by Jaye Wells
I blocked out the angry pounding and scratching at the lab door and closed my eyes. My heart thumped in my ears and red veins glowed dully behind my lids. Starting at the top of my head, I scanned down my body, trying to relax each limb and part as I went. Another loud crash behind me. Trying to ignore the sounds, I willed my cells to vibrate at the proper frequency. This wasn’t just a matter of my thinking magical thoughts, I actually had to manifest the energy and infuse it into the ingredients.
Opening my eyes, I focused my energy at the flames licking the air above the elixir. At first, the fire was the typical red and orange. I raised my left hand above the mixture and focused every cell in my body on activating the antipotion. I’m not a praying woman, but I did a little of that, too. My hands shook and my stomach roiled as the energy flowed through me. It had been so long since I’d played with these energies that I had trouble regulating my body’s reaction.
The flames slowly turned blue. A split second later, the mixture swirled and morphed from grayish to brilliant green, indicating I’d transformed Volos’s failed sample into a viable antipotion. I let out a little whoop of victory. But the only way to ensure the elixir worked properly would be to apply it directly to a sample of Gray Wolf.
The werewolf outside decided he’d waited long enough.
The world exploded into a storm of wood shards, black fur, and the heat of angry animal. Volos’s once-familiar and handsome face was now the image of rage personified: snapping fangs, red-rimmed eyes that glowed with hunger.
“Fuck!” The panic switch flipped on and with it the instinct honed by training that turned that panic into fuel. While the beast stalked in and commenced with his intimidation display, I scrambled through drawers looking for a syringe. I didn’t exactly love the idea of having to get close enough to him to prick him with the needle. But judging from the way he was stalking me, I wouldn’t have much of a choice about getting close and personal.
Panicked, I grabbed a syringe, threw off the wrapper, and shoved the cap between my teeth. Then I jabbed the needle into the vial in a smooth motion. I’d just managed to pull back the stopper when the attack hit.
One second I was hunched over the vial, working feverishly. The next white-hot pain erupted in my shoulder. If I’d been wearing my leather jacket, the slice wouldn’t have caused much damage. But I’d shucked the coat earlier and was left clad in a thin T-shirt that shredded like paper under the sharp assault.
The hit knocked me to the side. I grasped the syringe in my left hand and curled it protectively against my chest as I fell. I didn’t stay down long because that was just begging for death. Shoving the cap back onto the needle, I dug in my feet and sprinted toward the door.
An offended roar told me Volos was done playing around.
Strong—so fucking strong. Even with Mez’s potion in my veins, it took every ounce of strength in my body to fight off the blows. I tried to grab the salt flare from my ankle, but his fist slammed into my face and I was suddenly too busy trying to stay conscious.
He grabbed me by my hair and threw me out of the room and into the larger brewing space. Judging from the intense pain of impact, my body slammed into a concrete pillar. If it hadn’t been for Mez’s potion, I probably would have died right then. I was either very lucky or extremely unlucky I did not die. But before I could decide which side of that question I fell on, the weight of the enraged werewolf slammed down on me again.
The bone structure that used to be my face morphed into a matrix of pain. I could see only through my left eye and what it registered terrified me so much I wanted to squeeze it closed again. Saliva dripped from the canines he aimed at my throat. Only adrenaline and fear combined with the elbow wedged between us stood between me and death.
On the periphery of my vision, just beyond the monstrous visage looming over me, I saw Bane had come closer to watch the scene. The violence excited him so much, he was rubbing his crotch like a perv at a nudie show. I hated to disappoint the sick bastard, but he wasn’t going to have a happy ending.
There are certain times in your life when you have to surrender to reality. When I’d gone to meet John that night, I’d had a plan: Get the antipotion, help my brother, and save the day like a comic book hero.
But this wasn’t a comic book and I sure as shit wasn’t Wonder Woman. My only means of survival was the antipotion in my left hand. The only way to save Danny’s life now was to ensure that John Volos lived.
