by F. L. Jordan
“What are you going to do, Pent?” Steffani asked quietly. “Are you going to turn us in to Hail?”
“No,” Natalie’s response made Copper even more uncomfortable, “frankly, I don’t want him involved in any of this, but Agram’s already put a target on his back. I don't suppose you know anything about the dreamcatcher that ended up in his apartment? Or why his sister was targeted?”
“That was the puppet’s doing,” Steffani sniffed. “He’s trying to keep Hail busy so he doesn’t interfere.”
“I have to wonder just how much puppeteering the puppet has been doing,” Natalie started walking away again. “Agram is a blind love drunk fool.”
She paused, speaking to Steffani over her shoulder, “Don’t even think about hurting Hail, Starra. I know he’s been with you. That little addiction charm you placed on him has been removed.”
Copper listened intently. Steffani had placed a charm on Zach? When? Why hadn’t he noticed it?
“The only way you could have found that is if you—,” Natalie silenced the woman with a glare.
“Zachariah Hail is mine,” the level of pure intimidation Natalie produced gave the small dragon chills. “Any witch that harms him will answer dearly for their actions. Got it?”
Steffani bowed to her, “Ita regina meis.” The interaction confused Copper. He didn’t understand Latin. He’d have to ask Zach what the words meant.
“Be safe, sister,” Steffani’s quiet parting words let Copper know it was time for him to return to the car. He launched himself from the fire escape and headed back over the buildings. Zach managed to get the window closed just as Natalie stepped out of the alley.
“Well?” he asked his dragon.
Later, she’s coming, Copper watched the woman approach from over Zach’s shoulder.
She got into the car and slammed the door. Angrily smacking the lock button as she flipped on the childproof lock system so Zach couldn’t open his door. She’d seen the sun glint off Copper’s scales as he’d zipped over the roof of the building. There was no hiding now. Zach would either stay by her side or betray her.
“Real classy sending your dragon to snoop, Hail,” Natalie sat stiff in her seat, afraid to look at him even though she knew he couldn’t see her. “Has he told you what he saw yet?”
Zach was baffled, Copper never got caught, “No. Please, fill me in.”
She glared at the small creature who was currently returning the fiery gaze, “I’m a witch, Zach, and a damn good one. I used to be a part of the Imperial Coven, but left when they decided to get into all this ghetto drug shit.”
Zach couldn't believe she outed herself. He dug into his pockets, showing her the lotion and the crystal, “tell me about these.”
“I would only be confirming what you already know,” Natalie stared at the objects in disbelief. How long had he known? Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad afterall.
“Why is Emily recovering so quickly?” he was genuinely curious.
“The same reason Slag’s injuries healed,” Natalie finally looked at him, surprised to find his face void of emotion, “I gave Eli a healing potion to give her. She would have died without it.”
Zach sat quietly for a moment, gently clutching the items in his hand before dropping them back into his shirt pocket, “Have you used any magic on me or Copper?”
“No,” she looked the dragon in the eyes as she spoke, hoping he could see her honesty.
“What did you learn from your contact?” Zach asked, trying to understand his current feelings. Natalie had never shown him malice, even when he’d been mean to her. She’d healed his sister, gotten rid of that dreamcatcher, and helped Copper. She’d been with him in his most vulnerable state, and shown him nothing but love. Natalie wasn’t a bad witch, right?
“I’m not going to continue until you tell me what you think about my being a witch, Zach,” Natalie’s heart was racing. The anxiety of his anticipated hatred made her feel as though she were going to puke.
He was quiet for a moment before speaking, “I think you lied to me, and I don’t appreciate that. I also think you’re a good person and genuinely want to see this case resolved.”
“What else?” she asked cautiously, not finding satisfaction in his calculated response.
“I don’t think you’re as powerful as you claim,” he was phishing. “I can’t even feel your aura.”
She let down her blocker and both he and Copper gasped, “Can you feel it now?”
