Child of Darkness (The Federal Witch Book 8)

by T S Paul

  I laughed and smiled at the Mages. They must have been racking their brains trying to figure out what spell I must have used. “Magick doesn’t exactly work that way. Magical artifacts and those that make them are super rare. My grandmother can make spell bombs, but not anything technological. Her spells just slide right off that sort of thing.”

  Stopping suddenly, I reached into my pack. I felt around for a moment and pulled out a small hand-sized tube with red caps on it. “This is one. Basically a handheld fireball that a non-magical person can use.”

  Both human Mages and their boss leaned in to examine the bomb. Xavier reached toward it, stopping inches from the edge. “May I?”

  “Sure. Just don’t allow anyone else to hold it at the same time. Grams puts funky fail safes on it for some reason.” I allowed him to take the explosive from me.

  Xavier examined the bomb from all angles and even smelled it for some reason before carefully handing it over to Victoria. He took my warning to heart and just dropped it into her hand. The Mage held another hand over it and after a moment frowned. She looked up at me. “It has no signature.”

  “No, it doesn’t. We used to have to hide in plain sight, remember? Witches don’t forget some things and the spell for this is really specific,” I explained. Nodding toward the warehouses, I started walking again.

  Hamilton hefted it in his hands a couple of times. “This thing is interesting. What is the blast radius?”

  I looked both ways as we crossed one of the side roads before cutting through a small empty parking lot. “Twenty feet. If it’s about to go off, be somewhere else.”

  “And your team uses these regularly?” Xavier asked.

  “Nope. This might be the first time. I’ve only got a couple of these and left most of them in Virginia. We’re travelling light this trip,” I explained.

  On the other side of the parking lot was a short fence followed by another parking lot. This one had cars in it, a lot of cars.

  “Can any of your team detect humans or body heat?” I asked as I stopped yet again. “These warehouses might not be empty.”

  Both Hamilton and Victoria closed their eyes as they began reaching out mentally. For me it was interesting to watch. The US Government uses a chart for classifying the Magickal power of Paranormals. It was part of my training as an FBI Agent to be able to identify which Witch was which. Which in itself was hilarious! Grandmother told me during my first year to play dumb and pretend to be either a Class four or five. I wondered why at the time, but it was Jack Dalton, my mentor and trainer who explained it to me in detail. I still remembered the conversation.

  <<<>>>

  “Have you seen the Magic Class chart?” Jack asked me.

  I nodded. “We covered it during identification class.”

  Jack waved at the RV that was his office and transportation. “That bit of Magick you did to clean this thing out and do minor repairs? No possible way that was Class five talent. I’ve seen all your school records and the surveillance reports.”

  “Surveillance?” I asked. Jack told me later I had a shocked look on my face.

  The older man started laughing and had to force himself to stop to answer my question. “You seriously didn’t think that after what happened to Director whatshisname that they were going to just allow you to run free on campus? Besides what you did to the soldiers, you left a man dangling overhead just out of reach for hours. That sort of power is hard to hide, and before you even mention that amulet from your grandmother, you need to understand that I personally don’t believe it. Not completely, that is. I’ve been doing this job, alone, for years. Far longer than you were told.”

  “Offenberg. His name was Director Offenberg,” I replied.

  Jack smirked at me. “Kid, you may be a great Witch, but your grandmother is off the scale. I’ve seen her in action.”

  I opened my mouth to reply but couldn’t say anything. How did Jack know Grams? Swallowing a mouthful of spit, I was finally able to choke out a word. “How?”

  “Not my story to tell, kid. Just know that I met her a long time ago. Don’t worry yourself about me reporting you. Totally aware of the rocks and shoals in the current administration. Just don’t try to hide it from me. If you play it straight, so will I. Understood?” Jack leaned back in his newly repaired chair.

  “I still don’t understand how they’re watching me? I thought we…” I trailed off. Cat and I could be in trouble here.

