by Martha Carr
Along the edges, a few men looked around as they talked and tried to blend in as best as they could. They were shifters, also there to gather info, mostly due to the attack on Lucius’ sanctuary. One of the shifters scanned the crowd, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a familiar wizard across the lawn. He was one of a group that had kidnapped him right out of his front yard and used some spell to turn him into a shifter. Until then he hadn’t even heard of the shifters. He’d been just a regular guy living his life.
His hands curled into fists, and anger boiled inside him. He tried his best to control it and push it down as far as he could. He knew that an incident in DC would bring a lot of trouble for the shifters, but staring at one of the faces responsible for his change was almost unbearable. The wizard glanced in their direction and stared at the shifter for a moment. He tilted his head, and when recognition dawned, he smirked.
The wizard blew him a kiss, taunting him, hoping he’d change in the middle of the crowd. The shifter’s chest heaved as his anger grew. He took off after the wizard, who bolted across the grass. Still in human form, the shifter chased the wizard through the crowds. With all the activity and so many people present, a couple of guys running through wasn’t even noticed.
The shifter’s rage grew. Finally, he cornered the wizard at a nearby building. The shifter felt the change coming, but before it took him, Correk walked up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder.
“He’s not worth it. Not now,” Correk whispered.
He led the shifter away from the wizard, who laughed before he merged into the marching people and disappeared.
8
Leira huffed and puffed as she pushed her legs harder, peddling the bike as it simulated an uphill climb. The gym was empty as always, and she was trying her best to get into tip-top shape. Things were not going to get any easier for a long time, and she needed to be able to take whatever came her way, magically and physically. Her body wasn’t indestructible, which was a shame in her mind.
“This place looks nice,” a familiar voice remarked behind her. “Last time I was here, this was a simple gym with some weights and a couple of treadmills.”
Leira slowed her legs and looked over her shoulder at General Anderson.
“General, this is a surprise. Did you try to call me? I’ve been here for a while.”
“No, no. I wanted to come and talk to you in person this time. The little furry guy, Yumfuck—he told me where I could find you.”
“Oh.” She chuckled. “Yeah, I am here a lot. So, what can I do for you?”
“I have a mission for you, one that is going to take some finesse, detective work, and your fine crime-fighting skills.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
“I suppose you could say that. I want to send you on assignment to Europe to capture a rogue magical being, part elf, part wizard. He’s been robbing armories over there, but we don’t know what he is doing with the weapons or why he is stockpiling them. Your task is to bring the felon in alive so we can find out.”
Leira smiled. “It’s not often that I get to bring in a live one, but it sounds doable. I’ve tracked criminals like that before, and now I have my magic to help.”
“I can’t stress enough, Leira, that this needs to stay quiet. We cannot have the public finding out anything. Armed magical beings would set off worldwide panic and riots. We would have humans shooting other humans, thinking they were magical beings. It would be a war out there.”
“I completely understand, and that is the last thing that I want to happen.”
“You won’t be using a portal to get there this time. We can’t run the risk of foreign leaders finding out that we are meddling on their soil. We’re still working out a global cooperative, and sticking our nose on their turf would only further delay an agreement. This has to be hush-hush. You’ll have some contacts there to help and, should the need arise, we will be able to get you out pretty quickly.”
“Should I bring anyone with me?”
“It’s up to you, as you know, but I would suggest only those who wouldn’t draw any attention.”
“That’s a tall order,” she responded with a laugh. “I only know people and beings who draw attention.”
General Anderson smirked and rolled his shoulders. “We’ll fly you over on one of our military planes.”
“No, thank you, it won’t be necessary. I have something much faster than a plane, and no human beings will know about it. It’s top secret, even to high-up people like you.”
The general lifted an eyebrow but figured it was probably better not to know. He wanted deniability if it came down to it. Her making her own way there was even better, since he wouldn’t have to commandeer a military plane and attempt to explain its use. There was no need to watch over Leira’s shoulder, and if there was, her time had reached its end with his command.
“I’ll finish up here, then go get packed. I’ll head out directly after that and report to you when I have either more information or the perp in hand.”
“Sounds good, Leira. Be safe, and keep your head on a swivel. Things are getting darker and darker out there for magical beings.”
“Of course, sir.”
He nodded his satisfaction and walked out of the room, leaving Leira sitting there. She was actually pretty excited about the assignment. It was something different, and something she could sink her teeth into. She’d done nothing lately but chase down wizards, collect artifacts, and dodge Harriken, so an old-fashioned investigation sounded pretty nice.
Leira stood outside an old abandoned rowhouse in the southeast part of DC. She’d decided to talk to an informant before going home to pack. The guy came out of the broken-down house and looked around before spotting Leira at the bottom of the stairs. As usual, he passed her and headed into the alley, stopping in the shadows. Leira followed, feeling like he was a bit dramatic. It had kept him alive that long, though, so she wasn’t going to mess with it.
