Meta Marshal Service 1

by B N Miles

  “There are no warm bodies,” she said. “I’m the only warm body you’ll have.”

  He glanced at her and almost made a joke, but held back. “I’m not sure I understand that,” he said.

  “I’m your backup. I’m the only backup you’re getting.”

  Jared narrowed his eyes and glanced back at the car. Cassie was watching them intently.

  “There’s a powerful Meta in that house,” he said. “He can use an unknown kind of magic and an untold amount of it. We have no clue what he’s capable of. We need a whole strike team out here, ready to surround the place and take him down.”

  “You’re not getting a strike team,” she said. “You’re not getting anything but me. And Jared, I’ll tell you, I’m more than you deserve.” She gave him a little smile.

  “I believe that, but even still. I fought him before and barely managed to get out of it alive. Even with you in the mix, I’m not so sure we’ll be able to take him down.”

  She didn’t answer right away. He couldn’t tell if he’d insulted her or if she’d even heard him. She was watching the empty space, almost like she was trying to see past the wards and into the building itself. She sighed and shook her head. “Where did you serve?”

  He stiffened. He hadn’t been asked that in a long time, and had forgotten it’s something Magi talked about. “The Ukraine,” he said.

  She raised an eyebrow. “The goblin uprising seven years ago?”

  He nodded. “I assisted in putting it down.”

  “I served in rural India. There was a pack of Weres that decided to go feral.”

  Jared stared at her. He’d read about that. Even trying to avoid Meta news, he couldn’t avoid that story.

  It happened a couple years ago. Apparently some ultra Meta Rights movement leaders took their pack down into India with the idea that they’d live in some backwater rural area like the true alphas they were. It freaked the locals out, having a pack of wolves where no wolves should exist, and so they started hunting the Weres. Eventually a fight broke out and the Weres slaughtered an entire village, and went on a rampage from there, killing defenseless rural Indian people indiscriminately.

  The Magi stepped in, of course. Jared had read that the fighting was bitter. Weres were tough, and an entire pack of them was no easy task. They were put down eventually, and every single member of the pack was put to death by the Magi that had been dispatched.

  “I heard about that,” he said.

  “Yes. It was all over the news.” She made a face. “Shameless. But I tell you only because you need to understand what I’m capable of.” She looked up at him, her face impassive. “I’m the only backup you’ll get.”

  “Lumi, understand that I’m not questioning your skills or ability. I can see your mark, it’s obvious how deep it runs. But I don’t understand why we’re not being abundantly cautious about this. An entire squad out here would be better than two magi and two Metas.”

  “I agree,” she said. “But this is all you’re getting.”

  Her words began to sink in. “They’re trying to keep this quiet.”

  She inclined her head.

  “I know your family has a personal interest in what happens here,” he said, his voice low. “And I understand that’s how these things go. But I’m not going to risk my life or the lives of my partners for your family’s scheming.”

  Lumi looked up at him. There was a little surprise in her expression. “Are you refusing to do your duty, Marshal?”

  “I’m refusing to be your pawn, Lumi. I know your family wants to stop Ferric because they’re buying up the clan’s land. I don’t know what you’re up to or why the Medlar would ever want to do that to a Dryad clan, but that doesn’t matter. If you’re not going to properly support this operation, I’m not going through with it. I won’t let Cassie or Jessalene get hurt.”

  Lumi grinned at him. It was almost feral. “You think we need them?” she asked. “We’re Magi, Jared. We can handle him.”

  “We can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “Not alone.”

  She snorted and looked away. “What do you want?” she asked.

  The question surprised him. He assumed there’d be more threats. “You’re willing to make a deal?”

  “I’m willing to make this worth something to you,” she said. “In exchange for your cooperation.”

  He stared at her for a long moment, not moving. The Medlar were a powerful family. He could ask for a lot of things. Money, influence, power. He could have them promote him to any position within the Marshal Service that he wanted. Hell, he could have them buy him his own private island.

  “I want Cassie,” he said. “And Jessalene’s land.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “I can’t do both,” she said.

  “Those are my terms.”

  “I can’t give you the land.” She shook her head. “That goes above me. Believe what you want, but I’m not the head of the Medlar. I don’t make their decisions.”

  “No, you’re just their enforcer, aren’t you? Sent to do the dirty work.”

  “I serve my family.” She tilted her head toward him with a smile. “Something you seem to have forgotten about.”

  He tensed and shook his head. “I can’t make a deal that won’t benefit both of them.”

  “I can give you Cassie,” she said. “I’ll make sure her charges are dropped. I’ll even make sure she gets a visa.”

  He frowned. “Visa? I thought…” He stopped himself. She kept saying she wasn’t from around here.

  “You really don’t know what you have.” Lumi laughed. It was much more girlish than Jared would have imagined. “Ask her about it. For now, I can promise her safety. No more Max, no more getting sent back home. She can stay with you.”

  “And Jessalene?”

  “I’m not sure what I can do for her,” Lumi admitted.

  “I want a warrant out for the arrest of the Elf that controls their land.”

  Lumi stared at him, a hint of surprise in her features, before a little smile spread over her lips. “Interesting,” she said.

