Vulture Moon

by Alexes Razevich

  “Ah. Something of the fae in your blood, but not enough, I think, to have provided immunity. Does this sorcerer have plans for you?”

  I blinked, taken aback. “I don’t think so. I hope not.”

  “Maybe not,” Elgrin said with a shrug. “Maybe he doesn’t perceive you as enough of a threat to remove. Fortunate for you if that’s the case. Or maybe he sees you as a toy, something to play with—something to be teased and led on merry chases for his amusement.”

  I considered all that. There was a definite sense of being led around. I trusted Dee’s divination that had brought us to the warehouse the first time, but the rest of it could have been orchestrated. Gil’s supposed call to his girlfriend that sent us to Alpine Village. The rat’s word that all three men were in the warehouse. I could trust only what came directly from Dee or my own abilities. Everything else had to be suspect.

  “What happens now?” I said.

  Elgrin tilted her head and looked at me. “You owe me for the job done. The dark wizard.” She corrected herself. “Sorcerer.”

  “We didn’t find the men we came for, much less rescue them,” I said.

  The fairy-warrior shrugged. “If you gamble and lose, you still must pay the house.”

  She made a grabbing motion in the air and held out a small gold whistle—more an elongated, flattish boson’s whistle than a bulbous referee-type. “When you have the sorcerer, this whistle will call me. I’ll come collect my payment.”

  I took it and nodded dumbly.

  She leaned toward me. “Can you get yourself home in your vehicle? I can send you via magic if you can’t drive.”

  I ran my hands through my hair. “I can drive.”

  “I’m sorry we didn’t find the wizards you are seeking,” Elgrin said, her face and tone softening. “If I hear any news of them, I’ll be in touch. Keep the whistle with you at all times. I’ll find you through it.”

  I nodded in acknowledgement.

  She nodded slightly in return and disappeared in her own burst of sparks.

  My steps were slow and heavy as I walked back to my car. There was no traffic on Alaska Avenue; no burst of headlights to show me human life was still going on around me, only a gray-striped feral cat mewling on the sidewalk as I trudged by. I cast my sense out. The cat was just a cat. I bent down to scratch its head, but it bolted away.

  There was nothing more I could do here. I started the car and drove home.

  The hazy first light of the day was warming the sky as I pulled into my garage. When I went into the house, Chas was sitting at the kitchen table, a mug of tea in front of him. He looked up and started to say something. I raised one hand, palm out in clear warning that I didn’t want to hear it—whatever it was.

  “I’m going to bed. I’ll talk to you when I get up.”

  Chas looked ready to speak again.

  I cut him off with a glare. “Seriously, Chas. Don’t say even one word. I cannot take anything more right now.”

  And with that, I dragged myself up the stairs, fell onto my bed, and was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

  Four hours later, I stumbled downstairs. Chas, bless him, got up from the sofa, went into the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with a cup of strong, well-sugared black tea.

  He also had the decency to wait until I’d drunk it before asking, “Are you going to tell me where you were all night and what you did?”

  He could have saved himself the trouble of actually asking the questions. Curiosity wafted off him like smoke. I already knew what he wanted to hear. I had no interest in the reliving that the telling would be. He wouldn’t stop poking at me until I did, though. I knew that too.

  “I tried to find Diego and get him out of whatever trouble he’s gotten himself into. I didn’t find him. Instead, several fairies were hurt, some badly, and six people died who didn’t need to. It was horrible and I’m not going to talk about it anymore than this.”

  “People died?” Chas said.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you kill any of them?”

  Stunned that he’d ask that question, I stared at him. “No.”

  Chas let out a long slow breath, “Okay. I won’t ask you anything more now. Maybe later you’ll decide to trust me with your secrets.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered just as my phone started ringing. I leapt for it, hoping it was Dee.

  It wasn’t. It was Jack.

  He started in on me the moment I said hello.

  “I’ve been tasked by my boss to discover exactly what happened in that warehouse last night.”