My right arm was losing strength fast. With my left hand, I tried to uncap the needle without pricking myself with the antipotion. Hot breath on my neck, stinging scratches on my shoulders, rage-growls echoing in my ears. My fingers fumbled to spin the plunger into stabbing position.
Sharp points scraped my neck. It felt as though he’d gained fifty pounds. The weight and the struggle and the fear were weakening me. Time to move—or die.
I threw my weight right. He didn’t budge but a few centimeters, but it was enough to swing my left hand up. I stabbed the needle into his jugular and punched the plunger. He reared back and his eyes widened on a roar. A split second later, the yellowed pupils rolled back in their sockets.
Panting as though I’d just run a marathon, I dislodged his weight and dragged myself out of grabbing range. He fell back onto the concrete, panting.
I watched in shock from the dirty floor as the doubts bubbled up. What if I’d been wrong about the green vitriol? What if my not using magic for so many years had dampened its power? What if Uncle Abe booby-trapped Gray Wolf so antipotions sped up death?
John’s body convulsed like I’d applied jumper cables to his limbs. Saliva bubbled from his mouth. His hands clenched into fists and his body bowed up off the floor. He froze at the top of the arc and a scream ripped from his chest.
My brain flashed back to another untested potion. The one that killed my mother. Had I just killed John, too?
The trembling began in my limbs. I told myself it was Mez’s potion wearing off, but in my gut I knew it was fear. I couldn’t carry the debt of his death, too. Especially since John’s demise would also doom Danny.
Oh God, Danny. My stomach roiled at the thought of a future without that kid around to drive me crazy.
Volos gasped and listed to his side away from me. A racking cough shook him as his body tried to rid itself of the dirty magic. A split second later, the vomiting began. His rib cage heaved with each retch as his body tried to dispel the toxic Gray Wolf from his system.
Finally, I could breathe again. The vomit was proof the green vitriol was working. As far as signs of hope go, it was pretty gross, but I’d take it because it meant I didn’t have to add John’s name to the roster of people I’d murdered.
Thank Christ.
I rose to go check on him, but a clapping sound behind me made the hairs on my neck prickle. Bane had hoped to see me lying battered and bleeding out on the floor. Instead, I was swaying but on my own two feet over the prone body of his assassin by proxy.
The ironic applause stopped as he got a good look at my face. His hands fumbled for the gun in his waistband. The barrel got caught in his belt, which gave me an opening to leap toward Hanson’s gun, which had been kicked that direction during my scuffle with the beast.
I dove at the same moment Bane pulled off his first shot. It pinged off a metal shelf somewhere behind me and ricocheted to the concrete.
“Might as well give up now, Bane. Volos won’t be killing anyone today.”
“Shut up, bitch. I’ll just kill you both.”
I swallowed the fear that clogged my throat. He sounded crazy enough to deliver on the promise. “If you kill us, how are you going to pin this on Volos?”
“Won’t matter as long as he’s dead.”
I decided to keep him talking. “You know, I never bought that you came up with the formula on your own. Figures you had to have Uncle Abe help you. He’s gonna be so pissed when he finds out you fucked up this bad.”
“Be quiet! I’m thinking.”
/>
“You know what I think? I think that by the time your own son finishes singing to the BPD, you’re going to spend a nice, long time in Crowley.” I pointed the gun right between his doll eyes. “Unless if I kill you first.”
“I said fucking shut up!” He whimpered like an injured animal. He stalked Volos’s still form. He raised his head and I saw the red rimming his eyes. “I’m dead anyway. You’re right. Abe’s going to kill me the minute they put me in Crowley.”
He smiled wildly and brought the gun closer to Volos’s head. I didn’t want to kill Bane. I mean, yes, I wanted to kill him, but it seemed like the easy way out for him. Suicide by cop.
I stepped forward. “Back off, Bane.”
“Stop or I’ll shoot him right fucking now,” Bane said.
Time to make my move. “I’ll save you the time.” I swung the gun toward Volos’s back.
