The Returned

by Bishop O'Connell

  “I’m Agent William Dehart, DHS,” he said. “This is Agent Collins.”

  The man next to Dehart didn’t look old enough to drink, but his eyes were hard, and they made Edward feel like they were boring into him.

  “We have a warrant to collect the remains of one William Boulard,” Dehart said, leaning past John to see the toe tag of the body. “We’re also confiscating all files and records relating to him and his case, as well as six others.” He gave John a small smile. “Digital and hard copy, of course.”

  “Now, just one minute,” John said. “I have jurisdiction of all bodies in my custody until I release them to another, and I’m not—”

  “With all due respect, Doctor,” Dehart said, “we’re here on a court order. One that doesn’t even require us to notify you. I’m doing so as a courtesy.” He turned to the men in the hall. “Coid.”

  “Sir?” a man in the hall answered.

  “Take Martinez to the doctor’s office and collect the files.”

  “Yes, sir,” Coid said. He and the other man in the hall disappeared.

  “Those are evidentiary files!” John said and tried to move past Dehart. “I won’t let you compromise those cases!”

  “Doctor,” Dehart said, placing a hand on John’s chest and gently pushing him back, “I urge you not to interfere. The more you cooperate, the sooner we’ll be done and you can get back to your work.”

  “They’re wizards,” Edward whispered to Caitlin.

  “What?” she said. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive,” Edward said.

  Collins narrowed his eyes at Edward, then leaned over and whispered something to Dehart.

  “I think he knows I’m one too,” Edward said.

  “Dr. Huntington?” Dehart asked.

  Edward’s stomach twisted into a knot, and he almost lost the spell he was holding.

  John and Henry both turned to Edward.

  “How do you know my name?” Edward asked.

  Dehart smiled. “Classified.”

  “We’ve got the files, sir,” said Coid from the hall. “Slack space has been wiped.”

  “Let me see that warrant!” John said and grabbed for the papers.

  Dehart released them, never taking his eyes off Edward.

  “This isn’t an order,” John said. “This is just the notification of an order.”

  “The warrant itself is classified, sir,” Dehart said. “But rest assured the proper due process was observed. You can contact the DOJ with that case number to confirm if you’d like.”

  “Are you saying this is a FISA warrant?” John asked.

  “How exactly is the murder of a local gang member linked to espionage or terrorism?” Edward asked before he could stop himself.

  “Classified,” Dehart said again. He looked at Collins then back to Edward. “But, I will urge you, your wife, and your Rogue Court friends to keep out of government affairs.”

  “How do you know—?” Caitlin asked.

  “We’re not the bad guys, Mrs. Huntington,” Dehart said. “We’re here to protect American lives and property from all threats. Be they foreign, domestic . . . or nonhuman.”

  “What exactly does that mean?” John asked, looking from Dehart to Edward and back.

  “You wouldn’t want to be charged with interfering with a federal case,” Dehart said to Caitlin and Edward, ignoring John. “Or worse, classified as an enemy combatant.”

  “There are details in this case you might not be aware of,” Edward said.

  “We appreciate your input, Doctor,” Dehart said. “But we can manage our own investigations, thank you. Coid, Sullivan, collect the body.”

  “Sir,” said Coid and Sullivan in unison.

  The two men blocking the door parted just enough to let the other two in. The pair moved to the table. One of the two, a well-built man with a shaved head, pulled out an amulet. Edward saw it only a moment, but he clearly saw the Aramaic characters. He positioned himself in front of both Henry and Caitlin and stepped away from the gurney, urging them both back.

  The man whispered something Edward didn’t recognize, and in a bright flash, the body vanished.

  “Dear God,” John said and looked to Dehart with wide eyes.

  “Collins,” Dehart said.

  “Sir,” Collins said and stepped forward.

  As the man lifted his hand, Edward felt him drawing in power.

  “Amddiffynnent!” Edward said and released the spell he’d been holding.

