by Martha Carr
“Who’s taking them?” Charlie sat down in his leather chair, trying not to let it show how fast his heart was beating.
“There’s lots of theories. Foreign governments. Large corporations. Treasure seekers. There are thousands of these artifacts so probably all of those theories are correct.”
“How did I not know?” Charlie muttered to himself. He was always prepared, always watching the bigger picture, but this got right by him.
“It’s not too late. Only a small fraction of what’s believed to be out there has been found.” Langston’s face lit up and he smiled, his eyes shining. “It’s not even the best part.”
“There’s more.” Charlie gripped the sides of his chair, doing his best to give his trademark smile, showing every pearly-white tooth.
“Here’s the only thing that really matters. Every 25,800 years there are these gates that are much larger than that small portal you saw. Huge gates! These gates open and stay open for thousands of years. Beings from Oriceran crossed over to Earth and vice versa.” Langston waved his arms over his head. “The last one was over thirteen millennia ago and magic was just as commonplace here on Earth.”
Langston pressed his hands down toward the floor. “That Golden Year takes thousands of years to get here. But the gates will start to open in just a few more years. Slowly at first, but with each slight opening more of that energy we call magic will pour into Earth.”
“That’s a lot of information.”
“The ability to transform and create using a pure form of energy that comes from within is coming back to Earth. Magic. But we need to be ready.”
“I’m going to need more proof, Langston.” I’m all in. I can use this. Transform the economy.
“I thought you’d say that and I brought along a little more to show you.” Langston reached into his backpack and pulled out a wooden goblet, placing it on the desk. “Doesn’t look like much. Take it in your hands and hold it. Go on.”
Charlie looked up at Langston, hesitating. Not his usual nature. He slowly picked up the goblet and held it in his hands, the smile fading from his face, replaced with a sense of awe. A warm feeling of peace rose up through his body, settling in his chest. It was a new feeling for Charlie and unsettled him. He put the goblet back down and looked at the red glow in the palms of his hands.
Langston smiled at Charlie and shook his head. “It’s like it can teach you to be happy or something. I’m pretty sure that’s not what it was intended for but I can’t figure out anything more. According to what I’ve read, there are some artifacts that require you to be magical to access their powers. Like it’s part of your DNA or something. Can you imagine? But even still, it gives off this cool vibe.”
“Is it your plan to gather artifacts and relics and just wait for the gates to open? Is this some kind of negotiation tool when the beings from Oriceran walk through the gates?”
Langston laughed and shook his head again. “I did it again. Left out an important detail.” He slapped his leg in excitement. “That’s not necessary. It says it throughout all the documents I’ve found. They’re already here. Thousands of them, living right alongside all of us. A lot of them stayed the last time the gates closed. We can negotiate with them now. Think of the problems we might be able to solve, but we have to get to the artifacts first.”
“I see your point,” said Charlie, rising out of his chair. “Let me cancel my golf game. We need to talk.”
Charlie Monaghan liked to be prepared and he was already a little behind. First order of business, look for a way to harness the new energy, he thought as he texted the Country Club of Virginia. ‘Start playing without me. Something came up.’
They’ll just have to understand. There’s a deal on the table. And it’s going to be mine. “Do we need to keep calling it magic? Seems like we just found some new kind of oil but this one is in a lot more places.”
“You can call it whatever you want but most do call it magic. Bending the laws of physics from within the biology of the practitioner in new ways to alter the environment.” Langston shrugged. “Magic.”
Chapter Three
Leira walked Correk to the guest house while Hagan took a walk to calm his nerves. He was still rattled and looked a little pale. “I’ll be fine. Just need to shake it off.”
Leira slipped through the gate as Correk followed her. The patio was still quiet and Estelle was nowhere in sight. Leira knew better though than to assume Estelle wasn’t watching from a corner by a window somewhere. The bar owner had a knack for seeing everything.
“Leira! Glad I caught you!” Craig popped up from behind the far end of the bar, holding up a credit card. “Forgot this last night! Was having a better time than I realized. Don’t worry Estelle told me to go get it. I wouldn’t put a toe in that woman’s territory without permission. I’m very good at following orders. You coming to softball practice? You too, Correk! The Ice Cold Pitchers could use a decent third base player.”
“Craig!” Estelle snapped a towel in his direction from the door of the restaurant. The cigarette clenched between her teeth was already mostly ash. “Git! Too early to be running on like that. They’ll be there. They’re family!”
Craig cracked a smile and winked at Leira as he raced by Estelle at the door. She cracked the towel at him again as the ash fell to the floor and she brushed it away with her foot, leaving a gray streak. She turned back to give a wave to Leira and Correk.
“Love the comb. That’s new.” Leira pointed at Estelle’s head. There was a silver and gold metallic butterfly comb tucked in her tall, red bouffant.
“Felt the need for a little something this morning.” Estelle shut the door and threw the bar towel over her shoulder, retreating into the kitchen.
Leira turned to Correk, the words tumbling out of her. “Did I just put all of us in danger back there? I feel like I sent up a flare and told some big bad dude we’re following him.”
