Chapter 3: An Employee and the Mellifers
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung heavy in the air of The Daily Grind, a welcome constant in Adam's increasingly bizarre new life. He was behind the counter, meticulously wiping down the espresso machine, when the bell above the door chimed. A young woman, poised and observant, stepped inside. Her dark hair was pulled back neatly, and her eyes, though kind, seemed to miss nothing.
"Adam Stiels?" she asked, her voice calm and clear. "I'm Kathreen Langford. I believe you have an opening for a full-time employee?"
Adam straightened, a small smile playing on his lips. Kathreen Langford. The original character. The Grimm who doesn't know she's a Grimm. This is going to be interesting.
"That I do, Ms. Langford," he replied, his voice resonating with that subtle authority that seemed to make people pay attention. "And you're right on time. My old employee… let's just say he decided a career in interpretive dance was more his speed. Or maybe he just couldn't handle my witty banter. Either way, he's gone."
Kathreen's lips twitched, a hint of a smile. "I assure you, Mr. Stiels, I'm quite resilient. And I'm a quick study. I've worked in customer service for years."
They talked for a while, Adam asking about her experience, her availability, and her tolerance for his particular brand of sarcasm. He found her competent, intelligent, and surprisingly perceptive. She had a quiet strength about her, a subtle energy that hummed beneath the surface. He knew it was her nascent Grimm abilities, still dormant, but he could feel it.
"Alright, Ms. Langford," Adam said, extending a hand. "You're hired. Welcome to The Daily Grind. Prepare for a life filled with caffeine, questionable puns, and the occasional existential crisis. It's character-building."
Kathreen shook his hand, her grip firm. "Thank you, Mr. Stiels. I look forward to it."
Later that day, Nick called. His voice was laced with a familiar mix of confusion and urgency. "Adam, we've got a new one. Bee-related. Multiple victims, all stung to death. And the weirdest part? They're all lawyers."
Adam leaned against the counter, a knowing smirk on his face. "Ah, yes. The Beeware case. Mellifers, if I'm not mistaken. And let me guess, the victims were all involved in some shady legal dealings? Probably wronged someone, specifically a Mellifer."
Nick paused. "How did you…?"
"Like I said, Nick. Informed intuition. And a surprising amount of free time to read up on obscure insect-human hybrids. Look, these aren't your typical homicidal Wesen. Mellifers are generally peaceful, almost communal. They only lash out when their hive, or their queen, is threatened. My guess? Someone screwed them over. And knowing Portland, it's probably Adalind Schade."
"Adalind?" Nick's voice was sharp. "What does she have to do with bees?"
"Everything, probably," Adam sighed. "She's a Hexenbiest, Nick. A manipulative, power-hungry witch. She probably swindled them out of something, or used them for her own twisted schemes. The Mellifers are seeking revenge. And if we don't intervene, they're going to keep stinging until they get it. Or until Adalind turns them into bug spray."
Adam's mind was already racing. Adalind was a major problem in the canon, a recurring antagonist who caused endless headaches. If he could neutralize her early, get her blood for the System, it would save them a lot of trouble down the line. Proactive. That's the name of the game.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," Adam said, his voice firm. "We need to find the Mellifer hive. They'll be targeting Adalind. And we need to get to Adalind before they do."
Nick, despite his reservations about Adam's methods, had seen enough to trust his judgment. "You really think Adalind is involved?"
"I'd bet my last artisanal coffee bean on it," Adam replied. "Now, let's go poke the hornet's nest. Metaphorically, of course. Unless you're into that."
They met up with Hank, and Adam, once again, guided them with uncanny precision. He led them to a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the city, a place that reeked of stale honey and suppressed rage. Inside, a swarm of woged Mellifers, their faces distorted into bee-like visages, buzzed menacingly around a terrified Adalind Schade, who was trapped in a corner, her Hexenbiest powers flickering uselessly against the sheer numbers.
