by CC Dragon
Joe and Gil shared a look.
“They foresaw the pregnancy and set this up,” Joe said.
“Please,” I replied.
“Your child, with Shadowmen and Native powers. It is the biggest threat to Djinn. Shadowmen are trying to feed ley lines and save the earth. The Djinn want to rule it. Their power comes internally. They will never run out.”
“Then how do we hurt them?” I asked.
“They can be killed. Everything can be killed, except the gods. You damage one enough, and it will turn to smoke…but the smoke will fall as ash to the ground to confirm its dead.” Bradly smiled. “It’s not easy, but it’s what we have to do.”
“If these are the people stealing kids and torturing them, killing them—I have no problem killing as many Djinn as I can,” I said.
Chapter Sixteen
Margo walked in and patted my stomach. I wanted to push her away, but she meant well. Janice stared me down, but it wasn’t the stink eye I’d been expecting.
“We need the Shadowmen in force,” Joe said.
Bradly nodded and disappeared.
“We should move to the strongest place in the village. Keep the kids and weaker adults safe in their homes. Take the fight out there with Mother Nature.” I opened the door.
“Dot,” Mason said.
“She’s right. We take it to the shore. The Thunderbirds will join the fight. We use nature,” Margo agreed.
The elders led the way, and we were soon on the beach. Wind, water, soil, and sun—we had the elements on our side.
Bradly returned with a group of Shadowmen.
“Why are you out here? Those symbols,” he said.
I held up a hand. “First, we’re not hiding anymore. Second, if anyone has any ideas about my kid—I’ll kill you before the Djinn get here. You don’t decide a thing about my kid.”
The Shadowmen shared looks and nods.
“Fine, but we do ask that you allow the child to learn about the Shadowmen when safe. That goes for all children you may have in the future, not just this one. When the child can choose for itself,” said the leader.
“Fine. If we’re going to defeat the Djinn, we need to work together. Be honest and share powers, support each other, and don’t back down,” I warned.
Gileal stepped away from the group formed a ring of rocks on the ground.
From the ring sprung out huge numbers of Fae, wings flared and glowing with magic.
I frowned. “Do we know where they are?”
“We’re working on it,” Margo announced.
The elders chanted, and the Fae encircled them.
“What can I do?” I asked.
“Rest,” Mason said.
I shook my head. “I’m fine. I’m charged up. Have the Fae get the Yeti,” I said.
“Yeti are no use against Djinn,” Bradly said.
“Their energy is useful to us. I’ll help too,” I snapped.
The wendigo screech made everyone look.
“That energy won’t help,” Mason said.
“No, but they’ll run interference. Block us. Throw everything we have at the Djinn. I won’t let them win. We’ll save those kids, one way or another.” I had to solve the case fully.
“You’re not going to be in the line of fire,” Mason said.
I smirked at him. “It sounds like it’s all hands-on deck, and I’m not hiding.”
“If they sense you’re pregnant, they’ll single you out,” Bradly warned.
I folded my arms. “Do you believe you can defeat a group of six Djinn or more without me?”
Bradly shook his head. “Let’s work up a battle plan.”
Gileal stepped forward. “We’ve pinpointed their location. A scout Fae confirmed it discreetly. We can attack them first. They’re not far.”
“The elders and Natives can stay here and make sure they don’t infiltrate the town. Keep one Thunderbird here,” I suggested.
“I’m not staying,” Mason countered.
“Let’s go before they send someone to spy on us,” I said.
We followed the Fae scout and found ourselves in a forest thick with fog—or smoke.
The first Shadowmen landed and exposed the Djinn.
They attacked, and I found myself with smoke winding around me. Mason cast it off of me.
“I can handle it. Burn or blast?” I asked.
“Either should work,” Mason replied.
I spotted another funnel of smoke forming. It grew larger and larger. I blasted it, but the smoke disappeared and moved. This was like fighting a ghost. They could dodge and move, recombine and surround us.
Two of the Djinn were taking a partially human form, only they floated in midair and were three times the size of a man. One launched a shock wave knocking all of us humans to the ground.
The Fae were taking on one Djinn and doing a decent job. The Shadowmen were trying to surround four Djinn, and that meant we were dealing with the last one.
The Thunderbird swooped overhead, and the wind of its wings blew over everything, forcing the Djinn to their most solid form.
I attacked their head, trying to remove it or burn it.
The Djinn turned on Mason and tried to strangle him.
I blasted the Djinn and kept up the lethal fire. When they released Mason, I magically shoved him to be with the Shadowmen for more cover.
“No!” Mason shouted.
One of the Djinn targeted Mason, and the rest had the Shadowmen very busy.
I felt a surge of power. The sensation of the baby moving made no sense, way too early, but someone was attacking its father. I hurled the hate and power at the Djinn and got slammed by the other Djinn.
I fought both, and Mason tried to join in. I caught a jolt of Djinn attack and channeled their energy, analyzing it. It was different, but I’d been able to store energy and power from others. I wasn’t sure I could get close enough to a Djinn to drain them safely, but it was an option.
“No, Dot.” Mason practically read my mind.