  “You thought you and your WereCat buddy got all the cameras, didn’t you? That old Director was way more diligent than Maddie, and installed lots of surprises around that campus. He must have really disliked you,” Jack replied.

  “Pretty much. I don’t know why though. He knew I was coming here before I did. If he didn’t want me here he could’ve sent me to the other Academy instead,” I replied.

  “Hmm, that one is for humans only. They get lots of cops and lawyers wanting to be big bad FBI agents. You were much better off here. Water under the bridge anyway. That guy’s gone. Resigned is what Maddie said. So let’s discuss what it is that the Magical Division does and what I want you to do, shall we?” Jack asked.

  <<<>>>

  Jack was a good trainer and a better friend. The last time we spoke he was involved in some Top-Secret thing he couldn’t talk about. Too bad he wasn’t here with us now. He was good at killing Demons.

  Just using the knowledge he had imparted to me, I could tell that both Mages were at least Class four. Hamilton might be a five. If I were using the same chart, I would be a ten or twelve but I wasn’t about to tell them that.

  “Anything?” I asked.

  Hamilton opened one eye and stared at me with it. After a silent moment, his other eye opened and he looked at Xavier. “She’s right. There is a group of humans in the warehouse over to the left. They’re blocking me somehow though.”

  “Who’s blocking you? The humans?” Xavier asked.

  Victoria opened her eyes. “Yes, the humans. There’s something not quite right about them. Almost as if…”

  Just as soon as the Mage trailed off there was the very loud sound of a gunshot going off.

  Boom!

  My comms lit up with Chuck yelling, “Taking fire! Cat is down!”

  Reaching out with my own senses, I held the amulet I never, ever, took off in a sort of mental embrace. When we all first became friends, I gave everyone similar ones. They allowed me to see where they were at all times if I wished it. Only Blake didn’t wear one.

  “My team is hurt!” I cried out.

  Xavier laid a hand on my arm. “Think smart, act smart. We need to watch for traps and Demons. Trust your team.”

  Cat is my oldest real friend other than Fergus and Grandmother. If something were to happen to her I’m not sure I could control myself anymore. I nodded back to the Arcane leader.

  There was another volley of gunfire. It sounded closer this time. Almost in counterpoint, there was a series of explosions and even more gunfire coming from farther away toward the market area. We could hear the echoes of it bouncing off the surrounding buildings.

  “Chuck, can you hear me?” I almost yelled into our system.

  “We both do. Cat’s alright, she was hit in the leg and it knocked her down. Are you enroute?” Chuck asked.

  “Cautiously. The other team is sending out their scouts. Any idea of numbers and locations?” I asked.

  I could hear Chuck’s breathing and it sounded erratic. “At least three shooters. They came from the building to your left. All we can hear is the gunfire. Whoever they are, that place is heavily shielded.”

  “Hold tight, we’re on our way,” I ordered. Looking to Xavier, I quickly filled him in on what Chuck had told me.

  Xavier’s flankers, the men I mistook for guards, were suddenly much closer. They began taking up defensive positions with military precision. Xavier signaled to me and we slowly approached the warehouse.

  <<<>>>

  “Did you get him?” Wallace
asked his fellow club brother.

  “I think so. He sure went down behind that stack of lumber over there.” The biker pointed toward what remained of a once fine looking loading dock.

  The hulking biker known as Wallace shook his head. “Check. If anything so much as pokes up a flipper past that pile, you better shoot it. Is that understood?”

  All three armed men nodded as they studied the pile of refuse.

  Wallace clapped them each on the shoulder as a sign of brotherhood but didn’t hold out much hope they would even follow orders. The club had really dragged the bottom of the river for these morons. “I need to inform the Master.”

  Mammon aka Eddie Davenport was just finishing up the daily devotion when Wallace came through the shop floor door. Dropping the body of a tourist they’d grabbed, he made the sign of the inverted cross. “From my hand take this sacrament…”

  The cult leader spun around brandishing a bloody knife and shouted, “What is the meaning of this intrusion?”

