by KJ Robinson
After having Tyler my dreams of going away to a University far away from my stepfather were dashed. Instead I enrolled in a local community college and studied art while I juggled raising an infant and waitressing.
He parked on the curb, but besides the police tape across the Lewis family home’s door, everything looked normal and quiet. “Where are her parents?” I asked as we walked up the sidewalk to the door.
Chase removed the barrier from the door and put in the combination for the lockbox on the doorknob. He used his shoulder to push in the door which was sticking because of the summer humidity.
“They’re on vacation. We haven’t even called them yet to tell them the knews.” Chase took a pair of paper booties out of his pocket and handed them to me.
“Put these on. I can explain my footprints, but not yours. The scene’s been mostly processed so we should be okay, but let’s cover our asses just in case. Don’t touch anything if you can help it,” he said.
I grabbed the booties and put them over my shoes and stepped over the threshold. Although Tyler and Jacinda had been dating a year, I never had the pleasure of going to her home to meet her folks. They’d never done anything outright, but I think they thought that Tyler wasn’t quite good enough for their daughter.
I remember the first time I’d encountered her father. It was at the high school’s homecoming game. Tyler had been too shy to ask Jacinda to the dance, but I’d pushed him to ask her to the game. I drove Tyler and hung out to cheer on my old alma mater. Giving the kids some space, I’d sat a few rows down at the bottom of the bleachers.
A few minutes into the game, I saw an outraged looking older man stomping up the steps to where they sat. I could easily sense his anger even without using my magic. I overheard him yelling at his daughter about her saying she was going out with a friend and he’d assumed it was another girl.
Chase shook me out of my reverie and pointed towards the living room. So far, the house had been pristine I wouldn't have even known a murder had been committed there. That all changed when I stepped into the living room.
The living room reminded me of the one in the house I grew up in. It was one of those rooms that were for show. The carpet was a soft cream color as were the sofas. Or at least they were. Now they were encrusted with a blood that had turned dark brown from Jacinda’s blood splatter oxidizing on it. On the wall above the couch was the symbol Chase had showed me on his phone.
I walked closer to it being careful not to step on any of the blood splatter on the floor. Dodging the blood spatter was a pretty hard job because it was everywhere." Can I touch it?" I asked him, motioning towards the wall. He nodded and I reached out towards the symbol.
My tattoo started to glow a deep red tone, not quite the red they’d normally glow when I sensed demon magic. When I touched one of the symbols it felt like an electric shock. Someone had done something to confuse the magic signature on it.
I couldn't tell what type of magic this was supposed to be. I couldn't even tell what type of creature had made it. The crime scene didn’t feel like something done by another human. The profane way it was done as well as the not so coincidental way the symbol appeared in my dream the night before. I knew in some way this had to be connected to me and maybe Tyler to.
I should just leave this alone. There’s no reason for me to get involved. It could really all be a coincidence. No need to rock the boat now. I’d spent so many years protecting Tyler from stuff like this. Kept him away from the Supernatural world as much as I could. He was living a normal life, involving myself would just cause more problems.
“Got anything?” Chase asked. I shook my head no. Chase cocked his head, but then just shrugged his shoulders.
“I couldn’t get a magical signature on it. Whoever did this was purposely trying to cloak their identity.”
“Alright, well at least you tried. I know you’re not keen to use your magic.”
Not keen was an understatement.
Chapter Four
We drove most of the way back to my shop in silence. I guess we were both lost in our own thoughts. I was trying to figure out how I’d break it to Tyler that his girlfriend was dead, not just dead, but murdered.
We pulled up to the curb in front of Enchanted Ink. As soon as I stepped out the car I felt something brush up against the wards of my shop, it was almost imperceptible but I could still feel it.
“Tyler!” I screamed as I ran towards the shop. Chase ran after me. I threw open the door and looked around the shop, it was quiet, too quiet. I used my magic to see if I could sense any presences. My tattoos started to glow red, the color I associated mostly with demonic presences, but I felt nothing, absolutely nothing.
