Wild Fire

by Ally Shields

  “Arianna, you cannot imagine how delighted I was to hear from you. I would have responded earlier, but I was making calls on your behalf. Have you located this Kirsch fellow yet?”

  “We know he flew into Riverdale under the name of Heinrich Worman. One-way ticket. If he has a scheduled return, it hasn’t been used. At least not at this airport.”

  “Nor any other airport. He flew from Frankfurt to New York to Chicago to Riverdale. I can find no return trip under either name or any male German citizen leaving the Riverdale area for overseas. The airlines will alert us if that should change. In the meantime, I suggest you assume he is somewhere nearby.” He cleared his throat. “Now tell me. Does this have anything to do with that kidnapping business we dealt with before?”

  “Not with the wolves, but remember Toronto? There’s a direct tie.”

  “Ah, the vampires again. Always intriguing. But I thought you said Kirsch was a warlock.”

  “It’s a long story.”

  Jones chuckled. “You know I always have time for a good story. Come on, Arianna, tell me what is going on. Of course if you don’t want my help…”

  She grinned at the phone. “That sounds like blackmail. But I’ll tell you anyway.” She gave him a much condensed version of the dealings with the elders. He interrupted once to clarify who the elders were.

  “The seven original vampires, the oldest of the undead. A brutal bunch. You may have heard them referred to as the O-Seven. They’ve ruled the vampire world for thousands of years.”

  “And they see the rise of a new order in North America that could threaten them.”

  “Something like that, I guess.”

  “It sounds as if you have your hands full, young lady. I’ll do what I can to notify you of any nefarious assassins coming your way.” He sounded worried. “The intelligence community is aware of a shadow group known as the O-Seven. Since they were vampires preying on vampires, we chose to keep our distance. Now that looks shortsighted.” He sighed heavily. “If they’re branching out to the US, that will be of interest to the CIA, Homeland Security, and perhaps Interpol. I cannot guarantee any of these agencies will respond fast enough to be much help, but I’ll put out the word.”

  Got to love his connections. “If you were here right now I’d kiss you.”

  “And give an old man a heart attack.” Jones chuckled. “See that you survive this, my dear. I may want to come to Riverdale someday and collect that kiss.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  The rest of the night and the next morning were eerily quiet. With each passing hour, Ari grew more edgy.

  Lilith and Russell shook their heads as she practiced a water spell she’d learned in Germany. The damp floor in the basement of the mansion, and the pail and mop beside it, indicated the spell wasn’t working entirely as anticipated.

  Shortly after noon they were interrupted by a call from Henry, his voice brimming with excitement. “I did it. I’ve got the spell.”

  “On my way.” Ari jumped to her feet, breaking the magical circle she’d been sitting in, and startling the werelions. Ari waved at the puddles around her. “I’m too distracted to figure this out. And Henry’s waiting.”

  When they arrived at the lab, Henry was whistling a merry tune, obviously pleased with himself. “You’re going to love what I have.” He waved his hand at the table, covered with small petri dishes of measured ingredients.

  Ari nodded with approval.

  “I started with powdered moonstone to honor your Goddess. Do you recognize the rest?”

  She leaned forward for a closer look and pointed at each petri dish as she named its contents. “Belladonna for an altered state of mind. The angelica and basil are frequently used in exorcisms. Very appropriate for Gerhard. Agrimony. Yes, that would reverse the negative vibrations backwards onto him. Aloe is always good to protect the conjurer. But what is this?” She frowned at the red particles.

  “The secret ingredient.” He lowered his voice. “Rafflesia arnoldii. Corpse plant. It’s rare, only found in the lower rainforests of Indonesia.”

  “Oh, I like that.” She straightened. “But why are you whispering? Surely you don’t think there’s a spy in the lab.”

  “Uh, sorry about that.” His voice returned to normal. “Caught up in the moment, I guess. You can count on it taking Gerhard some time to figure out the last ingredient is the corpse flower. Even if he does, it won’t be easy to find. You need fresh petals from the native variety. No hybrids and no dried plants.”

