by Martha Carr
Lacey followed Leira’s eyes down to her stomach, watching the blood began to pool in her suit. She pressed her hand against the wound and stared at the blood dripping off when she raised it. Lacey fell to her knees as Leira ran toward her, shooting energy out of her palms to clear a path in front of her. She slid across the grass, catching Lacey as she fell backward. Lacey’s hair changed colors and her skin glowed brightly before beginning to flicker.
Lacey looked up at Leira. “I gave it my best shot.”
“You did good,” Leira assured her as the last of the air left her lungs.
Leira shook her head, angry that another friend had been killed by Sirius. She kept her eyes on him as he scrambled to his feet, grabbed his wand, and pointed it at her. She pushed herself to her feet, putting her hands out to her sides and levitating, every part of her glowing brightly. Her pain washed away as the light took her and she fought against the hum of her bracelet. She focused her power and clenched her fists, pushing it outward in an explosion of light.
Correk and the others stopped, shielding their eyes as the light spread over the entire field, knocking anything dark down in its path. As it surged it beat wildly, as if it had its own pulse. Leira could feel the magic pulling her farther from Earth, but her anger had gone, leaving her unable to fight it. The peace soothed her soul and took away the pain and the fear, making it all okay. As she drifted upward a hand grabbed her arm and the magic began to dissipate, sending her back toward the ground. Her feet touched down on the grass but she kept her eyes closed for a moment, letting the rest of her power seep back into the ground.
When she opened her eyes Sirius was disappearing around the corner with his crew. They had taken a major blow; most of them were limping and others were carrying the injured who couldn’t move on their own. Leira watched them until they were completely out of sight, knowing there was no use in chasing them—not on that day. They had already claimed too much. Leira looked down at Lacey, who was lying peacefully on the ground. Lois was at her side. She lifted her chin and watched Yumfuck as he shrank to three feet and patted Hagan on the arm. Hagan gave her a nod and raised his sword.
Louie, who was across the field, nodded at her as he opened a portal back to his apartment, stepping through and letting it close behind him. He had never been one to stick around for the sad parts. Correk walked over to Lois and began to work magic on her wounded shoulder even as a scratch bled on his own.
“You grounded me,” Leira declared, knowing Turner was standing next to her.
“I thought about doing it,” he replied. “But I figured it would be childish of me. I couldn’t let you meld with the light just because I was pissed that you didn’t invite me to this showdown.”
“Figured you would show up when it was most important,” Leira told him.
“And I did, didn’t I?”
Leira looked at Lacey and Turner. “Did you?”
“Some things even a Fixer can’t foresee,” he replied, looking down at Lacey. “You really put a hurting on his crew, though I suspect he has more waiting in the wings.”
“I thought a year ago that I had seen the last of Sirius, but his name started popping up. Still, I scoffed at the idea that he could be a threat. I guess I was wrong.”
“The government doesn’t seem to be too concerned,” he replied, hobbling over to her. He was dressed in one of his signature custom suits, which was not what you would expect someone to come to a fight in.
“He’s a bigger problem than the others realize,” Leira remarked, glancing at him. “Certainly a bigger problem than I realized until this. Now he’s on the run again, and I know exactly what he has his eyes on.”
“The vault,” Turner replied.
“How did you know?” Leira asked.
“How do I ever know anything, my dear?” He smiled.
Leira nodded, watching as Correk opened a portal and helped the Light Elves take Lacey to Oriceran. He closed the portal.
He helped Lois to her feet and gave her a hug before she disappeared through her own portal. Hagan, Yumfuck and Correk joined Turner and Leira by the barn, watching as the old farmhouse shuddered as part of the smoldering side collapsed in on itself. Leira grimaced, opening a portal to the sanctuary for Hagan.
“Thanks. I’ll be in touch soon,” she told him, giving him a hug.
“No need to get all mushy, Berens.” He smiled. “Oh, and this belongs to you. Pretty nice.”
