Blood Debts [Dresden Files / The Return (SM, R.5)]

Disclaimer: I do not own the Dresden Files, Ranma 1/2 or Sailor Moon.

Summary: When on a mission as the Winter Knight, Harry finds himself on a parallel Earth. Can Harry succeed at his duties when confronted with a mercenary company, succubae, and a potential breach of the Outer Gates? A crossover with The Return.


Author's Notes: This is set After Skin Game of the Dresden Files & After Book 4 of The Return. I also wrote this story such that people not familiar with the Return or Dresden Files can understand what's going on.

The Return can be read here. or here.

Now I'll admit I'm not even sure if this story will have interest here, given the animes and book series it's sourced form, and that it's well one of my stories, but I figured since I just stared this one why not?

Blood Debts The Return Book 5
Chapter List.

Chapter 1: Lagging Questions, Part A
Chapter 2: Lagging Questions, Part B
Chapter 3: Unwelcome Answers, Part A
Chapter 4: Unwelcome Answers, Part B
Chapter 5: Underground Diplomacy, Part A
Chapter 6: Underground Diplomacy, Part B
Chapter 7: Lost Arrivals, Part A
Chapter 8: Lost Arrivals, Part B
Chapter 9: Choices, Part A
Chapter 10: Choices, Part B
Chapter 11: Fey and Brooding, Part A
Chapter 12: Fey and Brooding, Part B
Chapter 13: Midnight Appetizer, Part A
Chapter 14: Midnight Appetizer, Part B
Chapter 15: Just Desserts, Part A
Chapter 16: Just Desserts, Part B
Epilogue: Opening Consequences

 

Blood Debts Book 5 of The Return
A Ranma, Sailor Moon, Dresden Files fic thingy.
By Sunshine Temple
Naturally, I own neither Sailor Moon nor Ranma nor the Dresden Files. So here's the disclaimer:

Ranma 1/2 and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC. And the Dresden Files is owned by Jim Butcher.
Previous chapters and other works can be found at my fanfiction website.
http://jtemple.florestica.com/
Temporary Backup Site.
http://www.fukufics.com/fic/
Other website Temple of Ranma's Senshi Seifuku
http://fukufics.com
C&C as always is wanted.

For reference:
In The Return timeline: this takes place after Book 4 Capital Offense (in pre-revision return after old chapter 34).

In The Dresden Files timeline, this takes place after the fifteenth novel Skin Game
Previous knowledge of the Return or Dresden files is not required to read this story.
Chapter 1: Lagging Questions, Part A


The stone bunker was on fire, and it wasn't my fault. The blizzard of ice shards pelting the wooden logs that made up the trench walls on the other hand...

That was a work of art; a lethal barrier that bought me some time, if at the cost almost all of my remaining magical power.

Then the explosions hit, and then the howls of the eldritch creatures... stopped. That's when I went with plan B. With a wheeze, I slashed with my staff. Reality puckered and little tear formed, far too small for me to go through.

"Aparturum!" I cried pushing my will as I cast the spell again, this time adding something extra. The rip blew apart and I stumbled though the flashing opalescent void.

Consciousness blacked out for a moment. I woke up in time to see myself slam onto a desolate field. The ground was just cold enough to have a rime of ice that broke when I hit, and just warm enough to be a muddy mire beneath.

My staff fell from numbed hands, and my coat fluttered around me. In the distance I could hear shouting. I lifted my head to see what looked like people in green camouflage with raised rifles. My eyes closed and when I opened them again I could only see a grey cloud-filled sky.

As consciousness fled once more I realized that, in retrospect, I might have used a bit too much SoulFire in that last spell.


***************


I awoke with a start. A thin sheet fell off my bare chest as I sat up. My eyes quickly scanned the room. With bare white concrete block walls, it was bland, almost antiseptic. I looked to my left and found a cart of medical machines. I'll admit to a mischievous grin when I saw they had been unplugged and pushed to one side.

Opposite them was a large metal table. Scooting over to the edge of my bed, I craned my neck over. I winced as pain shot down my spine then returned my attention to the table.

It looked like someone with OCD had gone through my possessions. My clothes had been cleaned and neatly folded. My wallet had been emptied into meager stacks of bills and various forms of ID.

Another pile consisted of my shield bracelet, belt buckle, my mother's silver pentacle amulet, as well as the various bits of string, chalk, salt, crystals, and Play-Doh that I had been carrying in my duster.

I frowned a bit at that. Putting all those items together seemed to indicate someone was clued into the supernatural, or they could simply have collected all the random junk that had been in my pockets.

My blasting rod and staff were put to one side. The long oak staff actually hung over either end of the table. Next to them was the old Ka-Bar knife that I had used for a long time. And next to that... I paused seeing the dull gleam of my Smith and Wesson X-Frame. The giant revolver had been a gift from Murphy and there it was on the table, complete with the remaining speed-loader of fat fifty caliber shells.

I exhaled. Was this another sign that someone had been clued in enough to realize that a Wizard's staff even more dangerous as a gun? Or had they simply put the obvious weapons together. Six feet of oak could do a lot of damage, and a blasting rod could work as a small baton or compliance device.

Either way, whoever had gone through my stuff had left me with several weapons. Once again, I looked around the room. One door was open to a small bathroom, another looked sturdy and probably went outside. I also spotted a pair of black domes in the ceiling. They were obviously cameras, which meant the room was bugged, unless they had taken the clue from the medial equipment and shut those off too.

I idly wondered if those were there to be the obvious surveillance equipment. Hells Bells, technology was such that you could make fancy cameras that were nearly undetectable. Of course high tech cameras were the exact opposite you'd want with something like me. My eyes went from the black domes to the neat pile of wizarding gear.

On the other hand, maybe those domes weren't cameras. Maybe they were.... low tech. I could imagine a series of mirrors. Sort of like a horizontal periscope. Or maybe it was simpler, maybe I was being watched by people from the floor above me. I shook my head. It didn't matter if they could see me, whoever they were; they had already rifled through my stuff.

I glanced down and noted with some relief that I had a pair of pants on. They reminded me of something akin to pajama bottoms, or maybe sturdier scrubs. However, they were a couple inches short. I cracked a smile at that, whoever was running this place, whatever it was, didn't have supplies for gangly wizards.

"Hey! I'm up! Is there anyone here, or is this like some Twilight Zone thing where the place is empty?" I obnoxiously shouted. Then I Listened.

Listening is something I picked up, it's not magic, not exactly, but it does focus your mind on exclusively on hearing, on picking up every little detail. It was one of the few "quiet" things the Winter Knight mantle actually helped with. But I suppose it was advantageous for predators to be able to hear everything as they lay in wait.

For a few seconds, there was only the sound of air circulating in the ductwork. Then I felt a distant buzzing, it reminded of being under power lines on a summer day, but louder and more forceful, like being near a tunnel full of raging water.

The next sounds came from beyond the metal door. There was the clomping noise of boots on tile floor. Some came closer others went further. The scuffing stopped, and I heard what might have been a squelch on a radio. There were a few hushed words.

Then the door opened. I didn't hear a lock disengage. The door simply opened. Beyond the door was a bland grey hallway with another metal door opposite mine.

Two women crossed the threshold. Seeing them, I gave a frustrated little sigh. To the left was young Asian woman with a short brunette bob. She wore a grey uniform blouse and pants with black boots. The uniform had black piping and looked military. But from know country I was familiar with. A silver bar flashed on her collar denoting some type of rank while a black patch with grey lettering was just visible on one shoulder.

Her eyes were a muted brown and her expression hardened. She was attractive enough, but her uniform was not exactly flattering. However the way she carried herself, and the utter lack of makeup, convinced me that she did not care very much.

She bore a slightly haunted look that reminded me of cops who had spent too many years on the force and, uncomfortably, of Murphy. She looked too young to be so... burnt.

Next to her was a slightly older looking woman. She was tall, and blonde. The professional but haughty way she carried herself and her stern expression reminded me of Gard, a mercenary I knew. But looking the pale blonde over I was fairly sure this was no Valkyrie. She had long legs, and her uniform consisted of a short grey skirt and a well-filled tailored blouse and black jacket. On her collar was a pair of gold bars.

I didn't remember much about military ranks, but I figured the blonde was the more senior of the too. I looked between the two. It was obvious that the blonde was wearing the dress uniform while the brunette had the more practical... utilities, I think they were called.

The pistol holstered on the blonde’s hip was also much larger than the brunette's. I glanced from the gun to my revolver and frowned. The worrying signs about the blonde were mounting.

"Mr. Dresden, is everything okay? Do you need a medic?" the brunette asked.

Medic. What had happened? I remembered something about military people when I came in. I paused, there was also something off about the brunette's accent.

"One has been dispatched," the blonde assured with a direct level gaze. I had to split my attention between her and the brunette.

That accent was obvious. And sensing too rich of a target my mouth outran my brain. "Oh man, I better hope you're really German. Otherwise I'd be too embarrassed to be taken prisoner by some Ilsa knockoff."

Then a smile spread across the blonde's face and taking an exaggerated step she clicked her heels and opened the door. "You are no prisoner, Herr Dresden."

"Ilsa?" the brunette asked her attention focused on me.

"A movie, Lieutenant," the blonde chuckled. "A particularly bad one. Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS. An exploitation film about Nazis."

"Oh." The brunette blinked.

"You haven't seen it?" I quipped.

"Kids these days," the blonde agreed.

"It's a classic," I added.

The blonde simply raised an eyebrow.

Still keeping her eyes on me, the brunette cleared her throat. "Ma'am that's a bit..."

"On the nose?" the blonde idly brushed her jacket. "I suppose we can count our blessings that he did not reference a more... derivative sequel. Werewolf Women of the S.S would be far more pointed." she gave toothy smile.

I laughed, then I got a closer look at her teeth. And then my heart started to speed up; I started gauging the distance between the bed and the table with all my gear on it. I could blast them with force or ice, then grab my stuff and be out the door...

"Herr Dresden. Calm down," the blonde said her voice deepening slightly. She took another step. "You. Are. Not. A. Prisoner." she, slowly, enunciated.

"Okay, right, then why am I here? And who the hell are you? You got to rifle through my things, why not return the favor?"

The blonde gave me a measured stare. I pulled my gaze away. She then lifted her arms up. "I am going for my papers," she said as she slowly reached into her jacket with her left hand and then lobbed a leather wallet to the bed. It bounced in front of me.

I opened it and found a wad of colorful money. Canadian for some reason. And a few pictures. One was with the same blonde and three younger women. Despite their different hair colors - one had auburn hair, the other had black, and the last one had green for some reason - they all had a familial resemblance to the blonde.

The other was a picture of the blonde and a redhead with striking purple eyes. Oh, and they were all just as pale and lovely as the blonde herself. I pushed that aside and found a military ID in the wallet. Or at least something for...

"Willard International Consulting? What kind of name is that for a secret organization?"

"Often keeping a bland cover name allows one to conduct work without being noticed. Similar to why a prime magus would be a registered private investigator."

"Whatever," I read further on the card. "Captain Eve Jarvis? That's gotta be fake."

I noticed a ghost of a smile appear on the brunette's face.

"It's real, enough," Eve pushed past that. "And this is Lieutenant Kasumi Tendo."

"And what makes you think we're some kind of secret organization?"

"Well, you think I'm some kind of wizard?"

I then noticed the blonde's smile turn thoughtful. She hadn't called me a wizard, the term she had used was magi.

"Look, you seem pretty clued in on magic," I said waving at the sorted piles of my gear. "You seem to know that I'd screw with your electronics." I waved at the medical equipment. "And, oh yes, Ilsa over there isn't human."

"Bravo Herr Dresden," the blonde gave a clap. "However, you neglected to mention that the military observed you falling through some sort of portal on the grounds of a high-security base whereupon you hit the dirty snow and collapsed."

And then things started clicking together. I had been in a rush to escape the NeverNever. Opening the way had been difficult. And I wasn't sure where I would have ended up.

"Oh." Someone appearing out of thin air outside a military base would raise questions. Questions that the higher ups would want answered. I laughed.

"Ah, enlightenment," Eve said in a satisfied tone.

Still laughing, I looked over the table and then back out the hallway. "You're all, what supernatural mercenaries?" No wonder I had thought of Gard; this place could be just like Monoc Securities, which made me worry just who was running this group.

"Among other things, including training, consulting, and R&D."

"Right, whatever. You know the spooky side of the street. Or at least you can explain it away to the military. Which means, I'm not a prisoner. Unless you're dumber than you look."

The blonde took the implied threat in stride.

"But if I walk out that door," I continued.

"You'll be in a hallway," the lieutenant stated.

I sighed. "But if I leave this building..."

Eve nodded. "Yes, the military would have some pointed questions.

"And unlike you, they don't believe in magic."

Eve simply spread her hands. "While, we are more than willing to hear you out. You would not be the first wizard that we've interviewed and let go."

I looked past her. I was pretty sure she wasn't lying. But beautiful inhuman women don't need to be able to lie to ruin my life.

"And what if I walk out of here and then break out of military custody?"

The blonde's smile turned broad. "Why Herr Dresden that would be a most... illustrative... experience for them would it not?"

I exhaled, running the options. I could escape which meant these WIC guys could sell more "training" to the military. I could get killed trying to escape which meant basically the same thing but the army would get to do the world's dullest "alien autopsy" on my corpse. Or I'd stay locked up in some secret prison. Well, until Mab or someone else got pissed off enough to bust me out.

But either way these people wouldn't take the blame. By how the supernatural world reckoned hospitality they had treated me like a guest.

"Okay? What do you want?"

"Merely a few answers on where you came from and how you ended up here," the blonde assured. "You see, we're most interested in... visitors."

"I'm from Chicago. You went through my pants and my wallet," I deadpanned.

The brown-haired lieutenant smiled, and it was more terrifying than the fanged grin of the inhuman German. "Yes, but you see that driver's license number doesn't match anything in the American records. Nor does your does your Private Investigator card. Not to mention your Illinois FIOD card or carry permit. And the listed locations are not valid addresses. The building you list as an office doesn't have that many floors."

"Umm?" I blinked. "You ran a lot of records." At least she had one of my newer business cards and licenses. The older ones would have pointed to an office building that had blown up and a boarding house that had burned down.

"You've been unconscious for nearly a full day, shall we get you that medic?" the lieutenant asked her voice uncharacteristically sweet.

"The fascinating part is that if these are forgeries, well, the ID cards are too good," Eve noted. "Most wouldn't bother with a forgery of this quality unless..."

I sighed. "Unless they'd pay to have the databases altered to match. Or they'd use names that match existing records."

Once more, Eve spread her hands.

A pit in my stomach started to form. "And let me guess... you don't have any records of a Harry Dresden?"

"None that match your description," the lieutenant agreed. "There are some... persons of interest that have similar builds to you, but they are either accounted for, deceased, or in one case to old to match you." She gave me a critical look. As if expecting my face to shape shift.

"And then there's your gun." Her eyes went down to the revolver on the table. "We had the ATF contact the manufacturer to start a trace. But, according to Smith and Wesson, they never made a 50 caliber revolver with that serial number. No, it's to a little pink pocket 38."

"It was a gift?" I stated.

"That wouldn't have changed the factory records. More importantly, the serial numbers on the revolver show no defacement or regrinding marks," the lieutenant noted.

"Yes, it'd be next to impossible to modify a serial number without leaving a mark that it was changed. Not without lowering and refinishing the whole area, but then it would be measurably thinner. Which yours is not," Eve added.

"It is a shame you lost your holster," Kasumi noted with a tiny bit of amusement.

"Um-" I started.

"We might have a spare in stocks for him to use," Eve said.

I then held my tongue. It was one thing for Murphy to rag on me not having a holster but these two... It was also worrying that they were more swayed by my gun being off than my IDs, though I supposed the gun would be harder to forge...

I mean someone could make a fake gun. But an exact copy? It was like the ID, if one had the ability to do it with that level of detail, why goof up on the serial numbers?

I sighed. At least they hadn't complained that my age didn't match up to my birth date. Or that the issue date on my cards was for some future date. That eliminated time travel. Probably.

"But you guys have dealt with the White Council of Wizards before right? You can call them up? They've gotta know about me."

The two officers shared a glance.

"Oh... you've gotta be kidding me." I rubbed my forehead. "How about Mab? You know her right? The Winter Court? Queen of the Unseelie?"

Eve gave a pitying smile. "And this is why we wanted to talk to you Herr Dresden. Perhaps after the medic checks you out, you can get dressed and we can continue our discussion?"

Grumbling, I leaned back onto the bed. "Fine. But if this is all some sort of Twilight Zone headgame you'll regret it."

***************


With all the bedside manner of a Navy corpsman, the gruff medic, Barnes I think his name was, pronounced me "Good enough" and left the room. But not before he dropped a black leather holster off with another grumble, this one about "cowboys copying the Colonel".

The two officers then exited giving me the illusion of privacy. A quick shower made me feel human. As I got dressed, I put my thoughts together.

After putting the silver pentacle amulet around my neck, I touched the ruby gem inset in the center. It was also a gift from mother. The gem glowed but all I got was an ominous hiss. It might not be proof that the officers were telling the truth, but it wasn't reassuring.

My first task was to use my contacts and confirm that this wasn't some elaborate Gaslighting. Sure, maybe none of the phone numbers would work but I had other means of summoning help. Ones that would get through, if I got desperate enough.

So, I was dressed and geared up, and still fiddling with the holster belted on my hip. And then the Ilsa knockoff and the dour lieutenant came back.

I got to see more of the facility. It was a pair of drab corridors with anonymous metal doors. The highlight was when we passed a window and I got to look out and see a dead lawn sprinkled with bits of melted, dirty snow bounded by a high fence with a forest beyond that.

The snow and the threatening overcast sky and trees nearly empty of dead leaves were at least somewhat reassuring season-wise. The part of me that knew when to run, and clashed with the predatory aspects of my Winter Knight mantle found at least the concept of escape pleasing. Though part of me was concerned about the medical examinations, surely people who'd run down the serial numbers on everything I had on me wouldn't be above taking a bit of blood.

But that view was quickly passed, and I was put into a dull conference room.

Anyway, their fancy wall display burned out a few slides in. It was an accident. Honest. Especially, since without missing a beat a perky almost-secretarial young woman named Maya pulled out a couple folders for me to look over. After a bit of that, Tendo grumbled and mentioned something about finding a slide projector and running the transfers.

Which left me dropped off in a break room. In what had to be a ham-handed attempt to reassure me, they left the door open. There was a coffee machine on the counter and I fiddled with it to get a pot brewing.

At least the beans they used smelled strong. A couple minutes passed by as I looked at the bulletin board against one wall. There were a few notices about emergency procedures. Which ranged from the expected blizzard, fire, and medical to... well there was a whole section on inter-dimensional containment.

The jargon made my head swim so I looked at the other notices. There was a pot-luck chili cook-off and BBQ competition coming up, and a signup sheet for a Company hockey team.

I looked out the door and tensed as a pair of soldiers walked approached. Unlike the two officers or the medic these were wearing full battle-rattle including armored vests, kneepads, gloves, and enough pouches to make a 90's superhero nod appreciably. Their goggles were pulled up over their helmets and they carried bulky looking rifles slung from harnesses on their chest. The guns were also appropriately large for a 90's comic book, with what looked like two barrels sticking out the front.

My tension grew as they neared past the door. One of them, a muscular dusky fellow waved while his leaner companion nodded to me. The pair then walked past, hardly making a note of the tall guy in the duster.

As the coffee maker gurgled and brewed, more people crossed the hallway. About half were in the tactical pouches and rifles dressup, while the rest were in what I considered "mercenary casual". Of the ones dressed all tacticool, the majority were wearing the grey mercenary duds, but a good fraction wore green and had Canadian flag shoulder patches. There was even a young man with a buzz-cut who went past wearing a button-down shirt and a blazer coat.

"Maybe the slideshow wouldn't have been that boring," I muttered as the pot started to fill. I inhaled, despite the weirdness, "At least the coffee smells good," I muttered turning to the machine. I opened a cupboard looking for some sugar and creamer, and found a row of mugs. Some were personalized others...

I pulled a black one out of a large stack. It had the Company's logo. It was a grey globe surrounded by the letters W, I, and C. In between each of the letters was a symbol of warding; including two variations of the Elder sign. While it lacked the stark minimalism of Monoc Securities the symbolism was clear if bluntly overdone.

"So... they've got Lovecraft and the Necronomicon too," I muttered putting the mug down.

"Oh? You made a new pot?" A new voice said by the door. It was a deep, playful contralto. I was reminded of the blonde and, neck prickling, spun on my heel.

"Easy there Tex," the redheaded woman said holding up her hands as she stepped into the room. She sniffed the air, sniffed again and smiled. Between her belt, pants, motorcycle boots, and jacket she wore enough glossy black leather to skin a cow. A violet silk blouse was under her jacket and matched the vibrant shade of her eyes. Short shiny crimson nails tipped her fingers.

"Ah," I eyed the wild red hair that spilled down her shoulders. She was one of the women in faux Illsa's pictures. She looked like the same nationality as the lieutenant, but there was more to it than that. Her features were stark with an almost sharp chin line. She looked like she could be on the cover of an 80's rock album. That familiar alabaster skin also helped with the Rock-biker look.

"Friend of Ilsa's? I mean Eve." There was also something off with how she carried herself.

The redhead smirked as she strode closer. "Sister, actually."

"Of course," filling my mug I took a step back. I was pretty sure that I wasn't dealing with White Court vampires, but that was at least in the right ballpark.

The redhead stretched up and pulled a cup off of the shelf. I will say she wore those pants exceptionally well. And it was purely out of curiosity that I looked to see what mug she had picked.

It was a good sized one emblazoned with "World's Greatest Mother". The color had faded slightly showing that it had gotten fair use, but it had also been meticulously cleaned and the way the redhead held it indicated she had personal attachment.

I slipped another gaze at her face. I could see someone wanting to....

I blinked. "I'm sorry?"

The redhead frowned. "I was saying Mr. Wizard, could you fill me up?"

"Really? Going that blunt?"

She waved the cup in front of me. "Coffee." She then pointed with at the pot in my hands.

"Oh.... right." I filled her cup. "How do you take it?"

"Black," the redhead shrugged then took a sip. She stepped back and leaned onto the counter.

"Well, I'll let that slide this time.."

A crimson eyebrow lifted.

I took a pull from my mug. The coffee was good, or at least it was strong. "Your sister is German but you're..."

"Japanese." A smile. "You can call me Ranma Saotome."

A different last name than the blonde was using. And I had been among the faerie, not to mention wizards, long enough to hear a name cop-out. "I'm guessing you weren't born sisters. Adoption? Divorce?" My brother had lots of half-sisters, all with different mothers.

The redhead took another drink and laughed. It was oddly low, as if it came from deeper in her chest.

"There's also the whole succubus act. Pale skin, freaky eyes, unnaturally attractive."

"Act," the playfulness drained from the woman's voice as she set the cup down.

"Uh..." My hands flexed, and I glanced at the staff I had leaned against the counter.

The redhead tilted her head and a pair of black horns pushed their way out of her teased crimson hair. This was followed by a set of purple and crimson membranous wings popping into existence followed by a long spade-tipped purple tail snaking out the base of her spine.

Still holding the mug, my other hand dipped as the Winter Mantle's interest raged and my stance shifted. My duster parted revealing the tooled leather holster.

"Go ahead, skin it!" the redhead demanded as she lifted off the counter. "Skin that smokewagon and see what happens." Her eyes met mine.

I felt pulled into the gaze and broke contact, instead looking to her hands. Her little crimson nails seemed a hair longer.

"You don't know what'll happen," I stated placing the cup on the counter. In the same motion I swept up my staff.

The redhead grinned. Looking close I could tell she had fangs, but unlike a vampire more than just her canines were sharp.

"No, I don't know. Your kind are tricky, but you're a guest in this place, and if you try to hurt my friends, my family, you will regret it."

I raised my hand away from the revolver and put it on the staff. At least it seemed less threatening. Then my brain caught up with what she said earlier. "Tombstone really? You think I'd play for blood?"

"If so, I'd be your Huckleberry." Her grin grew as she looked up at me. Which... made the row of sharp teeth seem... friendlier?

"Look Red... I don't want to start a fight. I just get twitchy when surrounded by sexy demon ladies. You dig?"

Laughing the redhead, leaned back and picked up her mug. "Sounds like this isn't your first rodeo."

I watched her tail swish back and forth. My mind also ran the numbers. I had made deals with demons before. What? Don't look at me like that. I eventually realized that selling parts of my Name to Chauncey for info was a bad idea. Besides, the blonde and the redhead seemed too.... human.

That left the Blackened Order of Denarius, Many of them could pull the succubus act. But they were really Fallen Angels pulling the strings of mortal hosts. They also tended to gain another pair of glowing eyes above their regular ones. And, oh yes, they were completely insane.

I decided to go for it. "Okay, so you're a succubus, what kind?"

"Kind?"

I affected an air of disinterest and superior knowledge (hey - wizard). "Sure Red, plenty of things on the spooky side do the whole 'pretty lady' lure. Attract prey then eat 'em. Vampires do it, faerie do it, the Fallen do it. I know even a few ghosts who do it."

And then she pointed to her chest and said the thing I had really not wanted to hear. "Demon."

"Oh come on! You're being way too human for that. Not to mention if you'd been summoned up here you should be contained... or rampaging. And that's not even getting into how you'd have to possess a body..." I started to feel the cold anger of the Winter Knight rise up. That wasn't the only thing off about her.

"You're too high-strung." The redhead gave me a long-suffering look.

"Me? That’s another thing. Demons aren’t this calm. The whole Adversary, war against the Creator, thing gives them a huge chip on their shoulders!"

Sighing, she pointed to herself. "Shinto, I'm not part of your heaven-hell game."

"Well, me neither, I mean I know... wielders of holy..." I shook my head. "Look. I'm not the invading demon."

The demon's eyes flashed. "Invader? Listen Mage. I was born here, I have bled for this world. I have watched good men die fighting the many angled ones. And I will not be called down by some tourist that fell out of a hole in the sky."

The demon's tail straightened as she drew herself up. "Only one of us in this room can rightly be called an Outsider. And it ain't me."

Once more her gaze pulled me in. Hearing my own heartbeat I pulled away. It was too late. The Soulgaze hit. It shouldn't have happened. Why? Well okay. A Soulgaze is when a mortal practitioner meets the eyes of another and holds it. You see into their soul, they see into yours.

Here's the thing; the operative word is "soul". Both parties need a soul for it to work. You can have a Soulgaze with a human. You can have one with a changeling. You can have one with a White Court vampire or even a sasquatch. But you can't have one with a demon.

But apparently, with some demons, you can.

The redhead's soul.... imagine a tree. Imagine it was made out of brilliant purple light. And each branch is a connection to someone else. I felt the links to daughters, to sisters, to parents, lovers, even friends. Love pulsed along the branches coming from a strong trunk. Looking down I could see the gnarled roots of the massive tree sunk deeply into the ground.

It was awe-inspiring and explained the care and love she gave that little mug. Here was someone who would do anything for her family, would give anything for her daughters. Even the tree itself was for them; the redhead's very existence was a result of that adamantine will.

Then I looked at the roots. It was not earth they were sunk into. It was a mass grave. The roots had speared flesh and greedily drained the bodies of everything they had. Death and sacrifice had been turned into love.

I broke out of the Soulgaze with a shudder. A hand went to my forehead and I rubbed my temples.

I looked up to see the demon nodding thoughtfully to herself. "You and your mate protected her. You killed them all." that toothy smile flashed again. "Well done."

"Uh..." I swallowed. It looked like I wasn't the only one to make a mountain of corpses defending my family. Hells Bells, my own mentor Ebenezar wasn't shy about the people he had killed. Nor, my occasional friend, and mercenary Kincaid. Not to mention some of the Wardens I have worked with. Nor the faerie like Lea...

Huh, I knew a worrying number of people who have filled graveyards worth of folk.

"So... what was that?" the demon asked as she refilled her mug and offered the pot to me.

I tried to re-engage my brain. I looked past her calm expression and then at how her tail stiffly hung behind her with a slight curve. I took the pot and watched as she took a slow sip and patiently waited.

"That was a Soulgaze. It happens when a practitioner looks someone deep enough in the eye."

"Huh. That why you avoid everyone's eyes like a naughty puppy?"

For a moment I almost felt a wave of amusement wash over the demoness. I exhaled.

"What'd you see with your magic peeping Tom powers?" the redhead lightly asked. I noticed her tail was swishing, and that she had resumed looking me in the eye.

"You love your family very much, and -uh- you'll do anything for them."

"You too; terrible tragedy with your mate," she looked down at her cup.

"How much... what did you see?"

Those luminous purple eyes met mine. "A father embracing an oncoming storm. An altar, a woman of... dread power. A pyramid, another altar, a knife, a mother letting a father end a war. Blood, water, frozen ground."

She kept starting me in the eye, eventually she blinked. "It's not happening again."

"Sorry, one shot's all you get."

The demon frowned. "Doesn't seem fair."

I stared. This was the first time someone had been disappointed they couldn’t get another look into my soul.

"Bah, once is enough trouble." I put the pot back. "Hells... uh heck, I'm surprised I could even do it with you."

The redhead raised an eyebrow.

"You sure you're a demon? I mean like all the way. Maybe you're a scion; you know one mortal parent, one supernatural?"

She tilted her head and let her tail smack against the cabinet door below the counter. There was a shimmer and her black boots were replaced with polished silver hooves as her ankles arched up slightly.

Her pale skin started to shimmer with an almost silver opalescence. A gold tiara with a purple four-pointed star appeared on her forehead, and swelling behind it was the slicked, polished ruby mass of her hair. Another pair of black horns spiraled out of the crimson mass as the tresses pulled themselves into a polished bun.

Her features became sharper with a tiny upturned nose. Hard cheekbones with a bit of a hollow. Her lips darkened to a glossy purple and grew as her smile widened. The whites to her eyes were pushed out by the expansion of her purple irises.

A silver band holding a purple gem cut into another four pointed star encircled her neck. Below that was the pearlescent gleam of her now more sculpted pale lavender bodice.

I pulled my attention back up to her choker but the temptation was still there.

The curvy almost waspish torso was contained within the gleaming bodice that flowed and hugged her curves. A red bow with a heart-shaped center was pinned over her left breast. Okay, my gaze had lowered, but it was only to look at the crimson heart.

Her jacket evaporated as narrow shoulders were encircled by stiff black "puffs" of gauzy material. Forearms were covered in sleek slick lavender material with white piping. It was too thick to be gloves but too thin to be gauntlets. The gloves made her fingers look even longer with a seeming extra "joint" on the gleaming blade-like claws.

Spilling out over wide hips was a long pleated dark purple skirt. Moving over pale thighs set a bit apart from each other, the dark pleated material moved of its own accord, eventually settling into a shin length hem with a long slit going up the left side.

Daintily holding the cup with the tips of her long talons, the redhead sipped as she stepped forward. I noted that her hooves and shifted ankles caused her to walk with a bent-knee stance that caused her hips to sway more, especially when she slowly turned around and winked. Her tail, now much thicker at the base and over two yards long lifted and swished back and forth.

"Well, Mr. Wizard?" the redhead asked in a deep purring contralto while looking over her shoulder before leaning over to the coffee machine and filling her mug. A forked tongue came out and quickly licked a wide row of gleaming fangs. "Is this demon enough for you?"

The mantle of the Winter Knight raged up. Every base and predatory instinct that came with the position of Winter Knight wanted to take the redhead. I could just imagine that part screaming at me how she was even bending over. Then I could imagine my Id whistling and mentioning that at least this time I knew this woman was an inhuman predator.

"Okay, I might concede you're a demon," I blurted as I worked at counting primes in my head.

"What, you need further testing?" she asked as her tail swung out and, grabbing the doorknob, pulled it closed.

My attention went from the doorway to the demonic booty. "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me."

The demon gave a rich deep laugh. "Hmmm?"

"Aren't you?"

Straightening up, she spun on a saucer sized hoof. She inhaled the air and her broad smile flashed. She then started circling around me towards the break room table. "Really, Mr. Wizard." she said as she moved the chairs. "You would know if I were trying to seduce you," she purred, pulling one out after pushing in another.

I am not a wise man. Okay, I am a wizard, and the root of that is wise man but... whatever. What I mean is that I'm a sucker for ladies, and more importantly I've dealt with a lot of glamorous (and Glamorous) women. From White Court vampire temptresses, to fairy queens to Fallen Angels. Granted, I've bumbled around most and killed more than a few. And the less said about what Mab and I did right after I started working for her as the Winter Knight the better.

Anyway, the short bit is that I was really confident in my ability to "Just say no" and arrogant enough to.... The room dropped a few degrees as I dipped into Winter power of the White Knight's mantle. "Oh, let's see what you've got Red."

The demon's eyes flashed and I steeled myself for the mental assault. Especially as she swayed closer to me. She took a step to the side, then I took one. Ruing my pride, I focused my defenses as I took another step.

Then she grabbed my staff. No, not that one. Anyway with one hand she put her mug down and with the other ran her long claws over the polished shaft.

Okay... no more jokes. Anyway, then she put both hands on the wood. I shifted my grip and in that moment her tail whipped up and batted my arms away.

An instant later she had spun the staff around, hooked it between my legs and with a hand on my shoulder, unceremoniously levered me into the office chair behind me. In that moment a distant part of me noticed how she had positioned herself, and that this was a move similar to one the Aikido ones Murphy had used.

Then I got a lap full of purring demon.

It took embarrassingly long for me to realize the coifed redheaded had jumped onto my thighs and then wriggled in comfortably. I blame it on being dazed by the fall. There was a rustling as I felt her tail wrap around my legs while her wings unfurled and draped over my shoulders. One set of talons gently took my arm and wrapped it around her waist and while it was making sure my hand was somewhere.... interesting, her other hand reached up and cupped my cheek.

Then something clicked, something that had seemed off since I'd first seen her. "Hey you're short! You're an itty-bitty little demon." I told you; I'm not a wise man. However, I did have enough sense to not comment on the two heavy pressures on my chest.

The redhead's smile froze and she blinked. "And?"

"I mean you're shorter than Murphy!" Despite the situation, I chuckled. Murphy would have laughed at this situation to, or smacked me upside the head.

"Who is?"

"Someone I'm... close too. She's very tough."

"You're close?" she asked her eyes softening.

"Well... it's... complicated."

"And here you are with me," her talons gently caressed my face. "Poor, dumb Harry."

My free hand went up and grabbed her arm. A rime of ice started to creep out. My other hand went down and found the base of her tail.

Her eyes widened and the throaty purr resumed.

I pushed a bit more of my power and saw as the ice started to sublimate. She was strong, but I had better leverage, and with another Winter push I got her arm down. My other hand was at the base of her tail and gave a bit of a squeeze.

"I am not just food."

The demon leaned against me and I tried to not notice the silver snowflake over the red heart bow on her chest. "Clearly not,"

As I hit 1117 in my mental counting, I pulled my hand away from her loosened bodice. The lavender material seemed to sparkle with ice. "This is a test isn't it?"

Her grin returned.

"See, you're not actually doing the succubus mind trick stuff."

"Mmmm?" the demon noted as she pulled back her wings.

"You wanted to see how I'd react. If I'd give in-" I looked down at the tail around my legs. "Or flip out."

"I'll admit it was a bit of a sink or swim," the demon smirked as she unwound her tail.

"Why do inhuman women always feel the need to test me that way?"

"If it's that frequent, maybe it's the only way you'll learn?" the demoness noted as she hopped off my lap. She picked up her mug.

"And what would you have done if I had freaked out?"

The demoness gave another one of her low-pitched laughs.

"Right."

There was a shimmer as the demoness shifted back to her black leather clothes, boots, normal fingers, and teased 80's metal band hair. She took her mug and topped it off. "Though I'll confess it might not have been all bad if you'd have had some fun," she winked. "But, I'll admit, you're not exactly my type."

"Well I'm also sorta... it's complicated," I grumbled. At least with Lara or even Lash, there was some pretext to their humanity.

I picked my staff back up and stood. "Still, I somehow don't think the Company would approve of such a test. At least that dour Lieutenant and your sister the Captain."

"Good thing I'm not Company, just a contractor," Ranma smiled. "More coffee?"

I shook my head. "Wait... so you're a mercenary for mercenaries."

The demon's merry grin returned. "It does allow some... flexibility."

"Huh," I put my cup in the sink and sprayed some water.

"Oh? You're telling me you're all straight lace and by-the-book Mr. Wizard?" She took a contemplative sip.

"Hey, I might work for the White Council and the Winter Queen but I'm not a puppet."

The demon nodded sympathetically, but her expression was a bit distant

"You have no idea what I'm talking about."

"Based on what you told Eve she's the Queen of the Winter Faerie. The Unseelie right? The wicked faerie? " She leaned forward. "The bad guys?"

"It's not as black and white as..." I groused then noted she was waving her tail... "Right, I'm talking to a demonic mercenary."

"And what do you do for the White Council of Wizards?"

"Warden," I answered.

"Warden of what?"

"What?"

"Well a warden is in charge of a prison right?" Ranma asked.

"No, I'm not that kind of warden for the White Council."

She nodded. "Mab, she was the one in the soulgaze."

"Huh?"

"I saw two sacrificial altars. Both stone, both had sacrifices. The first one, that was you swearing to her?"

I nodded. Of course she saw elements close to her own affinity.

"Warden, you run a prison for them? The Fae?"

"What? No not for-" I stopped and waited. Her next question would...

"And what do you do for-"

I held up my hand. "Careful, if you say her name too-"

Tail drooping, looking slightly bashful the demon nodded. "Sorry, I didn't know she was Love-Coda restricted." She tilted her head. "Will it summon her?"

"If you get her attention."

"Well, that's a way to get you home."

I chuckled. "I'd prefer to go with a less... pestering option."

The demon nodded, washing her cup. "I hear you."

"Do you? Or are you going to keep switching up your questions to throw me off balance."

The demon laughed it was a rich and charming. "Look I get it, your boss is a very powerful, very scary lady. I'd feel intimidated dealing with her too. It'd be like bugging my grandmother for some bus-fare," she remarked, opening the door. "Course, I'm not as close to my grandmother as you are to your boss-lady," she added with a little laugh.

I blinked. "Oh come on! You saw that too!" After a moment I shuffled out of the break room. "It was bad enough to have that broadcast all over fairyland..." I muttered under my breath as I followed a few steps behind her.

At least the redhead's subsequent snort of laughter informed me that her type of demon had excellent hearing.

We went through another corridor and passed a few more mercenaries. I noticed that they were all armed. Even, or perhaps, especially the trio of pale girls we passed. Ranma's face lit up as she chatted with them. I recognized two of them from the photo Eve had in her wallet; the third had lavender hair and eyed me with a mischievous smile before going on her way.

"If you're not running a prison for them, what does a Warden of the White Council do?" Ranma asked after bidding the demons farewell.

"Enforce the Laws of Magic," I replied, noticing we had entered a large concrete floored room. At first I took it for a storage room, then I noticed the vehicles.

"You're a wizard cop?"

"Uh… kinda."

She raised an eyebrow and waited. I got the impression that she used that expression a lot. It was a very "mom" look.

I had to keep myself from feeling embarrassed. "See, the Wardens are the combat wizards of the White Council. In peace, we enforce the Laws of Magic, go after warlocks and other black magic users. They also protect people from other monsters."

"And in war..."

I snorted at her leading statement. "Take a guess."

"Right." She nodded. "And you do that all and work for the Queen?"

"Kinda."

The "mom gaze" returned.

"Look, it's complicated, but basically the Summer and Winter Courts get to pick one mortal champion, representative, emissary and... bruiser. Their Knight."

"Wizard cop, PI, and bruiser for a faerie queen? Impressive."

I kept a bit of relief that she hadn't deduced my other positions, such as my other warden job. That is exactly what kind of prison I was warden of. "And what about you Red? You're not just a contractor."

She smiled and pointed further down the garage. "Oh look, our ride's here."

"Come on, muscled, crew-cut mercenaries don't give respectful nods and treat just any five foot-nothing woman as a comrade-at-arms." I snorted. I had seen cops, Aikido disciples, and Einherjar give the same looks to Murphy.

She opened the door to the grey panel van. And looked at me. I could detect a hint of amusement in her eyes.

There were a couple of mercenaries by the door. They were both dressed in office casual. But they had the short hair, fit physiques and wary eyes that I had come to expect. I was also pretty sure they had some kind of discrete body armor on under their shirts.

