by A. Blythe
Thompson busted out her firearm. She nailed the first Ghul around the corner and had her saber ready for his friend. Unfortunately, his friend leaped, surprising both of us. He landed on Thompson and they crashed into the crates. Wooden slats scattered and chickens burst forth, running amok. Not headless yet but it was only a matter of time.
I brought down the labrys on the back of the Ghul’s neck before he had time to recover from his fall. He grunted and I kicked his shoulder to the side, freeing Thompson. I clasped her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“This is too easy,” I said.
Thompson looked like she wanted to backhand me. “You and I have different ideas about what’s easy.”
I pointed to the pile of Ghul dust. “These guys are practically emaciated. That’s why we’ve been able to take them down so quickly. They’re not operating at full strength.”
“So they’re desperate and starving,” Thompson said.
“And yet the number of missing persons is up,” I said, which meant that the Ghuls were not the ones feasting on the missing people.
“And the homeless population has declined,” Thompson murmured.
I watched her expectantly. “What does that tell you?”
I saw the flash of understanding as she met my gaze. “Someone’s encroaching on their turf.”
“Not just someone,” I said. “I think it’s Vito Nocita.”
The thumping of heavy feet alerted us to another influx of Ghuls. Thompson readied her saber for the next round.
“You think this is about organs?” she queried.
“I do.”
The next Ghul was larger, probably the one to claim first dibs on any food they found. Luckily for Thompson, the Ghul behind him opted to chase a few loose chickens instead. Easier prey than two weapons-toting females.
“Hey big fella,” I said. “Someone’s been wasting his Weight Watchers membership.”
I raised the double-bitted axe but not fast enough. He gripped it with both hands and jerked me forward. His head slammed into mine and I staggered backward, releasing the labrys. I managed to catch myself before I lost my balance. He advanced toward me still clutching the weapon. I grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled upward as hard as I could. The handle jabbed him in the face and, for a brief moment, he was stunned. I took advantage of the opportunity and swung one of the blades at his head. He jerked aside just in time and grabbed the handle again. Together we twisted and fought for control.
“Thompson?” I called, gripping the handle so hard I thought my knuckles would pop. I couldn’t take my focus off my opponent to see where she’d gone.
“Here,” she replied, grunting. “My friend decided the chickens weren’t worth the effort of chasing them.”
I couldn’t help her. In a show of strength, my Ghul thrust the handle into the air, lifting me off the ground. He threw me across the room, the labrys still in my hand. My back smashed against the wall and I fell to the floor. As he approached me, I sliced my leg horizontally, tripping him. I jumped to my feet and brought the labrys down toward his chest. He gripped the sides of the blade and yanked it away before I could pierce his skin. I kicked his cheek with the toe of my boot and then slammed my heel down on his nose.
He grabbed my foot and twisted, pushing me down. My elbow cracked against the concrete floor and I winced from the pain. I got back on my feet and began to climb a stack of crates in an effort to gain the higher ground. He grabbed the back of my shirt before I could get to the top. As he yanked me toward him, I glanced around to check the fate of the labrys but the floor was bare. It must have slid underneath a crate. I used the only weapon I could reach, throwing my head back and cracking my skull against his face. I turned around to see blood trickling from his nose.
“Red’s your color,” I said. Although the back of head throbbed, it was worth it.
He punched me in the kidneys and I gasped a painful breath. As I whipped around, ready to counterpunch, I saw the blades of the labrys protruding from his middle.
I blinked. “Thompson?”
The Ghul collapsed in a heap on the floor to reveal Reed standing behind him.
“A little taller and a little paler than Thompson,” he said with a grin.
I launched myself into his arms and hugged him tightly. “What made you come?”
“The lieutenant who notified Thompson about the Ghuls,” he said. “He came by to check on things and realized his original estimate was too low.”
“So he slapped his own wrist and called his boss?” I queried.
