by Logan Byrne
“There’s nothing out here,” Charlie said, perched out back watching the rear door intently. “Wait, something—somebody is coming.”
“What is it? You have to give us more,” Xelia asked.
“Nothing, it’s just a guy in a hat and apron taking out the trash. It’s pretty quiet, otherwise,” Charlie said.
“I haven’t been able to find anything yet. I don’t get it, I don’t think Pokeshi was lying to us about this place. Something in my gut tells me it’s here,” she said.
“I have an idea,” I said, thinking back to my class earlier. “I learned how to read minds, kind of. I’ve only had one lesson, but what if I use it on the old man? Surely his mind would be easy to tap,” I said.
“I thought you weren’t allowed to use that kind of magic,” Xelia said.
“Only cops can, and only for official police business. I think it would be okay,” I said. Actually, I had no idea if it would be approved or allowed, but I wanted to try it anyway. I had the mark, and my powers were stronger than they should’ve been. I was able to get into Asher’s head so easily, much more easily than he could get in to mine, and I knew an old man who wasn’t a mage probably wouldn’t be able to resist me.
“The only problem is that he’d see you. That exposes you later on when we try to infiltrate, if it’s here,” Charlie said.
“I agree. We wouldn’t be able to use you undercover, and we need you in there,” Xelia said.
“What if I froze him first? I could do it from behind, and he’d never see my face. I’d be in and out, and we could find out if that stupid elf was telling the truth or if we have to pay him another visit,” I said.
“I don’t know, it’s still risky,” Xelia said.
“Just let me try it. It’s not like we’re getting anywhere with this,” I said.
“Fine, but you cannot be seen by him or anybody else, Lexa. Put up your hood and pounce once he goes outside. You aren’t allowed to go into the shop or knock on it,” Xelia said.
It was another twenty minutes before the man came out the front door, the lights off inside. He turned and locked the door, then hobbled down the front steps and started to walk towards me, past my car. I slipped out, my hood up, before silently traipsing across the street.. The old man was none the wiser. I unsheathed my wand, my head tipped down, before pointing my wand towards him.
“Pacificate,” I said, turning my wand. The man froze like a statue, standing straight on the sidewalk.
“Please don’t hurt me,” he begged, not able to turn and see who was doing this to him.
“Cranius Redundo,” I said, the tip of my wand pointed straight at his head. I was transported, a long lifetime of memories passing by me before I calmed my breathing and tried to find some that were more recent. I saw a man with slicked back hair, a soul patch under his bottom lip, and a threatening tone in his voice as he grabbed the old man.
He pushed him around, pointing downwards, demanding that he give up his building for the greater good. The man said it would be an unwise decision to disobey him, though I didn’t think by his tone he was referring to himself. He was talking about another man, somebody who wasn’t there. The old man conceded, wanting his life spared. This place was here, we just hadn’t found it yet.
I tried to delve deeper, but either the old man’s memory wasn’t there, or he simply had never gone to the casino’s entrance. It’s like he gave up the space to them out of fear, but he never wanted anything to do with it and kept it out of his life. He might’ve let them be there, but he was innocent.
I left his mind. He was never was able to push me out, and likely he didn’t even know it was a possibility. I fled, hiding behind the car and releasing him from the spell. He stumbled forward a little, looking around frantically, though nobody but him was there. He hobbled off quickly, looking behind him as he did, fearing that somebody was going to get him again.
“What happened?” Xelia asked.
“We need to meet up,” I said.
Charlie and Xelia met me in the car. A werewolf was howling in the distance. Both of them looked anxious to hear my news. “He’s innocent,” I said confidently.
“So it’s not here? That damn elf lied to us,” Xelia said.
“No, it’s here, somewhere, but he’s innocent,” I said.
“Not if he let them have the space,” Charlie said.
“He didn’t have a choice. They were going to kill him, or seriously hurt him, if he defied them. I could feel his emotions, his feelings. He didn’t want to help them. He’s just a sweet old man running a bakery who was targeted by some evil people,” I said. “We can’t charge him with anything.”
“So you saw the people forcing him?” Xelia asked.
“Yeah, but it was weird. There was a man with slicked-back hair, a soul patch, and an angry disposition, but he talked about a he, and I don’t think he was talking about himself. He said that the old man shouldn’t disobey him,” I said.
“So you think there’s someone else orchestrating it all?” Charlie asked.
“There’s only one person in this city, this realm, who people would be deathly afraid of defying,” I said.
“Kiren Nightstorm,” Xelia said. “I’ve thought for months that he’s been behind certain acts, but you can never pin anything to him. Even if I could, it’s almost a death sentence for my career.”
“Now we just need to find that door. I think another trip to Pokeshi in the morning is in order,” I said, looking back.
“That sounds lovely. I have his address in my office,” Xelia said, smiling.
Xelia knocked pleasantly on Pokeshi’s door the next morning. When he opened the door, his eyes grew wide as he saw the three of us. “No!” he yelled, trying to push the door closed. Charlie pushed it in, easily overpowering Pokeshi, and Xelia grabbed him before he could run.