"Come on tell me she's not just a contractor?"

The one with black hair looked to his partner. "Miss Saotome? Oh she's a plain-Jane trigger puller."

I snorted. "Right an operation with officers as suspicious as big-blonde Ilsa don't leave just anyone alone with a known wizard. Not if they're clued into magic."

He held up his hands. "Okay you got us. She's one of our combatives instructors."

I eyed the mercenary.

"Captain Jarvis is just worried about her sister," the other one said.

"Right, the sister that's the head of a whole-" I paused what was the collective noun? There were a lot and Bob, my old assistant, would harp on me whenever I used one incorrectly. But there was a generic one... Ah yes. "A whole brood of succubae?"

"Three, technically," Ranma said after she finished circling the van.

I gave her a half-lidded gaze.

"Okay, okay, you got me," the demon waved her hands. "Long ago, I worked for the Queen of the Moon as a Maho shojo complete with bows and miniskirt. I'm kinda negotiating to get back in."

The image of her fluffy demon getup floated into my mind. And stayed purely because I wanted to recall if that outfit had bows. In resignation, I looked to the two mercenaries. "She's not being sarcastic is she?"

"I couldn't say, Sir," one said with a little smile.

"Huh." I didn't know anything concrete about "Maho shojo", that is magical girls, but from what I'd heard from some of the Wardens that operated in Japan, it was basically a type of ritual magic.

Think of ritual magic like a vending machine. You put in the money, pull the lever, and out comes the treat. Or in this case you say the right incantation, do a ritual, and out pops some magical power. In either case, the treat or the magic is supplied by an outside sponsor.

Anyway "Maho shojo" were young women that were empowered by various kami, spirits, what-have-you and fought forces of disharmony and evil. It seemed odd but no stranger than a decade or so back when I had to deal with a coven of porn stars using ritual magic to kill their enemies.

Yes.

Look my job is strange. Okay?

Still the sponsorship was... interesting. Red seemed like she had plenty of power. Did she really need some Moon Queen to sponsor her too? Or had she just hatted up and grabbed every power source she could grab?

I'll confess to having had similar urges. And well, given I was Mab's Knight among a great many other things...

I looked up and saw the demon's face marred by disapproval. It was not quite the same "mom gaze" as before, that one was "Explain yourself young man" this one was more "Why can't you focus like the other children?"

"Yeah?"

"Look, you were on a mission. Did you go alone? Did your buddies evacuate a different way? Or do we need to mount a rescue mission?" she asked with more exasperation that I would have expected. "You didn't ask about anyone else, so it seems like you were alone, but I don't want to assume."

"I was alone." I frowned. "How do you know I was on a mission?"

Her eyes went to my coat, staff, rod, and revolver. "Is that your walking around gear Tex?" Her grin came back at my confused response. "Oh. It is," she turned back to one of the mercenaries. "Check out Mr. Wizard, Gabe! This is his going around town outfit."

The black-haired man looked up from the report he was reading. "Sensible."

I frowned. "You didn't know I was on a mission, you were just fishing?"

"Maybe. But the important thing is... you didn't lose any buddies right? We shouldn't be looking around the wilds of Ontario for another wizard who fell through the sky?"

I shook my head. "No, I was sent alone." I had asked Mab for time to get some reinforcements but she had a way of being... insistent.

The demon gave that little head tilt and sniffed the air.

"What's the van for anyway?"

"You let a demon and a bunch of mercenaries lead you to an unmarked black panel van and only now just started to ask where we're going?"

I suffered through another "disappointed mom look" as she joked with one of the mercs about if they had any spare burlap "head bags".

"I'm trying to be diplomatic; I am a guest here. Whatever this place is," I stated easily. In truth, I felt I'd have more options on the road than in their facility. It wouldn't be the first time I've had to destroy a van or escape a moving vehicle.

"It used to be a helicopter factory or something," she said absently. "Anyway, you'd like confirmation this isn't your world right?"

"It would be nice to know if things are more Philip K. Dick or Harry Turtledove," I said.

"In that case we could have just given you a history book," the black-haired mercenary snorted.

"I dunno, if you ignore all the time travel nonsense Turtledove's not that bad," the other mercenary defended.

"We can stop at a bookstore if he insists," Ranma rolled her eyes.

"You're awfully calm about this whole 'parallel worlds thing'."

The redhead pointed to her horns. "Besides. You're not my first, or my strangest, tourist, Mr. Wizard. Anyway, I'm betting you have a whole bunch of contact numbers in that thick-head of yours?"

"Well... but If I use your pho-"

She thumped the side of the van a bit impatiently. "Right, so here's what we do, we go out, you pick a supermarket and you buy yourself a cheap phone."

At the word supermarket my stomach grumbled.

"And some grub, or you can pick a place. Then you can try calling your people. Best case, you actually do find someone and can arrange transport back home. Worst case, you don't, but then you'll know it ain't us screwing with you."

I pondered that; it was a pretty fair plan. And trusting on their part, not just that I wouldn't escape but that I also wouldn't cause a scene in public. But there was one problem.

"That's good but..." I rubbed my head. "See, my powers break cell phones. Wizard magic doesn't like technology, and cell phones get the worst of it."

"It does now?" The demon sighed through her nose. "Fine, we'll you a find a payphone." She nodded to the brown-haired merc who walked off. "Or a couple, you pick one you like and go from there."

"Yeah, I guess that'll work," I looked around the garage. I could see its past as a factory's shipping and receiving section. There were a couple more vans, a few sedans and a hulking grey armored vehicles. Those included great big truck-like beasts that SWAT teams often got surplus from the army. And, relatively, smaller trucks that resembled my brother's ostentatious ride, save far more Spartan and with the bolted on armor kits.

I eyed the van. It looked like its suspension had been reinforced and the doors and windows were thicker. "What's the hold up?" I asked after a couple minutes.

The redhead nodded to the merc who was jogging up to us. Behind him two pale demons followed. Despite seemly moving at a languid pace, they were keeping up with the man.

"Any trouble, Whipple?" the redhead asked.

"Nah, LT had expected something like this," he said tossing a blue zippered bag at her.

She caught it; there was a clink of change.

For a split second I froze. Laugh all you want, but I've had bad experiences with coins in the past.

Without missing a beat, or seemingly noticing my discomfort, the redhead simply popped the bag to her other hand and lobbed it at me. I clumsily caught it and took immediate relief that the bag was sealed. Said relief grew infinitely larger when I didn't feel any spark of magic from the banker's bag.

Look, you deal with coins holding Fallen Angels that can infect your mind with a touch and then tell me you wouldn't be twitchy over strange people tossing random coinage at you.

Holding the bottom of the bag, I carefully unzipped it. Inside was a shiny collection of gold-colored coins with a queen on one side and some kind of duck on the other, gold and silver-ish coin with the same queen and a bear and finally some all silver coins with a moose (or was it a reindeer) as the animal.

Careful not to touch the coins, I shifted the bag around but if there was a pitted, blackened ancient roman coin among the queens and animals I didn't see it.

"Mom!" one of the newly arrived demons happily cried, knocking me out of my coin based obsession.

I looked up to see a taller succubus with fine black hair and deep red eyes hugging the redhead. She had similar facial features to her mother, but they weren't as sharp. Combined with her height, they gave her an almost aristocratic look.

However that was tempered by the infectious joy with which she embraced the redhead. She looked to be in her late teens and wore a maroon dress over black leggings. She carried a long, thin bundle slung over one shoulder that had to be a sword.

Next to her was a slightly shorter woman with platinum blonde hair pulled back with a white bow. Wearing a vest and tailored slacks, she looked a bit younger than the black-haired demon, but it was hard to tell. She had a long lumpy backpack sling over one shoulder. They both looked younger than the redhead, but Ranma didn't even look thirty.

The blonde smirked as I bashfully zippered up the bag and slipped it into a coat pocket. She then slipped under the redhead's arm and leaned in. I felt almost an electric tingle. It was the magical equivalent of standing under high tension wires. And my mind immediately went to the "tree" I'd seen in the Soulgaze.

"Huh, group hug," I said when the surprisingly saccharine display broke up.

The redhead smiled without a hint of embarrassment. "Girls, this is Harry Dresden Warden of the White Council and Knight of the Winter Court," she said giving a little bow of the head. "Dresden, these are my daughters Ukyou," she indicated the platinum blonde. "And Nariko," she pointed to the black-haired demoness.

"Uh, hi," I waved. Unlike with Ranma I felt guilty looking at these two girls. Okay... more guilty. "Two? I got the impression you had more?"

A prideful smile crossed Ranma's face. "I've got three more, but they're training at the moment. That is unless you want to be mobbed by succubae," she teased.

I held my tongue and simply looked to the van. Personally, I thought having three demons shadow me was a bit much. Though if my count was right, dour Ilsa and her girls made for four succubae, Red and her girls made for six, and if I assumed the same number for the third sister from Eve's picture... Well, call it fifteen or so demons working for Willard International. Which made having only three follow me seem less worrying, though the fact that they had over a dozen demons was a whole different level of potential worry.

Ranma's purple eyes locked onto me and without breaking eye contact she gave a motion with her hand. The two humans took the driver's and shotgun seat. The daughters took the back row. Then keeping her broad smile, the redhead stepped back and motioned to the middle row.

"Yeah, let's get going," I murmured.

***************


I was torn between slamming the phone down in fury or letting it drop in apathy. Instead, I went to the bag of French fries that I had propped up on bottom lip of the windbreak around the pay phone.

The salt and crunch gave me some solace, even though the heat had long since dissipated as evening approached. I took a sip of my drink. At least that was still cold and contemplated my next move.

Seeing that I was off the phone, Ranma stepped closer, crossing the park path. I had no doubt that she could still hear me, but at least she made a point to not hover at my shoulder. Then again, it's not like she'd heard anything useful.

I'd gone through various White council contacts, a bunch of the folks that ran the Paranet, Murphy, the Carpenters, my former apprentice and sort of boss Molly, Butters, and William the Werewolf. It might not have been a total wash. I'd left a few messages on answering machines that weren't obviously someone else.

Still, the inability to get in touch with anyone was ominous. I looked down to the South and saw the giant space-needle like thing dominating the sky-line. I definitely wasn't in Chicago and it was looking likely that I was even further. Also the people around me, well I'd only met a handful jogging or walking their dogs in the park. The air was starting to get further below freezing though I wasn't sure the temperature, since everything was in that crazy metric the Canadians used.

But they people out and about had seemed... nicer than if this was Chicago. Though the place was emptying as darkness threatened.

I wasn't without options; I still had a few more numbers to call. Though contacting Ivy might be... awkward. Her bodyguard Kincaid normally answered her phone calls. How do you talk to the mercenary you hired to kill you?

Long story, suffice to say I'd had a plan to "retire early" from my job as the Winter Knight. Mab had different ideas. And… well it turned out killing myself wasn't really my idea in the first place. Look, I told you it was a long story.

I glanced up; Ranma was waiting off to the side. She'd put her hands in her coat as if she was trying to keep warm. I'd had my suspicions. Thanks to the Winter Mantle I didn't mind staying out, and I was pretty sure demons were immune to the cold.

She glanced over me and let her eyes settle onto the fries. She sorted at the logo. "Burger King? Really? Could you be more American? Fast food, revolver, big coat, you just need a cowboy hat to complete the look."

"I don't do hats."

"Oh? You'd look good in one."

I grumbled and looked down the path to the parking lot at the west side of the park. In it was the van that had driven us. The other demons and mercs had decamped to a picnic table near the vehicle. They had even unloaded a few of their bags. It seems they had brought their own food. To the south of them was a meandering creek that ran across the park. Between the creek and the path were a couple large rocks, clearly there for decoration.

The demon flashed her teeth. "If you're gonna be a cowboy cop in your duster and six-gun..."

"Very funny." I shook my head and composed myself. Her smile looked a bit... off. And it wasn't just how broad it was or how bright her teeth were. I blamed it on having seen her demonic form. Even now, in her "barely-passing as human" guise, I could easily imagine how she really looked.

She looked at her watch. On a steel band with an analog face, it looked purely mechanical. It was an amusing bit of overkill. I mean, sure my magic ruined cell phones and computers when I walked up to them, but the rest of my tech-bane was cumulative.

Hells Bells, I've been on helicopter rides. Though the less said about those the better. In my old apartment, I had a landline phone that worked most of the time. I owned a car once. Sure, it was an original VW Beetle. Sure, the Blue Beetle stopped being blue after only a few years worth of repaints and replacements, but it was mine, and I'd had it for over a decade. Sure, it'd required Herculean efforts from my old mechanic Mike, but it had worked three days out of every four on average. Well, until it was smashed up by a monster of the Red Vampire Court.

Look, the point was that if I could use a modern car... well for a week at least. Being around me with an electric watch shouldn't be a big deal.

Ranma glanced over at the table with the others. It was fairly random but on occasions she would rotate off and one of the other girls would be near me. They were both pretty quiet, with the blonde one going into a rant about the way my burger was cooked.

It turns out she had... opinions on how to properly work a griddle, or a grill in this case. The other was almost silent and I would have called her shy if not for the distant, guarded way she watched everything.

"You got more numbers to try?" Ranma asked, watching a couple running down a park path about a hundred feet off. They were both in matching running pants and windbreakers. The woman's dark ponytail bobbed while the man's mullet swished.

"A few," I admitted. But I was already planning my next steps. The easiest was to simply open another Way to the NeverNever and simply walk through the portal.

Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple. The NeverNever didn't map one to one with the real world. See, you can step through a portal walk a mile in the NeverNever then hop through another portal and find you've gone hundreds of miles. Or conversely, only a few feet.
That’s because points on either side were linked symbolically. A place of darkness and evil will link to another place of darkness and evil. Or it could be as simple as a den of ruthless wyld faerie hunters linking to an office of human police investigators renowned for their ability to track fugitives.

See, the NeverNever is a land where magic and metaphor and such are just as powerful as the laws of physics, in some places they're moreso. It could make for convenient travel. Say a five minute walk between Singapore and Boston, but it was also incredibly dangerous as you could find yourself breathing acid, heated thousands of degrees, or crushed under ten gravities.

And that was just the environment, the flora and fauna, not to mention the natives, could be worse. It was also gigantic, and, worse, the links were slowly changing. My mother was one of the few mortal wizards to actually make a make a go at mapping the Ways and she had been at it for decades before her death.

Now in theory, going back to where I'd fallen though in the first place should work. Ways are supposed to be two-way like that. But I knew enough about my luck to know it would not be that simple. It never was. Still, that was high on my list of trying to get out of here.

I glanced at the demon expected her to be annoyed at my reverie. Instead she was looking thoughtful. "Mr. Wizard, you more close quarters or ranged?" she asked, her tone offhand.

Years ago I'd have a ready answer. But I wasn't the wheezy wizard I once was. Over a decade of experience, including fighting without my powers, had helped. Not to mention that I stood well over six foot tall. Pulls all the physical training over that time. Which, more recently, the Winter Knight Mantle had provided a great help on. It's amazing what happens to "No pain, no gain" when you can ignore little things like muscle fatigue. For running to be even remotely challenging, I had to use a weighted vest. A heavily weighted vest.

Still... I am a wizard. And it's not like my magical prowess and skill hasn't grown over that time. Stepping to one side and angling my back, I put a tiny bit of power into my staff causing the runs to glow the barest bit.

Looking down the path in the, opposite direction of the parking lot, the redhead nodded fractionally. "If the balloon goes up you're the heavy, I flank. The others rearguard," she said in a bare whisper.

A quartet of men approached. They wore grey off-the rack suits. And inexpensive, somber ties. The older of the men in center wore a brown overcoat almost as long as my duster. He also had a square-jaw and a bit of greying at the temples. His green eyes were flecked with bits of gold.

A slightly younger man with dark brown eyes and a blonde crew-cut stood next to him. His tie was a red that seemed almost bright compared to the rest of their dull colors. The young man seemed almost bulky and walked as if vaguely uncomfortable with his clothes. He also carried a briefcase that seemed too small for him.

Flanking them were two even younger men in dark sunglasses that were at odds with the rapidly approaching night. They looked mid-twenties at most.

"Mr. Dresden, a pleasure to catch up with you," the older man said. His accent was nasally, but it was American.

"Special Agent Lucas," he lifted his right hand while his left pulled slightly at his over coat. "If we may?" he asked me after his gaze passed over the demon.

"Sure," I said, leaning the staff on one shoulder.

Lucas opened his coat and slowly pulled out an ID he flipped it open. The action revealed a black gun in a shoulder holster.

"Special Agent Worth," the other said in a low rumble as he repeated the same action. Another shoulder holster flashed.

"FBI?" I asked. The identification document listed one as Stobart Lucas and the other as Virgil Worth.

"Information your arrival… leaked." Lucas said.

"Maybe parts of the Canadian military aren't so comfortable about mercenaries," Worth added.

"Maybe they called, maybe when we heard what was happening to one of our citizens we flew up," Lucas continued as he gave the redhead a wolfish smile.

"And what do you want?" I asked skeptically. Bad experiences with the Feds aside, this whole setup was a little too cute.

"Why, Mr. Dresden, we want to help you get home." His eyes went from the redhead to the mercenaries by the parking lot. "And out of... custody."

My neck tingled. Part of me didn’t want to be here. This whole situation seemed wrong.

The redhead gave a shrug as she watched the others in the park. The jogging couple had lapped the park and there were a few others out and about. She then turned back to the parking lot and I watched as her luminous purple eyes blinked.

"What if it's not that simple?" I asked, glancing at Lucas' gold-flecked green eyes.

"Oh, we know you're a long way from home, Warden," Lucas assured. "One lawman to another, we have ways of getting you home. You have my promise that I'll get you back."

Worth nodded, while the two others were simply silent.

I pulled back. I didn't feel the pull of a soulgaze yet, but I wasn't about to try it. "Someone's informed."

"The Bureau tries its best. And we try to be more... diplomatic than certain private sector groups."

"Mercenaries. Unprofessional," Worth added.

The redhead inhaled and sniffed the air. She then looked at her fingers, then back to the Feds.

"What if I'm skeptical? I mean, it's not like I'm in a rush."

Lucas made a point of looking at the payphone and the fast food debris. "Clearly not. Still... we thought you might need a bit of convincing so we stopped by the... special archives before our flight. If I may?" he asked reaching back.

The redhead shrugged.

"Virgil," Lucas said.

The blond man opened his briefcase and pulled out a drab folder. Lucas then stepped closer and reached out. "Remember how J Edgar insisted that the Bureau hire only good little Catholics?"

Laughter bubbled from the redhead.

I took it. It was grey and the cover was "Restricted // Keyhole Tempest // Ordo Malleus World K40" Inside was... My eyebrow went up. It was a brief write-up of the Knights of the Cross and some of their contacts in the Church.

"Where did you get this?"

"From our Church contacts." Lucas shrugged. "The Papal Expeditionary."
"Apparently the big boss likes to keep the various 'branch offices' talking," Worth added.

I almost nodded. That much was true. I personally knew an Archangel that worked both with the Church, the Knights, and ran his own "spook shop". Literally. It was a group of spirits that he used to help fight evil.

The demon, however, did nod. "We've worked together before," she then grinned at the Fed. "I'll call Bishop O'Malley myself."

Lucas' own smile forced its way up. "Good, good. That would make things easier," he held out a hand. His eyes seemed to shine with mirth. Worth, for his part, glowered slightly.

I closed the folder and tossed it over. Lucas reached out and caught it in midair.

"Sounds good, I guess I'll call them directly."

"And with both the FBI and the Company vouching for you I'm sure you'll get all the help you need," the demoness happily agreed, giving Lucas a wide grin.

"Yes, well, we'll be in touch," Lucas stated as he handed the folder Worth who stuck it in his briefcase.

"And their badges?" Ranma absently asked

"I'm sorry?" Lucas asked.

"The two goons," the demon lazily pointed.

"Really, Miss Saotome?" Lucas sighed.

"Really. Now, I'm not like my sister. I can't cite the exact model and caliber of issue guns of various country's national police forces." Her grin grew even broader and the shadows deepened around her.

I tightened my fingers on my staff and felt a wave of energy wash over me.

"But even I know that the FBI carry Glocks these days." She stepped to the side and looked between me and the feds. "Now, sure, impersonating a federal officer is a crime, but I'll let that go... if you and your pack of goons stand down and tell us who sent you."

She rolled her shoulders and stepped forward and deeply inhaled. "You've got guts."

I was slightly disturbed by how she said like she was in the butcher shop admiring a fresh cut of meat.

Lucas chuckled. "You're outnumbered. You can't even call for help thanks to your Wizard friend, phage."

The demon's eyes shimmered. And a deep rumbling noise came from deep within her diaphragm. It took me a second to realize she was chuckling. It was lower in tone than even normal for her, and it seemed like she was keeping herself from going into maniacal laughter.

Eyes hardening, Lucas' hands moved to his shoulder.

The redhead smiled. There was something anticipatory about her. "Go ahead, skin it. Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens," the demon stated as she took another step closer.

"Listen Miss, I just here to talk to Mr. Dresden. I-I'm getting awful tired of your-"

At the stutter, the demon's eyes flared and she put hand up pointing two fingers at Lucas' face. "I'm getting' awful tired of your gas," she stated. "Now jerk that pistol and go to work."

Lucas's eyes shimmered, and he glanced to his partner.

"I said throw down law dog!"

"Easy there Drago," I told Worth as I reached into my own coat.

Lucas's hand flexed.

"You gonna do somethin'?" the demon demanded.

"And I was trying to be civil." Lucas gave a long exhale. When he finished his eyes were shining golden. "Let the Wizard go Miss Saotome. This does not concern you. We merely want him to go back home."

The two flanking goons rolled their shoulders and shifted their weight.

The redhead's deep laughing abruptly stopped. "That ain't my decision. You try to keep him from goin' where he wants."

Worth glared between me and the demon. "You turn him loose or we'll tear you apart."

She spared a wink at me. "We playing for blood then?"

Worth's hand touched the butt of his gun and my revolver swept out and pressed against his forehead. There was a series of satisfying ratcheting noises as I drew back the hammer on the massive fifty caliber weapon.

"You die first, get it? Your friends might get me in a rush, but not before I make your head into a canoe, you understand me?" I stated.

Worth blinked, more confused than frightened or even angry. "What?"

"Tombstone! Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp?" I snorted. "Philistines."

Eyes flashing, Worth set his jaw and glared, his chin jutting out. Some of the others in the park seemed to have noticed and were turned to us. The mullet jogger tilted his head while his partner might have grinned. Her teeth flashed white in the gloom.

Just on the edge of my vision, I could also make out a pair moving towards the picnic table with the others.

Lucas opened his mouth. Then, his gold eyes narrowing, he paused. I could tell he'd made his decision. "Men... kill the-!" he yelled the last words ending in a snarl.

Which turned into a gasping scream as a gout of flames burst from the redhead's fingers. It was a narrow almost beam-like pillar red fire, held in by purple spirals.

The familiar and horrifying sent of burnt flesh and hair filled my nose. Before me Worth's eyes also flashed golden and he began to change as his jaw began to grow and hair started to sprout on his face.

I pulled the trigger. His head blew apart and the rest of his body dropped like a potato sack, following Lucas to the ground.

The two goons in the back row wavered, their suits ripping apart as their bodies bulked up. Muscles and fur grew everywhere. Hands became paws tipped in curled claws. Mouths expanded into fang filled jaws as they howled and pounced. Similarly changing, the others in the park dashed forward leaping bounds.

Charging forward, the demon's wings, tail and horns popped into existence.

And then everything went to hell.


End Chapter 1


I'd like to thank the prereaders for their help in this project: J St C Patrick, DCG, Pale Wolf, Kevin Hammel, and Ellf. Special thanks should be given to Ellf for his help in soundboarding and getting this idea off the ground. His own Dresden Files fics such as Training Daze and the Building Faith series were major contributors.

In fact, I started this project back around January/February which is in roughly line with Ellf's own stuff. I mention this because that means that I've got 12 chapters of this story already written. I've got everything but the ending couple chapters written up so, yes, this is a story that I can have finished.

 

Blood Debts Book 5 of The Return
A Ranma, Sailor Moon, Dresden Files fic thingy.
By Sunshine Temple
Naturally, I own neither Sailor Moon nor Ranma nor the Dresden Files. So here's the disclaimer:

Ranma 1/2 and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC. And the Dresden Files is owned by Jim Butcher.
Previous chapters and other works can be found at my fanfiction website.
http://jtemple.florestica.com/
Temporary Backup Site.
http://www.fukufics.com/fic/
Other website Temple of Ranma's Senshi Seifuku
http://fukufics.com
C&C as always is wanted.


Chapter 2: Lagging Questions, Part B


What is it about werewolves and the FBI? In fairness, unlike the last time, these weren't actually federal agents. And they were a different type of werewolf, more "wolfman" than, you-know, man turning into wolf.

My musing was interrupted by the redheaded demon hitting one of the goons. Each hulking salivating shaggy-pelted monster had to be nearly 8 feet tall and clearing 400 pounds of muscle. She was under five foot and couldn't be much over a hundred pounds. I'm sure she has supernatural strength on her side. What supernatural creature didn't? By that same regard, I was pretty sure they did as well.

And I'd fought enough supernatural creatures to know that size has an advantage all its own. Still, she hit the goon, and by hit I mean "Slam all her weight and a combat boot into the side of the knee".

Murphy had said something about that. "Your opponent's body may be stronger than your body, his arm may be stronger than yours, but his arm is not stronger than your whole body." Now that was nice enough with humans, but I knew supernatural creatures who had more strength in their finger than my whole six foot, nine inch body.

That said, I don't care how strong or supernatural you are. There's only so much a knee joint can be strengthened. The whole point of a joint is to bend, and if you hit from the wrong, or in Ranma's case, right angle...

Putting his weight on the other leg, the wolfman howled. The demon rolled forward and sunk talon tipped hands into the wolfman's shoulder. Snarling in pain, he snapped at her and swiped at her, raking claws against her side.

The demon had shifted into some sort of grey-green uniform that looked like a loose kevlar bodysuit under an armored vest. Around her waist was another set of hanging armor that looked vaguely like the dangling straps on a Roman legionary uniform and also almost like a pleated skirt.

I shifted my attention. She was taking care of my flank and getting anyone close. That left me with the further out targets. A quick scan showed there were multiple groups rushing towards me. Two groups of two came from the North, one bearing from the east the other the west. That last one being mullet jogger and his partner, now a brawny russet colored wolf-woman. Or was it female wolfman?

From the south was a veritable pack of half a dozen of the creatures. They were about to bound over a small creek that meandered through the park. To the east by the parking lot were several other groups but I saw the platinum haired demon pull out a boxy rifle that made me think of Belgium chocolates. Her sister had drawn a katana that glowed with a ruddy light.

Both in armor identical to their mother, they faced away from each other on an oblique with the two human mercenaries, leveling their own rifles, in the center.

Right, then, pack of half a dozen to the south it is. My gun slipped into a pocket and I leveled my staff. The runes carved on it flared. "Forzare!" I shouted as a wave of force blasted the mini pack.

Four of them bowled over, two splashing into the water but two sunk their claws into the muddy bank of the not-quite-frozen stream and managed to hold on.

"Bad move." The runes on my staff turned white. "Infriga!" Ice started to form around the pack as the heat drained from the stream and was sucked towards my staff. The wolfmen who had dug in had it pretty bad as ice crept up around their paws holding them fast. The worst were the two who fell in and had the stream freeze over them.

And now I had a staff bursting with thermal energy. Sure it was a small creek, but it takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of water. While my blasting rod was optimized for this kind of work... my staff was already out.

I spun around and saw that one of the groups to the north was about fifty feet away. Mullet jogger and ponytail jogger it was. "Fuego!"

Okay, my fire wasn't as contained or as angry of a shade of red as Ranma's, but it was a cone of flames that lit up the whole park and charbroiled the mulleted wolfman. Amazingly even in wolf form, the hair fur his head was especially shaggy. Well, until bright orange flames licked over him.

Though I suppose, it was more amazing how the bulky, but strangely lithe female wolfman managed to dart to the side and evade the attack.

As I did my fire and ice double move, Ranma's other hand came up and jabbed the bottom of the wolf's jaw. There was a flash of gore as his muzzle blew off. An uncontrolled curdling, bubbling scream came out.

And despite his ruined face, the wolfman lunged at the demon, claws outstretched. His partner charged her from behind.

Her eyes flashed; her tail shot up. I'm not sure what happened but it dove into the other wolf's chest and blood started to spurt out from his lower ribs. Golden eyes burned insanely.

Another ruined howl came from the mangled face of the wolfman in front of her as it charged. The demon slipped inside and dodged one claw swipe and blocked the other with her forearm against the wolf's larger and bulkier arm. She slipped to the side and evaded the blows of both wolves.

There was an almost contemplative look on her alabaster face as she matched the two attackers beat for beat, managing to avoid or deflect darting arms that hit like steam pistons. It was impressive to see one fighting with half his face cut off and another with a gory hole his abdomen.

These things regenerated fast. Given that, my ice trick had bought me even less time that I thought.

It was then that I could confirmed the wolves had the edge in strength as the wolfman without a face managed to knock her a bit to the side by powering though a block.

Her luminous eyes flared deeper and her grin returned. The wolfman with the chest wound tried to slash her; the thick claws actually caught her armored vest. Her arm snaked out caught him by the elbow. Thin demonic talons flashed. A bulky hairy arm the size of a man's leg fell to the ground in a gush of blood.

With her other arm, and the support of her whole body, the demon punched the wolf's chest. The wound had mostly healed from where her tail had struck. Still, there was a crack as the blade of her hand broke ribs. The hulking hirsute man was knocked back a step.

Side stepping forward, she jabbed her hand into the wound, then she triggered here flame powers. Flames poured out of the wolfman's mouth as his remaining arm flailed.

Before he slipped off the demon's arm, she was already turning and gave a kick to the half-faced wolf's ankle as he tire grabbing her leg, she twisted but his claws sank through the Kevlar just below the armored skirting.

Blood spurted from the demon's lower thigh. She rolled forward, wrist locked the meaty paw that tried to grab her neck and with her bleeding leg swept out the wolfman's. As he fell, she twisted an arm, broke the wolf's wrist and rolled back kicking off of his waist. There was a crack as the wolf's hip broke and her arc wobbled but a wing flapped out to stable her as she landed in a low crouch.

I took stock of the battlefield. To the north the female wolfman jogger had linked up with the two other wolfmen. Passing a large tree, they were like twelve yards off, honestly, alarmingly close. Wings pulled back, tail twisting, the redhead had rushed to intercept them.

To the east by the parking a fusillade was dying off. The mercenaries and the demons had been outnumbered two to one but they seemed to have firepower on their side. The two mercenaries had fired their bulky rifles which had also lobbed a few grenades from their under-slung mounts.

However, that was just fire support for the two demons. Facing opposite they advanced. To the south the platinum haired one, her orange eyes flaring, advanced with a compact yet oddly thick rifle. It reminded me of the Belgian gun Kincaid had given Murphy. However, instead of firing little bullets that zipped through everything, this thing roared with a heavy crump blasting melon-sized chunks out of the wolfmen.

On the other side the black-haired demons used her sword. Her body moved with a long-limbed elegance, especially her footwork. However, her bladecraft had slightly less finesse. The softly glowing crimson blade wove through the mass of wolves, who despite the deep cuts, spilled guts, and the occasional pin-wheeling limb still pressed in.

A fist met her chest and clawed the armor. The plates held but part of the front of the vest ripped off. Another wolf stabbed with a paw. Stepping back, her ruby eyes flashed as she avoided most of the blow. Blood poured out as she jumped back and leveled the katana.

I'm not sure exactly what she shouted; it sounded Japanese. But then lighting burst from the red blade and arced between the wolfmen. "Holy Sith Lighting!" I exclaimed.

I was pretty sure that group could stand on their own. I turned back to the South and the mini pack I had frozen. The two who had been knocked over had managed to dig out their friends. I'd noticed that the pair who had their paws frozen into the ice were limping as their limbs regrew. They hobbled over to help the two that had fallen into the water. Their muzzles dripped with blood as they worried and tore.

I readied my staff but the two broke out of the ice faster than I had expected. Much of their pelts peeled off as the partially skinned beasts rose from the icy stream. Steam rose from their ropy, bloody muscles.

A dozen furious golden eyes focused on me and charged.

I centered myself and planted the staff on the ground. Now, I had been doing more than just rubbernecking. The pack charged. Half a dozen wolfmen rushed in a frothing loping run. Scrambling up the bank they rushed over the park closing in.

It was a risk but I pulled in Soulfire and Winter energy. "Disperitus!" I cried lifting my staff and slamming it down.

A crack opened before the pack in a rough jagged line. Then before they crossed it I hardened my will and followed up with "Geodas."

Soulfire, powered from my own soul fed into the magic. Silver light flashed as a giant shimmering hand slammed down on the ground, and the wolfmen. The crack sheared into a sinkhole and the howling wolves tumbled into the oblong pit.

Gasping, I grit my teeth, they were already clawing at the sides of the pit and trying to jump out. Sweat dripped down my brow. It was time to close the trap. This time I rested my staff in the crook of one arm and drew my blasting rod.

The runes on the shorter wooden rod flared. "Pyrofuego," I hissed. A dense foot-wide column of blue-white fire shot out of the tip of the rod. My coat billowed in the backlash as the spear of fire shot out, and right into the pit. I angled my wrist raking it over the length of the oblong hole and held it until the howls and whimpers stopped.

I wheezed as the fires died off; the runes on my blasting rod still glowing as the bunt scent of wood smoke came from the enchanted carvings.

My exhaling continued as I twisted away and looked to the west. I could barely see the road at the far end of the park but that was about it. However, there was a stirring to the right close by. In torn suits, the partially transmogrified bodies of Worth and Lucas stirred.

"You've got to be kidding me," I groaned as they rose up, their heads knitting together.

"Wizard... you were warned." Lucas' voice was a grating gasp. His head had reformed with muzzle full of jagged teeth and torn canine ears.

Regeneration, lovely. Still, I'd faced werewolves with quicker regen.

Well, one.

And it killed a lot of good people. I raised my blasting rod.

And Worth slammed into me. The blond wolfman was big and bulky even compared to the others. He hit like a bus and for a moment I held. The might of the Winter Mantle rallied against the wolfman.

Then Worth roared and hit again, and I tumbled. My staff went flying. The Winter mantle stirred and raged. Pain and disorientation waned and I got control and rolled up to my feet in a crouch.

I had a split second to steady myself before the blond wolfman hit me again. Claws slashed at my duster. This time I muscled back and held my ground. In that moment I thanked every long hour I'd spent running in sand weighted down, every monotonous session I'd spent on a maxed out weight machine.

The spell enchanted leather held. Worth's gold eyes blinked in confusion. Then he smiled and punched me. Yeah... the magical protections I'd put into the leather protected it against impacts and clashes and even hits, but it did it by dissipating and widening the impact. I could still feel the blows.

I gasped and went down to one knee. He hit me again. Being the Winter Knight allowed me to become physically enhanced. And that's what was keeping me up. After realizing my holster was empty, my hand went to my side and another hit the ground to steady myself. The little shields on my bracelet jangled.

"Defendarius," I wheezed mentally casting my shield spell. My timing had to be just right. And I had to use my old shield. The one that was a blue bubble of adamantine force. Unlike the latter ones that had more give and protected against more than just force. The old spell was more brittle it was easier to defeat and easier to slip other things past it, like heat.

But it took less energy to cast.

Now... that wasn't why I was using it.

I planted my arm with the shield bracelet onto the ground and a blue hemisphere or force arced into existence between my kneeling form and the wolfman looming over me. Well between me and most of the wolfman. A hairy arm to nearly the elbow fell next to me and a fisted hand cut at the wrist fell to the other side.

Yes my old shield was more brittle, but that meant it was sharper.

Worth blinked in shock and then roared at me beating a bloody wrist stump against my shield.

"Hah! You stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!"

The hand I'd been holding against my side reached into an inner pocket. The pocket I'd absently dropped my gun into. The monstrous revolver swung out. My shield dropped. I had four shots left. I aimed low, at the wolfman's hips. I pulled the trigger and the heavy bullets broke even those reinforced hip bones.

Drawing onto more Winter power I sprung back gaining some distance from the stumbling wolfman.

His eyes gleamed and I slammed the barrel against his snapping snout. "What are you going to do bleed on me?"

Worth's eyes blinked in confusion.

"Really? Not even that one?" I pointed my blasting rod. "Fuego," flame shot out and flesh bubbled and charred.

Then I got shot. Bullets impacted the side of my duster. I turned to see Lucas in his wolfman form holding a gun. It looked tiny in his misshapen paws. Gold eyes looked on in amusement.

"No staff, empty gun and... " he paused one gold eye closed.

A bullet whizzed by cutting my blasting rod in half.

"Nice shootin' Tex." A rictus grin fell over me as I let the shattered rod hang by the thong over my wrist. I fed more power into my shield bracelet and readied it.

"I was aiming for your hand." Lucas barked a laugh. He raised the gun. "Still, you don't have any protection on your head."

Then several things happened at once.

Lucas fired.

My shield, my proper shield, popped into existence.

And a pair of deep purple beams shot from the redhead demon's eyes. They burst out and cut through Lucas's gun, fingers, and arm. Then they raked over his torso gouging deep, messy cuts.

Lucas turned as the gun, and much of his hand, fell to the ground in pieces.

Eyes glowing, the demon's smile broadened as the shadows deepened around her. Lucas sprang forward.

Dropping the remains of my blasting rod into a coat pocket, I looked around. Other than the demon dancing around the fake FBI wolfman, there seemed to be a bit of a pause to the fight. At least the gunfire to the east had died down. Though the demons and one of the mercenaries had formed a closer position around a fallen comrade.

That did not stop the black haired demon from pointing her sword at one of the wolfmen who had fallen near her. A severe expression was on her face as an arc of lightning shot out and fried one of the creatures.

I also found my staff. My free hand stretched out and I concentrated. "Forazine," I hissed pushing away a pounding headache. The length of wood started to wobble and then flew into my hand. Hey, if the demons could use Sith lightning and imitation lightsabers then I could use Force telekinesis. Not to mention that I knew an actual knight with a real lightsaber. Okay, it's a holy sword that projects a beam of light that can cut anything. Close enough.

Now that I had the staff, I popped open the cylinder to my revolver. Giant empty cartridges fell out. I dropped in another speedloader, twisted and snapped the cylinder closed.

The two goons who had accompanied Lucas and Worth shivered and started to rise. Their bodies were still pretty mangled but their claws and slavering mouths full of teeth had formed enough.

Already a freshly bloody mess, Lucas pulled back as the two went at the redhead. They were then followed by a newly healed trio from the North led by the pony-tailed jogger.

Lucas' suit coat was in tatters, mostly from the enlarged growth of his shoulders, but it was also burned, sliced and looked like it had bullet holes in it. When had he been shot? He gasped as his wounds healed and seemed to almost make a decision. But then his eyes flared and with a snarl he jumped back in.

The demon wove around dodging most of the mobbing wolves' attacks. The bulk of the rest she blocked. Still, she was outnumbered six to one. In the bare seconds they fought, hits started to connect. I noted that she positioned herself to let her armor most much of the impacts, relying on the plates inset in her vest and skirting.

She also shifted her body, more willing to take a rake across her stomach than having a hip broken, more willing to have a chunk of a bicep torn off than have an elbow broken.

That's not to say she was only defense. If anything her offense was more aggressive. Hairy limbs flew and muzzles were sliced apart and knees were crushed. Her tail darted and stabbed, cutting through the torso and severing the spine of a wolfman foolish enough to jump her from behind.

I aimed the revolver and put in a few shots. The bullets were heavy enough that they at least distracted the beasts. I was loath to use anything more forceful. Sure, she could regenerate but how much?

The body hit her on the back and the rest of the mob pressed her. Two were decapitated outright in the press, but that left three, well three and a half, to try and dog pile her.

They snapped their mouths and clawed in a frantic frenzy. The demoness screamed in rage and pain. Then came the raking purple beams and gouts of fire. Her whole body seemed to be aflame and the wolves yowled. Wings pushed, legs kicked, arms threw and the pungent burning hairy bodies lifted.

