by Martha Carr
“Time to go. I’m gonna need your help.”
“I don’t know about this, Harry.” Liam was ashen just looking at the opening but Harry got behind him and pushed, sending Liam onto the forest floor, rolling in the dirt.
“See? Easy, you’re already there.” Harry stepped through and looked back at the three teenagers in the room. “You guys are welcome. Glad I could get a few of you outta there. You’re on your own from here. Exit is that way.” He pointed at the hotel room door as the portal snapped shut, showering the room with gold sparks.
The red-headed teenager looked around confused and stumbled toward the door, opening it as the maid was coming back down the hall with her cart. She startled and looked past the young man at the destruction in the room and the other two teenagers still sitting on the floor.
The red-headed young man looked up and down the hall and back at the maid. “Is this Phoenix?”
The maid pushed her cart toward the elevator, practically running as a thin trail of dark mist swirled out of the broken window.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Charlie Monaghan sat at the head of the table in the Axiom boardroom, barely containing his rage. The other board members were already gone. They had quickly made their exit once it was clear that Pearson Cowley had won the day. Charlie was difficult enough to take on the days when he won the deal.
Pearson Cowley had come in prepared and laid out the reasons for working with the federal government to capture the artifacts. Civic duty, still profitable, defense contracts. The tide quickly turned in his favor and the vote was almost unanimous.
Charlie was the only dissenting vote. His hold over them was weakening and he knew it.
You’re about the deal and winning…
Isn’t it annoying when the good guys win. All those principles getting in the way of the win.
It’s not the person who wins the battle, Charlie. It’s the one who wins the war.
Right now, it looks like you’re losing the war.
Charlie’s eyes glazed over and for a moment the irises of his eyes turned completely black. The dark mist was making house calls, growing stronger. The collective was finding a voice.
“Something needs to be done,” whispered Charlie.
***
Pearson made his way toward his car as his driver held open the door. Pearson climbed into the back, settling his rotund form into the leather seat. He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed General Anderson. “It’s done. You have our full cooperation. I’ll let Lacey Trader know we’ve made a successful alliance.”
The driver started up the car and looked at the rearview mirror at Pearson. “Good day at the office, Boss?”
“Progress was made but it may come at a cost.”
“Don’t it always.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Louie agreed to meet at the Tiny Lounge on North Leavitt Street in Chicago, reluctantly. Very reluctantly. He was in the backyard of the Order of the Silver Griffins headquarters and he knew it. But the buyer wouldn’t budge and the offer was too good to pass up.
Louie opened a portal by the Western Avenue El stop near the back of the Dunkin Donuts. The noise from the train rattling past hid the sounds of his entrance. The sparks were written off by passersby as something falling from the tracks overhead.
“Somebody ought to fix that,” said a woman, rolling her eyes as she looked up.
Louie flipped up the collar on his coat as he came out from behind the building and cut down the alley toward Lincoln Avenue. “Meeting in early spring in Chicago right under the Silver Griffins nose. Sure, what could go wrong,” he muttered, as he jammed his hands in his pockets, trying to keep warm.
He’d been roughed up before by agents from the Silver Griffins and lost more than one relic to their vault. It bruised his ego too. The small artifact, a Victorian postcard, was tucked carefully inside his vest lining with a piece of cardboard. That’s where it would stay until he saw some money.
He opened the portal early so he could get there ahead of the buyer and scope out the place. Fewer surprises the better. Sooner he could get back to his world and thaw out his entire body. Work with the sword some more. He had been practicing with it every chance he got and he could swear the sword was teaching him.
He crossed over Lincoln at Montrose just by the park and looked up at the next block. The Tiny Lounge was a small, narrow bar that could hold no more than twenty people tucked between two larger buildings. If someone didn’t know it was there, they would walk right by it. It was one of the reasons Louie picked it for the meeting place. Fewer prying eyes.
He stepped up onto the curb on the other side and got to the corner of the building when he saw a minivan pull up and two women get out. Witches… This is a trap. The Silver Griffins were there even earlier, piling into the place. Louie could spot them from a distance. He didn’t hate any of them but they were bad for his business.
He kept walking past the Tiny Lounge and took a quick look inside the window, noticing his buyer sitting alone as the two Witches settled in at the bar. Pearson Cowley took a sip of his bourbon and looked up, locking eyes with Louie. The Silver Griffins assigned him the daunting task of tracking Louie.
What the hell? Louie smiled and gave him a wave as he picked up the pace, heading down the block and turning into the Bad Apple, quickly making his way to the back and out the door, already forming a ball of light.
“Going somewhere?” Leira was waiting out back, leaning against the green Mustang. “You’re kinda predictable, Louie. I saw this move coming. What does that say about your mad scavenger skills.”
“That I keep beating you to the prize?”
“He’s over here.” Leira smiled a crooked smile and stood up straight. Correk came from around the building and stood to one side, his arms crossed. Hagan came out of the back of the Tiny Lounge and down the alley from the other side.
“A triple team. I like it. Shows respect. Can’t take me down with just one.” Louie kept smiling, trying not to think about Trevilsom Prison or facing the Silver Griffins. He had been warned to stop doing business in magic on Earth. Charm don’t fail me now. The light ball still pulsed between his hands.
