by Martha Carr
Yumfuck let out a growl, then a whine when he realized Leira was injured. Louie put his hands up and bent down on one knee in front of Yumfuck. “Relax, Yumfuck. The fight is contained for now.”
Leira smiled and rubbed her hand through his tuft. “Thanks for being so concerned, buddy. I’m okay, though. It looks worse than it really is, I promise. The government sent me out on a bounty, and well, I failed…kind of. It turns out that this target is a little bit harder to find than just appearing in front of him.”
Jackson put down his glass, feeling the anger rise in his throat. Not toward Leira, but for her safety. “You could’ve been killed on Oriceran, and no one would’ve ever known! What were you thinking, going out there by yourself?”
Leira glanced at Louie. “I wasn’t on my own. I had this guy, his best friend, and one of my really good friends I haven’t seen in a while, the Gardener’s son.”
Yumfuck whimpered softly, rubbing his face against Leira’s leg. “Perrom?”
Leira looked down and smiled at him, nodding happily. “He still can’t use his arm, but man, can he fight!”
Jackson crossed his arms over his chest. “And what if you had lost out there in the Dark Forest? How would we have ever found you when we didn’t even know that you were gone?”
Leira proudly patted Yumfuck on the top of the head. “You both would’ve known if I was in real trouble. Yumfuck here would’ve turned blue.”
Yumfuck nodded. “Very true.”
A flash of anger crossed Jackson's face. “That’s when you’re close to death, which is too late.”
Leira tried to hold back a smile, comforted that her father was so worried about her. She had gone so many years without that feeling that she’d almost forgotten what it was like to have a parent really care about her. Of course, her mother and grandmother always did, but they had been gone for a long time too.
She walked over and looped her arms around Jackson’s neck. “I’m sorry I worried you. You’re right, I should have taken someone with me, but when my lead portaled to Oriceran, I jumped and thought about it later. If it makes you feel any better, Louie was with me because I went to your house for help. I went there before I went to the dark market.”
Jackson’s eyes shifted toward Louie. “You took her to the dark market? When Oriceran is in such disarray? You might as well have paraded her through town and given them her address here on Earth. What were you thinking, Louie?”
Louie shifted his stance nervously. “Well, I was thinking that she was going to go there whether I took her or not. And the fact that she pays my bills on Earth is important, especially now since I can never go back to the dark market.”
Jackson shook his head confused. “Wait, why can’t you go back to the dark market?”
Leira patted her father on the shoulder. “Let’s take this one step at a time.”
Jackson grumbled, but agreed and sat down in one of the chairs. Leira sat across from him, trying not to grimace at the pain in her shoulder. “I got a bounty from the government, and they said it was urgent. The information in the files talks about a Marcel Ladslow. He’s wanted for drugs, and is the suspect in a murder case and about a dozen other things. Why they want him, I have no idea. I just know that I have to find him. I went to your house to ask if you knew anything about him.”
Jackson rubbed his hand over his chin. “I don’t know the name, but there’ve been rumors flying all over the place that there is a new boss in town. He’s taken Rhazdon’s place, and is apparently leading the Oriceran dark wizards and witches into a new era. At least, that’s what they’re saying, but you know how reliable rumors are. The only reason I believe it is because I’ve seen the change, and if this guy is real, there’s a good chance that he’s your bounty. He’s been trying to organize the underworld of Oriceran. It’s very bad news.”
Louie moped and plopped down on the small sofa. “I liked the old system. There was a charm to our thievery, and killers ended up in some prison.”
Jackson pointed at Louie. “You are exactly right. Killers ended up in the worst prison between both planets, and they were held accountable for the things they did. It’s not the same anymore. Now, they’re paying off some of the killers and eluding others. I’ve even heard rumors that the dark mist has made another appearance.”
Leira’s eyes shifted to Louie, then back to Jackson, who just stared at her, knowing there was more to that look than surprise. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Leira licked her lips and sat back in the chair. “When I was searching for my target, I came across one of his men, who was obviously infected with the dark mist. His eyes were black, and the mist oozed around him. It took us a long time to fight him off, and he finally disappeared through a portal. There’s definitely something going on out there. I can see that I have to focus on finding this Marcel and handing him over to the government. Whatever he’s done, it was enough for them to risk the life of their best bounty hunter to go after him.”
Jackson took another sip of his whiskey and looked out the window. “The darkness is spreading out of the market. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Well, I gotta get to crime-fighting,” Yumfuck declared, standing up and stretching.
Louie stood up. “All right. I’m out too. I gotta get back anyway. I told Ava we would train together. You want us to wait for you, Leira?”
Leira shook her head. “Actually, no. You go ahead. You guys get home, get relaxed, and get well. I’m gonna stay here with Jackson for a little bit. It’s been a while since I’ve visited.”
Yumfuck threw his body at Leira, hugging her tightly. “I’m glad they didn’t shish kebab you.”
Leira laughed. “I’m glad they didn’t shish kebab me either, Yumfuck. You be safe out there on the streets tonight. You heard all the warnings.”
