by Amy Sumida
“What do you think is going on in Tulsa?” I pulled out a T-shirt and slipped it on before climbing into the small bed.
“Honestly, Seren,” he said after he pulled on some cotton pants. “I haven't got a clue but if the Human Council is this insistent on your timely arrival, it must be bad.”
“When is it not?” I huffed as I dropped my head back onto the pillow and finally got to sleep.
Chapter Five
The Tulsa Council House was a beautiful old home within Brady Heights; a historic neighborhood which dated back before the 1920's. It was a quiet area with elegant homes in all sorts of styles, from Victorian to Queen Anne. I'm not sure what style the Council House was but it definitely wasn't Victorian. It sprawled across a spacious yard, fronted by a wide porch which spanned the entire length of it and topped by a peaked roof. The sunshine yellow walls were complimented by white lacey woodwork along the angled roof. We walked up a set of steps and clomped over the wood porch to the delicate looking door but before I could knock, it was opened by an extinguisher in full combat gear. A total contradiction to the setting.
“Whoa,” I blinked and pulled my head back in surprise. “Ready for war, are we?”
“Ambassador Seren?” The extinguisher was a woman I'd never met before; a little taller than my five-feet-five height and well muscled. She had soft cedar eyes and blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. Her eyes went warily to Cat, who'd glamored herself to look like a Newfoundland (big but at least not ridiculous). Of course an extinguisher could see right through that illusion if she tried.
“Yep, that's me. This is Cat, she's my guard puka,” I waved a hand behind me, “and this is my Star's Guard. Can we come in?”
“Oh!” She jumped back. “Yes! Come in, please come in. I'm sorry, we're all a bit on edge today.”
“I see that,” I stepped into the small foyer, glancing at the framed portraits of head council members and the delicate antique table that held only a large brass candle snuffer; symbol of the Extinguishers.
“I'll take you to the Council,” she turned and led us up a set of stairs. At the top of the stairs, she turned right and waved her hand towards an open doorway. “Your guard can wait in here.”
“Alright,” I nodded and the knights started filing into the little sitting room. “But Count Tiernan and Cat go where I go.”
“Oh, I see,” she looked at Cat again. “Um.”
Cat chose that moment to step forward and lick the extinguisher's hand. The woman jumped and then gave a nervous laugh, holding her hand out to Cat again. Cat obliged by bumping the offered hand with her head.
“Oh, she's sweet,” the woman said.
“Unless you attack me, yes,” I smiled and then cocked my head at her. “You never gave us your name.”
“Right!” She cleared her throat. “I'm Extinguisher Kate Teagan. It's nice to meet you, Ambassador.”
“Nice to meet you as well,” I nodded.
“This way,” she led us down a narrow hallway to a door at the back of the house. She opened it and stepped in to announce, “Ambassador Seren is here with Count Tiernan.... and her guard Cat.” Then she stepped aside and let us into the room. She closed the door behind her as she left.
The room was spacious and airy, with soaring windows overlooking the backyard. The was another house in the back garden, a smaller one but still pretty large, painted in the same colors as the main house and surrounded by spindly trees. In a corner of the room itself was a large desk, some bookshelves, chairs, filing cabinets, and a lamp all clustered together as if they were in time out. Directly in front of us there was a rectangular table, oak from the look of it, polished to a high sheen. Seated at the table were the council persons of the Tulsa House. There was only one seat left open. I glanced at Tiernan.
“I'll stand, it's fine,” Tiernan assured me.
“Nonsense,” a man got up from the head of the table and approached us. “I'm Ted Teagan, Head of this Council House,” he reached out to shake my hand. “It's a pleasure to meet you Ambassador, and you as well, Count Tiernan. Please have a seat, Ambassador Seren, while I grab the Count a chair.”
I lifted a brow at the Count as the Head Councilman went over to the office area and grabbed the chair from behind the desk. Tiernan smiled and shrugged, going forward to pull out the empty seat at the table for me... because a princess doesn't get to do stuff like that for herself. At least not in front of others.
