by Al K. Line
"You two okay?" I asked, "Not done anything too bad have we?"
"Don't get clever, Faz. Now isn't the time for jokes," warned Kate as she released her grip from his throat and he dropped the few inches to the ground.
"Sorry. What happened?"
"I think you need to tell us that, don't you?" Kate's teeth receded and she stepped away from Dancer, and me—boy did that make me feel all kinds of awful.
"Hell, I honestly don't know where to begin."
Persimmon came up from behind and said, "Why not start with you two guys not looking like the bloody walking dead anymore but charging down the alley screaming "Brains, brains," and almost munching on poor Mithnite here. Poor kid almost got his brains sucked out his ears."
"I'm not a kid," Mithnite protested, staying close to the wall.
"Oh, shit. Sorry, dude. Look, we, er, went to see Dancer's contact and she got rid of the virus, at least the part that makes you turn, but we, er, got interrupted before she could take away the cravings."
"That's awful," said Kate, "But good, too, right?"
"Kind of," said Dancer, trying to smooth down his clothes and look respectable. It was utterly pointless. He was as much of a state as me—we needed a tailor, and fast. Did they do all night suit making these days? I guessed not, especially around here.
"No, it is. We won't turn, and I can't tell you how much better I feel. Actually, I feel goddamn awesome. Full of magic and power. Like I could just float up in the air I'm so connected to the Empty. Getting rid of the virus's effects on the body has brought me back to myself at full capacity and then some. Um, er... What the hell?"
My view was skewed, as if everyone were crouching down and I was growing taller at the same time. Then I realized what was happening and why everyone was looking at me so weirdly. It wasn't because of my monologue, it was because I was floating.
"You're levitating," said an awed Mithnite. "That is so cool. Will you teach me? How'd you do it?"
"I dunno. I was feeling good and—Argh." The moment I thought about it, I crashed to the dirty alley in a heap like the ground had been taken out from under me.
"Faz! What is happening? You've never done that before. That's not how you normally use magic."
I took Kate's offered hand, the fact we'd attacked them seemingly forgotten, and she hauled me to my feet with ease. "I don't know how I did it. Guess I'm becoming the new, improved me now I've got my magic back. Damn, we need to go find Amber and get this finished with."
"Amber? Who's Amber?" asked Kate, giving me the evil eye and then switching to suspicious—she's got both looks down to a T.
"Er, my daughter."
I didn't even have time to flinch, let alone duck, before Kate smacked me square in the face and I was thrown across the alley hitting the slimy brick wall with one helluva thud.
An Explanation
I may have managed an "Urgle," or maybe just an "Ugh," then decided to remain sitting in the puddle leaning against the wall I'd been rather unjustly slammed into on account of something I had no control over and had a hard time believing.
"You better talk, buddy, and fast," ordered Kate as she loomed over me looking about as angry as I'd ever seen her. And I once ate her cheat day muffin, so you can be sure I'd seen her at her most ferocious.
"Can I get out of the puddle? Can I have a kiss?"
"No you may not!" Kate actually stamped her foot, and she splashed me. It was one of those days. Nights. Whatever. Lifetimes, probably.
I noted with some concern that everyone else was standing well away from us, right when I needed the support.
"Traitors," I said, then held up my hands to protect me from my beautiful lady's wrath. "Kate, this isn't my fault. This woman, Amber, and she's very pretty by the way. Although, you know, not as pretty as you. Obviously." I wasn't winning her over, which was odd, so I tried harder.
"It's Dancer's fault. He knew all about it. He knew and didn't tell." Okay, look, you weren't there. She was ready to rip my head off. And don't forget about the puddle.
"Why you slimy son-of-a—"
"Sorry, dude, all's fair in love and lady vampire wrath."
Kate's head whipped around to lay that wrath on Dancer, but he'd decided now was the perfect time to try to eat Persimmon. He got that distant look in his eyes and licked his thin lips then snapped at her like a rabid dog, lost to himself.