Yumfuck stood up tall and saluted Leira before running toward the door where Louie was waiting for him. He turned back around and waved. “Aloha, motherfuckers!”
Both Jackson and Leira laughed, sounding very similar. Louie raised an eyebrow, then walked out the door with Yumfuck, heading down to catch a bus to the Metro station. He knew he could take a Starbucks train, but he needed a break from magical people for a minute.
Once they were gone, Leira turned back to Jackson, clapping her hands together. “The Gardener has a son, and his name is Perrom. When we fought in Paris, the girl he loves sacrificed her life to keep me from being pulled into the World in Between. That loss, combined with the amount of damage that Perrom took during battle, means I hadn’t seen him in a long time.”
Jackson looked at her strangely, not sure where she was going with this. “It was good to see your friend, then. And he came to help you, so he must not be that angry at you.”
“Here’s the thing… Perrom asked me to help him get Ossonia out of the World in Between. He doesn’t know how to do it, and doesn’t feel that he has the magic to accomplish it.”
Jackson leaned forward. “And you do?”
Leira shrugged. “I got Grandma out, and I’ve opened a rift before to the World in Between. I’m pretty sure I can handle this one.”
Jackson took another sip of his whiskey. “All right. Tell me how it goes then. Tell me how you do it.”
Leira settled back in the chair. “Well, first we have to locate a thin place, then we have to somehow get word to Ossonia, then we have to gather others with enough power to pull her out by ripping open a hole. It’s an entire process. I’m not gonna lie; I think it’s worth it to get her back, not just because he’s my friend but because she gave her life for mine. I owe her this.”
Jackson could tell Leira was dead-set on helping. “Okay, how do we find a thin enough place?”
“That’s the easy part. I always go back to what worked.”
Jackson grimaced. “The Driskill Hotel.”
Leira shrugged. “Why not?”
Jackson lifted his hand and paused. “And I’m guessing there’s no way I
can talk you out of this?”
Leira shook her head. Jackson chuckled and pulled a little bit of energy up into his palm. “That’s what I thought, so I guess I have a gift for you.”
He made a locket appear in his hand. Curious, Leira looked at it, then at Jackson. Jackson chuckled and stood up, holding the locket in front of him. “A small artifact from your dad.”
Leira smiled and stood up too, turning around and lifting her hair off her neck. Jackson’s cheeks were bright red as he placed the locket around her neck, and he looked almost shy as he secured the clasp and stepped back. She turned around, holding it tightly in her hand. She was more than touched.
Leira knew exactly why he was giving it to her, but it was the only gift she’d ever received from him. “What’s it for?”
Jackson coughed and took a drink of his whiskey. “It has some of my magic in it, in case you can’t find me again when you need me. There’s been enough of that for one lifetime. And if you’re ever in an unwinnable situation, crush it, and the magic will pull me to you in a moment. You can only do it once, so make it count.”
Leira smiled, still holding it tightly in her hand. “Thank you. I really do appreciate this, and I know that one day it will definitely come in handy. Sometimes I can be stubborn, and I put myself in difficult situations, but when I know I’m going to lose I don’t take that chance. If I find myself facing a situation where I know I’m not going to able to get out of it, I always call on someone, and I usually don’t go anywhere alone. Duty called, and that was why I was there. I can’t say that I regret it. I found out a lot of things about Oriceran that I didn’t realize were happening.”
Jackson’s grimaced. “Yeah, it’s getting pretty bad over there. They think they have problems here with magical beings, but they don’t even know the half of it. You know, you should consider becoming a bounty hunter on Oriceran. You’re as much an elf as you are human, and we could use your help.”
Leira tilted her head back and laughed. “Turns out you’re not the first one to ask me.”
16
The grand room the dark families had once sat comfortably in to discuss the happenings of their lives was no more. Just as the dark families had fallen within the ranks of society on Earth, so had everything around them. But you’d be mistaken to say that this was the downfall for them.
Beneath the tall ceilings of the 1980s headquarters for the dark families, wizards and witches began to congregate. The room was no longer considered grand by any means, but the large wooden table, mismatched seats, and aged chandelier hanging from the ceiling were good enough for what they were there to discuss. Two representatives from each of the main branches of the dark families slowly gathered in the hall, pushing the hoods of their long black velvet robes back to reveal their faces.
Twelve dark souls sat at the table, but no one was brave enough to begin the discussion. Coffee and tea were served, along with generic pastries picked up by the families on their way in. There was no leader of this group, but they all looked at the eldest, a witch who had seen generations before her buried in the ground, just like their old meeting place. She was nearly twelve hundred years old and had spent half of her life on Oriceran and half on Earth. Though her skin was beginning to wrinkle and her hair was a shimmering silver, her spirit had not aged, and her passion for dark magic was stronger than ever.
One of the younger witches brought the elder a cup of tea and leaned down, whispering into her ear, “Grandmother, they are all waiting for you to begin.”
