by N M Thorn
Damian turned to his brother. “Cole, since these women are witches, we don’t need to modify their memories.” He bit his lip, frowning. “But they still need medical help, and since River has responded to the alert about the disturbance in the neighborhood, she needs to be here to take care of the legal side of this situation. After all, it is her case. We were supposed to just check the house.” He thought for a moment and then added, “Before I can call her, I have to summon the cleaners, though. It’s a bloody mess downstairs.”
“Oh, really?” Zabava’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she headed toward the stairs, throwing an indifferent glance at the vampire pinned to the wall next to the exit. “I could hear the sound of a fight downstairs, but I didn’t want to blow my cover. I needed these assholes to think they had me.” She shrugged with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Well, let’s see then.”
Damian sighed, throwing his hands up, and followed her downstairs, motioning for Cole, Atticus and Jamie to get moving. Zabava marched briskly through the hallway and halted in the doorway into the entrance hall. She observed the room that resembled a medieval style battlefield and whistled.
“Whoa,” she exhaled, turning to Damian, her eyes darting from him to Cole and then gliding over Atticus and Jamie. “I must give it to you, boys—impressive. I didn’t realize there were so many shifters here.”
Damian didn’t reply but seized her shoulders and moved her back into the corridor, away from the doorway. He made his way to the middle of the floor, pushing the dead bodies aside with the tip of his boot. Then he drew a glowing rune in the air and infused it with his power, connecting it with his Shadow Enforcer rune. A small communication window opened up in midair, and an older man in long, navy-blue robes answered his call.
“Commander Damian Blake, what can I do for you?” he asked, but as he stared over Damian’s shoulder, his mouth dropped open, shock imprinted on his round face. “Never mind, Commander. I know what I need to do. Please make sure you and your team are out of the room before I start the cleaning process.” He fell silent for a moment, furrowing his brow, and then added, “And Commander, if you have vamps in your team, make sure they are at least a few feet away from my light.”
Damian inclined his head, pressing his fist to his chest. “My gratitude, Ivor.”
It had been a while since he had to work with Ivor and his department, and not without surprise, he realized he was glad to see this battle-hardened man who was always nothing but helpful and supportive to him. Ivor and Cossack were the only two people from the Destiny Council Realm who had always been there for him, no questions asked.
He raised his hand to close the communication window, but Ivor gestured for him to wait. “How many people are in your team nowadays, Commander?” he asked, observing the hall.
“Four,” replied Damian, “including myself.”
“Four?” mumbled Ivor, his eyebrows rising, but then he rubbed the back of his neck, humorous sparkles appearing in the depth of his steel eyes. “Nice to have you back with us, Commander. Knowing you, this is not going to be your last call to my department.” He laughed and gestured for him to get out before closing the communication window.
Knowing how the cleaners worked, Damian wished there was a door blocking the entrance into the hall, but since there wasn’t, he waved his hand and muttered a spell, erecting a protective shield over the doorway.
“Take a few steps back and turn away.” He seized Cole’s elbow and pulled him a few feet back, away from the hall, motioning for everyone to follow. As a blinding white light flooded the hall, spilling into the corridor, he wrapped his arms around his brother, shielding him with his body.
A few seconds later, the light dwindled, submerging the house into darkness. Blinking red and white spots from his vision, Damian made his way back into the hall. As expected, he found it empty and virginally clean, nothing suggesting that less than an hour ago, a brutal battle unfolded here, leaving blood and gore in its wake.
Making a split-second decision, Damian moved his hand in a circular motion, and a portal rotating with shimmering blue lights opened next to him.
“Atticus, I’m about to call River, and I think before she arrives with her team, we should clear the area and let her do her job,” he said, switching his attention to the werewolf. “This portal will take you to the gates into your father’s property. Thank you for your help, my friend.”
Atticus smiled, dimples appearing on his cheeks, making him look like a mischievous teenager. “Any time, Commander.” He threw a quick glance at Jamie, giving him a pointed stare. “Are you coming with me?”