Good job we'd forgotten we were powerful Hidden when this craving struck, as otherwise I don't doubt that all three of them would have been dead by now. As it was, Persimmon just backhanded him across the cheek and his head snapped to the side as she knocked the hunger right out of him.
"Ow!"
"What is with you guys?" said Persimmon, not knowing whether to step toward me or Dancer or just run the hell away. I would have run.
"Sorry, we're a little messed up. It's been a weird time of it lately."
"Enough," screamed Kate. "Will someone please tell me what you are talking about. And will you please stop trying to eat us. It's getting really annoying."
I got up while nobody was looking and kept my back to the wall. "Okay, here's the deal," I said, "but no more hitting. It's kind of demeaning and we aren't in the best of condition."
"Just spill it, mister, before I knock you right into next week. And trust me, I'll be there waiting for you, with a damn big stick to whack you with."
I spilled it.
*
"Well, am I off the hook?" I asked nervously, wondering why everyone was so quiet. I raised my eyes from the ground and understood why nobody was speaking. "What are you all crying for?"
"That's so sad," said Mithnite.
"You poor thing," said Persimmon.
"You went through all that? That explains why you hate hospitals," said Kate.
"Everyone hates hospitals," muttered Dancer, the only one not weeping.
"Dick," said Persimmon.
"I don't hate hospitals," I protested.
"Faz, you big fat liar. You made me go in on my own that time I visited Penelope. Said they made you too depressed."
"Yeah, well, they are depressing. Anyway, I'm forgiven?"
"Of course! I can't imagine what that must have been like, watching someone you love die. You never said." Kate took my hand, a big risk considering I could get the hunger at any moment.
"It was a long time ago. Everything fades, even that."
"But you have a daughter! Are you sure? It sounds crazy."
"Kate, I know, I didn't believe it, either. It's not possible but at the same time she is mine, I can feel it. You will, too, when you meet her."
"And she's older than me. Not sure I like that." Kate smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but it wasn't easy.
Everyone felt it, the all-pervading sense of things spiraling out of control all over again. Out of the frying pan, into the raging inferno that was our Hidden life.
"Damn, if I'd known you guys got up to so much mental stuff I'd have asked to live with you years ago," said Mithnite, looking way too eager and pleased now he'd wiped away the tears. "Naked boobies, dragons, gold, zombies, ancient wizards, exploding stuff all over the place. Lost daughters, and heart-rending stories, this stuff rocks." We all stared at him, astonished. "You know, it's sad and all and awful, but c'mon, you guys get up to some crazy stuff."
"Were you staring at my boobs?" asked Persimmon, stepping toward Mithnite.
The poor lad turned beetroot and inadvertently glanced down at Persimmon's now concealed chest. "Um, no. Ugh, sorry, couldn't help it. Help, guys?"
"No chance, you're on your own, mate. I know better than to look at naked ladies unless specifically asked to," I said, feeling pleased with such a genuine reply.
"Liar," accused Kate.
With the ice broken and mood lightened, and heartfelt thanks going out to Mithnite and Persimmon for doing it, I think we realized simultaneously that we needed to get our act together fast if we were to finish this all off without either me or Dancer havi
ng to be dealt with in a rather more serious and deadly fashion.
"Okay," said Kate, "show me the house. Let me get a sniff of her and we'll track her down."
"Hey, if anyone's going to do the tracking it will be me," said Persimmon. "I'm the shifter here."
"And I'm the vampire. I can track the vampires if I get a hint of them. So I guess you guys lucked out. You have the perfect predators on your side."
"Perfect in every way," said Dancer, smiling at Persimmon.
"You okay? Do you need the loo?"
"What? No, I was smiling."
"Oh, sorry, thought maybe you'd overdone the fiber."
"Let's go," I said, terrible urges surfacing once again. "Brains!"
I lunged, and I got smacked down again. It was becoming a major inconvenience.