  “What warehouse?” I said, all innocent indignity at his tone.

  Jack scoffed. “Don’t play me like a fool, Psychic Goodlight.”

  My heart pounded. Jack always called me Oona. To hear him pronounce my talent and my last name with such anger sent shivers racing through my body.

  He went on without pausing. “Did you think that much magic could happen on my patch and I wouldn’t know about it? Did you think no one in the community would feel the deaths? We had calls. You need to explain the piles of ash and bone right now.”

  Chas put his hand on my arm. Concern for me radiated from him. I shrugged with tight shoulders and moved my arm from under his hand. I got up and walked toward the mudroom at the opposite end of the house saying, “Give me a moment, Jack.”

  “Officer Schneider,” he said firmly. As if I hadn’t already figured out this was not a social but an official call.

  “Explain those deaths,” he said. “And those people better have been dead before they were burned.”

  I snagged a kitchen chair and brought it with me into the mudroom where my laundry waited to be put in the washer and dryer. I was too agitated to sit. I shut the door and paced in the small square room, seeing again in my mind’s eye the moment those two brown-robed young men burst into flame.

  “At least two weren’t,” I said. My throat was dry, my eyes growing wet. It was hard to get the words out. “It was awful.”

  Jack’s tone softened slightly. “Tell me what happened, from the beginning.”

  I sighed deeply and sank into the chair. “I was chasing down leads to find Diego.”

  I went on to tell him everything, from Maurice’s rats saying Dee and the others were in the warehouse to my contacting the fairies for help at the warehouse, to seeing the two boys burst into flames that didn’t so much as singe the fairies who held the boys’ arms at the time.

  Jack had listened without interruption.

  “You’re damn lucky you didn’t wind up a pile of ash yourself,” he said when I finished. “What if the sorcerer had been there? What if he or she decided you’d make a nice pile of ash? You could have run into a den of drug dealers protecting their stash or thieves divvying up the loot in an empty warehouse for all you knew. Magicals or just your garden-variety ordin kind. Either one could have killed you and all the fairy warriors you dragged into the place. You had nothing but the word of a few rats to go on, but do you call me and tell me your suspicions? No, you go breaking into private property like Rambo or something. What were you thinking?”

  Anger seethed in my blood. How dare he lecture me?

  “First of all,” I said coolly, “since you and your boss expressly told me to stay out of this case, it’s hardly likely I would tell you about anything I learned. Second, as to what was I thinking? I was trying to save some lives.”

  “Yeah? And how did that work out for you?”

  Six humans dead. Several fairies injured. No Dee, The Gate, or Gil rescued. No closer to finding them than I was yesterday morning. Thanks, Jack, for throwing it all in my face.

  He broke the brief silence. “This is not something you should be involved in. Stay out of it before more people are hurt—or killed.”

  I wished he’d shut up.

  “Don’t think for an instant that I’ll turn a blind eye to your shenanigans,” he said.

  I knew a spell to shut people up. Dee had taught it to m
e almost as a joke after some woman had cornered me on the street and gone on and on about a local political issue.

  “I may be Diego’s friend but that won’t stop me from doing what’s right in the law.”

  I muttered the spell in Jack’s direction, sending it off with a great burst of angry power.

  I waited for his next tirade, but there was nothing. Only a long, long silence.

  My heartbeat sped into overdrive. “Jack? Are you still there?”

  I glanced at the phone’s screen. The call was still connected.

  “Shit,” I muttered, realizing what I’d done. Dee never taught me a spell without also teaching me how to undo it. I said the words and again sent it with a burst of my personal will and power.

  “Don’t ever do that to me again,” Jack said, his voice icy.

  “I’m sorry. I had no idea. Through the phone? How does that work?”

  Jack huffed an angry breath. “Connection is connection. It matters more than distance.” He paused. “You are very lucky it’s me you discovered this fact with. That is exactly the sort of mistake that can get you into a big pile of steaming trouble. As an apprentice wizard, that kind of thing will get you expelled from the magic community.”