“Thanks.” Correk chuckled and took the sword.
Both Correk and Leira turned to say goodbye to Turner, but he was already gone. Leira shook her head and let out a breath and Correk chuckled and opened a portal back home, helping Yumfuck and Leira through. Somewhere deep inside he knew the battle had just begun.
13
Leira walked up the stairs, feeling that familiar sense of loss after a battle. Her arms ached from the fight, but it was her job to put the weapons away since Correk had already cleaned them. She pulled the sword out of the bag Correk had put on the floor and held it up in front of her. It showed not even a scratch from Hagan’s use and it shimmered, forcing her to squint to watch her reflection in the blade. As she stared at the gleaming metal her reflection morphed, showing the queen in her room on Oriceran watching her with a proud gaze.
Leira blinked, thinking it was fatigue playing tricks on her eyes, but the queen held her hand out and there was a sparkling blue jewel on her palm. Leira clasped the gem and the magic it contained pushed through Leira, healing her torn muscles, scratches, and bruises. When the light dissipated, the queen was gone and Leira stared at her reflection, her body back to normal.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“That’s a pretty sword,” a familiar voice said behind her.
Leira turned to find Louie leaning against the doorframe, his own blade on his hip.
“Yours isn’t so bad either.” Leira smiled, and as she set the sword on its posts its replacement illusion disappeared.
“Yeah, it does me well.” Louie smiled. “Sorry about disappearing like that. I remembered I had to drop off the rent. Didn’t want to keep Mr. Hou waiting, though he was a bit surprised when I walked downstairs in a torn tunic with blood running from my nose.”
“I can imagine.” Leira chuckled. “So what’s up? I know you didn’t take the metro over here just to apologize.”
“I took a portal this time.” He smiled ruefully. “Didn’t want to deal with the humans.”
“Understandable, though we aren’t all that bad.”
“You’re only half, like me.”
He came into the vault and looked at everything as Leira hung up the last of the weapons.
“I actually came by to tell you that…well, I am in a bit of a pickle. Seems living on Earth as a rogue warrior is a bit more expensive than I thought it would be. I’ve got to figure out a way to make more cash or go back to my business on Oriceran. A man’s got to eat, after all, and all that Chinese is gonna go to my hips.”
Leira smiled as he patted his thin and bony hips, looking slightly uncomfortable. She tapped her hands on her side and bit the inside of her lip, thinking about ways he could make some money. She needed Louie. Hell, she needed as many people as she could get on that side of things.
“You’ve got to play to your strengths,” Leira declared.
“I don’t really see a lot of money in swordplay,” he replied, lifting an eyebrow.
“No, I mean like me. I’m a thinker and I figure out puzzles, so I became a detective. What do you know how to do?”
“Scavenge,” he replied. “That’s about it.”
“Right, and what does everyone want? The thing that never goes out of style…and that you happen to have a particular knack for acquiring?”
“Information.” Louie nodded his head.
“Right,” she replied and led him back downstairs by the wrist.
She went into her bedroom and grabbed some money from what was left of her stash. She had been paid a whole lot
by Turner, using a bit of it to buy their house, and hoarding the rest for food and living expenses. To Leira Louie’s information was just as important, if not more important, than food.
“I’ll become your first client,” she told him, putting a stack of bills in his hand.
“I can’t just take your money,” Louie replied, shaking his head. “You’ve given me a place in this world and made me part of the team, and you’re my mentor’s daughter.”
“You deserve it. We would have been in a real bad place if you hadn’t brought us that info on Sirius,” Leira replied, pushing his hand toward him. “We have to find Sirius. He was injured before and got better, and we can only assume that he will do the same thing again. We have to find him and finish him off once and for all.”
“What about Lucius and the shifters?” Louie asked, folding the money and putting it in his pocket.
“Lucius isn’t the demon that the government thinks he is,” Leira assured him. “I’m not worried about him right now. He’ll surface eventually. Sirius is the one at large.”
