by Gina Kincade
“Honestly? I have no idea but I suggest you leave, Tony. The Oni is coming inside and I don’t need you starting shit. I’ll call the boss that we’re closing down early. Now go.” Grabbing my phone I sent a message to the shop owner, then put my phone down. Like Tony and I, he was also a ‘sup and knew, if anything were ever on the deep end, we were to shut down; no questions asked. This is the first time in almost four years I’ve called in that favor.
“But Jac...”
“No, Tony, go! I’ll be fine.”
He shook his head in disagreement, but he did as I asked and clocked out, then left the shop.
Chapter Eight
I LOCKED THE shop door and flipped the open sign to ‘closed’. Hearing a knock at the back door, I quickly raced to the back and opened it, finding the Oni on the other side; except now in his human form.
“What is your name?” I asked and shut the door behind him.
In his human form, he stood about six foot tall, Asian and thought maybe Japanese. “My name is Kai.”
I was right, Japanese. “Kai, what happened? Why did the officers attack you?” Motioning to come further into the shop, I pulled out a few chairs for us to sit down in.
He took a seat and leaned forward, pressing his elbows to his thighs. “First,” he lifted his gaze to mine. “How the hell can you be Valkyrie? I thought they were extinct?”
I smiled and shrugged. “Apparently not. Now, tell me, what happened?”
Kai stared at me a moment longer, then lowered his gaze. “Well, since you’re here one has to ponder if there are more?” He glanced up and again, I shrugged.
“I honestly do not know. I only know of me and I was adopted as a child. I have no idea who my parents are or where my lineage begins.”
“I have an idea,” he began, “but if you want, we can discuss that later?”
“Umm, sure?”
He nodded then lowered his gaze once more. “I have been working with a task force of others in the area. It seems a few of our kind has gone missing. And when I say a few,” he looked up to me, “I don’t mean like one or two. We believe our kind is being experimented on.”
My brows rose to this. “Seriously? How do you figure?”
“Well, I was setting up a plan to get myself captured, then you showed up.”
“Oh,” I whispered. “I’m sorry about that, but watching you shift, I couldn’t allow you to destroy our city.”
He nodded. “I understand. I will tell you though, your power, you have a lot of it. How long have you had yours?”
“What, my power?”
He nodded. “Usually it appears when Valkyrie women hit adulthood.”
“Oh,” I felt my skin blush and I looked away. “Well considering I am an adult, maybe I’m a late bloomer.” When I looked back to Kai, he smiled, genuinely.
“You’re beautiful when you smile. Remember that.” He winked.
“Thank you,” and I blushed again.
“You’re welcome. Now as for how I know, as I mentioned, we have a task force. A few of us had been investigating recent disappearances and began to look into it. We found an old, abandoned building where cells had been set up with chains and iron.”
My brows rose. “The fae are deathly allergic to iron.”
“Exactly,” he answered in a softer tone. “Most of us have some sort of Fae DNA, so it only goes to prove they’re after us for something.”
I nodded and sat back in my chair. “Kai, what do you know of the Hag stone?”
“The Hag stone to open portals?”
I nodded.
“That it is a fairy tell, that it doesn’t exist.”
I smiled. “What if I told you it did? Would you believe me?”
“Considering I met a Valkyrie today? I’ll believe anything you tell me.”
I laughed and sat forward, elbows on my knees. “Then help me find it before an Incubus demon does. He wants it to rule the portals.”
“I thought the portals could no longer be opened?”
“According to the Archangel, he’s found a way.”
Kai grinned and rubbed his hands together. “Then when do we get started looking for this stone?”
I smiled and stood. “Right now.”
A loud knock at the front door startled me and Kai both. Looking toward the entrance I frowned upon seeing Rowan. I sighed and looked up to Kai. “I’ll be right back.”
He nodded and took a seat.
Approaching the door, I stared at Rowan on the other side of the glass and crossed my arms. My brows raised as if asking, yes?
“Open the door, Jac.”
“No.”
