Paint it black

               Shoving sunglasses up to push my annoying curtain bangs out of my eyes. I pushed the coffee shop door open. Scanning the room I quickly found my “date.” Putting on a warm smile I made eye contact and gave a little wave. Standing to meet me I had to look up to meet his eyes, hazel I noticed and nervously darting around.

“Shall we sit?” I invited him when it became apparent, he was too nervous to move. I winced on behalf of the chair when he collapsed into it.

“Get you a drink hon?” the waitress asked clearly determined to help this meeting along. Sighing inwardly, I asked for a sugary concoction and a pastry. My “date” asked for a similar drink then watched the waitress retreat. Once she was out of ear shot, he focused on me.

“So, your profile mentioned you like museums?” I asked with a smile trying to center him. “Which is your favorite in the city?”

“Oh” he started, and I cursed. Shirley was supposed to prep them before the meet. I didn’t have time or inclination to be caught. Liberating special pieces aka those with a touch of the supernatural was my side gig after all.

With visible effort my date refocused and rallied enough to respond. “The John Wilkes Booth Museum out in Cartersville is my favorite actually. Although there is a little local display at the cultural center up the road that’s become a recent favorite of mine."

“Really? Do you have any pictures of the display? “I leaned forward. He flipped through his phone then turned it to me.  With a smile he began to talk complete nonsense as our waitress returned. “Yes, you see the play of light and shadow in this one. I adore how the artist gave you such a sense of anticipation. “Nodding absently I zoomed in on the image examining it closely. The little radar warning in the back of my head was going off like crazy. Whatever was going on with this painting it was considerably more than just a play of light and shadows. The focal point was a stag at bay. There was a pack of hounds and a hunting party approaching. Where things became strange was when you looked closely at the stag’s face. The eyes conveyed something. I struggled to explain what it was, not the fear you might expect. No the eyes appeared to show a battle rage. More what I would expect from a hound or bear a fighting animal brought to bay. I swallowed as unease built, the more I looked the stranger the painting was.

The hounds were not eager, instead the few at the front of the pack were almost on their bellies. Far from aggressive they instead displayed fear. The kind of abject look you get after yelling at Fido for peeing on the rug. Or from a puppy who was just reprimanded by an older dog. The hounds closest were all but crawling on their bellies eyes down, tails tucked. They were deeply afraid.

And the stag, I zoomed in on it and the darkness behind, something was in the darkness. Undefined, yet definite as if living shadow ready to lunge forth and attack. I could almost see a face in the darkness. Shaking my head I forced myself to smile at the waitress who had just delivered my sugar laden coffee.

“Thank you.”

Turning back to my date. “Quite the study of light and dark, mesmerizing even.”

He smiled back at me tightly.

“Very we’ve had several discussions with fellow collectors and they were very interested. But now out of the 4 original offers  it’s just me looking to add it to my collection now.

I sipped my coffee as I let that sink in. 3 others had tried retrieving it then and failed. I was the fourth specialist. That was never good to hear. My price was higher than most but still in the affordable range considering the service I offered. To find 3 others that then failed the job was a bit concerning to say the least.

“Well, that’s good to know, will you be upset if I bid as well?”

“I’d be delighted when would you like to see it? We could perhaps attend the auction tomorrow together? This piece is held back until next month’s auction. But they are showing it to all prospective bidders this week. “

“Sounds like a wonderful time, meet there around eight?”

“See you then”

With that I headed to the local park for a quick call to some higher powers. Being that it was midday only a few people were at the local park. I cast a “Don’t see me” charm as I walked over the small footbridge to the pond. Once I got there I tossed a bespelled coin as my way of putting phone in the pay phone if you will. “Well if it isn’t lady Gwen come to grace us with her presence.” A voice drawled from the lake. Inwardly I sighed Narcissus was not my favorite spirit of the nymphs to talk with.

“My friend Narcissus. Pleasure to speak with you. Any chance I can get you to bring Apollo the line?”

As god of the arts and my half blood many times removed great uncle I often called on Apollo as my patron for these type of deals.

“As I’m sure you know he’s to busy for any calls presently. Perhaps I could help? “

Sighing I pulled my phone out dipped a finger in the pond then pressed it to the photo of the painting.

“That would be lovely, do you happen to know the artist who painted this? Seems a few of my fellow art lovers have recently disappeared chasing it.”

“Oh, my. Dark isn’t it. I do love the suggestion of the abyss as represented.”

I barely restrained myself from snapping my fingers at him to get back on task. That would be unproductive and rude I reminded myself.

“Looks like it’s the work of a fellow called Merylyn. New age fellow. Painted about 10 like this last year then passed unexpectedly into the afterlife. Estate found the paintings last month and started posting them in galleries for bidding. You lucked out though the one you found is the only one with a real mystery to it. The others are foreboding but other than giving you chills do absolutely nothing. A actual curse is on that one, death curse potentially. Since he died right after finishing it. There is an aspect of Nyx caught in that painting and it’s rather vengeful about it. Word is you shouldn’t look at it in person if you have any gifts to speak of.”

“Thank you for your wise council. I will take precautions. “

I bowed courteously to the pond and then headed towards my apartment deep in thought. Don’t stare at it, well that might be hard after all I was supposed to admire then steal it. Sunglasses at night were only popular in that old song. I could also wear gloves to minimize touching it.