“Here is the number for Alvis Greenwell. He is an elf, living in London. Check in with him when you get there. He will be able to help you, and if nothing else, he likes a good fight.”
“Well, I hope there isn’t one. We are supposed to be as low-key as possible.”
The informant coughed, and his glamour flickered, revealing the stubby troll underneath. “I’ve heard about this guy. You’ll need all the help that you can get.”
“I’m sure after all that I’ve faced, I’ll be just fine. Thanks for this, though. I’ll need information when I get there.”
Leira handed him some twenties and patted him on the shoulder. “Take care. I’ll check in when I get back.”
“If those Humans First idiots don’t get me.”
“I’m sure you will find a way out of it. You’re a tricky fella.” Leira smiled.
She opened a portal and stepped out into her living room, closing it behind her. She quickly packed a bag and grabbed her pistol from the drawer, figuring the more prepared she was, the better. She hadn’t shot the thing in ages since most issues required only magic, but she had no idea what she was walking into.
Once she'd finished packing, she scribbled a note for Correk to let him know she was out on assignment. She wasn’t sure how long she would be gone, but she didn’t want him tracking her down in London and interrupting the operation by walking in blind. She left the house and headed for the closest Starbucks, taking the stairs down to the platform. She’d opted to use the underground railway system. It was definitely faster, and much more comfortable than some military aircraft.
Leira boarded the train and set out for her first transfer. She would make several before getting on the main train to London. She quietly watched the magical beings getting on and off. No one seemed quite as friendly as the first time she had ridden the train. After three transfers, she finally settled into one of the private rooms on the overseas train. At first, she thought it would be the perfect time for a nap, but as the train sped through the tunnels and out under the o
cean, she was too much in awe to go to sleep.
Above them, beyond the translucent glow of a magical tunnel, was the deep blue sea. All around her she could see the life of the ocean, from crustaceans and algae to sharks and whales swimming along, not the least bothered by the train. It was beautiful; like being in a huge aquarium, only the fish were the spectators and they were the captives.
“Just checking in on the guests,” a woman said, poking her head in the door. “Is this your first time going overseas on the train?”
“It is,” Leira confirmed with a smile.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? They designed it so that we could see out, but the animals don’t even know we are here. It’s a special kind of glamour. Helps preserve the sea life on planet Earth.”
“It’s wonderful.”
“Enjoy your trip.” She smiled before ducking back out and into the next room.
Leira watched as a humpback whale swallowed a huge number of schooling fish. She was in awe, and at the same time saddened by it. Magical beings had done more to protect Earth than most of the humans did, yet they were pegged as the enemy. She wished things were different. Humans could learn and gain from the magic that could be used for the good.
When the train pulled into the London station, Leira debarked and headed up to a local Starbucks. It was just as packed as the ones in America, with the same magical chocolate smell when she walked through the false wall in the bathroom hallway. When she stepped into the shop, she saw a man in a fedora and trench coat waving her over. Leira looked behind her, unsure if he was gesturing to her, but there was no one else around. She carefully walked over and gave him a crooked smile.
“Harry told me to meet you here,” he whispered.
Leira nodded with relief and sat down at the table. He pushed a cup of coffee toward her and watched the people passing by. He was kind of overdone, looking like the male spy version of Carmen San Diego.
“I was told you would need information about this magical being.”
“Yes, please.”
“I’ve heard some rumors about him. He’s a pretty powerful wizarding elf who’s been using a crew to steal weapons from the humans, including from some arms dealers. They are none too happy about this, as you can imagine.”
“Really?”
That was news to Leira, which meant it would be news to the general too. The situation was becoming more dangerous with each passing moment.
Leira leaned forward and whispered to Alvis, “Any idea where I can find him?”
He nodded. “Here’s the address. It’s a little house in the southeast part of London. It’s the only one on the block that screams trouble. You should be able to find him there, hanging out. He’s tall and lanky, and usually looks like he needs a shave and a haircut.”
“Perfect, thank you.”
“So this is where I leave you. Good luck. You’re gonna need it. As for me, I want nothing more to do with any of it. They’re a very bad crowd and they kill for fun, something I don’t want to experience for myself.”
Leira nodded as he got up and walked out. She was starting to think she should have brought Yumfuck.
9
Leira walked quietly through the shadows of the London street as she searched for the house. She had the address, but she wasn’t familiar with London or how the addresses flowed. She stopped on the corner and stepped behind a large blooming bush, squinting at a run-down house on the adjacent corner. It looked like it should be condemned, but outside, talking to some other guys, was a tall, lanky wizard. Alvis was right. He looked like he needed a shave and a haircut.
She watched him for about fifteen minutes before he shook the other guy’s hand and started walking down the street. Leira waited until the other guys went inside before following him across town. She took precautions to not be seen but didn’t use magic, just in case he tracked that sort of thing. Her years on the police force were really coming in handy.