No presence at all, not even Tyler.
I pulled out my cell and dialed Tyler’s number. It immediately went to voicemail. I left a frantic voice message and hit end. I heard chase call out my name from the back of the shop. On our wall was burned the image from my dream. I no longer had to guess if this was connected to Tyler. This was a very clear message.
I slid to the floor and started to bawl. Chase wrapped his arms around me and rocked me like a baby. I deeply inhaled the smell of him, the only thing currently grounding me. He smelled like sandalwood and pine, outdoorsy and woodsy. I looked up at him and pleaded with my eyes. I didn’t want to say the words, Tyler’s Missing. It would make it real somehow.
One minute I was planning a party, the next my son is missing, right after his girlfriend is murdered. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going to happen to him.
After what seemed like ages I stopped sniveling and looked around the shop. It was odd, there was nothing out of place. It didn’t seem like there was a struggle at all. Like whoever Tyler went with was a friend or someone he knew. But, he wouldn’t just disappear without telling me. I’d already dialed his cell a hundred times during my crying jag and each time it went straight to voicemail.
Chase went to the bathroom to get me some much-needed tissue and returned with a wadded-up bunch of toilet paper. “Thanks,” I said as I took it from his outstretched hand.
“Tray,” Chase started. I didn’t like the tone he was using with me. It was his good cop voice. “You don’t think Tyler got scared and bounced, do you?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“It’s just.” He stopped and then started again. “It’s just, if he were a suspect of mine…”
I interrupted him, “He’s not a suspect. He’s missing. Someone, something, took him.”
“Husband. Boyfriend. Lover. Those are always the first suspects. People closest to the victim.” I glared at him while he continued. “You have to admit it’s suspicious. I come around with the victim’s picture and he’s ghost.”
“You’ve known Tyler since he was sixteen, do you think he’s capable of…that,” I said as I gestured to his cell phone.
“I don’t know. You’ve never actually told me what Tyler was.”
“What does that matter? You sound like one of these Norms. It doesn’t matter what his nature is. He’s not a monster!” I screamed at him, spittle landing on the floor where I sat.
Chase held up his hands in surrender. “I’m not saying he is.” He took a deep breath. “I’m just saying this looks bad, Tray. And relationship or not I’m going to have to call this in as not just a disappearance, but a possible suspect on the run.”
I glared daggers at him and my tattoos started to glow gold of their own volition. “Get out,” I started. Chase tried to walk closer to me and it felt like my skin was on fire. My tatts started to glow even brighter. I gritted my teeth and hissed low, “Get out now or I won’t be responsible for what happens to you.”
Chase walked towards the front of the shop. I didn’t move until I heard my motion sensors chime, signaling his exit. Once he was out I unleashed my fury on the easel where my sketch stood and set it aflame.
There was only one person I could think of that would both give off a demon
reading through my magic feelers and who Tyler would to go peacefully with.
Chapter Five
I was going into the bowels of hell, no seriously that was name of the club, The Bowels of Hell. It was a popular Supe after-hours spot for those who didn’t mind mingling with some of the ne’er-do-wells of our kind. It wasn’t the kind of place where they checked IDs or to if you had weapons. It wasn’t my usual Friday night spot, but if Tyler was with who I thought he was, I’d either find them there or get the 411 on where he was.
There was a reason I never told Chase what kind of magic Tyler had. It was one thing for someone to accept a sorceress. Norms thought I was like a female Merlin, but Tyler was another thing altogether. In fact, I was guessing he was the first of his kind. If there were others like him, I’d never heard of them.
The club looked like your average nightspot. There were two huge bouncers at the door, a line around the block to get in, and you could hear the bass of the music pumping through the brick walls. The only difference from a regular club were the bouncers at the door. They were eight feet tall, had a green pallor to their skin, and one hell of a dental issue. If you can call having tusks a dental issue. I walked over to the friendliest looking one and said one word, Demetrius.