Jamie sent a guilty look to Damian, inching his way to the portal, but Damian pointed at his wristwatch, suppressing the desire to roll his eyes. “Go already,” he said with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “I can’t keep this portal open forever. See you tomorrow for training.” But then he changed his mind and grabbed Jamie’s elbow, stopping him. “Wait, Jamie, you’re in pain. Let me heal you first.”
Ignoring the young wizard’s objections, he channeled his element and placed his hand over the ugly welts on his friend’s arm. Slowly circulating the healing energy of Earth through the wound, he waited until it closed completely and removed his hand, releasing the connection with his element.
“Better?” he asked softly, feeling slightly lightheaded.
“Thank you,” replied Jamie. “You didn’t have to do it. You’re wounded yourself, and healing magic takes a lot of your energy.”
“I’ll be fine. Now, go.” Damian waved at the portal. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as the portal closed behind Jamie and Atticus, Zabava turned to Damian. “Now that the kids are in bed, adults should have a serious conversation,” she said, tapping her foot, laced in a heavy combat boot, and since neither Damian nor Cole moved, she threw her hand up and added, “Now is as good a time as any.”
Damian glanced down at her, working hard not to allow his annoyance to break free, but her behavior and the tone of superiority in her voice were playing on his nerves.
“Oh, we’ll have a word,” he promised icily, and if he could sound any colder, it would probably start snowing in the room. “We will speak when I say I’m ready. In the meantime, you’re going to keep your mouth shut and let me do my job.” Without waiting to see what her next witty remark would be, he turned to his brother. “Cole, do you need my help with that vamp upstairs?”
“No, I’ll be fine,” Cole replied, a dark shadow crossing his face. “But if you could open a portal to Luciano’s mansion, I would appreciate it.”
After Luciano’s death, Cole had discovered that since the ancient vampire had no one in his life except for Cole and Ruslan, he had left all his assets to him, including his enormous estate in Paradise Valley, naming him the sole beneficiary. Even though Cole didn’t need another piece of real estate, he refused to sell it, and when Damian asked why, he made an elaborate tap-dance around the question without actually answering it. Since it was clear that his brother wasn’t in the mood to discuss it, Damian decided to leave it alone.
Since Luciano’s estate was located on the outskirts of Paradise Valley and far enough from prying eyes, Cole had been using it for everything to do with the Arizona Vampire Court affairs, including the weekly assembly of his council. Even though the mansion was surrounded by a tall fence and had a gated entry with a twenty-four-seven security guard on duty, Damian had placed a light turn-away spell on the entire property to protect both sides—unsuspecting humans from running into the thirsty vampires, and vampires from exposing the World of Magic to overly curious humans.
Cole zoomed upstairs and came back a moment later with the captured vamp hanging limply over his shoulder. Catching Damian’s puzzled gaze, he just shrugged.
“He passed out when I pulled the blade out.” He gazed heavenwards, returning Jamie’s sword to Damian, and muttered with disgust, “What a wuss.”
Damian opened a portal for his brother,
and as Cole walked through it, disappearing on the other side, he turned to Zabava.
“Are you ready?” he asked, placing his hand on her shoulder.
She nodded, and he snapped his fingers, teleporting them out of the house. They manifested behind an empty one-story building with a real estate sign in front of it. Damian glanced around and pressed his finger to his lips, asking Zabava to be silent, and then gestured for her to follow him. Keeping to the shadows, he circled the house, heading toward the front yard from where he could easily see the large two-story building across the road.
Crouching behind the fence, he reached in his pocket and produced his phone. He found River’s name in his short contact list and pressed the dial button. Expecting his call, River answered her phone right away.
“River, you were right. The case is supernatural,” said Damian quietly, throwing a warning glance at Zabava as she shifted closer to him. He quickly told River everything that had happened in the house, asking her to call an ambulance and cover the legal side of the incident.
