Boreal and John Grey Season 1

by Chrystalla Thoma

  God. Whoa. Bitter as sin. Making a face, she gulped some of it down. If this didn’t wake her up, nothing would.

  So much to do. They needed new dishes. She had to go shopping. After the Shade attack, they had five dishes left, tops, and two glasses. Not to mention only one chair and no table.

  Woo, this stuff was strong. Her head buzzed. When her phone rang, she jumped two feet off the floor, and the coffee spilled over her fingers, burning them.

  She dropped the mug which shattered.

  Jesus. New mugs needed. Down to three now.

  Perfect.

  “What do you want?” she barked into the phone. Damn, coffee wasn’t for her. “I mean, who is it?”

  “Good morning to you, too,” Sarah said cheerily from the other end. “Reporting in with my research about the name you gave me.”

  Oh, right. Ella shoved her burned fingers under the cold water tap. “Found anything?”

  “One entry. Guy died more than forty years ago.”

  “Any pictures?”

  “No. But I got his cousin’s info, we could check it out.”

  “He’s got a cousin?” Hard to imagine Dave with family. Unless of course it wasn’t Dave, or his family. “Give me the address, we can meet up there later, after work.”

  She jotted the address down and flipped her phone closed. A glance at the plastic clock on the wall told her it was eight in the morning. Time for a shower and that bright new day.

  Her phone rang again. Who could that be? You got three guesses. She flipped it open. And the prize goes to...

  “Ella?” Dave snapped. “Need you to check something out.”

  “Morning, boss.” Brad. Dave. Whatever your name is. “What’s the matter? Animals, pissy Shades, elves on the loose? Team one is ready for anything.” She bit the inside of her cheek. Damn, coffee was definitely off limits for her from now on.

  A short silence greeted her question. Then Dave said, “Have you been drinking?”

  “Just coffee.”

  “Okay.” Dave sounded dubious. “Grab your partner and head over to Franklin Avenue.”

  “It’s just around the corner. What’s up?”

  “Something big fell from the sky a few minutes ago, crashing a car. I’m sending Martha Graham, too, with more people, but I need you to identify the creature for me as soon as possible.”

  “Trying to fit it into your pattern?”

  Dave grunted. “Yeah.”

  “Any luck so far?”

  “Nope.” Now he hummed. “But the tendency is for Gates to open close to your apartment.”

  Ella shivered. Oh it’s just that the Shades want to take Finn with them. Nothing to worry about. “The snake at the docks was quite far from here.”

  “True. The decay analysis showed that it came through quite a while ago, though. A few weeks back.”

  Curiouser and curiouser. “Okay, I’m on it.”

  “Take care of yourself.”

  She smiled at the words and the affectionate tone, before she remembered Dave wasn’t who he seemed to be. Damn.

  Chapter Four

  Draumar

  Judging from the number of serpentine necks and fanged heads lying in a pool of gore on top of the smashed car, Ella had no doubt the thing that had fallen from the sky was a giant snake.

  A crowd had gathered to gawk at it. Time to take action.

  Ella opened the door and stepped out of the car, lifting her badge. “Everyone, back to your business. Nothing more to see here.”

  Everyone inched closer before she’d finished talking. Crap.

  She flipped her phone open to inform Dave what she was seeing, and turned to ask Finn if any part of the creature was missing.

  Finn was still sitting in the car, face blank. Frowning, she gave Dave a brief description of the animal and stepped around the car to see what was wrong.

  Bracing a hand on the hood, she tapped on Finn’s window. He jerked before pressing the button to lower it.

  “Everything okay?” she asked, taking in the sweat standing in gleaming beads on his cheeks. Last time they’d seen a dead flying snake he hadn’t turned a hair, so why was he so shaken now? “What is it?”

  He pressed his lips together.

  From the corner of her eye she saw police cars arriving. Martha. “Why are you sitting in the car? What’s up with the dead snake here?”

  Finn rubbed a hand over his face. “Dreams.”

  “You mean nightmares.”