The demon's lips parted. My heart stopped. Deep purple shadows clung to her like blood. They shimmered and splattered, and then I realized that much of it was blood. I had seen women, seen monsters that could double as goddesses of violence and death. Terrific and awful blood soaked avatars of violence and seduction.

She flicked her claws and, with a burbling laugh, she pulled back her lips. It was not a smile, though a wild glee did seem to burn in her eyes

She lunged. One wolf was disemboweled as she dragged a hand though a torso, stopping at a ribcage which she tore with a meaty squelch of tearing flesh and breaking bones. Another was hit in the muzzle by her tail. This time I got to see how it worked.

Extruding from the edges of the spade-shaped tail were dozens of little filaments that glinted in the fires. They writhed and twitched and where they touched flesh... up close it was like hitting someone in the face with a blender. The beast fell down screaming and paws clawing at its own face.

At the last moment Lucas slipped aside and the demon fell on the jogger wolf-woman. The demon bit her neck, planted a clawed hand on the wolf's shoulder and tore. Blood spurted in a howling scream and the demon swallowed. The claw lowered and in a quick, disturbingly elegant, move that spoke of long practice, the ribs were sliced and cracked apart.

Once the heart and liver were scooped out she moved onto the next wolf. Her eye's savage gleam grew but there was an almost… epicurean expression on her face as she sniffed and sectioned the wolf her tail had ravaged. The most disturbing part was that despite the savage gleam in her eyes, her expression and posture were such that I knew the demon was in complete control of herself.

A paw fumbled in a suit coat and Lucas pulled something out tearing up a pocket. He lifted a hand. I broke out of my trance and the revolver swiveled.

The demon swallowed the bit of quadriceps. Her eyes narrowed.

Lucas laughed as the bullet hit just above and between his shoulder blades. Two purple beams raked over his arm, my next bullet hit the back of his head and something dropped to the ground.

"Grenade!" the demon shouted, blood dripping down the corners of her mouth.

I distantly heard a vehicle rev to the South-west as I powered my shield. It could handle a single grenade. It had been hit with worse.

But then instead of having the multi-colored bubble get hit with shrapnel in a grey puff, blinding white light flared as the grenade exploded in a bright flare. I turned my head away and slammed my eyes shut.

My eyes were blinded for a second, then the machine guns opened up.

***************


My vision returned. I took stock of things. I was in a crouch with my duster falling behind me and leaning my arms on my staff. Time seemed to slow. The Winter Mantle suffused me. It was dark but my vision had a crisp clarity. The animalistic part of the Winter Knight was angry but oddly... patient, as if it knew I would respond to this affront, vehemently

My shield was up. That was good.

I was being shot at. That was bad.

I was being shot at a lot. That was very bad.

I felt my heart beat.

I spared a glance at Ranma. She had also dropped down onto her belly. Some sort of flaming nimbus was surrounding her too. She had a shield too. Good.

I saw splashes of blood and meat kick out and into her flaming shield when some of the bullets hit her. So, her shield wasn't as strong. Bad.

The gunners were on some kind of truck and they seemed to know their stuff as they poured on the fire. The muzzle flashes kept me from seeing exactly how the guns were mounted but the constant rate of fire indicated it was heavy-duty. They were probably bolted onto the vehicle's frame, and with this volume of fire had to be fed by long belts. I didn't want to think about how many rounds they could store in the back of a vehicle. I had been shot at before... a lot.

I had become a connoisseur of being downrange to gunfire. From the disturbingly common pistol hits, to the roar of shotguns, to the back-breaking pounding of being hit by an anti-materiel rifle (Hurray for spell-reinforced dusters!). From the cheap little machine pistols, to big box-fed machine guns firing rifle bullets. Despite all that, vehicle mounted guns were a novelty. It was like being hit by the force of an anti-materiel round but at the rate of a machine gun. (Which was exactly what it was).

My heart beat again. The crystalline focus of the time dilation held, but not for much longer. Oh, there was no magic, simply the effect of adrenaline slowing my perception of time.

My shield distorted and puckered, as hit after hit slammed into it. They seemed to be keeping more pressure on me. The dome shimmered and flickered and I pushed more of my will.

The shield stabilized but then I kept pushing. Runes on my staff flared and my shield bracelet ran hot against my wrist. I didn't have much time. Once my shield dropped all I had was my duster. Which would hold... for a bit.

I glance over, after the initial flare the redhead's flaming aura had dimmed. A feeling of rage washed over me from her direction. She had seemed to sink into the shadows and there was a burst of motion. Okay... so the demon was up to something.

Well, I could be up to something too.

I slammed my staff. "Geodas!" The Earth energy slammed against the shield bubble and pressed. I concentrated and shaped the spell. It wouldn't escape until...

I dropped my shield. The spell lashed out. A narrow fissure shot out from my staff; I dodged the side hit the ground, rolled to behind a bolder by the phones, and flicked my shield back on.

The truck continued firing, until the steadily widening fissure snaked under the vehicle and the front and back drivers side wheels fell into the trench and the thing slammed to the ground. The guns kept firing, but it was erratic as they swiveled about.

"DarkStar Burst!" The demon might have shouted. I can't be certain, my hearing was pretty shot.

But I did see her crouch up from a position that was behind a large tree. Her hands were clasped and a black... orb shot out. I got a brief afterimage of purple and white fire wreathing the object before it raced away, button-hooked and slammed into the gun truck from the side. It exploded, erupting with deep purple, enveloping flames.

Despite myself, I gave a low whistle at that. If I didn't know better it looked like she could aim that... whatever it was after launching. It also made sense why she offered the close quarter work while giving me the ranged. It was not that she lacked for ranged attacks, but she could do more damage close in, and take more.

A throbbing engine noise began to drum against my head. It was felt more than heard.

The guns stopped. For a precious moment silence fell over the park.

It was too late, a Gatling gun opened up. Tracer-laden fire stabbed down from the sky, as a helicopter droned overhead.

"Oh come on! How much crap do you stupid wolve-"

That's when I noticed the direction the skyborne fire was pointed in. The tracers hit with a density that made it seem like a solid laser beam. It raked over the wolfmen who had managed to heal and shamble out of the pit by the stream. Bodies were minced by the withering fire and fell in heaps.

The beam then turned onto the gun truck and cut it apart with seeming contempt.

Then as suddenly as it had started the beam shut off.

My head pounded. I let the shield drop. Weapon mounted lights started to turn on. I cast a spell over my pentacle amulet adding a bit of blue light, and then lit the runes on my staff. It was good to be able to see once again.

The helicopter kept its low, slow orbit over the park.

Ranma strode towards me; the glow ebbing from her eyes. Her uniform was a mess. Blood, viscera, organs, tears and gouges marred the loose bodysuit. One of her skirt pleats had been slashed exposing a cracked armor plate. Her vest had dents and a couple craters where she'd been struck by high caliber bullets. A bit of lead gleamed in one of the craters having been stopped at the last armor layer.

Another was marked by a gaping hole that wept blood. Either impact would have been enough of a hammer blow to knock a human down and a fair number of supernatural critters, too. Still, without the armor, the bullets would have hit at full velocity and done a lot more damage.

As I stared, the wound closed itself. Comprehension dawned. The brood's armor was designed with regeneration in mind. The layers were intended to slow down attacks, spread out the impact, reduce damage, all to make it easier for the demon's innate healing to work.

I looked down at the organic effluent that spattered my own coat and revised my evaluation. She wasn't any messier than I was, and unlike the wolfmen she didn't need to stop for a lie down to heal her damage.

"You hurt?" she asked approaching. Her fingers flexed as if to burn off excess energy. Her tail also swished. It almost looked thicker to me. I glanced at her again. Her cheeks didn't seem as... gaunt as before. Actually, the short demon seemed less slight overall.

I exhaled and made a point to go over my limbs and chest. During a fight it was surprisingly easy to get injured and not notice it. It was even easier when tapping into the Winter Mantle's "ignore pain" abilities. "No I'm... fine."

"Good," she smiled. Her teeth were bloody and stained. She sniffed the air and looked around in a circle. "We'll have you checked out by the Doc anyway. You might have gotten wounded and not know it. Adrenaline does crazy things."

I nodded, trying not to think about how her teeth got that way.

She unclipped a canteen, splashed some water into her mouth, gargled, and spit. This time I couldn't keep from blanching at the soupy string of gore that came out.

The demon took another swish and repeated. This time her spit was only tinged pink with blood. The redhead then drank from the canteen. She wiped the rim with a tan rag from one of her vest's pockets and offered it to me.

I eyed the canteen. I looked down; we were both splattered in blood and drenched in sweat. Hell with it, my mouth was dry; I was thirsty.

I reached out, and suddenly there was a labored howl. A burnt and flayed wolfman rose up. And charged. I recognized the remains of a flowing pelt atop its head: the mullet jogger.

The canteen fell from my hands as I fumbled for the holstered revolver. Eyes flashing, Ranma's hand blurred.

Suddenly, the wolfman's torso blew apart. From the sternum to belly button and nearly the entire width of his body was a ragged flared hole. In front skin had peeled off from the detonation while in back bone and organs spewed out in a great fan.

Then there was a thunderous bang.

His spine utterly shattered the mullet wolf flopped down and amazingly he tried to drag himself forward. Growling, Ranma strode forward. A boot crushed a paw. The wolfman snapped and tried to lunge.

The redhead's hand dipped and a silvery pistol appeared. It was a massive steel-framed affair. The gun fired with a familiar report, and a long 50 caliber casing flung from the gun. I watched the case tumble then turned back to the wolfman.

The cranial damage was slightly worse than when I had shot Worth in the head. I briefly pondered them using the same caliber as I lifted my hand off the revolver. Hearing the helicopter near, I looked up.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ranma kneel down and start poking through the wolman's guts with a clinical eye.

Ropes spooled out of the helicopter and dark shapes dropped down. Some descending on the ropes, others simply jumping and letting their wings catch just above the ground.

I heard another set of pounding turbines. To the east another helicopter descended and spooled lines.

Soldiers fanned out in grey Company armor and helmets. Familiar bulky rifles were shouldered. At the vanguard was a quartet of demons in a diamond formation. They wore the same plate-skirt and vest over Kevlar bodysuit getup as the redhead.

I also noticed that they all had... bows on their chests. Maybe bow was the wrong word. On their chest armor, in the center of the bow, each wore a sullen red gem. Dangling from the gems were two pairs of Kevlar-sheathed ribbons. I stretched out my senses: the gems were magical. There was a familiar vibration that set my teeth on edge. The ribbons seemed to be antennae, or maybe they were sleeves that protected the actual antenna.

To the right confidently strode a demoness with tousled orange hair. It had more body and curl than even Ranma's. And unlike the brood mother, the makeup this one wore was blatant.

However, her bright green eyes shone with a predatory madness and her lips were curled in an amused grin as she sniffed the air. Cradled in her hands was a wide stubby weapon. It took me a second to notice the belt of grenades being fed from an underslung box. I blinked.

To the left was a demon with dark, shorter cobalt blue hair. It was slicked back with a bit of a tease on the ends. Her makeup was a bit more toned down, and done in shades of blues that tugged at the Winter Mantel.

Oddly, her hands were empty. She had a short rifle slung over one shoulder identical to the blonde's weapon. There was also a large pistol holstered on one hip, but that seemed to be part of the uniform more than anything else.

In the center front of the group was a tiny demoness. Even in the heavy armor she looked slight and slender. Younger looking than the others, she had powder-blue hair spilling out behind her. She had a pair of immense slender knives in her hands. Their blades glowed the same dull red as that Sith katana.

Her makeup was also in Winter colors, though softer, more pastel, shades. However, more than that my Winter Knight senses tingled. There was something... Wintery about the delicate-looking demoness.

The demon in the back had no makeup. Well, she might have had on lipstick, it was a bit hard to tell what was a "natural" color, never mind the poor lighting in the park. Cut into a short bob, her hair was a dark red that was almost auburn. She wore the same uniform but unlike the others moved a bit awkwardly, as if she wasn't as used to it. Pale blue eyes seemed to coolly scan everything.

However what stood out about her, dwarfing everything else, was the gun she carried. It had dimensions more in line with a piece of farm equipment than a weapon. The rifle had a thick heavy barrel that had a bore like a drainage pipe. There was a reinforced stock, a giant scope, and a magazine the same dimensions as a thick hardcover book.

The whole sniper rifle was longer than she was tall. And like the orange-haired demon she carried the massive weapon without any seeming effort.

The demons' faces brightened and they rushed over to the brood mother.

"Mom!" the three in front gushed while the sniper hung back.

Ranma hugged the demons in a group hug. Smiling she motioned to the sniper. "Come on, Morgan."

The barest tinge of a flush colored the sniper's cheeks as she glanced at me and joined the hug before it broke apart.

"Right, good shot," Ranma stated.

"Thanks, Aunty," Morgan said, bowing her head, which also presented her horns to the older demon. She then shrugged. "It wasn't much, even without the digital assist."

"Still," the brood mother smiled and passed a dripping bundle to Morgan.

The sniper's nostrils flared and with as light embarrassment she slipped it into a large pouch on her armor. I pointedly looked away from the… gift.

"Girls, Dresden. Dresden, girls. Full introductions will have to wait," Ranma clapped her hands and raised her voice. "What we have here is an organized Pattern L attack. I don't know the Level, but they're high enough to regenerate head-shots."

She glanced around, meeting the eyes of every mercenary and demon. "Secure the scene, and make sure they don't get up. If we can get one safe for questioning, do it, but I don't want any risks. These are some bruisers here.

"Also their leaders were dressed as American federal agents, including fake ID."

She met the eyes of a brown-haired agent. It took me a moment to recognize Lieutenant Tendo behind all the battle-rattle. The two women exchanged meaningful nods. The demon then bowed her head to Tendo and gestured with her hand. A sign of deference? That was interesting.

"Forensics is going to come in and go over this, but if you see something, secure it now," Lieutenant Tendo stated. "I want Gold team assisting the Fifth, Green on perimeter. Red with me. This place is going to be a zoo once backup arrives."

Tendo looked around. "Which will include local police. I want you all looking human when the boys in blue arrive. Get to it."

"Wounded?" Ranma asked moments after Tendo finished. "Casualties?"

The black-haired demon was standing a bit to the side. "Smith was hit in the second wave," Nariko stated, a tiny tremor in her voice.

A flicker of emotion passed the stern brunette's face. "Take me to him," Tendo ordered.

Ranma also growled as she and the others ran to the picnic table. I followed.

"Barnes has stabilized him," Nariko assured as they neared.

I looked over to see the same medic who had cleared me kneeling over one of the mercenaries that had accompanied in the van.

It was the one with short black hair. The other mercenary and the platinum blonde demoness hovered over him. The demon actually had a flashlight out and was pointing it on Smith's wound.

I also got a clear look at her rifle. It looked like a copy of Murphy's little P90. By that I meant it was a compact boxy-looking rifle with a trigger near the front, a tiny stub of a barrel extending beyond the frame, and a magazine running along the length of the top.

However, Murphy's gun was made out of plastics and fired a zippy little round. This gun was a sullen beast that seemed to be hogged out of a solid piece of steel. My Winter faerie powers were on edge just looking at it. There was also some brass scattered about that looked more like all-metal shotgun shells than anything else.

The wounded mercenary's olive green eyes seemed alert, if glassy. He smiled when he saw us. "Hey Red, Mr. Wizard." He then nodded to Tendo. "LT, Ma'am."

Tendo's face softened as she crouched down. She simply turned to the medic.

The dark-skinned medic glanced up then went back to cleaning a nasty set of slashes on his side. "Lacerations. It was a glancing blow. The armor didn't stop it but it kept it from getting deeper." As he closed the wounds and started wrapping, Barnes chewed the side of his lip. "Not to mention the pounding his ribs took when he got hit. Nothing's obviously broken... Lt. Covington will need to do a mess of X-rays."

"Helo Evac?" Tendo asked.

Barnes hissed through his teeth. He then met the lieutenant's eyes. "Just in case?"

"Right."

"It'd have some room, check with the civilian responders?"

Tendo nodded. "I'll coordinate and see who needs immediate transport."

Smith nodded and smiled at Ranma. "Looks like no D Program for me tonight."

Tendo's face clouded at that. "Glad to hear you'll be okay, Gabe."

Ranma patted him on the shoulder. "Just means you'll buy drinks for us next time."

Tendo squeezed Gabe's hand. "We'll get you patched up," she looked to Ranma.

Nodding, the redhead stood. "Ukyou, Nariko. Make sure he gets to Doc Covington."

The two demons bowed their heads.

Distant sirens started to get louder.

Tendo swore. "Right, I'll have to play public relations." She then turned her radio on. "Warden Dresden, please try to refrain from magic until after I've radioed in a medivac. It won't just be Gabe in there."

"Uh… sure."

Tendo nodded and went back to Gabriel and the others to coordinate

Ranma tugged at my arm. "Come on, let's look at some dead monsters."

"Sure," I fell into step next to her.

The redhead exhaled in an angry hiss. Her shoulders shook a tiny bit. Her tail quivered. She paused and with some reluctance closed her eyes. The horns, wings, and tail flickered and vanished.

She took the wounding of her men personally. Ah. Yes. They weren't just mercenaries to her, they were hers. I recalled the great tree that I saw when I soulgazed her. Not all of the connections were to her family.

I could feel wisps of rage wafting from the redhead. She gave a thin smile. "You look disappointed." As if following my gaze she twisted and looked down her spine. "Miss the tail?"

I coughed. "No- um... I wasn't staring."

A bit of amusement crossed her eyes as she kept walking forward. I really wasn't staring at her butt. Honest. I was looking at the armor back there. The back vest narrowed around the shoulder blades and there were slits that had accommodated her wings. A similar notch was in the bottom of the vest to allow her tail to come out.

The gear was all custom, which meant that someone had manufactured it. Heck, the guns looked to be purpose-built. Maybe the grenade launcher and the sniper rifle were original or just slight mods. But the pistols and those rifles were custom. The Company was investing a lot in equipping these girls.

Part of what had raised my curiosity. "What's the D Program?"

The demon's eyes locked on me. Eldritch purple depths bored onto me. My step faulted. "A choice, a very personal choice."

"Sorry..." We resumed walking. I pondered. What kind of choice would require you to be mortally wounded?

I thought back to the last powerful succubus I knew. Okay, Lara was a White Court vampire. But she was from a family of supernaturally alluring and strong creatures that fed off of sex. After a battle where her retainers, her mercenaries, were mortally wounded, or even just blinded or had their backs broken in battle, she fed them to her family.

Oh sure, she defended it by pointing out her sisters were heavily wounded themselves and thus needed to feed, and that the feeding would be extremely pleasurable. To Lara the situation was clear; someone had to die to save her family. Why not use mercenaries that couldn't fight?

However... no one in Ranma's brood was injured. More so I doubted the redhead would throw the lives of her men away like that. Even if they did volunteer. Which I suppose someone might. I mean, if you were going to die... why not do it in the arms of a beautiful woman?

But there was no way Gabe would have such an attitude if the D Program was short for "demon chow", not to mention the medic and the lieutenant. So, it had to be something else.

What did that leave? What personal choice was only open to gravely wounded mercenaries?

Oh. Of course.

"D Program's a bit on the nose isn't it?" I asked, my mouth running faster than my brain. "Was Faust Force too blatant?"

Despite herself, the redhead chuckled. "It's a delicate subject."

I nodded. Mercenaries hiring demonic contractors was one level of scary. Mercenaries converting their members to build a "demonic army" was a whole extra level. Hells Bells - I still found the concept worrying. It did explain the investment in weapons and gear.

"You're not objecting," the demon noted as we returned to the bank of phones where this mess had started.

"Should I? If I accept that you're not evil, then I can't deny your friends a chance to live. Not if it's their choice."

The redhead inclined her head. Even without her horns present, I now recognized the gesture. "You made a similar choice," she stated, crouching over Lucas' body.

Her nostrils flared and she blinked.

"I could have," I admitted. A few years ago I was injured, my back was broken. But I had to save my daughter. That was unacceptable. However I had... options. Ultimately, I went with Mab. She healed my body and gave me power, but there were others. The Blackened Order of Denarius could have given me everything I asked for, but the cost would have been high.

The redhead met my gaze and raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, maybe I did," I grumbled.

The redhead blinked. "No, not that, the body." She pointed. "It seem funny to you?"

The coiffed orange-haired demoness had stepped up to us. She wrinkled a nose. "That's not how they normally smell?"

It was an eviscerated corpse. I'm not sure what miss high-fashion thought a dead body should smell like. Wait. "Yeah, he's not healing. Shouldn't he be back up by now?"

"Feh," the green-eyed demoness snorted and kicked it with a boot. "Damn bastard's just sitting there," she groused, her tone at odds with her appearance.

"Maybe a slight off-smell," her blue-haired companion noted.

"Yeah, got a whiff of spoiled sweetbreads. So, no BBQ?" she asked with a leer.

The redhead ignored her daughter. "There's a bit of smoke," Ranma murmured. She sighed and flicked out a claw.

It sunk into Lucas' forehead, cut down, and pried. The hairy skullcap cracked off. Even I could smell the burnt almost cinnamon scent that wafted up.

Tiny green flames flickered in the skull cavity, turning the man's brains to ash. Ranma glanced at me. I reached out a hand. "Yeah, magic."

The orange-haired demoness snorted again.

"Misako?" Ranma asked her.

Green eyes twinkling, she nodded and went over to Worth's body. Her fist came down with a sickening crunch. With no more emotion than if she were shelling a crab, the orange-haired demoness peered into the shattered skull cavity and took a sniff. She repeated the action for the two goons who had followed Worth and Lucas.

Idly flicking some skull shards off her fingerless gloves, Misako returned to us. "Yeah, all their brains are fried," she licked the back of a finger. "Technically broiled."

Nodding, Ranma didn't look surprised, or disturbed, by her daughter's actions. "I don't hear anyone else having to fire on the other Pattern L's. Right. Akane, Misako have the others check out their corpses. I wanna see if everyone had some Kool-aid."

"We'll also check the truck," Akane, the dark blue haired, demon noted.

"Yeah, those were human," Ranma absently noted.

"Maybe their brains won't be overdone," Misako laughed as they trotted off.

"Kool-aide?" I asked.

"Your world didn't have Jonestown?"

"Oh we did, it just-" I stopped. I was about to say "it just seems well before your time." Problem was Jonestown was well before my time. Sure, Ranma looked younger than me, but I wasn't really sure how much younger, or if that was even true. Guessing the ages of supernatural women tended to be nothing but trouble.

"It just seems odd that you'd pick a mass suicide from a cult," I finished lamely.

"Who's to say this wasn't a cult?" She asked inspecting the lupine face. "Pattern L's can have it tough. Until they get control."

"Lycanthropes?"

The demoness nodded. "You've got 'em?"

"Something like that," I stated. Well not exactly. I knew of two ways for humans to turn into wolves, a group of berserkers that had extra strength, aggression, and healing, and a man who had a hereditary curse that transformed him into a lupine nightmare. But I didn't know of any werewolves that turned into giant wolfmen.

"Still..." the demon made a thoughtful noise. "We've got folks that can regenerate from having their brains blown out and their heads burned off… and some green flames in their skulls puts ‘em down."

"Yeah, that seems suspicious. Someone didn't want them to talk?" No wonder she had mentioned Jonestown.

"Why else? You got any ideas, Mr. Wizard?"

"There's a few things I could try," I admitted. Fire was tricky. It was purifying, not just physically but magically. It was why a lot of us wizards used it. Still, there was something I could do.

I sighed and opened my third eye. As my wizard's Sight cane into focus, I looked to the ground. The Sight was handy. It laid bare magic. But it came at a cost, everything I saw would stay just as vivid as I saw it now, forever.

Raising my eyes, I kept my gaze limited to the top of Lucas' skull. Under the Sight, the green flames were vivid. A bright sickly green fire merrily burned in the top of his skull like a grotesque jack-o-lantern.

Threads of green fire led from Lucas' skull. About two dozen, the nearest went to Worth's. His crushed skull also burning merrily. I risked a bit and looked down the blond wolfman's body. It was a throbbing twisted hairy form of bulging, shadowy flesh. I could see a shattered human body buried deep within, chest burst, limbs flayed, jaw pulled back in a silent scream. It looked like the wolf had torn its way out and subsumed the humanity.

And spiraling through the wolf shadow-stuff was another green line that went to the wolfman's heart. I pulled back and tracked the other threads running out of Lucas' skull. They matched where the woflmen had fallen in the fight. There was even bundle that went to the west towards the gun truck.

"Yeah, they're all linked back to Lucas. He must have triggered it when the cavalry arrived," I glanced up at Ranma.

I stared. And quickly shut down my Sight.

She looked... much the same. Her red hair flowed more. Her armor was pristine and made of shiny silver and gold instead of Kevlar and ceramic plate. She also had hooves instead of boots. Her face was cleaned of the grime and blood of battle.

Multiple pairs of horns had adorned her brow and solid luminous purple eyes stared deeply into me. However, I could see threads spiraling away from her as well. Pulsing purple, they were the same links I had seen when I'd soulgazed her.

The soulgaze was personal, intimate, but it was also abstract, metaphorical. Or at least it often was. The Sight had confirmed just how literal of a creature the redhead was.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah fine, doing that just gets me."

"Doing what?"

"Wizard Sight. Sees things, gotta cost," I noted. She handed me a canteen and I took a sip.

Ranma stood up. She offered a hand and I used that and tapped the ground with my staff.

She looked from the staff to the wolf-pit and the crevasse that swallowed one side of the gun truck. "Good geomancy. Takes a lot to move that much earth."

"Earth magic's actually something I'm weak in. Not as bad as water magic but..."

The demon whistled. "More impressive then."

"You've got some?" I asked.

"Yup. It's too slow for most fights, but handy," she smiled. "You're pretty good at fire."

"You too."

"Could be a bit less clumsy with a gun, but you didn't accidentally shoot me. I'll take that," she smiled.

The sirens drew closer and I saw police starting to cordon off the park. There were a handful of larger vehicles. Either SWAT or reinforcements from the Cmpany. Ranma tilted her head at their arrival, but didn't seem concerned.

She took in the battlefield, looking from bit to bit. "We have two dozen Pattern L's. Two doin' a passable impersonation of Feds. They had heavy machine guns and the will to use them in a city."

I noted that several of the sirens were ambulances. My stomach clenched.

"Maybe as a last resort," she shrugged "But when things went bad they still opened up."

I noted that the Company had also used heavy weapons. Though a helicopter shooting down at a truck should have less collateral damage than sustained fire across a city park.

"How bad is it?"

"Dunno, worse than some fights, better than others." she said, distantly. "This was a mess, but it was cleared up quick enough,"

"Quick?"

"Wasn't hours of a running gun battle. Also no bystanders inside the park,"

I remembered the anxiety and pressure that had been building before Lucas has appeared. How people had started to empty the park, leaving just Lucas and his pack. "That was you?"

The demon bowed her head. "It was a precaution."

I pondered. On the one hand it showed she gave a damn about innocent people. On the other it meant she had the ability to influence emotions at a distance.

"And since we were outside, people could just walk away. Buildings are harder. Least, we didn't have any room clearing." Her eyes appraised me. "You've done that before. No you've fought in buildings as they’ve burned down."

"With people inside," I admitted.

She patted me on the shoulder. "You don't have any healing magic do you?"

"How?"

"If you did you'd be running to those ambulances right?" she asked.

I could just hear her unstated follow-up question: "And you'd have healed my friend who got slashed open because he'd been assigned to drive you around right?"

"Right," I agreed. "And lemmie guess, you've only got one type of healing magic?"

Ranma's face clouded, but she nodded. Her hands flexed. She was powerful; she knew people were hurting, but she felt helpless. Maybe she even felt a bit guilty about it.

I could relate. "These wolves were pretty serious," I noted, shifting the subject.

The redhead exhaled. "Lucas' pack was also wired up with suicide spells. And had fake documents just in case they could convince you that you should go with them."

"Yeah, yeah, someone really wants me dead," I leaned on my staff. "I've got a gift at making enemies."

"I bet you do." The demon chuckled. She then lifted her arms to encompass the park. "But doesn't this seem like a lot to organize, you know, given you've spent less than a day here. And most of that was asleep?"

"Yeah, they knew I was coming."

"Or someone came over here before you did, organized this little welcoming party."

The demon looked at me and smiled, her teeth gleaming. "So, Mr. Wizard, which of your enemies is screwing with my city?"

I glanced over at her. There was something about her tone at the end of the question. Recalling my Sight of her I wondered exactly how literal she was. I cleared my throat. "Well... that's kind of a long list."

***************


Rubbing my head, I eased into the mess hall table. At least these folks were big believers in showering after a battle. I did pick at my black shirt. It was new and, while wide enough at the shoulders, not quite long enough.

I picked at the bowl of stew and piece of cornbread in front of me. Across the table were two demons. The one with glossy straight black hair and red eyes: Nariko. And the one with teased curly orange hair and crazy green eyes: Misako.

Nariko was still in her armor though she had unhooked her scabbard and leaned it on the table. I noted that both the katana's handle and scabbard were metal. Instead of the dull red of the blade itself, they were a silvery grey metal anodized with a slight iridescence.

Misako had somehow found the time to slip out of her armor and was in a ruffled pink blouse and orange skirt with red swirls. However that didn't prevent her from lugging that grenade launcher around. She also eyed my staff as she dropped her weapon onto the table as if it was some sort of challenge.

I'll confess, it was almost reassuring to see a demon acting like a jerk. With all the group hugs and colorful hairdos, I was worried that I'd have to learn some lesson about friendship being the real magic.

Nariko glared at Misako, causing the coiffed demoness to frown and wilt back in her chair.

Okay, I didn't have much personal experience with siblings. I didn't even know I had a brother until much later in life, but I had spent enough time around people who did grow up with brothers and sisters.

"Cornbread's good at least," I said taking a bite.

"Try it with the stew, the meat's extra fresh," Misako added with a smirk.

I eyed the stew. It smelled great. But part of my mind did go back to the bloody bundle that Ranma had given the sniper succubus. I stirred it, the meat looked like beef cuts.

"Mr. Dresden, it's fine." Nariko glared at her sister, her tail straightening out. The two shared a long look. "Misa-chan is just being..."

Misako looked smug. "What? The meat is fresh we got a shipment from the butcher this morning. Almost a shame to use it as stew meat," she said before eating heartily from her own bowl.

I watched the green-eyed demon with curiosity. She met my eyes then turned away. Her eating style was... strange. She was neat enough; she didn't spill. There was no slurping or other rude noises, but she did eat with a glee and gusto that seemed at odds with her ladylike act.

"You'd be fine, unless Ukyou was cooking and even then she keeps the... special dishes separate," Nariko noted. Her red eyes turned grave. "You weren't served by a blonde demoness from a red pot were you?"

I frowned. There had been a demon back in the kitchen but... "Well she had white hair, but it was in ringlets, cute little thing." Unlike the... older demons her eyes weren't quite as... haunted.

"Oh, that's Desiree," Nariko said. "Nice to hear she's helping around in the kitchen."

Misako snorted. "He's into Cecilia's girls. Figures."

"What?" I sputtered. "No, that's not at all!"

"So, even they're not pretty enough for you?"

"Misa..." Nariko's voice was threatening as she sipped her tea. Red eyes met green.

Not breaking from the stare down, Misako pouted.

This time I laughed. "Really? Supernaturally attractive demons girls are gonna pout that the wizard isn't falling for their tricks."

Crossing her arms the green-eyed demon huffed.

Nariko elegantly sipped her tea. "What did you expect, dear Sister?"

Misako sniffed the air. "At least he's not a prude like Mother."

"Mother isn't a prude," Nariko stated.

Misako rolled her eyes.

"I think I'll have a chat with Ukyou; I'm sure your mate would find your behavior very informative," Nariko mildly said.

Misako glared at her sister.

I looked up from my stew. It was rather good, but the sibling bickering seemed to be getting away from me. "What?"

"Don't listen to Misako. She's just trying to get a reaction out of you," Ranma said as she slipped up to the table. Wearing a fresh and clean set of armor, the redhead flopped down in the chair next to me. She had a large bowl of stew in front of her as well as a pile of cornbread and a big cup of tea.

"Which doesn't seem like the smartest of moves," Nariko observed.

"No, it's not," Ranma leveled her gaze at the green-eyed demon.

"It was just a little bit; it's not like I called him a virgin."

"I have two kids," I said a bit defensively.

Misako's eyes flashed mirthfully. "So? Mom had-"

Ranma held up her hand.

I thoughtfully chewed a piece of cornbread. "Wait..."

"Misako, why don't you check on the others."

"But Mom, they're just watching Doc Tofu as he cuts up those bodies, that's boring, he won't even let us take snacks."

I thought the demon's whine was a bit theatrical, especially the part about snacks.

Not looking up from her tea, Ranma simply waved her hand.

Misako huffed and, throwing her grenade launcher onto a shoulder, got up and sauntered out of the mess hall, her tail swishing angrily behind her.

Her sister gave a satisfied tiny little smile.

"Sorry about Misa-chan," Ranma put down her tea. "She's -well- she can be a jerk but she more curious than malicious."

"That shark didn't mean to bite the surfer in half, she was just taking a nibble out of curiosity," I muttered.

"Misako was actually rather restrained," Nariko stated.

I eyed the black-haired demoness.

"It's not like she tried gnawing on your, or hit you with her tail."

"She didn't try to do that soulgaze thing did she?" Ranma asked looking her daughter in the eye.

I frowned. Those demons spent plenty of time giving each other direct eye contact, but they had avoided holding my gaze. "Huh," I noted.

I looked up at the concrete ceiling then at the rest of the bare-bones mess hall. It was comfortable enough I guess. The national-park style landscape posters on the walls helped, but it did nothing to detract from the fact that this was a subterranean complex.

There were plenty of mercenaries at the tables. Including a few that I knew to be demons, but, unlike the last facility I was in, I didn't see any Canadian army guys.

"How's your friend? Gabe, right?" I asked the redhead.

"Gabriel?" The redhead smiled. "Doc Covington thinks he'll recover. That is if he doesn't get infected."

"Oh." I stirred my stew. "I didn't think he got bitten." Or that lycanthropes were contagious that way. I mean they weren't in my world, but these weren't my type of werewolves.

Ranma and her daughter shared a look. The redhead took a bite of her meal. "Not what I meant. That's not the normal way you make a Pattern L."

"So, the infection?"

"Those claws were pretty dirty," Ranma shrugged. "Doc Tofu took some samples of the one that slashed Gabriel."

"Ah! Yeah, Butters said something like that, about how you'll get infected from a zombie bite but that's because rotting corpses are full of nasty stuff."

"Butters?"

"A medical examiner I know, probably like your Doc Tofu," I ventured. Both had food names which was probably a coincidence. I did wonder if Tofu was into Polka too. I eyed Nariko's sword, there were enough coincidences.

"Handy fellow." Ranma nodded. "Still Forensic Pathology Section's got plenty of stuff to sift through."

"Like the briefcase Worth had?" I asked.

"And their false IDs and even those guns." The purple eyed demon shook her head. "Where they got some Browning heavy machine guns...

"Still you're not the first tourist we've had."

"You said that before." I looked around the room mulling it over. "In fact, before I met you I was at a briefing all about that. Complete with a presentation and folders." That office girl, Maya, pulled out paper reports in folders after I'd burned out the display at that last briefing. I'm sorry, when the display accidentally failed.

Still, Eve and Tendo had taken it in stride. But at least that time they let me go out to get coffee... which was where I met Ranma. How much of this was the Company being anal retentive? Was this all a setup?

The phone calls I made were pretty good evidence, as were the wolfmen. Those were definitely something different. And if the fight in the park was all a setup... why not have it just be Lucas and Worth? They could go wolf, make some threats, then retreat.

"I did," the demon smirked.

It said bad things about the level of paranoid nonsense that I'd dealt with that I at least entertained the idea that these mercenaries had setup a pack of wolfmen to be slaughtered and opened fire in a city park in order to sell me a confidence scheme. Yes it was extreme but the principal was sound. Many confidence schemes worked by a stranger befriending the mark and then defending the mark against an overly hostile second stranger.

Still, it didn't hang together. Complicated plans rarely worked out. Hells Bells, I pretty much depend on my ability to put a wrench in such schemes.

I used some of the cornbread to finish mopping up the last of my stew. Though if this was a con job, why even bring in the demons? The Company had plenty of humans. They could have easily kept the demons secret from me.

"Tourist implies they went home."

The demon smiled. "Yup."

"How did he get home?" I asked.

"She," Ranma corrected, a bit tartly.

"And how did she get home?" I repeated.

The demon gave me another pitying glance; it was rapidly becoming "a look". "She opened up a portal and walked through."

"Oh." I sighed to myself. I wanted to palm my head. It couldn't be that simple. It just couldn't. Okay, sure, I wanted to try opening a portal on the place I arrived. But I knew from long experience that it couldn't be that simple.

"Now if you can't-"

"No, no I can do it. That's how I got here in the first place."

The demon opened her hands.

"Wait that's it?" I laughed. "You bring me back to where I fell through, I open a Way and go back home? It's that simple. Then what's all this?" I waved my arms around.

The demon gave me another "mom" look. "You having some time to recover after a nasty fight."

My head pounded. "Which happened because I was out confirming that this wasn't my Earth."

The demon nodded.

"I could go back."

"You could try," the demon corrected. "Something tells me the spell that got you here wasn't exactly normal for you."

"Yeah." I said as Nariko returned and gave me more stew. "And Lucas and his buddies knew I was coming. Who told them? Who here even knew I existed?"

"Those are excellent questions." Ranma said, concentrating on her meal.

I could try to get back. I should try to get back, but I didn't like unanswered questions. Especially when it came to packs of heavily armed wolfmen who wanted to kill me.

"What's your plan?" Ranma asked.

"What do you mean? Aren't you guys going to do your forensic voodoo and chase down leads?"

"Sure, that's what we're going to do." The demon looked up. "But I want to know what you want to do."

"You'll just let me go home?"

"If that's what you want, I won't try to stop you." Grinning the demon leaned on one hand. "But I've seen you in a fight. If you want to get to the bottom of this," her toothy grin returned. "I won't try to stop you either."

I mulled it over. "I've got kids of my own."

Ranma held up a hand. "Say no more, we'll arrange transport."

I shook my head. "That just means I want to get to the bottom of this." I exhaled. "And I want to touch base with the Home Office first."

The brood mother bowed her head.

***************


Still carrying a little bowl of stew and a piece of cornbread I was led to a conference room. It was more of the same concrete and steel decor. At least the chairs were nice. I could see that some large wall monitors had been turned off and a few conspicuous bare spots with dangling wires where computers had been pulled. A slide projector had been wheeled into the room and it was pointed to a screen that had been pulled down from the ceiling. Some mirrors were hung on a far wall. I shied away from those.

Eve and a young woman with short brown hair were at one end of the immense table. "Hey Ilsa!" I cheerfully greeted.

The blonde demon gave a little smile. "Warden."

I went over to one of the chairs and flopped into it. "Have you guys thought about getting some plants? It'd cheer the place up."

"Uncleared botanicals would be a security risk," Eve dryly said.

Ranma snickered, as she and Nariko took seats across from me.

I noticed that the brunette with Eve was also wearing the Company dress uniform skirt and blouse. She carried a couple folders. And she was not Tendo. I then recognized her as Maya. She had been running the presentation earlier today.

"Where's the good lieutenant?" I asked

"Lieutenant Tendo is supervising cleanup and containment," Eve stated. "Agent Iverson?"

I looked her over. She seemed human enough, and unlike many of the other mercenaries, like Lieutenant Tendo, her expression was not quite as guarded.

"Thanks Maya," Ranma gave a sad little sigh and held out a hand.

Maya handed a slim folder over.

The redhead opened it. I watched her tail droop.

"It could have been a lot worse, Maya offered. "Compared to Ottawa or that fight where we lost a helicopter against the Numbers."

I saw Eve's eyes harden at that. It looked like she wanted to sink her claws into the table's surface, but was holding herself back.

Ranma wordlessly handed the folder over to me.

I looked inside. It was a single page. My eyes glazed over the boilerplate at the header listing who wrote it, the operation name, date, time, and other natter. Instead I focused on the three columns in the center of the page.

The leftmost was a list of wounded, the right deceased, and the middle those likely to be moved into the right column before the night was through. At least it all fit on one page. The same handful of last names also cropped up. Families.

