Hunted Girls

by brett hicks

  I walked out the door and over to the observation room where the Inspector was still standing and frowning deeply.

  “Well, I take it you head Bix on the phone?”

  He nodded and he huffed.

  “That complicates things a bit, but we can figure this out. I will be informing the Commissioner of this new development. We cannot detain innocent refugees if we can confirm they are innocent refugees.”

  I nodded in agreement.

  “Well, we cannot send them to ICE either, because they are all survivors of a realm crossing.”

  He flicked his gaze to my eyes.

  “What do you want to do then? You came in here for a reason.”

  I nodded in a concession to his astute observation.

  “I will grant him status in my kingdom, and he will have to behave himself, or I can literally just kill him, no trial needed.”

  Inspector Johnson scoffed.

  “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that last bit. You do not want it on record anywhere how rigidly your rulers meet out justice Thea.”

  His tone was filled with warnings to me and I nodded in my understanding.

  “Well, if he has not actually been partied to any crimes, then we can possibly just allow the local inhuman kingdom to deal with him as they see fit. That will keep this mess from running onto my bosses, so sure.”

  I nodded and I turned back to the interview room to see a daemon about a witch.

  Twenty-One:

  My daemon, whose name turned out to be Vincent Lovecraft—seriously—was able to describe a glance he caught of the man under the hood. Well, he saw one of the hooded men, so I wasn’t sure if it was our murderer, one of the other inhuman haters or our witch. Still, this was the first real link we had in breaking the chains of the murders.

  I was very thorough in my debriefing of Vincent. I gave him no wiggle room for lying to me and he ended up swearing his blood-oaths to me for fealty. I ordered him to assist the police and to identify all other refugees. I promised that I would deal with them fairly, so long as they did not lie to us, or cause any trouble.

  Inspector Johnson was fine with this arrangement since it was not uncommon for the police to offer protection or deals for better information. Inspector Johnson seemed more concerned with gauging the intricate relations of the inhuman and other paranormal entities in the city. He was trying to learn how to navigate the darkness that had eluded human detection for thousands of years.

  While some of our colleagues were less than thrilled, they also understood how this worked. You press the small fish to learn more about the really big fish in the pond. Catch-and-release had been a common practice for nearly as long as the NYPD has been around. Not that Cops liked to release potential threats, ever. This just sort-of went along the “devil you know” principle. In this case that was a very literal truth.

  Now I had a decent sketch of a pale white male of six-foot-height and average build, with a long jagged scar marring his right cheek. Now I did not pretend to be an expert on magic, but couldn’t witches hide or remove such distinguishing marks? I was probably correct to assume this was either my killer or someone who hated inhumans as badly as the killed did. My daemon swore that the man reeked of unnatural-ness and that was something, considering Mr. Lovecraft still reeked of sulfur himself.

  “Detective!”

  I spun in time to see Skylar coming to a stop. I quirked my brows in question at his hasty arrival like a stampede of elephants.

  “Where’s the fire?”

  I snarked and he gave me a dire look.

  “That might not be funny once you hear this.”

  He had my full and undivided attention at that!

  “Tell me, what’s up Sky?”

  He sighed and he started over again.

  “We have multiple assaults on witch owned businesses and several daemons beaten to a pulp. This city is about to go up like a freaking powder keg!”

  I ground my teeth and I felt miserable. Perhaps I was too quick to judge Reece’s opinion of my actions. Maybe I really was playing too loosely with the fates of the immortals of this city’s lives?

  My gut burned with bile and I steeled my resolve.

  “Where and when? How many injured? Any of them fatal?”

  Skylar began to give me a list of places hit and I snarled at the length of the list. Two dozen or more places hit in targeted hate-crimes!

  This is all your fault too!

  I felt myself becoming dizzy and I swore in a tangent. I didn’t want to have to call her about this, but I needed Seri. She was much older and wiser than I was. I fumbled for my phone and I sat down at my desk looking for all the world like my best pig and his pet spider had both just died on me.

  “Hello beautiful, what an unexpected pleasure.”

  I bit my lip and her happiness only made my guilt twist that much more painfully.

  “Babe, you need to check the news, there have been a lot of targeted witch and daemon hate-crimes. Seri, I need your help containing this! I didn’t mean for this to happen when I set the police on that hollowing! I just wanted the slaved freed and the criminals punished!”

  She was silent as the grave for a moment and I heard the sound in the background of her TV cutting on and blaring some news report. Seri swore to herself and she picked the phone back up.

  “I’m on this, look I will handle this end. This is not your fault, or even mine for informing the police in the first place. This is something people have been waiting for an excuse to get away with. Some people are just hateful babe. I would know, I was here for Salem!”

  I sighed and I shook my head and rub my temples with my free hand.

  “I guess, but I have taken in the refugees that we are releasing. Has Bix mentioned this to you yet?”

  “Yes, she called me the moment you hung up with her and she assumed, rightly so, that you would come to this decision. I agree and I have often maintained the practice of offering the peaceable daemons the same rights as inhumans. This is even extended to witches, so long as they do not dabble in the dark. Grey is fine by me, but nothing black.”