Zach reached for his door handle, tugging hard once he found it. The door didn’t budge. Her power was suffocating. He tried to push the door open with his shoulder, but it didn’t work. Natalie hid her energy again and he gasped for air, “I want you off this case.”
“You’re in over your head, Zach. You can’t do this without me,” she calmly reasoned with him, even though her heart was threatening to explode from her chest. “Agram already took your sight. She’ll take your life next. I know her, she’s vicious and vindictive. Her curse is so deeply rooted in your soul that I couldn’t even sense it when we first met. I can barely feel it now even though we have a physical connection.”
He chewed on her words for a moment, his fingertips touching the edge of his phone inside his pocket, “Natalie, I want you off the case. You’re too involved with the local witches. Do you have any idea how easily you could be blamed for all of this?”
“Yes, but I don’t care. Agram is too powerful for the PD to take down, especially with her little puppet on the inside. Speaking of which, I have a call to make,” Natalie started up the car, pulling out her phone. She selected Amber’s number from her contact list. To her surprise, the woman picked up instantly.
“Hey, what’s up?” she sounded worried.
“Found out what’s going on in the south side,” Natalie pointed the cruiser towards the station. “There’s a drug dispensary site there. The stuff they’re putting out is lethal, so be careful not to touch anything you confiscate down there with your bare hands.”
“Black magic?” Amber asked seriously.
“Yes,” Natalie stated curtly.
“Thanks for the tip, girl,” Amber’s seriousness hadn’t faded at all. “I’ll keep an eye out for a location.”
Natalie hung up without saying goodbye, tossing her phone in the cup holder before turning her attention to Zach, “Tell me, Zach, why would a black magic witch want a city full of dead people?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Zach was reeling from how quickly the conversation had changed.
“The woman you caught Corvis with is the Grand Mother of the Imperial Coven,” Natalie spoke urgently. “The girl I just chased down said he’s the one leaking information from the PD. She thinks he’s her puppet, but I think he could be using her magic to do something awful.”
“Or she could simply be using his position,” Zach countered. “He’s not too bright.”
“That’s what I used to think, but he’s already gotten two involuntary sacrifices from lovers who were truly devoted to him,” Natalie’s free hand instinctively settled over her scar. “All he needs is one more, and Agram is ripe for his picking.”
“My sight and your child,” Zach said flatly. “Christ, that would mean he’s been planning this for a long time.”
“Yes,” Natalie navigated a semi illegal turn through downtown. “He met Agram and I at a coven fellowship two weeks before I enrolled at the police academy. He’s the one that gave me the idea to become a cop.”
“Wait,” Zach couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “are you trying to tell me that Daniel Corvis is a witch?”
“Yes,” she said sadly, “a poor one with minimal capabilities, but a witch nonetheless. How do you think he was able to gain a captain’s position after just two years at the 2nd? He charmed all of his superiors.”
That would explain a lot, Copper interjected, thinking about all the times Zach tried to break up with Daniel, only to end up in bed with him.
“Ok, so what exactl
y do you think his plan is?” Zach was trying to piece together what was happening. He was also trying not to think about how many times he’d been manipulated into doing things he didn’t want to do by that man. It was likely that all of his feelings for Daniel had been completely manufactured by magic. That thought made Zach physically ill.
“And he who shall sacrifice the trinity’s penance of his lovers upon my throne, shall call upon me to do thy bidding,” Natalie quoted a line from her spellbook.
“After the blood of 666 fold has been irreversibly shed in thy name,” Zach finished the quote. “Dear God. You can’t seriously think he’s going to try and summon Satan?”
“I do,” she pressed her foot into the accelerator to speed through a yellow light. “As of this morning, what was the death toll for the new drug?”
497, I saw it on the news when you were out getting breakfast, Copper answered her quietly.
Zach sat back, cradling his dragon protectively, “Reversing one of the sacrifices could buy us some time, right?”
