Beware The Hunter

by Martha Carr

  Correk stepped back through to Oriceran. “The never-ending smack down. Bring it.”

  The silver pinpoints of light returned, opening portals all around them as former Silver Griffins stepped through, ready for battle. Magic flew everywhere as dark and light fought for control of the artifact. Leira stood in the center of it all, watching it go on around her, and felt the anger and energy build inside of her.

  To her left, a portal opened and Lucius in wolf form leaped through, the streaks of light reflected in his yellow eyes. Behind him was his entire pack, growling and snarling, ready for a fight. He turned his attention to the dark families, narrowing his eyes.

  This is what we’ve been waiting for. Let’s take them down! Revenge! Every wolf in Lucius’ pack began to howl. Lucius dug his paws into the dirt beneath his feet and took off, droves of wolves following him. They slid and moved through the dark families, snapping at them, then leapt into the air to crash down on them like a wave of arrows.

  All the trolls grew back into their large form and joined the wolves, slashing their claws and taking them down one at a time. Leira was lost in a trance, listening to the yelps of injured wolves and watching as Silver Griffins battled, some to serious injury against the dark families. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, her eyes glowing brighter and brighter.

  “I’ve had enough of this. I’m done being nice. This fight is finished,” Leira whispered.

  An aura of light exploded around her and she joined the battle, swiping her hands right and left, around in circles, and back and forth as she fought back. Brittany stood behind her, the sisters back to back, trusting each other to fight off the dark magic.

  Screams echoed from the dark families as they fell to the ground, many of them breathing their last. Leira and Brittany moved closer, battling their way into the fray. Leira leaned to her right as a dark wizard shot a flaming ball of spikes at Correk. “Motherfuckers really ought to learn. No one messes with my man.”

  Correk drew a circle in the air with a trail of fire, circling the spikes. He circled his arm, spinning the light and throwing it back at the wizard, burning a hole through the middle of his chest.

  “Damn, nicely done.” Leira thrust her hands down and slammed her fists into the ground. A wave of energy rippled through the earth, knocking the remaining dark magic wizards or witches off their feet. Brittany peered over her shoulder, admiring her sister’s work.

  The ground beneath them swept up into a storm, filling the air with dirt that grew to form a rope, encircling the dark magicals. She gave a crooked smile to Correk. “I could use an assist. What do you do with the worst of magical beings?”

  Correk opened a portal wide. Leira could hear the sound of the ocean on Oriceran. Tall towers rose in front of her.

  “Nooooo, Trevilsom Prison,” moaned a witch. Cries erupted from the others.

  Brittany felt the shiver go down her spine. “That is badass, brother in law.”

  Leira pulled in more energy through her feet and let it surge out in front of her. The dirty swirled faster, lifting the witches and wizards and smashing them onto the ground on the other side. Guards emerged from the prison, rushing the witches and wizards even as they cried out for help and the portal closed.

  “That was intense,” whispered Louie. “I’ve heard stories but…”

  Leira was breathing heavily as everyone came and stood by her side, looking at the large artifact in the silence that finally hung in the air.

  “That should be the end of their kind, at least for a generation,” said Louie.

  “We’ll be here,” said Brittany.

  Lucius rubbed his large head against her leg, and Correk put his arm around her waist.

  Leira let her energy dissipate, the glow in her eyes fading. “That’s for another day.”

  26

  We cannot stop here. We have to continue. There are still remnants of the dark families and while they’re injured it’s our chance to take them down once and for all. Lucius spoke to his pack proudly, allowing Leira to listen. The wolves howled their approval.

  Leira crouched enough to be level with Lucius’ large head. “Be careful out there. If you need me, you know how to find me.”

  Lucius nodded as Leira opened a portal for him. The wolves quickly jumped through, and out into a large field.

  We will fight the dark families through the night, searching out their lairs and destroying everything we find. Anything that would rid the world of dark magic we will destroy. Old spell books will be removed from memory at last and their houses will crumble. They will not torture my kind anymore.

  Lucius carried out his promise and made it so.

  The dark families lost everything, even as the families grabbed valuables as they ran for their lives. At the last, Lucius sat in front of the last great manor burning to the ground. He let out a deep howl, and the pack joined in.

  I think you should see this, said a member of his pack, walking up to him with a piece of paper in his mouth.

  Lucius shifted back into his Elf form and took the paper from the wolf. He scanned the words, recognizing both Humans First and Elias’ name. When he reached the end, he narrowed his eyes and looked at the moon. That paper told him everything he needed to know, including the name of the senator who had been pulling the strings all along.

  He crumpled the paper in his fist as his eyes flashed yellow. “Trumbull!”

  Leira and Brittany lifted the artifact into Turner’s mansion, straining from the magic. Once inside, Turner ran his fingers just above the symbols, as a look of recognition appeared on his face.

  Correk peered over his shoulder. “What is it, Turner? A shift in space and time? Do we have more to worry about than just the dark families?”

  Turner shook his head. “Not exactly.” He put his hand on Correk’s shoulder. “Trust me as much as you can. You need to forget you ever saw this.”