Reed grinned. “He knew I had a personal interest in the matter.”
“Any more Ghuls?” I asked.
“Just the one Thompson was finishing off when I arrived,” he said, looking around.
I surveyed the room until my gaze landed on Thompson. She was slouched against the wall, barely conscious. Her hand covered a wound across her abdomen.
I raced across the room. “What happened?”
“She had it under control,” Reed said. “I wouldn’t have bypassed her if she was in trouble.”
“Thompson, I’m getting you to a healer,” I said. “Stay with me.”
Her breathing was shallow, but it was there.
“We shouldn’t move her,” Reed said. “She’ll bleed out before we reach Lana.”
“Then get Lana here. Now.”
Reed pulled out his phone and fired off a text.
“You need a bat signal but with angel wings instead of bat wings,” I said.
“I don’t need the whole city to see it,” he countered. “Just Lana.”
Fair enough. I continued to speak in soothing tones to Thompson. Occasionally, her eyelids would flicker open and then close again. She seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness.
“You really clobbered those Ghuls,” I said. “You should be proud of yourself.”
“Not the right ones,” she said, her breathing labored. I knew what she meant. She wanted the Ghuls that murdered her parents. I understood the sentiment.
“You can’t think about it that way,” I said. “All Ghuls are the right ones. Every Ghul you kill is a Ghul that won’t orphan a little girl.”
Thompson attempted to nod but winced in the process. Something else was hurting her aside from her abdomen.
“She has a lot of injuries,” I whispered to Reed. “How quickly will Lana be here?”
Speak of the healer and she doth appear.
Lana swept into the room, her gaze settling on the detective. “I do not suppose I need to ask why you’ve called me here.”
“No ma’am,” I replied. I wasn’t big on respect, but I adored Lana and she’d saved my life and the lives of my friends several times over.
Lana dropped to her knees beside Thompson. “A battle, I take it.”
“Ghuls,” Reed said.
She huffed gently. “I should have guessed from the injuries. Such brutes. They are much like overgrown toddlers.”
Overgrown toddlers that would bleed you dry if given half a chance.
Lana glanced at me. “You’re injured as well.”
“Thompson first,” I said. “Her injuries are more serious.”
“Says you,” Lana replied. “You have a seat next to her. Do not move even one of your inflexible muscles.”
“They’re not all inflexible,” I complained. “Just my calves. And maybe the backs of my thighs.” I plopped down beside Thompson, who stirred.
“All dead?” she murmured.
“All the ones who dared to come in here,” I said. “There’ll be more to kill, when you’re up for it.”
Lana placed her palms flat against Thompson’s abdomen. “Hush now. Do not plan for your next suicide mission before I have even completed her treatment.”
“I don’t think you can have a ‘next’ suicide mission,” I said.
“Alyse,” Lana said, with he cluck of her tongue. “Always so literal.”
I watched a golden glow emanate fro
m her hands and transfer to Thompson’s bloody and bruised skin.
“She’ll be up and ready in no time,” I said.
“No time,” Thompson repeated. Her eyelids fluttered open and she fixated on Reed. “So are you two a real thing now? Like a couple?”
“Slow down,” I told Lana. “Her brain is functional. You’re healing her too quickly.”
Thompson tried to laugh but coughed from the pain instead.
Reed reached for my hand and squeezed. “We’re a real thing.” He shot me a quizzical look. “Right? Can I say that or will you attack me with a labrys?”
I nudged him gently in the ribs. “No violent response from me.”
“Happy for you both,” Thompson croaked.
Lana’s gaze settled on us and she smiled. “I knew it was only a matter of time.”
“Only because I kissed her when she was in your care,” Reed said. “That might have tipped you off.”
“And you locked me out of the room in the process, as I recall.” Lana chuckled at the memory. “You have a strong energy, the two of you.” She continued to work on healing Thompson’s injuries. “You are fortunate to have found one another.”