“Yes, if you’re willing,” Natalie changed directions, heading for the market now. Aside from delaying Agram’s spell, she had another reason for wanting to remove Zach’s curse. She hoped it truly would help him trust her, but it would also put him out of commision for a few days. Just like his sister, he would need a recovery period before his eyes were fully functional. If he was out of the way, she wouldn’t have to worry about him getting hurt.
“If it’s by your hand, I’m willing,” Zach said as his phone began to ring, announcing a call from Captain Levit. He quickly dug it out and answered, “Hey Cap... Well shit... Thanks, I’ll let her know.”
“Know what?” Natalie asked cautiously. He could have easily outed her during that phone call.
Zach sighed as he tucked his phone away, “Commissioner McKay’s dead.”
Do you think things are about to go sideways? Copper asked.
“I guarantee it,” Natalie parked the vehicle. “I’ll be right back. I need to pick up some supplies.”
Chapter 14
Zach sat in the cruiser, his mind struggling to come to terms with the fact that he had been nothing more to Daniel than an ingredient in a spell. He had truly loved that son of a bitch. At least he thought he had.
His mind switched to Natalie. She was a witch too, an insanely powerful one. She said she hadn’t charmed him, but why had he gone from hating her one day to yearning for her the next? It felt so natural with her. Nothing about his relationship with Daniel had felt natural. It had all been forced, manipulated.
"Can we trust her, Copper?" Zach asked his companion quietly.
I think we can, Copper answered honestly. Everything she told you matched what I heard in the alley. Not to mention the fact that she openly admitted to being a witch without interrogation.
Zach sighed and sat back, gently stroking the soft scales of Copper's wings. The creature’s ability to read people had never been wrong. He’d even warned Zach to stay away from Daniel the day he met the man.
“How did you know Daniel was bad?” he’d never asked Copper this before.
Aside from the fact that he mentally and physically abused you every chance he got? Copper chose to drive that point home, still a little bitter that his human hadn’t listened to him back then. He gave off an unsettling aura, not magic, just bad. A lot of the people we arrest have the same mysma about them.
“I valued your opinion, you know that, right? I just... couldn’t get away from him,” he hugged the dragon to his chest and Copper stretched up to encircle his neck.
Let’s focus less on the past and more on the present. How are we getting out of this mess? The little lizard asked softly. If Daniel gets the commissioner’s position, there will be no stopping him. He’ll literally have control over the entire city, Zach.
Zach snorted, “If he summons the devil he’ll have control over a lot more than the city, Copper.”
He’s not strong enough to do that, Copper didn’t know a whole lot about magic, but he knew that it took a lot of it to summon even a lesser demon.
And upon their return, all unholy Hell shall reign down unto the world, Zach silently whispered a sentence he had long ago read as a child when sneaking a peek at his father’s journals.
Whose return? Copper asked.
The Witch Queens, Natalie scared both of them as she opened the back door of the squad car, depositing several bags into the seat.
“Do you think Agram could be one?” Zach asked as she started the car. Her lack of response frightened him, “Natalie? Answer me.”
“I know she is,” Her voice was grim, “and she’s spent the last sixteen years building a following. She has over half the city’s gangs at her disposal.”
“That’s... horrifying,” Zach felt like he was going to puke, “Any chance you know who the other one is? If we could get her on our side, we might stand a chance.”
Natalie laughed nervously, “Yeah, I know her.”
“Natalie”, He sat up and turned towards her, hoping to give off the proper pleading look, “Call her and tell her what’s happening!”
“No need,” Natalie sighed as she pulled up to his apartment complex, grateful that it was located close to the market. “She knows.”
Do you think she’ll help us? Copper asked.
“She definitely will,” Natalie slipped the vehicle’s keys into her pocket and opened her door, “and the first thing she’s going to do is fix those eyes. Let’s go.”
