Opening Salvo

Mike frowned at the Queen of the Fae. Though her entrance was dramatic, he was far more concerned with the mysterious visitors who had poked a hole in the sky directly up above. The amorphic entities squeezed around each other like beads of oil trapped between panes of glass fighting for a better view.

“So those things were in Ingrid’s head because of you?” he asked.

“No. They were in the mortal’s head of their own accord and natural curiosity. They are attracted to madness. It calls to them like a beacon. However, their proximity meant they sensed my arrival.” She looked at Mike meaningfully. “The less we acknowledge or interact with them, the better.”

“What even are they?” he asked.

Titania smirked. “I could tell you for a price,” she said. “But I know that you would feel cheated. This is a mystery that you are quite capable of solving on your own.”

Mike looked up at the eyes again, then remembered he was supposed to ignore them. Dropping his gaze back to the regal figure on the beach, he thought about what Lily had told him regarding the strange entities she had encountered in the Dreamscape. They typically lurked in dark, undefined locations, and rarely interacted with the dreamer. On the few occasions that they did, it was typically to pull them away into the dark and expose them to sheer terror.

The Dreamscape was a place that hovered right on the edge of reason. Time and space were malleable, and he could only think of one thing that would exist just past its boundaries. With their current interest in a divine being, they could only be—

“Don’t say it aloud,” cautioned Titania. “Nor even think it, not under such inauspicious stars. To do so may bring further attention upon yourself.”

He nodded his understanding. “Under these circumstances, is any conversation here actually safe?”

The faerie queen moved toward him, her wings fluttering briefly as she hopped down a dune. “The things we would speak of are beneath notice. Predators care not what sheep think unless the sheep conspire against them. I have two concerns that I would share with you.”

“Is one of them the army on my lawn?” Mike asked. “Because that’s a concern I have.”

Titania’s lips became thin like ribbons as she studied him. “That is one of my concerns, yes. I have many subjects who have brought official complaints to my court in regards to their behavior. The Order and the Sons of Sin have not treated my people very well.”

Mike nodded, but didn’t apologize. Taking the blame for the actions of others was always a terrible idea in regards to the fae. “The Order agreed to stay on my lawn and keep my home safe from harm in my absence,” he replied. “So while my hospitality extended to the grounds of my property, it did not include my home.”

“But you were aware that they would betray you?” Titania lifted an eyebrow and walked past him, the churning surf of the Dreamscape swirling around her ankles.

“I was.” Mike turned and followed the Queen of the Fae. “They gave their word, after all. Have they brought any harm to your subjects who live in my gardens?”

“Not yet. However, these mortals have been quite pushy, and more than a few have harassed the Little People. I took it upon myself to invite some to my realm. I hope you don’t mind.”

“What transpires between you and my guests is none of my business as long as they were given the choice to leave.” Mike thought his statement over, making sure he hadn’t left any technical landmines for himself. He also wanted to ask what had happened to them, but wondered if that would cross some sort of boundary. Ah, the fae. “In all honesty, the Sons of Sin were never invited. The Order took advantage of my hospitality. As far as I am concerned, the mercenaries are uninvited pests. If not for very pressing matters here, I would have given them more of my attention. I had to make a choice between two difficult tasks and only I could properly attend to the one I decided upon.”

Titania nodded. “On this, we agree.” The queen knelt down and picked up a seashell that looked like a child had bedazzled it. “You are perfectly aware that the fae take the rules of Hospitality very seriously?”

“I am.” Mike and Beth had poured over several tomes with Sofia before allowing any of the smaller fae creatures to even consider taking up residence in his yard.  It was meant to be a relationship of mutual benefit, the natural magic of his home giving the fae a chance to return and live on Earth for as long as they chose. In return, they helped to care for the land along with the centaurs. “If you believe I have erred in this matter—”

“Stop.” Titania’s voice chilled him. “There is little you could say next that would not bind you.”

“I was going to say that I would not mind hearing your wisdom on the matter should you offer it freely.” He was at the queen’s side now.

“Hmm.” Titania tucked the shell into one of her sleeves and turned to face him. “In some ways, you think very much like my people.”

“Your words are kind,” he replied. This made Titania smirk. “You said you had two concerns. Certainly you did not come all this way to speak of the bad behavior of my guests.”

“I did not. I speak now of the…” Titania paused, then her golden eyes flicked toward the sky. “Hmm. Perhaps I’ve underestimated them. How odd.”

Mike looked up to see that the hole in the sky had been stretched wider, and was packed full of shapeless entities. He reached out with his will to pull the hole shut, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

“I wouldn’t,” she said. “Don’t let them know you are aware they’re here.”

“They’re looking in my head, though.”

“I shall keep this conversation brief, then.” She tilted her head so that she faced the ground. “Even my presence here should not have collected so many.”

“That makes me feel…” Mike had been about to say better, but remembered who he was talking to. “Uncomfortable.”

“As it should. It has come to my attention that you finally discovered what the dragon Di has been up to these last few centuries.” Titania smiled, showing plenty of teeth. They looked sharper than usual. “I was curious to know what you were planning to do with them.”

He shrugged. It wasn’t something he had given much thought to. Between the information being new and the problem of Captain Francois, there hadn’t even been much time to discuss with anyone what he actually wanted to do with the eggs.

“I haven’t planned anything,” he said.

“Of course you haven’t.” Titania sighed. “Are you even aware what sort of treasure you currently possess?”

He bit back a sarcastic reply. “I will admit I know very little,” he said, casting a wary glance skyward once more. “But if what I’ve been told is true, it sounds like I could theoretically reset the world with them. Use them to restore magic to the land, or something similar.”

Titania nodded. “With those beings, it would be entirely in your power to once again lift the veil covering the eyes of the world, to bring back that which Merlin once sealed away. Yours would be a world of science and magic, a place capable of producing wonders both great and deadly.”

“But wouldn’t that just gather more…attention?” Mike flicked his eyes upward for emphasis.

“It would.” Titania scowled so hard that she and the ground beneath her feet darkened in color. “The fae realm is considered a safe haven from the outsiders, but your world would cease to be. Should you choose to re-establish that which was lost, they will come for the mortal realm once again and I fear there would be no stopping them.”

“Why is your realm safe?” Mike asked.

“It was built long before your world dared to breathe, Caretaker. Whereas your world is carefully constructed from the fabric of time and space, ours simply is. The only way they could get to us is through your world. Even then, you would witness the Seelie and Unseelie united in a manner that has never occurred before. Our world is built on truths, and beings without shape or logic would have to conform.”

“So if they invaded you, they would die?”

“Death is a strange word for such creatures,” she replied. “Logically, they would simply return to the Between place they came from.”

“Why worry about what happens to my world?” he asked. “If your world is safe, that is?”

“Do you think we would not see a flood of creatures from your realm?” Titania shook her head. “The dragons were hard enough to accommodate, and they were wanted. Every creature in the fae realm is tied to the land in some way. It is part of our magic. Mortals, cryptids, and even divine beings would force themselves into my realm to escape annihilation. I cannot have gods wandering my realm and becoming tied to the land, Caretaker. It was never their world to begin with, and we would be forced to hunt them down as they begin acting on their own designs.”

“So war, then.” Mike nodded in understanding. “You really think they wouldn’t play nice?”

“Immortal beings never play nice,” she said. “Eternity is a long time to get along.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have no desire to end my own world.” He looked out at the ocean and pondered the dark shapes out there. Here in the Dreamscape, they couldn’t hurt him. But in the real world? Would he be driven mad at the very sight of them? Could he even take one on? He had a vague recollection of the time he and Ratu destroyed a piece of one. Sometimes, when he was just drifting off to sleep, he remembered screaming until his throat was raw, stabbing at a piece of flesh that shrieked when he punctured one of its many eyes…

“Give them to me,” said Titania. Mike realized he had tuned her out, and turned in her direction. “My world would be a safe place for them.”