“What—” Bane shouted.
I squeezed the trigger twice. Bane’s shouts were lost in the explosions. Volos’s body jerked with each hit. After the shots echoed off the walls, he went completely still.
“What the fuck?” Bane yelled.
I shrugged. “You wanted him dead, right?” I tossed the emptied gun aside and removed the one from my ankle holster.
His eyes were saucer-huge. “You crazy bitch.”
“Fuckin’ A.” It was finally my turn to smile. The move made my face throb, but it was worth it.
Bane threw down the gun and raised his hands. “I want to see my attorney!”
Deep down where the root of my humanity resided, something snapped. It released something dark and acid into my veins. The taste of metal on my tongue and my vision went static tinged with red. The fact he thought it could be that easy. That he could cause so much destruction and pain and just raise his hands and be protected by the law. Why did he get that when the innocent did not?
I thought of my brother lying unconscious in a hospital bed. Depending on tubes and bags to keep him alive. I thought about Marvin’s body bleeding out on the sidewalk in front of Volos Towers. I thought about Ferris Harkins, who thought he was helping the MEA, only to get shot down because he’d been potioned by a real monster.
I stalked forward, my gun pointed at his forehead as if it were a bull’s-eye. He took a cautious step back, another. His eyes narrowed when I didn’t lower my weapon. “Read me my rights, Officer.”
I blinked rapidly through the rage blurring my vision. Sweat coated my forehead and my hands trembled with staunched anger. “You have no rights.” Another step forward.
He shuffled back some more. “Read me my rights!”
“You gave them up the minute you came after my family.” My voice was cold and low. Another confident step forward.
“But”—his tone went from demanding to cajoling—“we are family. Uncle Abe’s my cousin. That makes us what?”
“Enemies.” I laughed bitterly. “How convenient that you could ignore shared blood when you stuck a needle full of poison in Danny’s jugular.” I tightened my hand on the gun. “Give the devil my regards.”
Boom!
A loud, drawn-out scream followed. But it was drowned out by the cacophony of doors being kicked in and running boot heels. Smoke filled the place and chaos reigned as what seemed like hundreds of bodies spilled into the space. In reality, it was the MEA team combined with a handful of BPD officers. Light flared inside the warehouse, forcing me to blink.
“Kate!” Morales called. He barreled out of the smoke and ran toward me. I blinked at the cavalry in confusion. He slowed and took in the scene.
He placed his left palm over my trembling hands and forced me to lower the hot gun. I didn’t fight him but I also couldn’t help wishing he’d come in thirty seconds later.
“Help!” A pitiful shout rose from the hole, followed by a raspy cough.
Morales frowned and edged to the perimeter of the large hole in the floor. He glanced down for a long moment. When he looked up at me, he looked puzzled. “What happened here?”
“The crazy bitch tried to murder me!” Bane’s voice filtered up from the story below.
Morales raised a brow at me.
My hands were shaking as I pointed to the gun he’d taken from me. “Salt flare.”
Then Morales turned and walked over to the prone form of John Volos. “Did you shoot him with the flare, too?”
“Nope.” I shook my head. “I shot him with real bullets.” Quickly, I added, “But I knew he had on an antiballistics shirt.”
Gardner had been walking up behind Morales when I spoke. “How’d you know he was wearing it?” she asked.
“I saw it peeking out from under his shirt when he attacked me.” I didn’t tell them about Volos showing it to me at the hospital. Doing so now would only raise more suspicion since I hadn’t mentioned John’s visit to anyone.
“Why did he attack you?” Gardner continued with her questions. I didn’t like that interrogator’s mask she was wearing.
I sighed. “Because Bane potioned him with Gray Wolf.” Both their eyes flew to Volos’s still form.
A groan sounded from the ground. The three of us skidded over to see what was up with John. He was pale and sweating, but at least the tufts of hair had receded and his face had morphed back into its normal shape. His eyes blinked open and closed several times and he coughed.