The ogre, I’m guessing he was an ogre, looked me over. As a show of strength, I let my tattoos do their thing and they glowed a fierce red. He grunted in what I guessed was approval and then moved aside so that I could step into the club.
When I stepped in the music hit me hard in the chest. The bumping bass vibrated throughout my whole body. I looked around the crowded club it was still early, though. It wasn’t his style to be anything, but fashionably late. I didn’t see Demetrius, but I saw the next best thing, Ali, his best friend and more importantly a Jinn.
The Jinn are supernatural creatures mostly known in early Arabian and Islamic mythology and theology. They’re commonly known as genies, but they don’t like that. Calling Ali a genie was akin to calling someone like me the N word.
The Quran says that the Jinn were created from a smokeless and scorching fire, but are also physical in nature, and not just spirits. This allows them to interact in a tactile manner with people and objects and likewise be acted upon.
The Jinn, humans, and angels make up the three known sapient creations of God. Like humans, the Jinn can be good, evil, or neutral and have free will like humans.
Ali was so focused on the blonde fairy sitting next to him at the bar that he didn’t even notice me sidle up to him. “Hey Handsome,” I cooed into his ear. I could sense his smirk without him even turning around. He turned from the fairy towards me, But I don’t think he was all too happy to see me.
“Aw Shit, Tray. I was just about to close the deal on that one,” he said as the blonde walked away.
“Bird in the hand, Ali. Bird in the hand,” I taunted. Ali just smiled and then waived the bartender over to us.
Ali was devastatingly handsome. His skin was the color of bronze and his eyes glowed copper. His hair was straight and black usually slicked back and cut with an artistic precision Paul Mitchell would appreciate.
He wore a royal blue shirt to the buttons at the neck were unbuttoned showing his Adam’s apple and clavicle. He wasn’t the tallest man, but his presence was commanding nonetheless.
I didn’t know if that part of his magic or his own special charm. I had known him as long as I’ve known Demetrius they were friends of teenagers. I used to wonder why this older guy was hanging out with this kid not realizing that they were both a millennia old. While Ali looked a permanent mid-twenties, Demetrius aged like I did.
“Can I get a Seven and Seven?” He asked he bartender. “And a rum and coke for the lady,” he said motioning towards me.
I waited until the bartender set our glasses down to start taking, being careful that we weren’t being eavesdropped on. “Have you seen D?” I asked Ali as he sipped on his drink.
Ali looked around the packed club and said louder than he needed to, “Demetrius is not welcome here or any other establishments of the damned!”
“What? What the hell are you talking about?” I asked. I started to notice people looking at us and it wasn’t in a friendly way. Ali stood up and took a hold of my elbow and directed me through the crowd.
As we walked I scanned the sea of faces, hoping I’d see Demetrius somewhere in them. Ali led me out a beat up black door that lead to the alley beside the club. The alleyway smelled like piss, both old and fresh and vomit, definitely fresh. Pleasant.
“Look Tray, I know you haven’t been around us Supes in a while, but your man…”
“Ex man.”
“Whatever. Demetrius is persona non-grata in the community.”
I shook my head confused. “But, he’s a demon. How could he become on the outs from his own kind?”
“I don’t know. I just know I haven’t seen him in a year and the last we spoke he looked like he was running from something,” Ali said as he snapped his fingers and created a flame. He took out a spliff, lit it, and started puffing.
I whistled, “A year. Whoop-di-doo. Try a decade.” Ali shrugged and continued to puff on his joint.
“Time is subjective for us immortal types.”
“Well it’s not subjective for children. Tyler was eight years old the last time he saw him! Eight! Tyler’s a man now and where is his dad!” My tatts started to glow red and I spun around ready to attack.