People guilty of nothing more than living near a park and happening to be downrange of some heavy machine guns. My spine chilled as I dipped into the Winter power.

"They killed eight people, injured a dozen more, all to take a shot at me?"

"Is that common among your enemies?" Ranma asked.

I snorted. "Are we counting the necromancers, the Vampires, or the Fallen Angels?" I paused to consider. "Well, they're not normally so overt, what with keeping the supernatural secret from the normals." As long as you don't count office buildings being blown up, necromancers throwing down with zombie and ghost armies, or Red Court hit teams assaulting FBI offices, I mentally added. Still all of those events did manage to get covered up... more or less.

"Those guns aren't quiet," Ranma agreed.

"Yeah but that's something people can comprehend. They'll blame terrorists or maybe drug dealers or maple syrup bandits."

The blonde gave a thin smile. "And the giant wolfmen?" she asked her tail curling over.

"It was dark. No one else was in the park. Even if there had been someone to see something, no one would believe them," I held up my hand. "And even if someone had recorded things the magic would have interfered with it and it'd look like a crummy fake."

Ranma and Eve shared a look.

"I've had experience with this before," I huffed. "Including video of a monster wolf attack. Me and Murph have been haunted by that video for years."

Eve nodded to Maya.

The brunette turned on the projector. Splashed on the wall was some sort of ugly governmental building sat next to a canal. Thick smoke billowed out of it while military vehicles and troops swarmed about. Another was a picture of a university. It was also aflame.

"Two weeks ago the Canadian military headquarters was attacked," Eve explained, her voice carefully neutral.

Maya flipped to a new slide. This one was... Well it looked like a dismembered squid in some sort of armor, or maybe a body-glove. Possibly, it was a space suit. There were more creatures, of various sizes and numbers of tentacles. Many carried what were obviously weapons. I watched as the images of damaged, burned corridors their floors covered in standing water went past. Bodies, both human and... other, filled some of the hallways in a jumble.

"We don't know what these outsiders were after, but we do know they were summoned by combat cyborgs who infiltrated the facility and stole some sensitive equipment," Eve's voice tone was clinical, as if she'd been giving briefings like this for a long time..

"What did you call them?" I asked my mouth dry. "And what? Cyborgs?"

"The demon shrugged. "Outsiders. Squids. They're definitely not from around here," she gave me a pointed look.

"Oh-kaaaaay," I drew the word out. "And the cyborgs?"

"The remnants of a Red Army research project on super soldiers. Due to technical limitations, Comrade Scaglietti had to use magical means to bind the cybernetic components to the, well, subjects. This caused, as you could guess, issues," Eve explained.

"Oh.... uh...." I chewed my lip. In my experience magic and technology didn't get along. At all. "What kind of person decides that magic's the thing that'll fix his six-million ruble men?"

Eve quirked her lips. "I said it caused issues. Still we'll have a more detailed brief on them later."

"For one, they're women not men," Ranma added. She then snorted. "For another they're reckless idiots for listening to a damn cultist and causing this mess."

"Be that as it may, that's for the next briefing," Eve said. "Maya?"

The image changed to show an ovoid summoning grid. There were broken crystals and marks on the floor. Even a projected image of it felt... wrong. For once I was relieved to feel the deep subsonic buzzing that seemed to part and parcel of Company facilities.

Ranma glanced over. "They didn't take kindly to us shutting down their gateway."

"Casualties were high. Many of the personnel were not... expecting such an attack. However, assets were able to respond and containment protocols were enacted." Eve nodded to Maya.

The screen clicked to the next picture, then the one after it, then the next. It was of a bridge over that canal. The photos were frames of video taken from a helicopter. That same government building was in the background.

On the bridge was a pair of tanks. And some of those squid creatures. And a shoggoth. I stared at the giant blob of inky protoplasm, all teeth and eyeballs. I continued to stare. I had fought a shoggoth once in the subterranean Undertown below Chicago. I was lucky to have lived through it.

And here one was out and about.

"If you will," Eve ordered Maya

She clicked through a few more photos and stopped at the one where one of the tanks ran over the blob monster.

"Still shots don't do it justice, but we didn't have time to convert to 16mm film," Eve stated.

"This was Ottawa?" I guessed.

"That is the capital of Canada," Eve dryly reminded.

I went back to the earlier photos. The attack on the building... well that could be covered up. Maybe. There were a lot of people dead, and even more that were wounded. And people would talk, but if the government stayed quiet and blamed the attack on...

I frowned. They'd have to come up with a whopper like that Red Court attack on the Chicago FBI building.

"Army fights the Blob. Live at Eleven," I joked.

Eve reached under the table and tossed a newspaper in front of me. Then another.

I looked at the headlines and the pictures of tanks running over blob monsters. "Huh... well I was close."

"We normally would have shown you video clips," Eve shrugged.

"My tech-bane isn't that bad," I grumbled. "I won't break a television just by being around it, it might not last after a few days but..."

"Noted."

Ranma gave a thin smile. "At least we managed to keep these secret," she pointed to her horns. "Among other things."

"Still... " I frowned. "I mean, this breaks the rules. I don't know how your world works, but in mine the spooky side of the street has some... decorum."

"It would see that these fellows aren't aware of the rules," Eve said.

I looked at the screen. "I mean, yeah the monsters kill humans. Well the bastards take a lot, but that's the reason why they stick to the shadows. You get too blatant and the prey will get spooked."

"And when the prey has armies?" Ranma asked.

"Millions of pissed off humans can make a difference," I agreed.

The redhead gave an approving little smile.

"Right, bringing in mortal authorities is called the 'nuclear option' for a reason." I went back to the bridge picture. "And here they are attacking a military headquarters. I mean there's gonna be reprisals."

The gnawing pit grew in my stomach. The "squids" were wrong, they were definitely alien. They didn't look like the Outsiders I had seen, but I'd only seen a few of those beasts.

"Yes, there will be," Eve's voice was frosty.

I shook my head. "Geeze, the closest I've seen was when the Red Court, uh vampires, attacked an FBI office. They killed everyone. Still, even the Red Court didn't attack in broad daylight. Well, they have, but that was using mundane means. A poison gas attack that kills hundreds and hundreds doesn't make normal people think vampires."

Eve folded her hands and watched me.

Ranma raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, vampire thing aside. All the supernatural stuff was inside, they made sure their big scary monster wasn't seen. This would be like them attacking the Hoover Building and then fighting the US Army on the national Mall."

I rubbed my head. There was something I wasn't remembering. "And as for reprisals..."

As if recalling a fond memory, Ranma's smile grew. "The Reds, they're the ones you wiped out."

"Yeah," I frowned. The Reds had been getting bolder. The war with the White Court of Wizards had gotten rather desperate. Including the nerve gas attacks and their destruction of Archangel. What would they have done if I hadn't stopped them?

No wonder these mercenaries were so on edge. No wonder they were working with demons. They'd been hired by the Canadian government to... what? Fight supernatural invaders.

Then it clicked. "Ah, that's why you've been watching me." I looked around the table. Even when they were out of sight I knew that the demons had never been very far from me.

Eve tapped the tips of her fingers against each other in a mock clap.

Ranma gave an approving smile and bowed her head.

"And when you said you kept me out of Canadian custody..."

The redhead nodded to Maya who switched to a different set of slides.

I absently chewed on a bit of cornbread. I suppose my fears of rotting away in a secret government prison weren't entirely unfounded.

Ranma held up a placating hand. "You must understand, when Eve said you appeared in a sensitive area, it was no exaggeration."

Maya clicked on the projector. The picture was of a familiar muddy field. There was a hillock near the center and a copse of dead trees. Like with the squids, even the picture had a palpable sense of wrongness.

"You guys have the worst vacation slides, like totally the worst."

"Well, if you want vacation slides," Ranma smiled while Eve frowned.

The next image was further out. It showed the whole area had been surrounded by trenches, redoubts, and bunkers. Some looked like fresh poured concrete, other parts looked like they had been extruded from the Earth itself.

I paused, remembering the ice and fire I'd escaped from in the NeverNever.

Eve's arm pointed to the hillock at the center of the field. "That's where you fell through. You weren't the first. You can imagine the shock to the army units staffing the observation post when a human suddenly appeared.
The barriers are thin there. Over a month ago something broke through there and took a peek."

"And breaking through act weakened things?" I guessed. The more you opened a way to the NeverNever, the easier it got.

"The Squids?"

Ranma nodded. "The eggheads think it was a recon, maybe they contacted the combat cyborgs or maybe they were just summoned. Either way it matches the signal that broke through in Ottawa."

"But I didn't?"

The demon chuckled. "That the hoodoo that you gave off when you fell through didn't match the Squids was the only reason the Canadians agreed to hand you over."

"What? I was human didn't count for anything?"

"I suppose it kept you from being shot on sight," Eve shrugged.

"Coming from a demon that's not exactly reassuring."

Eve gave a tiny smile that showed the barest hint of teeth.

"You must understand Warden Dresden. While we are more than willing to help you get home, where you arrived is a sensitive area. Further inter-dimensional breaches could be calamitous," Eve explained.

"In other words, we'd rather not have Mr. Wizard's experiment go wrong and break a hole in reality," Ranma added.

"Does he have to open the portal there?" Nariko asked sipping her tea.

"Uh… maybe," I shrugged. "Look opening a Way isn't an exact science."

"Do tell," Eve said.

"Opening a Way at that spot is probably my best bet on getting back but..." I studied the picture. "But that could just be a collecting point. I mean if the Squids that hit Ottawa also came through there," I frowned.

"Yes, we are worried that you'd open a doorway to their world, unwittingly of course," Eve added with a thin smile.

"Yeah, heck, maybe portals are attracted there because of the weakness, like a gravity well."

"What if you opened a portal somewhere else?"

"Well, that'd still go to the NeverNever, but it might not go somewhere nice, or even remotely close to where I need to go."

"And that's why you want to call the Home Office?" Ranma asked.

"Among other things," I did have other tools to explore the Ways. My mother had a lot of expertise, expertise I could tap into. My worry was that I might have wandered further than even she had explored.

"Such as?" Eve lightly asked.

"I was on a mission for Mab." I leaned back in the comfy office chair. "I was told that an observation post had been infiltrated. I was sent in to check it out and if so... clean it out."

"The Faerie use observation posts?" Ranma asked.

"A lot like that one," I gestured to the display. "That was a line of trenches bunkers, a place of watching, waiting, and fighting. Things on one side of a portal tended to match up, if at least metaphorically, with things on the other side."

The two brood mothers shared a look. I was starting to wonder if they were telepathic or something.

"You're also on guard against intrusion?" Eve asked.

I snorted. "Yeah, protecting my world against Outsiders is like Mab's main job. Which is why I'm smelling a setup."

"You think she sent you here?"

I thought back to when I had opened the Way that got me here. My first attempt failed, and it wasn't until I used some Soulfire that I managed to punch through. "Maybe, all I know is that things are never what they seem with the Faerie."

"And yet you're their Knight," Eve observed.

"Which is why I want to call her up and figure out what's going on." I sighed. Bugging Mab wasn't a bright idea, but I was working for her and she should tell me something.

The blonde demon smiled; it almost seemed to reach her eyes. "A productive idea. If you'll draft a list of any material you require, we'd be more than willing to assist you."

"What's the catch?"

"The catch, Sir Knight, is that if you were sent here, and given that someone here already knew you were coming…"

I worked my jaw. "Then that means there's a leak in both our organizations."

"Potentially." Eve showed more of her teeth. "More to the point it means that there is someone that is doing something and desperately wants to keep both you and us from stopping them. That is certainly something that warrants investigation. Does it not?"

End Chapter 2


I'd like to thank the prereaders for their help in this project: J St C Patrick, DCG, Pale Wolf, Kevin Hammel, and Ellf. Again, special thank to Ellf for his help in soundboarding and getting this idea off the ground.

 

Blood Debts Book 5 of The Return
A Ranma, Sailor Moon, Dresden Files fic thingy.
By Sunshine Temple
Naturally, I own neither Sailor Moon nor Ranma nor the Dresden Files. So here's the disclaimer:

Ranma 1/2 and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC. And the Dresden Files is owned by Jim Butcher.


Previous chapters and other works can be found at my fanfiction website.
http://jtemple.florestica.com/
Temporary Backup Site.
http://www.fukufics.com/fic/
Other website Temple of Ranma's Senshi Seifuku
http://fukufics.com
C&C as always is wanted.
Chapter 3: Unwelcome Answers, Part A


In an echoing warehouse, I marked out a ten foot circle on the concrete floor in chalk. As I measured it to make sure it held the same size over its circumference, the clicking of metal on concrete caused me to look up.

For a second my pulse rose. I mean, come on; wizard in a spooky warehouse with a bunch of shadowy mercenaries and a trio of approaching demons.

One of whom was wearing an inky black leather dress and had hooves. Behind her were two of her daughters - the ones with blue hair. The smaller and cuter looking one wore a pink cheongsam that went past her knees with silver trim and purple floral accents. There were even pink bows in the long, powder-blue hair that fell straight behind her and was cut with level bangs.

Her older sister had darker blue hair in a pageboy and had darker, heavier makeup. She wore a tooled silver belt holding up a pair of shiny blue shorts and a teal top that showed plenty of midriff.

Look, I honestly tried not to ogle them. It helped that I had experience dealing with seductive supernatural women. Okay... that's not what I meant. Worse, the redhead watched my discomfort with obvious amusement.

She idly tapped a hoof on the floor.

I noted that the tails on all three of them were swishing slightly.

"Is this a bad time?" the redhead asked.

"We've got hours to go before midnight," I remarked.

"Yes, but I wanted to make sure you weren't doing any... delicate preparations," she waved a hand at the open crates I'd scattered about. A collection of polished stones and crystal cubes gleamed. There was also a package of water bottles by the crates.

"Nah, I'm just double checking some measurements," I made a mark on the circle to note where I'd stopped my inspection. "What's up?"

"One of our boffins wants to make sure our equipment won't get slagged by your little experiment," Ranma explained.

"Ah," I stood up. "Isn't that the whole reason we're not doing this in your base? To avoid damaging your equipment."

Ranma ran her hand up my arm. Luminous eyes looked into me. "Why no Mr. Wizard. Come on," she gave a gentle tug.

I followed. "Why are we here then? I mean, what's the difference between one concrete box and another?"

"Blowing up this building would cause a lot less collateral damage," the younger sister, Nabiki, said in a cute, innocent voice.

"Oh."

"There is a chance this summoning spell could go horribly wrong, no?" Ranma asked, over her shoulder.

"Well.... fine," I admitted.

We turned a corner in the L-shaped echoing room and stopped in front of some… well it looked like a pile of machinery. It was inside a metal cage.

"Besides, the Drake wouldn't mind if this place was destroyed, Company already paid for it."

"The Drake?"

"Drake Kuno, he's a land developer and broker," the cute demon said flashing her sister a smug smile.

"Among other things," the older one, Akane, rolled her eyes.

"Hmm?" I asked.

Ranma waved a hand. "He's Nariko's father, nice enough guy, if a bit odd."

"Oh," I blinked. "That's how you get all these places?"

The redhead gave me another "disappointed mom" looks.

"Hey, I'm not up to date on hidden lairs. My idea of a safe house is a storage unit." I wasn't technically lying. Sure my spooky island, Demonreach, was safe, to me at least, but I would hardly call it a "safe house".

Ranma blinked at me. She then nodded to the mercenary working around the machinery. "Dresden, Dirac. Dirac, Dresden."

A young man deftly stepped out from the machinery. He had blue green eyes and short black hair. Gangly with a pronounced Adams apple, his skin looked a bit pale and there were bags under his eyes. He looked like he didn't get enough sun or sleep. But he looked far fitter than the average geek. He had runner's legs and his arms had wiry muscle.

More striking, he freely met redheaded demon's eyes. "Charmed, Warden." he held out a hand.

I shook it, and felt the slight tingle of a fellow practitioner. Not very strong, hardly more than a flicker, but there was something.

"Now, I've heard your magic is a bit hard on technology?" Dirac asked.

"Uh yeah, mortal magic plays hell with computers and the like."

"Interesting," he absently said stepping back to futz with a bit of equipment that looked like an old mainframe computer, or maybe a furnace. Look, I don't know technology. I do know that neither, normally, had whip like antennas sprouting from the sides.

What I did know was this thing was the source of the buzzing hum that I'd felt in every single Company facility I'd been in. A bit of blue light also spilled out from somewhere in the middle of the tower.

Examining the stout steel cage, I took note that the pile of electronics was completely protected by it. Also in the cage was a bank of batteries and a generator. Outside the cage was something that looked sort of like a radar dish mated with a metal octopus.

Finally, I noted the crisp reddish black line that encircled the entire rig. The line Dirac had so deftly stepped over. Also in the circle was a length of wire that linked to a small metal box bolted to the floor that straddled the red line. Cables then ran from that box to the mess of machinery.

"Okay Philo, you gonna show me how to make plutonium from common household items? Because that glow isn't exactly reassuring," I asked, eyeing the tower.

Dirac's eyes widened and he laughed. "Nah, Mr. Wizard, on tonight's episode of Secrets of the Universe, we'll be seeing if a Pattern Scanner and Inter-dim Jammer can be shielded from a wizard's magic."

"And those things are?"

Dirac pointed to the radar-octopus. "Pattern Scanner. It detects various supernatural events and beings."

I leaned forward to get a closer look. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Ranma shifting to where she could grab me. Huh. "Magic detector? Snazzy."

"Everything gives off energy. Even eldritch things. We can classify events into Patterns and get a rough signal strength."

I tried to study the equipment. And I wished I had Bob with me. He had been my go to spirit advisor on the rules of magic. Course, he was working with Butters, but that meant he knew about computers now. Bonnie would be helpful too, for much the same reasons.

"You've got a spook scope. Shame it's so bulky."

Dirac glanced to Ranma, who nodded.

"We do have portable versions."

"You have your own PKE meters? Damn," I whistled. Half the problem with getting people to believe the supernatural was getting people to see it. The other half was getting them to believe it after they had seen it.

A lot of this stuff was invisible to non-practitioners, and even the visible stuff could only be seen via first-hand experience. Cameras were one of the first things to go. But, if you had a way to record the spooky stuff...

Dirac smiled. "Not exactly, those guys never calibrated theirs."

"They also were bad at negotiating their contracts," Nabiki added.

"And the Inter-whatsit?"

"Jammer." Dirac affectionately patted the tall case. "This is what keeps someone form teleporting in here and stabbing you in the back."

"Oh," I walked around the rig. I was reminded of the dull red gems with sheathed antenna-bows that the demons wore on their chest armor. "That's gonna be a problem."

"Yes, Sir. We'll have to drop the Jammer when you summon the fairy queen," Dirac's tone was matter of fact.

"Right, and this is your circle," I knelt down and looked at the blackish red line. There was something there, not much, but it was more than a bit of paint. "Well, magic circles don't take much, anyone can make one with a bit of will."

"Shall we start the test?" he asked, almost eager.

"Sure," I shrugged.

"Clear the line!" Dirac ordered, stepping back into the circle. He slowly spun around to see no one else was near the rig. He then looked at me. "Activation in three, two, one." He flipped a switch.

I pulled back and reached my hand.... It wasn't a tangible barrier, but my fingers tingled with the energies the circle was putting out. A smell that was a cross between burning ink and charred blood wafted up.

"Power is stabilized," Dirac looked between a set of analog gauges and a tablet computer. "Control test?"

Rolling her eyes, Ranma impatiently tapped a hoof. Both she and Akane lowered their hands and shadows welled around the brood mother's silvery hooves and her daughter's boots. With matched gestures, they brought the shadows towards the circle. Flaming auras sprang up around both of them. Akane's was a flickering blue while Ranma's was a blend of red and purple, even her flames were wreathed in shadows.

A dark purple and blue iridescence shimmered as the black shadows lapped up to the edge and started climbing up the barrier. I gripped my staff and the runes started to glow. What can I say? Animated shadows are creepy.

"Warden Dresden, please wait, you're interfering with the control readings," Dirac said, not looking up from his instruments.

"Uh sorry," I pulled back my own power and pointedly kept my Wizard's Sight suppressed. The power washing over the brood mother was bad enough with my normal senses.

Dirac nodded. "That's fine, Red. You and Akane can pull back."

The two demons shifted, and the shadows retreated. In Akane's case they pulled back in a series of snaps and pops. Ranma exhaled and her form shimmered. The imposing presence retreated as hooves shifted into boots and the inky black dress turned into a purple blouse and black leather skirt and jacket.

"Hmm that's it? You were holding back," Dirac noted tapping part of the screen.

Ranma gave an absent wave of her hand.

The lanky man shrugged. "Okay, we've got good readings. Can we have backup Jammer on standby?"

Ranma glanced at Akane. The demon nodded. She punched up with her arms and in a flash of light, her form shimmered. And suddenly, she was now wearing her armored getup. Complete with ruby chest-bow.

"Good," Dirac nodded. "Warden Dresden, do not cast at the moment, but do you have a spell that's particularly.... offensive to technology?"

I grinned. "Do I ever."

"Excellent." He clicked his radio. "Ready power to standby. Repeat: ready power to standby." Then in a louder voice. "Disable all electronics. Sound off when completed."

I then waited as the various mercenaries keyed off their radios and other gizmos. Even the demons got into the theatrics with Akane pulling glow sticks out of one of her vest's pouches.

"Oh, come on, you guys can make magic fire!" I complained after Akane cracked the glow-sticks and tossed one to her sister and one to her mother.

"Excess use of magic would interfere with the test," Dirac calmly said.

I sighed and made my pentacle amulet glow.

The redhead looked around the room then nodded to Dirac.

"Power to standby."

The lights then cut out. Dirac and his machinery were bathed in a mix of green light from the glow sticks, blue light from the jammer and various little LEDs and other displays.

"Wait..." I looked to Ranma. "You can see in the dark, can't you?"

The redhead contemplated the glowing stick. "I believe I can."

"Theatrics," I muttered, shaking my head.

"If you're ready, Warden?" Dirac mildly asked.

I grumbled, letting the irritation well. I built up the frustration, shaped the spell, and pointed with a hand. "Hexus!"

The dark air shimmered as the spell launched out, and splashed against the circle with buzzing red motes. The air immediately above the circle lit up in a barely visible red cylinder.

Dirac looked at his display.

"If you had a cell-phone in there I'd have fried it!" I groused.

The mercenary smacked the side of his tablet. "Yes... you might have." He adjusted a knob on a power supply. "If you'll indulge me with another spell."

In the end it was half a dozen more spells. And towards the end the smell of ink and blood was starting to get disturbing.

But I'll give them this. The circle was solid, if primitive. It wasn't very efficient either. You can use electricity to power magic, but unless you know what you're doing it's pretty wasteful.

"Testing concluded," Dirac announced.

I rolled my eyes. And then had to blink as the overhead lights snapped back on.

The circle was depowered and Dirac stepped over.

I was still blinking when he offered his hand. "Thank you for your help. I know it's a bit tedious but..."

"But you want to be safe," I sighed in agreement.

"Now you can go back to setting up your end of the summoning," Ranma offered.

"Yay," I deadpanned. "Still, I suppose I could make a bigger circle around the summoning one just to give an extra layer of insulation."

Dirac nodded.

As we walked back to my circle, I pulled out my pentacle amulet. Ostensibly it was to stop it from glowing. But really it was to check the ruby embedded in the back, my mother's "map". Well, it was less a map and more her collected experiences of how to travel using the Ways.

Unfortunately the response was the same as last time. "That's... where are you? I didn't think even the Gatekeeper went out this far," echoed my mother's confused voice in my mind.

"Not in Kansas anymore," I muttered.

"I would certainly hope not, if those parts miss the Topeka flight we'll have to do with a substitution; we're on a schedule here," Ranma said.

"What?" I asked as I returned to measuring out that ten foot circle.

"The last part for your summoning. It's coming from a storage site in Kansas."

I completed the measurements. The circle was as good as I could make it. I then started to mark out five equidistant points on its circumference.

"Lotta effort to help me. I mean chartering a private jet on an hour's notice, just to fly a bracelet over here," I said before picking up a bottle of water and taking a swig.

"It's a daily flight." Ranma snorted. "We simply diverted it. It's a bit of a rush, but it's only two hours flying time from here."

"And that's why Ilsa wanted a shopping list from me then and there?"

"It's easier to rush ship an item with five hours notice than with just two, also it gives us time to set things up. I mean, this is, technically, a diplomatic meeting."

"Fine," I then double checked the five points, this time making sure they were all the same distance from each other. "It's still a lot of money."

Ranma crouched down and looked me in the eye. "Do you know how much a helicopter costs to run?"

"Huh. Can you hold this end?" I asked, handing her the end of the chalk line while keeping the reel in one hand and pointing to a spot on the edge of the circle with the other.

"Sure." Ranma put the line where I indicated. "Anyway, double it since there were two choppers. And add in the cost of the pilots and the ammunition expended. Those mini guns shoot money. Heck, the wolves fired a lot of brass too."

Catching an eyeful of her blouse, I snapped a chalk line between two of the marks. "Uh a lot?" I asked starting to make a pentagram conscribed within the circle.

"And then there's the combat pay rate of three Pattern D's."

"I've hired mercenaries before. I know how... pricey you can be," I grumbled. It was true, a good mercenary, especially one with "talents" could cost an astronomical sum. Enough to get you in serious trouble if you couldn't pay it off.

"And of course there's all this," she waved her arms to encompass the facility and point at the various human and demonic personnel.

"That ain't reassuring me about the extravagance you guys are putting forth."

"Back when I was starting, before I'd signed on, the Company once flew me out to China just to prove a hunch," the redhead looked me in the eyes. "They'll do what it takes. We'll do what it takes."

I finished sketching in the pentacle. "Because of things like Ottawa?"

"That's a start," Ranma softly said. "We think things will get a lot worse."

"Don't they always," I murmured, examining my outline. "Okay... I think I can start painting it in. I moved to the brushes and paint cans. I debated between doing it freehand or putting down tape to bound the lines.

"Purple?" the demon picked up one of the cans.

"Yeah, purple for communication," I explained.

She made a thoughtful noise. "Why purple?"

"It's how it works for me."

The demon gave me another opaque look.

"Magic's tied up in your emotions. Your belief is very important in making it real. To pull off a spell you have to believe it will work, believe it should work."

"I don't think we can shoot fire just because we believe in ourselves."

"Not just because, no." I pointed to the circle I had sketched out. "It's like the circle. I can't do the spell without one, but I can't do the spell with just one."

"And you think purple is for communications?"

"When I was younger, I was taught the roles of color in the casting of spells. Green used for fertility and prosperity, red gave passion and energy, black vengeance, blue defense."

At that I took the blue tin, a spool of tape, my staff and walked a several steps out. I then dipped the brush in some blue paint, taped it to the staff and used it to make a wide circle enclosing the pentacle. Thankfully this circle didn't have to be precise.

Standing beside me, the purple-eyed redhead chuckled. "So, you're saying the type and color or our clothing matters?"

"Well, clothes can influence a spell..." I allowed. Hells Bells, some of the really precise stuff required me to meditate, bathe, mediate again, and put on special robes while lighting incense.

"Style too? Or just color?" she asked with a gleam.

I started at her. "I guess since we're dealing with a queen of the fae style does count."

"I shouldn't wear my armor or a black gown? Would your queen find that displeasing?"

I paused, and forcing down the heat in my cheeks looked the succubus over. "Something less... aggressive than battle-rattle might be appropriate. But other than color... yeah she's into evening dress, gowns too." It was awkward, but I managed to dip the brush in some more paint.

"And the blue to defend against outside interference?" Ranma asked as I finished.

Nodding I pulled the brush from my staff.

"Now, maybe I don't need purple for the inner circle, but it'll help," I tapped one of the cans before picking up the giant wooden compass I'd used to mark out the circle. "See, the circle doesn't have to be perfect. Any enclosed shape will do. That's why I didn't care about the outer circle."

"But the more perfect the circle is, the more efficient it'll run?" Dirac asked. The boffin leaned in.

"Uh yah, and since I'll be making one heck of a long distance call I want to take every advantage I can. Really, you don't need all of this stuff to do magic," I waved at the boxes of supplies that surrounded my workspace. "It just makes it a lot easier."

"Helps channel the energy?" Dirac crouched down. He kept one arm held behind his back as he looked over the markings I'd sketched out.

"Yeah, and acts as mental focuses. Magic's mostly mental, you need to form it in your head and direct the construct as you will the forces to make it."

Dirac studied the diagram then looked at the components. "It's different."

"Magic is very individualized, since it works with from what's inside. I mean my magic's different from yours, or from hers."

"Magic? Me," Dirac shrugged. "I dunno about that." He gave the pentagram one look. "Still..." he looked at the equipment and stepped back.

"Every bit helps?" Ranma asked, a gleam on her eye.

"Oh yeah, I mean, for the really fancy stuff I've actually done the full deal: meditation, cleansing showers, special robes, more meditation, incense. You can do a lot to dial things just in," I stood up and rolled my shoulders.

"And this is a diplomatic meeting, with a faerie queen," the redhead gave me a sly smile.

She lifted her hand and snapped her fingers. Nabiki nodded and darted off. She snapped them a second time and there was a delicate chime as her silver hooves reappeared. Decorative dark cobalt greaves formed covering her shins and accenting her hooves. A second pair of horns spiraled out as her eyes turned solid luminous purple with slit pupils.

Her skin gained a silvery opalescence as her features turned more severe: a sharper jawline, more pronounced, slightly hollow cheekbones, and a thinner upturned nose. Her lips grew wider, darker, and glossier as her eye makeup expanded out in shades of purple and crimson.

A plain silver band encircled her neck. A gleaming lavender bodice pulled in her torso, hugging her curves and showing a decadent amount of flesh. A red bow with a heart-shaped center was pinned over her left breast.

Her forearms were covered in sleek lavender silk gloves that transitioned to extra long, gleaming blade-like claws. Her wings shrank down into an almost ornamental size and folded against her bare shoulders like a little cape or shawl.

Held back by a gold tiara with a purple four-pointed on her brow, the slick ruby mass of her hair pressed behind it. Crimson tresses were sucked into swelling, slicked polished bun that curved over the top of her head. A four inch long narrow fan of hair spilled out from behind of the bun in a ruby wave.

Pinned at the base of the hair bun, just above crimson fall was a golden crescent moon, with the tips down in an inverted U shape. On the side of the bun was a collection of silver letters and symbols surrounding a globe: the Company's logo.

Hugging flared hips was a long dark purple skirt that began to... grow and ripple out. Due to her hooves and shifted ankles, she walked with a bent-knee stance that caused her hips to sway more. However now, the swaying seemed to grow and with each step the skirt grew and shifted, especially in back.

As I watched, the skirt puffed with layers forming underneath, and even more dramatically in back. Gathers formed with a little gauzy lace edging falling over the skirting. A veritable bustle came to be as the skirt extended backwards and even pushed up her tail to where it had to go up at a 45 degree angle at the base of her spine, causing the thick, two yard long purple appendage to swish back and forth.

Looking over her shoulder, the demon gave a long-lashed wink and a playful smile. Her tail twitched and a large lavender bow tied around the base of it, ribbons spilled out from the bow falling to either side of the freshly formed bustle. Etched onto the big bow were the runes and letters of the Company's logo, with a large silver globe serving as the tie for the bow itself. The continents were silver while the oceans were a dull crimson.

The younger demon had returned, and she was carrying a zippered suit bag. "It just came in!"

The redhead rolled her hips. "Now, you've got some painting to do, but once everything is squared away we've got some special clothes for you too."

I stared at the demon's glossy frippery. "What's with the gown?"

"You did say this was a diplomatic meeting," the redhead looked down. "Do you not approve?" she stepped with a swish on her hooves and caught my eye. "And here I thought you were admiring it."

"That's not what I mean."

"You told me not to wear a black gown."

I sighed.

"Is this the wrong style?" the redhead stepped forward and leaned in. "If formal attire would be offensive to her..."

I sighed. "No... she had me wear a tuxedo for the birthday party she threw me." I looked down. Can you blame me?

Contented Ranma pulled back. "Nice job Nabiki, you guessed right."

The young demoness in her pink cheongsam smiled.

"Though the gowns are a bit more... sleek." I coughed. "Well, not counting the women who simply wore diamonds and nothing else."

"Very sensible." Akane nodded approvingly.

A sculpted crimson eyebrow arched. Ranma glided forward and stood her hip against my hip. A set of long talons ran over my duster while her tail curled over my leg and the bottom hem of her gown brushed over my boot.

"How badly do you want to get me out of this gown?" she coquettishly asked.

I looked over and noticed that she stood so that the snowflake side to her hair bun was facing me.

"Earlier, you made sure to ask If I wasn't doing anything delicate before taking my attention away, and now you're giving yourself a makeover and telling me about the tuxedo you got me?"

Wordlessly, she took my hand and placed it around her back, under the fan of hair and atop the bow, tail and bustle. She then draped the hand that had crept up my back and over a shoulder.

"Sorry, I guess I was a bit eager." She then winked.

"Eager? Didn't you say you were just a contractor? Do you even know how to, you know, dance in a gown?"

"Is that an invitation?" And with a gentle pull she drew me to an empty spot beyond the circle and we started dancing. The diminutive demon leaned her head on my chest. Feeling the warmth and soft pressure of her body, I could smell the conditioner and product she used to style her hair.

My legs worked on auto pilot; it was a basic slow dance. Nothing fancy. The way her hips moved under my left hand was strange enough

"Inexperienced?" I smirked, the Winter part of me enjoyed having an advantage over her. And both parts of me enjoyed being this close to a lovely woman, even if she was ridiculously overdone.

"My, you dance well," she noted.

For a moment, I let my hand sink deeper into her bustle. A rumbling came from deep within her; she was actually purring.

"I don't get much chance to... the last time was... was with Mab."

"Oh my, you're close to her?"

"It was at my birthday party," I frowned. The Winter part of me seemed to be pulling in my hands. "You've done a lot for me."

She looked up. Her fangs showing in a tight smile.

"And I haven't done much in return..."

With my free right hand, my left seemed completely indisposed, I lifted her chin. I saw the plain silver choker, and an urge struck me. I led her back towards the crate, composing the spell as we danced.

I bent over and picked up one of the water bottles. I poured some into my cupped right hand, and lifted it towards her neck. With a whispered word and a blast of Winter power, ice started to form. Purple shadows and demonic power also flared. The Winter Mantle seemed... satisfied as I withdrew my hand.

The demon purred and rested her head on my shoulder. But not before I saw that her choker was centered with a pure white crystal snowflake over a stylized blue pentacle. I knew both were made of ice, but enchanted with Winter power to stay frozen.

I let my hand drift deeper into her bustle to where it almost slipped from her tail. The dancing was relaxing. I could feel myself drawn in. I didn't feel any supernatural pulling, at least from her.

The coifed redhead gave another contented purr. Her tail rustled and switched which leg it was curled over. It was a stark reminder that she wasn't human, if anything she was more alien than a White Court succubus, but she could turn off her desire to feed.

As we danced, I noticed the others were watching, observing. The daughters were amused and seemed on the verge of cheering, while the mercenaries were expectant.

Cupping her bustle, I whispered into a pointed ear. "As lovely as this is, I should get back to work."

She disentangled herself. "Pity," she said, but there was a respecting smile. The demon then started sashaying back to the pentacle.

I followed. The rolling of her tail and swaying bustle impossible to ignore. "That was a test wasn't it?" I called, catching up.

She looked back over her shoulder. "Well, you either had the self control to return to your task or...." she trailed off in a purr.

I eyed the gowned redhead. "That's not a fair test," I stated, and most definitely didn't whine.

"I know. Pity." She cupped my cheek. "Now, you don't want to dawdle on your painting, especially since you can't get changed until afterwards."

Grumbling, I went back to work. I decided to do it freehand. I had experience and could mark the lines precisely enough. Also the focus kept me from getting distracted. Especially as the brood mother hung out just in view, chatting with her daughters.

It was an impressive gown. Most clothes for non-humans weren't really optimized to take into account, let alone compliment, their inhuman features. On the other hand, the gown was too busy with frippery to really enhance her beauty. Something more understated would certainly suit her better.

I shook my head and returned to work. Fortunately, I'd done all the hard stuff in making sure my sketching was accurate.

After some time, I sealed the can and put the brush down on some work rags. I inspected the purple pentacle. I frowned, picked up the brush, knelt, and touched up a few spots.

"Lovely," the redhead said, slipping next to me. She offered her hand and helped pull me back up.

On reflex I kept her hand and kissed the back of her palm.

"Flatterer."

She then circled the pentacle, her skirts swishing.

To my relief she gave it a wide enough berth. It would be bad if she'd smeared the paint before it could dry.

"And now to make the affinity items," I said, rolling my shoulders again.

The demon raised an eyebrow.

"Items that key in the summoner and the summoned," I pulled out a list next to the crates. "First five items for Mab."

I went over and took out one of the crystal cubes, a small case, and then started rooting around the box of polished stones. I had requested ones that were relatively soft. I searched until I found a black one shot through with blue lines; it was smooth but vaguely peanut shaped. Perfect.

"Okay, first thing is a communication stone." I put the rock down on an impromptu bench made of larger crates. "Fortunately it doesn't have to be a real communications stone, just represent one."

"And that is?" Ranma asked.

I took out a tiny metal pick and started carving runes into the stone.

Dirac had wandered over and was eyeing my creation.

I think it was soapstone, either way it was pretty soft, especially since I didn't need to make them last for a long time. "It's pretty simple, you take a stone. You carve in the correct runes and put in magic to power it up. Then you break it in two."

"And what, each half remembers the other half?" Dirac asked.

"Exactly! Now the runes hold the magic and work through that connection." I took my brush and started filling in the runes with paint. "You talk into one, and your voice comes out the other."

"They're walkie talkies, out of rocks," Ranma snorted, which was hilarious given her getup.

"Yeah."

"What's the catch?" Dirac asked.

"Magic tends to fade, so you have to get your spells really worked in to have these things last more than one sunrise. Same if you want them to work for a longer distance, you have to put in more power so you can carry the signal."

"But these are just for tonight," Dirac eyed the stones. I could tell he wanted to take photos of them, heck he could keep 'em.

"Yup," I ran a hand over them, feeling that my runes were holding. I then picked up a chisel and routed in a toolbox until I found a hammer.

I put the chisel in the grove between the two lobes of the rock. The hammer went down. And now I had two rocks. I checked the connection and placed one inside the circle at one of the points of the pentacle.

I then put the other half opposite that point outside the circle. "This also helps reinforce that this isn't a binding summoning. Instead, I'm doing this to talk to her."

Going back to the crates, I found the small box. Undoing the latches I found a silver tiara with a single blue sapphire in it.

"Should I wonder why you've got a stock of pretty princess tiaras?" I asked twisting the tiara around.

The demon glanced down at her gown then gave a haughty smirk.

"Uh... right." I tried to take stock of the magic emanating from the tiara. "What did you do, rob an ice princess?"

The redhead gave another incongruous snort. "Please, she was no princess. But she does have ice powers, and some of her equipment was seized and handed over to us."

"Seized?"

"Oh, you know." The redhead waved a gloved hand. "The whole magical girl, full of pride, fearing for her leader, tempted by darkness. That whole tragic song and dance."

I sighed and put the tiara down on the inside of the next spot on the pentacle. "Yeah... I kinda do."

The redhead nodded to me. "We'll have to give you a briefing on her. That way if you run into Mistress Mercury you'll know what you're dealing with."

"Is she as bad as that rune mage, Murdock, was it?" I asked, taking off my silver amulet. I placed it just outside the circle opposite the tiara.

"He's more annoying; she's more unpredictable. For one she wants to prove herself to her Moon Queen."

"Ah," I recalled Ranma mentioning that she had been empowered by a Moon Queen. The whole Mercury thing sounded like a bag of trouble.

Ranma's hooves clicked as she watched me place my mother's pentacle amulet. "You're matching things that represent her with things that represent you?"

"It's like with the stone itself, you have to establish a link between the two halves."

Pulling a notebook out of his vest, Dirac walked around the circle. He then went over to the demon and inspected her gown. Drawing a beeline to the bustle he pulled one of the ribbons from the bow tied around her tail. He also pulled out an electronic device that did not at all look like something from Ghostbusters.

Okay fine, it was a sleek little bit of plastic, but there was a display and some flashing lights.

"You're being forward," Ranma teased the gangly man.

"Experimenting with jammers again?" Dirac noted.