  “I don’t care what you have to do. Get a federal warrant out and let me serve it. I’ll do the rest.”

  “You think I’ll do that, even though it goes against the interests of my family?”

  “I think you’ll do it because it gives us a fair chance,” he said. “And you need us to take care of Ferric. He’s the bigger problem in all this.”

  “That’s true,” she said. “That glove is a much bigger problem.” She pursed her lips and considered for a long moment. Jared shut his mouth and let her think it over. They stood together, tucked away at the intersection, far enough from the house that they weren’t visible. He could still see Cassie in the car, turning back to watch them every so often.

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll give you Cassie and the warrant for the Elf. But you will stay here, watch that house, and we’ll take him together. When it’s over, I leave with the glove.”

  “All right.” Jared put out his hand. “I’ll take that deal.”

  She smiled and shook. Her palm was smooth, but he felt calluses on her fingers. “I like you, Jared. Most men in your position would have given in and done what I asked.”

  “I’m not out here for myself anymore,” he said and released her hand. “I have them to worry about.” He glanced back at the car where Cassie was waiting.

  “I admire that. They’re lucky girls.”

  He turned back and Lumi was giving him a strange look. He couldn’t tell if it was appreciation, admiration, or just plain desire.

  But he didn’t want to find out. Lumi was attractive, of course, but she was a powerful Magi and a Medlar. Jared didn’t fuck with either.

  “We don’t know when he’ll move,” Jared said. “Be ready.”

  “I’ll be around,” she said. “But if there’s no movement by tonight, we’re going in.”

  He flinched. “That’s a bad idea. That place is warded out the ass. I
t could—”

  “I can break the wards,” she said dismissively. “And protect the neighboring houses. But let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  He nodded. “Let’s hope.”

  Without another word, he strode back to the car and got in. Cassie gave him a long look then put her hand on top of his.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” he grunted. “Fine.”

  “What happened?”

  “I just made a deal with the fucking devil.” He shook his head and sighed. “But at least we have a plan.”

  She frowned at him, clearly concerned. “Which is?”

  “We wait and hope he emerges soon. If he doesn’t, Lumi breaks the wards, and we go in.”

  “Oh.” She smiled. “I like that plan.”

  He took her hand and pulled her against him. He kissed her gently. “I thought you would.”

  She laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder, and together they sat there, staring at the spot where a building both was and wasn’t.

  39

  The day passed.

  Cassie switched with Jessalene, then Jessalene switched with Jared. He spent half his time off catching up on sleep, and half getting something to eat.

  It was pure drudgery. And nothing inside or outside of that empty spot where a house should have been so much as moved.

  Jared could tell the girls were getting anxious. Jessalene kept fidgeting and getting up to go on short walks, wandering down the block and back again. “I can just talk to him,” she said more than once. “He might listen to me this time.”

  But the day wore on. Jared kept it together as best he could, if not for himself, then for the girls. Lumi was lurking around somewhere nearby, he knew that, could practically feel it. Cassie and Jessalene needed him to step up now more than ever, and he knew he couldn’t let them down.

  Around five, just an hour before sundown, Jared was standing outside of the car leaning up against the trunk. He sipped a hot black coffee and stared at the spot where the house should have been, willing Ferric to make a move, any damned move, but there was nothing, just quiet. When he turned away, he saw Lumi walking toward him.

  She looked perfect, like nothing was going on. Not a single hair was out of place. She didn’t smile when she approached, didn’t seem to think anything of it. She stopped a few feet away from Jared, crossed her arms, and tilted her head.

  “It’s time,” she said.

  “Give us another day.”

  “No.” She frowned at him. “Why are you delaying so much?”

  He hesitated. “I think we can do this without hurting him,” Jared said. “And without bringing down the whole block.”

  “The humans will be fine,” she said, dismissing his fear. “But it’s time to move.”

  Cassie and Jessalene got out of the car. They joined Jared and Lumi toward the back. He tilted his head toward them, wincing a bit as they both stood nearby, looking wooden and angry.

  Jessalene glared at Lumi. “So you’re the magician bitch that’s been stealing my family’s land.”

  “Jessa,” Cassie said.

  “It’s true though, isn’t it?” Jessalene shook her head. “She’s a Medlar. She’s part of the problem.”

  “Jessalene, this isn’t the time or place.”

  “When is?” She stepped forward. “What do you want with our land? What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to fix your mistake,” Lumi said, her voice flat, her expression neutral. Jessalene was taller and more athletic than Lumi, but Jared knew what Lumi could do, and he knew she wasn’t afraid. “As for your land, I don’t know anything about it. What my family does is not something I can control.”

  “Bullshit,” Jessalene said.

  “Do you make all the decisions for your clan?” she asked, head tilted. “Am I to hold you responsible for everything your clan does?”

  “Of course I don’t. But you’re Magi. You’re different.”

  “Interesting. I always thought Metas made it a point of telling us that Magi aren’t so different after all, that we’re just jumped up humans with a little access to the priori.”

  “Don’t throw that Meta Rights bullshit back in my face.” Jessalene clenched her jaw. “I don’t buy into it.”