“Like it or not, he probably already knew all about us.”
“Then why the enormous blow back? Was it because I magically felt him up?”
“Partially, and like I said in the car that was a tap on the shoulder for that wizard. He was giving us just a taste of what he could do.”
“Dear God…” Leira’s voice came out in a whisper. She turned and walked toward the guest house stopping abruptly at the door. “Is it possible I missed the necklace’s trail and it was in the house?”
“Not likely. It’s far too powerful to mask. But I suspect they were headed to wherever the necklace is being kept. He was making sure they’d have a chance to get away and we’d think twice about following them right away.”
“I would have followed him if the general didn’t need us. I’m still going to go back and read the trail he left behind to see where they were headed.”
“Be very careful. I’m not going to bother to tell you not to do it. But he will certainly have left traps in his wake specifically designed for someone with your power. They’re not taking any chances with this necklace.”
“Royal Elven power poured into something for millennia…”
“It should have been fine inside the walls of the Light Elves castle.”
“Till it wasn’t.”
Light flashed across Correk’s eyes for a moment. Leira knew she hit a nerve.
“I know the prince was your friend. I didn’t forget that,” she said, softly. Leira gently pressed against the scar on her chest. It was still tender. “But there’s already been a lot of destruction from the loss of that artifact. How is it any different from what the Gnomes have locked in their vault? Even the Silver Griffins see it my way. They locked it up in their vault.”
“The difference is obvious. The Light Elves stored the power to be used for good. The intention was always different. The energy held in the necklace is different.” He spit out the words, clenching his jaw.
“An important distinction with a similar ending. Set aside in case it was ever needed. I do understand
. Humans do the same thing all the time. Weigh the risks. It’s the damned unintended consequences that bite you in the ass. I’ve never asked you, but are there other artifacts like this still inside the castle?”
“No, none this powerful. It was one of a kind. One…of…a…kind.” He drew out each word.
“I get it. Positive energy. We’ll keep searching and we’ll get the damn thing back. Someday it may turn the tide for something else and we’ll all be grateful it exists. Time is funny that way. Look, I’ve got to go. Case is calling. I just want to go in and check on Mom and Nana and then I have to get back to the car. I want to make sure Hagan is taking long, deep breaths. Are we good?” Leira squeezed his arm, sending out a low, soothing jolt of energy.
Correk arched an eyebrow at her. “Trying to make nice?”
“More like returning the favor. You’ve helped me stay steady more than once. Estelle’s right. We’re all family. I’m still going to say what I believe is true but it doesn’t mean I was trying to wound.”
Grief passed across Correk’s face. “That’s the thing about living a very long time. A lot happens but I learned like every other Elf to stop thinking it was happening to me. Still… the pain can linger.”
Leira looked at Correk and hesitated but decided to give in to the idea and grabbed him in a short hug, squeezing tight.
“A little aggressive Berens but appreciated.”
Leira punched him in the arm and rolled her eyes. “Now I know we’re good.”
She walked the rest of the way to the guest house and opened the door, dropping her purse on the red velvet chair as she walked toward the kitchen. “Mom? Nana?”
She called out but the place was quiet. The troll was sitting on a large frond of a potted fern Eireka brought home. He was happily eating Captain Crunch from a box nestled among the leaves, watching an old episode of Star Trek. Captain Kirk was up to his waist in tribbles. Yumfuck let out a trill and made a loud crunching sound as he bit down on a mouthful of cereal.
Correk sat down near the troll and held out his hand as the troll poured cereal into his palm.
Leira glanced down. “Classic kind? I didn’t even know they still made that stuff. How did you get it? I know I said the spell this time. What else have you been into?” She went back into the kitchen and glanced around but nothing was pushed to the side. A sure sign of troll foraging. She saw the note on the counter by the coffee pot and scooped it up.
‘Gone apartment hunting with Nana. Your grandmother didn’t like the house I found. Gave the troll the cereal. Don’t worry. He can handle the sugar. Be back by dinner time. We’ll be fine. Took an Uber. Love, Mom.’
So fucking normal. “Thank goodness I have a homicide to go to,” she muttered. She folded the note and stuffed it into her pocket, the sapphire ring on her hand catching on the lining.
She went back out into the living room and grabbed her purse from the chair.
Correk was tossing cereal into his mouth as the troll guzzled a Fresca out of a can.
Leira put her hand on the door. “What’s with the throwbacks? Wait, don’t tell me. Nana and Mom did the shopping. Weirdly touching. Careful with that cereal. It has its own little payback. It’ll scrape the hell out of the roof of your mouth. I will be back by dinner.” She shook her head. “Can’t believe I need to let people know that.”
Correk gave a crooked smile and waved at her to go. He had his own things to attend to. Leira headed out the door and he waited, listening to Craig shout goodbye before he conjured a ball of light between his hands and opened a portal to Oriceran. A light breeze moved through the living room rustling a pile of papers.
“You keep this between us. I’ll be back in a few hours,” he said to the troll who gave him a side glance as Correk stepped through to the forest and closed the portal behind him, sending a spray of sparks across the living room. The troll let out a raspberry and filled his mouth with cereal.