“Get her, kill the other,” a Djinn roared.
It was worse than an evil Aladdin genie. The power, the hate, and the inhumanity. Even Shadowmen walked the Earth, but the Djinn floated in smoke above us all.
I taunted the Djinn again and got another dose. After I’d processed the energy, I flung it back at the one pinning Mason down.
Mason wrestled to escape, and I saw my dad going to protect him. I hurled more hate and power at the Djinn attacking me. I couldn’t keep my eyes on both of them and tried to join forces so we could corner the two Djinn.
I moved over by Mason, drawing my attacker with me.
“Blow him up,” Bradly yelled.
I tried. “They’re too much smoke, not solid enough.” I’d never fought something that felt like smoke before.
The wendigo ran at the Djinn attacking me and gave me some relief.
“You must learn to burn their essence,” Bradly said.
“You haven’t taken one out yet,” I replied.
“It takes a lot to wear them down first,” Bradly replied.
I looked over, and the Fae and other Shadowmen were still in a struggle and losing people. The wendigo was destroyed. The Yeti were being picked off.
The Shadowmen were holding their own, but for beings who inspired such fear, they weren’t squashing the Djinn fast enough.
“We need to take out a couple, or we’ll never win,” Mason said.
“You’re right.” Bradly grabbed Mason and threw him at me.
I watched as the man who claimed to be my father threw himself into two Djinn.
The Djinn turned black then exploded into ash and fell to the ground.
“Oh no,” I said. I tried to pull my father out of the worst of it, but I had no idea if it’d worked or not.
The other Djinn spread out and widened their attack. Bradly was gone, but I held onto Mason. Deep down I knew it had to happen.
“Surrender,” I said.
Chapter
Seventeen
We were taken to a set of caves deep in the artic. The rest of my team were complaining about the surrender. But being taken here allowed us to find the kids.
They looked fine but scared.
One of the Djinn surrounded me in a swirl of smoke. Mason tried to break through.
“She’s expecting. A Shadowwoman with a baby. What a prize!” The Djinn grinned.
“We’ll get out of here if we trust each other,” Mason said.
“You’re never getting out of here. At best, you will serve us. If you refuse, you will die.” The Djinn smiled.
I shook my head. “You’ve been feeding off of magical kids. I’m not sure how you can live with yourself.”
Grabbing Mason’s hand, I linked with him and his magic. Mason trusted others easier, and the raw power jolted through me. We couldn’t play nice with them. We had to destroy them.
I dipped into the kids and found the in. The Djinn held us at a distance, but the kids were like plugging in a toaster. The access point was wide, and I exploited it. The wonderful link between the baby and those kids seemed to take over—they were all innocent in a way no adult or Djinn could claim.
Before I went lethal, I knocked back Mason and the kids so they weren’t part of the chain reaction. I pulled from the lines, all the lines on Earth that the Djinn couldn’t touch and overloaded their circuits. I pulled the Thunderbird in, and it got me over any gap in my ability to hold the Djinn back.
I felt another Shadowman link in and give us a great boost. I pulled out the dagger I’d cursed and tossed it into the Djinn. It exploded like fireworks.
The Earth shook and the ash fell like rain as all of the Djinn were consumed in my good energy. The idea that the Djinn were neither bad nor good was wrong.
“They’re evil.” I sighed as I stumbled back and sat on the ground.
“They’re dead,” Mason said with a smile.
I pulled energy from the lines and restored myself. I made it to Mason and healed him.
He held me. “I never thought your case would get this crazy.”
I smiled. “Sorry. I only bring you in on the really bad ones.”
We kissed and for once in a long time, my world made sense.
“I knew you’d make it,” Bradly said.
I turned. “You didn’t die?”
Bradly leaned against the wall. “I might be half dead.”
I walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. “You can come to the village and heal.” I started healing him with my energy, but the attack he took was ten times worse than anything Mason had.
Bradly hugged me. Part of me tried to resist but he’d risked his life for us. I had a chance to know him now. I hugged him back—it was a start.
Morrow arrived with the Bethel PD to help process the kids. We found most of the missing ones and the bodies stored of those sucked dry and killed. I was sick that we couldn’t help them, but their parents would get closure.
Gileal walked up to me. “We need to return to the underworld and heal.”
“Wait,” I said. “I want to talk to you, Joe, whoever is leading the Shadowmen, and Margo.”
Mason helped assemble the group.
“I appreciate all of your help. We lost people, but we succeeded. I’m guessing there are more Djinn out there. I know groups have issues with hybrids or other groups. We need a council to sort out issues and coordinate solutions. We must cooperate to keep the para world more linked and safer,” I said.
“Are you the head of this council?” Gil asked.
“No, I don’t want to sit on it. I barely know what it means to be a Shadowman. I know Mason’s dad is a vampire. We can contact various shifter groups, witches, and so on. I want to include everyone willing so we’re not caught off guard and we’re not fighting stuff alone,” I explained.
“Djinn won’t cooperate,” the leader of the Shadowmen replied.