My seat was right beside Ted's at the end of the table but on my other side was a stern faced man around sixty. He scooted over grudgingly to make room for the chair that the Head Councilman brought over. Cat sat herself right between me and Councilman Teagan's seat, her tongue lolling out of her newfy mouth. I think she may have been playing it up a bit.
Ted Teagan looked a little like Extinguisher Kate, with short-cut blonde hair and gentle cocoa-colored eyes. He was young for a Head Councilman, probably around forty-five, with a fit build and a boyish attractiveness.
“Are you any relation to the extinguisher who showed us in?” I asked him as he came around the back of my chair.
“Yes,” he beamed at me. “She's my daughter, Kate.”
“Oh. Did you get to train her?” I asked.
“Yes,” he leaned back on his heels and slid his hands into his pockets to talk with me as if he had all the time in the world. “I may be a councilman but I was trained to be an extinguisher first and I've kept up with that training.”
“And kept in shape,” I nodded appreciatively and Tiernan cleared his throat. “It was just an observation,” I grimaced at Tiernan while the Councilman laughed.
“And a welcome one,” Ted smiled and slid into his seat. “I don't get a lot of compliments these days,” he shot an irritated look around the table.
“Perhaps we could get down to business?” The man beside Tiernan asked.
“Yes, Councilman Murdock,” the Head Councilman sighed.
“Murdock?” I looked over to the councilman.
“No, I'm not directly related to Head Councilman Murdock of San Francisco,” he griped. “You know how many Murdocks there are, Extinguisher Sloane.”
“It's Ambassador,” Councilman Ted corrected Murdock.
“It's fine,” I waved away the intended insult. “I am and will always be an extinguisher.”
“Well said,” a man across the table nodded approvingly. “Nothing wrong with being an extinguisher, especially one with scores like yours.”
“You know my rating?” I lifted a brow at the brunette. He looked neither stern nor friendly, just an average sort with average Irish features and the typical pale Irish skin.
“We looked into you before we sent for you,” Councilman Ted explained.
“You're a fascinating woman,” the man across from me added. “The highest rated female as far as psychic abilities goes.”
“I think you'd find her to be the highest rated extinguisher now,” Tiernan added. “The block to her fey blood was hampering her psychic talent.”
“Oh,” the man's dark eyes widened. “Maybe you should retake the tests.”
“Blast the bloody tests!” Councilman Murdock snarled. “We could be attacked by fairies at any second.”
“Attacked?” I looked over to Councilman Teagan, absently laying a hand on Cat's head when she started to growl. “What does he mean by that?”
“He's exaggerating,” Teagan sighed.
“Not entirely,” the man across from me muttered.
“I am not exaggerating at all!” Murdock declared.
“Enough!” Ted Teagan stood and the room went silent, even Cat stared up at him respectfully. Gone was the boyish charm. Before us stood an imposing man who looked like he'd sooner kick your ass than tolerate any lip. “Thank you for your input, Councilman Murdock and Councilman Sullivan. I will take it from here.”
Both men nodded contritely and Councilman Teagan took his seat. I turned expectant eyes to him.
“Ambassador Seren,” Tea
gan began. “We called you here so expeditiously because something disturbing has come to light.” Councilman Sullivan coughed and Teagan gave him a quelling look before continuing. “I'm sure you've been informed that this matter concerns the raven mockers and I'm also sure you know more about those fairies than I do.”
I nodded but didn't offer anything, so he went on with a slightly disappointed look.
“The legend of the raven mockers is alive and well in this part of the United States,” he sighed. “A local shaman went as far as to contact a ghost hunting group to come out and research the occurrences.”
“A ghost hunting group?” I lifted my brows.
“Paranormal Parameters,” Councilman Teagan made a face. “They do a television show where they scientifically research hauntings and the like. Out of all the shows about ghost hunting, theirs is probably the most respectable. Most of their time is spent debunking hauntings or monster sightings.”