"Maybe."

Dirac let the ribbon fall. "I'm not sure trying it around your tail is better than your horns."

"Uh what?" I asked.

"Miniaturizing our Jammers requires using a certain... magical power source," Dirac explained. "Electricity can do it, but it requires a lot of equipment to convert the energy to something that'll generate the right signals."

"But if it's pulling from magic you don't need the converting stuff?" That made sense, much of magic was learning how to redirect and convert energy.

"Correct. It makes it much more portable. However if the jammer gets overloaded…"

Ranma sighed, "Yes, yes, it's not directly tied into my tail."

Dirac gave her a skeptical look.

"As long as it's not powered when I try to phone home." Going back to the crates, I idly wondered if anything else to the redhead's getup was actually functional. That might explain the pounds and pounds of frippery.

I pulled a crystal cube out of the cut foam liner. After studying it for a few seconds, I nodded. I vaguely wondered what the crystals were for, but I supposed cut fused quartz had various applications, especially given the... machine-shop magic the Company seemed to be into.

"Okay, which of you can make shadows?" I asked, looking up from the crate.

"That's Akane's specialty," Ranma beamed.

The dark blue haired demon slipped up and gave a sharp smile. "What do you need?"

"Right, lemmie just set something up." I took a brush and another can of paint. I then quickly drew a five foot white circle twenty feet from the purple pentacle. "Okay, this is rough and ready, but, thankfully, we just need to keep out interference."

The demonic daughter gave me a sidelong glance, but she did step into the circle.

"Okay, I'm gonna want you to fill this with shadows," I explained placing the crystal on the center of the white circle. I then picked up my staff. "Once you've done that I'll fix the shadows so they stay in the crystal."

Akane glanced over to the redhead. The gowned demon gave an elegant nod. "Just keep it simple," she told her daughter.

Once she was in the circle with me, I reached over and closed it with a bit of will.

Looking to the floor, Akane started to circle around the crystal cube. I shuffled keeping myself opposite from her. It took me a moment to realize she was trying to angle her shadow.

When it got close to the cube, she stopped. Concentrating, the demon lifted her arm and made a waving motion with her hand. Stretching out, her shadow responded and began to cover the cube.

As if filled with ink, the crystal material darkened. I lowered my staff until it was an inch over the top. "Wait..." The cube darkened into a shimmering ebony with an oily dark blue sheen.

"Okay, now hold it," I concentrated, runes glowed on the end of my staff. "Tenere," I murmured as blue motes fell from the staff onto the crystal.

"Now withdraw," I said lifting the staff.

Akane stepped back, her shadows retreating. In their wake was a cube full of shadows.

"Okay, that worked," I smiled. It was impressive. Especially with the roiling dark blue sheen. Then, the crystal cracked.

Ranma's eyes widened, her daughter swore, and I just noticed that Dirac had taken position such that the crates were between himself and the white circle.

My staff snapped back down. "Defendarius," I cried as a blue dome appeared over the cube.

Then, it exploded. Okay that's an exaggeration. It was more like a bit of dry ice popping than a grenade going off. Still, bits of crystal flew, and magical fire laced out and bounced off the shield.

"Oh come on! I wasn't even trying!" Akane growled

I turned to her. "Your shadows make things explode!"

The demon blinked at me. "Well yeah, why else would you control shadows?"

My brow furrowed.... she kinda had a point. I knew someone with shadow powers, and I'd certainly love it if I could make that shadow explode.

Idly smoothing the front of her gown, the redhead shook her head. "I was afraid of that."

I glared between the two.

"Akane, be a dear and clean that up," the redhead sweetly said.

The blue-haired demon bowed her head and complied, sweeping up the crystal shards.

The brood mother picked up another crystal and glided over towards me. She held another cube up in her long talons. "Shall we?"

I took the cube and after waiting for Akane to sweep out the circle I closed it back up. This time the brood mother stood across from me.

One hoof in front of the other, she gave a bow at the waist before clasping her taloned hands. "When you're ready," she said with a coy grin.

"Right, let's try it again."

This time it took longer for her to draw out her shadows, the filling of the cube took longer, and there was a slight purple tinge to the darkness. However, there was no ominous sheen.

"Tenere," I said holding my staff above the replacement cube. I looked over to the demon who was watching with a bit of amusement on her made-up face. "This isn't going to explode on me?"

"Oh, my shadows don't do that," she promised.

"And what do they do?" I eyed the cube. Shadows moved within it like thick smoke.

"My, that is impressive, Mr. Wizard," she noted dropping into almost a curtsy to pick up the cube.

I eyed the way the shadows on the cube seemed to pulse and move against her talons. "Maybe you should place it on the pentacle," I offered.

With my directions she put the cube onto the next point of the purple pentacle. After she did that I fished around in my coat pocket. And drew out the two fragments of my blasting rod.

"Hopefully this won't be as bad as the summoning ritual where I used a broken blasting rod."

"Oh what happened?" Ranma asked, slipping up next to me. "Did someone wreck the summoning?"

"The summoning went great. Actually given the lack of preparation and half-assed work, I was actually pretty impressed."

"Wha'd you summon?"

"The Erlking," I muttered. "I even got him too... until a necromancer cracked the back of my skull."

"Who?" the bouffanted redhead inquired.

"A lord of the wyldfaerie. Very powerful."

"Ah, shame about the necromancer. You won't have to worry about that," she patted my arm. "What's next?"

"I've got the darkness aspect for the queen. Now I'll need to make a matching cube of ice."

"I can make magic ice!" the younger demon cheerfully said.

I eyed the cute, pastel demon. "Does it explode?"

She grinned.

"No exploding," I stated.

Behind her the older sister grumbled. "What's with you and things not exploding?"

"Wait..." I looked between the daughters. "One that controls darkness, one that controls ice." I turned to the redhead. "And their mother all done up like a dark queen."

"Well, I don't use that title much..." the redhead allowed.

"Huh," I thought it over.

Ranma looked to Dirac. "We talked it over and thought that since you were looking for items with 'resonance' to your queen that we might as well help."

"You could take the position opposite the circle from me, with your daughters at the other two points of a four pointed star. That... that could help us."

The demon waved a talon to the four sided star on her tiara.

I snorted. "Not bad for machine shop magic."

Dirac looked vaguely upset while the prim demoness chuckled to herself.

"Well, I suppose Major Saotome would like that term," the gangly technician allowed.

"I think I can swing this one myself." I went back to the crates and thought of what Dirac had said. The redhead didn't have a rank, her blonde sister was a Captain, her third sister didn't have a rank, and I didn't think any of the daughters were officers.

So, who was the Saotome with the rank of Major? Was there another demon running around?

"I could try making non exploding ice," Nabiki offered. "Are you sure you don't want any?"

Her adorable pout interrupted my thoughts. "Uh..."

"Please, your icicles are even more unstable than my shadows," Akane scoffed.

The cute demon looked bashful. "True... and I've only made little slivers and shards."

"It's no problem. I'm the Winter Knight. I can handle making some ice."

"Yes you can," the redhead purred.

I glanced at her choker and then back at my makeshift workbench. That might not have been the brightest move on my part. "Yeah, that shouldn't be too hard."

Picking up a fresh bottle of water, I rooted though one of the crates finding thee cubic hollows in the close-celled foam that had been used to hold the crystals.

"Yeah that'll do," I murmured. Then I poured into one of the hollows. I let Winter power flood out causing the streams to frost over and the gurgling water to turn to slush.

I then topped off the ice slurry. More power froze it to a solid block that I levered out. It was a bit uneven but another flash of power gave it a nice clear crystal sheen.

After that, it was just a matter of rubbing down the sides of the block until it became a proper cube. Once the edges were nice and sharp, I took my staff.

"Tenere," I cast fixing the cube of ice. It now glistened with a slight blue hue and with an inner iridescence.

"That'll keep it from melting?" Ranma asked.

"For a time," I picked up the cube and placed it at the fourth point of the pentacle.

"Can you make more?" the redhead leaned in. "It is lovely."

"Lovely and cold, that'll be a good affinity item for her," I agreed before going to the opposite side of the pentacle. I then upholstered my revolver and placed it just outside the purple circle.

I looked around the giant pentacle. I had four items for Mab, for four me. "Well, that's it, until the last item comes in."

"And if it doesn't?" Nabiki asked.

"I can make a replacement," I shrugged. I could. It's not like I needed an item of faerie manufacture, but what Eve had found in the Company's catalog of seized items would do nicer than anything I could make in the couple hours I had before midnight.

"Your preparations are done?" the redhead asked slipping up next to me and taking an arm.

"Until it gets time to put down my athame and do the summoning ritual, yeah."

"Then we can get you dressed." The demoness snapped her long talons; it was an eerie echoing metallic sound.

Lifting the suit bag, Nabiki stepped forward.

"Look this isn't necessary."

"I thought you said fancy dress would help. I'm doing the role of the dark queen," Ranma gave a curtsy. "Aren't you your Queen's knight?"

I sighed.

"And since we don't have a suit of plate armor for your to wear." Her purple eyes gleaming, the redhead began to pull me towards the suite of offices at the front of the warehouse.

***************


"Now, you said I wasn't the strangest tourist?" I asked shying away from my reflection. Mirrors were risky in my line of work. There were plenty of things that could use them as doorways. "What's stranger than a private eye wizard working for a fairy queen?"

Ranma nodded, helping me slip on the button down shirt. "I met myself."

I nodded. The Company had made a pretty good case that this wasn't my Earth. And if alternate Earths existed, why not a copy of yourself? That did make me wonder if I had a doppelganger here. Clearly, the Company didn't find any evidence of a Wizard Dresden in Chicago. Which wouldn't be hard, they'd have just had to check the yellowpages. Or if they did find my double, they didn't tell me.

But that didn't mean much. It's not like I was a native of Chicago. I could have moved to a different city. Or I could be using an assumed name. Or I could have died. Or I could be in hiding. Hells Bells, I'd done all of that myself.

I then noticed the demon wasn't talking, instead she was buttoning my shirt. Her long talons quick and nimble.

"And what's so strange about that?"

Ranma chuckled. "For one she's... human for another she's married to a guy."

"Ah, while you were born a succubus?" I ventured.

The redhead shook her head. "I was human, once."

That caused a shiver down my spine. It didn't help that she had also buttoned the lowest button, which put her talons in a sensitive area.

"We all were," Nabiki quietly added.

"Right, the D Program?" I asked.

"It wasn't formal back then," Ranma shrugged, she then took the hanging pants and eyed them critically.

"So, unlike you... she didn't become a demon?" I carefully asked. I wasn't sure where the trepidation came from. Was it regret on her part? Jealousy of a version of herself that had retained her humanity?

However more of my attention was focused on helping her put pants on me.

"Different, but close." The demon gave me a vague nod and zipped up. "And her husband makes her happy," she said, with what might have been regret but there was a large measure of bewilderment.

As far as I knew, Ranma was a single. And being a single mother had to be hard, let alone with five demonic daughters. "Uh?' I eloquently inquired.

Ranma's eyes focused back on me. She clopped around me and made some adjustments to how my pants rid on me, notably around the back of my waist.

"It's weird she's married? I didn't think you'd find monogamy that alien."

The demon blinked. She then looked at Nabiki, then back to me. And then she started laughing. Her contralto voice descended into chuckles and guffaws, that really contrasted with her gowned form.

Handing me a pair of shoes with matching socks, Nabiki also tittered behind her hand.

"Okay, what'd I miss?" I asked. They were a bit loose, but the shoes would do.

"Succubae not being monogamous," Ranma laughed as she picked up a belt.

"You're sex demons," I said a bit loudly.

This caused the redhead to blink again, then resume her laughter. "Oh poor, dumb Harry," she said after regaining her composure.

"We don't get married, but we do have mates," Nabiki said, with a bit of wistfulness, which I figured was due to her age.

"Wait, Nariko said Misako and Ukyou were mates."

Still laughing, Ranma gave me a pitting look. "Yes?" she asked holding the belt.

And the clutch went on my brain. And it was totally due to the biological implications. And not that my mind was flooded with the images of nubile lesbian succubae. I mean "mate" had a very clear meaning.

And I'll admit having a redheaded succubus slipping a belt around my waist may have contributed.

"You didn't find it odd that we're all female?" Ranma asked with a tease.

"Not really, I mean my brother's got nothing but succubus sisters."

Picking up a tie, the redhead raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, White Court vampires."

As she slipped the silk around my neck, the demon kept looking at me.

"Okay, he's my half-brother. On my mother's side. And –well- his father killed all of his other sons. Thomas was the only one who lived."

Tying the tie off, Ranma kept her stare.

"Not that I assumed you did any such thing," I rambled. "But I'd gotten used to Lara and her innumerable sisters."

"And so you didn't think much of a pack of succubae?" Ranma shook her head.
"Poor, dumb Harry," Nabiki echoed her mother, patting me on the hand with a little smile.

The contact tingled slightly.

"Your brother is an incubus? And yet you're twitchy around demons?"

"I'm twitchy around vampires too..."

Ranma waved that off. "If your brother's family is that insane you're justified."

"You don't know the half of it."

"Yes, we've got some experience dealing with your kind of tourist," she said slipping the suit coat over my shoulders. "There? How do you look?"

Despite myself, I looked into the mirror. To my relief it wasn't exactly a tuxedo that had been bought for me. It was similar but had a sleeker, almost rugged, cut. The pants and coat were black with just a hint of a dark blue shimmer. My tie was of a similar color Instead of white my shirt was a dark slate blue. Polished shoes that were almost boot cut shod my feet.

My hair had already been washed and combed and after a tense moment with some silvery claws my face was neatly shaved. There was something nice about well-fitting dress clothes. Not only did they make you look good, but for me it was a rare treat to have something that actually fitted.

I was a bit impressed that they had managed to get my measurements so well, and then in a few hours had gotten a suit that fit me, but Toronto seemed like a big city. I'm sure there were enough suit stores that they could find one willing to do a rush job if they threw enough money.

However, that was only part of my buoyed spirits.

Looking ever the dapper wizard, I held my staff in one hand. And on my other arm was a demon queen.

Well... part of the Winter Mantle rose. She wasn't quite our queen...

I gave a smile. "It's a lovely gift." I eyed the redhead, the mantle surged, hungry.

"You're welcome."

"But I should give you one in exchange," my hand went to her bustle at the base of her tail.

"Oh you've already..." Ranma's hand went to her choker.

I looked into her eyes. "You can shift your clothes, what if I... helped?" the runes on my staff started to glow. "If we're going to go with costumes for the summoning..."

The demoness licked her glossy lips and then bowed her head. I lowered my staff and lifted my hand, letting the winter power flow out.

Ice gems formed, glittering around her wrists and hung from pointed ears. Her bodice pulsed with violet tracery that ran over her curves. Her shadows grew and responded, following where my hand went, adding details to what I cast. A four pointed star surrounded by a ring of silver nestled atop her cleavage.

The choker around her neck widened, sweeping down her throat and taking on the features of a gorget, with a rounded profile on the angled bottom. The armor-like neck covering also swept up to just under her chin.

She now held her head raised at an almost haughty angle as her neck was extended while the lower end of the choker helped draw the eye to her bosom. "Oh, a posture collar, how decadent," she purred with a little flush to her cheeks.

Looking at her hair, inspiration struck me, "Now, you're a fan of Earth magic?"

"You could say so," she said with a wide smirk.

The runes on my staff tinged green as I waved it over the gravid hair bun curled up atop her head. My ice trailing hand went up and both were met by the deep purple shadows of her own magic.

The ruby tresses shivered as their swollen curves became studded with purple ice gems as my staff slowly fed Earth manna in. The highly polished coiffure grew and smoothed. Something I hadn't expected was for her golden tiara to move out as the metal expanded, gilding her horns and adding to the spectacle atop her brow.

She made a contented noise as my hand went back to her tail. The Winter Mantle agreed and pushed me on. A thicker tail arced over a widened and flared bustle.

I watched as her dress expanded. Earlier, the back of her dress had a bit of a flare in back, but now the dress had puffed out, flowing down to wider skirting. I wondered if she had a full blown crinolette hidden in there with concealed layers of hoops and staves.

Part of me felt guilty by adding to the extravagance, and even the Mantle groused that I was making her less undressed.

My hand slid down her tail and she purred. The tip and fins to her tail now having a slight blue gem tint. Meanwhile Nabiki had sidled over and lifted up her mother's skirting. My staff slipped out and touched the accents on her hooves. Shadows sprung forth and the cobalt armor grew and flowed downward, coating her hooves.

When it was over her polished hooves moved with surprising daintiness given they had enlarged from saucer sized to salad-plate sized. She also moved even closer, pressing herself against my side as she clung to my arm with both sets of talons and wrapped her tail around my waist, slipping it in just under my coat.

My hand returned to the back of her bustle and the Winter Mantle felt almost satisfied as she rested her head on my shoulder. There was then a series of flashes as the pastel demon daughter skipped around us with a film camera that looked like a relic.

It took a bit of effort, but I pulled myself away from the mirror. Reflections were tricky, and mirrors were gateways. I hadn't had a mirror in my house, well ever, really.

I could feel the deep hum of Dirac's Jammer, which I suppose kept things secure enough. I shrugged and exited the room. There was a bit of difficulty with how Nabiki left first and the demon queen pressing against me as we crossed the threshold.

Once we got to the warehouse floor, the other demon daughter was waiting. Clapping, she gave a little bow. "Hey mom, remember when you criticized me and Misa-chan for how much eye makeup we used."

"I'm still using less than you did," the redhead said with a toothy smile.

I did note that her tail was swishing angrily.

"Maybe if you put on more that mage would do more than just grope your ass," Akane teased.

"Uh..." I looked down. And sure enough, there was my hand.

"No need to tease Sir Harry. He's a perfect gentleman," the redhead gave a happy sigh as she continued to lean on my side. "Besides, teasing him is my job," she added with a smirk.

Maybe it was experience but the act of her being on me felt good.

Let me elaborate, it merely felt wonderful. That is the high tension sensation of having a lovely and interested person hanging on your every word. It was great.

But it was not the cocaine and chocolate with a bit of heroin high that came from the light caress of the succubae I was used to dealing with.

Part of that, I think, was because the White Court vampires were kind of a symbiotic creature. On the one hand, they were the most human like of the vampire types; on the other hand, they got all their super powers form a demon-like parasitic Hunger that dwelled within them.

Naturally, those powers came at a cost, namely feeding their Hungers. Sure, they had some degree of control, but they still had the constant hunger of what was, in many ways, a separate entity.

Meanwhile the demon happily leaning on my side seemed bracingly straightforward. She could be in full battle-rattle tearing apart and eating wolfmen or done up like a Victorian-age demonic temptress.

I sighed and went to the purple pentacle and inspected the work. It was when I had completed my second circle that I noticed she was still at my side. She was far quieter on those huge hooves than I expected her to be.

And speaking of her tearing apart her enemies, having that tail wrapped around my waist was... distracting. Though I suppose it was fair given my hand had moved to the base of her tail. I could feel the buzzing coming from the bow she'd wrapped around her tail, which by my estimate did feel thicker.

"I should get you a parasol," I laughed.

The demon queen slowly turned her head. Her choker forced her to move her shoulders as well, still the motion caused the gems on her updo to sparkle in the light. A little smile crossed her lips. "Oh?"

"Well if we're going to practice walking a promenade."

Her smile grew. "Do tell."

"Maybe something lavender with lace ruffled on the edges and a lacquered handle."

"You have a good eye for such finery," Ranma grinned.

"Uh, thanks?" Look, I wasn't used to having women complement my fashion sense, supernatural or no.

"I mean it," the redhead insisted. "Doesn't he Jared?"

Dirac looked up from his work. He gave the demon queen a once over. "I suppose you could use that as a Jammer, put a blade in there. Didn't Misako have one of those?"

"That would be very cute," Nabiki cheered.

"Cute," Akane scoffed. "What ever happened to an honest, slinky leather dress?"

A door clicked open and a familiar statuesque blonde woman entered. Her boot clad feet clicked on the floor. Cold blue eyes looked over the scene with a sense of bemusement.

At her heels were two younger demons. One with teased orange-hair in a red leather dress that looked like it was poured over her then cut down. She wore black platform stilettos and walked with a total confidence. I had no doubt she could walk on gravel or mud with those things. Balanced on her manicured hands was a small dark green crate that she kept running a hand over covetously

The other was slightly taller with smooth light-green hair. She was wearing a grey suit and tie with a little dark grey skirt that was hardly longer than the bottom hem of her suit coat. One of those block-of-steel bullpup rifles was slung over a shoulder and a large holster was tied to one thigh, just about even with the top of her smoke colored stockings. She wore a pair of black pumps and walked plainly but not with the overt elegance of her companion.

I sighed. It said a lot about my life that I could study how women walked in high heels, even before I had stumbled onto several broods of succubae.

"Hey Ilsa, how's tricks?" I smiled when the blonde demon closed in. "Tie up anyone interesting?"

She flashed me a smile. In her heels she was only a little bit shorter than me. "No one recently." She took a moment to adjust the redhead's bodice. "But maybe you will."

I coughed as the demon queen gave a haughty smile as she squared her shoulders.

Almost dismissing her crate, Misako had dropped it with the others and ran over to us. "You went with the Victorian gown!" she cheered.

The green haired demon looked at all this with a distant expression. However, I noted she did stay close to the blonde demon. I recognized her from the photo in Eve's wallet, she was one of the blonde's daughters.

Misako then went into a detailed inspection. All the while, she talked about the various support garments, hoops, staves, spats, hooves, jewelry, and other bits of finery. She then came to the choker.

"A posture collar?" Smirking, her green eyes flared. "If I'd known you'd put on one of those, I'd have suggested some more fun things."

Shifting her shoulders to show of the choker, the redhead gave a haughty smile. "Oh, this was Sir Harry's idea." Rolling her hips she took a half step back to angle her torso so she could look up at me. "In fact most of the upgrades and jewelry to this gown were his idea," she added, with a bemused smirk.

Her motions also reminded me that my hand was still pressing against her bustle.

Misako's predatory smirk grew. "Really now?" she slipped closer. "Impressive, Mr. Wizard," she exhaled.

And this time I felt the mental pressure and floating delights of a succubus' mind powers.

"Misa-chan..." the demon queen cautioned.

Misako pouted.

"Yes, what will Ukyou think?" Nabiki gasped.

"Don't mind Misako," Eve stated, "You can beat her with your staff if she gets too frisky," the blonde added, utterly deadpan.

The green haired demon shook her head. "Sometimes, I can't believe this job."

Eve patted her on the shoulder.

"Is that the bracelet?" Ranma asked freeing a hand to point to the crate Misako had dropped off.

Nodding, the blonde leaned over and undid the clasps. Glancing at the contents, she pocketed what looked like a packing slip and turned the crate and pushed it towards me.

Demon still on my arm, I walked forward.

The redhead slipped off. Long talons went into the box and pulled out a silver bracelet. Opals and sapphires shimmered. She turned the bracelet, examining the metalwork.

I stepped closer. It looked like it was made out of delicate ribbons of silver woven together, engraved, and set with gems.

"It looks pretty enough." The brood queen slipped it into my hand.

The bracelet flexed under pressure and seemed almost springy. It also hummed with power.

Misako hovered near her mother staring at the bracelet.

"Is it faerie?"

"You don't know?" I let the bracelet roll around in my hand.

"Haven't had the pleasure." She flashed a grin. "Will this do?"

I gave the bracelet a long look. "Yeah, it's Winter Faerie all right." I looked to Eve. "Where'd it come from?"

She met my gaze with a smile.

Feeling the pull of a Soulgaze, I looked away.

Eve reached into her coat and pulled out the packing slip. "According to this, it was purchased from an estate sale in 1933. Its previous owner had, officially, liberated it from the summer residence of the Duke of Lorraine in the waning days of the Great War."

She flipped the page. "Apparently, quiet inquires to the Habsburgs came to a dead end. No one remembered the piece."

"Or no one wanted to admit to it," I watched the opals and gems sparkle. "You really just had this thing sitting in a warehouse for the better part of a century?"

"You saw the print-outs from our catalog, Warden Dresden," Eve stated.

"Yes, but you carry a lot of cold iron about you," I gestured to the guns she and the green-haired succubus carried.

"That smoke wagon of yours is two kilos of steel," Ranma happily reminded.

"Yeah, but that's because steel's a handy material. Just look at that thing," I pointed to the green-haired demon's rifle. Up close it was definitely a block of steel milled into a shape vaguely like a hulked-out version of that Belgian bullpup Murphy liked.

Then I saw the cartridges it used. Hells Bells, they were slightly-tapered shafts of brass as thick as my fingers and, when you added the giant stubby bullets in the end, looked just as long.

The green haired demon idly patted her gun. "What about it?" she asked.

"It looks like your Q designed it just in case you wanted to bludgeon a faerie to death."

"That's absurd Pattern F's are quite rare." Her cheeks tinged ever so slightly.

"Besides the requirement was to make sure the gun was robust enough to shatter a reinforced humanoid skull and continue cycling for at least five hundred rounds," Eve smoothly assured.

The redhead had slipped up to her demon daughter and ran a talon over the rifle. "It is an elegant weapon."

"Elegant? It's an over-powered, brutal little thing... Oh." I smoothed my tie.

The redhead beamed. "Fitting no?"

"He didn't even get to mention how it's too much, too heavy for most humans to handle." Eve shook her head. "Pity."

"Hah. Anyone ever tell you you've got a good sense of humor, Ilsa?"

The blond gave the tiniest bow to her head.

"Fine." I turned back to the circle. "We've got the final piece, we can get things setup."

"Good to hear." Eve clapped her hands. "Ah, before I forget, sister."

I heard the redhead's dress rustle and her hooves shift.

"Serena has been asking after you. You may want to talk with her after the ceremony," Eve stated.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the redhead nod. Well given her choker, she had to bow at the shoulders, but the gesture meant the same thing. For my part I was looking at the purple pentacle.

I crouched down and gently placed the bracelet at the tip of the last point of the star. I released a bit of my will and felt a slight tingle as the first bits of power started to flow. After giving the setup a critical eye, I dusted my hands and stood.

"I think this'll work."

Misako's heels clicked as she stepped up. "Mutual affinity, eh?" she asked stepping around the pentacle.

"Yeah, five items for myself, five for her."

"Interesting simplicity to the design." the demon eyed the cube of shadows and the bracelet with a broad smile. "Efficient."

"I'm pretty sure I'll need it."

She looked to the outer circle. "Two layers? Add a third and you've got the start of one heck of a containment circle."

"You know magic theory?" I glanced to Dirac and Ranma. Neither of them seemed surprised.

"A bit on wards." The orange-haired demon shrugged. "Mostly it was field work activating someone else's design." Her expression grew remote. "Demons tended to be too fast unless you timed your ambush just right."

I gave a slow blink. "You fought demons too?"

Misako gave a level stare.

The redhead swept in and put an arm around her shoulder. "Yes, but Misa-chan was talking about things she learned... before."

Misako frowned.

"Ah." I winced.

"Not all of her past experience was on how to apply makeup and hunt," Nabiki added giving an overly innocent smile to Akane.

I might not have much experience but I could recognize sibling rivalry when I saw it.

The redhead then drew the taller daughter into a hug, seemly ensconcing her with lace and ruffles. Her tail came out and wrapped around the younger demon who began to happily purr.

The two blue-haired demon daughters gravitated closer and the demon queen pulled them into an embrace. The purring grew louder.

"Huh, another group hug," I glanced over and saw that Dirac had given the display a bare glance and instead was discussing his notes with Eve.

The blonde demon, for her part, did seem a bit distracted but had an arm around the green-haired succubus pulling her into a half hug.

"Too cute," I shook my head and gave the pentacle another walk around. All that was left was my old Ka-bar knife. Five items for me, five for Mab.

The demons seemed humane enough. They were certainly loving enough.

Perhaps that was the wrong word, given what Ranma would do for her family. But did I have a place to talk? I knew what I was willing to do to save my daughters. I knew what I did to save Maggie. I also knew what I would do if Mab hadn't agreed to make me the Winter Knight.

I glanced between the demons and thought of the D Program. I went to Mab because my back had broken and I needed to be healed, and I needed power. These mercenaries...

The purring stopped.

I looked over as hug broke-up.

Akane and Nabiki went off to one side. Their tone as they talked with each other was biting, but their tails were swishing in sync. Misako for her part was fluffing and straightening her mother's gown.

Leaning over, she made a tisking noise. "Mother, you're dressing up, you can use some eyeshadow."

The redhead raised an eyebrow.

"Bah," Misako snorted. She turned back to me. "What happens if you actually summon your boss?"

"That's whole-"

"No, I mean, you physically pull her here. She gonna be upset her assassin pulled her away from the office out into the field?"

"Assassin?"

"You are wearing a lovely suit." Her green eyes glinted. "Say, you ever kill anyone in a suit?"

"Yes."

"Doesn't it make you feel like James Bond?" she purred.

"Hey now!" Ranma glared. "His gun's much bigger than Bond's little capgun." She reached out and gave my arm a pat. She clopped closer and her other arm snaked out and her talons brushed against my hip, and that empty holster.

Her head gave a disappointed little shake.

"What? I'm using it for the ceremony," I pointed to where I'd put the revolver just outside the pentacle.

The redhead turned to follow my arm. "That's why you have a spare," she scoffed cocking her hip to one side.

"Two is one, one is none," Misako recited.

"I don't see you carrying two pistols."

The redhead tapped her chin with a talon and looked down at her gown.

"Mother could hide a carbine in there," her green-eyed daughter said approvingly.

"Besides our pistols are our backup weapons," Misako smirked.

I simply thumped my staff on the floor.

"And that is an impressive weapon," the redhead purred reaching out to it.

Misako's eyes flashed, but she bowed her head to me.

Eve handed a notebook back to Dirac and stepped closer. "We've got ten minutes. Are we go or no go?"

"Yeah, we can get it." I gave the pentacle another glance. "There's just one more thing."

Eve looked crossly at me. "Oh?"

"Just a couple reminders." I exhaled. "My boss can be a bit... sensitive to slights. Offending her is a bad idea. Challenging her is worse."

Ranma turned to Misako and simply narrowed her eyes.

The demonic daughter pouted but bowed her head. "I'll be quiet."

The redhead sharply nodded.

"Also the faerie love to make deals and will try to get the better of you. Entering into bargains or accepting gifts is not wise as it will just draw you in further."

"Do tell," Ranma tapped her choker.

Eve frowned. "I did consider calling in legal."

"That's why we'll let Mr. Wizard do the talking; he's already in hock with his boss."

I may have grumbled.

"We'll have to be careful if she tries to extract a price from us," Eve said.

I caught the blonde's eyes flick to Ranma as her tail curled. The redhead's own tail rolled to one side.

"It'll be best if you lead the questioning," Eve continued. "First order is to figure out if you were sent here. That those Pattern L's here already knew about you and tried to neutralize you is compelling evidence. And if you were sent knowing why and getting additional intel would be desired."

"Yeah about that..." I sighed. "Look the faerie can't tell direct lies."

Pursing her lips, Eve looked vaguely offended. The blonde exhaled. "Direct?"

"Yeah."

"Meaning statements they give have to be true under strict Boolean logic?"

I nodded.

A little growl rumbled within Eve. She lifted her hand and started counting off. "Thus they can imply, speak in generalities, give answers that are technically correct but colloquially misleading, all to let a person come to a false conclusion."

"Yah, they really tend to be rules lawyers."

A hint of irritation flashed in Eve's eyes. "They can also give a hypothetical statement or present a thought experiment, state what another person thinks, and, of course, a statement of theirs can be framed as question thus removing the onus of veracity."

"Um... yeah." I rubbed my head. "Look, I know it's really frustrating."

The green haired demon looked to Eve. "Don't forget disinformation via proxy."

Eve gave her daughter a hug. "Good point Morrison."

"And that is?"

Morrison looked to Eve who nodded. "Put simply: Person A hides item X. They tell Person B where to find it," the green-haired demon said. "You find Person B and get them to tell you where X is. However..."

"The first person lied to the second," I grit my teeth. "Yeah... they'll do that too."

"A reason for them to keep non faerie around," Eve noted.

"What a hassle. Why not just assume they can lie and be done with it?" Ranma asked.

"They can't tell direct lies so you can get some information," I countered. Okay there was one case where a fae could tell a direct lie, but if Mab was able to lie then I was completely screwed.

"Yes, decoding diplomat speak," Eve gave a cold smile. "But one part is a concern. Sir Harry, why does your queen act this way with her knight? Doesn't this degrade your performance as her agent?"

"Yeah, jerking a person around and lying to them is not the way to build trust," the redhead said.

I rubbed my head again. "Tell me about it. See my boss prefers... older tools of recruitment. Namely giving people enough rope. Well... it's more like she finds people that tend to fall into quicksand and then offer them rope, for a price. It helps that she's very patient and can wait for years and years."

"Ah, still one thinks that makes for poorly motivated staff," Eve said.

"She has her ways, besides she's more of a sink or swim mentality with her... retainers."

"By throwing them in the quicksand?" Ranma surmised.

"I guess my metaphor was pretty mixed..."

"Five minutes." Eve glanced at her watch and met Dirac's gaze.

"I'll get into position," the gangly technician said, going over to his machinery and magic circle.

"Final check then," Eve stepped away and turned on her radio.

I shifted my tie and simply looked over the pentacle.

The redhead had slipped up next to me. "You ready?"

"Yeah, not like rushing right now would help," I shrugged. "Besides midnight is just the optimum time. I can always try it again."

"Should we get into position?" she asked giving her hips a shake.

"Right, I'll need, um, Akane and Nabiki for this."

The brood queen nodded; the gems on her hair twinkled. She then sauntered off with her hooves clicking on the floor.

She quickly returned with the two blue-haired demon daughters.

"Are they dressed appropriately?" the redhead teasingly asked.

I looked between Nabiki's cheongsam and the skimpy, shiny shorts and top Akane was in. "Well, it's not exactly the Winter Queen's look, but it could fit the Winter Lady," I allowed

"Winter Lady?" Nabiki asked.

"Each faerie court has three queens. In increasing power, there's the Winter Lady, the Winter Queen, and the Winter Mother," I said as I led Akane to one spot.

"And you're summoning the queen?"

"Yeah," I didn't want to get into too much detail about the other queens, not now at least.

"How?" Ranma asked, as I had her stand across from my position.

I raised an eyebrow. "I'll be using her Name." I actually had pretty good luck at summoning the correct faerie queen. Though I haven't tried to summon any of the Winter or Summer Ladies... for reasons.

I then had Nabiki stand opposite Akane and took position across from Ranma. I took the knife in my hand and knelt down.

"Is there anything we should do?" the redhead shouted from across the pentacle.

"Think dark queen but do not cast anything." I looked over to Akane and Nabiki. "Same for you two, shadows and ice. But don't actually spread anything out, that could wreck the energy I'm putting through the pentacle."

I glanced over and saw Eve standing a few steps to the side. "Warden, we're ready." She held out her arm.

I waited.

"Prepare for Jammer shut-down." Eve stated, her voice deep and carrying. "Turn off all Jammers in five... four... three... two... one." She then made a cutting motion with her hand.

The familiar background hum ceased. The sudden silence felt oppressive. As did the gazes the demons and mercenaries had leveled on me. It didn't help that the power the redhead and her daughters started to pump out started to press against me.

Okay, I needed to make with the magic.

I took the knife and nicked my palm. I let a drop of blood fall onto the pentacle which flared and began to sparkle. Placing the Ka-bar just outside the circle, I began to focus my thoughts.

Pulling in the energy emanating from the demons, I went from focus item, to focus item forming my thoughts and readying the energy.

Exhaling I released the energy, and the spell burst out. The pentacle flared in violet light. "Mab!" I cried. "Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, Queen of the Winter Court! Mab, I bid you to come forth!"

End Chapter 3


I'd like to thank the prereaders for their help in this project: J St C Patrick, DCG, Kevin Hammel, and Ellf. Again, special thank to Ellf for his help in soundboarding and getting this idea off the ground.

 

Blood Debts Book 5 of The Return
A Ranma, Sailor Moon, Dresden Files fic thingy.
By Sunshine Temple
Naturally, I own neither Sailor Moon nor Ranma nor the Dresden Files. So here's the disclaimer:

Ranma 1/2 and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC. And the Dresden Files is owned by Jim Butcher.


Previous chapters and other works can be found at my fanfiction website.
http://jtemple.florestica.com/
Temporary Backup Site.
http://www.fukufics.com/fic/
Other website Temple of Ranma's Senshi Seifuku
http://fukufics.com
C&C as always is wanted.
Chapter 4: Unwelcome Answers, Part B


The power throbbed within the pentacle as the pressure built. The spell reached out; the Winter power within me sang; something... cracked. The power shot off and the spell homed in.

I was struck by the visual of gas shooting out of a pressurized steel tank. A siren went off and halted mid-wail as the light in the warehouse seemed to dim. Keeping the spell formed, I glanced to see that the shadows around Akane and Ranma had deepened while the ground around Nabiki was rimed with an ominous frost.

Blue black shadows filled the pentacle as the air chilled.

They coalesced into a sleek cobalt blue gown flowing over a tall female form. Dark blue hair cascaded down her shoulders. She looked ethereal; it took me a moment to realize she was ever so slightly translucent.

Harsh, slightly-feline, ice-chip blue eyes stared down at me while lips the color of frozen mulberries quirked in an amused, but contemptuous smile.

"My Knight," she purred, stepping out of the pentagon center of the pentacle. "You seek my counsel," Mab, Queen of Air and Darkness, stated, standing a pace from the edge of the purple circle.

Already on my knees, I lowered my head. I noticed her heels made no sound on the concrete. So, I hadn't yanked a faerie queen to this reality. Yay. Which also meant, I hadn't inadvertently imprisoned her. Double Yay.

"That I do," I lifted my head. "Uh... sorry if I interrupted something," I added standing up.

"Ensuring my Knight pursues his Winter Duties is worthy of my attention," Mab stated. She then turned and inspected the three demons standing around the circle. Her smile grew fractionally.

The succubae for their part watched with loose, low tails and slight tilts of the head.

I blinked. "Right, that sounds like I was sent here for a reason?"

"Does it? Fascinating company you keep, my Knight." Mab tilted her head in an almost bird-like manner. "Perhaps your objection to the Denarians was more aesthetic than moralistic."

"The Nickelheads are cheating chumps." I watched Mab's hips as she sauntered to the opposite side of the circle.

The queen inhaled, and I wondered just how much her image was sensing. Slowly stepping from one side to the other, Mab eyed the redhead. I flushed a bit as her eyebrow quirked at the jewelry and choker Ranma wore.

"You're of BlackSky's brood," the queen stated.

"Her granddaughter, DarkStar" the redhead bowed her head and dropped into a curtsey. The shadows around her hooves pulled in, mirroring the motion.

I made a note to the names. As demonic names went- well- they sounded like aliases.

Mab gave a slow bow of her own. "At least someone understands the necessities of decorum," she glanced back at me, looking cross.

"Hey, I'm wearing a suit."

"Under protest no doubt," Mab paced around the circle. It reminded me of the smooth, languid motions of a shark.

"I have questions."

Mab lifted a hand in acknowledgment. "One would presume that even you are not so uncouth as to summon mere merely to show your latest diversion."

The queen turned back to the redhead. "Not that you aren't more than acceptable."

"Thank you." The brood mother's eyes gleamed. "And I see why you spent so much time to possess your Knight. He may be a bit slow, but has much potential."

"Yes, he grows slowly, but he grows." Mab gave a single laugh.

"I'm afraid to ask what he was like when he started," Ranma stated.

I shot a glare at the redhead.

"Brash, passionate, easily-led by a pretty face, often overwhelmed by circumstance but focused, driven to win, and devastating."

My spine chilled. I was not used to Mab complementing me, even if it was reluctantly.

"A good start." The demon smiled. "Plenty of opportunity."

"Okay... can the dark queens stop chatting about how to best bend me to their will?" I asked.

Mab and the demon exchanged a look.

"You're not ordering me back, and you don't seem surprised that I'm calling you," I pointed out to the faerie queen. "Hells Bells, you seem more bemused by the gaggle of succubae than anything else."

"Do you have a question, my Knight?"

"You're not the only one who knew I was being sent out here. When I arrived, I was set on by a bunch of wolf-men that had all sorts of information about me and the Knights of the Cross."

