“Ceasefire,” Diana yelled and lurched to her feet. She hobbled toward the window, followed by a somewhat dazed Rath. Black knotted lines unspooled from the chopper as Kayleigh reported, “Two minutes on the timers. Areas are clear. The warden assures me they’ll be fine.”
Diana grabbed Cara, helped her to the line, and threaded it around her thighs and waist in a hasty tie. “Use another one to climb up. This is your backup. Maybe you could consider not getting hit in the arm every time we go into the field.”
The ex-marshal raised a single finger in salute and swung out to follow the directions. Diana helped Tony next, and he began his climb. Then, she stared at the prisoner. For a moment, she considered throwing him out the window, since it would offer a better chance at survival than remaining in an exploding building, but Rath solved her problem. He lifted the enemy onto his giant shoulder and gave her a serious nod before he broke into a huge grin.
“Get to the Choppa.”
She groaned at the joke. “I’ll be up right after you, big guy. Good work.” He nodded and climbed easily. The additional weight was no concern at all in that form. She turned to locate Bryant, who examined one of the bombs on the far wall. “Bryant, get over here. We’ve gotta go.”
He nodded and began to cross the room toward her when the bomb nearest the stairwell detonated. Later, they would sift through the evidence and conclude that the battle had shorted something inside it, which caused it to detonate ahead of time. Her eyes widened in horror as the next one closer to Bryant exploded. He was out of range of the initial blast, but not far enough away to escape the debris and shrapnel launched by the massive force. She was powerless to help, and he screamed, “Go!” as his side of the building began to collapse.
Bryant gestured with his arms to create a portal as the floor buckled. She leapt out the window and summoned her telekinesis to bring two lines toward her. Once she’d seized them, the helicopter veered away from the building. The shockwave from the explosion rocked her. She held tightly to the lines, closed her eyes, and hoped they had gained enough distance that the debris wouldn’t catch her.
Chapter Thirty
It had been a week since the protest at the Cube and the ensuing destruction of the office building above it. The lawyer blamed it on the police, the police blamed it on terrorism, and no one had the real story—except for ARES and the PDA, who both received missives from the Remembrance claiming responsibility and a promise that it had only begun.
Bryant, miraculously, sported only severe bruising and minor injuries from shrapnel that had reached him before he managed to seal his escape portal. He left town less than twelve hours after the event to assess the other startups. Cara spent a day in the hospital for treatment for her injured arms. Even with a healing potion, it would take a little time. Tony held down the fort in Pittsburgh, and Diana and Rath split their time between their home base and DC. She’d met with Senator Finley to brief him personally with SAC Carson Taggart at her side. If either had noticed her stiff movements, they had not remarked upon them.
She felt battered and bruised in body and spirit for several days, then finally rallied. Setbacks happened, but there was no need to let them define her. By the end of the week, she was back to normal, ready to take on the next challenge. It came in the form of another anonymous text from a familiar number that simply read:
Two hours.
She called her team and arranged to meet at the exit of their tunnel to the Kemana. The three agents made their way to the palace without incident and were ushered into the presence of the lady at the appointed time. Diana detected a warmth in the emissary's tone and expression that reassured her about the meeting to come.
Lady Alayne was in her customary place on the dais in the throne room. She inquired about their health and about the events of the week before. Diana, Cara, and Tony related them as well as they could. When all had been recounted, the leader of the Kemana said, “We have heard from our sources that the Remembrance has emerged from the shadows.”
Diana nodded. “They took responsibility for the attack. It’s merely a matter of time before the press hears about them. That should be a mess.”
The elf laughed. “What is it the computer people say? Information wants to be free?” She shook her head. “They have one thing right, though. It is difficult to keep secrets these days.”
“Very true. Have you had any problems with them down here?”
The emissary leaned over to whisper in her ear, and Lady Alayne nodded. “No events, but a definite increase in conversation. We are always watching and listening to what goes on in Stonesreach, and their message does resonate with some of our citizens.”
“Many?”
The elf shrugged. “More, perhaps, than any of us would like. Of course, talk is fine. Only actions are an issue.”
Cara spoke up. “But the one often leads to the other, does it not?”
“It does, indeed, Cara Binot.” Alayne nodded. “We will remain vigilant.”
Diana hesitated, then ventured, “Lady Alayne, should something occur here, would you be comfortable calling upon us for aid? Because we most certainly offer it.”
Again, the emissary leaned in to speak into her ear. She frowned but the expression seemed a little regretful. “At this time, we prefer to handle our own affairs. Rest assured, though. Should that change, we will let you know.”
She nodded outwardly but sighed internally.
Dammit. There goes asking them for help with our problems. Still, it was worth a try. “May we be of assistance in any other way?”
The elf shrugged. “No, but thank you. We merely wished to meet to ensure that we share what knowledge we could with one another. As always, please do not feel the need to await an invitation. If you are in the city, you may contact my emissary, and he will arrange a meeting if the matter requires it.”