“Mr. Volos? Are you okay?”
He managed a nod. “Kate,” he gasped, “saved me.”
Gardner’s suspicious gaze flew to mine. “What I want to know is why you were here in the first place.”
I paused, my mind going totally blank. Mental and physical exhaustion had shut down the part of my brain that allowed me to bullshit off the top of my head. I could not think of one good reason for me to be in that brewery that wouldn’t get me kicked off the team.
“I called her,” John said into the silence that followed Gardner’s question. “I figured out the antipotion for Gray Wolf and I wanted to give her a sample to save Danny.”
I squinted at him. It wasn’t as if I was in any position to take credit for figuring out the antipotion, but I resented how his covering for me painted him as a real fucking hero.
“That true, Kate?” Morales asked.
I nodded. “I guess Bane had been tailing me.”
Gardner sucked on her teeth for a moment, as if she expected me to suddenly break down and admit to some sort of major crime. I just stared at her with a look fueled by adrenaline crash and shock.
“All right,” she said finally. “Morales, get medics to help Mr. Volos. Have them check out Kate, too, while you’re at it.” When I opened my mouth to protest, she snapped, “Don’t. That potion Mez put in the amulet will wear off soon and then you’ll wish you were dead.”
A commotion came from over near the lab. The uniforms had found Hanson’s body. Shadi came running toward us, dressed in combat boots, jeans, and a black turtleneck. “What happened there?” she demanded.
Already the mood in the place was shifting now that the cops knew one of their own had died. Expectant gazes zeroed in on me as I debated telling the truth. Gardner must have seen something in my face because she suddenly stepped in. “We’ll discuss it once you’ve had medical attention,” she said to me. “Call Eldritch,” she said quietly to Shadi.
Then she turned to the room at large and yelled, “Focus on getting the job done! We can mourn once we get the evidence to make the case.”
They accepted this with solemn nods and got back to work.
Morales had been scanning the scene while she talked. As Gardner went off to oversee Hanson’s body, he turned to me. “Back up—why did you shoot Volos if you dosed him with antipotion?”
“After I’d saved him, Bane was going to shoot him. I knew he had on the shirt, so I shot him instead to distract Bane.”
He blinked. “You shot Volos because you knew he wore a bulletproof shirt and it would save his life?”
I was basically upright only because of shock, so
all I could manage was a clipped nod.
Morales ran a hand through his hair and blew out a long breath. “You’re a piece of work, Cupcake.”
“She’s a bitch is what she is,” Bane called from the gurney where the medics were strapping him down. His face and arms were covered in bright red, oozing wounds from the salt shrapnel. There was a neck brace around his throat and the way he was groaning and moaning, he’d probably ruptured some discs or something in his back. Good.
“Get him the fuck out of here!” Morales yelled at the medics. They nodded and started to haul him out.
I turned to see where Volos was, but yet another commotion came from the stairway. A flurry of red hair appeared over the crest of the steps. The lawyer. She cried out when she saw the medics loading John onto his own gurney. I looked away because the scene she was making over him embarrassed me. I was glad Volos survived and all, but considering how many people had given their lives in this case, it felt … wrong to dote over the precious wealthy man who was alive only because he could afford expensive magical defense gear that the city wouldn’t buy for any of the cops in that room.
“Miss Turner,” Morales said, “we’ll need to question Mr. Volos.”
“Not tonight you won’t. He’s going to the hospital. Only once he’s had a chance to receive the treatment he needs will we even consider making a statement.”
A muscle in Morales’s jaw clicked. I could practically hear him cussing at her for her haughty attitude in his head. “Understood, ma’am. You still have my card?” She nodded dismissively, which I took for a no. “Here’s another just in case.”
“We’re ready,” the medic said to Jade.
“Come on, John.” She turned and started marching toward the stairs as if she was ready to fight her way out of there. Unfortunately the effect was ruined when the gurney he was on slowly started to rattle and squeak across the dirty concrete floor.