Reed slid an arm around my shoulders and kissed my cheek.
“The cheek?” Lana complained. “Is she your sister? Show her love, Grayson.”
I decided to show him instead. I grabbed his chin and jerked his face toward me, pressing my lips firmly against his.
“That is more like it,” Lana said, delighted. “Now when is the wedding?”
“I don’t do weddings,” I said. Unless you counted Flynn and Tessa’s, which was still in limbo.
“No wedding?” Lana queried. “Grayson?”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Lana,” Reed said good-naturedly.
“I can live without the wedding, but do not delay in producing the babies. The world needs more Reeds.” She smiled at me. “And Winters, too.”
“I agree with you about more Reeds,” I said. “Not so sure about more Winters.”
“You’re a credit to your caste, Alyse,” Lana said. “Just as Detective Thompson is a credit to the PTF.”
“Thanks,” Thompson croaked. “No weddings or babies here either, though. This uterus is closed for business.” She glanced at her abdomen. “If I even have a uterus left.”
Lana shook her head softly. “You are perfectly intact.”
“Then why does my head feel like it got run over by a truck?” Thompson griped.
Lana moved her magical hands to Thompson’s head. I wasn’t sure what happened, but I suspected that Thompson took a Ghul’s foot to the head.
“That’s nice,” Thompson murmured, as Lana pressed her fingers against the detective’s temples.
“Almost finished.” Lana closed her eyes and chanted. When she finally released Thompson, the detective looked like herself again.
“You’re a miracle worker,” Thompson said, her voice almost back to normal. She sounded tired but uninjured.
“Thank you,” Lana said. “Your turn, Alyse.”
Thompson staggered to her feet and moved aside so that Lana could work on me.
“Where are you hurt?” Lana asked.
“Who knows? Everywhere hurts,” I admitted. “I can’t tell where the actual injuries are.” My top was splattered with blood, but I had no clue whether it was mine. Some of it was probably Thompson’s.
Lana rubbed her hands together before placing them on my sides. I giggled.
“Sorry,” I said. “Ticklish.”
“You weren’t ticklish there the other night,” Reed accused.
“Different kind of touching,” I argued.
“Okay, just because you’re a couple now doesn’t mean we need the gory details,” Thompson said hotly.
Lana ran her hands over my body from head to toe, fading the bruises and cuts and restoring my energy levels. If she could bottle and sell her ability, she’d be a billionaire several times over.
“Thanks, Lana,” I said. “You always come through.”
“I could say the same to you.”
“If we keep up the pace,” Thompson said, “maybe we’ll rid the city of Ghuls by the end of the year.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” I said. Ghuls were like cockroaches. There were always more around that you didn’t see. I certainly didn’t want Ghuls scattering across the city whenever we shined a light on them. On the other hand, forcing them all into one location would be a way of handling the problem. More than one problem at a time, in fact.
“What is it?” Reed asked, recognizing my satisfied expression.
“I love it when a plan comes together,” I said mysteriously.
“Does this plan involve getting hurt?” Lana asked. “Because I strongly advise you to wait until your current injuries have healed.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “It’s going to take a little bit of preparation first.”
Thompson smiled. “Just tell me how I can help.”
15
“Tell me again why I need to step foot inside a mall,” I grumbled. “We should just go to check on Mikaela and call it a day.” Mr. Boyd had invited us to lunch with a recuperating and grateful Mikaela. It seemed that Preston would also be present, so at least some fences had been mended.
Pinky jabbed me with her elbow. “Stop whining. It’s not too far from the client’s house and I need a dress for the Officers’ Gala.”
“In a mall?” Somehow a mall seemed beneath Pinky.
Pinky gave me serious side-eye. “Have you ever been to this mall? It has some of the most expensive stores in the country. It’s all luxury stuff.”
Luxury stuff. “Fine,” I huffed. “Steer me in the right direction.”
We stood at an intersection where the mall split into four directions. Each path looked equally nauseating.