  “Federals, boss. One of the boys says he wounded one. Want me to send out the Demons to check?” Wallace pointed toward the Imps and Cambion Demons that were eyeing the body on the floor like it was the best buffet in town.

  “No! Move the timeline forward and send for the Master. His will be done. The brethren and I will hold this place. I want you to take ten of our best and protect our Lord. Do his bidding as if from me.” Mammon rubbed his bloody hands over the head and shoulders of Wallace. “His will be done. Now go and may Satan be with you.”

  Wallace ran toward the main floor of the warehouse. Dozens of club members milled around, poking at the remaining tourists and chanting. “Get that vehicle moving! I need ten brave souls who will fight and protect our Lord.”

  Being second in command gave Wallace the power to tell anyone in the club to do just about anything. Protecting the Master was the only thing on his agenda, for Wallace was a true believer.

  “Those mall cops won’t know what hit them! We’re going to bathe in their blood!” All ten bikers said those and other statements as they pulled the tarp off the armored vehicle.

  “Ignore the feds! Head straight for the Master. His safety is our only job,” Wallace climbed on board. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter 13

  Since the first cry of “taking fire,” I’d been trying to get to my friends. I could power through it all and throw up a shield to get there, but it would drain power I would need later. Arcane hadn’t shown themselves to be trustworthy yet, but I would have to trust them. They had the manpower to fight whoever was in the warehouse. All I had was Blake, and he hadn’t said a single word to me since we left the bus.

  Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!

  The sound of a large engine cranking and revving its engine caught our attention suddenly. Windows opened in the warehouse that was firing at my team and there were people firing at us now!

  “Cover!” I yelled, even as my Magick took hold.

  My bracelets sprang into immediate action casting forth a spell I had activated. A shield popped into existence, surrounding me and whoever was within ten feet of me. That included Xavier and the Mages. Blake was out alone and under fire.

  “Blake! Get under cover!” I yelled at him.

  Caught flat-footed, the young Agent started firing randomly with his shotgun. He shot into the warehouse walls and threw himself sideways between two of the buildings.

  Xavier looked over his shoulder just as Blake flew through the air and gave me a funny look, his hands raised as if questioning me.

  “New guy,” I explained. “Really new…” He had his own team. I figured I didn’t have to explain further than that.

  Machine gun fire kept us pinned down even with the shield over us. Not knowing if it would travel with us, I waved the humans down. I closed my eyes for a moment concentrating on the amulets my friends each own. With them they should be able to pass through any shield I cast.

  Pulling pistols, I started to return fire, my bullets passing through the shield to hit in and around the window. “Can you see them?”

  “No. There were at least three shooters there a moment ago.” Xavier pointed upward at my spell, and asked, “Will this hold?”

  “Once you pass through it you’re on your own. I would need to attune it to you and your team for it to be effective that way,” I explained.

  Both Hamilton and Victoria sheathed their weapons while I spoke and were charging forward with Magick swirling about them. Their auras were tornados of chaos and conflict. Victoria’s was in shades of red and orange with deep blue dots scattered throughout. She was most definitely a fire Mage, but troubled somehow. There was loss and pain very evident.

  Hamilton’s made my mouth open. His was gray with black and vermillion swirls. I’d never seen anything so… beautiful and evil at the same time. It was if he was an acrobat balancing between saving or killing everyone. He might play the jedi, but internally he was one. Caught between light and darkness, the candle and the flame.

  Fireballs shot through the air as both Mages kept the men firing at us down and away from the windows.

  “Move!” Xavier ran to the end of the building, his back to the wall. I was a half second behind him, guns at the ready. The quickie shield I’d cast broke as soon as we moved but my bracelets reabsorbed the energy it left behind. Looking up, I could see gun barrels sticking out the window, but no faces or mirrors being directed toward us. Gunfire was still sounding, and it was really close.

  Xavier motioned, then hooked his head around the corner and took a quick look. Pulling back, he whispered, “Cargo doors and about six hostiles. They’re the ones shooting at your people.”

