Crave and Stan followed the red string. Its silk was bleeding on the floor, leaving a trail. They could have had an easier time tracking it, but with Stan's ability to see auras, it didn't matter how fast the red string flew; it was never going to escape his sights.

"Crave, let's slow down; I can see where this is going," Stan declared.

"Nay, we have to get this orb before nightfall," Crave said. They kept following until it stopped pointing at a museum.

"Oh, I always want to go to a museum," Stan said.

"You've never gone to one?" Crave enquired.

"Ummm, I'm homeless," Stan said.

"Oh, I forgot about that; we'll have to discuss that after this is done. I don't feel comfortable with you being homeless," Crave said.

"I appreciate having a bed," Stan said.

"Who won't now let us keep moving?" Crave said as they entered the museum.

"So where do you think the orb is?" Stan asked.

If I had to guess, I'd say the mythology sections, said Crave. The two approached the mythology artifact in search of the orb, but they were unable to find it.

"How is it not here?" Crave questioned

"Perhaps because people don't realize it's mythology," Stan guessed,

"What?" Crave asked.

"What if people don't realize there's a goddess in the orb or that the orb has something to do with mythology?" Stan wondered.

"That actually makes sense; let's go take a look around," Crave said. The two continue their search for the orb, unaware that a Lycan is keeping an eye on them. They searched everywhere in an effort to find the orb, but they were unsuccessful. The place just seemed to not have it.

That was such a waste; we looked everywhere and still couldn't find it, said Crave.

"We were brought here by that string, so I must be here," Stan said.

"There had to be something wrong; otherwise, we'd be on a wild goose chase. I don't understand how it's not here; we checked everywhere for the artifact," Crave reasoned.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Stan looked up at the chandelier and saw a glowing orb. Or perhaps it wasn't an artifact at all."

"Did you find it?" Crave asked

"It was in the chandelier; no wonder I didn't notice its magical aura; I was so focused on artifacts that I didn't notice anything else," Stan explained.

The orb was found, which is good news, but we have to wait until nightfall to steal it, Crave said.

"Why can't you just conjure something up?" Stan asked

"I can, but doing so in public would expose us," Crave explained.

"But only I see magic," Stan objects.

"People can see the effects of magic, and I don't want to risk exposing us and becoming indebted to

another person; it's much safer that way," Crave explained.

"Okay, let's just wait it out then," Stan said.

"We don't have any other options," Crave said solemnly.

"Ease up, we almost have the orb; just a few more hours and it'll be as good as ours, and everything will return to normal...almost normal," Stan reassured him.

"Despite being haunted by large wolf-like men, you are very optimistic," Crave said.

"They're haunting you too," Stan said.

"But I'm a master of my magic, and you're just starting out," Crave pointed out.

"Let's just find someplace to hide," Stan said.

"Follow me," Crave said as he walked to the restroom. Stan trailed Crave, opening the door to see if they were alone.

"What are we doing here?" Stan asked.

"Give me a minute," Crave said, looking around and waving his hands. Blue smoke appeared and swallowed them both; once done, the haze dissipated and the two appeared transparent, as if they could see each other but also see through each other.

"Whoa!" Stan exclaimed, looking in the mirror.

"This will make sneaking past the guard much easier," Crave said.

"So what if we wait here until nightfall and grab an orb?" Stan said.

"Fuck no, we can go wherever we want until nightfall," Crave said as he exited the bathroom.

Once more, Stan followed, taking the time to examine the items and explore the area, even stealing some snacks from the museum shop, but he sensed that someone was watching them. But everywhere he looked, he only saw Crave's magical aura and the Scorpion Goddess's. He didn't know why, but he felt some kind of allure with the orb as if it were calling him. Stan reasoned that the goddess inside could see him as well as he could, which was why he felt watched. Even so, he tried not to think about it, but the goddess' aura was slimy, corrosive, and toxic, yet gentle, like a sweet poison that kills you slowly and softly.

Stan couldn't help but sneak a few glances at it until he began to delve deeper into it and saw the orb transform into an eye staring deep at him. Stan continued to look Crave in the eye for what felt like an eternity, despite all his urges to run and get Crave. He looked at the eye, and then it blinked, closed, and turned back into an orb. Stan returned to the bathroom and went into hiding, his heart pounding, his bones trembling, and his stomach in his shoes. Stan sat and focused on his breathing, then waited until nightfall so he could get that orb and never have to see that eye again. see that eye again.