by T S Paul
"When is the attack?" Freddie rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
"First light. We ride at dawn!"
Freddie cocked his head to one side. That line sounded really familiar to him.
~~~~~~~
The sign over the gate said Freki Farm.
"Somebody has a sense of humor," Bill remarked as he carefully drove up the driveway.
Both Cat and I watched both sides of the road carefully. If the Mayor was our culprit, there could be guards or an attack just around the corner.
"Nice place. I can see why the Mayor bought it." Bill pointed to the massive Victorian estate house on the hill. It reminded me of Grandmother's place back in Maine. "It has a complete view of the valley on all sides. Potentially, very defensive."
"Do either of you see anything out of place or suspicious?" They both shook their heads no. It was almost too perfect. A man stood on the porch waiting for us.
Bill parked the SUV and carefully opened his door.
"This is private property. Whatever you're selling I don't need it. Please leave. Now!"
"Mayor Freki or Lawrence Duckworth? We are from the Magical Crimes Division of the FBI. We would like to ask you a few questions." We all flashed our badges and credentials.
He stared at us a few seconds and frowned. "Come on inside where we can talk." He stomped into the house. "Mary, they're cops! Stand down."
The porch was a screened-in wraparound. The screens cut down on the profile of the windows, cutting vision and making it harder to see inside. All of the windows appeared to be armored, with shutters on the inside and outside. The door and the frame were steel.
"Worried about something Mayor?" I motioned to the door.
"Just cautious, Agent?"
"Blackmore. Special Agent in Charge Agatha Blackmore. This is part of my team, Agents Maxwell, and Moore." I pointed to Bill and Cat.
"What do you want to know?"
"We started our investigation with the death of Stephen Jaeger. The local office discovered that he was killed by outsiders as part of a Were slavery ring. We are here to investigate that. Finding the boy's killer is just a bonus. We have in our custody several of Daniel Jaeger's men. Two of them appear to be former slaves themselves."
"Tod and Bob? Is that who you mean?" The Mayor appeared agitated.
"It is. They were kidnapped as children. We identified them from their fingerprints. Judging by their training, we've been searching locally for any area that has enough room and facilities to train people like them. Your name popped up in our tax record search." I held up my hands. "We aren't accusing you of anything. Our search is taking us to all the large landowners."
"Humph. I can count on one hand the number of people still doing well in this town's economy. It's all Daniel's fault. If he hadn't challenged Darius so soon..." The Mayor shook his head.
"Why do you say that?"
"There was a plan in place to open up the secret mine for commercialization. Darius wanted the town to thrive again. His illness made him forgetful, but he was trying to leave a legacy. Some of us were working with him to bring about change for Arbor."
"Do you know where it is?"
The Mayor shook his head. "No. Daniel knows the mine exists. It was one of his reasons for the challenge. Darius intended to merge the Jaeger and Petrov Packs. He was going to acknowledge Stephan publicly. If anyone knows where the mine is, it's Stephan. My wife Mary and I are holed up out here because of what's coming."
I glanced at Cat. She shrugged her shoulders at me. "What's coming?"
"War. Daniel and his son have been arming the Pack and getting them all riled up. They intend to kill the Petrovs and take over the town once and for all."
"There hasn't been a full-out Pack war in years. Why now?" Cat leaned forward in her seat.
"Because Daniel Jaeger is bug nut crazy. He cannot control his wolf at all. In other Packs, he would've been killed to protect the others. Darius thought he could save him. He was wrong. When Daniel shifts, he really is a monster. Daniel is also going broke. There are several liens on the main house. As well as collectors that keep showing up. He can't hold it together for much longer."
"Mayor, do you know who is behind the slavery ring around here?" I asked him point blank.
"You people are going to get me killed, you know that right?" He turned and caught his wife's eye. She nodded to him. The Mayor took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"The man you want is Reverend Josiah Lucas Austin. He drifted into town around fifteen-twenty years ago. Started up his church way out on the outskirts of town. There were lots of rumors about him, but nothing we could make stick. He began offering trained soldiers to the different factions. It was his claim they were church followers that had lost their way."
"Were they investigated?
"The Geri at that time was on his last legs. Darius was only keeping him around for sentimental reasons. He may have investigated, but Reverend Austin was part of the town by then. He's well respected for his good works around the area."
"Good works? Who does he help?" Bill jumped into the conversation.
"Well, he works with the less fortunate families and the unemployed. He runs the food bank and provides free child care for those families in need."
All I heard was child care and food bank. This man managed to put himself in a situation to gain access to children. I doubted he was a pedophile, he was worse. He was a manipulator.
We wished the Mayor luck and headed back to our base of operations. If a war was brewing, we needed to stop it.
