by Logan Byrne
“Let’s sneak out before he finds out,” Charlie said.
I grabbed his hand, covering it in elevator wire grease, and the two of us snuck out and teleported back into Faus’s lab in the precinct. “Here,” I said, handing him the flash drive.
“I’ll try to get this data sorted as soon as possible,” he said.
“He saw me, he knows I was up to something. He’s going to connect the dots,” I said.
“He won’t know, Lexa. You were disguised,” Charlie said.
I looked in a mirror, seeing my changed face starting to dissipate, before turning back into my own face. “I don’t know, this isn’t great,” I said.
“Let’s just let Faus get through this, and we can relax and move on with our lives in the meantime. He didn’t know it was you. You’re fine,” Charlie said, hugging me.
20
A few days had passed and nothing had happened on the Kiren front. We were never sought out, and Faus was still analyzing the data, but he said he would have it within the next day or two to go over. I guessed Kiren’s hard drive was full of a lot of files, and all of them were heavily encrypted, which made it even more difficult for Faus to get in, but he said he was getting the job done.
“Are you looking forward to tonight?” Blake asked as he leaned against a vending machine while I looked for a snack.
“Yes, I am,” I said, smiling. Britta’s birthday was tonight, and we were all going out to dinner and to see a play. It was going to be magical, and something that I thought we all desperately needed. We never got a lot of free time, especially to go out like this, and plus it acted as a little date for Blake and me, which we definitely never got a chance to do.
“I’m looking forward to holding your hand all night,” he said, smiling.
“I’m looking forward to kissing you when the theater goes dark,” I said.
“Oh, stepping it up a little, huh?” he asked, laughing.
“A girl has to keep control, you know,” I said, as my candy bar dropped from above.
“I’m so glad we found one another. I can’t imagine not having you around after how close we’ve become,” he said.
“I know, things will only get better,” I replied, smiling from ear to ear.
•••
With a pile of food in front of us that night, we sat around the table in the restaurant laughing and snorting as we told jokes and work stories that were hysterical. I held Blake’s hand under the table, something I didn’t get to do too often, before the waiter brought Britta a slice of birthday cake with a candle in it.
Embarrassing her, we all sang loudly, as her cheeks turned a little red before she made a wish and blew out her candle. “Funny, isn’t it?” she asked.
“What?” I replied.
“Making a wish when you’re a witch and have magic,” she said. “Still, a fun tradition. Thank you all for coming out with me tonight, and thank you for being my friends. To us.”
Britta raised her glass, all of us raising ours and clinking them together before saying we were united.
Just as things were going great, Mirian walked through the door of the restaurant, flanked by two officers, and approached our table.
“Mirian. What is it?” Blake asked.
“Lexa, will you please come with me?” he asked, looking saddened.
“Mirian, what is it?” I asked, my heart dropping.
“I don’t want to make a scene here. Please come quietly and I’ll make sure this is swift,” he said.
“Mirian,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes as the others looked at me. I looked at Charlie, then Faus, both of them looking panicked as Mirian didn’t back down.
“Lexa Blackmoon, under the authority of M.A.G.I.C., I hereby place you under arrest for the attempted assassination of Kiren Nightstorm,” Mirian said, and the officers came around the table and grabbed me.
“Hey, let her go,” Blake said, his eyes turning red.
Mirian swiped his hand, Blake’s body seizing up as he fell back into his chair. “Please, everybody, don’t try anything. You all must know I’m not happy to do this, but the law is the law.”
I began to cry, tears streaming down my cheeks, as the cops with Mirian took my wand, handing it to him, before handcuffing me and hauling me towards the door. “Lexa Blackmoon, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney one will be provided to you. Do you understand these rights as I have expressed them to you?” Mirian asked.
When I looked over at him I saw the sadness in his eyes. I knew he didn’t want to do this. He was my mentor, a father to me, and he must’ve known I never would’ve tried to do this to Kiren. There must’ve been a mistake, and I was bound and determined to figure it out.
I was booked, my fingerprints and mug shot taken, as my fellow officers stared at me, almost in shock. Some I knew and others I didn’t. They all knew me, though.
It was disheartening and humiliating. I was tossed in with other women who were awaiting interrogation or transport to a more permanent facility. I sat there, staring at the cold disgrace the prison bars exuded, before staring down at my hands while I twiddled my thumbs.
I was going to fight these charges, and I was going to get myself free before anything else bad could happen. Kiren was out of line, and the fact that he could lie and fabricate a threat of this caliber was beyond reprehensible. There was no proof, and I would be cleared of all charges.
I just had to be.
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Awakened Dreams (Book Three)
Awakened Dreams (Book Three) – Chapter One
“Look boys, a M.A.G.I.C. auditor is here with us today. What a joy this is,” a man snarled from a cell across the hall.
“I’d hate to be somebody like her going into prison with guys like us,” another said, giggling.
“I won’t be going anywhere,” I snapped, looking down at the floor. “This is a misunderstanding.”
“Yeah, just like mine is, right, Marv?” the first guy asked, laughing hysterically.
“Yeah, our crimes were just misunderstandings,” Marv said, laughing.
I twiddled my thumbs, trying to block these guys out, as I attempted to understand how I ended up in prison. How did Kiren get wind of me, and why was he saying I tried to assassinate him? That was a bold claim, even for him, and even though I was fairly new to the force, my track record would work in my favor, not against it.