On the Hunt
Watching women with their noses in the air, nostrils flaring, as they take in the scent of prey is oddly mesmerizing. Maybe it's the way the chest expands, or the way they are so focused, or maybe it's the sparkle in the eyes as certain molecular combinations hit and they cock their head to the side and grin, knowing they've found something.
Or, and I suspect this is more likely, it's just me and I have issues.
Either way, Kate and Persimmon had a fix on not only Amber, but the vampires, too.
"Should we walk or take the car?" I asked as we retreated from Amber's front door.
"Car," they both chimed, looking at me like I was dumb.
"What, do I have something in my hair?" I asked, putting a hand to the mop just as much in need of a wash as the rest of me.
"No, you just look like an utter perv," said Kate. "And stop licking your lips, it's weird."
I kept quiet. Damn, and there I was thinking I was being circumspect about my nostril fetish. Yeah, another one to add to the list.
We piled into the car and Kate drove slowly with the windows down. Us guys remained silent while Kate and Persimmon discussed which way they believed the trail led, sometimes stopping, sometimes speeding up on long stretches of road. All the while, they repeatedly stuck their heads out the window trying to keep track of the elusive scent.
Soon we were out of the town and enveloped in darkness. Unfamiliar darkness.
It's odd, but being in the countryside at home feels safe. Familiar and comforting. But being in the dark, surrounded by tall hedges and looming oaks when in unknown territory made me feel anything but happy.
Why? Because there are things. Always things. And these things didn't know me here. Might not be as responsive to the fact Dancer was Head of the UK Hidden Council and their boss, the guy in charge. Or, they might know full well who we all were, and that might make it worse, not better.
As Kate and Persimmon remained focused on the hunt and we switched back this way and that in the maze of lanes until nobody knew where we were or what direction we were headed, I let their voices, and Mithnite's constant stream of questions fielded expertly by Dancer—which mostly consisted of him saying either, "Dunno," or, "Shut up," or plain ignoring him—fade and tried to think things through.
It was hard, as the hunger kept creeping up on me and if it wasn't for some magic focus now I was in control again, I would have been gnawing on Mithnite's arm in a heartbeat.
As it was, both Dancer and I had this under control, for a while, but I didn't hold out much hope long term unless we found Amber and got her to use her special skills.
And that was just one of many mysteries. How did she do it? She'd be about as sought after as you can get if the Hidden world knew of her abilities, as not only would it make her a damn good enforcer if she had the other skills for the job—namely putting up with being hit and attacked on a regular basis—but she would be in demand from many other Hidden.
No end of people in our world find themselves with magic they'd rather do without. From ingesting potions that have adverse side-effects, to being hexed, to being possessed, to finding the magic they thought they could control was making them do weird stuff, or acquired skills that were anything but welcome. We mess up constantly, unable to control the forces from the Hidden that are stolen and less than suited to most no matter how adept they believe themselves to be.
Was that why she kept such a low profile all these years? I'd certainly never heard of her, or anyone speak of a witch that had such power, and neither had Dancer. That meant the Hidden world at large had no idea she even existed, and that ain't easy.
Magic users can never stay in the Regular world. It just never works out. There's always somebody to recognize the skills you try to hide from human Hidden or a preternatural creature that sees right through whatever disguise you try to use.
No, she was a true enigma all right, and her Hidden side was just the start of this woman of mystery's story.
I racked my brain trying to come up with an explanation for what she'd told me. I accepted that she believed it to be true, and maybe it was. That her mother, my wife, had died when she was no larger than a pea, but then what?
How had she survived? How was that possible? I'd seen Sarah dead and cold. No child can survive after a mother passes away, not at that age.
I came to only one conclusion. It wasn't possible. Either Amber was lying or she'd been lied to.
Or... No, I'd know that, too. A supernatural creature, that emerged from the womb somehow transformed into a child that could cope with the world? It was ridiculous and couldn't happen, certainly not from two human parents, so there had to be another explanation.