"You are incorrect." Amusement slightly thawed Mab's eyes. "You were sent without my consent or knowledge."

My stomach chilled as I recalled the second thing she said to me. "But if I'm here in pursuit of my Winter Duties..."

Mab glanced back at the redhead. "You see the burden he can be?"

Ranma shot her a sympathetic look before turning to me. "Maybe you should give her a question."

I glared. Then exhaled and faced Mab. "Right. You didn't send me. Unless you somehow sent me unwittingly."

"A fascinating concept," Mab dryly noted.

"But you're not angry that I'm here, and you're not demanding I come back. You're also implying that I'm on official Winter business."

Mab waited; she seemed to be holding back her impatience.

"However, you could easily just say I'm on business. I mean, it's not like you've been shy about ordering me in the past. Which means..."

The faerie queen gave a single soft clap.

"I was sent by one of the other queens of Winter?"

"As I said, he grows, but slowly," Mab said to Ranma.

Ranma nodded. "And you didn't directly answer his question."

Mab inclined her head like a fencer's salute.

"So, who was it?" I asked concerned about the answer. "The Winter Mother or Molly?"

"Do you really think the Winter Lady would dare do something behind my back?"

I exhaled. "It's a possibility. It wouldn't be the first time a Winter Lady went off the reservation."

Mab's eyes narrowed. The previous Winter Lady, Maeve, was Mab's daughter. Things went real bad at the end. Hells Bells, Mab had ordered me to kill Maeve. And the worst part was Mab was right to place the hit. In fact, things would probably have been a lot better if Mab had done that earlier…

I put up my hands placating. "Look, I don't want any trouble. Molly was my protegee."

Mab gave a haughty sniff and waited.

Okay. Either Molly had started to do her own secret plots or... I was here on the Winter Mother's orders. And that was almost as bad as Machiavellian Molly. Let's put it this way, the Winter Mother thought Mab, the icy, dark queen before me, was "too sentimental". In other words Winter Mother wouldn't have hesitated with respect to the assassination of her own daughter.

I exhaled. "Can I ask what I'm here to do?"

"You can ask," Mab smoothly said.

The redhead chuckled.

"Why was I sent here?" I held up my hand. "And before you go on about the price of this information. Need I remind you, that while I'm here, you are without your Knight. Without your mortal champion."

"That is obvious." Mab eyed me.

"If you don't help me then I won't be in any particular rush."

Mab smiled revealing delicately pointed canines. "That is not your nature. Your morality, your tenacity, will propel you. You are inexorable."

I made a fist and rapped my skull. "But I'm not fast. Old Harry's pretty slow. You're gonna let one of the Summer queens have a clear advantage for a month or two? You'll let the scales be unbalanced for that long?"

"Even you are not that tardy," Mab stated.

"Maybe I stay and enjoy the local color," I bowed my head to the redhead and rolled out my arm towards her.

The corners of Mab's lips quirked up. "Your daughters?"

"They're in good hands," I shrugged, chilling my emotions. "I could use a vacation anyway."

Mab's expression grew opaque. "Normally, I would let your find your way." She turned to look at the demons. "Especially with such finely appointed diversions."

Of course Mab approved of me hanging out with succubae. Anything that might tempt or corrupt me. Still, I waited her out.

"However, there is but one Knight for three Queens, and you will be required. There are convocations back in your city where your presence would be an asset."

I raised an eyebrow. Scuttlebutt had been that the signatories of the Unseelie Accords were wrangling some kind of big meeting. And since Mab had written the Accords...

"Lay it on me, my queen."

"Your insolence is not the endearing asset you make it out to be." Mab's lips twitched.

"I notice you didn't simply say you hated it," I countered.

Mab ignored that as she resumed studying the demons. "Alas, I fear you will not be satisfied with what I tell you."

I grunted. One thing I'd learned was that Mab took her word seriously. Even implying she would bargain in bad faith would get her ire. And by ire I mean: slowly freeze your eyeballs.

"What is it that you seek?" Mab idly inquired.

"I know someone from my world reached out and contacted some chuckleheads in this world."

"A simplification." Mab corrected. "For example, it could have been someone from this would that contacted your world, or perhaps mine."

"Was it?"

"You ask the wrong question."

"Of course I am," I grumbled.

"If I may?" Ranma asked.

Mab shifted to her and bent her head in recognition.

"What is the correct question?"

"Excellent."

"I was gonna ask that," I muttered.

"This one pleases me. Polite. Lethal. Passionate. You chose well allying with her, my Knight." Mab nodded to me. "The question is not Who but What."

"Okay... this person contacts this world. They plan to kill me when I stumble over here, or maybe they were gonna send me back. Either way, they want me not interfering. What's this person trying to accomplish? "

"To thwart an evil man's plans." Mab's smile grew. On anyone else it would be an expression saying "I know more than you", but Mab as a fae queen, she always knew more than me. Minor ire at Winter Mother poaching me aside, she found something darkly amusing about this whole meeting.

"Evil? That's pretty black and white for you."

Mab waved dismissively. "Evil as you have called it, my Knight."

Frowning, I thought. Her addendum meant someone I considered a bad guy was the ultimate target. That gave me a motive, and a worrying one.

"Right, that could mean I'm dealing with some misguided fool who thought killing me is part of defeating some greater evil." It wouldn't be the first time. Hells Bells, I was once shot in the back by a giant sniper rifle wielded by a crazy priest.

Mab sniffed and returned to the redhead. Where she quietly chatted with the demon. Ranma obligingly leaned forward to showcase her choker.

"It could also mean that we've simply got a couple bad guys fighting each other. What is this, another Darkhallow thing? Some sort of dark magic fried the brains of those wolfmen. Am I dealing with another batch of necromancers? "

Drawing herself away from inspecting the redhead's skirting, Mab gave me a labored stare. "My knight, the person you seek knows not what they summon."

I groaned. "Great, is this some sort of ill-informed do-gooder making the wrong pacts and summoning a power they can't handle?"

"Does that sound familiar, my knight?" Mab dryly noted.

"It means I'm going to have to look for a summoning."

Mab eyed the pentacle she stood within.

"One that will go wrong?"

The Winter Queen lifted her gaze. "Regardless. This person's actions will be a significant threat to both this world and your own."

"Okay... that is something." I exhaled and concentrated my will.

"Are you fatigued?" Mab's question was cold.

"Long distance calls are kinda expensive."

Mab looked at me expectantly.

"Which means whoever is doing this will need a lot of energy to conduct their summoning? Enough to be noticed? Especially if it'll punch through to both this world and mine. Hells Bells, if it's powerful enough it'll need a place of power and some real special equipment."

Giving me a long suffering look, the faerie queen then bowed to the demon queen. "If you can bestow my mortal tool with some maturation and polish. I would consider a proper Winter Knight worthy of a boon."

"What did I say about deals?" I warned the redhead.

The demon's purple eyes glared at me. She then bowed at the waist and paused to collect herself. "Regretfully, I cannot take your offer, at this time. As you have said, your Knight is slow to grow. I fear the goal of returning him to you with due haste may conflict with your request."

A vaguely approving look crossed Mab's face.

The demon straightened her torso, but kept her horns bowed. "However, I will to impart upon wisdom on your Knight in exchange for his service rendered to me and mine. Provided, it does not overly detain or delay his departure or, intentionally and permanently, damage him," the redhead added after a moment.

Mab nodded. "It is done."

I opened and closed my mouth. "Did you just sell me to a demon?"

"Rented." Mab waved a hand.

"Remember the last time you rented me out?"

"That was different." Mab's predatory grin focused on me. "That was a Fallen. Here, you've already entered into a pact. I merely allowed you some token of propriety. Would you really risk Winter's name by serving without recompense?"

"We are mercenaries," the redhead reminded.

Looking at me, Mab's expression clouded. My body started to go numb.

"I wasn't going to stiff them!"

The Winter Queen's glare hardened and she returned to the demon queen. "Despite appearances, you will not be disappointed with my Knight." She brushed her hands against each other.

I watched Mab's opalescent nails shimmer and start to grow in length.

"Are your inquiries satisfied?" Mab asked me.

"No, but I'd bet this is all I'd get," I grumbled.

A ghost of a smile crossed Mab's face as she stepped back to the exact center of the pentacle. "Also it would not do to leave my Knight drained and fatigued." Becoming more translucent, she flexed her fingers and flashed her teeth. "Not when you have to service your Queens," she said as her form faded from view. Leaving a ghostly image of her lips and eyes.

The draining power snapped off and I rocked on my heels. The bright lights returned and after a second or two I felt the hum of the Jammers resume.

Staring at the empty pentacle, I slowly exhaled and inhaled deeply. Shaking my head, I made my way back to the crates and grabbed a bottle of water.

"She's fun," the redhead noted as she clopped up, lavender skirts swishing.

"Twisty like a corkscrew." Eve noted, paging through her notes. "She implied much, but there were a few outright statements. If she's reliable…" the blonde eyed me.

"It's kind of her thing," I drank some more water.

"Lovely." A little growl escaped the blonde.

"Another Beachhead Situation?" the demon queen asked.

"I got five points that she wanted to get across," Eve flipped another page and looked me in the eye.

I turned away. That was getting to be an annoying habit of theirs.

"First; you're here deliberately and officially," Eve prompted.

"But it wasn't Mab who set this up."

"That is the second." The blonde nodded. "Third is the motive of our summoner."

"Stopping some bad guy." I shrugged. "But that could someone doing dirty work to stop a greater evil, or the standard back-biting bad guys are known for."

Eve bowed her horns in agreement. "Which leads to the fourth point."

"Yeah, she outright told us our summoner is being played," I rolled Mab's words around in my head. If there was anything worse than a faerie being opaque and cryptic, it was the rare moments when they were upfront and blunt.

"And the fifth."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course it'll be a threat to both my world and yours. It's not like I'd have an easy job." I grumbled and started policing up the affinity objects. At the very least I wanted my stuff back.

"We're agreed then." Eve nodded and closed her notebook. "There is an upside to all this."

"Yeah," I slipped my mother's silver pentacle amulet over my neck. "The summoning ain't exactly subtle."

"It also gives us a direction as we track down the evidence... recovered from those Pattern L's."

"Yeah, if you need help on ritual components or how to find places of power." I yawned and retrieved my revolver. "I can help with that."

"Excellent. Odds are the summoner's magic style will be more similar to yours than ours." Eve gave another nod. "I'll call the situation in to command and update forensics on what to look for."

Watching Eve saunter off, I almost missed the redhead popping up next to me.

"I can see why you picked her," the demon queen noted she slipped her hand inside my coat and shifted the gun from the pocket it was distorting into its holster.

"She was the best of a list of bad choices."

Keeping her hand on my side, the demon raised a thin eyebrow. "Oh? Is that all?"

"It was either kill a mess of people and become a dark god, let a Fallen Angel take over my mind, or her. At least with Mab it's just a job."

The demon chuckled. "And you believe that?"

I looked down at met the demon's gaze. "Mab cannot change who I am."

Leaning in, the redhead smirked. "And that's why she likes you," she said in a sing-song purr.

"Gah! You make it sound like she's got a crush. She isn't like that. She's not human."

The redhead simply tapped the floor with a single hoof.

"Not like that. Even by faerie standards she's cold and distant. She's more a force of nature than..."

Shadows roiled around the demoness as she rolled her shoulders to tilt her head. "You two are physically compatible."

"That was just the one time!"

The demon queen chuckled. She then clapped her hands. "Right. Girls help square things away; we're going to have a busy day tomorrow."

The three daughters moved to the pentacle but stopped just outside the circle. As one they turned to me.

I blinked at the pale faces. "Okay, that's a bit of a Children of the Corn vibe."

"Is it safe for them to help dismantle things?" Ranma asked.

"Oh, yeah." I looked at the cube of roiling darkness that the redhead had filled. "Probably safer for them to handle some of those things."

"Are classes still on for the morning?" Akane asked picking up the shadowy cube.

"Sure, no reason to cancel because we might have a raid," the redhead waved talons dismissively.

Slipping the broken ends of my blasting wand in the suitcoat pocket I frowned. My duster was far more practical storage-wise. "I'm gonna change."

Fluffing her skirts, the redhead sighed. "I suppose dress-up time is over."

Misako sighed as she boxed up the silver tiara and the faerie bracelet.

Boots echoing on the floor, Eve returned to us. Slight frustration marred her face while the tip of her tail flicked side to side.

"Yeah?" Ranma asked.

"Serenity is on her way. Apparently she has wants to see our guest."

"Really?"

"Coincidentally, Kiri is accompanying her."

The redhead's face clouded and she gave a little, frustrated stomp. "And the Colonel's letting them come?"

"She was insistent; the Colonel did manage to delay them until after our conference concluded," the blonde's tone was neutral.

Looking between the two demons, I could tell they were having some sort of unspoken conversation. Their tails and postures shifted enough. Again I wondered if they were telepathic or merely highly empathic "Who are you talking about?"

The redhead gave a smile. "Good thing you're still in your suit."

"Oh?"

"You wanna meet another queen?"

***************


There was ample time to square things away around the summoning circle and relax for a bit in the warehouse's office section. Well, I relaxed with a soda and a crumbly energy bar one of the mercenaries given me. My staff was leaning against an overturned desk behind me.

Ranma and her brood sat nearby chatting. Except for Misako who hovered over her mother fretting over the redhead's coiffure and cosmetics. In the end, the demon queen looked about the same.

There was the sound of a vehicle parking, a pause, then a roll-up door lifting, another pause, and then the door from the warehouse opened and Eve led in three young women.

At the head of the group was a tall, elegantly featured, woman with pale blue eyes. She wore minimal makeup and the only jewelry she had was a thick silver tiara on her brow. A golden crescent moon was at its center.

Gleaming silver hair was pulled back in a tight, plaited bun. She wore a dark navy-blue jacket with gold piping over a beige blouse with a high collar. A thin dark blue silk bow adorned her chest. It reminded me of the Jammer bows the demons wore.

A slit dark blue skirt with silver accents ran down long legs to just past her knees. She wore cream stockings and fashionable ultramarine boots with a slight heel that were similar to Eve's.

I glanced between the silver-haired queen and the blonde demon. They were of similar heights, eye colors, and figures. Though the blonde was a bit more voluptuous while the other woman was more statuesque. And unlike the blonde, the silver-haired woman was decidedly Japanese and actually had some color to her skin, instead of demonic alabaster.

Behind her were two younger and shorter women The older of the two had long fine black hair and wore set of black slacks, maroon blouse, and charcoal jacket. Deep eyes smoldered as she glanced around the room. She kept position close to the silver-haired woman, as if a bodyguard or maybe something more.

I noted her irate attention seemed focused on Misako. The green-eyed demon, for her part, grinned and waved.

Rounding out the trio was the shortest and youngest. Hells Bells, she was a girl. It was hard to tell her age but I could bet she wasn't in high school. She had long dark green hair, dusky skin, and deep red eyes and wore a ruffled black dress with emerald green ribbons.

Her expression was stern and unnervingly fixated on me.

All three practically crackled with power. It wasn't even something they were projecting; it felt like the natural burn-off of their natures.

Eve stepped to the side between myself and the trio. The succubae stood up and prowled behind me while the brood queen slipped up and took position opposite Eve.

Her purple lips curled into an amused smirk.

I noted the silver haired woman seemed more intent on starting at the demon's hooves, horns, hairdo, and neckline than on me.

The blonde demon gestured to me. "Harry Dresden, Warden of the White Council and Knight of the Winter Court of the Faerie."

I nodded my head.

"Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, Lady Pluto, and Lady Mars," Eve said, pointing to the silver-haired woman, the green-haired girl, and the black haired young woman in order.

"Uh, hi," I said.

"This is a wizard?" Lady Mars said dismissively. "At least his suit's better than the last one."

I held out my hand and the short-haired demon daughter tossed my staff. Thankfully, she stuck the throw and my hand gripped it. I dropped the staff against the ground and let the runes glow. The scent of wood-smoke started to curl from the charged runes.

Lady Mars' glare hardened. Sparks flickered at her finger tips and her hair flared as if blown by hot air. The dark tresses also began to gain a burning nimbus.

"Okay Firestarter, you want to throw down?" My hand tightened on the staff and I pointed to the demons behind me. "Because I've seen the pyros these girls are and I'm curious how your ritual magic compares."

Mars grinned. I felt the room's tension increase as my skin began to feel prickly. Suddenly, I got the feeling that challenging Lady Mars' pyromancy skills was a bad idea. And I really started to wish I'd slipped on my duster.

"Rei," Serenity stated without looking back at her subordinate. Her tone was adamantine.

The pressure abated, but Mars still glared at me.

"New gown?" Serenity asked stepping closer to the redhead.

"I had some help," the demon queen teased, slipping up to the taller woman. Her tail lifted and curled around the other woman's skirt.

A part of me flickered with irritation, and I strode over to the pair. "Look, it's late and I just got done talking with my boss, but what's this all about?"

Serenity eyed me. With her boots and height she only had to look up slightly. I was transfixed by her eyes. There was power here, but constrained, untapped. "You're not like him," she said after a few moments.

"Would I hang around with someone like Murdock?" Ranma asked.

"You have before," Lady Pluto noted, stepping forward. She nodded to my staff and swept her arms, flicking her fingers. An ornate grey rod taller than her appeared. Made of a dark silvery metal and adorned with flanges and filigree, it was topped with an immense garnet orb.

"Fancy," I noted.

"I am the Guardian of the Gates," the diminutive lady noted.

"Of course you are." I groaned. "Look it's not my fault I'm here. One of my bosses sent me here."

Pluto tilted her head. I felt like a bacteria at the wrong end of a microscope.

"I'm on good terms with the Gatekeeper from my world," I offered.

Pluto circled around me. Her staff tapped on the floor.

The Moon queen and the demon queen continued their little... chat.

The red eyes continued to bore into me. I pulled my gaze away. "I know I'm not from around here but I've been sent to help."

The emerald-haired girl leaned the staff on her shoulder. Her expression was expectant but measured. "Do tell," she dryly remarked.

"Someone's gonna summon something big here and it'll damage my world and this one."

"Yes, you were sent to cleanup your people's mess." The girl sighed.

"My people? You know who the summoner is?"

Irritation flashed over Lady Pluto's face. It was then replaced by resignation "I am the Guardian of the Gates. I felt your trespass."

"And the summoner?"

"Was far more subtle. You bashed your way in like a noisy thief. The summoner, as you say, was silent and slipped in."

Ranma's ears pricked up and she started to watch Puu, her tail swishing.

"It was only by tracking the damage you had caused that I was able to detect the earlier intrusion." Lady Pluto's composure instantly recovered. It was eerie. One moment she bore barely-contained frustration, the next it she was utterly calm.

Maybe it was my years of experience, maybe it was that I was technically part of the faerie courts, maybe it was because I had just gotten done talking with Mab, but I realized that the scary little girl didn't actually say she didn't know who the summoner was.

"How early?" Eve asked.

"It's hard to tell, given someone ripped apart the fabric of reality."

The blonde eyed her. "Do you know where they arrived?"

"South. I'll see if I can narrow it down," Pluto flatly stated.

The tall blonde looked down at the creepy girl. "Would it help if you went to where Warden Dresden arrived?"

The girl nodded.

"We'll take you there."

The girl bowed her head in recognition. It was a stiff almost doll-like movement.

"What do you mean by my people?"

Pluto looked at me. I then realized something. I wasn't getting the pull of an incipit Soulgaze from her. "The intruder is like you."

"Meaning? White Council? Winter Court? Another practitioner? What?"

The green-haired girl gave a stiff shrug.

"Hey, Mister Wizard," Ranma said, her hooves clicking as she walked up. "Which do you prefer, red ants or black ants?"

"What? What does that matter?" I frowned; her question was familiar.

"That's how Puu sees the rest of us Mortals," the redhead grinned pulling Serenity along with her.

Groaning, I looked at Lady Pluto with new wariness. Anyone that a demon would consider less "mortal" than herself....

"But ants?" Serenity asked.

"It's from Watchmen," I stated.

Ranma nodded. "I figured a comic book reference would get though his thick skull."

I grumbled.

"But Puu's not that distant," Serenity defended.

Pluto chuckled. "There are many worlds my Queen. More than you can count. But for the Gates, they are beyond my domain." Emotion now bloomed in her voice. There was wistful regret and traces of an old anger long worn down with time and resignation.

"Oh-kay...."

"Don't be scared, Puu just puts on a scary show," the redhead said as she scooped up the smaller girl and drew her into a hug. The ruffled accents to Lady Pluto's dress were swamped by the larger ruffles and layers of the demon's gown.

The younger, or at least younger looking, girl protested for a bit. Until her silver-haired queen joined in. With her almost Victorian uniform she added an oddly regal air to the whole thing.

"Right, she's just a harmless kitten," I deadpanned.

"I could eat her up," Ranma gave a toothy smirk bumping her hip against Serenity while wrapping her arms around the diminutive Pluto.

Glancing over, I saw Mars' eyes smolder, almost literally, as she glared at the demon queen. I briefly wondered what kind of "issues" the moon queen's entourage had.

"You can try," Pluto stated.

"Oh?" Ranma teased.

The green-haired girl craned her neck up and gave the demon a look.

"Right, you can get more info on who's running around here plotting their dark summon?"

Pluto pulled her gaze away from the amused demon. "Hopefully where and when she, or he, came across."

"And the damage I caused?"

Pluto gave me a dark look. "This isn't a magic wand." She thumped her garnet rod.

"Well... technically... I mean..."

Her red eyes narrowed as "the look" intensified.

"The situation is... precarious, Warden Dresden," Eve gently reminded. "Do remember Ottawa."

"Right the squid things," I stated studying the garnet orb atop Pluto's staff. There was more to it than she said. I could feel power buzzing off of it.

I suppressed a sigh as I opened my Wizard's Sight. Colors shifted as magical energies entered my Sight. For my part, I focused on the top of the silvery staff. Energies raced up and down it and the orb itself seemed to consist of layers of lens-like foci. There was power in it, but only to keep the enchantments running.

In a way her staff was a lot like my own.

Well, aside from the shimmering black threads that were tied to it.

And here's where I should have just closed my third eye; instead, I followed the threads.

They pulled back and towards the green-haired girl. But they didn't emerge from her. then I realized that I was looking at Lady Pluto herself.

On one side was Ranma's branching demonic energies, on the other was Serenity. The Silver-haired queen seemed starkly lit as she glowed with a bright, nearly blinding white light. In contrast the ebony shadow she threw flickered with golden shimmers in the inky depths that overlapped and rippled like waves, or fine scales.

However, those two merely bookended what I was seeing.

Lady Pluto stood before me. Her dress was prim and ruffled. Her body poised and still. And running from her wrists, ankles, and neck were iridescent black lines. More pulled from a row down her spine and out the back of her head.

A few lines twitched and her head tilted. The world around her became... drawn and plastic. For the first time I felt like I was in the NeverNever, specifically one of the "thin" areas where the laws or reality broke down.

I swallowed. Before me was meat marionette on a flat puppet theater stage riddled with worm-rot. The foci of the garnet rod could help nail things down, but ultimately it was like hammering rotten boards.

And then behind the stage where the threads were being moved.... iridescent bubbles churned and popped.

A green eyebrow was pulled up and the silver rod was yanked down. The garnet orb smacked into my oak staff. There was a sharp crack, the scent of ozone, and my Sight closed.

"Grawa-nrab?" I gibbered blinking my eyes.

"Someone tried to sneak a peek," Lady Pluto crossly noted.

"Poor, dumb Harry," Ranma sighed.

Eve handed me a bottle of water. I took a sip.

"What did you see?" Mars asked, genuine interest in her voice.

I caught Ranma's eye, but the demoness' expression was opaque. How much was the Moon Queen keeping from her retainers? How much was Lady Pluto keeping from her queen? What did I even see? The Moon Queen had power, like one of the younger fae queens but Lady Pluto... what even was she?

"A lot of power, and things... falling apart," I added. I took another sip and rubbed my head.

Mars sniffed and went to Serenity.

Eve stepped over to Pluto. "If you're still good, we'll arrange for transport for you."

The redhead broke out of the hug. She gave Serenity a wink and sauntered over towards me. I noticed that Serenity's eyes were following the demon's bustle.

"And are you okay?" the redhead asked.

"Yeah, just been a busy day... you know," I coughed, my chest hurt with that fatigued feeling of having spent too much time up. "Also not used to the monkey-suit."

"And you don't have to deal with a bodice or all this hair weight." The demon nodded sympathetically.

I blinked. She had bent her neck. I caught sight of her suddenly bare neck.

The demon then reached up and put her taloned hands atop her coiffure. She gripped and pulled her arms down. The updo collapsed as the ice gems that studded it melted. The ice crystals making up her bracelets also liquefied and ran.

As did her tiara and then her bodice. Her clothes and skirting and bustle turned plastic, then liquid, and ran down. Gloves and claws dripped as the shining frippery and silken finery around her hooves sparkled and evaporated with purple sparks and sank into a pool of shadows.

The shadows retreated, drawing closer to her hooves. Which then melted and shifted back into black leather wedge-heel motorcycle boots. Teased wild hair falling down her back, the demon rolled her shoulders and stretched her neck. She then smoothed the leather jacket that had draped over a violet blouse and leather skirt.

I tilted my head. I had to keep in mind just how easily the demon could change her form. I wondered if there was more to her shapeshifting ability; if she could impersonate people or if she was limited to variations of her own form.

"Handy," I stated, loosening my tie and undoing the top button.

Frowning a bit, Serenity shifted her own dark blue jacket.

Looking over from her conversation with Eve, Lady Pluto tisked.

I gave a theatrical yawn. "Hey, unlike some spooky not really-little-girls, some of us need to sleep."

Eve glanced to her sister with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'll handle it," the redhead nodded.

***************


An electronic buzzer went off near my head. Rolling over, the braying beeping pounded into my skull. Blearily, I rose up on the queen-sized bed. It was barely twilight outside the window.

The alarm continued to screech. I pushed a button atop the blinking device and instead was rewarded with a full blast of radio static. I growled and pointed my hand. Magic shot out and the clock-radio sparked and died.

I swiveled, put my legs down onto the floor, and watched the numbers dim and go dark. I picked up the clock and dropped it into the trashcan next to the nightstand. It landed atop the plastic packaging the clock had come in.

Look, the thing had three strikes against it. First, I'm not really a morning person, and I was up late last night. Second, electronics and me don't get along. Third, I preferred my alarm clocks to be windup with actual bells, not beeping buzzers.

Yawning, I stood up. Still, I supposed, the clock had lasted the night. The bedroom was nice, but it had the lack of human touch that marked it out as a guest room.

However, a couple things stood out. Clothes hung in the closet and the dresser was full. Obviously at least one of demonic daughters used this room, if only for storage. Probably Akane based on the style and colors of the clothes.

Another oddity was that the marks on the dresser, desk, and the cleared shelves indicated that this used to be more than a guest bedroom. Still, that didn't mean much to me as I tossed on a shirt, grabbed a pile of clothes, and went looking for the bathroom.

I exited into an upstairs hallway. Doors faced me. I tried a couple. First I found another empty bedroom. This one packed with shelves and more personal effects. The room had two vanities, one of which lavishly stocked with cosmetics.

Frowning at the room's unused bed, I closed the door and wondered if the demons actually slept. The next room was a deep and very well-stocked linen closet. My musings abated when the third door revealed a bathroom.

Like the other rooms, this one was neat and rather spacious. However, the walls were crowded with cabinets and shelves. The shelves on the wall above the tub were also full. There were half a dozen different racks that each had their own group of varying bottles of shampoos, soaps, and other odds and ends.

The double sink also had a mess of toothbrushes in holders, spools of heavy duty floss, dental picks, and cups for water. In one cabinet was a big box of unopened toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste. I frowned, realizing this was more than I wanted to know about demonic oral hygiene. At least the toothpaste and mouthwash was good stuff.

Still, I took a fresh toothbrush, found a fresh bar of soap, and took the shampoo that smelled the least flowery. Behind the toothbrush box were even some safety razors. They were old and I couldn't find any shaving cream but they'd do.

Showering, shaving, and taking care of everything else helped wake me up. By the time I'd gotten dressed and was returning to the guest room to get the rest of my stuff, my mind had begun to clear.

Shrugging my coat back on, I made my way to the stairs. The house was nice. It was smaller than Chateau Raith, where Lara ran the White Court of vampires.

But that was a mansion on hundreds of acres of groomed grounds. And while much of the Raith family had been raised there, it was not exactly a "family place".

And well, this wasn't a mansion at all. It was a rather large house with two stairwells, but it was still a suburban family residence. It was larger than my friend Michael's place, and he and his wife raised over half a dozen kids there. But it shared the same homey feel of a house filled with family love.

Hells Bells, the place practically emanated the energies of Ranma's connection to her brood. The threshold alone buzzed and crackled.

What did that say when I visit a demon queen's lair and it reminds me of the white-picket fenced home of a retired Knight of the Cross and his family?

Going down the front stairs, I glance out a foyer window; I could see a white van parked on the private lane the house was on. Granted, this place didn't have angelic protectors. On the ground floor, a tantalizing scent drew me.

I glanced around the cathedral-ceilinged foyer. There was no one else in sight, but the house did not feel empty. I wondered how trusting they were to let a wizard unescorted into their house. There was a lot a wizard of my caliber could do with a bit of time to prepare. Then again, there was a lot they could do, given they had the home field advantage and outnumbered me by a lot.

I wandered through the house, being pulled towards the rear of the building by the heavenly smell. Like the upstairs there were family pictures adoring the walls. Interestingly, both human and succubus. The hiss of a griddle and burble of a coffee-maker welcomed me as I stepped into the kitchen.

A long table was on one side near a door that led out to the back porch. The whole kitchen was faced with broad windows that looked out onto a dark, tree-edged yard. Standing some distance back from the house, I could see an outbuilding. A covered path that snaked from the porch connected the two buildings.

There were broad countertops, a wide island, and the other side of the room was dominated by shelving and the open door to a walk-in pantry. Heavy duty appliances gleamed. Hells Bells, the kitchen actually had a griddle. No, not those flat plates you put on stoves, or those electric things you plugged in and put on the table. This was an inch thick slab of steel mounted on top of burners.

There had to be an acre of workspace on the cook-top, but only a small part of the glossy steel slab was occupied. A couple pancake-like things sizzled on one part of the giant griddle. A taller succubus with straight platinum hair was giving pointers to a shorter girl with white hair in ringlets.

"Good morning Mr. Dresden," the taller one said, her back towards me.

I frowned; I didn't think I made that much noise. I entered the kitchen. The griddle might be largely empty but much of the counter-space had been filled by bowls and platters and containers. There was link sausage, bacon, sausage patties, Canadian bacon, chorizo sausages, thick chunks of ham, breakfast sausage, smoked fish, blood sausage, shrimp, and even a solitary can of spam.

That was just the meat section. There were also minced vegetables, fruits, aromatics, little metal cups of freshly ground spices. Bowls of batter were also being kept in a glass fronted chiller. A wooden box of syrups and sauces had been opened. One of the maple syrup bottles looked as dark as molasses.

And then there was the drinks section. Two coffee makers burbled, a tea kettle steamed, and juice carafes stood iced and ready.

Still facing away, the blonde guided the spatula in the younger girl's hands. "Right, you want to wait until the bubbles on the edges are set... yes just like that. Then check for browning. Good, now flip."

The younger demon turned the pancake and gave a bright smile to the older demon. The platinum blonde patted her on the head. "Now do the others, Desiree. I'll see what Mr. Dresden wants for breakfast."

Desiree nodded and went to her work.

The blonde, Ukyou, turned to me. She wore a kind of abbreviated dark blue robe that reminded me of the chef's outfit at the Japanese steak houses I would go to in Chicago. Her shining pale hair was pulled back with a big orange bow.

"You're looking well. Coffee?" Ukyou asked.

"Sure."

Nodding the demon went to the pot, took a mug and poured. "Sugar, cream?"

"Sure."

She took out a little pitcher of cream and a bowl of brown sugar.

I poured and stirred and used a spoon to add just the right amount. I would take it black, but I could also take it a bit sweeter.

"You look like you had a restful night," the blonde noted. "Even after all the... fun." she added returning the coffee pot.

"I didn't sleep with her," I blurted.

The little white-haired demon giggled.

The coffee pot clunked into place. The platinum blonde demon turned and gave me a look. "Yes, I know," she shook her head. " Desiree prep the garlic and dice a two of the shallots."

Frowning slightly, Desiree nodded

"You know?"

Ukyou's tail lowered and twitched as, once again, she gave me "the look",

"Of course you do. It's not like she wouldn't tell you."

The demon's tail lifted and she burst into laughter.

"What?"

"You really don't know do you?" Ukyou snickered and turned to the griddle. "Okay, Mr. Wizard what do you want for breakfast?"

"What do you mean I-" I cutoff and eyed the large spread of vittles. "What's all this for?"

"After Mother's lessons," Ukyou gestured to the building in the backyard.

I studied the wood-framed building. While it had some of the sleek modernist styling of the house it was next to, the way the building was framed and lit was familiar. It was wood, slats, hanging lanterns, and screens. I could see figures bounding about within.

"That's a dojo," I stated. I had been to plenty in my life. Mostly at Murphy's behest. Those had been modern buildings with mats and other equipment. This looked like something out of a kung fu movie.

"Why yes, yes it is." Ukyou held the batter dispenser and "the look" returned. "Cecilia and her girls are the focus. But Mom's using my sisters and some agents for a few demonstrations. And of course they'll learn something too."

"And you're here cooking?"

Ukyou laughed. "It's my day, and Desiree wanted some lessons of her own."

The young demon's tail swished, and Ukyou gave her another set of ingredients to prepare.

"Ah, that makes sense. So it's a rotation?"

Ukyou raised an eyebrow. "Well... normally today is Akane's turn..."

"She's not a good cook?"

The blonde's laugh returned. "She's bland but edible now," Ukyou stated as if that were some great accomplishment.

"I see." It probably was. My former apprentice was an awful cook, but I supposed being forced to feed a gaggle of hungry demons would provide some motivation.

"So today you're doing the big pancake breakfast?" I asked

After taking a moment to stare at me dumbfounded, the demon shook her head and went to the massive griddle. "Now what do you want on your okonomiyaki?"

"What?"

The tip of her tail flicking to side to side, Ukyou sighed. "Your pancake."


***************

Finishing up my breakfast, I stepped out onto the porch. The last bits of blueberry and bacon in a fluffy pancake went down great. The demon seemed off put by my calling my breakfast a pancake, but was more irked at how I had demurred from the more exotic ingredients and sauces.

Still, it was filling, and she did know how to cook.
Sipping my coffee, I walked down the pathway to the dojo. The outbuilding sat on a slight rise and somehow seemed to loom over me.

The sounds of physical activity came from within. Reaching the decking surrounding the dojo I peered through a window and... stared.

Look, it's not my fault. I had expected, well, gi or robes, or even exercise wear. Though, technically, what the demons were wearing did count as exercise wear. And there were a couple people wearing gi.

The brood however... wore Lycra. The Technicolor rainbow of hair colors was complemented by a Technicolor rainbow of skin-tight bodysuits.

"It's something isn't it?" a voice suddenly croaked to my left. "It makes a man feel young."

Startled, I turned and looked... down. Standing next to me was a diminutive old man. Wrinkled with wisps of hair on a nearly bald head, and bug-eyes, he leaned against a wooden pillar. However even if he stood up straight. I knew he'd be shorter than Ranma.

"I wasn't staring!" I reflexively cried.

"No need to sell me a story," the old man said with a knowing leer, that reminded me of Bob.

He gave a slightly wheezing laugh, and a goofy grin, but his eyes were sharp and focused. I then took note of the stance his legs were in, the firmness he gripped the pillar with, and the old robe draped over his narrow shoulders

I frowned, recalling the wisdom of Pratchett: "Do not act incautiously when confronting little bald wrinkly smiling men."

It had served me well in dealing with wizards and master swordsmen. "Ah, are you an instructor? Are these your students?" I guessed giving a respectful nod of the head.

The old man chuckled. "Just those two layabouts," he pointed with a gnarled but strong hand.

Looking through the window, I saw he had pointed towards the two male instructors. "Huh," I sipped my coffee.

The old man gave the interior of the dojo a longing look. "I'm gonna get some breakfast before the rush." He then reached up and patted me on the back before starting to walk towards the house. "Oh, you better have an excuse ready," he called, sauntering away.

"Excuse?" I turned to face him, but the old man had already slipped into the kitchen. When I turned back to the dojo, I saw that the action had ceased. The students and teachers had stilled. Ranma pointed to me and beckoned with a finger.

Exhaling, I crossed the threshold.

Wearing a purple bodysuit, Ranma stood at the far end of the dojo. She had a little smile on her face as the dozen or so succubae at the front separated allowing me to pass.

The humans, agents and instructors, also watched me stride in. Next to Ranma, knelt one of her daughters, the one with short dark blue hair. The one with fine black hair and intense red eyes and the one with coiffed orange hair and crazy green eyes stood in the middle of the dojo.

The two had swords at the ready and it looked like I had interrupted a match.

Ranma idly waved a hand, and the two bowed. Though the green-eyed demon gave a smirk as she bowed bow, she and her sister stepped aside.

"Uh, breakfast is lookin' pretty good," I offered stepping into the center of the room, acutely aware that I was surrounded by demons, skimpy dressed ones at that. It probably didn't help that I was still eating a folded pancake.

"Oh?" The redhead gave a sideway smile. She glanced to the side. "How are we set for time, Pops?"

One of the human instructors was a stocky-looking man with glasses and a white bandana tied over his head. "We're fifteen minutes from break," he said.

Nodding, the redhead thought for a moment. "Right," she clapped her hands. And stepped closer to the students. "Girls, this is Warden Dresden. He's a wizard. What does that mean?"

"Magical powers?" one of the succubae with short turquoise hair cut in a pageboy bob asked.

"You can do better than that, Priscilla." Ranma chided.

I kept my silence; it was interesting to see "the Look" when it wasn't aimed at me.

The young succubus almost wilted under the redhead's gaze. "A wide variety of magical powers."

Nodding, Ranma held out her hand, prompting the girl to continue.

Priscilla swallowed. "Well, if every fantasy book and movie is true then, there's also a lot of spells and skills. And a deeper understanding of how magic works."

"Excellent," Ranma clapped her hands.

I noticed Priscilla's cheeks pinken slightly.

The redhead started to circle around me. "Sir Dresden is human. And while he has powerful patrons, it is his knowledge and ability to rapidly apply that information that makes him dangerous." She turned to me. "Is that a fair assessment?"

I stared. This wasn't stern demon mom, playful succubus, or even ravenous combat monster.

The redhead chuckled and continued her lecture. "In battle I saw him cast half a dozen distinct spells that manipulated water, fire, air, and earth. He also came prepared with several types of enchanted and mundane items. And, later on, showed the ability to alter and customize spells when the situation demanded it."

I eventually nodded, recognizing her passion and analytical ability. Martial arts, in all its forms, open hand, weapon, magical, mundane must be a huge thing for her.

The redhead stepped in front of a succubus with rich chestnut hair. "What does that suggest to you, Hazel?"

"Don't let a wizard prepare?" She tapped her chin. "Well, if he's on your side buying him time might be the best option."

"Yes, as with most opponents surprise is a wonderful asset," the redhead stepped to the side and gestured to me. "Now what is unusual about Sir Dresden? Take your time"

I looked around the room as the heavy gaze of the demons fell on me. Keeping my eyes moving did help to keep me from staring anywhere dangerous.

A girl with twin black ponytails raised a hand. "Question."

"Yes, Isabel," Ranma said.

"We don't know enough mages to know what's normal."

"Concealing your true capabilities is an advantage." The brood mother glanced meaningfully at me. "Do as Priscila said. Use movies and books."

"He's young," Isabel immediately said.

Smiling, the redhead made a "please continue" gesture.

The young demon frowned to herself. "He's tall like Gandalf and got the staff but he's not in robes. His coat sticks out a bit but he'd pass as a normal. Also..."

The brood mother waited.

Swallowing, Isabel met the redhead's eye. "He's fit, really fit. Muscular, moves like he knows how to fight, and he's got scars too. Physically, he's well above the human norm. And wizards aren't known for being bruisers."

"Bah, watch Lord of the Rings again; Gandalf was a scrapper," I snarked.

Ranma nodded to me before going back to Isabel. "Good observation, but you forgot the gun, most people don't carry one as a matter of daily routine.