Mike contemplated the queen, wondering if this was just a suggestion of hers or a command. He really wished he hadn’t drifted there for a second. The air felt heavy with expectation now, and he wasn’t sure how to reply without offending her.

“The Kahu protected this treasure for generations,” he said. “And it has been in my care less than a full day. It would be wise to make any decision regarding their care only after speaking to the dragon and goddess who still guard them.”

Titania regarded him coolly for a moment, and he wondered if he had fucked up. Suddenly, the air felt light again, and the weird crimson light around her body faded.

“It’s a pity you aren’t fae,” she said, moving toward him with her hands clasped in front of her. She placed one hand on his chest and studied his eyes for several long moments. “If the court would allow it, I would make a proper consort of you.”

“I have other duties,” he replied. He inhaled her scent and was reminded of long summer days in fields of wheat, the tops of the grass tickling his chin as he ran from an oncoming storm. The memories weren’t his, but such things mattered not to the fae.

“As you do,” Titania whispered, then placed her lips to his. A shock ran through his body, and the Dreamscape fractured like wet sand, falling in clumps around him as light tore through the broken sky above, chasing the others back into the darkness.

Mike took a deep breath and awoke, his eyes scanning the room. Ingrid was sitting up in bed, clutching her temples and breathing slowly as Pele held a bottle of water for her to drink. Lily stood by Mike, fierce annoyance on her features as she stared at him. Ratu was on the edge of the bed, rubbing Ingrid’s ankles.

“It worked,” said Pele, her eyes on Mike. “You brought her back.” She sniffed the air and tilted her head to one side. “Why do you smell like honey?”

“That’s a good question.” Titania’s visitations were meant to be a secret, and he intended to keep them that way. He looked at Ingrid. “How are you feeling?”

“I have a splitting headache,” Ingrid whispered, then sipped some more water.

“She’s also dehydrated.” Pele helped Ingrid drink some more water. “You’ve been out for almost a day now.”

“Almost…a day?” Ingrid looked up in confusion. “The last thing I remembered was seeing…”

Mike cleared his throat and sat next to the mage, then took her hand in his own. Even now, he couldn’t help but picture the small hands he had held in his mind not so long ago.

“You saw a dragon,” he said, watching Ingrid’s eyes widen in alarm. “She sensed you three crossing the boundary and retrieved you from the cave network to figure out who you were. Her name is Di, and she is very kind, and quite beautiful.”

“Her name is…Di?” Ingrid looked at Pele next. “You’re not…her, are you?”

Pele chuckled. “The dragon? No. She cannot take human form. I’m just an old woman who has been around a long time.”

“Ingrid.” Mike squeezed the woman’s hand. “You had quite the shock yesterday. Do you remember anything else?”

“I…no?” She screwed up her face in concentration, then seemed to realize where they were. “Wait, you said we crossed the boundary? Are we here?”

“My property? Yes.” Mike studied Ingrid’s features, then looked past her physical appearance to her soul. The colors shifted and swirled around her, but he couldn’t help but notice there was a piece he hadn’t noticed before, sitting calmly at its center. “You are here, and you are safe.”

Ingrid took a deep breath and sat back against the bed, her eyes closing. “I’m safe.”

“You are.” He stood, the mood in the room suddenly shifting. “I have something I need to take care of and will be back in a bit. Is there someone who can bring her some food?”

Pele smiled at him. “It is already under control, Caretaker. Go. Have your meeting.”

Mike stepped outside and looked up into the cloudy sky above. It was raining on the other side of the volcano, the downpour forming into waterfalls on the opposite cliffs. He walked toward the edge of the precipice to get a better look. Down below in the lake, Mike noticed Leilani swimming wide circles in the steaming water.

“Is she safe doing that?” he wondered out loud.

“She is.” Ratu stepped out from the cabin to join him. She closed the door just as Lily tried to come through, the door squishing the succubus against the frame.

“Bitch.” Lily pouted, then squeezed the rest of the way through.

“Like I was saying, she is safe to swim there. This morning, she asked if there was anywhere she could swim and Pele gave her a special blessing that will protect her from the heat.” Ratu took Mike’s wrist. “What is the next move, Caretaker?”

He held out his fingers and ticked them off. “First, I want to go home and check in on everyone. It sounds like they have it under control, but I miss my kids. This has to be scary for them. Then I’m headed back to Paradise. I’ll need Leilani and Ingrid for that to clear my name with the Order and the merfolk. I also intend to tell the Director to get his people off my lawn before I sic the Jabberwock on them.”

“Preach.” Lily put her hands up and swayed. Ratu frowned at her, the scales on her neck shifting in irritation.

“We don’t need the Order anymore. They’ve done their part. The house is connected to here, now, which allows us to tackle our next task. While I’m talking with the Director, someone needs to get Beth out. When we’re done, we’ll swing by the house again and kick ass if we need to.” Mike sighed. “And then we can come back here and figure out how to knock Jack Sparrow’s teeth in.”

“Who?” asked Ratu.

“Sorry, just another stupid nickname for Captain Francois.” Mike didn’t bother mentioning that Jack Sparrow would be upset that Ratu had never heard of him. “He might have an army of skeletons and a giant squid, but I’ll be damned if I let him get that clutch.”

“I like this side of you, Romeo.” Lily leaned into Mike and stroked his bicep through his shirt. “I can think of something fun for us to do while everyone else gets ready.”

“Ahem.” Ratu was now openly glaring at Lily. “I think it would be prudent to—”

“Ugh, I hate that word. Prude.” Lily smirked and stepped away from Mike. “But the snake is right, we should get moving.”

Ratu made a soft hissing sound in the back of her throat, her tongue slipping free to taste the air for just a moment. “Are you trying to antagonize me?” she demanded.

Lily shrugged. “I’m just being me, the girl who had to stay behind and watch the fucking master suite instead of sitting on the beach with a mai tai and a team of servants.”

“This has hardly been a—” Ratu’s eyes widened when Mike cut her off.

“The answer is yes,” he said. “She is trying to antagonize you. Lily, since you’re the fastest one here, will you fly down and let Leilani and Quetzalli know the plan? Oh, and if Leilani isn’t too heavy for you to carry, I would appreciate it if you gave her a lift back up here.”

Lily snorted. “Oh, so I’m just your servant girl, now? What’s in it for me?”

“Quetzalli is in the temple with Di. It will give you the perfect excuse to meet her.”

Lily’s wings extended from her back and she smirked. “Okay, Romeo, you’ve got a deal. Excuse me, snake girl, I’m off to meet a motherfucking dragon.” She ran toward the nearest precipice and threw herself off, her leathery wings extending wide to ride the thermals. After making a partial circle, she folded into a dive and vanished.

“She’s annoying,” Ratu sniffed.

“Sometimes. But her heart is always in the right place.” Mike turned his attention to Ratu. “But I want to know what’s going on with you. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you this on edge.”

Ratu turned her head away and scowled. “I spent decades underground, Caretaker. Decades in a place where I thought nobody could ever hurt me. I finally leave that safe place only to be hunted by a skeleton army and have another army move onto our front lawn. The timing of all these things feels…deliberate.”

“Do you think the others can’t handle what’s going on at home?” he asked.

Ratu glared at him, her eyes narrowing into serpentine slits. “I don’t doubt their abilities,” she declared. “But I do wonder what we’re missing. Everything that’s happening now starts with Captain Francois coming for the eggs. The why of this doesn’t matter. Rather, I’m interested in why now?”

Mike shrugged. “Why ever? Master and Commander douche canoe picked now. It doesn’t have to make sense.”

“No, that’s not quite what I mean!” Ratu stomped her foot, and tiny flames actually squirted from her clenched fists. “I hate being this flustered!”

“I get that.” Mike stomped out an errant flame that had reached the ground. “But keep talking to help me understand.”

“Why did he do it this way? Why bring some behemoth from the ocean, knowing full well there was a guardian here who could fight it?” Ratu gestured toward the middle of the volcano. “Did he really assume that his beast was suddenly strong enough to defeat Di? He had to know that the Order would get involved!”

