by C C Sommerly
“Jennica!”
We reached the top of the stairs and an enforcers with a sword out met us.
“You will not get any further,” she/he said.
“Marty,” came the weak sound behind him.
“Jennica!”
“Please, she’s family to me. Don’t hurt her,” said Jennica. “Can I have one minute with her?”
“One minute and then I’m taking these two down to the jail.”
I expected no less from the enforcers. I’d broken into the house in blatant disregard for the wishes of the residents here.
I swooped down on her and gave her a hug and couldn’t seem to let go. My eyes watered. I never cried. She felt so frail and was all bones. How could she be in such bad shape after such a short time. I finally let her go. Her eyes were empty and the shine and vibrancy that I identified with her was missing.
“How did you get back? What did they do to you?
“I was wrong. They didn’t help me. They took my magic.”
She knew who had the other girls. “Where were you held.”
Jennica glanced behind me at the enforcer.
“I’m not supposed to tell anyone. It was near the water. It smelled like fish and was in some dingy place. It was cold and wet. There were dozens of us drugged in the cages. The potions were awful and gave you a floaty feeling.”
My rage boiled up. Those monsters had dozens of people. And, since they took Jennica, this just became personal. I’d see each and every person responsible for this hunted down and taken out – laws be damned.
“You’ve had enough time,” said the enforcer.
He threw a spell at Roc and me and we were trapped in a glowing orb. He made a gesture and we floated behind him. His effortless magic irritated me, but I also envied it. What was wrong with me? I was glad my magic was gone. I was a liar.
Sterling was going to be so mad. We couldn’t afford to spend money to bail us out. Who knew how long the enforcers would keep us?
We were silent the whole drive. There was nothing to say. The jail was a tall, concrete building near the Mid Line. We were stripped of our weapons and belongings. The enforcers bound our arms with magical restraints as well and then, they threw Roc and me in separate cells.
The restraints were a bit excessive. I am not foolish enough to run away from the enforcers. I’m reckless, but even I didn’t have a death wish. Enforcers tended to recruit from some of the most magically strong families. And they easily filled their ranks. Being an enforcer brought prestige and wealth. There were at least a hundred of them in this location.
The cell was surprisingly clean and didn’t smell. Definitely an upgrade from my last time I was imprisoned. At least, I knew I’d survive and get out.
I still wanted to know who’d kidnapped me and how. Whoever it was had access to artifacts or was extremely powerful to create a block – neither explanation was a good thing.
An enforcer came to my cell. I ignored him until he spoke.
“So we meet again,” said Miles. “There’s something about you, Rayne Martin. I’ll figure it out. But, I know there is more to you. I also know you are hiding something.”
Great, now I was on his radar. He’d probably become my new stalker.
“Lochlan isn’t here to interfere and I get to interrogate all prisoners.”
“Interrogate or torture? There’s a difference you know.”
He laughed. “You got spunk. Too bad you are a magical dud or you might have a place here.”
“Make up your mind, am I a prospective recruit or a criminal. I can’t be both.”
“You’d be surprised at how many of our recruits start out on the wrong side of the law. I’ll be back for you.”
He walked away, whistling. The man was confusing and an enigma. I don’t think he knew what to do with me.
There was nothing else to do, but sit on the crappy and creaky bed and think. The only good thing that had happened was Jennica was back. I wish I’d had more time with her. I didn’t want to leave her alone. Would the enforcers even find the location? There were a lot of sections of Germanna that were near the water. It could be anywhere.
Jennica mentioned a potion that made her feel bad and induced a floating feeling. When I got out of here, I needed to chat with my new friend, Mr. Smith. He might be able to tell me who else in the city made those types of potions. That’s assuming the kidnappers went through a legitimate seller. They very well could be getting these potions on the black market.
Miles returned. Oh, goodie, it was talk time. Was his definition of talk the same as mine? By the sadistic gleam in his eyes, I doubted it.
“Miles,” someone said.
“I’ll be back,” he said. He winked and walked away.
“You sure seem to get yourself into trouble,” said Lochlan.
“I won’t defend my actions.”
“I heard the details. I’m springing you and your friend. You two should be out soon.”
Lochlan was correct. Roc and I were soon released and given back our weapons. Miles glared at me.
“Seems like you’re a favorite of Miles,” said Lochlan.
“Oh, we’re the closest of buddies. We will be painting each other’s fingernails and doing hair in no time.”
“Can you be serious?”
“Can you not pry. If he’s such a good friend of yours, then you should be asking him.”
“I appreciate you getting us out, but we are leaving.”
“Where are you going, partner?”
“Nowhere with you.”
“Why are you acting like this? We had a deal.”
“Who did you tell that I was going to the Dark Side?”
“I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“How do I know that?”
“I have business to attend to.”
“What business?”
“I can’t disclose that.”
“So you also can’t prove your innocence.”