“If I had my powers, I’d just summon a designer dress. No fuss.”
Pinky wrinkled her nose. “Where’s the fun in that?”
“You do remember I’ve had to endure hours of dress shopping with Tessa for the wedding,” I said. “I’m all shopped out.” Forever.
Pinky dragged me into a nearby boutique where even the mannequins looked snobby. “Mommy’s been so busy lately and I need a second pair of eyes.”
“Pinky, you could choose anything in the store and it would be amazing on you.”
She began rifling through the racks of dresses. A saleswoman emerged from the dressing room area with a huge smile plastered across her face. My cheek muscles ached just watching her.
“Welcome ladies,” she said. “How can I help you today?”
“Um, I’m going to a ball,” Pinky said. “With lots of hot cops.”
The saleswoman’s eyes lit up. “Oh, the Officers’ Gala. Yes, I’ve had a few wives and girlfriends in here already. I can certainly help you with that.” She glanced at me. “Are we searching for two dresses?”
“Yes,” Pinky said.
“No.” Definitely not. “Today is about you, Pinky.”
“You should make an effort, Alyse,” Pinky said. “You want to look nice for the Boy Scout, don’t you?”
“Pinky, I’m not sure that Reed and I should attend the ball,” I said. That was a lie, of course. I had every intention of turning up at the ball and thwarting the Dragon’s plan—whatever it was. I didn’t want Pinky to know, though, so it was best to keep my attitude nonchalant.
The saleswoman held up a black dress, which Pinky immediately dismissed. “Do I look like a widow to you?”
“No, of course not,” the saleswoman said, placing the dress back on the rack. “So black is out.”
“For me, definitely,” Pinky said. “Alyse is old enough to wear it, though.”
“Gee, thanks.”
The saleswoman produced a one-shoulder coral-colored dress with an asymmetrically draped skirt.
“That one,” I said.
“For you or me?” Pinky asked.
“Are you
nuts? That one’s all you.”
“Agreed,” the saleswoman said. She sauntered to the dressing room area and I nudged Pinky forward.
“You’re trying that dress on right now,” I said. The sooner she fell in love with it, the sooner we could leave.
I waited on the leather sofa while Pinky changed. When she stepped out of the dressing room, I actually gasped.
“You’re so funny,” she said.
“Pinky, you look stunning.” And so grownup.
She cracked her gum. “Mommy would criticize the way I was standing or the fact that I’m chewing gum.”
“To be fair, I’m not a fan of the gum chewing either.” One thing Serena and I agreed on.
“I won’t chew gum at the ball. How’s that?” She sashayed around the dressing room area like a supermodel strutting down the runway. She was a natural.
“I don’t even want to show you any other dresses,” the saleswoman said.
Hallelujah!
“I need the bathroom,” I called. “Hand the woman your AmEx and I’ll meet you in front of the store when you’re done.” I also wanted to check in with Thompson and see how she was feeling. Make sure Lana didn’t miss any injuries.
I sent a quick text on my way to the bathroom. It felt so frivolous to be dress shopping with Pinky when there was so much at stake. On the other hand, I enjoyed spending time with people that didn’t involve death, kidnapping, or other capital crimes. It was so markedly different from my old life.
As I dried my hands, I heard a commotion in the mall. I tore open the door and ran down the corridor. When I rejoined the section of the mall near the boutique, my eyes began to burn.
No. No. No.
At least the mall wasn’t too crowded at this hour. It was the only silver lining. I headed toward the boutique where a small crowd had gathered.
“She was in a bubble,” a man said. “Did you see that?”
“She’s some kind of alien,” a woman screeched. “Kick her again. Make sure she stays down so she can’t attack us.”
Great balls of essential fire. I pushed them aside, calling Pinky’s name. I saw her blond ponytail first, limp on the floor.
“Dear gods,” I yelled. “Get away from her.” They refused to budge.