“Jac, open the fucking door. Let me in. Are you okay? Tony called me.”
My brows furrowed. “How dare you order me around! No I will not open the door and I’m just fine, thank you.”
He tried to look around my shoulder, then returned his gaze to me. “Tony told me an Oni was inside with you. They are dangerous ‘sups, Jac. Please, let me in. Please!”
My heart panged immensely. I felt my eyes burn to the fear Rowan displayed for my safety. I wanted to open the door, I really did, but the stubborn part of me wanted to scream, fuck off!
Instead, I turned to where I left the Oni. “Hey, Kai, can you join me for a minute?”
“Sure, what’s up?” He stood and crossed the room to the front entrance. When I turned back to face Rowan, his face bled white.
“Jac, please, open the door,” he beckoned once more.
As I watched Rowan, the air around him began to blur and he immediately shifted into his griffin form. I sighed and rolled my eyes. “He is not a threat, Rowan. Get over yourself.” I glanced over my shoulder to Kai and did a double take. “Hey! No, not in here! You will remain calm so help me I will remove you from this world!”
Kai immediately looked into my eyes and the hardness of the beast softened immediately, and he lowered his gaze. “Yes, ma’am.” His voice so deep, it should scare me, but honestly, Kai seemed to be more of a small bear, then a big monster.
I nodded. “Thank you,” then turned back to Rowan. “See? No problem. You can go.”
“Goddammit Jac! Open the fucking door!”
I had enough. Closing my eyes, I turned back to the door and felt the familiar sensation of the Valkyrie taking over. Opening my eyes I reached for the lock and turned it, then heard Kai behind me mumble something. When I glanced back, he held his hands in defense and took a few steps back.
Opening the door, I took a step out toward Rowan, forcing him to back step. “You want to try that again?” I almost did not recognize my voice.
I watched him as he visibly swallowed. He shook his head and pointed to the window. “Look at yourself right now, Jac. Look at what you’re becoming.”
“I’m only becoming this because of you.” Closing my eyes I turned toward the windows, and when I opened my eyes, I gasped.
My eyes were completely black, and the area around my eyes were shaded in a dark gray. Further, my fingers took on the appearance of talons. And my wings, my beautiful, magnificent wings, behind me flared outward. Stretching them outward, the span was quite amazing, and I grinned to their size. Beautiful and a dark gray, my gaze snapped back to Rowan.
“Is there something wrong with my appearance?” I turned to face him once more and took a step forward.
“No, none at all, but Jac, you need to control yourself before you hurt me or yourself.”
“How could I hurt you, Rowan? You’ve done enough hurting for both of us.”
“Okay,” he started and held his hands in the air. “Please stop. I deserved that but stop stalking. You’re freaking me the fuck out.”
I perked a brow and tilted my head. “Will you stop demanding orders on me then?”
He nodded a few times. “I’m only trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection anymore, Rowan. What I needed from you, you refused to offer me. So I do not need you. Now go.”
“Actually, he could help us greatly.” Kai’s voice surprised me and turning to face him, I furrowed my brows.
“What are we doing here,” I asked, “forming a new team?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. He’s a gargoyle. No reason he cannot perch on the building a spy.”
I grinned and turned back to Rowan, who was shaking his head.
“I do not perch, asshole.”
I snorted and the Valkyrie began to subside. “You have perched before. I’ve watched you.”
Rowan smiled and lowered his gaze. “Jac,” he looked up to me once more. “Please. I am sorry. Let me back in. I want to help.”
I sighed and lowered my gaze. “I need time away from you, Rowan. I can’t do this with you around.”
“Oh,” Kai mumbled behind me. “I’ll, umm, leave you two at it. Here Jac,” he handed me a piece of paper. “My number. Call me and we’ll set up the first meeting.”
I nodded and shoved it in my pocket. “I’m glad I got to meet you today, Kai.”
He smiled and pulled me into a hug, then whispered, “Back to you, V-girl.” Once he released me and jogged across the street, he waved once, then he was gone
“V-girl?” I asked to myself, then smiled to the reference to the Valkyrie. “Cute.”