“I shouldn’t have to. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to kill you if that’s what I was trying to do. I’ve saved your life twice and you accuse me of conspiring to do what – hurt you? Kill you?”
“Can Roc and I get a ride back to Betty?”
“You are unreal. This is low even for you, Marty.”
I ignored how much his words stung.
“Will you give us a ride or not?”
“Fine. My car is this way.”
It was a long ride back to Betty. Tension filled the car and I stayed quiet. Lochlan’s reaction seemed genuine, but why couldn’t he tell me where he’d been, especially if it would clear him?
I drove to The Rivers. I parked near Harborside Hamburger. On the drive over I’d explained to Roc who we were visiting?
“A potion maker lives here? Not bad” said Roc.
“Maybe we are in the wrong business,” I said.
“I’d say so.”
I knocked on his door and Mr. Smith quickly opened it. He scowled at me and tried to slam the door.
“I thought we were past this, Mr. Smith.”
“You turned me into my employer. I lost my job.”
“A job you didn’t want. Now, you get to do your potions full time.”
“They made me swear a blood oath to get my money. Money they should have just given me.”
That explained the frosty welcome.
“Look, I was hired to do a job. I did it.”
“You said you wouldn’t tell them.”
“I lied.”
“Leave.”
“Can’t do that,” said Roc.
Mr. Smith’s eyes widened as he saw Roc. He was a scary guy. He’d even scared me when I first met him.
“I’ll call the —”
“We’ve already been through this. They won’t get here to time for you to not be harmed.”
“If I let you in, will you promise to leave me alone.”
“I —”
“Never mind. You are probably just going to lie ag
ain. Hurry up inside.”
Roc whistled when he saw the set up. It was quite unlike what most spell makers had. He must not have realized that when I said we were going to a lab that I meant an honest-to-God, lab.
“What can I help you with, so you can get out of here?”
“We just want to talk.”
“I somehow doubt that.”
“I’m working a case.”
“That is what your job is, am I right?”
I ignored that.
“I need to know more about your relaxing and calming potions. How strong are they? Could they be used to incapacitate someone?”
“They aren’t designed to do so, but with enough of one, you probably could.”
“Do you have any customers that have bought a large quantity of either?” I asked.
He didn’t answer and lowered his eyes. Ah, we were getting somewhere.
“What don’t you want to tell me?”
When he still didn’t answer, Roc picked him up and shook him.
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk.”
Roc set Mr. Smith down and the dazed man bumped into some bottles, splashing me with their contents.
“What did you just hit me with?”
“Oh, umm… don’t kill me.”
“Mr. Smith?”
“Truth Serum.”
“Great. How soon until I feel the effects?”
“Minutes, maybe less.”
“Tell me about this customer and be quick.”
“I never really saw him. He was a mage. He ordered two hundred truth serums. He said he was a middle man and would re-sell them. I had no reason to believe otherwise. He paid me well.”
“Can you tell us anything else about him?”
“He had black tribal tattoos. They were blurry.”
“Could they have been blurry because they were moving?”
“Nonsense. It was a bad tattoo job.”
“We need to … ” I slurred. That was faster than a few minutes. My mind felt sluggish and my limbs heavy.
“Marty?” asked Roc.
“Rocky, you are the nicest and bestest.”
“We need to leave.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“That’s a customer, quick, leave out the back.”
Roc helped me stagger out the back door. We walked right into Lochlan.
“Oh, look who’s here. Did you come to see me? I missed you. Did you know that?”
“What is wrong with her?” asked Lochlan.
“She got four times a normal dose. It’s some super strong variety that Mr. Smith brewed up and it’s making her loopy.”
“I’d say so.”
“Why are you here?” asked Roc.
“Because I’m still her partner.”
“You’re not anything to her at the moment until your name is cleared. I won’t have Marty getting hurt.”
“He’s the last person who wants to hurt me. Maybe spank me, but nothing really bad.”
“Let’s just get her out of here,” said Lochlan.
They helped me walk to Betty.
Roc went for the door.
“Do you have the keys? It’s locked.”
“My car is never locked. Betty is her own body guard. Can cars have body guards? Maybe a car guard?”
“I think she’s getting worse,” said Roc.
“Keys Marty. Try to focus,” said Lochlan.
“I don’t have real keys. The ones you see me with are for show. Betty doesn’t even need gas.”
“What kind of car do you have?”
“A beautiful one. And one that is the bestest.”
“New plan, we’ll take my car,” said Lochlan.
“No,” said Roc.
“So you plan on walking with her the whole way back to the Agency when you have no way of controlling what she’s going to say or do? She can barely stand.”
“Fine,” grumbled Roc.
“See, Rocky, that wasn’t so bad.”
“Speak for yourself. I’ll have to take the back. Not enough leg room in the front,” said Roc.
They settled me into the front seat. I rolled the window down and stuck my head out. The wind whipped my hair into knots. I shouted out the window.