“But Lily says the Order didn’t even know who the Captain was, so it wouldn’t make sense that they’re—” He stopped and stared at Ratu, his jaw suddenly slack.

“He knew they would get involved,” she said, her eyes becoming more human. “He had to. His history with the merfolk means he can’t have been ignorant of their presence.”

“And the attack triggered the Order’s involvement, which inevitably lead to me coming out here. But why would he want me here? Doesn’t that make getting the eggs harder?”

“Not if he kills you.” Ratu took Mike by the hand. “If he kills you, this place becomes his, yes?”

“But how could he know that the Order would actually succeed in getting me here?” Mike chewed at his lip and stared at Ratu. “If he master-minded this whole thing, how did he even know who I was?”

“He couldn’t have.” Ratu’s pupils widened. “Didn’t Leilani say they were surprised to learn you weren’t a woman? He would have told them that if he knew.”

“Why now, indeed?” Something about his situation was meant to be a trap, but set by who? Was he supposed to be here in Hawaii, still? Or was he supposed to rush home? If the Captain and the Director weren’t working together, why had their plans synced up so nicely to fuck him over?

“Is there someone else?” Ratu asked. “A third party?”

Mike shook his head. “If there is, then who? We banished Amir to the shadow realm, but I suppose some society assholes could still be around. This level of coordination feels a bit advanced for a group of people who decided their best strategy was to flood my lawn with idiots, which is exactly what is happening now. And if there is a third party, what’s the play? Do they want Francois to get the eggs? Or do they want something in the house?”

“The Grimoire would be a more preferable prize than the eggs,” she said. “Unless someone else has a Dragon Seed, which I guess is possible.”

“But it’s not like someone can just take the eggs. This whole setup was built using the body of a deity along with the Architect. So if they’re coming for the eggs, then maybe it’s to destroy them.”

“Perhaps. I don’t like this, Mike. The longer I think about it…”

He shook his head and took Ratu by the hand. “Hey, look. Even just knowing that someone else may be pulling strings gives us an edge. When this asshole inevitably pops up to announce their grand victory, instead of being surprised and listening to their inevitable monologue, you can feed them a fireball.”

“I guess.”

The two of them walked back to the cabana in silence, Mike pondering the whole time. What was the real target here, the eggs or the house? Was it both? Neither? Was it him? Was some third party making an attempt on his other properties? When he got home, he would have someone check in with Bigfoot. As for the castle in Ireland, anyone trying to break in would get an even worse surprise than he had.

Back at the cabana, Ratu packed up what little they had used last night. Mike took a quick look through his own bag, pausing long enough to pull out a fresh pair of shorts and a clean shirt. The potions Zel had given him were safely wrapped in some socks he had packed. After triple-checking that the lid of the Mandragora potion was still good, he moved the potions back into his bag and zipped it shut.

While changing his clothes, he noticed Ratu watching him out of the corner of her eye once his pants were off. Mike let out a theatrical yawn and stretched, making sure to arch his back. He put on a big show of rubbing his abs through the naga skin tunic, then winked in her direction and then did a little belly dance for her.

“Weather’s nice,” he said.

“Mmhmm.” Her gaze dropped to his cock. “Maybe colder than usual.”

Mike snorted. “If you’re worried about how chilly I am, I can think of an activity to warm us up.”

Ratu held up a hand and summoned crackling flames. She arched an eyebrow at him.

“Not that way,” he hastily added. Ratu looked past him and released the flames, her hand moving over her mouth. Mike turned to see Pele standing behind him, her molten eyes locked on his crotch.

“Ah. Um…” Mike grabbed the hem of the naga shirt and pulled, the fabric stretching down to not quite cover his genitals. When he realized it was insufficient, he turned around, but then remembered Pele was likely looking at his bare ass. Clearing his throat, he found his boxers and stepped into them. “Sorry you had to see that.”

“I’m not.” Pele chuckled and the ground vibrated beneath his feet. “I assure you that it is nothing I haven’t seen before.”

“Yeah, well…” He cleared his throat. “My apologies. We were just having some fun.”

“Don’t stop on my account.” Pele sat on a nearby chair. “So, you intend to leave for a bit?”

“I do,” he said. “I need to check in with my family and then clear my name with the Order. We shouldn’t be gone long. Once we return, I’m hoping my full focus can be here.”

“Good.” Pele studied him for a few moments, and he could see golden light sparkle throughout her pupils. “Will you bring your family here?”

“I will. I think they would like this place.” He gestured at the cabana. “My kids will want to explore the area, if you think that’s safe.”

“With a suitable guide, yes, it will be.” Pele smiled and closed her eyes. “It will be so nice to hear the sounds of a family in this place once again. This place was never meant to suffer the silence of a tomb.”

“It certainly won’t.” Mike walked over to the edge of the cliffs and looked down. Lily had wrapped her arms around Leilani’s waist and was flapping her wings uselessly in an attempt to lift her. “How long do you think it will be before she gives up?”

“Hmm?” Ratu joined him on the rim and laughed. The succubus seemed to sense them watching and renewed her flapping. Leilani looked up at the demon and shouted something, which caused Lily to drop her back into the lake. Visibly flustered, Lily grabbed onto the mermaid’s torso and tried to pull her free of the water. This devolved into another shouting match, which ended when the mermaid pulled Lily out of the sky and dunked her.

“I’ll go get them,” said Ratu with a grin. “Otherwise, we’ll be waiting here all day.” The naga moved toward the edge of the cliff and jumped over the side, her body twisting and expanding into serpentine form. She slid through the thick foliage, the trees shaking and bending as she pushed them aside and gained speed. Moments later, Ratu shot out of a gap in the trees at the bottom, jaws open wide and fangs bared as she practically belly flopped on top of the succubus and the mermaid.

From the edge of the cliff, Mike heard both Leilani and Lily shriek in terror. Behind him, the goddess of fire laughed.

---

Half an hour later and half a world away, Mike emerged from the portal in his laundry room closet and stepped through the plain wooden door that had been painted the same color as the rest of the room. Had it always been here and he hadn’t noticed? Or had the house somehow expanded again?

Those were thoughts to ponder later. He stepped away from the door to allow Lily and Ratu through. Leilani and Ingrid remained behind—Mike wasn’t ready yet to bring them into his home.

“Caretaker.” Reggie was waiting for them, his whiskers twitching in anticipation.

“Good afternoon.” Mike knelt down and extended a finger to shake the Rat King’s paw. “Can you get a secondary portal set up between the new place and Paradise? I need to get Leilani and Ingrid there directly without using the house. We’ll also need some safeguards so that the Order doesn’t backtrack us through.”

“Here.” Lily knelt down and handed over a piece of paper. “I’ve marked some rooms at the resort that are special use and will be safe. Nobody is scheduled to use them.”

“Of course.” Reggie turned to a small contingent of armed rodents who stood nearby. He made a few squeaks and gestures before one of them ran off. “It should be ready by the time you leave.”

“Great.” Mike stood and gazed down at the tiny king. “How have things been here?”

“Terrible.” Reggie led the way, walking at Mike’s side. “We’re keeping a very close watch on the front yard. The SoS has posted snipers at strategic locations, which greatly limits who can be involved in the battle ahead. Death went out this morning to see how they would react and was shot at, so we suspect lethal force has been encouraged.”

“Damn.” Mike moved to the nearest window and looked outside. “That sure is a lot of people.” He waved at them to see if anyone would wave back. When they didn’t, he caught himself ready to flip them the finger. Clearly, Ratu wasn’t the only one battling intrusive thoughts. That, or Lily was rubbing off on both of them.

Reggie nodded. “With more on the way. Eulalie believes this is less than half their force, but isn’t sure why the others haven’t arrived yet. As of now, the fae are our primary resource. Sulyvahn and Cecilia cannot be harmed by mortal weapons and capturing them will be very difficult. Cerberus is also immune, as is the Jabberwock. Dana asked to be more involved with the coming battle, but there’s a very real fear she may get struck by explosive ordinance, which would be messy. Jenny has a pretty tight leash on the situation, but I’m sure you can imagine it’s a bit…unsettling.”