Rowan cleared his throat. “Well that was awkward.”
My smiled dropped to a frown. “Why is that awkward? Because a good looking guy gave me his number?”
“No that he nicknamed you after only knowing you five minutes.”
“You want to know what awkward is? Being in a conversation with a guy who clearly doesn’t want you. Now that is awkward.” Turning from him, I headed back into the store and began to close the door when Rowan pushed on it.
“No, let me in. Let me help.”
Shaking my head, I sighed. “I’m so going to regret this because of my masochistic personality.” I opened the door and allowed him entrance.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, then locked it. “Alright, so fill me in on what you know.”
Chapter Nine
A FEW NIGHTS had passed since I met Kai. We kept in touch and his task force, for lack of better terms, had made plans to meet up tonight at the abandoned building location. It was planned for everyone to wear black, for obvious reasons at night.
Kai was not kidding when it came to his task force. Three different styles of trucks pulled to a stop, followed by a Jeep and a SUV. Each vehicle unloaded at least five men and women. They came over in their black attire and Kai went through quick introductions.
“You’re the Valkyrie?” one of the women asked. I nodded and she smiled. “I’m Fae. Very nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” I smiled. “Fae, as in a fairy?”
She nodded. “No dust or anything childlike though. I’m a vicious bitch when I shift.”
“Yeah, don’t piss her off,” Kai added with a chuckle. “She can eat the flesh off bones like a fucking Piranha.”
I blinked at her. “Duly noted.” She smiled with a tilt of her head.
As the wind picked up, I was also grateful to had cut my hair short a while back for an event like this. Pulling the beanie onto my head, I squatted next to Kai, with Rowan on my other side. “Check your talkers. Set on channel three.”
“Check,” Kai reported and a few of his operatives.
“Check,” came Rowan. I glanced over to him and he looked up, then did a double take.
“You all right?” he whispered.
I nodded and offered a smile, then went back into the mind set of our task at hand. “Okay, so Kai, run through the plans one last time so we’re all on the same page.”
“Right,” Kai started and moved to the center of everyone, then sat on his heels. “No one is a hero today. In and out. We’re going in with the job in mind to discover where, who, and what. Understood? Where they are located, who are they and what all is holding them captive. Warning to all, most of the cells contain some form of iron.”
I watched Kai glance to fairy girl, whose name I now realize I did not get. I leaned over to her. “Hey, I’m Jac.”
She smiled. “Rainey. Nice to meet you.”
“Alright, everyone ready?” Kai asked.
“I’m go,” called a man from the other side of the circle.
“I’m go,” Rowan stated. I glanced to him and found him watching me. I lowered my gaze and looked away. “Jac,” he whispered and stepped closer. “When this is over, we need to talk.”
I sighed and looked up to him. “We do? About what? How sorry you are? How you wish things were different?”
He shook his head. “No. To tell you I’m a fucking asshole who didn’t see what was right in front of him until I thought it was too late.”
Blinking, I stared at him for a moment. “What?” The question came as a whisper, but before I could get an answer, Kai took my arm and nudged me gently toward him.
“Jac, I need your head in the game. Are you with me?”
I frowned. “Yeah, of course I am, why?”
He motioned to Rowan and kept his voice low. “Because of him. I need you on your toes, woman. I can’t afford having you hurt.”
I smiled. “Oh, you do care.”
He grinned. “Of course I do. Now, as for you,” he turned to Rowan and took a few steps toward him. “You good?”
Rowan nodded and sighed, then closed the distance to me. “Remember what I said.”
I nodded and when I glanced to Kai, he appeared...disturbed? I’m not sure how else to describe it.
Rowan offered a smiled, then stepped back and shifted. He stomped on the ground once and a loud thud vibrated the earth. His griffin was stunning, as always. His stone wings pushed against the air as he rose, then landed on top of the building.
“Clear!” he called down in his deep voice and Kai nodded.
“Okay, let’s move!”