  He rolled one shoulder in a shrug and opened the door. She stepped back to give him space. “Are you doing this?” she asked, keeping her voice low. “Joining our dreams?”

  “No.” Finn stood, head bowed, hands fisted at his sides.

  “I’m only trying to understand why this is happening now,” she said.

  He lifted his chin. “You never stopped coming to my dreams.” And before she had a chance to formulate an answer to that, his mouth pinched and his gaze narrowed at something over her shoulder.

  “Morning,” Martha said, approaching. “We always meet around strange creatures.” The last word directed at Finn. “You know, David Holborn still hasn’t sent me any order for this man’s release.”

  “I’m sure it’s just the slow wheels of bureaucracy,” Ella said through gritted teeth. “Finn is officially my temporary partner, approved by David.”

  “He won’t be for long if word of his lack of papers reaches the ears of higher officials,” Martha said, and Ella decided she hated her.

  Finn’s fists spasmed, muscles jumping to definition underneath his t-shirt.

  “He looks delighted to see you, too,” Ella muttered. “Anyhow, I’ve informed my boss about this creature. A flying snake, apparently. Are the fangs poisonous?” She glanced at Finn.

  “Sometimes,” he ground out.

  “Be careful with the mouths, then.” Ella turned her back to the nasty woman. “Talk with David about how to take care of this. Come on, Finn, let’s go. Something stinks around here.”

  ***

  Ella drummed her fingers on the wheel as she cut across town to the HQ. “I’ve been sharing your dreams all along, haven’t I? Since I was little. Hell, probably since you were little, too. Just how old are you?”

  Finn was staring outside, his face hidden. “I have twenty winters and three summers.”

  “So... you’re twenty?”

  He leaned his head back. “I’ve lived twenty ice years and three mild ones.”

  “Twenty-three then. I started seeing things — or dreaming things — when I was around four. I’m twenty. If the lengths of human and elvish years coincide at all...” She frowned at the street ahead. “How old were you when you were thrown off that cliff?”

  “Seven.”

  “Exactly.” She studied his guarded expression. “What do you wanna bet I started sharing your dreams after you fell?” Another thought hit her. He’d said dreams had led him there. “You knew my face, didn’t you? When you arrived to the city.”

  Silence expanded in concentric circles, opening and starting again from the centre where they sat, inside the car, cut off from the world and yet intricately linked to it.

  “You knew my face,” she whispered. “Why didn’t you say something, why did you run away from me when I took you out of jail?”

  A tremor went through his body. “You didn’t know who I was, and I wasn’t sure who you were. In my dreams you were a child. Now...” He cleared his throat. “Now you’re a woman.”

  Heat rose to her cheeks. A woman who desired him very much.

  She tried to get her mind back on track. “But you recognized me. Is that why you were there that night when I first met you? Were you following me?”

  “I followed the thinning of the Veil. You were there, too.”

  He said nothing for a long while, until they reached the HQ and parked in the officers lot.

  “What’s the use?” he whispered.

  “The use of what?”

  “Draumar.
” He scowled. Dreams.

  “Finn—”

  “I shouldn’t have called you when the Shades attacked me,” he said softly.

  She flinched and fought to hide her shaking hands by clenching them harder on the wheel. Did he regret it? “No, I’m...” She swallowed. He’d almost died that night. “I’m glad you did. Finn...”

  God, why was it so hard to say it?

  Her phone rang and she jerked.

  “Where are you?” Dave barked with his usual perfect timing.

  Well screw you, too. “We’re on our way.” She turned to Finn. “Hey, were you...” Were you glad you found me?

  But Finn was already getting out of the car, grabbing onto the door to straighten his bad leg, and the question died on her lips.

  They took the elevator in ringing quiet.

  She was so close to telling him how much he’d come to mean to her, but his face was as if set in granite, still and unreadable, and her courage deserted her. What if he didn’t have feelings for her?

  What if he died tomorrow?

  She was relieved when the doors finally whirred open and they exited into the HQ corridor.

  Dave’s secretary gave them a disdainful once-over. “He’s with someone important.” She glanced at their rumpled clothes.