  The magical barrier came to life, binding itself to the room around it. An instant later, Edward felt the spell crash against his ward like a tsunami, but it didn’t get through.

  John’s eyes glazed over, and he fell to the floor, followed by the sounds of others in the building collapsing.

  “John!” Henry shouted.

  “He’s fine, I assure you,” Dehart said, then looked to Collins, who nodded. “They all are.”

  “Twenty minutes, sir,” Collins said. “It was clean.”

  Dehart nodded, then looked at Edward. “Dr. Huntington, would you kindly drop your ward?”

  Caitlin stepped next to Edward. “Would you kindly kiss my ass?”

  Dehart laughed, a genuine laugh. “You do not disappoint,” he said. Then he drew in a breath and let it out. “Okay, I’m going to give you the courtesy of some honesty. For the sake of national security, we need to clear your memories of us and this incident.”

  Caitlin took Edward’s hand and squeezed it.

  “If need be,” Dehart said, “we can and will tear down that ward and—”

  There was another rush of power, and the two men blocking the door fell to the floor like puppets with their strings cut.

  Dehart gave Collins a murderous look.

  “It wasn’t me, sir,” Collins said.

  There was a rush of wind, and a tall, thin figure in a hooded jacket appeared in the room. She stood with her back to Edward, Caitlin, and Henry, facing the two wizards. When the hood came down, Edward saw she had short, sky blue hair.

  Collins drew a pistol from his jacket more quickly than Edward would’ve believed possible and leveled it at the stranger. Edward saw the look of fear in both men’s eyes, though Dehart hid it better.

  “Hi, Ovation,” the new arrival said. “You look good for someone who had their throat cut.”

  “Wraith?” Edward and Caitlin both asked at the same time.

  “Hey ya, Doc,” Wraith said but didn’t take her eyes off Ovation.

  “I’m afraid you have me confused with—”

  “Liar!” Wraith screamed and let loose a wave of entropic magic.

  The room actually shook, and Ovation’s pistol flew apart.

  “Ms. Essex,” the man next to Ovation said—his boss, Wraith figured. “There’s no need to—”

  “My name is Wraith,” she said.

  “Wraith,” the man said, his tone unconcerned. Then he noticed Ovation was still pointing what was left of his gun at Wraith. “Four, lower your—what’s left of your weapon.”

  Ovation did so.

  “Four?” Wraith asked. “That your new name?”

  “Don’t do anything rash,” the boss said to her. “You don’t want the kind of trouble this will bring.”

  Wraith looked at him and gave a wolfish grin. “Yeah, because I’ve never been in trouble before.”

  Both men were silent.

  “Who are you?” she asked the boss.

  “You can call me One,” he said.

  “One?” Wraith asked. “Are we on Sesame Street or something?”

  “This doesn’t involve you,” One said. “You can leave now, and there won’t be any repercussions.” He glanced over Wraith’s shoulder. “I’ll even allow you to take the good doctor and his wife with you. But we can’t let the civilian leave remembering what he saw.”

  “You even try to get inside his head,” Wraith said, “and I’ll tear you both from reality.”

  One arched an eyebrow. “Are
you still capable of that? I heard you’d been taken down a few notches in your power levels.”

  “Why don’t you try me and find out,” Wraith said. The truth was, she wasn’t sure she could. The last time she’d done that, she’d had the power of a couple of hundred changeling souls bound to her and feeding her power. Of course, these two didn’t know that, and Wraith was good at bluffing.

  There was a long silence as One and Wraith stared each other down.

  “Very well, we have what we came for,” One said, then looked at Edward and Caitlin’s friend. “I suggest you forget about everything you’ve seen here today, Dr. Thomas. If you speak of what you’ve seen to anyone, including your wife, at the minimum you’ll both be charged with treason and release of classified information, at worst with providing material support to terrorists.”

  “You’re not going anywhere till quatro and I have a word,” Wraith said. “What did you do to Geek, Con, and Sprout? And why?”

  Ovation opened his mouth.