  I thought again about Dee’s self-control. A wizard who let their emotions have free rein could do all sorts of damage. But Dee wasn’t so self-controlled lately and I was pretty sure that lack of focus helped get him in trouble.

  “Keep in mind,” he said, “that Diego, as your mentor, would also be sanctioned.”

  “I will,” I said, but all I could think was if Dee met his end under the Vulture Moon, none of it would mean a damn. Never mind that I wasn’t his apprentice, making that second part an empty threat.

  I let a small moment go by. “What are you going to do about finding Diego, The Gate, and Gil?”

  Jack’s voice kept its cutting edge. “We’re looking into the apparent abduction of The Gate and Gil Adair. We have a few leads that I’m not going to share with you, so do not try invading my mind to find out. I will know, and I will not keep that transgression secret.”

  I pushed down my frustration. “What about Diego? Are you looking for him? I’m sure all three are together.”

  Jack’s words were clipped. “There is no indication that Wizard Adair was abducted. He may just not want to see or talk to you right now.”

  I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it. I couldn’t believe the words coming from it. All this oh-so-professional Wizard Adair and not keep that transgression secret crap was making my bones ache. And saying that Diego just didn’t want to see me right now? Yeah, I didn’t think that was the case.

  “If you’re trying to rile me, Jack, it’s not going to work. The Vulture Moon is tonight. What, exactly, are you doing to find them?”

  “As I’ve said pretty plainly, that’s police business, not yours.”

  I scoffed as I suddenly felt him as clearly as if he were standing next to me and speaking the wishes of his secret heart. At least now things made sense.

  “You’re angry I didn’t call you to go with us last night,” I said. “You’re almost as worried about Diego and the others as I am. You know in your gut I’m right about what someone has planned for tonight. You know we’re running out of time.”

  Jack didn’t reply. His silence said more than any words could.

  “I will find them, Jack, with or without you. You want to arrest me or whatever it is you do when people don’t just sit around waiting for the magic police to get off their butts and do their jobs, fine. But I’m telling you I will do whatever needs to be done to make sure there is no human sacrifice under the Vulture Moon.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jack was silent long moment, then said, “Yes, I believe you would.”

  “So, come with me,” I said, my voice friendlier now, cajoling. “Call in sick and take the day off. We’ll be a lot more effective working together than against each other.”

  I waited while he worked through whatever machinations he needed to justify doing what I now realized he wanted. I threw out what I hoped would be the final point that made his decision.

  “I’m floundering, Jack. Without your expertise, without you, I don’t know if I can find them in time. They’re going to die. I know it. You know it. Please.”

  Another long silence filled the air.

  “All right,” he said. “This evening. Say, five-thirty. I’m on duty now.”

  My heart sank. It was not quite one now. Too many hours. Too much time to waste. But I knew I couldn’t do this on my own. I needed Jack’s help.

  The sacrifice was tied to the full moon. I had to believe the men would be safe until full dark. I took a breath. “Thank you. I need to talk to Maurice again and would like you to be there to hear what he says. I’ll meet you behind the Community Center.”

  “I’ll be there,” he said, but he didn’t sound all that happy about it. Evidently duty and rules versus personal desire wasn’t an easy choice for him.

  I thumbed the phone off. My thoughts turned to the problem of Chas. He was feeling better and his bruises were fading. I knew he was antsy and wanted out of the house but didn’t seem inclined to go home. I supposed the vicarious excitement kept him wanting to stay close to me. His fascination with the magic world seemed to only deepen as things became grimmer. He didn’t know Diego well enough to be sincerely concerned for him.

  It dawned on me then what an idiot I’d been. I’d sold my cousin cheaply, thinking it was the thrill that kept him wanting to be involved. He was worried I’d be hurt. I was so concerned about Dee that it hadn’t crossed my mind that Chas might be worried about me.