  Ella glared until the secretary flinched. Heh. She’d learned a few useful tricks from Finn after all. “Dave called me. He obviously wants to talk to us now.”

  The secretary sighed theatrically and got up to open the door to the office. “Ella Benson and her partner are here.”

  “Send them in!” Dave called.

  Ella ignored the long-suffering look on the secretary’s face and pushed inside, followed by Finn.

  A woman stood by Dave’s desk, hands clasped behind her back, dressed in casual clothes, black cargo pants and white shirt. Military, even if not in uniform. The stiffness in her posture betrayed her.

  “Captain Mary Wood,” the woman said, inclining her head. She had her hair pinned back in a formal chignon. “External Hazards Command.”

  Hazards. “Ella Benson, and this my partner, Finn. How can we help you?”

  “David Holborn has told me the elves,” Captain Wood spat out the word like a stone, “will come with dragons.” A flicker went through her blue eyes — amusement, perhaps, or scorn. “Therefore I’m here to talk about the dragons, and I’ve been informed that Finn,” she cut him a sharp glance, “is your resident dragon expert.”

  ***

  “So you’re saying you climbed on the dragon’s back, then crawled up the neck to the head and stabbed a knife into it? And that killed it?” Captain Wood scrunched up her nose, then scratched it delicately with a fingertip.

  Finn hadn’t said anything yet. He stood, legs loosely apart, his gaze distant.

  “I think it flapped away,” Dave said and spread his hands in the air. “Puff, it was gone.”

  The Captain ignored him. “Agent Finn. Any ideas on how to control the dragons from a distance, or ways to lure them in?”

  Dave leaned back in his chair, toying with a pen, his grin strained. Dave, nervous? The very idea turned Ella’s stomach. What was going on?

  God, she really hoped Dave hadn’t shared his suspicions about Finn with the army.

  Finn glanced from Dave to the Captain and back. “These are trained dragons. They won’t be lured by anything, or easily fall into traps.”

  “Tell us more about them,” Captain Wood said.

  Finn’s gaze flicked to the closed door and he tensed like a cornered animal. What the hell was the woman hoping to achieve?

  “Their fire can melt steel,” Finn said. “They can fly between buildings, through narrow alleys, crawl through tunnels and swim in water.”

  “I see. How about a net? We could catch them like big bad dragonflies.”

  Finn took a step back, his hands going to his knives. “You are the military,” he hissed. “What do you want from me?”

  An image blinded Ella — a snow-covered plain, the buzz of a machine flying overhead, an impact throwing her to the ground and the realization she wouldn’t make it—

  “We want your cooperation,” Wood said.

  “Captain Wood,” Dave said in a pleasant voice. “I thought we were clear about this. Finn is under the protection of the Organization.”

  Ella sucked a deep breath, sweat running down her face. She wiped it with the back of her hand and met Finn’s confused gaze. His memories could hit her like a wall of bricks.

  “Well, I haven’t exactly dragged him off to a closed-doors interrogation, have I?” Captain Wood rolled her eyes and approached Finn who had gone quite pale at her words. “We can talk like civilized people.”

  Ella stepped between them. “Excuse me, but did you have any specific questions? Maybe I can help. We’re kinda busy with all the animals crossing over and the Shades.” She bared her teeth in what she hoped was a sweet and pleasant smile.

  “I’m not interested in you,” Captain Wood said. “I want to talk to your partner.”

  “About what exactly?”

  Captain Wood sneered. “His origins, for starters, and his sources of information. I’d like to see his papers. Where is he from?”

  Oh Christ, had Martha tipped her off? Ella wouldn’t put it past her.

  “You’re not taking Finn,” she hissed. “You have no right.”

  “Whether or not I have a right—”

  “Nobody’s going anywhere,” Dave barked. “You have no jurisdiction to take anyone, Captain, and don’t pretend you’ve forgotten. If you as much as touch either of them or even talk to them without my permission, I’ll have the legal system crashing down on your heads.”