  Leira opened her mouth to say something, but Correk put up his hand and shook his head.

  “What do you mean?” asked Correk. “We can’t just forget we saw this. If I’m the Fixer, you need to tell me what’s going on.”

  “Not this time. The old lines of respect must still apply,” Turner snapped.

  Correk took a step back, and Turner cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, you are owed more but it can’t be this time. We need to save this dilemma for another day. The artifact will be safe with me for now. I need you to finish what was started to expose the Humans First movement. That is what’s most important right now. The future of humans and magicals on Earth is relying on you doing that.”

  Leira slipped her hand into Correk’s. “If it’s what is best, we trust you. The artifact is safe for now. The dark families are on the run, what’s left of them, and there’s no immediate danger from any of this. We need to focus on what’s happening in the world around us. There will always be something.” She squeezed Correk’s hand. “You know that.”

  Correk touched the side of Leira’s face. “Best part of any day.” He shook Turner’s hand, grasping the old elf’s hand with both of his. “If you need anything, let us know.”

  “That’s our cue. You headed my way?” Brittany opened a portal to a quiet beach in Saint Lucia. “We can grab a drink and sit by the beach before we head home. I know a guy.” She smiled, stepping through.

  “Works for me,” said Louie, with a laugh, jumping through before the portal closed.

  “He’s like a little brother. Leira gave a crooked smile, as Correk opened a portal to their house and Leira, Correk and Yumfuck stepped through, letting it shut behind them.

  They all stood there in the middle of the floor for several moments replaying everything that happened. They had freed Ossonia from the World in Between. They had destroyed the dark mist and survived several battles, even though more surely awaited them.

  Leira was shaken out of her thoughts by her phone’s buzz in her back pocket. She pulled it out and opened it, answering, “Yes?”

>   “Leira, it’s Lucius. There’s something you need to see.”

  27

  Leira formed a ball of clear purple light, opening a portal onto the floor of the US Senate while it was being aired live on C-SPAN. The president pro tempore stood up immediately and pounded his gavel on the table in front of him. “What is the meaning of this?”

  Lucius stepped out beside Leira and nodded, holding up one of the few surviving dark wizards from the battle. Leira looked around the floor calmly. She was worn out from all the battles, but there was more to be done before she could rest.

  “We have some very interesting information for you.” She held up her hand to silence the protests. “It can’t wait. It concerns one of your own, as well as the safety of our country and our planet.”

  Several of the senators yelled in protest, but the speaker shook his head, his jowls waggling, and banged his gavel. “Quiet! If Leira Berens believes that she needs to interrupt a session, then we listen to her.”

  Leira faced the senators in the chamber. “I brought a witness with me. He has something to tell you.”

  The wizard grumbled and Lucius squeezed the back of his neck tighter, digging his fingernails into the man’s skin. “I am a wizard,” he said, attempting a bow even as Lucius lifted him off his feet. “When magic began returning to Earth, plans were set into motion to create a rift between humans and magical creatures, to be initiated by more than one group. Yes, I admit that we, the dark families, were part of some of them, but with little success. Strangely enough, a mere human came up with a better idea.”

  The wizard glanced in Trumbull’s direction, and the senator looked away.

  “We were part of the rally that was interrupted, and we have also been working with Humans First to orchestrate scare tactics across the country at different town halls and rallies.”

  The senator from Michigan stood up and shook his head. “We already know the dark families are involved. Is that all you have to tell us?”

  The dark wizard snickered. “No. Someone here was able to funnel money from the government to finance the attacks. Your kind has a habit of turning on each other.” Lucius shook him like a rag doll.

  “Who is it?” demanded a portly senator who sat at the end of the table.

  The dark wizard lifted his arm and pointed straight at Senator Trumbull. The senator stood up, knocking his chair over, and slammed his fist on the table. “This is absolutely absurd! Where is your proof?”

  Lucius kept the wizard dangling in the air with one large hand, lifting a thumb drive in the palm of the other. “This shows every transfer of funds from different accounts that connect the senator to Humans First, to the Harriken, and to the dark families.”

  Lucius turned over the evidence to the speaker, glaring at the senator. “Just follow the money.”

  The senator’s face was pale as he bolted for the door.

  Leira sent out a flash of light, swirling it around the man and dragging him back to his chair. The light circled his wrists and pinned him in place. Senator Turnbull was exposed on national television, and everyone in the room turned to him, looking for answers.

  The senator began to laugh. His hair was disheveled, and sweat dripped down his forehead. “You fools,” he hissed, spitting out the words. His face twisted into a sneer. “You think that working with these magical beings is going to make this world a better place? Mark my words, if you continue to let people like Leira Berens run loose, all of us will be dead and Oricerans will have taken over before you know it.”

  The speaker pounded his gavel on the desk. “Security, get him out of here! He is a traitor to this country and to this planet.”

  Leira raised her hand. “Sir, if I may? I think we should call for an immediate vote to rescind his access to funding and reclaim what he’s allocated to Humans First.”

  The senator from Oregon looked at her and tilted her head. “Then how will we protect human beings? More importantly, how will we reassure the public that we’re doing just that?”