~~~~~~~
"Dad, we have a real situation here in Arkansas." Cat ended up calling her father to let him know the situation. It wasn't official, but he had told us himself of the Were Pack coalition he belonged to.
"What's wrong, Catherine."
"Jaeger is making plans to wipe out Petrov, and the Reverend Austin is possibly involved in the slave trade."
"Austin is behind the slave trade? Are you sure about that?" Robert Moore sounded concerned.
"The town mayor told us that the man in charge of the slavers is Reverend Josiah Lucas Austin. He's the leader of the Church of Eternal Damnation and Salvation here in Arbor. We haven't been there yet, but we hear the complex is enormous."
"That name sounds familiar. Try not to get killed before I can figure out where I've heard of it before. I'll call you back." Robert hung up the phone.
"Well, that was anticlimactic. Dad says he'll call back later."
I looked at Cat. "Did he say he'd help?"
"Not exactly, no."
"Well, we will plan anyway. I had loaded the RV for Were before we left Quantico. I should have brought this stuff last trip, but I forgot." I reached into one of the many hidden chambers in the RV and pulled out two medium-sized boxes.
"What's in there?" Cat left her seat and peered at the boxes.
I reached out and held her back from the table. Carefully, I opened it up. Cat sniffed and had an instantaneous, strong physical reaction. She began coughing and hacking.
"Grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and stay back there for a minute. This stuff is too potent for you." I pointed.
"Agatha! What in the name of all the Gods is in that box?"
"Aconite and Wolfsbane."
"For real? Those are some of the most expensive herbs in the world. I thought Wolfsbane was an urban legend!"
"Oh, it's real enough. A small sprinkle on the ground can mess you up for hours. Grandmother is the only supplier this side of the Atlantic Ocean. She sent me some."
"What's in the other one?"
"Bombs. Transmogrification bombs. They will change any living thing into an animal. Weres they turn human."
Chapter 16
"She's exposed a huge mess in Arkansas. Daniel Jaeger is young, tough and homicidal, but intelligent, not so much. Someone else has to be egging him on. The last thing we need right now is a public war between Were factions. Even if it is a family feud of sor
ts. The mundies are unable to tell the difference. All they will see is Were-on-Were violence. This will set everything we have worked for back thirty years."
The room was dark around the edges. Only the center of the room was dimly lit. Mutterings and whispers could be heard agreeing or discussing the speaker's words.
"Consul Moore. Is it your opinion that the Council should intervene in this situation?" The voice was muffled, but it was obviously that of a woman.
"No, Milady. The newest addition to the FBI is on site and aware of the impending war. We should give them a chance to either clean it up or stop it. Why else allow the creation of the unit?"
An almost whispered voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. "The Vampire on the team. Who is she? Why were we not informed of her presence there?"
"Lord Clearchus, her name is Anastasia. We have discussed her in a previous meeting. She was the first openly Paranormal to work for the FBI. Former Director J Edgar Hoover recruited her himself for the Bureau in 1945."
"My people just informed me of that Consul Moore. What I meant to say was, what lineage is she? From whence did she arrive in, as you say, 1945? We have no record of an 'Anastasia' that is missing from any of our nests. Who is she?"
Robert turned his eyes toward where the head of the Council would be. "We will conduct our own investigation to learn the identity of the Vampire. Does that suit you?"
A woman's voice answered. "It does."
"We protest this action. The Vampire Nation should be lead on this not the Cats." The whispered Vampire voice grew louder. "Our own people will investigate, also."
"Lord Clearchus, Consul Moore's people..."
"Are efficient but cannot be everywhere at once. We concur. Allow the Vampires to police their own." This voice was stronger with a faint, but noticeable Irish accent.
"If you deem it fair, let it be done. Thank you, Lord Fionnbharr for your opinion and counsel. Robert, please finish your report." The woman's voice grew quieter.
"As I stated previously. The Jaeger Pack and the Petrov Packs are gearing up for war. They have been on a warlike footing since the death of Darius, but this time it appears to be real."
"What of the other two Packs? Are they involved?"
"My Lord Bowie, we are not sure. The FBI team was unable to contact Joshua Pepin. The Pack leader, the Reverend Josiah Lucas Austin and his small group of parishioners represent the Austin Pack there. They too haven't checked in yet. We have feelers out in the community."
"So we have a war pending and two possible outside influences involved. Which Consul is responsible for this territory? I want them front and center within the week to answer for this mess. Pack war is not on our agenda at the moment."
"Yes, Lord Bowie. Right away. Consul Erica Stevens is over the Midwest. She is on vacation I believe." Robert serendipitously palmed a phone and hit a button.
"Consul Moore. That device in your hand had better be your attempt at contacting Consul Stevens." The Vampires had caught his movement.