"You must remember that most folks don't set aside the mental headspace for lethal violence. The idea that someone may want to kill them, that they may have to kill someone is entirely absent. If they get into a fight, they'll have to spend the time to get into that headspace; time they often won't have."

The demon stood and clasped her hands behind her back. "If we are not looking for something?"

"We will not see it," the class answered back.

"If we were not listening for it?"

"We will not hear it."

"And if we do not understand it?"

"It did not happen," the girls repeated.

"That's how people explain away the paranormal," I muttered.

"Oh?" Ranma tilted her head and took a step back, yielding me the floor.

"Uh..." I looked around the room and hurriedly finished the last of my pancake. I sighed. I had taught newbie Wardens before, and I had a wizard's apprentice once. "Okay, a lot of people don't believe in the supernatural. They think the universe is nice and ordered. So, if something spooky comes up and attacks 'em..."

I looked over and saw the redhead attentively listening.

"Well, they freeze up. Their mind says 'this can't be happening to me'. And often they die. Those that survive, well, they'll try to live on, and go back to normal. They'll deny what they saw, thinking instead of a ghoul, it was a junkie or something. Because they don't want to live in a world where monsters exist. It makes it easy for them to forget.

"And there's also the peer pressure. Unless a friend or family member had an experience with the 'spooky side', they won't be believed. And even people who mean well just won't understand."

"Well said." The redhead clapped her hands. "And that was the specific case."

"Oh?" This time I tilted my head.

The redhead took my place. "Okay, a lot of people think the universe is nice and ordered. They think it's fair. That bad things happen to bad people. So, if someone nasty comes up and attacks 'em..."

She mimicked the little shrug I gave. "Well, they freeze up. Their mind says 'this can't be happening to me'. And often they die. Those that survive, well, they'll try to live on, and go back to normal. They'll deny what they saw, instead thinking that people can't be that 'bad'."

The redhead turned to me. "Because they don't want to live in a world where monsters exist. And then there's the peer pressure, unless they have a friend or a family member who also had a lethal force encounter the fear, the speed, the pressure... it just won't be believed. And even people who mean well just won't understand "

I frowned.

The demon bowed to me. "You gave a specific example of non-human threats. I gave the general case. Humans can be right bastards too. And as much damage as monsters do to your folk, statistically you're a bigger threat to each other."

She shrugged. "Now those that fight back... well that's different, they might forget later on, but in the moment, in the moment, they saw that the real world is red in tooth and claw."

I sighed, but nodded. I had seen plenty of nasty humans, ones worse than monsters. Ones that became monsters. Hells Bells, the Fallen Angels were only half of the picture when it came to the Denarians. They still needed human hosts, and many of those started out quite willing to enable the mayhem their Fallen companions wanted to cause.

The redhead appraised her class. "Most people are uncomfortable with the idea of predators, specifically the idea that they could be prey. They don't like to think that monsters exist, even human monsters."

"What drives fear?" Ranma turned and pointed to one of the succubae off to the side.

The powder-blue haired girl blinked.

The brood mother gave a patient look.

"Helplessness and ignorance drive fear," Nabiki recited.

"And fear?" Ranma pointed to the audience.

"Fear drives hate," a green-haired succubus completed.

I blinked. Wait.

Ranma nodded. "And why? Isabel."

"People fear what they cannot control and they fear what they do not understand.

I couldn't help myself. "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering," I stated with muppety gravitas.

The redhead paused for a brief moment and I saw her eyes wince as her tail flicked about. "There's more truth to that line than you think," she smoothly said.

"And are you going to ask me to snatch a pebble from your hand?"

"Do you seek now to know the answers, or to understand the questions?" she archly asked.

"I guess I shouldn't try to outdo your kung fu knowledge."

The redhead looked around the dojo. "I'm more a fan of Bruce Lee's work. But when it comes to things to learn for the Art anything goes," she chuckled to herself.

Blinking, I frowned. I was pretty sure I had missed something.

The redhead gave a tiny sigh before going back to the class.

"Ignorance and helplessness. Yes, this applies to others. Yes, this applies to you. Some will be afraid of you, some will hate you, some will want you destroyed."

I watched as she seemed to have the eye of everyone on the room.

"However, do not think you are immune. Your own fears are driven by helplessness and ignorance. This is why we train, why we learn."

The redhead gave a glance to the older man in glasses; he nodded.

"Right, breakfast," she clapped her hands.

I noticed the demon's nostrils flared slightly with anticipation.

The succubae and mercenaries bowed to the redhead.

Ranma bowed in return. "Dismissed."

Standing to the side, I watched as the demons filed out.

The bald human instructor looked to the redhead. Ranma gave a tiny shake of the head. The other humans, the mercenaries, slipped out as well.

Soon, I was alone with her. "Hear anything about, uh, Gabriel?" I asked.

The redhead smiled. "Doc says he's looking clear of infection. He should be ready to go back on duty once he's healed."

"Good, that's good." I nodded and looked around the dojo. Empty, it was even more spacious.

The redhead looked me up and down. "I suppose you slept well enough," she said with a wry smile.

Coughing, I turned away.

"Too easy," she laughed and rolled her shoulders.

I tensed as her gaze fell upon me. Clinical, detached, she had returned to instructor mode. She tilted her head. "Pity."

"Pity?"

"Pity we won't get to spar." She glanced over to the door.

I turned slightly and saw Eve step inside. The tall blonde demon was wearing a grey suit coat with a matching slim skirt. A predatory little smirk was on her face, and she carried a leather folder. She sipped from a coffee cup and was finishing some sort of pastry.

Ranma's tail raised and swished. "Oh my, someone's got news."

Eve gave a little nod. "We have a lead."

"Oh? Did the scary little girl come up with something?" I asked.

"Miss Meiou's analysis is inconclusive," Eve stepped closer. Her teeth flashed. "However, studying Lucas and his associate's effects gave results."

"That being?"

"It took a while but we found a set of keys to a rental locker at Union Station."

I snorted. "Of course. Practitioners love stashing things in lockers at train stations and bus depots. What'd you find?"

"A handful of grimoires. Things they didn't want to risk bringing to a fight," she handed the folder over.

I opened it. Inside was a printed list of titles and photos of the covers and some of the inside pages. . "A folio of the Parchments of Pnom? A pretty good fake..."

"It is," Eve agreed. "It might even be an original. We're not sure where it came from."

I raised an eyebrow. The White Council was rather certain that the Parchments of Pnom was an elaborate forgery. I shrugged and moved to the next set... and gave a low whistle. "That's a Testament of Carnamagos."

"It appears to be, complete, or nearly, too," Eve stated.

"Complete nothing. There were only two documented copies. One was destroyed by the Spanish Inquisition, the other burned by the Soviets when they overran a Thule Society laboratory outside Berlin." I eyed the book feeling uneasy.

"The tome would be... slightly more common in this world then," Eve stated.

"Ah," I absently nodded. It figured. All that was really required was for one book to survive long enough to be copied. Completely stamping out a tome was actually rather difficult. Fortunately, warlocks and cultists weren't the sharing type.

Heck with a lot of ritual magic, the more available the spells were the less powerful they were. If every Tom, Nick Scratch, and Saruman vied for the same entity's attention then there'd be less mojo to go around.

"It is noteworthy to see a copy so complete," Eve added.

"Huh." I went to the next book. "That's an... odd edition of Unaussprechlichen Kulten,"

Eve winced at my pronunciation. "We believe it was a rebinding. There's considerable marginalia. It looks to be someone's working copy." She took a sip from her mug.

"And a copy of... Cryptomenysis Patefacta?" I frowned.

"The Art of Secret Information Disclosed without a Key," Eve supplied.

"Yeah, I gathered. Okay... we've got two books on the lineages of obscure old gods, the scrap book of someone who paled around with all sorts of nasty cults, and... a book on eldritch cryptography."

The demons looked expectantly at me.

"Yeah, Lucas was a player. This is more than just picking up a Sussex Manuscript translation of the Necronomicon and trying to get some squid-god's attention."

I sighed and flipped through the pages again. "That's... not good. Looks like my boss-lady was right. We've got a summoner. You're watching the locker?"

Eve gave me a vaguely offended look. "Yes, but we have another lead." Her teeth flashed again. "We know where two of those books were purchased."

I looked between her expression and her shifting tail. "Local?"

"Incognito?" Ranma asked.

The blonde nodded.

"Interview?"

"Surveillance teams are in place," Eve agreed.

I looked between the two. "Wait."

"You're coming along?"

"Inside support," the blonde stated.

"Great, I'll take Ukyou to supplement."

Eve contemplated her mug. "She's still serving breakfast."

Ranma waved her off. "Desiree's helping. Besides Nabiki can spot her."

"Right," the blonde turned on her heel and started walking out of the dojo. The redhead followed.

"Wait? Are you doing what I think you're doing?" I demanded.

Ranma looked over her shoulder. "What? You don't want to play Good Cop, Wizard Cop?"

***************


I jumped out of the van, onto the sidewalk, and ran up to the squat brick building sitting in front of me. It stood alone on the block isolated by dead, frozen grass and a gravel parking lot. The windows were narrow, small, and suspiciously thick.

The only adornment was a single sign saying "East York Rare Books".

Jogging up towards the door, I heard footsteps behind me. I grabbed the handle and felt a slight tingle. I inhaled and pulled the door open.

Magical energy prickled against me as I crossed the Threshold; the magical barrier that surrounds a person's home. That meant the guy lived here too. I was entering without permission, which meant I had to leave a lot of my power outside, but it was worth the risk.

Inside, the store was dimly lit and... small. In front, there were a couple of aisles of shoulder-high shelves. But they were mostly bare. Behind them was a heavy wood counter that ran the length of the antechamber. And behind that were tall cages containing further stacks of books, many in their own locked crates.

Standing behind the counter was a spare, bald man with pallid skin. He wore a white suit coat over a pale blue shirt and amber tie. Seeing me, his wrinkly face formed into a scowl. Dark green eyes focused on my staff, and his hostility gained a contemplative edge.

"Mage? And what do you-" his raspy voice cutoff when he saw the three demons entering behind me.

Wearing a violet blouse, dark charcoal suit-coat and matching skirt, Ranma took position to on the other end of the counter.

Following the redhead, two blonde demons slipped in. Ukyou had changed into a silver-grey suit that complemented her platinum hair. Unlike the other succubae, she wore pants instead of a suit skirt.

She and Eve took up positions flanking either side of the door.

The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed at the sight of the demons. "And how can I assist the Company?"

"Are we that transparent?"

The old man tilted his head. "I don't hear helicopters." He glanced to a cluster of security monitors to the side. "And there're no tanks on the street. Or agents stacking up at the door." His thin lips forced into a grin. "I suppose this is your idea of subtly."

He laughed then coughed. "Or should I be flattered that I warranted three of you."

"Can it, Incognito," Ranma stated.

I made a point of looking around the room. "So, is there like a mail order catalog for you sleazy peddlers in dark tomes? Or do you decide on a decorating theme at your conventions?"

"How could I forget," he appraised my staff again. "Do you know how to use that thing boy?"

"This isn't about me." I chuckled. "And Incognito? Seriously? Speaking of subtle.. was Hugh Mann too fancy of an alias?"

The old man crossed his arms. "Make with the demands. I've got a business to run."

Ranma dropped a manila folder on the counter.

"Must we do with the theatrics?" Incognito asked.

I looked around the room. Eve and Ukyou stood silently. Though the younger blonde had a slight tilt to her head.

Putting a bit of flare to my staff, I turned back and fought off a slight tingle that ran up my arms to the top of my spine. "Hey, you're the one that called this subtle."

With a murmur the old man flipped the folder open. "Ah." Studying the photos, he looked wistful. "And that was such a lovely find. Do you know how hard it is to get the Testament of Carnamagos? Let alone one a reading copy that was rebacked and had proper shagreen binding. I can count on one thumb how many of those there are on the planet." Pulling a gold pen out of a coat pocket, he sighed.

I blinked. In used book parlance, a "reading copy" was one that was well used. It might have marks, rips, and notes, but above all it was complete. However, the blonde demon said the book they picked up was "nearly" complete. I glanced over, but the tall demoness was silent.

The old man continued. "Not that that lunatic American seemed appreciative. At least his money was good, and his whelp seemed enthused about it," the old man added as if an afterthought.

"And the cult book?" I asked pushing to the latter set of photos.

The old man gave a brief smile. "Unaussprechlichen Kulten. I've got half a dozen in the back." His pen pointed to the locked stacks behind him.. "But this was Captain Klaus Woermann's copy."

"He liked to write in the margins, who does that?" I laughed, keeping myself from shaking my head. There was a slight, very slight tingle at the back of my neck, as if I'd picked up some static electricity in a dry room

"A former captain in the Kreigsmarine. One who thought war inoculated him to other horrors." The old man gave me a conspiratorial grin. "I'd be wary of your companions, mage. Take the blue-eyed one back there. In a different time, she'd be along with Captain Klaus or maybe with Thule."

Turning back, I couldn't help but chuckle. The tingle had passed, or at least I didn't notice it anymore. Besides I had my mental defenses up and there was no sense of intrusion or pressure.

Eve gave me a clouded expression.

The old man's wistful expression returned. "This wasn't the first pick. No, she asked me if I had an Annotated Abnett edition." Using the tip of the pen to shift the pages, Incognito snorted. "A practiced eye sure, but a bit beyond my blood."

I frowned. Who was this she the book-dealer was talking about now?

"But you just happened to have one of these lying around?" Ranma pointed to the picture of the Testament of Carnamagos.

"Ah no, that was a special order."

"For?"

The man gave me a wry smile. "And now we get to the negotiation."

Ranma stepped forward. The shadows started to darken around her boots.

"Don't," the old man's hand flipped up, thumb resting on the top of the pen. "You're not the first little hell-tart I've dealt with." He increased the pressure on the silver stud atop the pen. "We can do civilized business or..."

The side of my staff slammed into the counter with a heavy klunk, leaving the top two inches from his neck. "You were saying?"

The old man gave a rasping chuckle. "Mexican standoff?"

"That implies we all die. I don't know about you, but I'd lay good odds on the redhead pulling a Wolverine."

The old man stared; his sudden amusement starting to wilt.

"Mutant, from the comic book? Geeze, and you call yourself a book dealer. Anyway, I'd bet old Red would survive. Course, you should also take note where she's looking."

Staring levelly at the old man's nose, the redhead's eyes began to flare.

"The Company is more than willing to do business," Eve said near the door, in an almost disinterested tone.

"Perhaps, we can start with this 'little hell-tart'?" Ukyou asked, speaking for the first time.

There was just a hint of echo to her voice. I laughed, normally it was the mother demon that had the funny voice.

The old man's nodded wistfully. "She was in human drag, but you can tell," he turned to me and winked. "Isn't that right, my boy?"

"Like these ladies?" I asked gesturing to the demons.

Finger lifting off of the pen, he idly twirled it. "Nope. She was pale, but the flesh was human."

"Not pancake powder Goth pale?" I asked, drawing a sharp look from the redhead.

"That be the truth," he leaned back and nodded to himself. "The American put on a brave face but he was scared of her. And she was bored, at least after she got the Testament and I told her I didn't have an Abnett edition. Punk."

"The American?"

"Drab suit, brown hair, green eyes with gold flecks," Incognito waved off.

"This man?" Ranma pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. It was a cropped copy of Lucas' fake ID.

The old man grunted. "That was him. I'll give that for free."

Smiling, Ranma slipped the picture back into her jacket and stepped back.

Using the tip of his pen, Incognito lifted my staff off of the counter. I was surprised by the strength in the old man's hand. Perhaps I had forgotten the wisdom of Pratchett. But in my defense, this wrinkled old man wasn't smiling... much.

"Calm down, boy; we're now doing business," he assured before looking to Eve. "Do you have my books?"

"Do you want them back? The Company would be happy to returned seized property, pending a complete investigation."

"But he sold it..." I started before Ranma shot me "the look".

The old man gave a phlegmy snort. "I only picked up the Testament because the American put down a deposit."

"And Captain Klaus' Unaussprechlichen Kulten?" Eve asked.

"A curio, though I suppose the marginalia would be informative to someone in your business."

"Perhaps my associates could make use of those books. A complete edition of the Testament would be useful," Eve stated.

I frowned, something was up. It seemed that the old man had sold a complete book and then... what had Lucas done with it? I wished I had had the time to actually inspect the books before being driven out here.

As Ranma watched, the old man slowly knelt down. There was a whirr and a clunk as he opened a safe. Then with a grunt, pulled out a locked accordion file. It had heavy bronze hasps locking it shut.

Running the gold pen over the locks, it popped open. I felt a magical backlash as a powerful spell disarmed and stared as the old man started paging through. If I could guess, he had enchanted the file to burn the contents if anyone forced their way in.

"I would want to make sure the Company pays fair market value," the blonde noted.

The old man chuckled. "I just happen to have a purchase order that you can use for reference." He took out a small bundle of pages and dropped it onto the counter.

The old man then locked up the file and slipped it back in the safe.

Ranma had spread the papers. There were a couple pink pages; the third copy of triplicate forms. There was a purchase order, a deposit receipt, an inventory receipt, and a payment receipt.

I boggled a bit at the price of the Testament of Carnamagos, and the wry note that the payment had been cash. It wasn't quite briefcase-full-of-cash money. But it would have been awkward to carry any other way.

Looking to the side, I saw that Ranma had hardly noted the price and was instead looking at the names and dates on the paperwork. Stobart Lucas of Boston was the buyer. The demon gave the old man a skeptical look.

"Now don't feel cheated, not until you've seen it all," the old man pushed the last bits of paperwork, carbon copies of the inventory descriptions, aside.

A rubber band was wrapped around a stack of Polaroid photos. Wordlessly, the redhead cut the band with a nail and spread the photos. They were of this very antechamber. I looked around and could see spots in the stacks where cameras might have been hidden. The images were grainy and the colors were dim, but a hidden camera could hardly have a flash.

The old man chuckled. "After the last... colorful visit I put in some redundancies to my security system. Ones that have some protection against electronic interference."

"Cable run? Pneumatic actuator?" Eve asked.

The old man gave a salute with his pen.

I picked one up. My hands trembled. It was eerily familiar, if with the opposite perspective. Five people were in the picture.

At the counter was the back of the old man's head. Standing exactly where I currently stood, was Lucas' nervously, grinning form. Flanking either side of the door was the beefy, blond crew-cut form of Worth and the goon with the mullet. This time, mullet-wolf was wearing a cheap suit that matched Worth's.

And then there was the fifth person. She was short, almost pixyish, with high cheekbones and a delicately pointy chin. Short silvery hair framed a heart-shaped face, and gorgeous green eyes looked vaguely bored as she leaned on the counter.

"Stars and Stones," I swore. I knew who this was. The pieces fell into place. I now understood exactly what Mab meant when she said I was looking for someone interested in thwarting an evil man's plans.

Damn it. Literally. It was the Denarians. I was dealing with a Fallen Angel. Worse, a jilted Fallen out for revenge.

"That the Hell-tart?" Ranma asked, leaning to look at the photo.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I had been holding out hope that maybe the old man was wrong, or maybe it was a different "demonic" lady. Hells Bells, I've faced enough wickedly evil women.

"Yeah it's-"

The redhead held up her hand cutting me off. She then gave Incognito a smile and started gathering up the paperwork.

"Loose lips my boy." The old man chuckled.

The redhead bowed her head before tugging my arm and drawing me away from the counter. Ukyou stepped to one side and opened the door.

Eve strode past us and placed a grey business card onto the counter. "I trust you prefer cash?"

The old man's face suddenly soured. "Canadian, American, Euro, even bullion. But if you insist on a wire transfer, well, then I'll have to add a processing fee."

Eve smiled thinly. "Payment will be dropped off by close of business today."

Ukyou and Ranma had already exited the building. I lingered at the threshold.

"Don't insult me, the Company's money is always good," the old man grunted, pocketing the card.

Eve nodded and firmly, but gently pushed me outside. She then gave me a chill, toothy smile and escorted me to the van that pulled up just as we crossed to the sidewalk.

End Chapter 4


I'd like to thank the prereaders for their help in this project: J St C Patrick, DCG, Kevin Hammel, and Ellf. Special thank to : J St C Patrick for his help in proofreading this (and the other) chapters.

And the Dresden Files fans should have enough info to figure out who Mab was talking about. Other readers will have to wait until ch5 when Harry tells the others who the girl in the picture is.

 

Blood Debts Book 5 of The Return
A Ranma, Sailor Moon, Dresden Files fic thingy.
By Sunshine Temple
Naturally, I own neither Sailor Moon nor Ranma nor the Dresden Files. So here's the disclaimer:

Ranma 1/2 and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC. And the Dresden Files is owned by Jim Butcher.


Previous chapters and other works can be found at my fanfiction website.
http://jtemple.florestica.com/
Temporary Backup Site.
http://www.fukufics.com/fic/
Other website Temple of Ranma's Senshi Seifuku
http://fukufics.com
C&C as always is wanted.
Chapter 5: Underground Diplomacy, Part A


I was in another of the Company's drab concrete and steel themed conference rooms. Behind me, a projector threw cropped, slightly retinted images we had retrieved from the book store. This time, most of the chairs were occupied. In addition to Ranma, Eve, and a passel of demonic daughters, I recognized the good Lieutenant Tendo and a few other human officers.

Oddly enough, Eve seemed to be the senior officer. At least the most senior visible. One wall of the room had several built-in mirrors that seemed a bit too convenient.

"Her name is Polonius Lartessa." I gestured to the woman being projected. "She's the second senior-most member of the Order of the Blackened Denarius. A group of lunatics and their Fallen Angel buddies. There's up to thirty Fallen, each stuck in an ancient silver Roman coin. Yes, those thirty pieces of silver."

It said something about my life that the assembled audience didn't blink at my comment.

"Wait, each Fallen is trapped inside the coin?" Lieutenant Tendo asked, looking up from her notes.

"Yeah, it's part of the deal. They're limited. But there's loopholes. Namely, if they can get a host." I pointed to the photos. "Tessa here's been with Imariel for over a thousand years."

"How do they take a host?" one of the human officers asked. He was short, broad-shouldered man who looked to be Pilipino.

"Skin contact with a coin." I nodded to the murmur. "Yes, it's that bad. On the upside, the Fallen can't take control. Not at first, but their presence is there."

"And if the coin is removed?" Tendo asked.

"A shadow remains." Sighing, I scratched my palm. I noticed the minute tensing in the quiet room. "That is a Shadow of the Fallen. She'll have only a fraction of the real Fallen Angel's powers, but she'll have all her memories. Including how to summon the coin itself. And yes, that means a wielder will be exceptionally hard to contain, even if you remove the coin."

Eve looked up at the mirrored wall to her left. "Would you consider anyone who touches a coin compromised?"

I stepped to the end of the table and took a glass of water. "I'd be suspicious. And rightly so. But it's not like the Fallen jumps in and takes control. It has to be invited, the host has to give permission for the Fallen to take over."

"I'm guessing they can be quite persuasive," Tendo dryly noted.

"Each Fallen is older than the universe, and has been observing humans since we came into existence. Even in their limited state, they have knowledge and power to call upon that makes them exceptionally hard to resist. They'll give you what you want; they'll help you, and ask for little in return, at first."

"Can the Shadow be destroyed? The connection be broken?" Tendo asked.

This time, I kept from scratching my palm. "Yeah, there are ways. It takes a lot of work. But the hosts aren't lost. Hells Bells, saving the hosts is why the Knights of the Cross exist."

"Lucas mentioned them. Church agents from your world," Ranma stated.

"Yeah, each uses one of three Swords: Amoracchius, Esperacchius, and Fidelacchius. There is a Nail worked into the hilt of all three. And yes, those nails."

Eve make a thoughtful noise.

"I'm serious, and I'm pretty sure they're also Excalibur, Durendal, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi respectively."

"Powerful artifacts," Eve said.

I couldn't tell if she was skeptical or not. Interestingly, Ranma and her daughter Nariko perked up at the lineage of Fidelacchius.

"Powerful? Kusanagi was forged by Susanoo," Ranma stated.

"So, it has elements of two major religions? Shinto and Christian?" Eve's thoughtful tone returned.

"About that. " I coughed. "Fidelacchius... it kinda broke."

The room stilled as those purple eyes bored down on me. "You broke Kusanagi?" Ranma icily asked.

"It wasn't me!" I shook hands. "Besides it got better!"

The demon's glare softened a bit.

"That's kind of the point. Like the coins, the Swords can't just be destroyed. They have to actively be misused against their purpose."

"Noted," Eve nodded. " The knights, they fight the Denarians," the blonde's statement was not a question.

"Well... yeah, I mean their main goal is to save the hosts, to get them to turn away from the Coins, but..." I shrugged.

"They're dealing with people enthralled by Fallen Angels. Fighting seems to be pretty expected," Ranma smiled.

"Yeah. But when the cause is right there's no one that you'd want to show up more than one of the Knights."

"You've worked with them before."

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah." Hells Bells, I'd been the custodian for multiple Swords holding them until a worthy bearer appeared. Yes... I've done the Merlin bit. It's overrated. For one, I've still got one of the Swords stored in a safe place back home. Well, technically Murphy has it... it's complicated.

I coughed. "Yeah, they're good people. And sometimes that makes things difficult for them... " I remembered Shiro's sacrifice and Michael on the helicopter. Being a Knight came with huge risks. Starting with being called to missions by the "Home Office". Often they don't even know where they're going, let alone who they're fighting until they arrived.

"Very difficult," I repeated.

"Perhaps you can tell us more information in a later briefing," Eve suggested.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Just in case one of them does show up," the blonde smoothly said.

I sighed: another meeting. "Sure. You'll like them. Sanya uses a Russian machine gun with his Sword and Butters is a total magic and tech geek. Right up your alley. He's the current wielder of Fidelacchius."

"They're a major threat to the Denarians?" Ranma asked.

"One of the biggest."

"Could be why Tessa came here," Ranma suggested. "Get away from them?"

"Possible. They have used diversions to keep the Swords from showing up." I nodded.

"She also came to get the book that no longer existed in her world, no?" Tendo inquired.

"This place may also be more... favorable terrain for a summoning," Eve reminded.

I remembered what I saw behind Lady Pluto with my Sight, the footage from the Battle of Ottawa, and shuddered. "Maybe all three, the Denarians like to have contingency plans."

"Are only humans viable hosts?" Eve asked.

I put the glass down, and pondered her unspoken question. "Nope. Sure, I've mostly seen humans use 'em, but I once saw a Fallen happily work with a homicidal sasquatch. That was a nightmare, well two nightmares combined into one giant nightmare. I would not recommend any of the brood touch one."

I expected a bit of outrage on the part of the succubae. That at least one of them would insist she could handle the temptation. Instead, they continued to quietly, attentively watch.

"Uh, right, here's why. It's not just People and uh... Forest People. Okay, take the White Court Vampire. Now, they're humans permanently bonded with a Hunger. That is a demonic entity that gives them powers but requires them to keep it fed. And they're born this way."

This time I felt a bit of ire from the succubae contingent. "It's just an example. But they're supernatural and got demon bits, and I'm pretty certain that a White Court Vamp could get infected by a coin."

Eve tapped the table. "There's more to this example than the succubus aspect."

"Yeah, I can Soulgaze with White Court Vamps. They've got souls, like you. And that's all I think is required in a host for the coin."

The blonde demon nodded. "Definitely a danger."

"Agreed." Ranma looked to her daughters. "Are we clear?"

I noted all of the broodlings readily nodded, even the one with the orange hair and crazy green eyes.

"Wait what?" I blinked. "This is the part where you tell me you're used to temptation, or that you're firkin demons and can handle dark powers. Or obviously evil artifacts." I pointed to the sheathed katana Nariko had leaned on the table.

Misako snorted. "Right because I want to have another powerful demonic figure with her claws in my brain."

A platinum blonde, sitting to Misako's left, put her arm around the girl's shoulder and pulled her in. Across from them the young powder-blue haired demon frowned. Her pen almost fell from her hands as she gave a little shudder. She then tightened her grip and went back to her notes.

I looked between Misako and the redhead. "Ah..." I had been wondering just how telepathic they were. Or maybe empathic was a better term.

Ranma held her hand up. "Let's just say we're very aware of how easily one can be usurped by a more powerful demonic entity."

"Oh, ah good. Because the coins are bad news." I exhaled. "But they're only half the story."

"The hosts?"

"Yeah, a lot of them are dupes, recruited from the desperate or downtrodden. The Fallen takes over and wears 'em like a suit. And once the suit's worn out..." I shrug.

"They pick up a new one," Tendo surmised.

"Yup, but the real dangerous ones work with their hosts," I pointed to the projection. "Tessa's been at this for a long time, and while most of her recruits are of the 'use and throw out' style, don't forget that she has other recruits."

"She is the Number two in this 'Order'," Eve stated.

I held my hand out and waved it. "Kinda. Nicodemus Archleone is the head of the Order, and they're all Fallen and all dedicated to havoc and destruction but..."

"Two factions then?"

I nodded. " Nicodemus plays the long game. Tessa likes her blood and havoc now. Which fits with her mantis form."

"Mantis form?" Tendo asked.

"Yeah, the Fallen can give their hosts the power to transform into a twisted demonic body. So, in addition to being a powerful sorceress, Tess can become a giant creepy bug with extra strength, armor, and claws and mandibles. Speed too. You would not believe how quick she is. And can split into lots of nasty little bugs."

"Lovely," the officer stated.

"She is fast, resourceful, sadistic, and ruthless. This is not someone you want to underestimate, and you corner her at your own risk."

The mercenaries nodded.

"She's more than a pretty face. She also helped cause or worsen a lot of bad events in my world."

"Such as?" Eve asked.

I took a sip of water. "The 100 Years War, the Rwanda Genocide, the Valencia Atrocity, the Killing Fields, and the War of the Roses. She also teamed up with hubby to worsen the Black Death in Europe."

"War of the Roses?" Ranma asked.

"English dynastic conflict following the hundred year's war. It had its moments, but not exactly worth putting on a resume," Eve frowned.

"My world's version must have been worse," I shrugged.

"And the Valencia Atrocity?"

"During the Spanish Civil half the population of Valencia was murdered in a ten month span. Each side blamed the other but..."

"Yes, I see," The blonde nodded. "As interesting as historical divergences are, we're overlooking the more interesting part."

"Yeah, Tessa's married to Nicodemus," Misako laughed.

The room quieted for a moment. The only noise being the pens being used to take down notes.

After having some more water, I nodded. "Yup. A few years after he gave her a coin, she married him... and they had a kid."

"Both parents hosts? That had to have messed her up." There was a dangerous edge to Misako's voice.

"Yeah... Deirdre, their daughter, was crazy. She had her own coin and was almost as old as her parents, but she... worked with Nicodemus," I said, choosing not to go into the more... unpleasant details of Deirdre's relationship with her father.

Eve shifted back in her chair. "He's the evil man your Queen spoke of."

"Yeah, Tessa's here for revenge."

"It's about Deirdre," the redhead looked to me. "What did Nicodemus do to her?"

I exhaled. "He killed her. It was part of some evil scheme of his, and he killed her."

"And now Tessa's summoning something to go after the man that murdered her daughter."

***************


The briefing room had quieted at my bombshell. Ranma looked pensive and even Eve's cool facade was slightly cracked.

I sat down in one of the chairs and poured myself some more water. I knew form the Soulgaze that Ranma was more than willing to spill blood to protect her daughters. Hells Bells, it's not like I was in a place to talk. I wiped out an entire species to protect Maggie.

And it's not like Nicodemus didn't deserve it. The man was a snake and scum. For about two thousand years, Old Nick had murdered and schemed his way across the world. The lives he had ruined were countless. He'd tortured and murdered personal friends of mine.

I watched the blonde demoness stand and talk with another agent while the projector was fiddled with.

It was tempting to leave Nicky to his fate. I'll admit it. I wasn't above a bit of revenge. Heck, the last time I saw the bastard, I was part of a long con to ruin his reputation, powerbase, and take away his minions.

And part of that con... well... Let's just say I'm glad no one asked why Nicodemus murdered his daughter. Or how I knew that he'd murdered her himself...

Don't look at me like that. I didn't figure out that part of the con until after the fact. See, some people, people that Nicodemus wronged over the years, which may have included my boss, figured out a way to get revenge.

They tempted the old bastard; they dangled a trinket in front of him something that if Old Nick really, truly wanted to get.... well he'd have to kill the one person who didn't hate him. The one person he could actually trust. The one person who actually loved him, who was at his side all these long years.

Old Nick really didn't want to kill Deirdre. That was the point. The revenge was forcing his hand. Yeah, there's a reason why pissing off Mab is considered a supremely stupid thing to do.

So that's the thing, Tessa looked under every rock to get her revenge... against something Nick regrets, something that Tessa herself would do if the situation was reversed. Part of me was amused at the idea of the dog-pile of bad news falling on the old snake.

On the other hand...

Letting Tessa summon something that could take out Old Nick seemed like an extremely bad idea. Moreso because of Mab's warning that Tessa was being played. What she thought she was summoning and what she'll actually summon were apparently two different things.

"We've got to stop her," I muttered.

"Glad we have your agreement," Eve dryly noted as the projector clicked on. "We managed to trace the weapons used in yesterday's attack. The pistols were SIGs that were issued to the German federal police, they spent over a decade in use and were listed as destroyed due to excessive wear."

I snorted.

"Indeed," Eve clicked to another slide. "The machine guns are more interesting. They were from a lot sold to the French government for testing and evaluation back in the 70's. They were part of the inventory stolen when a warehouse on an Army base was robbed."

"Who robs an Army base?"

"The Brotherhood of the Moon," Eve clicked to the next slide. Which showed a photo of Lucas and several other men and a few women. I recognized Worth and the mullet guy.

"Moon?" Ranma laughed. "Oh, better not let Serenity know about these goobers.

I snickered. "Oh man. What, was Brotherhood of the Wolf too obvious?"

Eve gave a tight smile, but her blue eyes were amused. "Their name sounds a bit more elegant in the original French: Confrérie de la Lune."

I had a hard time wiping the grin off my face. "What's their deal then?

"The brotherhood is a group of Pattern L's. Lycanthropes. They're close knit and we estimate they have well over two hundred active members. They were originally French with long roots in the Burgundy region but scattered after the War."

I grunted. "What's their motivation?"

"We think they're a cult. There definitely are mystical aspects to their recruitment."

I snorted. This was a group of magical wolfmen, of course they were mystical.

"However, they tend to keep a low profile."

"A couple dozen of them attacked a public park at sunset and then opened up with heavy machine guns."

"Yes, and that was their biggest and most visible attack in thirty years. Normally they work in the shadows."

"And now, they're doing crap like this?" I sighed. "Damn."

"Indeed." Eve clicked to a new slide. There was a bar chart that looked like a revenue breakdown, and then a line chart showing hits over time. There were a lot of blank spots, but it seemed to be a steady amount. "In the past they would normally hire out as hired goons for both the mundane and supernatural world: protection rackets, hired muscle, couriers, and the occasional hit job."

I frowned at the charts. "How do they like to get paid?"

"That's the worrying part. Rumor is they'll take cash but will offer discounts for certain books and items."

"Lycanthrope thugs don't normally collect spellbooks," I grumbled. Okay that was a half-truth I knew a few werewolves who studied magic. Though I wouldn't call them thugs.

"These do, and they may want them back," Eve said, her teeth flashing. "Or they might want their ally to think they want them back."

I frowned at that.

"Do they also make inter-dimensional deals with Fallen Angels?" Ranma asked.

"Yeah, Tessa and her band are bad enough, but them working with a mess of super-strong wolfmen with military weapons is worse," I said.

"Aren't Tessa's supporters thugs as well?" Tendo asked.

"Mostly, but she has a couple handlers and specialists. There's Rosanna who does the vulnerable demon-girl act."

Ranma turned to me eyebrow raised.

"Bat-wings, hooves, but cloven, tail, brown eyes, dark hair, oh and red skin," I frowned as the demons and officers resumed their note taking. "She's Tessa's second-in-command, but also does recruiting and is the handler for the 'dumb muscle' hosts."

I drummed my fingers on the table. Tessa had an ally, someone who was an expert in sorcery. Now, I had assumed that Namshiel's coin had been taken by either Marcone or Mab. Neither would have actually used the coin. The mob-boss was too... determined to be his own boss to submit to a coin.

And besides, he had just been abducted, tormented, and seen the Denarians abuse a child. He had ample reason to hate the bastards. Same with Mab. Someone had attacked Acrtis Tor, her capital, with Hellfire; I was pretty sure that Thorned Namshiel was behind that.

So, his coin should have been out of play. But the coins had a way of getting loose. And given how Lasciel's coin had escaped suspiciously quickly I wasn't willing to assume Thornyboy was still in the penalty box. Hells Bells, what if Maeve had taken the coin from whatever dark hole Mab had put it in?

I nodded. "There's also Thorned Namshiel. He looks like a gaunt grey skeleton monster with bony spurs sticking out of joints. Lanky, greasy hair. Real ugly, but he's the one that taught Tessa sorcery and magic. Very skilled."

"Estimate?" Eve asked.

"Maybe a century or two ahead of me. The guy's some major trouble. Both for precision work, channeling overwhelming power, and combining the two." I looked to my glass. "He's also a big sneak and managed to snag a coin purse full of Tessa's stable of flunkies. If he's involved in this, I can see him advising her on the nuts and bolts of the summoning."

"Would Tessa bring her whole crew?" Ranma asked.

"For this? She'd want to. Would they all come? Maybe," I shrugged. "The Nickleheads aren't the most unified group. If they saw Tessa making a hit at the bossman... they may throw in. Rossana'd take her side. Definitely. Namshiel... if this is as heavy of a summoning as we're looking at, then yeah. But some of the others would stick to Nicky and hope to get on his good side if Tessa loses."

Eve looked at the projection. "Two Fallen magical specialists, one handler, and how many grunts?"

"She might have eleven coins." My head pounded at the scale of how bad this could get. "I mean... they might all jump in. Then again, this summoning has to link to my world..."

Frowning, I wasn't sure if I'd rather have Thornyboy back in Chicago playing evil sorcerer or over here. Splitting the bad guy's forces was handy, and if Thornyboy was where the Knights could get to him...

"Warden Dresden?" Eve lightly asked.

"I'll have to know more about what Tessa's got planed, but there's a real good chance she'll need someone to draw the summoning from this world to mine."

"Still, even divided, she can have two groups with considerable magical skill and offensive power, yes?"

I leaned back in the chair. "I know, that makes you wonder what Lucas and his wolves brought to the table."

"They have local knowledge and a resource base," Tendo offered.

"Knowledge... they did the leg work on getting those books. One of which Tessa couldn't get." I looked to the head of the table. "So, you going to say exactly what Lucas took from the Testament of Carnamagos?"

The blonde demon smiled thinly.

"Because apparently that sour old man sold a complete edition. Or at least that's what he said when he suddenly got all wistful and laughed at every little thing." Recalling the tingle I'd felt on my neck, I looked over to Ranma.

The redhead grinned at me. "What can I say? Ukyou's more than a good cook."

I shivered then went back to Eve. "Right, so Lucas got a complete book, and then after he hid it, the book suddenly stopped being complete."

Still having that ghost of a smile, Eve tapped the clicker and the projection went to the next slide. It consisted of a few photographs of the Testament. Including a zoom-in of the book splayed open to its last third or so. In the picture, with helpful arrows, were the neatly cut stubs of five pages.

"We believe the excised section documents the lineage of a specific god. Interestingly, the parts that remain detail how to conduct a sacrifice to gain its attention, but..."

"But omit details like its name and affinity." I shook my head. "Instead of handing the books to Tessa, they store them someplace, and then, just in case the books get stolen, they cut out critical info."

Despite it, I chuckled. "I'm not feeling a lot of trust here."

"To be fair, Mrs. Lartessa does not seem trustworthy."

"The Wolves are worried that once Tessa figures out how to do the summoning she won't need them anymore?" Ranma asked.

"Why not? Backstabbing is how the Denarians work."

"That is something we can, perhaps, exploit. Given the Brotherhood seems to be taking such measures."

"There's also why they're helping Tessa do this summon. What do they get out of it?" I asked.

"Maybe Tessa's summoning multiple creepy crawlers and the Brotherhood gets to keep one," Ranma shrugged.

I blinked. "Oh... that's bad."

