by Erin R Flynn
“Like what?” the chief of police demanded, and I shot him a look like he was daft.
“Did I not tell you I would be in court?” I snapped at him. “I’m filing the fucking charges, idiot. Now my second is, and that could throw the whole thing out of whack.” I waved my hand and shut him up, much to his rage. I hurried to throw up the barrier and chant the spell to show all the chi. I sighed when I saw the chi from two supes, glancing around. “Who here is not human? I need you here.”
Two SPU officers came over, one a detective and lead I’d worked with often. After a few moments of focus, I nodded.
“It’s their chi. The rest is human,” I told the mayor confidently, showing him the matching and how the rest was of the same tones for human. “I do apologize, but I have to get back. I will send Helen to finish and play nice with the idiots.”
“Thank you, Ms. Devil, I would appreciate that.”
I popped back to the tribunal just as Helen was heading up front. I addressed the group. “I apologize profusely for popping away, but we have humans killing and trying to pin it on shifters. I’ve insisted I be the one phoned in to make the call.” I waited until most seemed to accept that, focusing on Helen. “They need you at the scene to finish. It’s a human again.”
“Of course, thank you, Elder,” she said, dipping her head before popping away.
I went up onto the stage and glanced out at everyone. “Welcome, and I thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to answer the call of justice. As the accuser, I host the event and facilitate the interrogations, but another species handles the interrogation and trial. I have asked Hui Yin, leader of a prominent nest in China, to act in this role.” I gave a moment for anyone to object to that, but they didn’t. “The charges are pretty straightforward.
“Colin was ordering kettle leaders in Russia and parts of Asia to make deals with dying or desperate human women that they would make them hawk shifters as long as they birthed two hawk children of different fathers to add to their numbers. Hawk males were forced to be party to this, and if any objected or ran, they were put to death. I was contacted by five such hawks who ran and asked me for sanctuary. Colin’s plan boils down to hawk world domination, and the evidence is clear, and so were his intentions.”
I nodded to Tommy to bring Colin out, doing a double take at his appearance.
“He’s been refusing food and drink,” Tommy explained, rolling his eyes as if no one had ever tried that before either. “He was fairly clear that once everyone saw his ‘mistreatment,’ the others would see you had some issue with hawks and the whole thing was a coverup. Plus, he believes that if he’s too weak to do much, you can’t use the potion on him.”
I snorted. “Sorry, Colin, not how it works. It just hurts then, idiot.” I glanced at Tommy. “Get one of the healers here and hook him up to an IV. We’re not delaying the proceedings because he faints or something. We’ve got too much else going on.”
A few others suggested maybe using some magic to make him eat. Everyone agreed, clearly not buying Colin’s attempt when he refused to eat in front of everyone. I would have accused of him being a moron, but he looked a bit out of it from denying himself. We brought in one of the people on his team we’d busted in on after finding the hawks and started with them while a healer helped Colin and forced him to eat.
Once he was given the truth telling potion, the guy blurted it all out. It was actually entertaining to watch.
“So was your elder ever unclear of his intentions?” Hui Yin asked the second guy from Colin’s team.
“No,” he answered, looking like he was trying to fight the potion to no avail. “He wanted to increase the number of hawks so there were more of us than vampires or all other groups combined. It would take a while, but the push to increase numbers was going on for a while. The past decade he’s been adding more rules that everyone has to help. Once we had amassed an army of hawks, we could take over, starting in Russia.”
“Idiot,” Cameron sighed, and I agreed.
Yin finished and turned to the elders, checking no one had any questions for them. No one did, and he dipped his head in respect. “Elders, we have six more hawks who will testify to the same but were not privy to as much information as these first two. If it please our esteemed elders, I would recommend forgoing another six interviews and bring them in later if so needed.”
“I think quick interviews without such specifics would be better,” someone else suggested. “Have them confirm what the others said, and let’s move along. I’d prefer that than just agreeing the other six know the same.”
That seemed to be the consensus, and we had a bit of a lull until we could facilitate that. Luckily Helen came in with several servers pushing carts.
“Elders, while we have a short break, we have prepared some midmorning refreshments,” she told them. “There are three base flavored bowls with toppings. There’s acai, mint, and dragon fruit. If you would please let us know which you would prefer and anything else you need, we would appreciate it, as we want our guests tended to.”
She bowed as did the servers before heading out among the rows of tables that we had set up like a seminar or conference meeting so we were all sitting the same way and on equal footing. It was the one thing everyone seemed to always do the same, as now wasn’t the time to try and play up to egos or power. We were all elders and judging one of our own. It was a serious task.
Even if we were going to do it while eating organic, fresh made sorbet.
Once everyone had their bowls and the next six hawks were being given the potion, Helen addressed the group again. “If it please our elders, we would add this to the next two days of court to give you a chance to try another flavor or enjoy it again. If that is not to your liking, other arrangements can and will be made.”
Everyone seemed in agreement that they wanted to have more and it was a nice, fresh reprieve.
“You always throw the best tribunals,” Cameron praised, several others around us agreeing. “I greeted Tanesha. She seems to be doing better than when I saw her a few months ago.”