“I see.” Mike sighed. “What about Yuki and Abella?”

“What about me?” Yuki stood at the end of the hallway, just outside the dining room. She smiled in his direction, but looked very tired.

“Just wondering what role you had to play is all.” He moved in to give her a hug when a small mass slammed into him.

“Dad!” Callisto, in human form, had wrapped his arms around Mike’s waist so tight that it actually hurt. Moments later, Grace dropped down from above and grabbed him from the other side.

“Hey.” Mike knelt down to properly hug both of them. When he stood, he held Grace in one arm. “Are you two being good?”

“There are bad guys in our front yard.” There was both excitement and fear in Callisto’s voice. “They’re planning to hurt Aunt Naia!”

Grace hissed her agreement, then leaned in to nibble on Mike’s hair.

“I’m surprised to see you two here.” Mike looked into his son’s eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be with your mom?”

Someone cleared their throat. Mike looked up to see Zel standing by the doorway, her equine body filling the hall.

“He needed to see his father,” she said. Mike could sense the hidden message behind those simple words. It wasn’t just that Callisto wanted to see Mike. Zel was making sure to remind Mike of his promise.

“Is it true you met a dragon?” asked Callisto.

“It is. She’s amazing. I can’t wait for you to meet her.” He ruffled his son’s hair and knelt down to set Grace next to him. “Things are probably going to get pretty dangerous soon. Where are you two going to be?”

“With me.” Zel stepped forward, her hooves unsteady on the wooden floors. “The tribe will watch them. We are fairly removed from the battle to come and Reggie has made us a temporary portal into the village. The exterior of the greenhouse has been locked down.”

“Good.” Mike looked at his children. “I have a very big job for you two, so pay close attention.”

Callisto’s eyes shone with excitement. Grace stared at her father with wide eyes that almost seemed to glow. Mike noticed that she wore a dog tag on a chain around her neck. He took a moment to touch it like a lucky charm.

“Watch out for each other,” he said. “The grown-ups are all going to be super busy for a little bit, and I need to know I can count on you two to keep each other safe.”

Callisto looked at his little sister and nodded. “You can count on me.”

“I know I can.” Mike looked at his daughter, who was still staring at him. “And Grace? Remember to blink, sweetie. Human eyes need moisture.”

The little Arachne blinked her human eyes exactly once, then showed him her teeth. When Mike patted her head, she grabbed his palm and promptly nibbled on his fingers.

“Okay you two, let’s go.” Zel backed her bulk through the doorway of the dining room and the children reluctantly followed. A portal had been chewed into the wall through which Mike could see the centaur tribe. He watched as the rats nearby started closing the portal, and sighed. If he didn’t think Francois would try to break into Di’s lair, he would just stay home with everyone else.

Around the table sat some of the others. Jenny was in the middle of the surface, sitting atop a map of the grounds. Dana, Tink, and Eulalie were along the opposite side of Mike. Sulyvahn leaned against the edge of one wall while Asterion stood along another. Cerberus was also there, all three heads staring at Mike without blinking. Mike almost wondered if Grace had picked that habit up from them, or maybe it was the other way around. He’d only been gone a few days, had he really missed so much?

“Are ye planning to send Lady Beth home soon?” asked the dullahan.

“I’m going to go get her after this,” Mike replied. “When I speak to the Director, I’m half expecting him to launch the attack here. How are things looking on our end?”

“Manageable,” said Yuki. “It’s almost thirty degrees Fahrenheit outside, so the men are struggling with the cold. Abella is acting as our ears for now and Eulalie is our eyes. Cecilia is keeping watch along the perimeter with instructions to check in once they start moving.”

“Where’s Sofia?” he asked.

“Helping Eulalie.” Yuki looked at Jenny, then back to Mike. “Jenny and I sat down and preselected some tarot cards to bolster her strategy. Our defenses are fairly solid, but when you’re done with the Director, we wouldn’t mind having Ratu back in case he decides to play hard ball.”

“It’s nice to be wanted.” The naga sat at the table. “If we can convince the Director to back down, my presence won’t be needed.”

“We met with Master Cyrus earlier today.” Reggie hopped up onto the table where he hastily affixed a paper badge to his chest. “He has created some logistical havoc amongst the mages of the Order. This includes a way for the lions to activate by enchanting the ammunition of the soldiers out front.”

“What about the ammo?” Mike asked, looking toward the rat.

Yuki grinned. “Magic is primarily about intent. Cyrus enchanted some rounds to act like magical spells that briefly connect with the mercenaries. Since they’ll be fired with the intent to harm denizens of the house, the lions will get involved.”

“That’s nasty.” Mike looked around the table again and realized someone was missing. “Where’s Death?”

“Sulkin’.” Sulyvahn shook his head. “Poor lad was quite disappointed after our meetin’ this mornin’. Said he realized there was aught he could do in the battle ahead.”

Mike debated tracking down the Reaper, but time was short. “Anything else I need to know?”

I will make a bed out of their bones that I may lie in them and dream dark things, added Jenny.

Tink rolled her eyes. Dana stuck something in her mouth and started chewing it like a piece of gum. When nobody else responded, Mike stood.

“I love you all,” he said, looking at everyone. When Asterion grunted in disbelief, Mike laughed. “Even you too, big guy. We’re all a big family here.”

For whatever reason, this seemed to mollify the minotaur. Mike took a minute to check in with everyone individually. Asterion got tasked with checking in with Bigfoot. Dana and Tink both seemed like they were absolutely itching for a fight, whereas Cerberus was simply happy to receive head pats. Sulyvahn promised Mike that his home would be safe in their hands, and Jenny…

Well, the things Jenny said were more than a bit horrifying. Mike was glad that she was on their side.

Before leaving, Mike went upstairs to his bedroom. He hadn’t even stepped foot in the bathroom when the tap in the bathtub turned on. The tub was half full of water by the time he sat on the edge. A column of water rose, then fell away in sheets to reveal the beautiful woman who lived in the spring beneath his house.

“Welcome home, lover.” She smiled and took his face in her hands as she kissed him. Her magic touched his, and he felt like he could sprint a hundred miles without stopping. “We’ve missed you.”

He smiled and held her hands in his. “Are you okay?” he asked.

Naia nodded. “I do not fear these men. They would have to dig deep to truly destroy my spring, and I know they would feel divine wrath long before that happened.”

“How is Amymone?”

“Ha!” Naia gestured to the window. “See for yourself.”

Mike stood on the lip of the tub to look outside. Down below, the massive oak tree had pulled roots free of the ground, creating a maze inside of a wall of ice. From the branches hung effigies of straw made to look like the men and women out front. Some even had poorly stitched clothing that matched.

“That looks like a hangman’s tree,” he said. “Very creepy.”

“Indeed.” Naia’s eyes sparkled. “My sister is very protective of this place and wanted to convey the message that she isn’t to be trifled with. Amy’s also upset about the cold, which is probably why she put in the extra effort. She’ll be okay as long as it doesn’t drop much further. Otherwise, her tree may go dormant early.”

“Will you say hi to her for me? The others don’t want me going outside.”

“As you shouldn’t.” Naia’s features darkened. “I fear for your safety.”

“And I for yours.” He kissed the nymph on the head. “Wish me luck. I’m about to go start trouble in Paradise.”

Naia grabbed Mike and kissed him so hard that he felt like he would float through the ceiling. When she let go, he actually staggered away from her, a stupid grin on his face.

“You don’t need luck, Caretaker.” Naia’s eyes briefly flashed gold, then became blue once more. “Good luck,” said the nymph, oblivious to Hestia’s interjection.

“Thank you.” It was hard to leave, but he needed to go. As he went down the stairs, he spotted a dark figure in the living room, hunched over by the fireplace. The burning logs crackled and spit as the apparition seemingly warmed his hands above them. Mike coughed into a hand, and Death rose from his crouch.