  “We’ll see about this, Sergeant,” Mary Wood said, her scowl matching Dave’s. “If martial law is enforced...”

  “We’re not at war yet,” Dave bit out. “Good day, Captain.”

  They watched her go, and Ella jerked at the slam of the door.

  “Jesus.” She whirled on Dave, itching to smash his smug face in. “What did you tell her?”

  “I didn’t tell her he’s an elf, if that’s what you’re implying. She’d have a fit if she knew elves crossed over with the animals.”

  Finn made a small sound, his face grey.

  Ella reeled. How much did he know? “Damn you, if you’ve told her...”

  “You sound like a broken record,” Dave said. “I didn’t tell her. If I did, they’d take all control from me and that wouldn’t benefit the Organization and the world in general. Although I’d really appreciate it if you were honest with me.”

  And you with me. “Are you head of this secret Organization?”

  “I’m a member of the Assembly.” Dave grabbed his mug from the desk and stared into it. “I can’t have the military do as they please. They are a tool, nothing more. If anyone enforces martial law around here, it will be me.”

  Chapter Five

  Pain

  Ella vibrated with helpless fury as she drove to the address Sarah had given her. Dave knew. Dave goddamn knew about Finn and she still had nothing on him. He held Finn’s fate in his hands and there was nothing she could do.

  She tasted blood; she’d been chewing on her lip so hard the skin split. To distract herself, she glanced at Finn who rode shotgun.

  He was glaring a hole into the windshield. At least he looked better than before, the color high in his cheeks. Pissed, most probably, at the whole damn world.

  The suburban houses, white picket fences and well-tended gardens, rolled on either side. Ella spotted the house number and parked next to a sleek black Chevy Camaro.

  Sarah stepped out and nodded at the house. “Shall we? You’re late.”

  “Had a run in with the military.” Ella led the way to the door, Finn striding a step behind, his hands on his knives. “By the way, you said you didn’t know Dave was a member of your super secret organization. He seems to be a leading party.”

  “He’s a member of the Assembly?
” Sarah’s surprise sounded genuine, but that didn’t mean Ella could trust her. In fact, she wondered if she could trust anyone ever again.

  Strangely enough, right now, the only one she trusted was Finn — and he didn’t even know it.

  Sarah rang the bell and they waited, the cold wind whipping around them. Ella huddled in her jacket, Sarah in her knee-length coat. Finn was only in his long-sleeved t-shirt and didn’t seem to notice the cold. This was probably summertime for him.

  Twenty winters and three summers. His pale hair danced around his thin face, held back by the black bandana, and his eyes glinted like crystals. Boreal...

  “Who is it?” The door opened an inch and a wrinkled woman’s face appeared. “What do you want?”

  “Police,” Ella presented her badge. “Not to worry, ma’am. You’re not in trouble, we just have a few questions.”

  “They always say that,” the woman grumbled. “No trouble, and then you’re in a big steaming pile of it.” Yet she opened the door and let them inside, muttering all the way.

  Her living room was dusty but tidy, lacy curtains at the windows, porcelain figurines on the round tables, the couch and armchairs covered in old, worn velvet.

  “Are you Mrs. Hoodvild?” Sarah asked.

  “Indeed I am.” The woman gestured at the couch. “Sit. Ask your questions.”

  Finn went to lean against the wall by the window, eyes taking in the place. Ella smiled politely at the old woman and took a seat next to Sarah.

  “We are looking into Bran Hoodvild. He and your husband were cousins, right?” Sarah gave a brilliant smile.

  “What’s it to you?” Mrs. Hoodvild asked. “My husband passed away twenty years ago, probably before you kids were even born.”

  “Bran Hoodvild,” Ella said, “is the one we’re interested in. We haven’t been able to find a lot on him. Can you tell us anything?”

  Mrs. Hoodvild shrugged and tugged her black cardigan closed. “He was a quiet man, hard working. He was a sheriff. He didn’t live here, we barely ever saw him. Didn’t like social gatherings. I swear I never saw him eat or drink once.”