  “So what does this spell actually do?”

  “It will interrupt all of his spell powers for five to ten seconds. That should give you enough time to breach his defenses and capture him.”

  “Or kill him.”

  “Well, yes, that too.” Henry didn’t seem to be shocked or bothered by the alternative. “Of course you’ll need to mix it and add your own invocation. Shall we get started on the wording?”

  With Henry helping, it didn’t take long. Once they thought it was right, Ari took the ingredients, her handwritten spell, a ritual candle and the pouch of magicks fastened to her waist to the corner of the lab usually reserved for trial runs in spellcasting. She set up her witches’ circle, laid the items around her, and opened her pouch. She took out a small silk cloth, spread it in front of her, then shook six empty spell capsules into her hand. When she’d separated the capsules into halves, she laid them on the cloth. Nodding once at Henry, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  Ari took a moment to settle her mind, then opened her eyes and lit the candle, bowing to each of the four directions, representing the elements of earth, wind, water and fire. She picked up a pinch of the moonstone dust and sprinkled it on the candle, careful not to put out the flame. One by one she sprinkled the additional ingredients, chanting the spell words three times:

  Evil is as it can do; stay his hand and spirit too;

  Cloud his mind, blind his eyes; make his magic bound by ties;

  Douse the fire; keep it cold; Goddess, hear this plea so bold.

  If you choose to grant my plea, so mote it be.

  Once the spell was completed she picked up the bottom half of a capsule, held it in the candle smoke, and added the words to capture the spell for later use:

  Take this spell, wrap it tight; keep it safe from dark and light;

  In these capsules, hide it all; set it free when I call;

  Gracious Goddess, hear my plea; so mote it be.

  When white smoke filled the capsule, she added the top and returned it to the cloth. She repeated the process until all six capsules were filled. Once she located Gerhard, she’d merely have to break a capsule to release the spell. She gathered her magic items, placed the spell capsules in her pouch, and broke the circle.

  Henry was scribbling in a notepad. “Where did you learn that single candle capsuling trick? The ritual I use is much more cumbersome.”

  “Germany. The witches there had a lot of practice in needing spells in a crisis, so they shortened the process.” As they walked toward the front of the room, she gave him the words of the chant she’d used. Henry’s head bobbed up and down as he wrote furiously.

  Ten minutes later Ari, Lilith, and Russell left the lab and headed for home. The lions weren’t very impressed with a spell that lasted less than ten seconds. But all Ari needed was an edge, a few moments to act before Gerhard disintegrated her with fire or teleported out of reach. This spell was designed to do that. Providing it worked—not a sure thing until it was tested. She wouldn’t know until she was in the middle of a confrontation with Gerhard. She’d have to trust in Henry’s expertise.

  Before they had covered more than two blocks, Ryan called to say his patrol officers had arrested an out-of-town bounty hunter at a local motel. The motel manager had called dispatch regarding a man acting suspiciously. When officers tried to question him, he ran, then surrendered once he was cornered. The police searched his room and found a dismantled sniper rifle in a case along with phot
os of Ari and Andreas.

  The mention of the photos left her hands clammy. It made it so real.

  She headed to the police station. Once she found Ryan, she ordered the werelions to go home, assuring them she’d be safe enough surrounded by police officers. She was tired of the constant scrutiny and of every frown and sigh. Russell and Lilith protested, reminding her of Andreas’s edict, but they finally agreed after Ryan promised to drive her home.

  Ari and Ryan went to the basement holding cells to question the prisoner. He was the stereotype of a tough-as-a-junkyard-dog bounty hunter. The studded leather jacket and chains might have influenced the motel manager’s opinion of his character more than his behavior. He’d refused to talk with officers on the scene, and Ryan and Ari had no better luck. He was charged with going armed with intent, and they walked him through arraignment at night court. Bail was denied.

  “If this keeps up, we could fill our jail,” Ryan said. He and Ari had just left the basement holding area and were climbing the stairs to his office. “Can’t European authorities put some pressure on the O-Seven to lift the bounty?”