KEEPING MY BACK TO the wall, we slid down toward the end of the hall. Kai had gained security clearance to a door with a red light. He swiped the card and it turned green.
“You do not want to know what I had to do to get this,” he whispered.
“What do you mean, what you did?” Rainey questioned.
I looked between the two of them and wondered if they were romantically involved. Pushing the thought from my mind, Rainey licked her lips and I had a brief glimpse into what she may had done to get the clearance. Sickness threatened to settle in my stomach.
Turning my gaze from her, I softly cleared my throat as Kai pushed the door open. He glanced back to us and held up two fingers, pointed to me and one of the other guys behind him, and we followed. He pointed to Rainey to stay and she nodded.
“How you doing, darlin’?” the man next to me asked with a strong, southern accent.
I smiled. “Oh, you know, just peachy.”
“The names Tommy. Nice ta meet ya.”
“Hi Tommy, call me Jac.”
“Shh,” Kai ordered and we fell silent. Well I did, Tommy continued.
“I’m an air demon,” he whispered. “I can take and remove the air, causing sort of a butterfly effect.”
“Oh,” I whispered. “So providing air here, could cause a tornado in other parts of the world?”
He grinned. “Something like that.”
I nodded and almost ran into Kai when he stopped. My hand rested on his back and I was surprised to how warm he felt. And strong. He glanced over his shoulder to me, then turned to face us.
“Down the hall, to the right,” he whispered, “is where we’re going. Last warning. Touch nothing. Understood?”
Tommy and I both nodded, and Kai continued forward. As the silence fell between the three of us, the eeriness of it began to settle around me. The silence caused my ears to ring, then I felt whispers close to my ears.
“What was that?” I whispered.
“Probably sprites,” Kai answered.
“Do you mean elves?” I asked.
He looked over his s
houlder and nodded. “Sprites, elves, spirits...”
“Oh,” I whispered.
“It’s okay darlin’, I got your back,” Tommy offered.
I’m sure he had more than my back, he had a good view of my ass. “Thank you, Tommy.”
Help us, came a whisper.
“I heard something,” I answered.
“Me too,” Kai whispered. “Now keep your voices down and eyes closed. I’m going to light my lantern. If anyone has shifted, well I don’t want them to attack.”
“But if they’re behind bars...” I insinuated.
“Doesn’t matter, darlin’,” Tommy answered. “Doesn’t mean they won’t try ta reach right through and snatch ya right up.”
I glanced back to him. “Charming.” Turning to face forward, I sighed a long breath and closed my eyes. “Okay, eyes are shut.”
“Tommy?” Kai asked.
“Affirmative,” he answered.
“Right. Give it a moment in case there are screams. Try not to flinch to the sounds.”
“Why would I...” is all I managed to get out before he turned the lantern on. Then immediately, screams bellowed out. I quickly covered my ears and panicked. My heart raced and the Valkyrie took no time in taking over. Fight or flight and in this moment, fight had been on the radar. The screams began to die down slowly and as they did, I released my ears, keeping my eyes closed.
“Jac,” Kai whispered, “open your eyes. Look around you.”
“Take her arm, boss man,” Tommy ordered, and each of them took one of my arms.
“Why are you holding onto me?” I asked as I opened my eyes, then gasped and almost fell backwards.
Angels, demons, elves, griffins, adlets, garuda, shifters from werecats to werewolves; my eyes were wide to the creatures in their natural forms and every one of them were staring at me with what appeared to be hope, maybe determination.
“Oh my God,” I whispered. They were all in shifted form. Some appeared healthy, others not so fortunate. Pulling my arms in an attempt to free them, I looked up to Kai, then Tommy. “I’m okay, release me.” They both nodded and let go of my arms.
I took a step forward to a woman who laid on the ground, filthy and appeared to be cut and bruised significantly. Her eyes opened and a soft, blue hue, radiated from her lids. Her wings were tied behind her, crusted with her blood. Lowering myself slowly to the ground, I crawled near her cage. I tilted my head and gazed into her eyes. “What is your name?”