She’d trailed him for about an hour and a half before she looked around and realized she was out on the outskirts of London in an old warehouse district. It was dark, and any workers in the area had long since gone home. The only sounds were truck engines near one of the buildings. She moved closer, standing at the edge of the building behind the fence. There was a crew—most likely his—packing something in containers and loading them into a truck.
Leira knew that she had to be careful, but at the same time, with no witnesses, it was the perfect opportunity to grab him and take him back to the general. She inched forward, seeing the guy standing on the loading dock, cigar in hand as he watched them load his goods. She waited until they went inside for more boxes and scurried across the open space, hiding behind a large dumpster. It was now or never. She stepped out from behind a metal trough, keeping to the shadows, and closed her eyes.
Energy rose from the ground and coursed through her. Her arms and neck lit up with symbols, and an orb formed in her palm. The men had returned to the loading dock with another load of boxes and a man’s voice rang out. She’d been spotted.
“Hey, get that bitch.”
Leira immediately threw the fireball in her hand, hitting the back corner of the truck. The explosion of white light knocked two of the guards to the ground, and her target stepped behind his men. Leira gasped as a streak of dark magic blew past her head, then another, and another. Before long, she was under full attack.
She fought back with everything she had, throwing orbs of magic at their heads and sending out shockwaves of energy. She even got creative with small cylinders of magic light that sped off like missiles from a sub. She countered some of their attacks, but there were so many that she was overwhelmed. Leira pulled more energy and pushed it out of the palms of her hands. The bracelet vibrated wildly on her wrist and she considered taking it off, but the consequences of that—with no one there to ground her—could easily be disastrous. Those concerns weighed on her far more heavily than the fight.
She pushed a steady stream of light from her hands, attacking the wizards on the platform. The amount of energy she’d pulled lifted her until only her toes touched the concrete. The bracelet buzzed louder, fighting to help her stay in control. The attacks just kept coming, and the shield she had mustered began to crack and crumble.
When her magical shield flickered once more, Leira ducked behind a large crate, grabbed the whistle from around her neck, and blew it as hard as she could. She had only used the shifter whistle one other time, but it had saved her life then, and hopefully, it would work again. Leira created fireball after fireball, lunging out from behind her protection long enough to hurl them at the wizards. Leira sighed in relief when she saw the yellow eyes of some shifters appear over the hill.
The wolves loped forward and lined up beside her. She nodded to the largest of them—the alpha—in thanks and joined them. The attacking wizards paused, unsure what to do in light of all those angry furry faces. The shifters raced toward the platform as Leira focused her attention on the guy she had come for, winging fireballs at him over the others’ heads.
He ducked and dove, his eyes widening when he realized he was the focus of the attack. The shifters pushed the wizards farther and farther until they started to jump into portals and disappear. She slammed her hands against the wall when she realized that her target had escaped before she reached the platform. She turned right as a bolt of dark magic flew at her, and swiped her hand to deflect it. The scrawny young wizard who had sent it immediately backed up, but it was too late for him. Leira rolled a ball of energy in her hands and launched it at him as hard as she could. It hit his chest and expanded, wrapping him up tightly and squeezing the breath from his body. He dropped to the ground, unconscious.
Leira looked around. All the wizards were gone. The wolves sniffed the grounds, surprised at how quickly the wizards had disappeared. The alpha of the group morphed mid-step and walked toward her naked. He nodded at Leira and looked back at the others.
“The Harriken were
here.”
“What?” Leira sent out a blanket of magic that could sense others and their origin. Sure enough, there it was; traces of Harriken magic.
“They must have infiltrated the group, or possibly even formed an alliance.”
“Great.” Leira shook her head. “This is getting interesting. Thank you for coming, and so fast.”
“I recognized the signal as one of Lucius’. They all have distinctive sounds. If we hear a call, we answer it.”
“A werewolf in London,” she replied, her smile crooked but grateful.
“A shifter in London, and yeah, I hear that joke all the time.”
Leira may have missed her target, but with the prisoner, the huge load of cargo and the information she had acquired about the Harriken, the agency should be able to track anything they needed. The assignment had become too dangerous for one person to take on. She arranged for the weapons to be secured and sent back to the United States before heading back to the underground railway.
She was really glad to be getting on that train. The fight had frightened her briefly. The Harriken’s strength grew daily, and there was nothing she could do to stop that. When she boarded, she took a room like she’d had on the way there. She watched as they passed through London. Many of their trains were above ground, covered by a magical dome like the one in the ocean to make them invisible to humans. It was a beautiful place, although sightseeing hadn’t been on her itinerary in years.
When they reached the ocean, Leira leaned back in her seat and watched the water’s reflection dance through the train. The sea life moved around them in their own naturally spectacular way. Some neon fish scurried through the barnacles on the sea floor, and a large whale followed by small fish circled the train, paused for a moment, and continued, receiving its daily grooming from the fish. Leira stared at the reflection the rising sun made on the ocean floor. A Great White shark swam leisurely overhead, on the hunt for some breakfast.