“Ah, Mike Radley, you are home.”

“Are you okay?” he asked. “I heard you were having a tough day.”

“I am better.” Death grinned macabrely, then scratched at his skull with a finger. It made a rasping sound reminiscent of dead leaves sliding across concrete. “I simply stepped out for a few minutes. I must admit I have been melancholy this day, but am feeling much better.”

“I’m glad.” Mike looked past Death at the fireplace. “A fire in the middle of summer, huh?”

“It is quite cold out, Mike Radley.” Death looked toward the front yard, his gaze wistful. “I will be meeting some of these mortals personally, I’m afraid.”

“Yeah.” Mike sighed and looked up for a moment. “I don’t like the idea of all these people dying in my yard, you know.”

“Nor do I. But they were given many chances to step away, to leave our domicile in peace.” Death scowled. “They even broke one of my favorite tea cups.”

Mike winced. “That’s outrageous.”

“Quite.” Death’s eye lights flared briefly. “I wish you luck, my friend.”

“You, too, buddy.” Mike made his way to the dining room where Lily and Ratu were waiting. The succubus was holding an animated discussion with Dana regarding the clutch of eggs while Ratu watched from the sidelines. “Let’s go,” he said.

“I will be glad to see this done.” Ratu rose and wrapped her arms around one of Mike’s. “I feel like we’re standing on the precipice of war.”

Mike’s other arm was grabbed by Lily. “That’s a little melodramatic, don’t you think?” she asked.

The naga’s eyes burned with magical flames. “My people have a gift for prophecy. Much like animals can sense the coming of an earthquake, my kind often sense the coming of great change. The only thing you ever sensed coming was—”

“Enough.” Mike looked at Lily first. “She’s entitled to her feelings just as you are. Stop antagonizing her.”

The succubus stuck out her tongue.

“As for you…” He looked at Ratu. Her gaze was defiant. In her own way, she was like a queen. Regal and unrepentant. “I trust your wisdom, but you shouldn’t let Lily get under your scales like this. I’m half convinced she’s trying to make you mad enough that you’ll swallow her.”

Ratu actually snorted, her serpentine eyes settling on Lily. “Is this true, demon? Are you hoping to explore a new kink?”

Lily took a step back, caught off guard by the naga’s change in demeanor. “Hey, look, I was just saying those things to fuck around with Romeo a bit. Getting swallowed whole sounds like fun, but is boring as fuck for hours afterward. And gross.”

“Hmm.” Ratu licked her lips. “Too bad. I really would have enjoyed eating you.”

Mike held back a laugh and guided the two of them toward the laundry room. Lily seemed more than a little shy around the naga, a fact which Mike pointed out after Ratu stepped through the portal back to Hawaii.

“Why the sudden apprehension?” Mike asked Lily before the succubus went through the portal. Lily paused for a moment before looking back at him.

“You think I’m suddenly scared of her?” she asked. “Have you seen how long her tongue gets? If she’ll stay in human form, I’m more afraid that she won’t eat me now!”

“Of course.” Shaking his head, Mike followed Lily back through the portal.

---

Cyrus had his eyes closed, but felt a heavy presence watching over him. He was lying on a cot that had been set up outside and behind the command tent. With the addition of new troops this morning, it was essentially standing-room-only inside, but he and a few others had taken some quick cat naps on a trio of cots tucked beneath a canopy. Even fully clothed, he was covered by two thick blankets to maintain the illusion that he was cold. In reality, it was actually quite comfortable and he wished whoever it was would kindly fuck off.

When he opened his eyes, it was to gaze upon the stern visage of the witch, Elizabeth. Her dark eyes were piercing, and perhaps a lesser man would suspect that she could somehow see all of his secrets.

However, Cyrus was not a lesser man, nor would he be intimidated by a woman who had likely sold her soul to the devil to gain power. Witches came from all walks of life, but the way the shadows shifted oddly when Elizabeth was nearby, he had to assume it was a high caliber demon who had made the deal.

“Can I help you?” he asked in his best customer service voice. He was grouchy, and it was either that or something more snappy.

“Darius wishes to speak with you.” The witch studied him for a second. “By the way, I heard an interesting rumor.”

“By definition, that’s how rumors propagate.” Cyrus yawned and sat up. He scratched at his beard and checked the time. It had been almost three hours since his teahouse meeting, and two of those had been spent asleep. His earpiece was tucked away in one of his pockets, and he didn’t have a way to stick it in without raising questions. “Are we moving on the fountain?”

“Not quite yet. We’re waiting on word from your Director.” Elizabeth stepped back to give him room to rise. Though it was cold enough that Cyrus’ every breath created a cloud of fog, the witch’s somehow didn’t. He found that an interesting use of magic. “Is it true you had a run-in with a succubus before you retired?”

Cyrus nodded. “It is. She’s the main reason I retired in the first place.” It occurred to him that the witch probably had a way to tell if he was being truthful. He would have to be careful with his words. “My last official mission with the Order got complicated pretty quick. A lot of good people died. Other than myself, only one other person made it back. The succubus saved us from dying, if you can imagine such a thing. The higher-ups feared this was proof I had been compromised, which led to a dilution of duties, and ultimately to the decision to hang up my wand, as it were.”

“Were you compromised, though?” A thin smile appeared on Elizabeth’s face. “I, too, find it hard to believe that you survived a succubus attack.”

“I was.” The witch was either testing him or getting ready to manipulate him. He was more than a little curious which it was. “If I’m being honest with you, how I was treated afterward changed how I saw the organization. It’s hard having something you’ve dedicated your entire life to get pulled out from under your feet. My legacy had been tainted by things I had no control over. I wasn’t Master Cyrus anymore, not really. I was now the old guy who was probably feeding secrets to the demon who sucked him off in bed every night.” Cyrus cleared his throat and stared past Elizabeth, the pain of his final days suddenly fresh in his head. “It was hard to admit then, but I can admit it now. The experience of losing my place in the Order changed me, changed how I saw things. So yeah, I compromised myself, questioned a lot of my choices.”

“I see.” It clearly wasn’t the answer Elizabeth expected. Strangely, this seemed to please her.

“When I got pulled into this mess, I was surprised they even considered me. There have been some…changes in the Order as of late, so I chalk it up to desperate times and measures.” Cyrus started walking toward the tent. “The fact that you’re hearing this rumor means someone brought it up. Even now, I can’t escape what other people think.”

“Did you know that a succubus was rumored to be on these grounds?” It sounded like a harmless question, but immediately had Cyrus on edge. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. “Maybe even the same one you faced in Hawaii.”

“I don’t remember seeing any mention of her in the files.” He tried to keep the tremor from his voice. Had he been found out?

“You clearly haven’t been told everything.” Elizabeth smirked. “If you were to learn that the succubus that ruined your life does, in fact, belong to Mike Radley, what would you do with this knowledge?”

They were at the entrance to the command center now. Two members of the SoS stepped aside to allow them entry. Cyrus hesitated at the flap, then turned to face the witch.

“I would do what I came here to do.” He patted the spot on his hip where a wand was holstered. “Make things right again.”

When the flap opened, it revealed several members of the SoS. Only a couple members of the Order were inside, a pair of mages who were hastily digging through plastic crates that had been stacked shoulder high in places. As far as he could tell, they were almost entirely packed with MREs. One of the mages had broken into a cold sweat, his eyes furtively glancing up at Darius from his clipboard every few seconds.

“What’s this about?” asked Cyrus, stopping to examine the pre-packaged meals.

The man with the clipboard looked relieved to see him. “The storehouse was supposed to send out cold weather gear,” he explained. “But they sent us food instead.”

“That sounds like a pretty big mistake.” Cyrus knelt down and grabbed one of the packages. “Is there any chili mac in there?”

“I, uh…” The mage looked down in the box.