“Right here, sweetheart,” a male voice said. I did a roundhouse kick to his jaw and heard a satisfying crack.
On the piss covered ground there lay Demetrius. He rubbed his jaw and sat up. Ali reached out his hand and Demetrius grabbed it. Ali pulled him up with a quick jerk.
“I see your defenses are still superb,” Demetrius said, his bruise already fading.
“Fuck you,” I spat.
“Still single?” Demetrius asked. Ali continued to smoke his joint and leaned back against the brick wall of the club. He was used to our spats.
“None of your business,” I replied. Demetrius just smirked. I hated that I couldn’t help, but notice how handsome he still was. [TK-Demetrius appearance]
[VERBAL SPARRING???]
Clearing his throat, Ali said, “Um, guys if you’re done flirting, I think we have some company.” I turned to swat Ali away and saw behind me one of the ogre bouncers and he wasn’t smiling. The other ogre bouncer held Ali by the scruff of his neck five feet off the ground. I had a feeling this wasn’t about Ali using marijuana on club property.
“This isn’t personal,” the ogre holding Ali said as he dropped him. “We have orders to take Demetrius. You guys can go.”
“Like hell!” I said and crouched low, getting into position to ginga. Although I hadn’t practiced much magic, I had taken capoeira classes under the guise of exercising. The ogre may have had me in size, but even without my magic I was a master of takedowns.
Demetrius stepped in front of me, placing himself between the ogre and me. “Who’s orders?”
“Can’t pay, can’t say,” the ogre answered. Great, extortion, and kidnapping.
Demetrius shrugged his shoulders. “Just so happens, I’m dead broke.”
“Better than being dead,” ogre two said, stepping closer to Demetrius. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ali disappear from where he stood and then he reappeared behind me, making me jump. I’d forgotten about his teleporting ability. The Jinn didn’t like anyone knowing all their tricks. I’d known Ali about as long as I knew Demetrius and I didn’t know all of what he could do.
“Take hold of my hand and grab D. I’ll get us out of here,” he whispered. I reached out towards Demetrius, but he was just out of my reach.
“What’s curly sue doing,” one of the ogres asked. I’d lost track of who was who, they were like Thing 1 and Thing 2. I couldn’t tell them apart.
“The name is Traylor,” I said and grabbed for Demetrius’ hand. Once we were all touching I yelled to Ali, “Get us the hell ou
t of here!”
Chapter Six
I looked around disorientated. I didn’t know how Ali got used to doing that. I guess a lifetime of doing it inoculates you to the process. I felt like hurling and my head was pounding, basically it felt like a killer hang over. “Where are we?” I asked him.
“Enchanted Ink,” he answered and walked over to the easel in my part of the studio.
“My shop?” I said still trying to get my bearings. I walked over to the wall and flicked on the lights.
Demetrius looked around in what I hoped was an impressed stupor. I worked hard on making the interior feel homey and edgy. One wall was all exposed brick and another was reclaimed barn wood. There were three other chairs that I let other freelance artists work at and further back in what was my studio was my work space.
I never tattooed Norms, I left that for the chairs in the front. My part of the studio was for Supes that needed a bit of my help to restrain their powers. I did have my fair share of Norms that would pay any price I’d ask for some supe’d up ink.
I knew there were unscrupulous artists who’d use fairy blood in their ink to give a Norm a bit of magic, but I didn’t play that game. You never knew what that could lead to and I wasn’t going to have some Norm who went batshit insane and shot up a school bus or something hopped up on fairy blood.
“This place is really nice,” Demetrius said as he looked around the shop. “I’m proud of you.”
I held out my hand in front of him ending the compliment where it stood, “Don’t. Don’t you dare say you’re proud of me. You don’t get to say shit like that. You left me. You left us. You don’t get to be proud.”
His face crumpled and then slumped in one of the empty chairs with his face in his hands. “I know I fucked up. I did it for you and Ty though. I swear that I did.”