Esmeralda took the teacup from her granddaughter and nodded, giving no indication of appreciation for the kindness. She cleared her throat, quieting the sullen group around the table. “I know we don’t have a leader, but someone has to begin. I think this room, the stale pastries, and the less-than-adequate beverages speak volumes for where we have found ourselves. For generations, we met within the lavish walls of the mansion in horse country and several other places throughout the country. That has all changed, but do not be fooled. I have lived long enough to know that the tide can change very quickly.”
All the witches and wizards nodded, one of them gathering the courage to make a comment. He was a middle-aged wizard who had seen battle throughout his life, fighting for the rights of the dark magicals. “I have to agree with you, Esmeralda. We have seen good and bad times, and this is certainly not the worst. We will regain our place. It’s just a matter of time and a matter of how we go about doing it.”
One of the witches raised her eyebrow and shook her head, having the same angry feelings as most of the others. “I think I can speak for most here, that the anger we feel inside grows each day. All our plans have failed, and not only did we not get what we wanted, but we’ve also lost excessive ground. I truly feel that enough is enough.”
The group began to talk loudly amongst themselves until a younger wizard by the name of Elias Snowcroft stepped from the shadows in the corner of the room. “I don’t think anger will help with anything.”
Everyone shut up, knowing exactly who Elias was. He was a twentieth-generation dark and privileged wizard from a family of purebloods that spanned hundreds of years. His family used to rule all dark families, but their views on pureblood versus half-blood became controversial when the dark families were no longer required to mate only with those of the same magical background.
Still, Elias held his head high. He knew that even though they did not control the council any longer, he was revered by many. “I propose that we make a certain someone our ally.”
Esmeralda sat quietly, running her eyes over his dark suit, vivid purple shirt, wide tie, and handmade leather loafers with no socks. He looked like many others in his family, especially with his close-cropped white hair and eyes that were bluer than a perfect spring sky. He was a stylish fellow and topped it off by carrying a peculiar dogwood wand.
Unlike the others, Esmeralda had dealt with his family for years, so she was not as fearful of him. “Elias, I didn’t know you would be here today. Please, have a seat with us.”
Elias smiled out of politeness. “If you don’t mind, I would like to stay on my feet while I explain. Walking helps me clear my head and think. But might I say, Esmeralda, you are looking as youthful as always.”
Esmeralda knew he was being snide, but she also knew how dangerous he and his family could be, so instead of snapping back she nodded and put her hands in her lap. She clutched her wand in her hand under the table, not to start a battle but to be prepared should one occur. Even within the dark families’ circle, none of them really trusted each other.
“Please, I’m sure we’re all very curious as to what you have to say. It’s been a while since your family has attended a meeting, and God knows we could use some new ideas in the group.”
Elias put his hands together. “I was hoping you would feel that way. I’m not taking a shot at anyone, but when I heard your plans had failed yet again, I figured I could shine a light on something that could help us. I’m not sure how many people have paid attention, but Humans First has been making some pretty good waves in recent days. I believe we can use them to our advantage.”
The young wizard was crafty in his speech. He had carefully chosen each word to speak to the group, making sure to keep small details such as the monetary exchange between the senator and him to himself. He knew they would be livid that he was acting without approval. Not that he cared, but today was going to be especially important to the future of the dark families, so he wanted to keep their perspective clear.
Elias began walking around the table. “At first, I didn’t think the group would do much good, at least not for us. However, they seem to be growing every day, and they can get into places where magical beings are often too nervous to go. It has come to my attention that Humans First is capable of causing problems during town hall meetings and rallies. Even more important, they will be able to draw out Leira, who I know is one of your top priorities.”
He let them whisper amongst t
hemselves for another moment before continuing, “I think that if we can draw her out one last time, we can take our shot. We can get rid of her, or at least cripple her to the point where she will no longer be a thorn in our collective side.”
One of the wizards tilted his head in thought. “She won’t come out for some small-town meeting or rally. How do you expect to get her to come out?”
Elias pointed at the wizard and smiled. “Very good question. It will start with small skirmishes, but those will add up. Over time, they’ll cause irritation that will warrant Leira’s input, as we’ll call it.”
The wizards and witches leaned forward, indicating to Elias that he had gotten their attention. He hid a smirk and continued, “We send out informants, people who work for the organization, and begin by planting the idea in their heads. Just regular citizens who may not have given it any thought before will be implanted with that seed of fear. All it takes is for that seed to grow, and with our constant staged rallies, the humans pushing for stricter policies regarding magical beings, and the small crimes we have nothing to do with, it will absolutely be blown up in the media. It’s covert, and it’s exactly what we need to steer people back in the direction that we want them to go without losing any more of our people to Leira Berens in nasty fights like the one on the lawn during that rally. Let’s play it smart and let humans do the job for us. Focus our attention on taking down Leira, and everything will fall into place.”
Elias looked at the table of witches and wizards, who nodded their heads happily with satisfied and contented sighs. Esmeralda clasped her hands together. “I think that’s a fantastic idea, and Elias, you have it down pat, so you should put this into motion and keep us updated on the situation. As we get closer to luring Leira Berens out, we can set up a plan to take her down.”