  “But your cousin does. Are you responsible for his beliefs?”

  “Enough,” Jared said. He put a hand on Jessalene’s arm. “Enough, Jessa. She’s here to help us, and whether you like it or not, we need her. So enough.”

  Jessalene glared at Lumi for a long, tense moment. Jared wasn’t sure what she would do, or how he’d react to it. If she attacked Lumi right then, he’d have to subdue her… or maybe help her.

  But instead, she turned away. “Fine. Let the bitch help.” She walked to the car and leaned against it, crossing her arms.

  Cassie joined her and put an arm around her shoulders as Jared turned back to Lumi.

  “What’s your plan?” he asked.

  “I break the wards,” she said. “You enter the building with your two partners here. Subdue the subject and bring him out, dead or alive, I don’t mind either way. Just bring the artifact.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said. “Too much can go wrong, and you’re sending me into an enclosed space with a powerful and out of control Magi.”

  “Not a Magi,” she said. “He’s a Meta.”

  “With Magi power. You know how dangerous that’s going to be.”

  She tilted her head. “My first plan was to bomb the whole block from the air and be done with it. Burn the entire neighborhood to cinders. This feels like a compromise.”

  He tensed. Jared knew that was an actual option based on his own experience with how Magi liked to fight. Now that Lumi was in the picture, normal regulations didn’t apply anymore.

  “We lure him out.” Jared looked back at Jessalene. “You can try talking to him again. Even if he doesn’t listen, he might at least come out in the open. We can take him out here.”

  “I’ll try,” she says.

  “No.” Lumi sighed, the only outward hint of her impatience that Jared could see. “I break the wards. You three go inside. I’ll remain on the exterior, prepared to snare him when he comes out.”

  “I’ll go alone then,” Jared said. “Cassie and Jessa, you two stay out here.”

  “No,” Jessalene said.

  “I’m with her. You can’t go in alone.” Cassie stared at him, clearly upset.

  “Look, I can defend myself, and maybe one of you. But with both of you around, my attention will be split. I’m going in alone.”

  “I’m coming,” Jessalene said. “Leave Cassie in the back and Lumi in the front. That way, no matter where he runs, there’s someone to take him.”

  “That’s a reasonable plan,” Lumi said.

  Jared hated it. He didn’t want either of the girls in there with him. Going into a building with an angry and dangerous Magi was a death trap. Magic didn’t discriminate if the Magi was too upset to think clearly, and he was sure Ferric was going to bring that whole building down on their heads.

  But he knew he wasn’t going to win this argument. At the very least, he could keep Cassie out back.

  “Fine,” he said. “Jessa, you’re with me. Cassie, you’re around back. Grab him if you can, but if he’s getting violent, let him go.”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about me,” Cassie said, grinning. “Once I get my teeth on him, he’s not going anywhere.”

  “We move now,” Lumi said.

  Jared looked at her. “Right now? It’s the middle of the day. We haven’t prepared anything. It’s not—”

  “We move now,” Lumi repeated. “The waiting is done. You have five minutes to prepare.”

  She walked off a few feet and stared at the building. Jared could see her fingers working and he felt the priori begin to flow. She was touching the wards on the building, working out how she’d break them.

  “Come on,” Jared said. He opened t
he trunk and brought Jessalene over to his equipment. There was a backup sidearm tucked against the side in a holster. He removed it, including the holster, and handed it to Jessalene.

  She frowned then put the shoulder holster on like she’d done it before. Jared raised an eyebrow.

  She shrugged. “Don’t be so surprised. You know we can handle guns.”

  He sighed. “Right. Forgot about that.”

  She drew the sidearm, barrel pointed at the sidewalk, and checked the magazine and the slide.

  “It’s loaded with normal ammunition,” Jared said. “If Ferric puts up a shield, it won’t do much.”

  “Understood.” She released the slide and holstered the gun. “Hopefully I won’t need it.”

  He nodded and turned to Cassie. “You okay with this?”

  “Oh, fine,” she said. “What could go wrong?”

  “Just stay out back. Run if things get bad.”

  “Run?” She snorted. “Come on.”

  “I’m serious.” He stepped toward her. “I made a deal for you, but…” He trailed off.

  “Wait, what?” She stared at him, head tilted. “You made a deal for me? I don’t know what that means.”

  “If this goes wrong, just run, okay? They’ll come for you if things go bad for me.”

  “Jared—”

  “Just run.” He sighed and looked at his two girls. He kissed Cassie then turned to Jessalene and kissed her. Both of them smiled at him. “Come on. Let’s go end this fucking nightmare.”

  He turned and began moving toward the building. Cassie jogged off down the block away from them. Lumi’s lips were moving like she was speaking to herself as Jared and Jessalene got closer to the building, moving low. He was tempted to draw his own weapon, but magic would be more useful in this fight.

  Lumi stepped out into the street. He saw her body flare with power. It almost made him gag, the amount of priori she was funneling. He hadn’t seen anything like that in a long time, had forgotten just how much a trained and seasoned Magi could handle. She held it in her body, making her skin glow an eerie light blue, her hair beginning to rise up into the air, only held in place at all because of the tight bun.