  I nodded dumbly to no one in particular.

  “Yeah, well I don’t currently have any witches I’m offering sanctuary to, but I will remember that.”

  “Honey, I will put together a strategy to quell the unrest. I believe once this killer is off the streets that will help a lot. The humans are afraid he will start killing more than just us if given the time and opportunity.”

  I hummed in agreement and I quickly gave her the description that my daemon had come up with. Seri sounded very excited and I could practically hear her analytical mind whirling in options and ramifications. She would likely be setting Bix on this description.

  “We have a long day ahead of us both it seems. Can I hope to expect you home for dinner tonight?”

  I bit my lip and I felt the girlish part of my bubble up at this domestic conversation.

  “Maybe, but you know how my job is, right? I am not gonna be a nine-to-five kind of girl anytime in the near future, or ever.”

  Seri snorted and she sighed wistfully.

  “I am aware and I admire the work you do Thea. You are a protector, my own personal knight who seems to prefer to hide her daggers in her underwear drawer.”

  I blinked a few times and was about to ask her why she was in my underwear drawer when she filled that in for me.

  “I felt bad about ruining your panties, so I was restocking your drawer with new comfortable garments. I stabbed myself no fewer than three times in that process.”

  I bit my lip to keep from laughing at her theatrical performance of mock-hurt and mock-disturbed. I could almost envision the physical expressions accompanying that act! Seri was as good an actress as any vampire and that was saying something! Vampires are all about their damn drama and blood!

  “Well, I find it useful to keep my knives close at hand in all places. You never know when you might get attacked. If there
is anything my life has taught me, it’s the value of being prepared for death at every corner.”

  “Your outlook on life is very disturbing for your age Thea, but it does make you a mighty enemy to anyone who wishes to cross you. I apologize if I invaded your personal space in this latest little debacle.”

  I shrugged one shoulder and I spoke lower into the phone so that Sky couldn’t hear.

  “Me underwear drawer, su underwear drawer.”

  She snorted and chuckled on the other end of the phone.

  “Ah, I wish we could speak more, but I shall see you at the first opportunity my beautiful, smart, heroic Latin queen.”

  I grinned a cheesy grin and I rolled my eyes.

  “You’re so full of it, you know that right?!”

  She chuckled again and we said our goodbyes. I felt as if my feelings toward Seri were reaffirmed. I felt ridiculous for how much time I had spent avoiding her up until last night. Seri must be a practical saint to have held on this long!

  Skylar and I decided to drive down to the closest crime-scene at the edge of East Harlem. This was my turf, I had fought a bloody campaign to own this land and I would be damned if I was going to let terror and hate fester in my streets.

  The first location was an actual magical goods shop, all above the table business. A light witch who was a full member of my kingdom. I felt like I owed this to her, and much more. I have had two occasions to speak with the youngish witch of thirty-five. She looked about college age and showed no signs of aging. She was a Bishop witch, Ariel Bishop. The line was traced back to the oldest of witch families, and also lost members in the Salem travesty.

  Her shop, Witchy Wares, was thrifty and charming. I had been there once before for her grand opening. She was a competent and kindly girl with moxie. Her orange-red ember hair color spoke of her deeply unbroken Irish heritage. Like most the American Bishops, Ariel was New York born and bred. She was also one of the few white witches currently powerful enough to be potentially immortal. Considering her lack of age, I would agree. So, I was not about to make a powerful immortal witch my enemy. Even white witches could hold a grudge of legendary proportions.

  ***

  When we arrived at the scene the huge sign above the front of her shop was a charred mess and was still kicking off grey puffs of smoke. Her large glass windows were shattered on both sides, she had a corner lot that had been passed to her when her great-aunt died. Ariel was the only Bishop who had any interest in living in Harlem.

  The thing five-nothing witch wearing a blue and yellow sundress stood outside with her arms crossed over her chest appraising the damages. Her forehead was split and she had a gash. Her crystal blue eyes were narrowed and held a steely resolve.

  I sighed and I wished so badly I could undo some of the things that had happened yesterday. I wished I could have thought of a better method or to just remember that throwing witches under the bus was no better than throwing shifters under the bus.

  Damn my limited public relations skills! This is what happens when a twenty-three-year-old girl has more power than wisdom!

  I chided myself harshly and vigorously. I parked in a vacant spot near her building, nearly plowing over a few rubber-neckers in the process. Ariel turned and her orange-red hair streamed around her in the light breeze. I could smell the hints of sage on her body mixing with the charred smell of her wooden sign.

  Her expression darkened and she stiffened in her spot as I walked over to her. Ariel was pissed with me, and rightly so. I sighed I gave her an apologetic smile. She looked as if she’d rather crawl over all the broken glass than talk to me, but she didn’t move an inch.

  Twenty-Two:

  Ariel pursed her lips and reluctantly gave me a very stiff and slight nod of curtsey.

  “What brings you down here, princess?”

  She was a very direct girl and her eyes were the hottest blue cobalt I had ever seen. She was soft and gentle normally, but the girl had a fire in her. There was a fire in her that her bright-red hair only accentuated further, enhancing her hostility in the way of the Irish.