“I’ll settle for some shredded barbecue.” Cyrus snatched one of the MREs off the top and stuck it in an inner pocket, using the motion to retrieve the earpiece. “I would avoid the chicken ala king. Only give that to somebody if you hate them.”

“But, Master Cyrus…” The mage looked over at Darius, then back at Cyrus. “We waited hours for this stuff! This was supposed to be coats and gloves for the mercenaries, not food!”

“At least they won’t be hungry.” Cyrus shrugged. “I’m not sure what you want from me.”

“Aren’t you in charge?”

“Of this?” Cyrus pointed at the crate nearest him. “I was there when the order was phoned in. We specifically asked them for cold weather gear. I am insanely curious how you want me to fix someone else’s long distance fuck up.”

The mage visibly paled.

Cyrus looked over at Darius. “If this is what you wanted to talk to me about, I’m afraid I can’t help you. I may be a ranking member here, but that’s only because sister Laurel had a mental breakdown and nobody else was up to the task. The Director—”

“Is an idiot.” Darius’s facial features were carved into place as if from stone, and all Cyrus could see in the man’s sunglasses was his own reflection. “I am well aware of the man’s shortcomings.”

“Oh. Well okay then.” Cyrus adjusted his coat and ran a hand through his hair as if to tidy it. The earpiece vanished perfectly into his ear canal. “What can I do for you?”

“Your people are being moved off location.” Darius picked up a plastic binder and handed it over. “We are nearly ready for the next part of this operation, but that requires the usage of a different facility. Right now, Sister Laurel is on her way to assume control of this facility, but I have my doubts as to her competence.”

“Oh.” Cyrus took the binder from Darius and opened it up. It was a contract. “What am I looking at here?”

“We have become very aware that you are being underutilized.” Elizabeth moved next to Darius and crossed her arms. “The Order pulled you out of retirement for this mission, then cast you aside when they didn’t get the results they wanted.”

“Your Director has an agenda.” Darius gestured at the contract. “As do I.”

“You want to hire me?”

“Officially.” Elizabeth smirked. “Laurel may be in charge of your people, but we want one of our own in this facility, somebody that the young men and women in the Order will respect but will follow our orders. Your chain of command is…lacking, these days.”

Cyrus looked up at Elizabeth. “I thought you were on some sort of forgiveness program with the Order. Do you work for the SoS now?”

“Strictly as a consultant. I have some experience dealing with the denizens of this place, as you probably know. There was nothing in my negotiated surrender to suggest that I was exclusive to your organization. In fact, your Director gave the Sons of Sin permission to hire their own experts if needed.”

Darius cleared his throat. “None of that really matters. What does matter is that I’m the one in charge of this operation, not your Director. We still intend to do what we were paid for, but I need to make decisions in the heat of the moment. Seeing such a strong asset put out to pasture makes me realize that your Director prefers fealty over competence. That’s a dangerous recipe for disaster.”

Cyrus looked at the contract, which was pretty succinct. It definitely didn’t need an entire binder for the three sheets of paper within. “I won’t betray the Order,” he said.

“And we’re not asking you to. There’s an aspect of the mission that has not been revealed to you, or anyone else at this location for obvious reasons. Sister Laurel is likely being briefed on her new duties right now, but only after she is at the new site.” Darius sat across from Cyrus and removed his sunglasses. The mercenary’s gaze was intense, his eyes somehow cruel. “You would still be working the original mission, but as your boss, I can put you in charge of both groups at this location. That way, I know I have someone competent running the show in case Sister Laurel has another lapse in sanity.”

“Hmm.” Cyrus studied the contract some more. Other than the six-figure amount for completing the mission, it was pretty straight forward. He would answer directly to Darius. But more importantly, he didn’t know what else he could do here. If the SoS started a fight, he would likely out himself as a double agent. What concerned him more was the fact that there was some aspect of the mission he was unaware of, and he felt it was somehow the elephant in the room. What did he still not know? And was that why they had gone to so much trouble to keep Darius shielded from scrying magic?

“Okay, sorry about that, I’ve been busy.” Eulalie’s voice was almost a whisper. “Is something up?”

“So if I sign this, I become part of your team and you brief me on something that nobody has told me?” Cyrus looked at Darius for confirmation.

“Fuck me with a bug net,” muttered Eulalie. “This is news to me.”

The mercenary nodded. Without another thought, Cyrus signed the document and slid the binder over to Darius. The man picked it up with a grin and handed it to Elizabeth.

“Welcome to the Sons of Sin.” Darius put his sunglasses back on and reached across the table to shake hands. “You’re on the next car out of here. It leaves in five minutes.”

Cyrus gave the man a mock salute and rose. “It will be nice to go somewhere a little warmer.”

Darius stood with Cyrus. “You will be far more comfortable where you’re going. Dirk?”

The man appeared as if from nowhere, causing Cyrus to flinch. Dirk looked at Cyrus, then back at Darius. “Did he sign on?”

“He did.” Darius handed over the binder.

“Welcome aboard. Some of the guys speak highly of you.” Dirk gestured toward the exit. “This way, please.”

Cyrus was led to the driveway where a dark suburban idled. It occurred to him as he got in the passenger door that maybe this was an elaborate trap to take him somewhere else and kill him off, but Darius could have accomplished the same thing by having Elizabeth put a bullet in his face. Behind him, the vehicle was packed with several boxes, stacked up nearly to the roof. When Dirk got into the driver seat, Cyrus turned to the man.

“So where are we going?” he asked.

“You’ll see when we get there.” Dirk started the car and put it in drive. As they pulled off of the lawn, Cyrus noticed a trio of armored cars waiting on the main road by the stone lions guarded by a small group of mercenaries.

“What are those armored cars for?”

Dirk ignored him.

“They’ve been out there for a little bit,” said Eulalie. “We have no idea what they’re for. Yuki thinks maybe they’re warded for transporting magical items or something. The idiots parked them by a storm drain, so I’ve already tagged them.”

By the time they were out of the neighborhood, Cyrus was fidgeting in his seat. The silence was eerie, and he certainly wasn't used to it, not after so many days of being surrounded by people.

“So have you been with the SoS long?” he asked. Dirk grunted, but didn’t acknowledge him further. Cyrus couldn’t help but notice that the man was constantly scanning the road, as if expecting an ambush. Sighing, he slouched in his seat and crossed his arms as if to take a nap.

Instead of sleeping, he meditated, taking stock of the items he was carrying. His pockets were stuffed full of magical rods and wands, most of them objects of tremendous power. When people like Mads had disappeared, Cyrus had used their names to check out magical items, ensuring that his own people would have nothing too dangerous to use against the denizens of the house. He had also mislabeled things, swapping elemental implements for their opposites and even a healing rod for a fireball one. Knowing that his younger counterparts had become sloppy and careless, he had even replaced a few of the deadlier wands with fancy looking sticks he had found in the backyard.

Eulalie was largely silent, his earpiece occasionally picking up mutterings or even just the clacking of keys. Dirk was on the highway now, headed west toward the mountains. Cyrus kept his right eye open just a crack, then yawned and sat up when Dirk pulled off onto a dirt road nearly an hour later.

Pretending to rub the sleep from his eyes, Cyrus read off the mile marker as if it was an idle thought. He heard the keyboard clacking through the earpiece stop. “Where on Earth are we?” he wondered aloud, then looked out the window as if seeing the place for the first time. “Is there an Order facility out here?”

Dirk glanced at Cyrus, but the old man shrugged. “Sorry, old man habit. I don’t expect you to answer, just wondering.”

The mercenary turned his attention forward for another minute, the trees gobbling up the road ahead. After nearly a minute of silence, he spoke.

“So you’ve been hunting them all these years?” When Cyrus didn’t respond, Dirk cleared his throat. “Monsters, I mean.”

“Ah. Yeah, that was some of the job. In truth, I was always better at hunting them than the other stuff. Some members of the Order never saw battle, think of them like magical social workers.” Cyrus grunted and scratched at his beard. When this ordeal was over, he planned to find a proper barber and have it trimmed. He was a little tired of the crazy old man he saw in the mirror these days. “Guess that says something about me, though.”