“But they didn't debunk this one, did they?” I asked as Tiernan tensed beside me.
“No, they caught a raven mocker on infrared camera, as it was attacking its victim,” Teagan confirmed, tapping his fingers nervously on the table before him. “We managed to steal the footage but they're a rather determined bunch, especially after what they witnessed. I think they'll be back.”
“They're the least of our concerns,” a councilwoman said from the other end of the table.
“Councilwoman Erickson is right,” Teagan gave me a grim look. “The raven mockers now know that not only are these ghost hunters after them but we are. They've gone for so long without being caught, I think this has really thrown them. We have warrants to extinguish any we catch but there's the rub; we have to catch them in the act because we don't know which individuals are actually instigating these attacks and we cannot simply extinguish a fairy for being a raven mocker.”
“Well, as much as I feel your frustration, Councilman,” I offered. “I have to admit that I'm relieved that you don't want to simply go on a hunting spree and kill every raven mocker you can find. I've just been informed that they are twilight fey and as such, I feel both responsible for them and protective of them.”
“So what do you propose we do, young lady?” Councilman Murdock asked me.
“Did you seriously just call me young lady?” I asked him as Tiernan's lips twitched.
“Murdock,” Teagan shook his head.
“Well, if she won't kill them, how will she help?” Murdock grumbled.
“I never said I wouldn't kill them,” I declared in a vicious tone, silencing the whole table. “As you've pointed out, I'm an extinguisher and our job has always been to protect the fey. We kill only when necessary and that's what I'll do. However, I'm also an ambassador and the Princess of Twilight, so that makes this situation very complicated for me. I must keep the peace between the realms as I try and remain loyal to my fey. As their ruler I am responsible to them and for them. So if they've broken the truce, I will extinguish them myself. But I must be certain of their guilt; so I have to make an effort to verify that this is their crime and to hear their defense against the charges against them before I act.”
“This is what we get for contacting a diplomat,” Murdock waved his hands in frustration.
“I thought I was an extinguisher to you?” I leaned forward so I could glare at Murdock across Tiernan. “Make up your mind, old man.”
“Well I...” Murdock started to stand as Tiernan laughed outright.
“Cease!” Teagan shouted. “You deserved that, Murdock. Now please control your outbursts around Princess Seren. Remember what she represents. It shouldn't be so hard, since she's just reminded all of us of her numerous responsibilities. Let's try and be supportive since one of those responsibilities is to us.”
“Thank you, Councilman Teagan,” I took a deep breath. “I apologize for my own outburst.”
“It's fine, Princess,” Teagan rubbed a hand over his face. “We're all a little twitchy. What I didn't get to say is that the raven mockers have harassed us already.”
“What?” I went still.
“We don't know if it's the video that they're after or if they simply believe that we'll be hunting them now that we've acquired proof of their actions, and they wish to make a preemptive strike,” Councilman Teagan explained. “They've yet to attack us outright but we've heard their cries circling above us at night and we're on high alert.”
“Hmm,” I pondered it. “Actually, that might be helpful.”
“How's that?” Another councilman asked.
“I thought I'd have to search for them,” I shrugged. “But now I can simply sit on your porch and wait for them to come to me.”
“Yes, very convenient,” Tiernan agreed.
“And what happens when they attack us?” Murdock growled but instantly quieted when Teagan gave him another sharp look.
“They wouldn't dare attack their own princess,” Tiernan sounded horrified. “If they did, far worse things than death would come for them.”
I swallowed hard, knowing exactly what Tiernan was referring to. The Sluagh; the monsters of Fairy. You never really saw them, they stayed hidden until the King of the Unseelie commanded them forth... or someone murdered a royal fey. Even attempted murder could call the Sluagh down upon your head and though I'd personally faced them twice and lived, that was not usually the case. Normally, once the Sluagh began to hunt you, you were as good as dead.
“What does he mean?” Teagan looked to me.