“Not going quietly.” He pulled at the ball of light, creating a small portal between his hands. Risky. That’s how tears happen to the world in between. He kept smiling, deepening the creases around his eyes as he looked at Leira.
“Don’t make this into a bad movie. We’re not here to take you down. Now, the Silver Griffins down the street. They may feel differently. We can ask them if you like.” Leira put a hand on her hip. She saw the light between his hands and could feel her own energy responding, wanting to surge forward. Not right now.
“What is it you want? You need to buy something?” Louie felt himself relax just a little. A buyer.
“In a way. We need to buy your services. We need your help. The bad guys are winning too many skirmishes and we need someone with your particular skill set. The word is you’re one of the best scavengers around.”
“One of… Don’t want to start off negotiations with an insult, do you?” Louie shivered in the cold. The portal wavered and flickered. He was glad he had put the card in the lining of his coat. There was still a chance he’d get to leave with it. Of course, there was the small problem of getting hit in the ribs and bending the card.
Leira gazed at him, no expression on her face. She had time. It was on her side. Louie couldn’t afford to be seen by the Silver Griffins anywhere near the buy. They’d realize it was him.
“Kind of cold out here. You want to make your offer?” Louie’s lips were turning blue. He hated the cold.
“We want you to work with us. Help us find artifacts.”
“I work alone. Better profit margin.”
“Not from Trevilsom Prison.” Correk pulled in just enough magic to send a small fireball at Louie’s hands, exploding the ball of light and closing the portal.
“Thanks for warming my h
ands, dude.” Louie was doing his best to sound casual, like things were going his way.
“Join our team. We’re the good guys. There’s steady pay, plenty of snacks and lots of adventure. You can even use magic on Earth without getting hunted down. Everybody wins. Do it because there’s very bad shit going down and we need some more allies.” Leira pulled out the show stopper, using her energy to display images of the altered animals the Gardener had found.
Louie’s smile became strained as he looked at the rhinoceros and he winced at the image of the horses. “That is some very bad shit indeed,” he whispered. “Those artifacts?”
Leira nodded her head, still looking at him with no expression. Hagan came and stood by her side. Louie wasn’t going to try and go anywhere. They could all see it on his face. He was in. All he needed was to ask a few more questions.
“You know who’s doing that? What they’re gonna do with the animals?”
“No to both of those. But if we can cut off their supply of artifacts we may flush them out enough that we find out.”
Leira saw the Witches from the Silver Griffins exiting the back of the Tiny Lounge. She opened the door of the Mustang and beckoned to Louie. No need for a magical battle in the alley if it could be avoided. “Time to make a choice. You coming?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The long folding table fit neatly in the center of the Paranormal Defense Fund’s warehouse in Austin. Once it was covered with a tablecloth it started to look a little better. Dishes and silverware helped. Leira stepped back and looked at it. “Not too shabby.”
Correk put votive candles on the table, smelling the vanilla scent. The troll went behind him, picking one up and smelling it. “Yum.” He gave it a lick and stuck out his tongue, wiping it off with his paw as he put the candle back down.
“Don’t let him sit on any of the plates. No one needs tiny green hairs in their pizza.” Leira gave the troll a look, arching her eyebrow. He let out a cackle and rolled on the table.
Correk pulled out a baggie of grapes and plucked the troll off the table, putting Yumfuck on his shoulder and handing him a grape. “Your Sunday dinners are getting crowded. You’re going to have to find a bigger place to live just to have dinners.”
“Yeah, not sure the general will let this happen all the time. He was feeling good after a couple wins. Hit him up at the right moment.”
“Do you even remember what it was like when you ate alone most of the time?”
“There were seconds. Nana texted me and said she’s bringing a plus one. My grandmother dating. There’s a concept.”
“Have you noticed that your mother and grandmother are doing better at dating than you are?”
“I don’t see you holding hands in a movie theater. Big talk, Cousin.”
“Maybe Alan Cohen should be your plus one. I’m feeling confident he’d accept.”
Leira threw a spoon at Correk’s head as he ducked.
“This is a lot of silverware for pizza from Home Slice. We could have met there.”
“I wanted Yumfuck to be able to actually eat with us. Even Hagan is stopping by for a slice before he takes off on a vacation with Rose. I hear they’re going on a cruise. About time he took some time off.”
There was a buzz from the door and Leira looked up at the virtual screen to see her mother and Don, holding the boxes of pizza. She pulled in energy, lighting up her arms and sent a stream of energy at the door, opening it. “What?”
Correk pressed his lips together, frowning. “It’s not a party trick. You need to be cautious.”
“Lighten up just a little. I won’t pull a Flying Nun on you. I have a handle on it.”
“Leira! We found the place. It’s so nice to see where you work. It was nice of the general to give us all temporary clearance. I suppose there’s not much to really see in here.” Eireka looked around at the simple structure. “We can add some plants.”
“It’s a place to fill out paperwork, Mom. It’s fine.”