Zach couldn’t believe what she’d just told him. He was beyond stunned. Neither he nor Copper moved as Natalie unloaded her haul from the cruiser. Even after she opened Zach’s door, they remained still.
He felt her cool fingers on his jaw, pushing upwards to close his mouth, “Zach, time isn’t on our side here. You can be astonished later.”
Copper slowly crawled into his place on Zach’s shoulders as he exited the vehicle, “Where are we?”
“Your place,” Natalie said as she locked the car and walked up to the steps. “Do you have your keys?”
He wordlessly handed them to her, thinking about what his father had told him as a boy, ‘The queens themselves are not evil, Zach, but should they be swayed by a manipulative power, their actions could bring about the end of the world. If you ever have the honor of encountering one, treat them with kindness. They will likely be outwardly strong, but inwardly fragile. Every Witch Queen in history has been born as a social pariah.’
Copper had told Zach about Natalie’s family. The cult of a church she’d been born into was known for their hatred of magic in all forms. Witches, mythical creatures, they even shunned some brands of tea or coffee because it was marketed for healing or health.
Zach had taken the time to research her and Eli while he’d been waiting for Natalie to get to work yesterday. He hadn’t been able to find a record of her nephew earlier than his enrollment in med school until he searched for Elijah Lock. Their family was one giant insestuous genetic mess. Elijah Lock Sr. refused to let his offspring marry outside the bloodline for fear of sinful contamination. Eli had to change his name to be accepted into med school and get the hell out of that disaster.
Natalie, on the other hand, was essentially erased from the family tree. Zach wouldn’t have thought the two were related at all if he hadn’t found mention of her birth in one of the church’s old bulletins. Now that he knew she was a witch, her lack of records made sense. It was likely that her family had found out about her abilities and cast her out.
“Why?” he asked quietly as they entered his apartment, “Why did Daniel pick me? I can understand choosing you. Your magic is strong and would provide a powerful sacrifice, but what good am I for such a spell?”
“He’s using Agram’s magic, which is dark centered. He needs opposing magic to make the spell stronger,” Zach could hear her rustling through her bags.
“I don’t have any magic in me, Natalie,” Zach protested angrily as Copper left him to examine
the products she had purchased.
“But you do,” she spoke softly, “did you think your ability to speak to dragons was purely a genetic coincidence? Dragon’s tongue is rare because it only comes to witches with truly compassionate and courageous hearts. Dragons are incredibly powerful and prideful creatures, Zach. Nature isn’t going to just hand that ability out randomly. How many dark magic witches in history have had the ability? None. If you’re still not convinced, think about the fact that you can feel magical auras. People without magic within them can’t do that, Zach.”
His mouth snapped shut. Zach honestly hadn’t thought about it at all. He’d always been grateful for his ability to talk to dragons, but he’d never felt it was powered by magic. It just felt like a part of him. Why hadn’t his father said anything about it?
Zach felt her hand in his, gently pulling him. It didn’t take him long to realize she was leading him to his bedroom, “Uh, Natalie, this is hardly the time for that.”
“I need you to lay down, doofus,” she laughed. “Take off your gear and get on the bed.”
Zach obeyed, feeling Copper lay down next to him, “Not gonna lie, Natalie, I’m a little terrified right now.”
He heard her pull something into the room and set down her paper sacks of goods, “You should be. This is going to hurt like a motherfucker. That curse has had nearly three years to fester. Digging it out is going to feel like I’m ripping your brain out through your eye sockets.”
“You have a lovely way of calming your victims down,” he snapped at her, clasping his shaking hands over his chest.
“Copper,” she addressed the dragon with authority, “I need you to go get Slag, here’s the address.” Zach could hear his dragon take a piece of paper from her.
“I want him here,” he was starting to panic.
“He’ll be a distraction,” Natalie admitted as she bound his wrists, “and there will be no room for error here, Zach. If I slip up, I could kill you.”