“Do something,” said Lochlan.
“What am I supposed to do, hold her down?”
“For a start. We’ll get pulled over by the enforcers for being a public nuisance.”
“Come on, Marty, behave,” said Roc.
“I’m not doing anything wrong. You guys are just mean and boring. I want to have fun. Can we have some fun?”
Lochlan pulled the car into the Agency. I bolted out the door, spinning in circles and falling down.
“Fun, this is so fun.”
Sterling stepped out of the Agency with a thunderous expression.
“Get away from her,” he said.
“I’m not doing anything. I helped her.”
“Step away from her or I won’t be responsible for my actions,” said Sterling.
Roc went to Sterling and put a restraining hand on his arm. Sterling threw the hand off, his eyes flashing amber color.
“Oh, the bear wants to play. He’s so big. Can I ride on him? I bet it would be better than a horse.”
“She’s drugged. Again!” shouted Sterling.
Sterling’s form started shifting and his clothes shredded away as he transformed into his Kodiak bear.
“Run for your life,” shouted Roc. He had his silver coated axe out and was blocking us from the bear.
Lochlan grabbed me and threw me into the back seat and took off. He pulled in front of a house that looked like a cross between a mini mansion and a castle. It was a large stone structure that stretched out a hundred feet or more. There were two towers on each end. It looked like something from the middle ages.
Lochlan threw me over his shoulder and dropped me onto a couch.
“What am I going to do with you?”
“Keep me.”
He looked surprised and then his expression changed into something unreadable.
“Since I’m already the villain, I’m going to do something I’ve been wanting to do.”
He leaned over me. I could feel the heat from his body, which made me want to sag into him and press my body against his. I reached for him at the same time he reached for me. His lips crashed into mine as he devoured my mouth. I moaned from the rush of desire that crashed over me. I never wanted it to stop. I fisted my hands into his hair, keeping him close. I wanted more.
Lochlan stopped and pulled away. He was panting as much as I was.
“What secret don’t you want me to know?”
“Who I really am and what I really am?
“And are you going to tell me?”
Lochlan recoiled from me and a look of horror crossed his face before he hid his feelings behind his emotionless mask.
Maybe now, I’d get rid of him as a partner. It’s hard to work with someone you despised and were disgusted by.
“I know what you’re doing.”
I didn’t answer.
“I’m not sure how you are able to lie. Everyone knows he had no children. You aren’t getting rid of me. I was assigned this case and I’m not quitting. Learn to work with me, or I’ll go to the enforcers and tell them just who you are even if it’s a lie. They’ll imprison you just on the chance you are who you say you are.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“That’s the thing, I would.”
I walked away as calmly as my stampeding heart let me. My thoughts ran at a feverish pace and my stomach churned with anxiety. Lochlan had me. I didn’t have a choice.
I sat next to his locked car and waited. I wanted to go back to the Agency, now. I really hated that fae. Why kiss me?
Lochlan came out.
“Take me home.”
We got in the car. He didn’t look at me or say anything . That was fine by me. The short drive back to the Agency took forever.
; Once back, I ran inside and saw Callie.
“Is everyone okay?”
“We had to shoot Sterling with silver,” she said.
“How bad is he?”
“We’re waiting on the healer. He shifted back, but he’s still pissed. Roc won’t be welcomed back here for a while.”
The same healer as before came. He tried to examine me, but I stopped him.
“Sterling’s the one who needs you, not me. I can wait.”
“I’ll need to put him under to treat him.”
“Do what you need to.”
I was feeling more tired than I expected and my heart hurt. I don’t know what I’m going to do about Lochlan. I had no way to know if he’d keep my secret or not. I could lose everything and have to go into hiding. I’d built a life for myself and didn’t want to start over.
The healer wasn’t with Sterling long.
“He’ll be fine once he wakes up. There was no permanent damage from the bullets or the silver.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He came out to check me over.
“And you were supposed to be resting. I can tell that you haven’t been. Off to bed with you.”
“Better do what he says. You don’t want to get worse,” said Callie.
“Okay.”
Once in my room, the bed called to me. Guess the healer was right. It was going to be an early night.
22
I woke up starving and there was no food at the Agency. So, I was treating myself to a BAM burger. I didn’t make it far outside the door before the smell of brimstone hit me. Another demon? I was demoned out.
“Hello there, daughter of –”
“Don’t say it.”
“Ah, couldn’t have the common folk knowing the offspring of one of the world’s greatest enemies exists,” said Varnoc.
“What are you doing here?”
“I want my favor.”
“Right now?”
His expression darkened and he took a threatening step towards me.
“The agreement was a favor of my time and choosing. Are you going back on the agreement?”
“Let’s just leave here, so I can do this favor.”
I wanted him away from the Agency and anyone that could get hurt from what he’d ask of me. Knowing a demon, it was probably something that would stain my soul from its evilness.