  “I’m so sorry about all of this.”

  My tone was sincere and I looked at her with a very somber expression.

  ‘Can we speak to you privately?”

  Like behind your warded office perhaps?

  I thought to myself and Ariel seemed paused for a moment by her anger, but she too seemed unwilling to speak shop out in the open with prying eyes and ears about the area.

  She nodded and waved me towards her broken glass door.

  “After you, just try not to cut yourself on all of this glass princess.”

  She made my title sound like a curse, less like I was some sort of adopted royalty. Seraphina being my kin made me the Second Princess of the Earth Throne. This title came with serious duties and even more serious competition who wanted nothing more than to destroy every venture my domain set out to undertake.

  When we were behind her wards, I felt her raise them as she locked the door. The magic seemed to be tied to the lock on the door—clever!

  Ariel strode to her desk and waved at the two grey cushioned chairs across from her.

  “Have a seat.”

  We complied and sat down and I sighed and gave her an apologetic look.

  “First I want to apologize for my shortsightedness yesterday. I thought we were just bringing attention to the dark magic underbelly and the more hostile daemons from Dis and Inferus. Seraphina, Bix, Liam, and I are all currently working to bring to light the extreme difference from a practicing white witch, or a community of legal citizens and the darks that we apprehended for selling humans and dark magic last night.”

  Ariel glared at me and she re-crossed her arms over her slim chest.

  “You have no idea how betrayed we have felt by you, Thea. We trusted you! We have taken our oaths to you and we of white have taken sacred oaths to do no harm! I am a healer and generally help people deal with emotional damages that no mundane medicinal products can treat, like military vets with PTSD. What you did was reckless and fickle! I get it, one of those who sore the white vows betrayed you, but I did not think you so petty as to lump us all in with Henry! He was always more a necromancer than a witch!”

  I nodded in agreement and comprehension.

  “I cannot defend myself on anything you have said, but know that I have begun the process of fixing what I broke. I was just so focused on the lives at stake last night, I should have consulted the community leadership for advice before proceeding. I swear to you, moving ahead, I will call you the Bishops and the other leaders of the many sects who form our new counsel. I will not go rogue on you guys again and I will step in front of any number of cameras just to fix this. The humans are pissed that we exist, period, and they are looking for any excuse to act out against us. I am so sorry to have painted that target on your back Ariel. You are a stand-up girl and an amazing witch. I would never have dreamed my actions could have such backlash on people I hold in such high esteem.”

  Ariel looked at me for a long moment and she bluntly asked, “None of that was bullshit, was it?”

  I shook my head and my eyes widened.

  “Of course not! I am inexperienced, not cruel! I would hope that you can tell that much about me by now!”

  Ariel sagged forward and sighed a tired long gust of breath.

  “This entire situation just reeks Thea.”

  I nodded in total agreement. She looked across and I noted she was studying my blue-uniform-clad buddy Skylar. I waved my hand to him.

  “Ariel Bishop, meet Skylar Johnson, my partner, and the best and brightest new cop in the NYPD.”

  Skylar blushed slightly at my high praise of his skills. He stretched out his hand and gave Ariel boyish smile.

  “A pleasure to meet you Miss Bishop, but I am terribly sorry about the circumstances.”

  She gave Skylar a tiny smile and I watched them silently with a morbid fascination. She was suddenly more girlish in her ma
nner and even squirmed a little.

  Shit, I knew he was a charming little bastard, but damn!

  After a long moment, Ariel seemed to remember that we were having a serious conversation and she cleared her throat.

  “What brought you down here? I’m sure you have a lot of other work that is more important right now.”

  I bit my lip and I shrugged.

  “I felt like we might learn something useful if any of your security cams picked up the perps. We have some solid leads on various hate groups who are purchasing dark magic. I thought we might be able to bust your perps and squeeze them to figure out how wide and deep this group’s reach is in New York.”

  Ariel pursed her lips and she seemed to come to a decision. She nodded and she tapped on her laptop on her desk.

  “I keep digital records here and back it up on a cloud too. My sister always tells me I’m too paranoid, but I like to think I’m just safe.”

  I nodded in agreement.

  “There is nothing paranoid about a woman who is an open practicing witch, wanting to feel safe in this city.”

  She hummed in agreement and Skylar plucked out a white and blue NYPD card and scribbled down what I assumed to be his private number.

  “Here, you can call me anytime day or night and I will come by. If you need anything please ask, because not everyone is bigoted about magic. Hell, I love magic, who couldn’t? We all grew up in the post-Harry Potter world after all!”

  Ariel took his card and she stuffed it into a pocket on her purse.

  “Thank you, Officer Johnson.”

  Skylar beamed at her and waved a dismissive hand.

  “Please, just Skylar to my friends.”

  For a woman whose store was just fried, Ariel was suddenly very giddy. I opted not to say anything and let the two love-birds flirt to their content.

  Ariel soon pulled up the video from the time of the attack. Three figures jumped out of a dark four-door sedan, either dark brown or black. It looked like a Nissan or a Toyota, one of the higher end four-door models. Something a middle-aged human male who spends his free time committing inhuman hate crimes might drive.