“There are laws in Fairy, just as you have laws here,” I glanced at Tiernan, unsure of how much I could share with them. Tiernan nodded so I went on. “One of our laws states that royals are sacred. If any fey, royal or not, were to murder or even attempt to murder a royal fairy, the Sluagh would come for them.”
The table gasped as one. When I'd been just an extinguisher, I hadn't known nearly as much about the fey as I do now but I did know about the Sluagh. Of course, now that I'd actually seen them, been up close and personal with them, I knew even more... and wished that I didn't.
“Yes,” I swallowed hard. “It's a hell of a deterrent but also, fairies tend to be loyal and I'm banking on that. I will demand a meeting with their leader and then see what can be done.”
“You're gonna parley with them like they're pirates?” Sullivan smiled but when I merely stared back at him, he lost the grin. “Wow, you really are.”
“Did you miss the part where I said that they are my people?” I cocked my head at him. “I know the concept is still new to all of you but I am both fairy and human. As an ambassador, I'm trying my best to remain fair, if not entirely neutral.”
“Then, I wish you luck, Ambassador,” Teagan declared. “The raven mockers usually come after midnight, when the darkness makes it harder to see them.”
“Of course they do,” I chuckled. “I'm sure you've got the house surrounded by flood lights though.”
“We do,” Teagan confirmed with a smile.
“Great,” I nodded. “I'll need them to be kept off tonight.”
The whole table looked at me in horror. All but Tiernan, who smiled at me confidently. Goddess, I love that fairy.
Chapter Six
“I'd like to take a look at that tape now, if you don't mind?” I asked Councilman Teagan as we left the council chambers.
“Of course,” he nodded. “We'll use my office, I have the tapes in there.”
He led us down a hallway and then up a narrow set of stairs which led to a slim door. The brass plate on the door read; Theodore Teagan, Head Councilman. He opened the door and we followed him into an attic office. It was really nice for an attic; with plush carpets laid over the wood beam floors and bookshelves built right into and out from the angled walls, making the room appear to be box-like when it was closer in shape to a pup tent. There was a large window at the far end of the room, set into a triangle shaped piece of wall, and it let in a lot of light through its wispy curtains.
“I'd thought that was
your office back in the council chambers,” I mused as I looked around.
“Ah, no,” Teagan grinned. “We use that as a common work space for anything that needs to get done in chambers.”
“Well this is much nicer,” I looked towards the window.
Under the window was a heavy desk, with a chair positioned behind it, facing us. But Teagan led us over to a work table set against a side wall. There was a lot of books and paperwork covering the table, including several council published tomes on raven mockers, but Teagan pushed all of it aside to clear our view of the large TV screen placed at the back of the table. Beside it was a DVD player and Teagan pushed the play button as Tiernan and I sat before the table.
“There were several recordings but this is the final cut,” Teagan said as he took a seat beside me.
Cat sat between us and Teagan casually reached out and stroked her head. That lifted my eyebrow. I didn't expect humans to respond so well to her, much less a councilman who could see what she actually was. But then the voice coming from the TV caught my attention.
“Raven mockers,” it said ominously. “I'll bet you've never heard of them. I myself was unfamiliar with the legend until we at Paranormal Parameters were approached by a shaman of the Cherokee Nation who told a the chilling tale.”
The man was attractive, with short russet hair and a medium build, but it was the gleam in his eyes that was the most compelling. This footage must have been shot after he'd seen the raven mocker because that was the look of a man who had glimpsed something he'd always hoped to find but never actually believed he would. A look like that meant trouble.
“Shaman Kevin Chepaney spoke of witches and dark magic to us and I never for one second believed a word he said,” the man went on. “I have never been so wrong in all my life.”
The man was standing in front of a modest home made of wood and red bricks. He moved up the stairs and the white door opened to reveal an older Native American man. His shoulder-length hair was pulled back in a ponytail neatly and he had a crisp, sky blue, cotton shirt on, the cuffs adorned with simple cuff links and the top button open to reveal the leather cords of his medicine bag. His blue jeans looked brand new and his boots were polished. He must have dressed up for his camera debut.