"Yes, My Lord. I am attempting to contact Consul Stevens. My apologies."
"Does the diamond mine exist? That is what they fight over?"
Robert's head came up with a jerk. This Lord almost never spoke. "My Lord Vestri. Yes. Darius used it to grow his wealth and bring prosperity to his Pack. There were plans to commercialize the mine and prop up the town. When he was challenged and killed, the secret to its location was lost. Or that is what we believe."
"When this war ends or is ended, my people would like first contact with the new owners. We wish to build the mine."
Murmurs and whispered conversation filled the room. There were a great many more beings present than could be seen.
~~~~~~~
Throughout the night, groups of Weres silently moved into position. The Petrov Pack's claim extended across the southern end of the town. Most of the barren industrial areas fell within this field, as well as what was known as BoxTown. The Jaeger's outnumbered their rivals by more than half.
"Dad, we have the Petrov's main facilities surrounded. The team of Specials is prepped. Half our people will attack the main house at dawn. With luck, they will call for help from the regular guard units." Freddie smiled, it was finally happening.
"Good. When they pull out, tell our secondary units to occupy those positions. We don't want any holdouts. I will commit the Specials if the plan goes south or resistance is too strong. Do we know if they caught wind of this?"
Freddie shook his head. "We don't think so. Stephan was seen with a small group of working girls last night. None came out during the evening."
Daniel smiled. Excellent.
"What of that coward Geri or those FBI Agents?"
Freddie looked at his notes. "Sheriff Geri took the bait and responded to a call way out in Chickalah Valley. That should keep him busy for a long while. Our watchers say those FBI Agents are back at their RVs. They only have that one SUV, and our people have promised to take it out. We're golden, Dad!"
Daniel cuffed his son hard across the back of his head. "Never guess the outcome! It's bad luck, and it gives false hope. Either know we will win or don't. Remember that."
Rubbing his neck, Freddie felt the pain fade away. "What about the outcasts?"
"What about them?" Daniel began strapping on his level IV body armor. Only he and his son had the advanced equipment. At more than $3000 each, he only bought two. The rest of the Pack all had level II or III rated armor. Cheaper but still effective. It would slow down the effect of claws and allow the wearer to heal faster.
"If they try to help or get in the way, what do we do?"
"They're rejects for a reason. Kill'em all and let the Gods sort them out. I'm not my brother. Charity is for the weak." Daniel checked his weapons and began loading extra magazines.
"Good. I'll spread the word. Fewer mouths to feed anyway."
"That's my boy!" Daniel raised his hand. He didn't see his son flinch as he patted him on the back. Armed and armored the two Jaegers headed out to catch up with their teams.
~~~~~
"Dad, my informants inside the Jaeger Pack, have informed me that they will attack at dawn." Joshua stared out the window of his office while he spoke to his father on the phone. The moon was just starting to rise.
"What is your Pack's status? Have you informed your Beta of the plan?" Reverend Austin waved his aides closer.
"Robert knows all the details. I've kept him in the loop all along. He, unlike most of my Pack, has some military experience. He's been training our strike teams and equipping them with heavier arms. Should I mobilize them?"
Josiah thought for a moment. This was it. Time to show his hand and take over. Everyone was in place for the takeover. He motioned to his top aides and signaled for them to move using only pre-arranged sign language. Mundies were very inventive, and sign language was an excellent way to defeat Were hearing.
"Dad? Did you hear me? Should I prepare my people?" Joshua sounded a little jittery.
"Sorry, my son. I was lost to God. Yes, prepare your people. We will strike like avenging angels at the moment of engagement. Trust me on this. It is hard to defend yourself when the attack comes from the rear. My parishioners will join your attack, as planned."
"Wait. Your parishioners? I thought you were only my adviser in this."
"Joshua. Son. We spoke of this. My people are experienced and heavily armed. Without their help, you could be trapped between Jaeger and Petrov. Trust me. I am your father in all things." The Revered nodded to his people and signed yes. "Now go and prepare. We will meet you in battle."
Hanging up the phone, Joshua nodded towards the window. This was for all the marbles. He reached into the drawer of his desk and removed his gun. Time to find Robert and finish this.
Josiah laughed to himself as he hung up the phone. All too easy. His plan was right out of the OSS playbook on how to turn factions against one another. If Daniel had not been a psycho, the plan wouldn't have worked as well as
it did. That was the beautiful thing about living for centuries. Planning for the future. "Are we ready?"
The two nameless military trainers nodded. Their real names were lost to the depths of time, he called them number one and two. They were the absolute best at taking raw, untrained talent and turning them into muscle-bound maniacs who would follow their orders to the letter. Even unto death. The process was slow but much more profitable than simple slavery. He had done both over the years.