  “He was acting on my orders,” One said. “And I’m acting on orders from my superiors.”

  “Not good enough,” Wraith said. “I want answers! Are you Order?”

  “No, but that’s all you’re getting,” One said. He casually lifted his hands, showing intricate pentacles of blue light on each palm.

  Wraith wasn’t sure if he was lying about being with the Order, but she’d never seen magic like that before.

  “We can shoot it out right now if you like,” One said, “and you might even make it out unscathed.” He nodded to Caitlin and Edward. “What do you think their chances are? Or the others in this building?”

  Wraith wanted to spit acid. Actually, what she really wanted to do was kick these two suited jackasses in the balls so hard that they got lodged in their nostrils. Then she’d really hurt them. But she knew she couldn’t. Wraith could sense Edward’s ward, and it was good, but if power started flying, things would get ugly quick. She didn’t want any more innocent deaths on her conscience.

  “Get the hell out of here,” Wraith said through gritted teeth.

  One lowered his hands.

  “But don’t think this is over,” Wraith said to Ovation.

  “I was about to say the same thing,” One said.

  “Are you incapable of speaking now?” Wraith asked Ovation, or Four, or whatever the hell his name was, as he moved to leave.

  He just stared at her, and the contrite look on his face almost looked sincere. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

  Wraith blinked. She hadn’t been expecting an apology.

  “If you’ll let our men up,” One said.

  Wraith unraveled the equation, and the two goons at the door stirred. One and Four helped them to their feet and, with one eye on Wraith, exited the building. She half wished she would’ve melted the tires of their vehicles or something on her way in. Maybe she could figure out the magical equal to a stink bomb.

  When she was sure Ovation and his crew were gone, she turned to face Caitlin, Edward, and their friend.

  “You okay?” she asked.

  Edward dropped his ward.

  “Who was that?” Caitlin asked. “You know him?”

  Wraith shrugged. “I thought I did. I came across a group of kids in Seattle who sort of took me in. Con and Sprout, the two you helped, they were part of that group.” She looked over her shoulder. “Ovation, or I guess Four now, was too. I thought he was just another slinger.” She turned back. “But apparently he got into their heads. Geek’s too. I don’t know why. I think it was to manipulate me. What I do know is that I’m going to make him pay for screwing with their memories, and if they are part of the Order, I’m going to tear them apart.”

  “What are you even doing here?” Edward asked.

  “Oh,” Wraith said and wished she’d come up with a cover story in case this happened. “I, um, well, uh. You know, looking for other—”

  Caitlin gave her a dubious look.

  “Not buying it, huh?” Wraith asked.

  “Not even a little,” Caitlin said.

  “It’s your secret mom powers, isn’t it?” Wraith asked.

  Caitlin smiled. “If that makes you feel better, sure. It was Dante, wasn’t it? He asked you to watch us?”

  “No,” Wraith said, happy she didn’t have to lie.

  Caitlin narrowed her eyes.

  “Damn, you’re good,” Wraith said and looked away. “It was Brigid. Dante asked her to ask me. Are you going to ground me now or something?”

  Caitlin stepped forward and hugged her. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m glad you were here.”

  “I have a few questions,” Edward and Caitlin’s friend said.

  “Who’s he?” Wraith asked.

  “Henry, this is Wraith,” Edward said. “Wraith, my friend Henry.”

  “He a slinger too?”

  “Slinger?” Henry asked.

  “It’s what the cool kids call wizards,” Wraith said.

  “In that case, no,” Henry said.

  “We should go,” Caitlin said, then looked at Edward. “Get Henry away from here.”

  Edward nodded. “Agreed.”

  “I’m not just leaving John here like this,” Henry said.

  Wraith knelt down and examined the quantum information around the unconscious man. It looked to be a two-pronged spell. The first was a lot like her sleeping spell, but the second equation looked to join the first. It had faded too much for Wraith to see what it did, but she could guess that it took memories away.