I nodded, knowing she was pumping me for information, and I would tell her, but we had too many listening. “She’s agreed to help me with a project in Peru. The government had a very large amount of rain forest decimated by bad people and sold it to me for next to nothing if we promised to help and protect it. That’s the start, but we have some other ideas of where to progress.”
“You always do,” she chuckled, giving me a knowing smirk that there was more to it.
Helen confirmed that everything was handled with the mayor and CPD. She interjected that the chief of police was really becoming a problem and it was time to start thinking of what play to make next.
It was time for lunch after we got through all six abbreviated interrogations. Helen came back with more carts and people this time.
“Elders, for lunch we have provided either duck or scallop soba from Japan along with cold tuna sandwiches or tuna melts, also drinks and a variety of sides. If there is anything else you would prefer or require, please, let us know.”
“Tuna salad?” someone asked, sharing a few shocked looks with others that was all we were having.
“The tuna was just caught, and we bought it from the famous tuna auctions in Tokyo,” I told them. “We decided to have some fun and bring in some different cultural flare for this tribunal from Japan to Spain to Brazil and an array of US fun and blends.” I gave the elder a pointed look. “And I’ve spoiled you if you would not rank a good tuna salad sandwich as acceptable during a working lunch.”
He dipped his head to me. “Of course I do, but you are always at the cutting edge of fun and creativeness. You do spoil us though.”
I shrugged. “Shouldn’t we be good to our friends and allies?”
Once we had our food, Bacchus, a vampire elder I got along with, stood and glanced around.
“First, I would like to thank Soraya for hosting such a wonderful event
even if the reason for it is serious. It’s been too long before so many of us were able to safely gather, and we thank you for the opportunity.” He paused for people to clap, and I dipped my head in acceptance of the praise. “Second, the case seems pretty straightforward. I do not think there needs to be three full days to confidently convict Colin. I propose we use our time more wisely.”
That seemed to be the consensus, and I took a moment to plot a safe way through this because it could be a landmine even if Bacchus and I were buddies. “What would you propose instead? We take the weekend to blow off steam normally. I’m open to suggestions, of course, as I agree the case is pretty solid and straightforward.”
“I would like to see this project in Peru I heard you and Cameron speaking of,” Sangria, an elf elder who was my good friend, answered before others could get pushy. “I would also like a tour of some of the many, many farms you have and work with. I only have knowledge of the limited elf side and involvement, and I’m told there is so much more to that.”
I instantly knew what she was trying to do, as there were lots of group leaders trying to strong arm my coven and companies recently, and the elders hadn’t been getting involved because… Well, if their people could get away with getting more from us, why not? That was a typical elder attitude for sure.
I frowned at her. “You’d have to be more specific, Sangria. We have hundreds and hundreds of farms and greenhouses. Is there something specific you’d like to see, or are you thinking specifically of a way for hives that need income to expand?”
“That would be lovely, yes,” she agreed, understanding what I was doing too.
“I’ll speak with Jerome to get a tour together for tomorrow afternoon, but we can go see the rain forest project after lunch.” I shrugged. “We had something ready for Friday if we got done early. There’s no reason we can’t have a three day weekend with how hard we work.”
Some of us more than others, but I didn’t say that since I didn’t want to pick a fight. Well, I always did, but it wasn’t smart.
“What was that angel saying earlier about you helping save the world and restore balance?” James demanded.
I didn’t answer, taking a bite of my sandwich and meeting his anger with a bored gaze. “I’m sorry, did you just demand something of me like you have some right? In what world do I owe you anything but a kick to the ass, James?”
“Aren’t you engaged?” Bacchus asked, raising an eyebrow but giving me a look he knew the answer but was trying to warn me.
“No, not in over nine hundred years,” I drawled, pushing to my feet and giving James my own look of anger. “Let me make this clear so everyone here knows the truth, as you’re starting to sound unhinged with all this bullshit. We are not engaged. We will never be anything more than elders to each other. I did not wait for you all these centuries. I moved on, you git. I liked your mate and wasn’t in the wings hoping she died to get you back.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I have your beloved Theo.”
I snorted. “Beloved? Wow, you’re overplaying that one.”
“Theo?” Sangria asked. “You’ve never mentioned falling for someone.”
“I didn’t. I was diddling a cheetah Alpha now and again. It was just fun, and he found his mate. I wished them the best.” I shrugged as if saying so what? “This is all of James’s fantasy and concocting. I’ve got a pet, and I’m dating a beautiful angel plus some side fun if I want.” I gave James a hard look. “Enough. You’re starting to sound like you’re going feral. I really hope you’re not the next tribunal we have, old friend.”
He snarled at me. “Try it, Soraya. You don’t have any friends without me. You were always mine. I had you first, and I will have you forever.”
I couldn’t even hide my shock. “James, I just said it earlier that you were not my first. You knew that.”
“And she has lots of friends,” Sangria said firmly. “I suggest you get a grip, James. Maybe speak with one of Soraya’s healers and check how you’re doing after losing your mate. You sound like it’s hurting you.”