“I’ll be there in five minutes with my team,” she replied after he finished. “If you and Cole are still in the house, you should leave now.”
“We’re out,” he said, unease spreading numbness through his chest. “River, please be careful. I have no idea who these people are and what kind of operation they’re running, but they’re powerful and ruthless. They had an army of mercenaries protecting the house, and what they did to these poor women…” He bit his lip and swallowed. “From what I’ve been told, they’re abducting witches and stripping them off their powers. Perhaps this is nothing more than a modern-day witch hunt, but it could be something entirely different—scarier and a lot more dangerous. So, get in, help the victims and get the hell out of there. You understand?”
“I understand. If there is anything I can do to help you with your investigation, let me know,” she replied, anger ringing in her voice, and the sound of an engine coming through the phone line told Damian that River was on her way.
“Yes, you can.” He lifted his head, staring at the empty road, expecting River to show up any minute. “Keep the police from digging deeper into this case until I find out what we’re really dealing with.”
“That’s not going to be easy.” River sighed, the soft ticking of the turn-signal sounding too loud through the phone line. “The Captain thinks we’re dealing with a serial killer, so he’s ready to call the FBI.”
“Try to stall him for as long as you can.” Damian exhaled with a groan. “I don’t need humans to get caught in the crossfire.”
“I’ll do what I can,” she replied and then added at length, her voice trembling with concern, “Dima, are you okay? Did anyone get hurt?”
“We are fine,” he replied. “I have to go now, River. I’ll see you at home in a few hours.”
He hung up the phone and watched for a couple of minutes as a few police cruisers stopped in front of the house. Rising to his feet, he moved away from the fence into the shadow of the house and waited until River walked out of her vehicle, following her with his eyes.
“Oh, my friggin’ God.” Zabava’s amused voice made him snap around. “You’re totally hot for Detective Redhead, aren’t you?” She gave him a quick once-over and tittered. “All this time, I thought the Destiny Enforcers were… um… eunuchs… you know… junk-less sorta.”
Damian’s jaw dropped as he stared at her, not sure if he should be angry or amused, but before he could make up his mind, her hand landed on his crotch.
“I guess I was wrong. You seem to be fully functional,” she said, giving him a not-so-gentle squeeze, eliciting a furious groan out of him.
He seized her wrist, forcing her to unlock her fingers. “You try something like this with me again,” he growled, leaning down slightly to invade her personal space, “and you’ll find your fingers broken. Am I clear?”
“You’re hurting me, asshole,” she hissed, struggling to free her wrist from his iron grip. “Let go, or I will make you.”
“I’m hurting you? Good.” He laughed icily but let go.
“Oversized jackass…” She yanked her hand back, rubbing her wrist.
He ignored her words and continued lightly as though nothing happened, “Now, Zabava, we seem to work on the same side, so there is something I want you to think about—if you know how to do it, of course—and make a decision right now.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re going to drop your juvenile shenanigans, because maybe you can fool my young friends, but you can’t fool neither my brother nor me. All your despicable behavior from the moment I opened that door was nothing but a stupid act. Starting right now, you’re going to treat me and my team courteously and with respect,” he said calmly. “Or you will find yourself outside my state with no way to come back.” He folded his arms over his chest, staring down at her with narrowed eyes. “Since knowing things is a part of your job, I’m sure you’re aware that as a Commander of the Destiny Enforcers, I have the power to do that. So, the choice is yours. What is it going to be, Zabava?”
She stared at him for a few long seconds, a chain of emotions crossing her face. Then she pursed her lips and looked away.
“Fine. I don’t start wars I can’t win and fighting with the Destiny Council is like pissing against the wind,” she grumbled.
“Good choice,” he muttered, barely able to contain the wild laughter bubbling up in his chest. “Now we can have a word.”