  “You must be kidding.” She shook her head. “The authorities have no power over the O-Seven. No one does. The witches have tried, but everyone else pretty much tries to stay out of their way.”

  “What about their magic council?”

  “There are none in Germany. They tried to get one started, but the vampires killed them.”

  “Then other countries. Why don’t they step in?”

  “Except for their on-going fights with the witches, the elders pretty much ignore the rest of the world. They don’t care what the humans or the elves or the wolves do as long as it doesn’t bother them. So no one is anxious to attract their attention by making an issue of it.”

  Ryan held the third floor door open. “I can’t imagine that happening here.”

  She stepped into the hallway but glanced back at him. “What would you do if you didn’t have me or the Magic Council, and Andreas was a blood-thirsty dictator?”

  He frowned. “I don’t know, but I’d do something.”

  Ari failed to hide her grin. “I imagine you would.

  “What’s that grin mean?” he growled.

  “Just thinking about what you might do. I’d guess it would involve tanks and special forces with flamethrowers.”

  “If that’s what it took. Might be the perfect ticket for the vampire stronghold in Germany too. A plane or two armed with missiles or bombs might do the job.”

  Ari chuckled. “Lilith and I talked about the merits of a nuclear solution last fall.”

  They entered his office and Ryan went straight to his desk, shuffled through a pile of folders, and handed her two photos. “These were the pictures he had.”

  She steeled herself to look at them. It was a good headshot of Andreas that had been taken at Club Dintero as part of a recent article by Eddie West, the crime reporter for the Riverdale Clarion. The photo of Ari was a candid snapshot from Germany. It was a side view of her talking to someone who’d been cut off. The most identifiable feature was her blonde hair.

  She curled her lip and tossed the photos on his desk. “Maybe I should get a dye job.”

  “Wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Uh-uh. I was joking. It’s not going to happen.”

  “Still wouldn’t hurt,” he grumbled. “No sense in making yourself an easy target.”

  She considered her reflection in the glass of his police academy certificate hanging on the wall. “I could wear it up.” She twisted her hair into a ponytail and grabbed a rubber band from his desk. Taking his Riverdale PD ball cap from a shelf, she put it on and shoved her hair inside. “There.” She spun around with her arms out. “How’s that?”

  “You look thirteen.”

  “I should be getting home.” She took off the cap and set it back on the shelf.

  A sudden spike of alarm shot through her. “Something’s wrong with Andreas.”

  Her cell phone rang.

  Andreas’s photo came up.

  “I’m fine,” he said, “but the side entrance of the club has been fire bombed. Gerhard, I presume. This has got to stop.” He hung up.

  She started toward the door. “The club’s been hit by a fire ball.”

  She’d reached the top of the stairs when a loud explosion rocked the police building. Ari whirled, raced back into Ryan’s office to peer out the window. Gerhard stood across the street, his fingers pouring fire toward the front entrance of the station. She grabbed her Walther and fired through the window pane.

  Gerhard clutched his arm and dropped to one knee. She’d only nicked him. He looked up at the window, extended his fingers, and Ari dove for the floor. The fire bolt hit the building, and flames lapped at the wood frame. She grabbed her coat and attempted to smother them until Ryan appeared from the hallway with a fire extinguisher.

  Ari looked out the window again, but Gerhard was gone. She spun around, her eyes flashing. “I’m going to find him and kick his ass.”

  They hurried down the stairs. Several officers were treating the staff who’d been injured in the initial blast and others fought the spreading flames with fire extinguishers. The massive double doors at the entrance were gone, obliterated by Gerhard’s attack, leaving a gaping hole in the exterior wall.

  The EMTs and fire department had arrived. Ari spotted the fire chief and asked him about the club.

  “Engine 19 responded, but the fire was already out. No injuries from the explosion, but a woman fell on the ice in the stampede out the front door.” He gave Ari a pointed look. “What’s going on, Ms. Calin? I take it this isn’t a normal firebug.”