  “He’ll be fine,” Wraith said. “Should wake up in a few minutes.” She looked at Henry. “Would you care to explain all this to him?”

  Henry looked at her. “I would not.”

  “Let’s go, then,” Wraith said and turned to leave.

  The others followed her.

  “My God,” Caitlin said as they passed the fourth unconscious person.

  “I wonder if that warrant included seizure of memories?” Edward asked.

  “Warrant?” Wraith asked.

  “Later,” Edward said.

  They stepped outside, and Wraith was relieved, and a little disappointed, to find the van and SUVs gone. No one on the street seemed wise that anything unusual had happened.

  “Get close,” Wraith said. “I’ll get us back to your hotel.”

  “I have a car,” Henry said.

  “Oh,” Wraith said. “I don’t.”

  “Then how—?”

  Wraith smiled and wiggled her fingers. “Magic.”

  “Not to sound unappreciative,” Henry said, “but I think I’ve had my fill today.”

  “Fair enough,” Wraith said.

  “I’m parked just over here,” Henry said and walked over to a silver sedan.

  Edward and Caitlin opened their doors to get in.

  “Are you coming?” Caitlin asked.

  “I, um, don’t do cars,” Wraith said. “Bad experience.” Which was a massive understatement. She could still remember the accident and being suspended in the backseat by her seat belt as her parents died in the front seats.

  “It’s good to face your fears,” Edward said, not unsympathetically.

  “You take the front seat,” Caitlin said. “I’ll ride in back with Wraith.”

  Edward walked to the passenger seat and got in, though he watched over his shoulder.

  Caitlin went to Wraith and took her hand. “It’s okay, sweetie.”

  Wraith was surprised to find she felt less scared. She went with Caitlin to the car and got in. Caitlin slid into the other side and shut her door, and they were off.

  Wraith felt queasy, and her hands were sweating. She kept telling herself she was being an idiot and that nothing would happen. And even if it did, she could do something about it. This time at least.

  “I like your hair,” Caitlin said and brushed some from Wraith’s face. “It’s a good color for you.”

  “Thanks,” Wraith said and smiled. She figured Caitlin must be the best m
om in the world.

  “What hotel are you staying at?” Henry asked.

  Caitlin, Edward, and Wraith answered him at once.

  Caitlin and Edward both looked at Wraith.

  She shrugged. “What? I was asked to watch you,” she said. “Not like I was peeping into your room or anything.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  They all sat at a secluded table in a corner of the hotel bar. No one was talking. Edward took a drink from his whiskey as Caitlin nursed her beer, Wraith ate one of the six maraschino cherries in her Coke, and Henry signaled for another scotch.

  “Since no one else seems inclined to say it,” Caitlin said to no one in particular, “who were those guys?”

  “Military,” Edward said. “Without a doubt.”

  Everyone looked at him.

  “They might actually be working for Homeland Security,” Edward said. “But everything about them screamed military.”

  “Homeland Security?” Wraith asked.

  Edward nodded. “That’s what they said. Their credentials looked authentic, and I’m sure John would’ve noticed if the warrant was bogus.”

  “Are you sure?” Wraith asked.

  Edward noticed her hands were shaking a little and she kept glancing around. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  Wraith glanced up at him for a moment then back down, then she filled him in on her encounter in Seattle.

  “Oh, honey,” Caitlin said and took Wraith’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

  “Admittedly I didn’t encounter any Order members,” Edward said. “But everything about them feels like government officials to me.” He shrugged. “I suppose they could be Order operatives as well, but it just doesn’t seem to fit. Why did they back down? Why put the staff to sleep instead of just killing us all? From what you said, they don’t sound terribly concerned with innocent bystanders.”

  Wraith chewed on her lower lip. “I guess that makes sense. The Order are more of the scorched-earth sort. But if that’s the case, and they’re government agents, what were they doing there?” Wraith asked.

  Edward told her.

  “Anyone else feel a bit nervous about the fact that the government knows about magic and the fae?” Wraith asked.