Chapter 3
~ Damian Blake ~
They materialized a block away from The Midnight Shift in a dark, narrow alley. Damian quickly scanned the area, and since he didn’t detect anything alarming, he headed toward the well-lit main street. Despite the late hour, the bar was still open, and a few last-minute visitors—all of them werewolves, judging by their energy signature—sat on tall barstools, chatting with Kaleb, the bartender.
“A sanctuary?” Zabava arched her brow at Damian as he opened the door for her. “I guess you still don’t trust me, Commander.”
“I don’t know you,” Damian replied calmly, directing her to a table at the far corner of the bar. He raised his hand, greeting Kaleb, and then sat down across from Zabava. “You’re hiding your supernatural identity, and taking into account the latest developments, I prefer to err on the side of caution.” Then he glanced down at his torn, dirty shirt and his injured arm covered in brown stains of blood and added with a shrug, “Besides, do you know any mundane restaurant that would allow me in looking like this?”
“Fair enough.” She leaned back in the soft seat of the booth, staring out the window at the empty street.
“Damian, my friend. Long time, no see.” Kaleb approached the table, wiping his hands on a white hand towel. His gaze slipped to Damian’s wounded arm, and his eyes widened, but he didn’t ask anything and continued, sounding as friendly and even as before. “I know what your preferences are,” he said and turned toward Zabava. “What would you like, my lady?”
For a moment, she stared at the brawny werewolf, a desire to say something sarcastic clearly written all over her face, but then her eyes darted to Damian, and she mirrored Kaleb’s smile instead. “Whatever his poison is, I’ll take double.”
If Kaleb was surprised by her statement, he didn’t show it. He left and came back a few seconds later sporting a tray with a bottle of vodka and a few clean shot glasses. He placed napkins in front of them and put an empty shot glass atop each napkin. With quick, habitual moves, he filled the glasses with the clear liquid and put the bottle on the table between them.
“Take it, Damian,” he said, holding out his hand with a small blue pill resting in his palm. “It will numb the pain for at least an hour.”
Damian glanced at the pill but didn’t take it, shaking his head. “Thank you, my friend, but I know how to block physical pain, and right now, I need my mind clear.”
A part of the Destiny Enforcers’ training was dedicated to learning how to deal with the
pain of physical wounds. During a combat situation, healing wasn’t an option, and every Destiny Enforcer had to know how to function despite their injuries without slowing down until the opportunity to take care of the wounds presented itself.
Kaleb shrugged and put the pill back in his pocket. “As you wish.” He pointed at the bottle, and a wide grin split his face. “This is also a pretty good painkiller. I trust you know how to refill your glasses?” He winked at Damian and walked away, returning to his conversation with the group of werewolves at the bar.
The harsh odor of alcohol wafted through the air, and Damian inhaled it, closing his eyes for a brief moment. Adrenalin, spiked up by the previous events, started to dwindle, leaving him sore and tired, and he had no desire to play a twenty-questions game with Zabava. All he wanted was to find out who she was and what she was doing in his state.
Zabava took a shot glass, holding it between her thumb and index finger and lifted it, waiting for Damian.
“This wolf-boy called you his friend. You’re the first Enforcer I’ve ever met who has friends. Usually, everyone hates your kind or are scared of you shitless,” she said, staring at him over the rim of her glass. Then she leaned back slightly, narrowing her sparkling eyes. “Here is to making new friends.”
She didn’t wait for him and flipped the glass upside down, swallowing its contents in one gulp without so much as a cringe. Then she put it on the table and exhaled, closing her eyes for a moment. Without taking his eyes off of her, Damian downed his vodka and also leaned back, enjoying the feeling of the liquid burning down his throat.
“It seems you know everything about me and my kind,” Damian started calmly, folding his arms. “I think it would only be fair if you told me who you are and what you’re doing in my territory.”
All mirth vanished from her eyes abruptly, and she leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. “I told you,” she replied icily. “I’m a supernatural PI, and I was hired to investigate the disappearance of witches. If you think it is happening only in Arizona, think again, Enforcer. But Arizona seems to be at the epicenter.”