“Now Pokeshi, you didn’t give us all of the information that we needed,” she said.
“I told you about the bakery! I swear it’s true!” he exclaimed.
“You know we need more, elf. Where’s the entrance?” Xelia ordered.
“Entrance? What entrance?” he asked, playing dumb as he started to sweat a little.
“So help me god, I’m going to rip you apart on this very floor if you don’t start telling the truth,” she said, her anger starting to come out in full force.
“Oh boy, okay, well, the thing is that the entrance to it isn’t there. Yes, I know I didn’t tell you that part, but I’m scared! If they find out I helped you even this much, I’m dead!” he pleaded.
“You’re dead if you don’t help us too,” Xelia said.
“How about I just probe him?” I asked, taking out my wand. “Maybe I’ll find some other memories we can charge him with. No better evidence than video evidence,” I said, pointing my wand at his head.
“No, wait! Don’t do that! I’ll tell you, just please put down the wand!” he begged. I put my wand away. Xelia was still holding him against the wall by the neck. He gulped and realized that he had no choice but to give us the information.
“Talk,” I said.
“The entrance is a portal, and it isn’t at the bakery. It’s about ten blocks away, actually closer to the precinct,” he said.
“Why would they place it close to there?” I asked.
“Because nobody would think to look there. After all, why would somebody hide something like that so close to a police station? Makes perfect sense if you think about it,” he said.
“So where is it, then?” Xelia asked.
“Inside the antiques shop on the corner of Iverson and Pilmore. Go to the man behind the desk and tell him the password I would like to make a deposit. That will let you in, and from there you can go in back and through the portal to the casino,” he said.
“You better hope you’re right. I have you under surveillance now, and if you told a lie, you’re getting taken in. That troll is still locked up and hungry for a new friend,” Xelia said, letting hi
m go. We walked towards the door.
“No, please, anything. I swear I’m telling the truth! I swear it!” he yelled as we walked out.
“You put in a surveillance order?” Charlie asked, laughing a little.
“No,” she said, looking over at him and smiling, “but he doesn’t need to know that.”
16
“Put these on,” Xelia said later that night in her office. She handed me clothes—a black dress, a necklace, and a small handbag. I’d never dressed up like this before in fancy clothes, or even worn anything this feminine.
“How come?” I asked, holding the dress up.
“We have to look the part tonight. You can’t go in wearing your typical street clothes. This place is more high-end. And don’t bring your wand,” she said.
“But I need my wand,” I said.
“They’ll know it’s police-issued the second they see it, let alone if they scan it. It’s better they think you’re not armed,” she said.
“I’m not sure about this,” Charlie said, walking in wearing a tuxedo.
“You look so handsome!” I said. The look on his face told more than words ever could. He looked so uncomfortable, tugging at his bowtie, before taking off the jacket and slinging it over a chair.
“Going undercover sucks,” he said, sitting down.
“Hey, at least you get to wear pants,” I said. Unwillingly, I walked to the bathroom, my gear in tow, before changing into the dress. Noticing my prickly legs, I took out my wand, flicking it, and the hairs fell out one by one all over the bathroom floor. It was a neat little trick I learned in the manual Britta gave me.
I walked out of the stall, seeing myself in the mirror as something I never expected to see myself as: a lady. I was a little girl the last time I wore a dress. The small pearl necklace clasped around my neck as I used my wand to put it on. I turned, looking at myself from all angles, but surprisingly I didn’t hate it. It was weird, definitely, but not horrible. I looked pretty.
A little bell rang above the door of the antiques shop as the three of us walked in. Xelia led the way, deciding to do most of the talking since she was the most experienced. I was completely fine with that.
“How may I help you tonight?” the old man behind the counter asked. He had a little tummy, his beard and hair were as white as snow, and small glasses hung on the tip of his nose.
“I would like to make a deposit,” Xelia said.
“This ain’t a bank, honey. This is an antiques shop,” the man said, straight-faced.
“I—” Xelia muttered.
“I’m just messing with ya! You may proceed,” the man said, pressing a buzzer. The door next to him opened. With Xelia shaking her head we walked through, following a long, dimly lit hallway all the way towards the back of the shop. The man stayed up front, not guiding us. The portal came into view as we turned a sharp corner.
“There it is,” Xelia said. “Remember to act natural. You’re here to have fun and to try to find out information. We aren’t making any arrests,” she whispered.
We walked up to the portal, the swirling blue and white mass exuding light from the other side. Taking a deep breath, we walked through and instantly plunged into a bustling casino. Though it was small, it was loud and happening.
“Welcome, ladies, sir, to the Happenstaff Casino. Are we new here?” a man standing near the portal asked.
“Yes, we’ve heard such great things and thought we’d come check it out,” Xelia said with a large smile. Charlie and I stood silently, smiling and nodding a little, both of us out of our comfort zone. I guess there was no good way to train for going undercover aside from just doing it and learning on the job.
“How many chips will we be purchasing tonight?” the man asked.
“Two hundred shillings each to start off with, please,” Xelia said, rummaging through her purse and pulling out cash to hand the man.