  “Chuck, we’re in sight of the enemy. Are you and Cat able to find more cover?” I kept my voice low. Low voices are actually more effective than whispers for some reason.

  “No way, Aggy. Their rate of fire is too much,” Chuck replied.

  Carefully, I edged my way along the wall toward the Arcane leader. “Let me look.”

  Xavier shrugged his shoulders and moved out of the way. With a wave of my hand, I cast a small face shield and peeked.

  My friends were down behind a couple of concrete planters that looked to only be three feet high or so. Six or seven men and women with what looked like AR15’s were keeping their heads down. Chuck would pop up every so often and return fire. All the shooters were laughing and waving their hands like it was a big joke or something.

  Vroom! Vroom!

  It almost felt like the wall was vibrating. Whatever was inside the warehouse was big and loud. A tactical solution came to mind and it was straight out of the Academy’s handbook. Our version of the Academy.

  “Chuck, listen to me very carefully,” I said. “We’re going to draw their fire, but I want you and Cat to shift to warrior form and attack. We are the nail but you are the hammer! Just like in school, understood?”

  “Got it. Warrior form. Attack. Do you want prisoners?” Chuck asked.

  “Up to you, but don’t hesitate if it means a bullet. We’ll go in two,” I replied. Looking at Xavier and the Mages I asked, “Did you get that?”

  “Warrior form?” Xavier asked me.

  I smiled. “You’ll be surprised. Just draw their fire and my team will take them down.”

  Xavier made several more of his freaky hand motions and then agreed with me. I knew they were talking behind my back and it really annoyed me. First thing when I see Grams next is for her to teach me some of these signs.

  Both of us rolled around the corner taking up firing positions. The Mages immediately started tossing small fireballs at the leather-covered enemy.

  “Over there!” I could hear the men who were firing at Chuck yelling at each other.

  The very moment the fire moved away from them, Cat and Chuck shifted.

  Weres have two forms when they shift. The one most people are familiar with is the animal or creature. As creatures, Weres can track, fight, run, and jump. All the things a highly trained do
g or wolf can do. The main difference is a fully shifted Were is much bigger and can understand English. Never get on a Were’s bad side while they’re shifted. The other, rarer, form is the warrior. This is a half-man-half-creature form. It can run, fight, and speak like any other humanoid but it’s way meaner.

  Both my teammates were Werecats. Think really big cats.

  Yowl! The scream of a cougar in the wild is very distinctive and usually makes you want to be somewhere else. Chuck in his Warrior form is seven feet tall with three-inch claws that can rend flesh faster than you can gut a fish. The sight of his monstrous form leaping the planters must have been heart-stopping for the men shooting at him.

  Chuck landed with a growl and immediately attacked the men to his right.

  If Chuck’s roar was loud, the one Cat let out was deafening. Catherine was what Were communities call a throwback, a Were form that came from a person’s genetic code. In her case, it was that of a Sabertooth tiger. A massive one.

  Xavier almost fell over backward when Cat plowed through the planters without even bothering to jump. Her ten-foot Warrior form had been known to scare full-grown Werewolves. Nobody in school screwed with her.

  One swipe of her four-inch claws completely eviscerated the man shooting at us. I couldn’t see everything, but pieces of him went in every direction. Roaring her battle cry, she charged into the fray with Chuck. Every last shooter was either dead or wishing they were dead in literally seconds.

  I looked back at the human group. “You coming?”

  Quickly, I ran alongside the building wall to reach my team. Cat was poking at the ripped and torn leather-clad bodies. I could hear a faint growling coming from her mouth.

  “Are they all dead?” I asked as I reached her side.

  “Yesss. Sssory about thasst,” Cat replied. Warrior Weres could talk but their teeth and tongues weren’t set up for it very well.

  “Forget about it.” I nodded toward the doors. “Let’s get inside.”

  Not seeing any buttons or switches, Chuck grabbed the edge of the door and began to pull. A loud screeching noise ripped through the air as the door started to give and separate from the side of the building.