Don put the pizzas down on the table as the troll stood up and bent his knees, ready to leap. Correk caught him mid-air and held him in front of his face. “Not a chance. No pizza till everyone’s here and you bite only the piece that’s on your plate. Understood?”
“Seems fair.” The troll smiled and let out a trill. Correk put him back on his shoulder and handed him another grape.
Hagan came rushing in the door, putting away his key card, carrying a case of Shiner Bock. On top was a pink box from Voodoo Doughnuts. “Thought this might help the festivities. Where do you want ‘em? On my desk?” Hagan passed the troll and gave him a wink as Correk narrowed his eyes looking at Hagan. “Doughnuts are for the troll. I owed him. He might share. Ate a cruller on the way over, little buddy. Too long a drive. Makes us nowhere even.” Hagan smiled and clapped his hands together. “We all ready? Can’t stay long. Left Rose home alone. Still haven’t broken it to her that I work in magic these days. I’d prefer she not leave me at this late date. I am starving.” Hagan took a slice out of one of the boxes and took a big bite, closing his eyes and smiling.
“Hey!” The troll frowned and looked at Correk who shook his head. “You wait for everybody else.”
“We’re still waiting for Nana and her plus one. There they are now.” Leira looked up at the screen and saw a nice-looking man standing next to her grandmother. She turned to go and open the door the old-fashioned way and saw the color drain from her mother’s face as she stared at the screen.
“You okay?” Don took her arm, concerned.
Leira looked back up at the screen and saw Mara smiling and chatting with the man, holding a large Tupperware full of salad. Leira looked over at Correk who was walking closer to the screen to get a better look. Leira made her way to the door and opened it, ready for anything. Nothing inside of her sensed any danger. The energy was more curious, than anything.
She opened the door and took the Tupperware, hugging her grandmother with one arm. “Sorry I didn’t get the chance to call you back.”
“That’s okay. This is probably better, anyway. Tell everyone at once.” Mara smiled nervously.
That’s not like her. Nothing fazes Nana. Not even the fucking world in between. “You’re not getting married, are you? How long have you two known each other?” Leira tried to make a joke but noticed no one was laughing.
“About twenty-six years,” Eireka said, softly. There were tears in her eyes. Don took her hand and held it tightly.
Leira turned around confused and looked at her mother and back at Mara. Correk’s eyes widened and he walked to the door taking the Tupperware from Leira. The troll bounded down to the floor and scrambled to Leira’s shoulder, eyeing the stranger.
“Mind if we come in?” Mara nervously walked in and turned, pointing her hands. “Leira, this is Jackson, your father from Oriceran. Jackson, this is your daughter.”
Hagan stopped chewing and wiped off his mouth with a small paper napkin. “Fuck me, you’ve got to be kidding.”
“I’m sure you have a few questions. He’s not here to start anything. I asked for his help. There’s something we need to explain.”
Leira looked back and forth between Mara and her mother, assessing what was going on, not sure what to say and choosing silence as the better option.
Correk put out his hand to Jackson. “Correk of the Light Elves. Have heard absolutely nothing about you.” He fixed Jackson with a hard stare.
Eireka finally found her voice. “We should all sit down. Mother, what are you up to? Is this what you’ve been sneaking off to do? Your own Ancestry.com? You should have asked.”
“We need his help. Let me explain.”
“I came to help my daughter,” said Jackson. “Before it’s too late.”
Leira opened her mouth to say something as the alarms went off on the screens. “Hold that thought,” she said, turning to read the symbols as a viral post from the web played on the screen.
Yumfuck looked up and saw the video of hims
elf brawling in a bar and shrugged his shoulders, hopping onto Hagan’s desk and opening the pink box. “Last meal, may as well enjoy it.” He opened his mouth wide and bit into a glazed doughnut, climbing further into the box as he chewed, tunneling toward the creme-filled.
Hagan held the slice of half eaten pizza in his hand as he watched the video of the troll grow to the size of a hairy giant, baring his teeth. He was clearly visible behind him, punching one of the bullies. “I may have failed to mention… Look thinner than I expected.”
In the corner of the screen there was a feed that said, over two million views.
Leira gave him her best dead fish look and raised her hand to silence the alarms. “Everybody take your seat. You too Hagan. Call Rose and tell her you’re going to be a little late. This is going to be one helluva family dinner. Nana, you can sit across from me. Start talking.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Blake Johnson sat at his desk at the Austin Statesman, staring at the video for the second time. He saved it in another file on his desktop and opened his notes, making a notation of time, date, and location. It was the fifth video he’d found of the tiny troll, compiling one from the Continental, another from Comi-Con and even a couple from the State Fair of the troll riding a bull. “I’m closing in on you, whatever you are. We’ll talk soon.” The reporter stared at the frozen image of Yumfuck dancing on a stage. “Pulitzer here I come.”
FINIS
Author Notes - Martha Carr
Written November 20, 2017
It’s three days before Thanksgiving and I’m about to run to the grocery store, hoping in vain that it’s not going to be crowded. But, also knowing it’s okay if it is. College kids are home, families are gathering and everyone wants to shop as a family. It’s nice to see. I’m headed on Thursday to the offspring’s house where he’ll be cooking with the wonderful Katie.