“Very well,” the man said, filling three black velvet bags with casino chips for us to spend. “We hope you have a lovely time, and please do let us know if you need anything at all.”
“Thank you, we will,” Xelia said, handing each of us a bag.
We walked into the main area, a large room that was obviously enchanted with magic. Nothing around us looked like an old bakery basement, and I knew that if you went into that basement right now from inside the bakery you wouldn’t see any of this.
“Go ahead and walk around, talk to people, play games, and be friendly and polite. Find out anything you can, but don’t press people for information. Don’t mess this up and make yourself known or we all go down,” Xelia whispered.
I walked over to slot machines in the middle of the room, Charlie walked over to craps, and Xelia to a blackjack table. We were all in visual contact and kept tabs on each other. “Hi there,” I said to an older woman wearing a sparkling black gown.
“Aren’t you a bit young to be forming a habit like this?” she said, laughing a little.
“Yeah, I know, but it’s just so lively and fun in here. I can’t help myself,” I said, being friendly and warm. I put a chip into the machine, getting ten pulls. The number went down with each yank of the lever.
“These machines are hit or miss. I think they’re too much in favor of the house,” she said, lighting a cigarette.
“That’s too bad, I love slots. I’m not as big on the card games, they give me a headache,” I said.
“Yeah, same with me, sweetheart, though I’m more into the alternate entertainment. Have you placed a bet yet?” she asked, looking at me. She seemed sweet as could be. It made me wonder why she was hanging around in a place like this, with people like these. She could be somebody’s grandmother, and she was here gambling away her life savings.
“Bet? I’m not familiar, this is my first time here,” I said.
“There’s kitsune racing through another portal, at a track out in the country. They’re pups fresh from Japan,” she said, taking another drag from her cigarette.
“I’ll have to check that out then,” I said.
“You better hurry before the betting window closes,” she said, pointing across the room at a counter.
“Thank you so much for your help. It’s been nice talking to you,” I said, taking my last spin. I hadn’t won even a single chip.
“Anytime,” she said, stuffing more chips into the slot.
I rubbed my nose, our signal, and Xelia came over right away after her hand was over. “What’s up? Everything okay?” she asked.
“The betting window on the far side has kitsune racing tonight. I think they’re smuggled in from Japan as part of their creature trafficking,” I said.
“And you’re sure about this?” she asked.
“The woman just said it was happening and that betting was closing soon. I think we should check it out, maybe bet on them. She said there was a portal to the track out in the country. Maybe we could go through and watch,” I said.
“You go, and take Charlie. I have to stay here and keep an eye on this place,” she said. I raised my eyebrow at Charlie, who looked over and then joined us. “What’s up?” he asked.
“You guys get to go bet on some kitsune that are about to race. Now, don’t spend everything on them,” she said, smiling, as a group walked by. She was a pro, acting interested even when she wasn’t. I could tell she’d gone undercover before.
“Looking to place a bet?” the man behind the betting counter asked after I put my pouch down on the counter.
“Yes, on the kitsune racing, please,” I said with a smile. I realized how redundant I seemed after the fact. My nerves were getting the better of me. Of course it was for the kitsune racing, what else would it be for?
“How much, and on which fox?” he asked, spitting into a metal cup on the side of his desk. I looked up, seeing a board of different kitsune above him. There were six of them, and their statistics were listed on the board, but there were no pictures. I didn’t want to waste money, so I chose the one with the
best odds, number two, even though it paid out the least if it won.
“Number two, please,” I said, rummaging through my velvet pouch and pulling out one hundred in chips.
“Here’s your ticket, the tall guy can go with you. Show it to the keeper over there, and he’ll let you through. This is also your ticket to collect the winnings if your fox ends up successful,” he said, sliding me a ticket.
I nodded, and Charlie and I casually walked over towards the keeper, the man whom he’d pointed to just a second ago. He was in a black shirt and black pants and was at least seven feet tall. He had to be part giant; there was no other explanation for his height. “We would like to enter, please,” I said, handing him my ticket.
He looked at it and then looked at us before handing back the ticket and nodding. We walked past him through a red curtain and saw another portal just like the one we’d gone through to get into the casino. We walked through, transporting to the track. The smell of pine surrounded us. It felt like the camp here, being out in nature, out of the smelly city and away from the pollution that came with it.
The track was lit up with floodlights. There was a fence around it and a building at the edge that people were walking in and out of. “I think that’s the viewing area,” Charlie said.
We walked over. Some snacks and drinks were being served, so we took a few, Charlie stuffing his face with miniature sausages. “The race will commence in five minutes,” a voice said over the speakers.
“See anybody you recognize?” I asked as we stood near the back and scoped out the room.
“We don’t know anybody. Who would we recognize?” he asked, his mouth full. He was right, we really didn’t know anybody since we hadn’t been around long enough at the precinct. Everybody looked rich, some old, some young, and all of them were smiling, laughing, and having a good time. How did they live with themselves, knowing what they were doing?
Kitsune were about to be forced to race around a track against their will for entertainment, and these people didn’t even care. How many other creatures were they peddling here, forcing them to do their bidding or face certain death? It was sickening, and I couldn’t wait to shut them down.