"Well, well, well," Adam said, stepping into the warehouse, his voice cutting through the buzzing hum. "Looks like someone's having a bad day. Adalind, darling, did you forget to pay your bee-keepers?"
Adalind's eyes, wide with fear, flickered to Adam, then to Nick. "Grimms! Get them off me! They're insane!"
The Mellifer Queen, a larger, more imposing figure, turned her attention to Adam, her eyes glowing with anger. "You interfere, Grimm? This witch stole from us! She destroyed our livelihood!"
Adam stepped forward, his Aura of the First Grimm flaring. The Mellifers, despite their rage, felt the involuntary respect, their buzzing quieting slightly. "I understand your anger," Adam said, his voice calm but firm. "But this path leads only to more bloodshed. Tell me, what did she take? What did she do?"
The Mellifer Queen, compelled by the aura, began to recount Adalind's treachery, how she had used her magic to swindle them out of their honey, their land, and their peace. Adalind, meanwhile, watched in horror as her victims, under Adam's influence, laid bare her crimes.
"See?" Adam said to Nick, a knowing glance. "Told you she was a piece of work." He then turned back to the Mellifer Queen. "Alright. I hear you. Now, I can guarantee she won't bother you again. But in return, no more stings. No more murders. Deal?"
The Mellifer Queen hesitated, then, compelled by the aura, nodded. "Deal, Grimm. But what about her?" She gestured to Adalind.
"Oh, she's coming with me," Adam said, a predatory glint in his eyes. "She's got some… explaining to do." He then turned to Adalind, who was now trembling, not from the Mellifers, but from Adam's cold, calculating gaze. "Time to pay the piper, Hexenbiest."
Before Adalind could react, Adam moved. He was faster than she anticipated, his hand clamping over her mouth, muffling her scream. He dragged her away from the Mellifers, ignoring her struggles. Nick and Hank, though surprised by Adam's ruthlessness, didn't intervene. They had seen enough of Adalind to know she deserved whatever was coming.
Adam dragged Adalind into a secluded corner of the warehouse, away from prying eyes. He forced her to woge, her face contorting into the grotesque, decaying features of a Hexenbiest. She snarled, spitting curses, but the Aura of the First Grimm held her in check.
"You're going to regret this, Grimm!" she hissed, her voice raspy.
"Oh, I doubt it," Adam replied, his voice chillingly calm. "But you, on the other hand… you're about to have a very bad day. And then, probably a very long, very boring life. Without your powers."
He held her down, and with a swift, precise movement, drew a small, sterile vial from his pocket. He then, with a grim determination, took a small sample of her blood. Adalind shrieked, a sound of pure, unadulterated terror and fury.
[System] Wesen Defeated. Wesen Type: Mellifer. Extracting... Alchemical Vial Created: Mellifer Potion.
[System] The Mellifer Potion grants a minor resistance to venom and a slight increase in communication skills.
Wait, what? Adam blinked. Mellifer? Oh, right. I subdued the Mellifer Queen first, then dealt with Adalind. He quickly corrected his mental note. Adalind's blood will come later. Patience, my friend. Patience.
He released Adalind, who immediately woged back to human form, panting, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and hatred. "You… you monster!"
"Just a Grimm doing his job, sweetheart," Adam said, pocketing the Mellifer vial. "Now, get out of here. And if I ever see you trying to swindle another Wesen, or anyone, again, I'll make sure you regret it. Permanently."
Adalind scrambled away, her usual haughty demeanor shattered. She cast one last venomous look at Adam before fleeing the warehouse.
Adam turned to Nick and Hank, who were now exchanging bewildered glances. "Problem solved. Mellifers are happy, Adalind's running scared. And we've got one less active threat in Portland. You're welcome."
One down, a whole lot more to go, Adam thought, a satisfied smirk on his face. And soon, Adalind's going to be a very useful, very powerless, asset.