  Leira looked at all the senators, who were waiting for her answer. She took a calming breath and nodded. “I’ve never been very good at this stuff, but here goes. The bounty system, the one we set up and that I have been working under—it works. It is proof that we are taking down the dark magic as quickly as we possibly can. Today, both human and magical creatures stood by my side and battled three times to put down those who meant us harm. The system worked well today, and it can again. It provides comfort to humans to know that there is a system in place. The bounty system works.”

  The room fell silent, and Leira shifted her weight, remembering Hagan. Whoever talks first, loses. A moment later, all the senators stood and began clapping, the sound filling the room. Leira shook her head and put up her hand to quiet them. “It’s not about recognition. It’s about doing what’s right and protecting what’s ours. I grew up on Earth, and I have family on Oriceran, which makes both places important to me.”

  The senator from New York stood up and smiled. “I believe most of the people here will agree. We would like you to head up our bounty system. We think you would have great input, and know exactly what needs to be done to continue to fight the dark and evil.”

  Leira chuckled and shook her head. “I’ll be honest with you, that’s not my thing. I love being a bounty hunter, but I’m done with organized government. I do have someone I believe would not only bring peace and serenity to this planet and others, but will also fight to keep evil at bay at any cost.”

  The senator nodded. “All right, who is it?”

  Leira gave the shifter a crooked smile. “Meet Lucius, a shifter, a Light Elf, and a badass warrior.”

  “Start by taking a comfortable position with your legs crossed and your palms up resting peacefully in your lap,” Yumfuck instructed as he sat in front of five of his neighbors, teaching them to meditate.

  “What if I have an itch?” George called from the back. Lily turned around and smiled at her husband.

  Yumfuck opened one eye. “Then you scratch it from deep within.”

  The troll took a deep breath in through his nose and let it out through his mouth. “Now, everyone take a deep breath, and when you do, slowly open your eyes. As you exhale through your mouth, close your eyes again and feel a wave of relaxation wash over your entire body.”

  Everyone did as instructed, taking a deep breath in through their nose and exhaling out their mouth. Emmett let out a sudden snort and blushed. “Sorry about that.”

  Yumfuck nodded and let out a snort of his own in support. “Repeat the process four times. In through your nose, opening your eyes… And out your mouth, closing your eyes and melting into the seat beneath you. Marcy, what’s with the frown? Relax your face, relax your jaw. Your forehead is smooth and without tension. Be like a troll.”

  Elijah let his body relax. The scales on his arms momentarily flipped over and matched the floor, blending him into the background. Emmett let out another snort and pointed.

  The troll kept his furry paws on his knees, opening one eye and smiling. “Now, when you’ve reached your fourth breath, I want you to slow your breathing and focus on the energy that you can feel flowing through you from the universe. With every breath, think about how relaxed you are and how calm your mind is. Take a few moments to really sink into that feeling.”

  George let out a low rumbling snore, and Lily gently nudged him. Yumfuck cleared his throat, and they all quieted down again as they practiced their deep breathing. “In your head, I want you to repeat the following: I am relaxed and at peace. I am clearheaded and able to channel the universe’s energy anytime I’d like. I am able to focus on the task at hand from beginning to end. I’m going to count down from five. At one, you will open your eyes and find yourself completely in tune with the world around you.”

  “Couldn’t we just use a spell for that?” Marcy opened her mouth to start a spell but stopped when Yumfuck growled softly. “Okay, okay, I get it. We’re going old-school
today.” She shifted on her mat.

  “Five, I am becoming aware and focused. Four, I can feel the universal energy surging through my body. Three, I wiggle my hands and toes, bringing my mind back to the present. Two, I can see the tasks I have before me, and I’m excited to move forward with clarity and motivation. And one, slowly open your eyes, thinking about all the sensations you just felt.”

  A high-pitched whine erupted from under Yumfuck, followed by a filmy orange cloud that floated toward the ceiling.

  “Not sure I can pull that one off,” said George, watching the orange mist form a perfect circle on the ceiling. “That’s gotta have something to do with your plumbing.”

  Lily let out a sharp laugh and winked. “You’re not giving yourself enough credit, my dear.”

  Yumfuck cackled and opened his eyes, bowing with his hands pressed together in front of his chest. “Namaste, motherfuckers!”

  28

  Leira looked down at Correk’s hand, which was wrapped around hers as they sat on the front stoop of their house.

  Correk pulled her closer. “I have to say, that was probably one of the busiest days that I’ve had with you. We had three major battles, saved Ossonia from the World in Between, confiscated a scary and freakishly creepy artifact that looks like it was from an alien species, and pretty much demolished the dark families. Check, check, check, and check.”

  Leira chuckled. “You do realize that you’re an alien, right? You aren’t from Earth. You’re a visitor from another world. Just because you didn’t ride in on a spaceship and abduct somebody for testing doesn’t mean you’re not an alien.”

  Correk smirked. “Then what does that make you? Aren’t you like a human-alien hybrid? Or are you more like that movie with Sigourney Weaver where the alien pops out of her stomach?”