Yumfuck stood in his room, licking his fur back into place after the battle. He walked over to the Buddha and knelt, pressing his paws together and bowing. He stood back up and stretched his arms over his head, feeling his belly rumble.
“When all is lost and dismay has arisen, donuts will bring you to Enlightenment.” He smiled.
He grabbed his backpack, searching the pocket for the twenty Hagan had slipped him before going back to the sanctuary. This time he was going to pay for his donuts.
“If I’m going to fight crime I can’t be a criminal,” he commented, balling up the twenty in his paw and heading out of his bedroom.
He went downstairs and stopped when he saw Leira sprawled on the couch and Correk in the chair. There was a bag of cheese puffs next to the chair and orange dust in streaks down Correk’s trousers. Leira looked up at Yumfuck and gave him a crooked smile when she saw him in his boots and cowboy hat.
“Where ya going, buddy?”
“Donuts, motherfuckers!”
“Cool! Bring me a maple one, whatever they got,” Leira requested.
“And one of those with the magic hidden cream inside,” Correk added.
“You got it.” He tipped his hat and headed out the door.
He looked both ways for any sign of trouble, but saw nothing but Marcy retrieving the newspaper from her porch. He waved at her, which caught her attention and a smile spread across her lips.
“Hey there, Yumfuck! Where you heading?”
“Donuts!”
“Oh, that’s nice. Try Paul USA on Wisconsin. Excellent bakery!”
“Thanks, motherfucker!”
Marcy burst into laughter. “Oh, you!”
Yumfuck giggled and wove down the street through the crowds. As he turned the corner he ran right into a man’s legs. The guy’s eye twitched when he saw a furry figure in boots and a hat at his feet.
“Sorry, buddy.” The troll smiled, tipped his hat, and scurried past.
“I need to adjust my meds,” the guy said shaking his head. “I’m seeing yetis, or talking dogs... Maybe I should keep it to myself.”
Yumfuck rolled into the Starbucks and down the hall through the magical wall and out onto the platform for the train station. He quickly followed the green arrows down five flights of steps, this time watching where he was walking. He’d had enough dark magic for the day. He stepped right into the train and plopped down in one of the seats, unraveling the twenty he had crumpled in his paw.
He watched out the window as the train moved through the darkness of the tunnels. At the second stop Yumfuck jumped off, running through the crowds and up the stairs. He was ready for those donuts, and Wheel of Fortune came on soon. He was considering taking Marcy up on her offer and watching it with them. Game shows were his new jam.
He left the Starbucks and went out onto the street, looking up and down Wisconsin Avenue, pulling out his phone and looking up the address. He followed the trail on Google maps to the doors of Paul USA. In the window were brioches, cupcakes, and a beautiful five-tiered wedding cake. For a moment Yumfuck was sorely tempted.
Large cakes with too much icing. Aloha motherfuckers!
But all he had was a twenty Hagan gave him just before he left Austin. He had said it was because he wouldn’t be close by anymore. Just trust him, take it.
The place was empty as Yumfuck ran up to the counter, forgetting his size. A man walked through the door behind him and paused, staring at the furry guy looking over the counter. Yumfuck gave him a toothy grin and turned back to the shop’s owner, who was waiting to take his order.
“My wife is right, for once. Enough Taco Bell and you start to see things. The man muttered to himself as he shuffled out the door rubbing his belly, slamming the door behind him.
Yumfuck looked up at the owner “A regular?”
The owner rubbed his baldhead. “He’s been coming here for a decade. Doesn’t know how to feed himself. He’ll be back. What can I do for you?”
“Hmmm…one maple donut, three cream-filled, four glazed, and the rest maple bacon please.” His nose was pressed against the case and his arms were spread eagle on the glass.
“Mind the smudges.” The owner put in a couple extra for good measure. “It’s closing time. They’ll get thrown out anyway.” He shrugged.
“Thank you,” Yumfuck trilled, handing him the twenty. “Keep the change.”