Leira found Hagan in the food court brushing small bits of taco shell off his shirt. “You caved.”
Three young privates in uniform walked by and started when they saw Hagan’s jacket.
“PDA, cool dude,” said one of the young men, shaking his shaved head. “Didn’t even know that was a job.”
Another tall, muscular young man held up his hands. “No public displays here. You guys really take that seriously.”
Hagan snorted and held out his hand. “Thank you for your service,” he said, not bothering to explain. He pulled his hand back and brushed a small bit of salsa off, using his pants before putting his hand back out. “Thank you for your service,” he said to the young woman, as he shook each of their hands.
Leira smiled and nodded at the group as they walked up to place an order at the taco truck. The woman glanced back over her shoulder before placing her order. On a hunch, Leira pulled in just enough energy and saw the glow surrounding the woman. She’s a witch. Good to know. Leira took a look at Hagan. “How many?”
“Just three, which for me is good news. Stress eating,” he said. “It’s progress not perfection or I’d be screwed.”
Leira took a long look at him. “You can say no if you want. If this whole magic thing is turning out to be more than you bargained for you can take a pass. Totally understandable.”
“Fuck no, Berens. I haven’t felt this juiced since I was a young detective. I got sucker punched. It happens! Glad we saw those kids in uniform. They’re just kids, you know. They’re taking much bigger risks. I’m an old fart with a few tricks still up my sleeve and can still do some good. Hell, I’m doing my small part for Mother Earth.”
Leira tried to give him a dead fish look but a half smile crept across her face. “Come on, we have a case to get to and it’s not good to be late.”
Hagan followed closely behind her. “Have to admit those tacos really hit the spot. Puts me in a better mood. These jackets are a little ridiculous but I doubt your average college kid would even get the joke. Rose got a kick out of it though and then so did I, if you know what I mean.” He let out a snort as he got to the car.
“Never change, Hagan.”
“Pretty sure that’s not possible. All the grooves are already in the record.”
Leira and Hagan found themselves standing in a basement in the upscale neighborhood of Travis Heights behind South Congress Avenue.
“I didn’t even know there were basements in Austin. The bedrock stops most people.” Hagan was talking in a low voice even though there was no one to bother. The young man on the ground had been dead for days and was puffed up to almost twice his size from all the moisture in the basement. “Damn flies. You’d think winter would kill them off.” Hagan swatted at them as they flew around his head.
“First good frost they’ll leave for a few weeks.” Leira crouched down to look at the body.
Captain Napora came down the wooden stairs, treading heavily on the risers. “Nice to see you Berens, Hagan. Knew we’d see each other again. Didn’t think it would be so soon. Nasty business.” He stood beside Leira, his hands on his hips. “Third one we’ve found like this. Some kind of symbol cut into his neck. Other than that, the killer leaves no clues. Very careful. I don’t believe we were meant to find the three bodies, either. Makes me wonder how many we haven’t noticed. The brass insisted we bring in the Feds and I thought of you two.”
Leira glanced up at Hagan standing behind the Captain. He shrugged with his hands out. Leira couldn’t do much beyond take a look at all the details. Not wasted time. Can still learn a few things. Good detective work got the job done all those years when I didn’t know what I could really do.
The Captain leaned forward, peering over her shoulder.
“Sir? You’re blocking the light.” She looked up at him and waited till he took a few steps back.
A detective appeared at the top of the stairs. “Captain, you have a phone call. They said it was urgent. Sounds like someone who outranks me by more than one star.”
The Captain hesitated
but took the stairs two at a time calling over his shoulder, “Keep me in the loop!”
“Will do.” Hagan took a deep breath and walked closer to Leira.
“You’re not going to breathe down my neck in his place, are you?” Leira finally managed a perfect dead fish look at him.
Hagan arched an eyebrow and drew his mouth into a thin line. “Nope, just going to be a part of the case, which will require me to be more than the pretty boy in the background.” He stared at Leira waiting for her to answer.
“Good point,” she finally conceded. “Sorry about that.”
“Getting a little big for your magical britches is all. Would happen to anyone.” He pulled a white handkerchief out of a back pocket and wiped his forehead, sliding it back into his pocket. “That carving was done after the guy died. Just a signature. I’m betting this is human shenanigans. Not magical.”
“You’d win that bet. No magical trail. But here’s a weird twist.”
Hagan interrupted her. “More than one human. It’s obvious. Look at the way the stairs are bowing but aren’t broken. Doubt they could have taken the weight of someone big enough to carry that body without splintering.”
Hagan looked at the dead body. “He has to be two hundred pounds easy. We’d be talking about someone treading on a step with at least four hundred pounds. The wood would have cracked easily. Then there’s how neatly that kid is laid out. No bruising on him. Nothing’s broken. That would take a linebacker. He had help. They carried him down lengthwise distributing the weight. And he’s not from here. Doesn’t live here all the time, anyway. Look at those Timberland shoes. That’s expensive cold weather gear and they’re worn on the bottom. No one in Austin would invest in boots like that or get the chance to use them.”