“Says you’re a badass.” Dirk grinned. “We don’t get a lot of calls like this one, but they’re always messy. Some of our people like it that way, though.”

“Do you?” Cyrus asked.

Dirk nodded. “I volunteered for this job. There’s no challenge anymore with a lot of the stuff we do. We’re either playing bodyguard for wealthy people who believe someone is out to get them, or we’re fighting other guys like us. But these jobs? You never know what’s going to happen.”

“Very true,” Cyrus replied.

“But I think the best part about it is that there isn’t any guilt afterward.” Dirk stared ahead, his eyes on the road but somehow elsewhere. “I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve killed. When I was younger, Darius taught me not to look in their eyes when they died, but I still do. Yeah, they’re usually trying to kill me first, so I don’t feel as bad, but they were still people, right?

“But these monsters? Fuck ‘em. We can go all out. This is our world, and they should have played by our rules.” The man smirked as he drummed on the steering wheel with his gloved hands. “Back at HQ, we actually have a trophy room. It’s usually just pictures and stuff, but occasionally we’ll take something and have it stuffed, put it up on the wall.”

“Oh.” Cyrus didn’t even know how to respond to this information.

“Years ago, we got hired to take out a cluster of sirens, those women who sing and drive you mad. Carl, this guy who used to be on my squad, he had one of their heads mounted with a speaker inside it. It plays Taylor Swift if you get too close. We use it to haze the new guys.” Dirk paused for a moment and frowned. “Shit, forget I said that. If you ever get invited to HQ, pretend to be surprised.”

Cyrus grunted in acknowledgement, but said little else. When Eulalie next spoke, her voice was tense.

“I’m going to find that place and burn it to the ground,” she whispered.

“So what’s the scariest fuck you’ve ever hunted down?” asked Dirk. Now that the man was talking, Cyrus wished he would shut up.

“People,” Cyrus replied. When Dirk gave him an odd look, Cyrus elaborated. “Humans. Every time things have gone sideways or I’ve lost members of my team, it’s been humans.”

After a long moment, Dirk nodded. “Ah, I get you. Witches and shit.”

“Yep. Like that woman back at the house, Elizabeth.”

Dirk slowed the car and fixed Cyrus with a look. “Don’t let the boss hear you talk like that,” he warned. “Not that it’s any of my business, but I think he might have a thing going on with her or something.”

“A thing?” Curious, Cyrus sat up in his seat.

“Maybe. They seem like they know each other. I kind of wonder if she isn’t an old fuck buddy, or something similar. That whole story about turning herself in? It’s true, but only after he asked her to do it. She was supposed to come on board this whole time.”

“They’ve known each other long?” asked Cyrus.

Dirk shrugged. “Maybe. I never heard him mention her before this job, but that doesn’t mean anything. Darius is entitled to his privacy. But he called her before we even landed.”

“Yet another piece to the puzzle.” Eulalie sounded angry. “Oh, good. Looks like some more guys just—”

The earpiece went dead in Cyrus’ ear. He tried not to react and just looked out the window at the trees. Dirk continued jabbering for nearly twenty more minutes, driving the suburban down dirt roads that Cyrus never saw in the first place. After a little bit, he pulled out his phone and saw that he had no signal.

“Yeah, you won’t get any reception out here,” said Dirk. “The whole area is off the grid, both electronically and magically. Nothing in and out without our say so.” The suburban passed between a pair of massive boulders and emerged in a small depression in the side of the mountain. After a trio of descending switchback turns, the suburban stopped next to a cliff face.

“I don’t understand,” said Cyrus. “Where are we?”

A door in the mountain opened up, and the suburban drove inside. Cyrus was stunned to see that well over a hundred SoS men milled about, chatting amicably with each other and eying the suburban with curiosity.

“This place isn’t one of yours,” answered Dirk. “And now I can tell you a bit more about why we’re here.” He pulled the vehicle into an open spot and put it in park. “This place is a few decades old, used to belong to some weird fucks who ran a historical society back in town. Whole thing was off the books, only that witch knew about it.”

“That doesn’t explain why we’re here, though.” Cyrus got out and frowned. He spotted a few members of the Order milling about, but what worried him was the caliber of weaponry being installed by the entrance. “Are those gatling guns?”

“They are, they are.” Dirk exchanged a fist bump with a guy who opened up the suburban and pulled out the ammo crates. “So the first thing you should know is that there’s a mole.”

“What?” Cyrus had already pulled the earpiece from his ear. It was useless now. “A mole?”

“Yep. We don’t know who it is, but someone has been monitoring all of your shit. Well, the Order’s shit. That Caretaker guy has someone working for him, but we can’t figure out who. This is a ‘We know they know’ situation, so we’ve been trying to drop false intel. Those armored cars you saw earlier? Decoys. When we nab some monsters, they’re going out on different transports while those ones take off. And we’re not being paranoid, we’ve already found tracking devices on them. Come, this way.”

Cyrus’ heart hammered in his chest. This was certainly a surprise he hadn’t expected. “I have so many questions,” he stammered.

“I bet you do.” Dirk led Cyrus through a pair of double doors that led into a long corridor. “From the beginning, we’ve been operating under false orders. That Director guy knew from the get go that any mission we had would be compromised. In reality, we were never after some stupid magic book, but the guys in the field don’t know that. It was all a facade.”

“For what reason?” Cyrus asked.

“Intel. That Caretaker guy, he’s the real target. Apparently, he’s a pretty slippery fuck.” Dirk pulled a keycard out of his pocket and handed it to Cyrus. “You’ll need this to move through the facility.”

“Thank you.” Cyrus pocketed the card. They came up to the first checkpoint, which was monitored by an armed squadron of men. They stood at attention when they saw Dirk, who used his own card on the door. After two more checkpoints, they were in a stairwell, going down.

“I hope you’ve been paying attention, ‘cause this place is like a maze.” They got to the bottom of the stairwell and used the card to gain access to a long, concrete hallway. Every ten feet, there was a steel door with a locking mechanism on the front. “So you and your people will be down here. Well, your former people. We needed them for this part.”

“I still don’t understand what—” Cyrus voice trailed off when he saw sister Laurel and a couple of knights come out of one of the rooms. Her wild eyes lingered on him for a moment, then she scowled at Dirk.

“What is he doing here?” she asked.

“He works for the Sons of Sin now.” Dirk tilted his head toward Cyrus. “So play nice.”

“Does the Director know about this?” asked Laurel with a slight snarl.

“Nope. But you can call him if you want. Might have to hike for a couple of hours to get a signal, but be my guest.” Dirk moved to the doorway and looked inside. “Is this room ready?”

“It is.” Laurel eyed Cyrus with suspicion, but gestured into the room. “The central cage will contain most Class 3 entities, but it will be perfect for the banshee.”

Cyrus moved to look into the room and bit his lip. In the center was a glass cage covered in silver threads and an entrance in the middle.

“What about the goblin?” asked Dirk.

Cyrus grabbed the man’s wrist to get his attention. “Wait,” he said, fighting hard to keep the tremor from his voice. This wasn’t some casual facility put together in just a couple of days. Everything in the room had been there for a while. “Does this mean—”

Dirk grinned. “This place was built to be a prison,” he said, gesturing toward the cage. “Everything up until this point was intel, but you knew that already. We needed the enemy to think we were after something else. But in reality, we’ve always been after the monsters in that house. Did you think we were just going to toss them in a truck and negotiate a surrender? Hardly. This is where we plan to keep them, forever if we need to. Can’t have them running around wild. If they end up being of no use to the Order, there’s a black market for them if you know the right people. We’ve got a list of potential buyers we can call.”

“I was just as shocked as you were,” said Laurel. “This place is completely hidden so nobody will ever find them here. Once we have some members of Mike Radley’s family, he’ll do whatever we tell him to do. He doesn’t need to know that he’ll never get them back.”