  I walked back to the parlor and sat next to him on the sofa.

  “That was Jack Schneider on the phone. He’s an old friend of Diego’s and a member of the magic police. He and I are going to search for Diego and the others together. Jack’s very, very good at what he does. He’ll keep me safe.”

  “Yeah?” Chas said.

  “Yeah,” I said. “Really.”

  Relief poured off my cousin like running water.

  “Okay, then,” he said. “That’s good, but it would be better if you let the magic police or whatever do the job for you. Let this Jack fellow find Diego and the others.”

  I shook my head. “I can’t just sit here and wait. I’d go crazy.”

  “I know,” he said, and laid his hand on top of mine. “It’s not your nature to sit around and wait, but I’d be happier if you did. My mom says you’re the type that would run into a burning building, not only to save someone in danger, but just to see if you could do it and come out alive.”

  I looked at him askance. “I don’t think so.”

  “Mmm. There’s a bit of that in you, Oona. Your first and greatest concern is for Diego and the others, but there’s a part of you—”

  I smiled thinly. “You should go home, Chas. Tawny and her brother won’t bother you again. Call some friends. Go out on the town or something. Keep busy. I’ll call you when we’ve gotten everyone back.”

  He moved his hand to rub his chin and then nodded. “Promise me you won’t be stupid.”

  “I promise,” I said.

  “Drive me home?”

  I glanced at the clock. I had hours and hours to kill before meeting up with Jack. “Sure.”

  He gave me a hopeful smile. “And maybe put some of those ward things on my place?”

  I thought about it. “Maybe not wards. You’d have to learn to take them down and remember to put them up every time you left your house. But we can smudge the place to clean out any leftover bad energy and I can do some protection spells.”

  Chas grinned. “I knew it wasn’t all Diego. I knew you could do magic yourself.”

  Yeah. That cat was way out of the bag.

  “Let’s keep it between us, okay? Don’t go telling everyone on your side of the family or your friends and whatnot.”

  Chas put up a hand and wav
ed it around a little. “Because us normal folks aren’t supposed to know the magic world lives side-by-side with us. I get it.”

  I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best.”

  Chas grinned. “Yeah. I know.”

  ∞∞∞

  I drove Chas home, smudged his place, and put up some protection spells that would delay anyone with bad intent from crossing his threshold. Hopefully, the delay would give Chas time to be smart enough to not invite them in.

  I still had a few hours left before I was to meet Jack. I went home, changed into shorts and flip-flops and walked down to the ocean. I waded into the waves and let the water lap around me, filling me with peace and strength. After, I went home, changed again into black cargo pants and a black sweatshirt, and went to meet Jack.

  ∞∞∞

  On the way to the Community Center I stopped at a convenience store and bought half a dozen tubes of Pixy Stix. I was a little surprise to see that Jack had arrived before me and was already talking to Maurice. Jack wore street clothes—jeans, a madras shirt, tennis shoes—rather than his MP whites, which relieved me.

  I sat down beside them and gave Maurice the candy. He twitched his nose and whiskers, then turned to Jack.

  “You see, that’s how it’s done. You want my help, you bring a gift.”

  Jack frowned at the rat. “The magic police don’t pay for information. Not even with a gift of Pixy Stix.”

  I’d never seen an animal roll its eyes, but Maurice rolled his.

  “Maurice,” I said, cutting off whatever Jack and the rat had been discussing before I came—I didn’t think it was only Jack’s lack of a proper bribe. “I need your help again. I went to the warehouse last night.”

  “So I’ve been told.” Maurice glanced at Jack while using a paw to scratch his ear.

  “Diego wasn’t there. Neither were The Gate or Gil. There was a veil spell, but I psychically and physically felt around and couldn’t find them.”

  The rat stopped scratching. “Veil spell or not, Diego would have found a way to let you know he was there if he was. They must have been moved, which indicates that whoever has them knew you were coming.”