  She lowered her voice. “A rogue fire witch. We’re going to catch him, Chief. I promise.”

  “Well, I hope it’s before he burns the entire district down.”

  Ari watched the fire chief go back to work. She couldn’t blame him for his skepticism. Hadn’t she told Ryan she didn’t think there’d be more fires after City Hall? So far she’d been wrong four times. Gerhard was playing with them, thumbing his nose. He wanted to show her she was helpless to stop him. Ari rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. He was doing a damn good job of making his point.

  But he wouldn’t keep this up forever. Her stomach knotted. He’d soon grow tired of the games and take more serious action, like maiming or killing people. Someone close to her, if he could.

  Ari wanted to see Club Dintero for herself, and for that she needed a ride. She looked around until she found Ryan coming out of his captain’s office.

  “Just updating the brass,” he said. “The captain’s steaming. Wants Kirsch found yesterday.” He handed her a blue windbreaker with POLICE stenciled on the back. “It’s not much, but if you stay in the cruiser, you’ll be OK for the time being.”

  “Can you leave long enough to drive me to the club?”

  “Sure thing. Not much I can do here.” He glanced at her with a glimmer of a smile. “I’ll even give you that hat you tried on. You can be our teeny bopper squad.”

  * * *

  Club Dintero appeared normal from the front—if you ignored the heavy tire tracks and multiple footprints that had trampled a snowy path into the side driveway. Ryan parked his cruiser in front and went in with her. The club was empty except for staff. Andreas had closed until the damage could be cleared.

  Ari had already called him about the attack on the police building, so he just shook his head when he saw them. He took a second look at her coat and hat. “Is this a new fashion statement?”

  “My coat was ruined in the fire, and the hat is part of my disguise.”

  “Disguise?”

  “Ryan thinks I should dye my hair, so this is my way of compromising.”

  Andreas flashed Ryan a quick grin. “It is kind of cute.”

  She brushed past him. “Let’s see the damage.”

  “This is becoming a habit with you,” Ryan said to Andreas as they walked down the hall toward the o
ffice area and the side entrance. “Second fire bombing at your club in two years.”

  “What can I say? We attract some nasty people. But the damage is minor this time. The flames were out before they reached the offices, kitchen, or dining area. Repairs should be made before morning, and we’ll be open by tomorrow night.”

  Workmen had already started the cleaning and clearing process. The hall smelled heavily of smoke, and two men were lugging in a big fan; others were starting to scrub down the walls.

  Ari turned away, the knot in her stomach loosening a little. Another close call. If Andreas’s staff hadn’t been trained for emergencies, the fire might have gotten out of control. With three hundred club guests, the results would have been awful. “I understand a woman was hurt.”

  “Slipped on the ice. She went to the hospital for x-rays, but I think it was a sprain. What about the PD?”

  “Mostly minor stuff. We’ve been lucky.”

  “It is not luck, Arianna.” Andreas regarded her with dark, unreadable eyes. “He is not trying. Gerhard is harassing you.”

  “I know.” She let out a dispirited sigh. “But what can I do? I don’t know where he is or how to find him. I wouldn’t know how to defeat him if I did.”

  Andreas took her arm and steered her toward his office. “Ryan, can you give us a minute?”

  “No problem. I’ll give my mom a call before she hears about the fire at the station and gets worried.”

  “This won’t take long.” Andreas opened his office door and gestured for Ari to enter.

  She swung around to face him the moment he closed the office door behind them. “Is something else wrong? That you haven’t told me?”

  “You are what’s wrong.” His voice was soft but held a hint of frustration. “You are not acting like yourself. Gerhard bound your fire magic, not your witchcraft or your guardian skills or your cop instincts. Cara mia, you are acting helpless, and I have never seen you this way.”

  She clenched her fists, his words unlocking emotions she’d been at great pains to hide. “I don’t know how to protect everyone. Someone I love is going to die because of me, and I can’t stop it.” Her chest tightened, and her eyes burned with unshed tears.