Cyrus wanted to scream, to tell them they were insane. What they were about to do was evil, plain and simple. With no way to let Eulalie know where he was, all he could do was swallow his words and nod.

“That’s right, he doesn’t.”

“Good man.” Dirk clapped Cyrus on the shoulder. “You’ll be our liaison on this. Once we capture these things, it will be your job to make sure they stay alive and don’t escape. You’ll answer only to Darius and Elizabeth, once they get here.”

“And when will that be?” asked Cyrus. Maybe if he had time, he could break out of here and hike to where he could get a signal. Or find another way to send a message to Eulalie to let her know what was about to happen. The moment anyone was captured, they would be whisked away to vanish forever.

Dirk grinned. “With any luck, they’ve already begun.”

---

The balcony door was open, which allowed the sound of the pounding surf to echo throughout the master suite. Beth leaned over the balcony, scowling down at a sight which once brought her indeterminable joy, but now contained nothing but dark threats. She could both see and sense the merfolk in the bay, swimming in small patrols on the off chance she would be dumb enough to walk down there.

Ever since her attempted abduction, she had remained in her room. Beth had been lucky to only sustain some scrapes and bruises. She cursed the merfolk for their ignorance, but knew her hatred was really for Captain Francois, who had deceived them. Scanning the horizon for signs of his magical ship, she once again wondered what it would be like to wrap her hands around his neck and squeeze until the veins stood out along his—

“Gah!” Kisa yelled from inside the suite. “Stop, you’re doing it again!”

“Sorry.” Beth turned away from the railing and walked inside to see Kisa frantically turning off the kitchen sink and mopping up water with a towel. She had changed out of her maid outfit into a yellow bikini top with matching shorts, the facade no longer necessary now that Beth was around. Originally, she was going to head home, but Lily had beat her through the portal and it was decided that Beth shouldn’t be alone in Paradise.

“You need to relax,” Kisa declared, throwing a scowl in Beth’s direction. “I get why you’re pissed, but I’m tired of cleaning this up.”

Concentrating, Beth pushed the uncontained water back into the sink in an effort to help. Once it looked like the kitchen was mostly under control, she checked the bathrooms and the shower. One toilet had overflowed, but that only took another minute of concentration to levitate the water back into the bowl. She was disappointed in herself that her anger kept getting away from her in bursts of magic and water pressure, but was secretly pleased that she had become so strong.

Reassured that the flood was officially contained, Beth walked back out into the living room to help Kisa take the stack of wet towels to the nearest laundry basket. She looked toward the balcony and sighed. With more than a little sadness, she closed the sliding door.

“I need to find something else to do.” She looked at Kisa. “Any interest in card games?”

Kisa made a face that made it clear she had absolutely no interest in card games. Carmina, who currently sat atop Kisa’s head, made the same face. Lily had left the fairy behind when she had gone through the portal to connect with Mike.

“Fair enough. Were you watching something on tv?”

This time, the cat girl nodded. “I was catching up on a bunch of movies from the early two thousands.” She picked up the remote and unpaused her current film. “This one is about a girl who finds out she’s a princess.”

“Anne Hathaway is a national treasure.” Beth sat on the loveseat and sighed. No stranger to the Princess Diaries, she allowed her mind to drift some more.

About ten minutes later, Kisa’s phone buzzed and she looked at it and grinned. “Coded text from Tink. Here.” She tossed the phone to Beth. On the screen was an eggplant emoji followed by several sweat drop emojis. While she stared at the phone, her thumb slipped a bit and she accidentally dragged more of the conversation into view. In the span of only a few seconds, she managed to see at least two shared sexual fantasies regarding Mike as well as three pictures of Tink’s butthole.

“I don’t get it,” she said, referring pretty much to the whole conversation, but mainly the emojis.

“Coming soon.” Kisa grinned and held out her hand. “I need to reply.”

“Reply with—” Beth had handed the phone back, which prompted Kisa to immediately pull her bikini top down and snap a quick selfie. “Is that…do you two talk like that all the time?”

Kisa shrugged. “Not this much, but figured someone is probably monitoring our texts so they may as well get an eyeful.”

“Ah.” It was definitely not the kind of friendship Beth had ever had with someone else, but their logic was sound. Regardless, the meaning was clear. Mike was going to be here soon and then she and Kisa could leave. She hoped wherever they went next would be friendlier. Hopefully it had a beach.

Beth’s stomach rumbled, and she patted her belly. “You hungry?”

“I could eat.” Kisa picked up the room service menu off the table with her feet and snatched it with a hand. “I’ll have the fish sandwich, extra fries, and see if they’ll do a rum and coke. Or rather, Lily will have those things.” She held up Lily’s tracking bracelet with her other hand.

“They will.” Beth took the menu from Kisa and picked out what she wanted. After a quick phone call to the main desk, she flopped back on the couch and watched some more of the movie with Kisa. Anne Hathaway was on her way to a beach party with friends when Beth heard the knock on the door.

“That was fast,” said Kisa.

Beth stood and walked to the door of the suite. Her hand was almost on the knob when her instincts screamed at her to get away. She hesitated, then looked at Kisa with wide eyes.

“Just a second!” she yelled. “Let me get a robe on!”

Kisa narrowed her eyes at the door, then gestured toward the patio. She and Beth moved silently toward it, then pushed the sliding glass open to step outside.

“Where can we go?” asked Beth.

Kisa moved to the railing and hopped onto it. Balancing carefully on her feet, she took a step back and slid down the exterior of the patio, her claws digging into the concrete surface.

“I can help you down,” she said.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Beth whispered as she put her feet on a sidetable so that she could step over the side. The catgirl took her by the hand and grunted, her bicep bulging as she supported most of Beth’s weight.

The door of the suite exploded off its hinges, revealing the disheveled silhouette of Captain Francois and a pair of mer-warriors standing behind him. The man shook his head at the sight of Beth hanging over the edge.

“There’s nowhere you can go,” he said. “I’ll—”

Beth found a small decorative groove in the concrete and lowered herself out of sight. The patio below them came into view, and Kisa growled as she helped lower Beth to the railing below. Beth nearly slipped, but managed to jump forward and miss a nearby lounger.

She turned around and held up her arms to help catch Kisa. The catgirl dropped into a crouch and hopped forward, tucking into a roll and then standing.

“Okay, so maybe there’s somewhere you can go,” shouted Francois.

“You shouldn’t even be here,” replied Beth as she moved across the empty balcony and tried to open the slider to the vacant room. The door was locked. Carmina attempted to squeeze herself between the panes of glass, but they were too close together.

“The merfolk were very insistent that I be allowed to retrieve you.” There was a grunt, followed by the sounds of flesh on metal. Captain Francois lowered himself down, the muscles in his arms bulging. “So make this easy on—”

Kisa smashed a chair into his legs, causing the Captain to fall. He dropped by, but instead of a satisfying scream, there was a loud clang from below. Beth ran to the ledge and looked over. Francois was holding onto the railing of the next floor below, his knuckles white. Down on the ground, a small retinue of merman gazed up at all of them, surrounded by armed Order personnel. Aurora stood nearby, uncertainty and concern on her face.

“What an idiot,” Kisa muttered at Beth’s side. Francois had already pulled himself to safety.

The catgirl picked up another chair and swung it into the glass door hard enough that it shattered. There was a brief moment of hesitation as the women realized that they were both barefoot, so they carefully skirted the glass and made their way across the suite before unlocking the door. The bracelet on Beth’s wrist immediately lit up, as did the one that Kisa carried.

“Well that sucks.” Beth and Kisa stepped into the hallway. “Looks like hiding won’t be an option. For me anyway.” She looked out the nearest window and saw people milling about. “Should we go up or down?”

Kisa opened her mouth to reply, then stared off into space for a moment. A wicked grin crossed her features. “Neither. We need to get to the other side of the building.”

“Why?”

The catgirl grinned. “So that we can meet up with Mike.”