He opened his mouth to blast her but backed down when Cameron and several other shifter elders confirmed it. I contacted Jerome because I knew he could handle James. He promised to help how they could and arrange something for tomorrow afternoon.
“I would like to know what James was talking about,” Bacchus said after that drama was over and we were wrapping up lunch. “This has something to do with the increase in demon activity and amount of them on this plane, right?”
“Yes, and I don’t mind filling the rest of you in. It’s a troubling situation, and I’ve just started making a tiny dent in the rather large dam that’s cracked and breaking according to angels.” I shrugged when they all gave me horrified looks. “It’s not like any of us just sit around and count our toes, but I was going to fill you all in, which was part of why I invited everyone this time.”
“Part of? Something else has been going on?” Sangria checked, sighing when I nodded. “Lovely. Because there’s not enough bullshit already in the world. We will need the chance to blow off steam more than ever.”
I tended to agree, so I didn’t even tease her about her love of good wine.
I popped over to my hidden stores of hard liquor, selected several bottles of high quality aged scotch, and headed back. I nodded when I saw someone had already called for glasses and ice, which some skipped if they preferred it to be neat.
“You really have some secret bunker of all the best alcohols ever made, don’t you?” Bacchus accused, nodding to the bottles.
I smirked at him behind my glass. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, my dear friend.”
“I’m sure you do,” he pushed, moving closer until our glasses were almost touching. “Please tell me it’s true. Make my year and tell me you have some secret underground storage of all the finest beverages that most can never lay eyes on much less purchase.”
I leaned in and pressed my lips to his ear, chuckling when he shivered. “I have several. I have more surprises and tricks than you could even imagine with your excellent imagination.”
He gave me a heated look when I pulled away, knowing I was referring to the few week long flings we’d had every other century. We were better as friends and both knew it, but that didn’t mean we didn’t give in to our chemistry now and again. “I’ve always known that, Soraya.”
I gave him a wink and turned back to the group. “Everyone ready? We’ll need refills, I promise.” Several people swore, understanding that meant things were worse than they’d been hoping.
Yeah, they were.
First, I brought them to the roof of the coven house, several of them flinching as the spell circle activated and sent more souls to the correct plane. They might not be magics, but they could sense the activity.
I nodded to the angel who was guarding everything and turned to face the group. “Not long ago, a psychic named Kate who once used the stage name Natasha Romanoff approached me with a proposition that if I saved her from her family that was using her gifts and abusing her, she would help me with several problems we faced. As Bacchus already said, I also knew demon activity on our plane was increasing and more were coming over.
“But more than that I was unaware of, as I don’t sit around and count my toes. Plus, given my power and abilities, the dead hound me incessantly, so I’ve spent most of my life avoiding them. She informed me that there were souls surrounding the coven always, as it was a sort of beacon to them and much more.”
“You have several here that are misinformed on several things,” the angel warned me, nodding out to the group.
I sighed, not even annoyed with them, as a lot of enchanters didn’t understand it all. “Not every enchanter can see souls. Magics are grouped as enchanters, elves, fairies, and casters, the last being human. Now, most believe—as it is written in our archives—that casters have some small amount of enchanter blood in their linage, which is how they can use magic of any
type.
“That is different than certain portals and seals that anyone could use, as the magic is in the symbols and the placement so to use the energy of the planet.” I waited until I saw most nod. “Psychics are human and most believe have some small drop of magic blood, whether it be elf or enchanter, but something. They have no magic to use but if their potential is unlocked can become psychics, which includes mediums or any of the whole group.”
“What unlocks this potential?” an elder I didn’t know asked, dipping his head to me. “I apologize if the question is rude, but there are many, many answers that are given, and as an elder, I’ve never known who to ask and feel I should know the answer.”
I bobbed my head. “You should. The problem is there is no real answer.” I held up my hand to ward him and the others off. “All I’ve ever seen or read is a person has to be ‘surrounded by death’ to unlock that side of them. That’s bloody vague and horribly unhelpful. I can tell you how it started for me, but it is not something that will ever become public knowledge.”
“They are in agreement on that,” the angel told me, staring out at the group, obviously wanting to help.
“I was attacked by a vampire who sliced me open, a wound I was dying from, and I used my magic to kill him, my first time attacking or killing anyone, all while the woman protecting me died as well. I thought I was dead and woke in bad shape, but help came in time. I saw the soul of the woman who saved me, and I have seen them since. That power was unlocked inside me.
“It is a horrible burden, and while I know many think it is a devil power, it is not. It’s not something enchanters can work for or learn. I have known humans that survived a plane crash and nothing. But I’ve known one that she became a psychic because she must have had some drop of magic blood in her linage. I’ve also seen it destroy people.
“When I was young, many believed any with that gift should be killed, as it led to madness and there was no help for it. That tends to be the answer to most for anything they don’t understand, but there is another way.” I lifted the charm I always wore, dipping my head to Sangria. “A new and caring elder took pity on a very young enchantress once, and together they figured out how to make a charm to help those of us who are so cursed.”