I nodded. “Fine. But they need to know we’re working together. Because we weren’t connected, they were able to take kids with some magic at various levels. Kids that were hybrids living in the human world. Or they planted demon kids in families where they could collect power. If the Fae had some kids involved while witches had some as well, it’s easy for the scope of the problem to fly under the radar. We don’t have to agree on everything, but we do need to communicate. They had us blaming each other for things and going after each other. And I want Morrow on the Council as a liaison for hybrids.”
“This is ridiculous,” Gil said.
“That’s two Fae on the Council. You just don’t want a hybrid to have an equal spot. That’s why they need one. Hybrids are more likely to be exploited by other paras. We need to protect them. You’re not going to stop them from happening, and if you try to genocide hybrids, I’ll blow up every Fae ring in Alaska myself,” I threatened.
Mason put his hand on my back. “Not quite council talk.”
“Sorry, that’s why I’m not on the council. But no kid or adult should be messed with like this. Abused and taken from their family, that’s not okay. We don’t make the rules for the individual groups, but if you abuse another group or a hybrid, we will get involved. Maybe it’s not the right time. Maybe I’m too pushy. Blame the hormones, and I just want to go back to the village and figure out my life now,” I said.
Mason smiled. “No FBI?”
I shrugged. “I’ll have to go back to Anchorage and resign, sell my place, and see Zel. But no, no FBI. This is enough.”
“We’ll sort it out,” Margo said. “You two talk. Your father can stay with me. I’ll help him figure out the village.”
Mason guided me away from the group. “Let them talk.”
“You okay?” I held his hand.
“You healed me, so I’m fine. You want to give us a serious shot?” he asked.
I thought about it, and there was no doubt. I nodded. “I do. I love you. But we need our own house. I’m not living at the village police station or Margo’s anymore. Especially if she’s having my dad stay with her—I need some distance.”
“You did smash up the station fighting with your dad.” He smiled.
I chuckled. “I’ll fix it.”
“Wait, are you doing this because of the baby?” Mason asked.
I shook my head, and the emotions welled up. “No, we need a shot. I’m sorry I wasn’t fully involved but those kids. The case. Finding out about me. Now this. I always put work first because I didn’t know who I really was. Now I know, and I have a family.”
“Are you proposing to me?” he asked.
“No, that’s your job!” I sniffed and wiped my eyes. “Margo might adopt me if you stall.”
“You have a tribal mother and a part native kid, you’re part of the village. I love you,” he said.
I nodded. “I love you too. In Anchorage or the village. But I do like that I belong somewhere now.” I hugged him tight.
Epilogue
I sat in Green’s office and signed a bunch of forms.
“You can extend your leave due to your circumstances,” Green said.
Zel had grinned like an idiot since I’d told them about the baby.
“What you mean be off during my pregnancy and maternity leave?” I asked.
“Doctors can be creative. Bed rest and all that. It’s a government job, and we don’t want a lawsuit,” he said.
Smiling, I signed the final papers. “No thanks. I’m done with federal red tape and hoops. I have other priorities now.”
For all Green needed to know it was motherhood. I’d cleared out my house and turned in the keys. They’d find another renter in no time. The reality was I hadn’t made much of a life here. It was all about the work. That would definitely change.
I handed over my badge and gun.
“Of course, you can carry a gun as this is Alaska. If you need a favor, you’re leaving on good terms so we do have your back,” Green said.
“I’m not going to be a trooper or anything in law enforce
ment,” I said.
Green nodded. “I understand. Many agents hit burnout. You were good but losing a partner is too much.”
It wasn’t really Mitch, but they could believe that. “I tried. I wanted to give myself every opportunity to come back but it’s not right. It wouldn’t be safe for me or any other agent to be partnered with me.”
“Mason is marrying you.” Green pointed to the ring on my finger. “That’s a lifetime commitment.”
“So is a baby,” Zel added.
“Things just sort of happened there. I’m sorry we couldn’t do more for the case. We resolved a small part out of Bethel, but we tried.” The Bethel PD had furnished a report to the FBI, but Morrow had doctored it for humans.
“HR will be in touch about your retirement account and how to roll that over to whatever you want. Do you have a forwarding address?” Green asked.
“Sure.” I picked up the pen, and Green slid over a legal pad of paper. I gave him my new address. “Mason and I got a house. I feel like a grownup.”
“Wait until the kid gets here,” Green joked.
I nodded. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for it, but I’ll have help.”
“Native village won’t have the best schools or opportunities. Anchorage is better,” Zel said.
“I have a feeling I might do a more homeschool situation, “I replied.
“How many kids are you planning?” Zel asked.
“We didn’t plan this one. We’ll see. Is that it?” I asked.
Green nodded. “Good luck.”
I shook his hand. “Thanks, you too.”
I stood up and walked out of his office. This part of my life was over.
Zel walked with me. “Want to grab a drink before you rush back to the new life?”
I smiled. “Thanks, but I can’t drink,” I said.
“Milkshake,” she suggested.
“Fine.”
We headed to the diner, and I had a strawberry milkshake that tasted like heaven.
“You okay?” Zel asked.
I nodded. “I actually am. Are you?”
Zelda sighed. “It’s not as much fun without you, but there’s a new wizard in white collar.”