Diana thanked her, and the older elf escorted them from the throne room. Before she let him push them out the doors, however, she stopped and turned to him. “One of my colleagues told me I needed to get in touch with Nylotte. Could you tell me where to find him?”
The emissary tilted his head. “Interesting.” He didn’t explain what he meant, only provided them directions, and they left the palace.
His instructions led them onto the side street they had found during their previous visit, and a creeping dread began to build in her stomach. It grew as they counted the number of shops, then fully materialized as they stopped outside the one owned by the Drow who had intercepted them the previous time. Diana groaned.
“You should probably stay out here.” They didn’t argue, only took up positions to watch in both directions. She shook her head and muttered, “Bryant, you’re a dead man,” as she swung the door open and stepped inside.
The shop was filled with surfaces made of polished wood that reflected the lights above. The items on them seemed to glow from an inner source that wasn’t quite obvious. She had been in the room for less than ten seconds when Nylotte—very definitely a her rather than a him—swept in from the back. Her voice was syrupy. “Diana, so nice to see you again.”
She pushed down the flippant reply the woman’s words summoned. “You as well. You were recommended by Kienka, through an intermediary, as a source of equipment for my team.”
The elf smiled and gestured for her to sit across a low table, then took the other seat. “Yes, Kienka. We were close once and came to Earth at the same time. She has chosen to be a greater part of your world. I have no interest in that and prefer to live here among my own kind.”
There aren’t really many of your particular kind around, though, are there?
“Why did you leave Oriceran?”
Her laugh emerged from deep in her throat, and Diana imagined that it too, like her looks, would turn heads. “A brazen question. Let’s simply say it was an opportune time for a change, and leave it at that, shall we?”
Diana nodded, unfolded the paper she’d brought, and slid it acro
ss the table. The Drow reviewed it with an experienced eye. “Most of these items can be procured easily. Others, I already have. A few will be difficult, and thus expensive.” She looked up expectantly.
“Give me prices, and we’ll work from there.”
The woman smiled. “In some cases, I may request items in barter rather than currency. I believe that Kienka also operates in this way. Hopefully, that is acceptable.”
Diana had the distinct impression that if it wasn’t, they wouldn’t do any business at all, so she nodded.
I’ll figure that out when we get there.
The Drow leaned back, folded her arms, and gave her a knowing look. “But that is not the only reason you are here, is it? Even without this list, you would have found your way to my door.”
The agent sighed. It was true. She had discussed it with Bryant, and he had worked his contacts only to discover that she was the best option. “Yes, Nylotte. I would like you to train me in magic.”
The Dark Elf straightened with a nod. “Before I will even consider it, I must test you.”
She forced her voice to remain calm, even as her body tensed instinctively. “How?”
Nylotte waved an arm. “Simply a game we play with our children on Oriceran, Diana. I give you my word that you shall come to no permanent harm. If you will not take mine, remember that you are under the protection of the lady while inside Stonesreach.”
The woman had a point. Diana nodded, at least partially reassured. “Okay, what do you need me to do?”
The Drow held up her palms. “You have heard of pushing hands, I’m sure?”
Diana was aware of the game where two partners placed palms together and attempted to flow with the other player’s actions. She held her hands up, and the elf placed her elegant fingers a centimeter away. The woman began with a push—either force or telekinesis, but Diana couldn’t be sure. It was easy enough to resist with her left hand and press with her right.
Nylotte nodded, then switched magics. Shadows coalesced around the elf’s hands and stretched to encompass hers. Diana reached for the feeling she’d had the other times she’d controlled shadow and drew power from the Drow to reflect it back to her. The next change was to fire, and she yanked her hands back with a screech of pain. “Ouch! Damn, what the hell?”
The elf stood and looked at her with something between mockery and disappointment. “Don’t be a child.” She opened a nearby drawer and pulled out a vial filled with red fluid. “Drink this.”
The agent looked doubtfully at her, and Nylotte made a gesture toward the palace that lay beyond the walls of the room. She drank, and the liquid flowed through her in a cool surge to heal her burned skin and banish the pain. It cost her to ask, but she did it anyway. “Will you accept me as a student?”
Nylotte nodded. A serious expression graced her visage for the first time since Diana had known her. “Yes. I understand your schedule is challenging, but you must commit to both training with me and on your own if you wish to succeed—especially given what you face.”
Diana tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
The elf laughed and tossed her head-turning long hair. “Events are in motion, Special Agent in Charge Diana Sheen. You are well known among a certain set of individuals in the community. Individuals you might prefer did not know you so well. As I said, the sooner we begin, the better.”
“I'll do whatever it takes. Tomorrow?”
The elf nodded. “Noon.”
“How long?”
“Until you can no longer go on, of course.” She shrugged. “That is how it has always been, and that is how it always will be.”
She escorted Diana outside and closed the door behind her. They had not discussed a fee for the training, but she was sure it would be high in both treasure and effort.
And likely blood, based on the little I’ve seen of her.
To the others, she said, “We have ourselves a supplier. On to the next to-do item.”