Then it came to me. The light. I’d left the light on in his office, which would’ve triggered something to him. He would’ve known somebody had been in there, but how did he know it was me? Did he have cameras, or maybe he took fingerprints? I should’ve worn gloves; that was a mistake on my part. I knew Mirian would be able to get me out of this, to make the commissioner release me and let me get back to work, but I would have to be extra careful going forward. Kiren knew who I was now, and I didn’t want to give him any more reason to put me behind bars.
“Lexa,” I heard, before looking up. It was Mirian, standing there with keys in his hand—and a pair of handcuffs.
“Mirian,” I said, relieved, standing up.
“Please put your hands up to the bars so I can restrain you. We have to go to interrogation now,” he said coldly.
> “But I’m not a threat,” I said, blinding defeat apparent in my voice.
“I must follow protocol, especially with a charge such as this one. Please just do as I ask,” he said.
I could feel the pain in his voice, almost as if he were hurting more than I was. He was like a father to me, a mentor, and to think that I did something like this must’ve been killing him. He had to know I didn’t do it—obviously he knew what kind of person I was, but treating me like a common prisoner would’ve been taxing for him, I was sure.
We walked down the hall, his hand resting on my shoulder as he walked behind me. I didn’t look at the other prisoners in their holding cells. I knew they were all smirking, as if they took great revel and pride in seeing me being treated like this. They would’ve been happy seeing any cop in this position, because I didn’t know any of them and I certainly didn’t arrest any of them.
“I will have five minutes before the room becomes recorded. I pulled some strings internally so that I could speak to you,” Mirian whispered as we walked down an empty hallway towards the interrogation room. “Don’t reply.”
I felt a little butterfly in my stomach, knowing he was putting on a show, before we walked into the interrogation room and he shut the door. Another cop who I recognized as part of the resistance was standing outside guarding the entrance. “What did you do?” he asked, taking off the cuffs.
“Mirian, I swear on my life that I would never attempt what Kiren is accusing me of,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes.
“Then how does he know who you are, and why is he picking you out of the blue?” he asked.
“I did something. Well, Charlie, Faus, and I. We went to the gala,” I said.
“Lexa,” he sighed, putting his hand to his forehead.
“I wanted to get more information, and I got it. Well, Faus got it, but I think I messed up. I left a light on in Kiren’s office, and he must’ve known somebody had been there and took prints. That’s the only way,” I said.
“Or cameras, which wouldn’t be great,” he said.
“No, I remember that I had a transformation spell active. It wasn’t that. But you have to believe me,” I said.
“I do, Lexa, I do. I know you aren’t stupid enough to attempt a hit on Kiren’s life or anything close to that, but I still cannot believe you thought doing this, especially without my help, was a smart move. I can’t get you out of this one,” he said sadly.
“What do you mean? Surely you can,” I said, my stomach dropping.
“Lexa, this isn’t another cop accusing you. This is the president accusing you, and he isn’t going to just not follow up. He’ll make sure you go down for this. He’ll be watching everybody with a microscope, especially if anything happens to you,” Mirian said.
“What’s going to happen to me?” I asked.
“You’re going to Filtonshire,” he said, looking at me with saddened eyes. “He wants you locked up somewhere safe for him.”
Filtonshire. That name was synonymous with serial killers and the worst of the worst in the magical realm. It was a maximum-security prison, one that you didn’t escape from, unless you died within the walls. It was in the Swiss Alps, an already difficult place to live, and I guess they figured if they didn’t kill you, the elements would. I couldn’t believe he wanted me there.
“He just wants me somewhere he knows I won’t get away from,” I said.
“Of course he does, why wouldn’t he? He must know, or suspect, that you’re part of the resistance. I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to flush the rest of us from the precinct. Your actions might have serious ramifications for us all,” Mirian said, not holding back on the jabs.
“Way to make me feel bad,” I said, sitting down.
“The truth stings, Lexa. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you, or that I love you less, but you really messed up here,” Mirian said.
“So I go to Filtonshire, then what?” I asked.
“Pote will try to get you out, but that isn’t an easy job. We’ve done it before, but they catch wind every time we get somebody out. Besides, once you’re out, assuming we complete the job, where do you go then? We’ll have to hide you somewhere until we can take care of the current administration,” he said.
“So no more friends, no more job, no more boyfriend—no more anything, really,” I said, my head hanging low.
“We will get through this, but for now, I’m going to have to flip a switch and begin interrogating you like I would any other prisoner. I have to maintain my other persona so they don’t catch on to me,” Mirian said, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“I understand, Mirian. Thank you for looking out for me,” I said, before sticking out my hands to be secured to the table. Mirian handcuffed them, shackled in front of me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of defeat come crashing down on me.
“Remember to maintain your innocence. We will get you out, I promise,” he said, before giving me a peck on the forehead. A single tear splashed onto the metal table, the bright light overhead illuminating it, as I looked at a distorted version of myself reflected in the steel. Why did I have to be so ambitious that night? I should’ve let it go. I really should’ve.
Mirian didn’t hold back in the interrogation, treating me just like any scumbag prisoner he normally interviewed. I kept silent except to say I was innocent. I wasn’t giving Kiren any ammunition, and I was going to try whatever I could to make sure my stay at Filtonshire was as brief as humanly possible. If anybody could fudge the evidence and get me free, it was Mirian. I just prayed he did it fast.
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Awakened Dreams (Book Three)
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