“Appreciate it.” The man smiled. “You know, you’re not my first hairy kid. Don’t matter. If you’re nice, I’ll feed you.”
“I’ll be back…” Yumfuck slid the box off the counter and headed for the door, holding it aloft. “Aloha!”
“You too.” The man waved and turned to grab his broom as the door shut behind the troll. “That explains it. He’s not from these parts.”
The troll moved quickly, sticking to the shadows. “There are a lot of motherfuckers in this town. Some of them are even nice.” Yumfuck lifted the top enough to lick the nearest doughnut. He choked up, thinking of his old friend, Hagan. “This one’s for you.” He opened wide, burrowing into the nearest doughnut, smearing the sugar on his fur.
Louie gripped the sword as he stood barefoot in the cleared space in his apartment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to pull the full force of strength from the weapon. He could feel the handle of the sword hum in his hands as the energy grew stronger and he tightened his grip as light began to glow all around him. His artifacts shook in their boxes, and just as he was about to release the energy in a swift blow there was a knock on the door.
Louie opened his eyes and let the energy flow back through him and into the floor. He dropped the sword in the umbrella bucket and sighed, walking over and pulling the door open. He was about to answer curtly but stopped himself when he saw Ava, Mr. Hou’s daughter, standing there. Her long black hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck and she wore a white tunic and a pair of black spandex pants and boots, almost like a woman would wear on Oriceran. Ava had become his only true friend on the planet, and though she was human she had a serious kick to her.
“Hey!” She smiled. “May I come in?”
“Oh, yeah.” He chuckled and moved to the side. “I was just, uh...cleaning my silver.”
She frowned, knowing full well he didn’t have any “silver.” She shrugged and pulled the bag off her shoulder, setting it on the table.
“While I was helping you scavenge, I came across something you might really like,” she said, excitedly.
She lifted a round oil lamp from her bag, gingerly placing it on the coffee table. “I found it outside an old antique shop. They were going to throw it away because the chimney is missing, and they said they can’t find one to fit it.”
“Hmm,” he said bending over and cupping the lamp, as he held it up. He waited for a moment to see if there was any hum of magic, but there was nothing. He wrinkled his nose and shook his head. “Nothing, but it is a really cool f
ind.”
“Dang.” She shrugged. “Maybe next time.”
Ava was the only human on Earth Louie trusted, and he had told her the truth about where he had come from. At first she had been a bit skeptical but when he opened a portal and let her see through to Oriceran she had been amazed. Ever since that day they had become inseparable, except of course during fights like the one he had just been in. She gave him wise counsel—wiser than most of the Gnomes or elves he knew—and she liked to ask questions. Everything about him and his world was exciting to her, and she was curious about the portal’s opening.
“Did you work today?” he asked.
“No, Dad had enough help today. I had lessons.”
“Oh yeah? How did the martial arts go today? Break any boards—or any necks?”
She laughed. “You are silly. It’s not about causing harm, it’s about protection, and defense more than offense...though I must admit that I knocked the instructor on his ass twice.”
Louie and Ava laughed as he grabbed two sodas from the fridge and handed one to her. She looked at the label and back at him, impressed.
“I got paid for work today.” He laughed. “I bought real Coke this time instead of the imitation from the Dollar Store, not that there is anything wrong with it. That merchant knows his stuff.”
“You are silly. It’s a chain store.” She smiled.
Louie looked at her, confused.
“Like, there is the main headquarters, and they opened up Dollar Stores all over the country,” she explained.
“So the bigwig corporate guys I hate own the Dollar Stores?”
“Most of them.” She shrugged. “But I’m sure they aren’t all jerks.”
“Dang,” Louie muttered, sitting down on the arm of the couch. “And here I thought I was helping out a local vendor.”
“There aren’t a lot of those left. Big chains take over everything here.” Ava sighed. “That’s why my father will never leave Chinatown. His business would crash. He can’t compete with the big-name restaurants.”