Adrianna; Psychic of Valecon Shadow Oranization
Copyright© 2026 by A duck named TEF
Chapter 10
For millenia he had been waiting, watching, patiently searching for any of the Fallen who had survived the wars against the human kings. All that time, and he still had so little as could be counted on a single hand of his brothers and sisters. Had so many been lost? He refused to believe it.
Kalispher, Mr. Dietrich, felt so alone through time. Humans were worthless in the grand scale of the universe itself, beneficial only as servants and slaves. This world should have been easy to turn into the paradise he and his brethren deserved. Why then? Why was it so difficult to find them? This wasn’t the only difficulty he faced now in his advanced age. He needed an heir. He needed a vessel worthy of his very soul to extend his life. He needed a convergent born of his bloodline.
Baphomet had foreseen that the only woman who could bear such a child would be one of her line born with her psychic gift. A psychic of unparalleled power. It was thought that the woman from the prophecy was Adrianna, but the rot had begun within her and she still had not conceived. Would he need to wait another decade, century, millenia? He did not have that time.
Already, his brother found at the Edifice of the People, Araquiel, was on his deathbed, so to speak. What was worse, their best chemist had expired of her second life as a reanimate. He had little faith in her replacement despite Vyn being born of the line of Penemue. In this world, Penemue sired humans of great intelligence.
Mr. Dietrich rubbed his brows and leaned further into his desk chair. There was far too much going on. If it wasn’t the impending death of his brother, it was the loss of a highly skilled employee. If it wasn’t his other brother doing something foolish, it was his own Adrianna having another emotional breakdown. If it wasn’t issues with the production of their best market product, it was some political party trying to start something. Why was it so difficult running the world and running one’s own household?
The payout would be worth it, that perfect paradise would make all the toil worth it. His perfect heir was worth it, the ideal vessel to possess in order to extend his life in this world. All of it would pay out in the end. That very end would be the beginning of life in his perfect world.
A flashing light on the telephone caught the attention of the man who laboured to rule the world. Reluctantly he picked up the receiver and waited a moment before giving a greeting of any kind. “Dietrich.” The voice on the other end was timid, and in the background someone screamed something unintelligible.
“Yes, lord Dietrich, this is Eric, Mr. Zorn’s assistant. He’d like to request a bit of your time for an emergency meeting regarding the last shipment received.”
Mr. Zorn was the unofficial coordinator for the National Agency’s controlled substances division. In reality, he ran the underground drug distribution. As long as there was a steady supply, there was a balance between the criminal underground, and the agency’s payroll. The latest shipments of product from the Estate, however, was causing too many accidental overdoses. Too many deaths were bad for business, as well as garnering unwanted attention from the local enforcement.
“One of my assistants will contact you with a date and time by the end of the day.” With no further need, or desire, to stay on the phone with this man he hung up and sent a message to his scheduler to set up a meeting. Similar requests were not uncommon for Mr. Dietrich.
There were other, more pressing matters to attend to this day. He was to personally make an appearance at a certain market place to procure supplies of one of his own vices. Afterwards he would be visiting his tailor for a few new suits and to be fitted for his groom attire. Ending this day would be the engagement announcement at the Estate. Mr. Dietrich wasn’t one who particularly enjoyed gatherings that weren’t strictly business, but it made his bride to be happy and if she was happy it would be easier for her to conceive. So he was told.
The market was sprawling with the worst humanity had to offer. From human trafficking rings, to illegal weapons trades, whatever you may want, if it was illegal, explicit, or over all taboo across ‘higher humanities’, you’d find it here. This was the only place that sold a specific product exclusively to Kalispher.
Within the market he made his way to a specific shop that had been in operation for centuries under the same family. Elshiekuz’s potions and tinctures had been founded by one of Kalispher’s own, rare, offspring. It was a line that never produced any with an active ‘gift’ of his blood, but they passed down through the generations the ancient potions and tinctures of their family. These items were prized for the efficacy and strength in producing the effects desired by those who purchased them. Though, the effects were always temporary. From love potions to truth serums, Elshiekuz had your fix.
The old woman at the counter smiled knowingly, “My my, it’s been quite a while since you’ve made an appearance. And alone too? The usual Mr. Dietrich?”
“Natasha, it has been a while hasn’t it? Yes, I would like my usual. I do hope you didn’t have issues sourcing the materials?” He asked as he handed over payment. Here he used coins, never anything that could be traced.
Natasha nodded as she carefully packaged the special tincture. “Aye,” She took the coins and handed over the package, “no issues, the new suppliers have ingredients that are far more potent. I’ve been able to raise prices since the products are of a better quality. Thank you for directing me to them.”
“My pleasure. Not many hold as high a place in my expectations as your family, not many can achieve those expectations either. If you need anything-”
The older woman waved him off, “Bah, I know, don’t hesitate to contact you. You worry too much sometimes. Now go, you’re a busy man.”
He chuckled but obliged. Turning to leave the shop and rid himself from this distasteful market place. He was a busy man indeed and appreciated that the old woman shared his disdain of entertaining company.
His usual tailor was as well a somewhat reclusive man. The shop was a hidden gem deep in the heart of the city. Not many people could afford the luxury this shop worked with, so not many people would visit. Because of the lack in foot traffic it had become more of a ‘by appointment only’ establishment, kept in business by word of mouth from those who indulged in that which only high society could afford.
Various silks and cashmere fabrics littered the inside of the store. A few mannequins wore suits and dresses that showcased the tailor’s skill. Kalispher used the key the tailor had sent with the letter that held the date and time of the fitting appointment to enter the humble shop.
He took a deep breath, appreciating the scents of vanilla tobacco and myrrh. The old tailor hadn’t changed anything about the shop, preferring it to maintain the classic look his great grandfather had built. The nostalgia was the main reason Kalispher remained a customer here. Of course the skill the tailor had was another factor.
“Welcome Mr. Dietrich.” The tailor appeared from behind a shelving unit laden with various fabrics and trimmings. Around his neck a measuring tape hung. He took a small pair of glasses from his breast pocket, as well as a small note-pad and pen. “This way to the measuring room.”
Even though Kalispher’s measurements never changed beyond an inch or less, the tailor always re-measured him. He meticulously took the information and added observations as well as requests from his clients. Everything was kept on file, but his protocol was to go through the same intake, no matter how many appointments he already had with the client. The tailor didn’t converse past the intake either. He preferred maintaining as little personal relations with his clientele as possible. Yet another reason Kalispher appreciated this tailor.
As he left the tailor’s shop Kalispher received an unexpected message from a number he had not thought he’d see again. The contents of the message was an address that he knew well. It was the place he usually met with this long lost associate. He sent a message to his own assistant, as well as Adrianna, to inform them he had an emergency to attend to and may be late returning to the Estate.
The location was an old building outside of the city, opposite of the location of the Estate. This was the only place where this associate was able to travel through. This associate was a traveler through time. Unlike other travelers he was restricted to a fixed location in order to make a trip into the past. The past was the only direction he could go besides returning to his ‘fixed’ time. Other travelers only needed an arch or a gate, some threshold to walk through for them to amass the needed radiation to travel.
Kalispher walked into the derelict construct, eyeing the place as he always did when alone. He spied the man, slumped against a column, covered in radiation burns. He walked up and stood before the man, regarding him as a lost cause. What did this man expect to gain messaging him in that state? He knew how things operated among those who worked in the shadows.