Chapter 8: The Mellifer's Sting and a Hexenbiest's Shadow
The air in the downtown law office was thick with the scent of expensive cologne, stale coffee, and something else—a faint, cloying sweetness that made Adama's nose twitch. He and Wanda were "casually" observing the scene, a grim tableau of a dead lawyer, his body strangely bloated, covered in what looked suspiciously like… bee stings.
[CASE ALERT: Lawyer deceased, bee venom. Primary Wesen: Mellifer (Bee-like). Target: Hexenbiest Adalind Schade.]
Adam sighed dramatically. "Oh, for the love of bees. Mellifers. So, we're dealing with a bee-Wesen. And apparently, they're not happy with Adalind. Which, honestly, is understandable. She's kind of a pain." He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know, this reminds me of that Bee Movie… but, like, if Barry B. Benson decided to go full vigilante and sting people to death. Less 'jazz,' more 'venom'."
Wanda, however, was frowning, a hand pressed to her temple. "I feel… a hum. A collective mind. It's like a thousand tiny voices, all buzzing with anger and… justice."
"That's the Mellifer hive mind, sweetheart," Adam explained, mentally pulling up files on Mellifer society. "They're usually pretty chill, peace-loving types. But if you mess with one of their own, or, say, curse them, they get a little… stinging. And apparently, Adalind did just that. Classic Adalind, always making enemies."
The Library's lore on Mellifers was extensive: a highly organized, loyal society, their justice collective and precise. They didn't just sting; they delivered a targeted, venomous retribution. And the victim, a lawyer, had clearly been involved in something that had earned the hive's wrath.
[HEXENBIEST INTEL: Adalind Schade's past actions include a curse on a Mellifer. Motive: Revenge. Threat Level: Moderate (due to targeted nature).]
"So, a curse, huh? Figures," Adam muttered. "Adalind's got a real knack for making enemies. It's like her superpower, besides being generally annoying." He watched as Nick and Hank, looking bewildered by the sheer number of bee stings, began their investigation. Renard, ever the subtle puppet master, was also on the scene, observing with a detached interest that only Adam could truly appreciate for its sinister undertones.
He saw Adalind herself, looking suitably concerned (or perhaps just annoyed by the inconvenience of a dead lawyer), interacting briefly with Renard. A subtle nod, a fleeting glance. Enough for Adam to confirm his suspicions.
"See that, Wanda?" Adam whispered, gesturing subtly towards Adalind and Renard. "The Hexenbiest and the Zauberbiest. Plotting. Scheming. Probably over brunch. They're like the Bonnie and Clyde of supernatural manipulation, but with more magic and less bank robbing. For now."
Wanda's gaze sharpened, her distrust of Adalind growing. She could sense the subtle undercurrent of deceit, the cold calculation beneath the Hexenbiest's seemingly innocent facade. "She is… not good."
"Understatement of the year, kiddo. She's a Hexenbiest. It's kind of in the job description," Adam replied, though his tone was serious. "This is just the beginning of her little reign of terror. We need to keep an eye on her. And figure out how to stop these bees without, you know, causing a full-blown apiary apocalypse. Because I'm pretty sure Portland doesn't have enough EpiPens for that."
He considered the Library's shop. What would help with a Hexenbiest curse? Or, more importantly, what would help stop a swarm of angry, vengeful bees? He mentally scrolled through potential items: anti-magic charms, calming potions, maybe even a giant bug zapper. He chuckled darkly. "This is going to be fun. Like a really messed up game of 'Operation: Bee Rescue'."