Chapter Thirty-One
The team had survived the long walk back from the Kemana to the base and collapsed in the fifth-floor conference room to enjoy the day’s fading light. They were all seated around the big oval table, Diana on one side, Cara and Tony on the other, and Kayleigh and Rath on the ends. Max stretched out under Rath’s chair. Each had coffee, except the troll, who had a pineapple juice box. They had finished sharing information about the visit to the underground city with the two who hadn't accompanied them.
“Okay, let’s look at the to-do list.” Diana turned to face the tech. “Item one, force our newest member to stay, whether she wants to or not.” Sounds of agreement came from the other side of the table, and Rath declared, “No leaving. I am the law.”
Kayleigh grinned. “I told you, I’ll be here until you get your act together. Right now, it’s anything but. You don’t even have a proper lab, for heaven’s sake.” They nodded, having agreed not to pressure her in any serious way.
Cara said, “I withdraw my suggestion that we need a med tech right off the bat. Recent events have demonstrated that there are enough hospitals around that are well-equipped to handle trauma. Healing potions can only go so far. Unless we can find someone to specifically assist with injuries from magic, it’s probably not worth making it a priority.”
“Does everyone agree?” They nodded. Diana looked at Rath and thought again that they needed to learn more about how to take care of him.
Maybe Nylotte will tell me. She snorted inwardly. At the cost of one arm and half a leg, no doubt.
She crossed the med tech off the list. “So, what do we need next?” She wanted to let her team weigh in on the important decisions, even though she had the final call. “DC has a couple of long gunners and a number of general agents, plus a face.” She grinned as she remembered Trent’s first attempt to weasel his way in with her and Lisa at the bar.
Cara and Tony frowned. The detective asked, “A face?”
Diana nodded. “Someone who’s good at infiltration and who can slip in and out of a wide variety of situations to get information. And, of course, they need to be able to kick ass.”
Nods and murmurs of agreement passed all around the table. The ex-marshal tapped a finger against her teeth. “I wouldn’t have thought of this before our last adventure, but it might be good to have someone proficient in explosives.”
She hadn’t considered it either, but it suddenly made a lot of sense. “For offense, or defense? Like, demolitions expert, or bomb squad?”
Cara nodded. “Yes.”
They all laughed, and Rath interjected, “You don’t mess with the demolition man.”
Diana turned toward Kayleigh. “Thoughts?”
She shrugged. “It’s not a bad idea, and you're under no pressure to copy DC exactly. The needs are different here. At home, we have to assume the need to lock down areas, like at the hotel. There’s not quite so much of that here since it’s not the center of government.”
The others nodded, and Diana said, “Any counterarguments, speak now. Otherwise, we’ll look for experts in infiltration and making things go boom.”
None were forthcoming. “I’ll do some searches and find you some names. They’ll be ready tomorrow,” Kayleigh promised.
Diana smiled at her people. “Okay, everyone, get some rest.” She pointed at Tony and Cara. “Soak those legs. Who knows when we’ll be called back to see Lady Alayne?”
They groaned loudly at the thought of another trip to the Kemana.
Ninety minutes later, she steered the Fastback through the curves that climbed Mount Washington, possibly faster than strictly necessary. She hadn’t eaten at any of the restaurants that dotted its crest and looked forward to the new opportunity. The car slipped cleanly into a parallel parking space on a side street, and she walked down the sidewalk. Diana smoothed the constricting black V-neck dress that extended to mid-thigh, where her matching pants showed over her knees before meeting the high black boots that zippered closed below them.
> Her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and she wore a silver necklace that matched the shining illusion detector on her wrist. The ARES smartwatch was hidden under her long sleeve, and she carried a sparkly clutch a little bigger than the Glock resting inside it. She laughed to herself.
I should look into a thigh holster for some flat knives or something. Having only one weapon makes me feel unarmed.
Bryant stood outside the restaurant and grinned at her approach. He was dressed in gray—another tailored suit with a black pattern flowing through the fabric. This one had no tie but a mock turtleneck that looked very attractive on him. He held the door for her, and she entered. The lobby was a reminder of times past. The elegant chandelier and wood accents painted a picture that would’ve been perfectly modern fifty years before. Windows covered the entire length of the far wall to reveal the cityscape sprawled below them. She turned and smiled. “Nice place.”
The host intervened and took them to their table, and Bryant sat with his back to the view so she could enjoy it. He grinned at her again. “You did say I owed you.”
“I had thought of a beer and a burger, not this.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Beauty deserves beauty. That’s a pretty dress, by the way.”
She laughed. “Did you have a good week out of town?”
“Not too bad.” He shrugged. “Things are moving ahead. We’ll be ready to put people on the ground in Buffalo next week, and the others are coming along.”
“It seems they picked the right person for the job.”
“ARES is good at that, based on how well the bureau is working here. But how are you doing?”
She sighed. “Honestly, I knew I’d miss DC, but it’s harder than I expected. I recognized that Lisa was an important part of my life, but I didn’t realize quite how much I depended on her for relaxing downtime. It feels like this place is always hopping. Hopefully, things will settle down soon.”
Federal Agents of Magic Boxed Set Page 44