Amber was sure to finish her story once we were cured, saved by her skill, so I leaned back against the seat, sighed, and decided not to think about it any more. I'd just wait until we found her and I could get answers direct.
As long as she wasn't killed by the goons or whoever they worked for, of course.
Enough!
"Stop the car," I screamed. "Right now."
Kate slammed on the brakes and everyone turned to me then glanced nervously out the window, but all anyone could see was the road ahead and the hedges lit up by the car's headlights.
"What's wrong? Can you see someone?" asked Dancer looking truly exhausted. Man, I knew how he felt.
"No, I can't see anyone. But I can't stand this a moment longer."
"What are you talking about?" asked Kate.
"I think he's lost his marbles," said Persimmon.
"You gonna get all bitey again?" asked Mithnite.
"Will everyone please be quiet. Hell, I can't hear myself think with everyone talking. Sorry." I knew I was being dramatic but it was true. I can't work under conditions like this. I need to be alone to figure things out, to follow up on things in the best way I see fit. Not have everyone talking and chiming in about how best to react to a situation nobody knew anything about.
So far there had been endless discussions about what the vamps wanted with Amber, who she was, what she was, what she may or may not have become involved in, and on and on it went. Speculation that made me increasingly tense until I was a ball of bunched nerves and about to scream.
Which is what I'd done, yes, I know.
I needed to deal with this in a more Black Spark manner. Meaning, I needed to be alone. It's how I work best, how things always work out, or usually, the last few days had been the antithesis of how I dealt with my jobs. I hadn't had enough time to myself, had gone from one insane situation to another. And if all that wasn't bad enough there was now a daughter in the mix and it was driving me nuts.
"Well, you could have just asked nicely," said Kate.
"Oh, shit, did I just say all that out loud?" I asked, my head so muddled I wasn't sure if I'd just been thinking those things or saying them.
"If you mean about us driving you nuts and you needing to be alone, and our ruminations on all this craziness that are making you bonkers, then yes, you said it out loud. You're one weird guy, Spark, you know that, right?" Persimmon looked at me funny, then gave Kate a sympathetic smile, like she was a saint for putting up with me.
I guess she was.
"Sorry, sorry, but you guys know how I deal with things. I can't focus. My head's all over the place, and this is bloody serious, guys. Deadly."
"So what do you want to do?" asked Dancer, probably the one in the best position to know exactly how I operated and how I functioned best. After all, we went back a long way, and although I'd dealt with him a lot when he'd been Rikka's right-hand man, we never did many actual jobs together. He knew the score, in other words, and knew that to get the best from this enforcer he had to be left alone to figure it out solo.
"I want to know you're all safe. I want to know where Amber is. I want you all to get very far away while I go get her and deal with whatever she's involved in. And I really, really want her to cure me and Dancer of this damn hunger. I'm losing my mind here and don't know how long I can take it before I just explode and run around eating anything that's still got a pulse."
"Well," Dancer said cautiously, "that sounds like a plan to me. As Head, I hereby sanction Spark to save Amber and bring her back so she can also stop me eating anything with a brain. Preferably still warm," he added, then put a hand to his mouth in shock at the words he'd inadvertently spoken.
"You guys are definitely nuts," said Persimmon. "It's official."
"No more arguments. Find out where Amber is then leave," said Dancer. He didn't sound like the Dancer we'd all come to love—or put up with—he sounded like the boss he was.
"I'm not going to do that. No way am—"
"Enough!" Dancer warned. "Kate, I know Spark well enough to know that if he's working solo he'll have a much better chance of doing this. What, you think we can all just barge in and grab Amber, wherever she may be?"
"Actually, yes. Because she's right over there." Kate pointed out the window into the darkness.
"Oh," I said, which sounded rather lame even to me, and I know lame.
A Recky
"You sure?" I asked.
"Yes. How about you, Persimmon, you sense it, too?" asked Kate.
"Definitely."
"Everyone wait here. I'm gonna go for a recky and—"
