious reasons, the Flesh Markets what tend to remain in one location have a greater danger in terms of discovery. Whether it's some do-gooder, an auror raid or angry demigod, it's always a matter of when, not if a place goes up in flame. I can tell you that the local tagapangasiwa didn't get off lightly though. The Dugong Pera are pretty strict about secrecy, and someone ended up in several graves by the end of it."

"Charming." I grunted as the vendor chuckled wryly. In the background, the dementor continued to read their novel with apparent enjoyment before I had to ask, nodding behind the vendor.

"So, who's your friend?"

The wizard smiled. "I call him Zhōng Kuí. I found him on an expedition in China, in a site full of copper-sealed records. I would have been more scared, but beforehand I saw how organized the site was and decided to bring him with me. Loves his books he does, and we make a good pair. He gets to read and organize what we find, and I get to sic him on people who try to steal from my stall. Sure, he's not much of a conversationalist but he makes up for it by being a great listener."

I glanced towards the dementor and said dryly. "I'll take your word for it." Zhōng Kuí if he had any opinion on our conversation, simply ignored us in favor of his book.

"So, do you know who actually raided the flesh market?" I asked as the vendor laughed again.

"I know it wasn't Trese nor the Ministry. The latter would be crowing over it, the former would be licking their wounds. Plus, the rumor is..." He lowered his voice and spoke more quietly, despite the background noise of the market.

".... The rumor is, that there was a Thule symbol branded into the desk. Bad idea to do here." He let out a grin that reminded me of the diwata as he added. "The Axis has no allies here. Anyone who would have tried to pull that shit, would have been dragged into a Pera chop shop and eaten slowly."

"You think someone was trying to draw attention from Trese and the Ministries?" I said thoughtfully and the vendor paused, considering before he spoke. "Maybe. But there are easier ways to do it. At any rate, I just sell books. You buying anything?" I looked back at the tomes, considered and finally sighed out as I reached into my money pouch and set two gold galleons into his hand.

"For the talk. Thank you." He immediately smiled, giving me a gracious nod as he spoke. "Come by any time, Englishman."

I nodded, turned and paused as I added. "Oh, one more thing. Who runs the Flesh Market here? And where do I find them?"

The vendor gave a small chuckle. "Ah, that would be Blackheart. Ignacio Alvarez is his actual name; he operates on the Fifth floor at the bottom of the market. You can find him and his men over at the Spellbound Club. Be careful, unless you have an invitation, he doesn't much like people who just barge in on him."

I nod once and turn and stride back into the crowd as I huff out. Ok then.

So, several things I learned as I walked around the market and took in the ambiance. One, I didn't just have to worry about the security here. I had to worry about the vendors, who would almost certainly defend themselves with their own, nasty tricks. Second, finding the actual anchors of the place was going to be tricky but I relied on the crowd for this as I flicked my wand and scoured about. It'd be slower and I'd have to find a place to wait out my spell. A downside as opposed to curse breakers, who'd just walk and examine with all the time in the world.

.... I really wish I didn't just eat. Still.... I walked to the railing, leaning on it as I peered below to the other levels, contemplative. I needed a place to rest... As it was, I would be running on fumes soon and I needed to be alert and with open eyes. Finally, my spell would take some time before I had anything to work with and I huffed before pausing. Down on the second level, I spotted something that had me growing thoughtful. Yeah.... That would do it.

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Perfume. Silk veils so transparent as to be nonexistent, as giggling women winked coyly and made come-hither gestures as wizards and witches laughed and entered, a glowing sign featuring a fairy woman getting... Well, you know advertising the sort of services one would find here. "Eight hours." I said casually, as the madame let out a scandalized gasp and grinned.

"Of course sir. We keep potions in stock if you wish to pay extra, for those... Long, hard conversations. Now, choose someone-"

"Her." I said idly, uncaring as I pointed towards one of the girls. She was pretty enough I suppose, a local looking girl though shrinking back at my attention. Her black hair was tied into a bun and her green miniskirt and silver shoes were the real reason I picked her. I needed all the luck I could and having a girl dressed in my House colors seemed like something I could use. I paid the fifteen-galleon fee, offered my arm to her and tried to ignore her flinch as catcalls echoed as we entered the place properly.

It was like a wizard tent, or at least a similar enchantment. Spatial dimensional space, organized and given via a single door as we entered a room and I tried to ignore her shudders. Locking it behind us, I began casting spells for privacy and protection, sealing the door and making her more terrified if I read the way she held still right.

At least, till I turned to her. I had dismissed her earlier, figuring I'd give her a chance to relax while I slept. Easy money, you know? But now my attention was focused on her as I paused and finally spoke.

"....Good instincts. But you're holding that wine bottle wrong if you want to knock someone out. Especially holding a wand." I then added, sitting on the bed. "Relax, I'm not going to touch you."

".... Wizards lie. If you touch me, you'll regret it." She said finally and I blinked, glancing at her. That was a British accent, and I spoke incredulously. "You're English?"

She shook her head. I nodded slowly, before finally speaking. "Spent time there at least?"

She nodded, before adding. "What do you care?" I paused, looking at my thoughts before speaking. "... I don't especially. But I'm trying to. Look, I really just wanted some sleep. This place made for a handy excuse to hide out, and as I said I'm not going to touch you. Here." I flicked my wand, she flinched and then blinked as I materialized a blanket around her shoulders. She clutched it to her, hugging it around her frame as she kept wary, stayed in the corner as I sighed and added.

".... Look, I'm going to go to sleep now. Do as you like, just please don't take anything off me. I'm going to need it for later, when I blow this ship up." Now she looked startled, before wary again as old lessons reared their head before she spoke.

"I could tell someone."

I threw her a look, before gesturing to the door. "If you can break out, be my guest. Beyond that, you won't... You look like someone who hates this place too." I was a little curious now, pausing as I sat up and asked.

"What's your name? I'm Tom."

She paused and after what seemed like an eternity, finally answered and set my world upside down.

"Nagini."