"Could be what's on the missing pages, I mean a lineage does mean a family of eldritch monsters right?"

Groaning, I rubbed my forehead.

Eve clicked to the next slide. This one had the other books. "We didn't see any other defacement on these books. Which might mean the Brotherhood felt the information in there was not critical, or it might be things that Tessa already knew. There's also the extremely likely chance that the Brotherhood has resources beyond these."

The blonde then looked towards me. "Fortunately, we have our own resources, these books, and your considerable expertise."

"Oh..." I repeated after blinking. "Yes, of course."

"Anything to help us know how to stop things, with a bit more... finesse," Eve stated.

"Finesse? You fired a Gatling gun from a helicopter," I boggled.

"Yeah," Ranma agreed. "We're worried the Canadians will decide to simply bomb this place of power, wherever it is."

"Canada?"

"They do have fighter-bombers and artillery," Lieutenant Tendo reminded.

"And after Ottawa they're real twitchy, yes?" I asked shifting in my seat.

The blonde demon smiled thinly.

"We still have to find the place." I tapped the table. "The scary little girl have any luck? Uh, Lady Pluto?"

"Lady Pluto's analysis is inconclusive." Eve frowned. "She provided us with a potential region, unfortunately Southwestern Ontario is still over fourteen thousand square miles."

I noticed the blonde shift impatiently; she was more animated than she normally let herself be.

"Pluto is continuing her work, and says she can narrow things down but may take time."

"Frustrating?"

"She has been a bit more irritable yes," Eve allowed. "We've deployed our own airborne assets to the area. But by the time the drones detect something..." the demon lifted a hand.

"Right, the Canadians will have bombed the place?"

"It is a possibility," Eve noted. "This is why advance warning is critical. We're also working with law enforcement to see if any of Lucas' associates can be found leasing buildings or renting property in the area."

I grunted in acknowledgment. A lot of investigation work boiled down to running down every lead you could think of until you hit pay dirt. It wasn't glamorous, but you had to put in the legwork to get anywhere.

"Right, if that's all then let's get back to it." The blonde looked around the table, then settled her eyes on Ranma. "I want the Fifth ready to deploy, as well as three teams of agents," she added looking to Tendo and the other officers.

There was a wave of acknowledgements as everyone stood and started filing out of the room.

Ranma appeared at my side. "Come on, Mr. Wizard, let's get you to the laboratory."

***************


I pinched my nose and pushed myself away from the table. Grumbling, I eyed the heavy book with its creepy leather cover.

Dirac looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Problem?" the technician asked, his Adams apple bobbing.

One of the doors to the room was open, and an older woman with grey tinged black hair stood at the threshold. Unlike many of the other bare concrete rooms, this one had thick black panels on the walls with thick wires running between them.

A tablet computer was in her hand. She looked at it with a frown, left it behind, picked up a sheaf of papers, and closed the door behind her. There was more black paneling on the door as well.

"I'm sorry this is going slow, Warden Dresden," she gave an almost grandmotherly smile. "There's only so much the translation software can do."

"Sure Doc," I eyed the badge that hung on her lab-coat: Doctor Sarah De Cotis. It said something that this organization hired more than just "trigger pullers". It also said something that they were starting to let me interact with their eggheads. Between the three of us we almost had a supernatural brain trust going on.

"It's still more help than I'm used to," I lied. I had to be frank, after years with Bob, Lash, and recently with Bonnie, I had gotten pretty spoiled. Spirits of intellect, Shadows of Fallen Angels, and spirits of intellect with the knowledge of a Fallen made for extremely handy assistants.

The doctor kindly smiled, clearly not believing a word.

"It doesn't help that it's encoded," I added pointing to the splayed open copy of Cryptomenysis.

"Or that you're missing the most important pages," Ranma noted from her chair. She had a binder propped up and was reading some sort of mission report.

"Yes, there's that." I grit my teeth. "Look, there's years-worth of information here."

"There's about three doctoral dissertations on applied theology," De Cotis evaluated rubbing her chin. "Provided you could get a defense board with the proper clearances."

Dirac cleared his throat.

"Yes, yes, there's at least a thesis on dimensional manipulation and transmission," De Cotis airily dismissed.

"Machine-shop magic," I grumbled.

The redhead put her book down. She looked to me. "You speak nerd, right Mr. Wizard? 'Cause my eyes glaze when they or my Mom get like this."

I smiled a bit, both at the self-depreciation and the mention of her extended family. It was another example that they were opening up to me. However, that Ranma was here watching me, instead of leaving me alone with their eggheads did show the limits of their trust.

I pulled at a pair of imaginary suspenders. "Well, I might just be a simple country wizard. I don't have much book smarts, and I did my magic learnin' out in the Ozarks-"

"You're from Chicago," Ranma interrupted.

"Fine." Letting my arms drop, I glared. "You know how summonings work?"

"Like what you did last night?"

"Close enough." I waved my hand. "For major mojo you've got to get the attention of what you're summoning, you need the energy to do that, and then you need the ability to contain it."

Ranma simply looked at the books.

"Yeah, yeah, devil's in the details," I pointed to a slim volume.

Wearing a pair of thick latex gloves, Dirac pulled over Captain Klaus' Unaussprechlichen Kulten. The lanky man then flipped to a page full of lopsided typeface and spidery notes scrawled in the margins.

"That the ritual?" the demon leaned in, seemingly interested.

"It's a ritual," De Cotis corrected. "If you'll look, the being mentioned is rather pedestrian. But it does refer to filling a willing vessel. But that's standard."

I eyed the old woman. I wouldn't consider a goat-faced tentacular horror "pedestrian". Okay, well -I- would, but no one else should.

"Yeah, but it gives a framework, and that book," I pointed to the Parchments of Pnom which Dirac obligingly opened. "Says rituals that work on Shubby can get the attention of Lucas' new friends. Or at least their cousins."

I nodded to myself. "It's actually a pretty clever hack. Tessa heard rumors of what she wanted to summon, but didn't know how. So, she looked around for a ritual that she knew that worked on something similar." I flipped the Unaussprechlichen Kulten book closed.

Dirac looked vaguely affronted by my treatment of the book.

"Then she found a way to work backwards from Thing One to Thing Two." I tapped the Parchments of Pnom. "And finally she found people what knew how to contact Thing Two," I tapped the Testament of Carnamagos.

"But the whole thing's in code and the Wolves ripped out the pages!" I grumbled swiping at the Cryptomenysis Patefacta.

The redhead tilted her head. "You're such a geek."

I glared.

"Still, it's not like we need to know how to do the ritual, just where it is. We can always stop it the old fashioned way."

"Not if we're too late," I said darkly.

The demon nodded.

"But, we've at least narrowed down where it isn't. The base ritual can only be modified so far," De Cotis pulled out a piece of paper with a map of Southern Ontario. Parts of it had been crossed out, but a lot of it was still shaded in red.

"Yeah, but they've got all the info they need. There's a reason the wolves took out those pages," I ran my fingers through my hair.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, I think you've put off lunch long enough."

"His stress has been making it harder to use my machines, even with him inside this faraday cage," De Cotis added.

"I told you, we could have stuck him in a circle and things would have been fine," Dirac said.

The older woman sniffed in disdain.

"Right." Ranma clapped her hands. "Too many big-brain people getting cranky. Lunch break."

"It's three o'clock," De Cotis noted.

Ranma returned her gaze. "You don't have to eat, but I am. And without me to play babysitter we are locking up."

The scientist sighed. "Fine," she went to a phone that hung to the wall and made a call.

Dirac busied himself piling the books and organizing the notes. De Cotis hung up and helped him.

Ranma tugged my arm and pulled me to one side of the room to allow them to take photos of their paperwork with a compact digital camera. The notes were then fed into a shredder the resulting confetti was then put into storage bag.

As I watched bemused at the paranoia, the other door to the room unlocked and Eve led a trio of agents into the room. One carried a thick metal briefcase while the other two had their rifles held in their hands.

The mercenary lifted the case and then gently placed it on its side. Still the case came down with a heavy clunk.

The agent stepped aside, and Eve unlocked the thick clasps and opened it. The interior looked like black foam with rectangular sections cut out. I frowned. Even with the steel sidings the case seemed a bit too heavy to be empty.

Ranma motioned for me to stay on the far side of the room before she went off to her sister. The blonde handed her a few small items.

Dirac moved in to pick up the books, but De Cotis shooed him away. I then watched as the old woman put on a pair of thick, rubberized gloves and gingerly lifted each book, and then slowly, delicately placed them into the case one by one.

"They're just old books. You don't have to act like you're defusing a bomb!" I cried.

Pulling off his gloves, Dirac shook his head and laughed.

De Cotis rolled her eyes then took out another case and started packing away her computers and the cameras.

Ranma looked up from talking with her sister and walked over. Eve picked up a clipboard, and began circling around the table and going through a checklist.

The redhead pulled her hand out of her pocket and adjusted her leather jacket. "Come on, hungry wizards are grumpy wizards," she assured, taking my arm and dropping something into my palm.

I eyed the grey plastic cube. Twice the size of a ring box, it had a locking clasp and a heavy hinge. Next to the clasp were two recessed buttons behind a hinged plastic cover.

The demon lifted the tiny molly-guard, pressed the green button, and the clasp popped open. Inside was a layer of a silvery-blue metal and a layer of black padding. Nested in the padding, and offset to one side, was a clear glass vial with fluted seals. Next to the vial was a small set of tweezers and a tiny metal wand with a bulbous tip covered in a blue cap

I blinked. "For the Denarians?"

"Sample collector," The redhead nodded and pointed to the tools "Use the tweezers or the glue grabber to pick up the coin, drop it in the vial, snap the lid shut and hit the red button."

"And the red button?" I eyed the case. It was better than using a dice bag, I supposed.

"Locks it."

"Actually, those Mark 7's release a pressurized epoxy which fuses the latch and the hinge. I'd be careful with that," Eve said from across the room while she fussed with her clipboard.

I closed the box. I supposed these mercenaries had dealt with hazardous stuff before.

"Will these be sufficient?" Ranma asked.

"Short term, yes. The coins are dangerous. And anyone who's touched one can call it back no matter how you secure it, but..." I rolled the box around in my hand. "This'll keep someone from touching it in the first place," I admitted and slipped it into a pocket.

Ranma handed me another. "Two is one. One is none," she said in a sing song voice, as she took my arm.

I sighed and let her take me towards the door.

"I'm thinking of going off base to get something to eat," Ranma said as we stepped out of the room.

The scent of smoldering paper hit my nose. Were they actually burning their notes? Was shredding not good enough? Okay, from a thaumatalogical perspective burning was a good idea, but still… "Yeah... I could go for seeing some sunlight."

"Working underground does get to you," Dirac agreed.

I nodded. Sure, I had lived a good part of my life in a basement apartment, and used the subbasement beneath that as my laboratory, but that was different. This was a brightly lit, rather spacious underground facility. I had a drafty, cramped little concrete box without electricity where I spent all my time talking to a skull by candlelight.

Totally different. Anyway, I no longer had that basement apartment. Vampires burned it down. At least my secret, spooky island lair had a much cooler, if much scarier underground facilities.

***************


Following the demon down the corridor, I mulled and thought. Thus my gaze was lowered for reasons other than looking at the backside of the redhead's leather skirt.

I had been here for, what two days? Well, three if you count the time I was unconscious after falling through the portal. I didn't know how much longer Tessa had been here, but I knew she thought I was a threat and wanted to get rid of me.

I shifted my step to pass over a metal trough in the floor. I glanced to either side and saw similar inset in one wall, and the edge of a steel door in the other. Slipping through, I gave the blast door a wide berth.

Even if Lucas wasn't lying, and given he was a wolfman terrorist impersonating an FBI agent, and working for a Fallen Angel that didn't seem likely... But even if he was telling the truth, sending me home would have gotten me out of Tessa's way just as much as putting a bullet in the back of my head.

There was a slight tingle as we reached an intersection with another corridor that ran perpendicular to ours. Pulling my arm, Ranma took me down the left-hand turn. I glanced behind me and saw Dirac fussing with a panel near the corner.

By the time the lanky man caught up to us, we were at another set of steel doors. The hallway had widened and Ranma was chatting with a couple of mercenaries working behind a heavy counter.

Tessa and I had never really... talked. She didn't know me like Nicodemus knew me. Hells Bells, technically I'd worked with the guy. Granted, it was part of that con of Mab's to get her revenge on him, but the point stands.

Nicodemus had plenty of personal experience to get his measure of me. Tessa... well we met a couple of times in between her helping or thwarting her hubby. Still, she knew enough to consider me a threat. I had worked with the Knights of the Cross on multiple occasions, and I had stopped Nicodemus several times.

There was a buzz and the steel doors slid open and we passed through a narrow hallway-like airlock. There was another blast door at the far end, but it only opened after the first door had closed. I looked to either side and frowned at the plain plastic paneling on the walls. If asked, I'd lay good odds that there were claymore mines or some other nasty surprises hidden behind the panels. It wouldn't be the first time I'd seen that trick.

I pushed that thought aside and stepped into the garage. The steel door slid closed behind Dirac with a heavy klunk. The echoing concrete room rang with the sounds of idling engines, air tools, and the beeping of a reversing forklift.

Despite its large size, the rectangular parking garage felt crowded To my left was a set of pallets with anonymous grey crates tied down. Past that was a loading dock where equipment was being positioned in front of a closed steel shutter. In front of the dock were a few armored Humvees.

There was enough room to maneuver a heavy truck past all the equipment, but only just.

To my right was maintenance bay. A crew of mechanics scurried between several tool chests, lifts, tires, welding equipment, and other bits of tooling. I could just make out a lathe and some heavier machinery in a caged off area against the far right wall.

An unmarked white van had its engine pulled while in front of it an armored vehicle with a rounded hull, and no tires, sat on a set of jacks. Behind that was another steel door on the far wall.

The room itself was divided by a row of heavy concrete pillars. Solid concrete blocks filled the spans between the one third of the pillars to the right and the one third to the left.

Only the center third, with yellow and black caution stripes painted on them were open. A mercenary was waving his arms to guide a lumbering armored vehicle between them..

I followed as the demon led us past the pillars. In the second half of the room were two immense doors. Heavy steel, they looked like something out of a missile bunker.

One was to the right on the far wall perpendicular to the row of pillars. Pushed up against the pillars was a row of armored vehicles. Sullen grey, these had long barreled turrets atop them.

The other door was on the left side of the garage. That section was relatively clear. A cargo truck idled as a team of mercenaries moved about it with inscrutable bits of equipment. The head of the inspection team looked at us, then looked at his equipment and back at us.

Really, most of them held rifles and looked stern. Only a couple were using things that looked like leftover props from Ghostbusters. Glancing over, I saw Dirac frown.

Ranma stopped in front of a trio of vans parallel parked up against the far wall that went from grey to black. Lieutenant Tendo waited by the open doors. Her face was unreadable. It was some emotion that looked alien on her, but if I had to guess she seemed displeased with Ranma.

My attention went back to the cargo truck. The cab was empty and the driver's side door was left ajar. The team inspecting it packed up their gear and after pushing the crates to the side; they started rummaging around in a vehicle that had been parked near the pillar.

However, one of the technicians came our way.

I then noticed that Ranma's tail had gone straight, and that's when I recognized Tendo's emotion. She was nervous.

"Sergeant, has the delivery cleared inspection?" Tendo asked the mercenary who jogged up to them.

A tall, blocky, dusky-skinned man with a shaved head nodded. "It went through pre-inspection in the lock, cleared our scans," he handed Tendo a clipboard.

The lieutenant nodded.

I eyed the truck. A bit larger than a moving truck, it was white and silver. Its logo was for some sort of food distributor. "Guess even secret bases have to eat."

"Rations do get old," Ranma agreed.

Ignoring our banter, the sturdy young man continued. "I checked with Franks. He and Meyers supervised the loading. Procedure says we're about to open it up for the physical inspection but..."

Tendo looked across. "Yes, Rawlins?

I blinked. The guy did look a bit like a younger version of Detective Rawlins. The police officer did have kids...

Rawlins looked at the truck that his men had taken position on. "But something's off.... Sure the seals and locks are there. The delivery driver checked out when we swapped drivers on the surface, but..."

"Scans?" Dirac suddenly asked.

Rawlins held up a boxy little display. Dirac sidestepped me and as Ranma not so subtly pushed me to the side, allowing the gangly technician to look over it.

Blue-green eyes scanned the display, then looked up at the vehicle, then back up. He sucked in through his teeth.

"Did you call it in, Sergeant?" Tendo asked.

Rawlins glanced between the officer and the demon. "Course, Ma'am."

The brunette looked to Dirac.

"The reading says clean but... it's too crisp," he adjusted the knob. "When did you take this?"

"Just now," Rawlings said, looking towards Ranma.

The color drained from Dirac's face.

Tendo imminently went to her radio. "This is L. T. Tendo. Five-Four-One-Three-Niner. Motor Pool. Vehicle Inspection Bay. Status Goal Keeper. Repeat, Goal Keeper."

Ranma's eyes flashed. And she went to the back corner of van where she took position and watched as Dirac and Tendo's men started slipping on body armor that they had stashed in the van.

I looked around and saw the men on the loading dock and the maintenance bay had also stopped working.

"What's going on?"

Dirac slipped a spare vest on and held up his arms while Ranma adjusted the straps. "Rawlins' scan should have picked up you two. Even this far, there should have been some bleed-over, at least a little Pattern D and a little Prime. Instead, he got a reading saying there's nothing but plain old humans down here."

My stomach clenched. "Your fancy scanners are being spoofed."

Taking a spare rifle handed to him by the brown haired mercenary who was with Gabriel yesterday, Dirac nodded.

I glanced back and saw a squad of men from the maintenance bay sprint over to one of the parked armored vehicles on the other side of the row of pillars. "And if you're being spoofed..."

The redhead smiled and sniffed the air. "Then we've got visitors." She eyed the vehicle we were behind. "Not much cover here, but... it is concealment."

Tendo gave her radio to Dirac as she slipped on a helmet and goggles. Listening to the lanky agent explain the egghead perspective, I looked around. The mercenaries had geared up and pulled away from the cargo truck, and there was even a Humvee nudging its way to just ahead of the pillars.

I wasn't sure if the mercenaries in the garage had been reinforced, or if they had simply pulled out more equipment, but there was a fair bit of quiet activity. Okay, some of the people were definitely newcomers, but not all of them. Ominously, I saw a few people with what appeared to be firefighting gear. I looked at my duster and staff and revolver. "I feel a little bit underdressed."

Ranma, in her own battle-rattle, dragged me back in behind the line of vans. She critically looked me up and down. Then pulled a set of earplugs out of a pouch on her vest.

I raised an eyebrow. She pointed to the vehicle-mounted machine guns. I acquiesced and stuffed them into my ears.

"We gonna go in?" I asked, nodding to the truck.

The demon gave me "the look".

"Or not," I amended. "You're not just gonna leave them there. Am I shouting? I feel like I'm shouting." My voice sounding odd to my dampened ears.

"Poor, dumb Harry," the redhead teased.

After giving Rawlins some orders, Tendo edged over to me. "Odds are these are some of your friends?" she asked hooking her radio to a headset.

"What if it's just a bad sensor? What if there's no one in the truck?"

"Then it's a training exercise."

I glanced at all the waiting mercenaries and at the gun turrets that had swung their barrels towards the cargo truck. "Expensive exercise."

"Not yet it isn't," Ranma murmured.

My response was cut-off by a tinny reverberation coming from the truck. The feedback-like echoing died off and a light voice rose up. It sounded youthful, feminine but also oddly distorted.

"Wizard Dresden," the voice carried across the garage, enhanced but punctuated as if speaking via popping soap bubbles. The ear plugs I wore didn't help. Though I wondered how loud she'd seem without them.

Ranma glanced at me.

"Yeah, that's Tessa." The playful madness was familiar enough.

Tendo nodded and spoke into her radio. I wondered how long it would be before it got fried.

"Hey Tessa!" I yelled towards the truck. "Are we playing hide and seek or the lamest Trojan Horse reenactment?"

"I'm giving you an opportunity." Irritation edged her voice.

"No, you're hiding in a truckload of potatoes and fish-sticks," I taunted.

"Keep her talking, " Ranma whispered in my ear. "The more time we get; the more we learn about her, the better," she said slipping on a pair of Kevlar gloves.

"My quarrel isn't with you," Tessa snapped back.

"I got a bunch of dead wolfmen that say otherwise,"

There was a brief pause, when she resumed her voice was once more contained. "They came with a good faith offer to get you home. How is it my fault your... hosts antagonized and attacked them?"

"Yeah, you're all heart."

"You should applaud me. You know all that Nicodemus has done. I will end him. Something your precious Knights have failed to accomplish."

"And all you need from me is a little book and five easy installments of 49.99. Buzz off mantis girl."

"I can do it without the book. The Brotherhood has made plans. I just wanted to... cause the least trouble," Tessa baldly lied.

I knew Tessa; causing trouble was her business. On the other hand, the summoning would be much harder without the Testament, or at least without the parts the wolves took.

The redhead tilted her head. Her purple eyes flashed with dark amusement.

I nodded. It seemed like Tessa was here to get the Testament which meant the wolves were still tricking her. On the gripping hand, she was a liar. Maybe the book was just an ancillary goal, or a complete smokescreen.

"You think I'll just hand the Testament over to you?" I shouted. Glancing over, I saw Tendo continue to give and receive orders via her headset.

"Honestly..." Tessa drew the word out. "Honestly, I would have thought you'd rejoice at helping bring about Nicodemus's downfall. All you have to do is stand aside."

"No deal."

There was a hissing pause. "And once more, you're defending Nicodemus. How does it feel to stand at his side and advance his cause? Was helping him steal the Grail not sufficient?"

I grit my teeth. "This isn't about him."

"Really? Once again the faerie have loaned you out, and once again-"

"Oh shut up!" I snorted. "You're summoning some big creepy thing. Something you couldn't even summon back home. If this was really just about revenge, I can think of a lot of easier ways to take out Nicodemus." The guy did have a weakness, and while I don't know if anyone else had figured it out, Tessa was one of the others most likely to have.

A couple seconds ticked by.

"Succubus," Tessa's voice resumed. "One mother to another would, you deny me my vengeance?" she asked, and despite the distortion, her tone was almost pleading. "How many have you killed to protect your young? Will you be a hypocrite like Dresden and deny me too?"

Ranma met my eyes; a crimson eyebrow rose quizzically.

I shrugged. "She's a liar."

"Good enough for me," the redhead's fangs flashed in a smile. She held out her arms and an obsidian and purple sphere formed, and with a jinking bob, shot off. As it raced towards the cargo truck, the gun turrets on the vehicles opened up followed by other machine guns and then a pair of RPGs.

***************


Explosions wracked the cargo section of the truck, and the sheet metal sides ripped as bullet holes blew into existence. Smoke came rose up and the fire continued.

Behind me, the long heavy gun on the armored vehicle barked out round after round. From the truck a scent of ozone emanated, white clouds rose. and through the holes I caught a bit of shimmering pearlescence like the surface of a swimming pool.

"They've got a shield up!" I shouted against the cacophony. It made sense, I could run a good shield spell; of course the Fallen could do the same. Or better.

Then the truck's cargo box blew apart. From the inside.

Metal walls and roof launched out towards us in jagged ribbons. Water splashed onto the floor. As the squealing peels of metal hit the concrete fifteen feet in front of the truck, those inside took the opportunity to jump down behind the back of the vehicle. A thick shimmering bubble of water puffed out and flowed back giving the wolves some protection.

I saw bullets strike the shield. Little cavitation bubbles marked their passage as the magically lifted water slowed the projectiles down.

Crouching down, I looked under the truck's wheels. I could see a mass of thick hairy legs, one set of spindly legs that were draped in seaweed and then...

Ah. Off to the side was a set of slight limbs in chitinous armor.

I pulled back. And leaned into Ranma. "Gotta be two dozen wolves, geeze that must have been like the worst clown car ever in there."

Ranma glared at me.

"Also two Denarians, One's definitely Tessa. Shield's water magic, heavy duty lotta power to keep it up."

The redhead nodded and relayed the info. "Right. The Fallen are our priority."

Rifle grenades began to explode against the shield. These sunk into the watery surface and exploded blowing parts of the watery wall apart.

More water splashed against the concrete. Then a rocket hit and a whole section blew apart for a second before the air flickered and the water was pushed back into the dome shape. Glancing in the wreckage of the cargo compartment I could see a few blue plastic 55 gallon drums. That must have been where Mr. Seaweed had stored his water.

But before that happened, I saw one of the wolves fall; its head blown off. Sniper. The two Fallen dived to the side.

Quirking a hand, Tessa darted just in front of the truck's hood. She was all chitin and spurs, spindly limbs and scything mandibles. A grenade blasted against the mantis form's armor, but the diminutive Denarian held herself and a gout of Hellfire blasted out.

The thick column of angry red fire raced away and lanced past me. It splashed against the armored vehicle just under the cannon's turret. For a moment, the armor actually managed to hold against the demonic fire pouring against it.

Then the side of the vehicle began to deform and slump as its engine gunned and it turned in the confined space. It didn't get far as the ammunition within began to cook off.

An obsidian sphere launched from Ranma's hands and slammed against Tessa. Her armor smoking, the mantis girl stumbled. The gouting hellfire reduced to a mere firehose of flames that she raked in front of her.

The mercenaries had hunkered down behind cover so that part of the Denarian's attack itself didn't do much damage, but in an instant I realized damage wasn't the intent.

Howling on the heels of the flames, the wolves charged forward. The hair on their bulky, muscular bodies singed and burned as some of them actually ran in the hellfire, but they were already regenerating.

The mercenaries' fire immediately shifted.

There was a firm tug on my arm and the redhead bolted forward. Running low, her wings were pulled back and her tail and hair streamed behind her. Clenching my staff, I grit my teeth and took off after her. It says something about her speed that I actually had to push myself to keep up.

The wolves were on us instantly.

Well, I should say the redhead was on them. She openly charged a group of creatures, each one easily three-four times her weight and three feet taller than her.

She sidestepped a lunge from the lead wolfman, clawed through the side, broke the knee of the next with a kick, and fired a gout of flames on the two following that. Her tail whipped around and slammed through the neck of another wolf as she passed by.

Following, I saw that the wolves were already healing. The one with the broken knee was getting back up. My staff came down and I hit him across the head. On the riposte I cried "Fuego," And blasted him and the other lamed wolf. Fire seemed to be the theme for today.

My boots splashing, I turned and saw the mass of wolves nearing the mercenary lines. Wolves were starting to fall, but not fast enough, and many were getting back up.

I shifted my foot. Ah yes, water. I grinned and lowered my staff swept my staff to the left. "Infriga!" I cried visualizing scooping and shoveling. Winter power flared as the water puddling the concrete floor was swept aside and flung towards the wolves in a freezing arc.

Some of it splashed against them, but their hulking bodies easily broke the thin rime. However, the bulk of the water had hit the concrete floor freezing in place.

I grinned and leveled my staff. "Forzare!" a wave of invisible force battered the wolves, their mad rush already faltering on the slick surface. I took a tiny moment to relish their furry forms going ass-over-teakettle before returning to my own charge.

Ranma had bounded over the flayed ribbons of sheet metal; the demon's wings giving her a bit of a flip.

I followed, and while I did not have her demonic advantages I had a much longer stride, the Winter Mantel, and one other advantage. "Parkour!" I shouted launching myself over the torn sides of the cargo truck.

Landing, the redhead spared me a dirty look before launching a DarkStar burst.

Bare feet from the truck, I had a clear shot at the Denarians. Mr. Seaweed looked oddly distorted behind his flowing shield. Strips of seaweed fell from the creature's head concealing its dark face and tumbling down its glowing chest. My staff shot out "Pryo Fuego!"

Flames blasted forth and the shield flashed over as steam flared up. "Crap!" I cried activating my own shield bracelet. On the upside, the water shield did seem thinner where I'd hit it.

Ignoring the heat, the redhead took advantage of the obscuring cloud, jumped up and rolled over the hood of the truck to slam into Tessa.

Both glowing angelic eyes and human eyes registered brief shock before
the slight mantis-girl was knocked down by the demon's impact. Scrambling away, Tessa was covered by the two wolfmen who had remained at her side lunging at Ranma.

I could still hear gunfire. Hells Bells, that was about all I could hear. Heavy machine guns, assault rifles, grenade launchers, and more were all fired in an echoing concrete box. I was thankful for the earplugs. Sure, I felt half-deaf now, but without 'em I'd be worse. I was also thankful I wasn't behind the truck. That far concrete wall was being chewed apart by all the munitions that missed... or simply blew through the wolves.

Still, the point was that among the cordite symphony was an occasional deeper boom. There was a sniper, at least one, out there. And he was firing some serious ordinance to even stand out among the other sounds. Which meant if I could give 'em a shot...

"This is a bad idea," I murmured blasting with another scream of "Fuego." Again, fire jetted from my staff. Again steam billowed back. Again I dropped the fire spell. Again the hot gas flashed against my own blue shield as I crouched down, feeling the heat press against me

But this time when my spell dropped the flames had boiled away a hole in the Denarian's shield. Right about level with his-

Boom.

I don't know how close the round really was to my head, but it felt like bare inches. Mr. Seaweed's head had blown apart in a rain of greenery and twitching seaweed. The Denarian flopped to the ground and the water shield splashed to the floor in a deluge.

Splashing in water up to my ankles, I rounded the battered hood of the truck. Closing in, I could see Ranma and Tessa fighting. Both women were small, demonic, and armored, but there the similarities ended.

Tessa seemed to have the edge in speed and fought with a raw viciousness, where Ranma, for her predatory nature, was refined and honed. She was also outnumbered.

The two wolves had tried to circle around and harass her. The redhead pointed her hand at one and a lance of fire shot out burning through an arm and shoulder and then turned to another and purple beams fired out of her eyes and gouged out the top of the other wolf's skull. The creature howled as brains boiled and charred.

The damage began to heal, joining the other wounds layered on their mangled bodies. Despite the damage both shambled forward, their unnatural stamina keeping them up.

Ranma slipped aside and blocked the scything blades. One caught against her arm, but the demon took in the damage and racked her claws against the Denarian's chest. Sparks flew off and lines were cut into the chitin armor.

The redhead hooked a leg into the writhing mantis-girl's and turned knocking her off balance. As Tessa fell, she stabbed out, Ranma rolled and stomped down with a boot. The Denarian screamed as her arm broke. Her other arm slashed wildly and she pulled back up to her feet. Exoskeleton popped and twisted as she glared, hate in her eyes.

Tessa snapped forward. In a blur her bladed arms shot out. The demon blocked and stepped inside, blood flew as a her right arm was flayed to the bone. Tessa's scything mandibles lunged in. At the last moment, Ranma strained her spine and head-butted the Denarian.

There was a crack as she slammed her forehead against Tessa's nose. It was armored, but, not enough. Chitin broke and ichor sprayed out as dazed shock crossed Tessa's eyes. "You..." she hissed.

That was my opening. Holding my staff in one hand, I drew my revolver with the other. "Fuego!" I screamed and pulled the trigger.

Three rounds went into the head of one wolfman, while... I'll confess I wasn't paying as much attention to aiming with my staff. But enough of the column of flame lit up the other wolfman's torso.

"Hi Tessa!" I cheerfully, and loudly greeted as the redhead pounced. The fountain of blood pouring down her left arm had slowed to a trickle. Despite my smile, I was worried. Tessa was more than a physical powerhouse, she had plenty of sorcerous power, as indicated by that blast of Hellfire. If she was holding back now, she had to have a reason...

The mantis-girl launched a whip of green fire. Growling, the succubus turned and jumped away. The healed wound on her arm was torn open anew.

As Ranma's eyes flared, I leveled both my staff and my gun. "See... this time I thought you should fight someone your own size."

The redhead tilted her head, dipping her horns in mock salute.

Behind her mandibles, Tessa smirked. "Funny, wizard, I thought much the same."

The redhead shot me an irritated look. It was then that I noticed that the water shield had returned. And that both Mr. Seaweed and the wolf I'd burned were getting back up.

The Denarian was still without a head, but there was a glow coming from its chest. The draping seaweed parted revealing a face high on its torso. Angelic script and a second pair of eyes glowed above a pair of maddened human eyes sunk into the green chest flesh The seaweed tendrils thrashed in anger.

Meanwhile the wolf gave a toothy grin that grew... and grew. Its already beefy body bulked and swelled. Ram's horns spiraled out of a head that grew longer and sharper fangs. Burned fur healed and turned into thick leathery skin. Over twelve feet tall, the creature's chest deepened and it crouched in an almost simian gait.

Another pair of eyes glowed above the blazing golden ones. I didn't even need to see the angelic script marking the creature's forehead to know who it was.

Magog.

Oh, Hells Bells. It's never easy.

End Chapter 5

I'd like to thank the prereaders for their help in this project: J St C Patrick, DCG, Kevin Hammel, and Ellf. Special thank to : J St C Patrick for his help in proofreading this (and the other) chapters.

 

Blood Debts Book 5 of The Return
A Ranma, Sailor Moon, Dresden Files fic thingy.
By Sunshine Temple
Naturally, I own neither Sailor Moon nor Ranma nor the Dresden Files. So here's the disclaimer:

Ranma 1/2 and its characters and settings belong to Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty, and Viz Video. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Koudansha, TV Asahi, and Toei Douga, and DIC. And the Dresden Files is owned by Jim Butcher.


Previous chapters and other works can be found at my fanfiction website.
http://jtemple.florestica.com/
Temporary Backup Site.
http://www.fukufics.com/fic/
Other website Temple of Ranma's Senshi Seifuku
http://fukufics.com
C&C as always is wanted.

Chapter 6: Underground Diplomacy, Part B


So, here I was in a secret subterranean base, surrounded by angry wolfmen, heavily armed mercenaries, and three Fallen Angels. Worse, one of those Fallen was the most physically powerful of the Denarians. And that was with a regular human host. Now, he's riding along with someone who started out as a giant super strong creature with ridiculous regeneration.

Well, at least I had my trusty sexy demon friend....

I looked over and saw that Ranma was no longer at my side.

Tessa chortled. "Gagheil deal with Mr. Dresden. Magog make me a doorway."

Grunting, the giant Denarian ran towards the pillars in a lumbering gait.

"Now..." Tessa turned to me. "If the succubus gets in the way-."

Springing forward, the redhead slammed into the gloating Denarian. It seemed that instead of standing there while Tessa gloated, Ranma had decided to flank her and get near enough to close in one bound.

Knocking her over, Ranma parried a blow of Tessa's and grabbed each of the mantis girl's arms at the wrists. The demon growled, and stabbed her tail into the Denarian's hip. Razor filaments sparked against the exoskeleton as bits of chitin chipped off.

My chest shuddered as I heard a rumbling that shook the air. It was like standing too close to a subway train. I didn't have much time to think on that as I had to put up my shield to block a tidal wave of water being blown at me by Gagheil.

Ranma let go of one of Tessa's arms and slammed her hand into to the torn section of Tessa's armor. The redhead set her jaws. Purple and black light exploded from her palm. The DarkStar Burst shot out, the orb detonated inside Tessa's hip.

As I froze the water pouring over me, I realized that was no train. Frost came off my staff. I dropped my revolver into a holster and took my staff with two hands. I figured I was going to need more magic. Behind the wall of ice, Gagheil's creepy chest face looked at me. Seaweed limbs twisted and flexed, and the ice began to crack.

Madly howling, Magog had returned and backhanded Ranma off of Tessa. The demoness flew towards the giant vehicle-sized steel doors. Coughing blood, the demon twisted in midair, flared her wings, hit the concrete wall with her boots, bounded off and landed on the floor in a three-point crouch.

"Woo! Superhero landing" I cried. "Is that hard on your knees?"

Ranma spared me a glare before unceremoniously vomiting a mess of purple-tinged blood. Rising, she lifted her arms and launched twin lances of fire at Magog.

Screeching, Tessa tried to pull herself up, her left leg at a crooked angle. With ichor pouring out of the hole in her hip, she tried to inch away. Green fire sparking off the end, her whip twitched in her right hand.

Her other hand flicked and with a hissing word she slammed it into her hip. There was a flash and her leg snapped and twisted into place. Flicking her whip, green motes flew around her as she glanced behind at me and Ranma.

She pointed to Magog and swung her arm around in my and Ranma's direction.

The two Denarians bolted. Tessa's diminutive form was rapidly overtaken by the hulking gorilla-wolf. Due to his long stride, Magog was deceptively fast.

A DarkStar Burst slammed into Magog's back, just below the neck. The purple orb detonated in a spray of blood, but much of the thick, leathery skin seemed unharmed.

The redhead darted forward. A line of water shot out from Gagheil and she flipped to one side. The wall of ice burst apart around the Denarian. I leveled my staff. "Infriga!" The water froze and fell to the concrete in a crumbling line.

Ranma glanced at me.

"Go! I'll follow after I take care of Mr. Seaweed." I shifted my feet and planted my staff.

As the redhead ran off, Gagheil whipped his arms. Lengths of ropy seaweed shot out and wrapped around my staff. I twisted and stepped to the side all to fight to keep my staff in my hands, but at the cost of giving ground and sliding closer to Gagheil.

This also gave me a nice view of the pillars dividing the garage.

I watched as Magog was raked by machine gun fire. The creature roared as the bullets struck and cut out small divots, then the rockets hit. Those actually caused gouging, bleeding holes. Still, it was like chipping away at a stone wall with a chisel.

Tessa was at his heel using his bulk for cover and lashing out with quick bits of green fire from her whip. Or she would have if not for Ranma at her heel, harassing the Denarian every step of the way with fireballs and slashes.

Then with a echoing roar that hurt my ears despite the earplugs, Magog lunged at the Humvee revving between the pillars. Its turret still firing, the vehicle reversed gear. Then the giant Denarian's fist slammed down on the armored hood. Suspension shattered, the vehicle slumped down.

Magog then kicked the truck, sending it skidding backwards. Then the cacophony of fire intensified. More explosions detonated and Magog's forward motion slowed.

More seaweed strips wrapped around my staff refocusing my attention. The distance began to close between me and Gagheil.

The Denarian's lips curled into a nasty grin as his eyes flashed. "You're abandoned little wizard," Gagheil gasped his words distorted from the way his mouth was set in his chest. Eyes glowed and water began to rise, forming a shield around him. They also formed a barrier that it was slowly pulling me into. "You're alone."

I laughed. And suddenly stopped resisting with my boots. The seaweed suddenly pulled me forward. Reaching out with one hand I fed soulfire into my spell. Bits of my soul acted like rebar strengthen and enhancing the magic. "Infriga," I screamed, just before my palm hit the water shield.

There was a snapping grinding noise as the entire shield flash froze. I had a moment to enjoy that I wasn't going to be drowned, just before I slammed into the icy wall. And got hit in the side by my staff, which was also stuck in the ice like a popsicle stick.

The Denarian's surprise was cut off when Gagheil gave a chortling laugh. "Stupid mortal, you disabled your staff far better than I could ever."

"Stupid like a fox!" I wrapped both my hands over the staff and activated my shield bracelet. "Forzare!" Waves of force detonated around the end of the staff. The same end embedded in the ice.

Remember as a kid how you were told to never, ever, close your hand around a firecracker?

Well, if you've ever played with fireworks, you'd remember if you had one go off near you... or had a psychotic "friend" light one and toss it at you. When that happened most of the explosion hit the air, and only part of it went against your skin. Sure it sucked and you might get cut up a bit… but unless it hit your eye you'd be okay.

However, if you made a fist around a lit firework....

Then all the pressure was dedicated towards tearing off little fingers.

In short, there's a reason miners drill holes into rock and push explosives into the bores instead of just piling them against the cave wall.

This meant that Gagheil's shield exploded into thousands of chunks of icy shrapnel. Meanwhile my shield managed to protect everything, except for the bit of staff that stuck out past it.

Green ichor bled out as the Denarian fell to the ground. Several large, jagged bits of ice pierced his limbs and torso. The seaweed wrapping around my staff went slack.

I stepped closer, ice crunching under my boots. My steps sure on the frozen terrain. Gagheil tried to scrabble back up. "Really? Ice and water against the Winter Knight?" I slammed the tip of my staff into his chest just under that creepy face.

Gagheil screamed.

"What, next you gonna try that trick against Aquaman?"

The Denarian's seaweed wrapped around my staff and tried to pull it off.

"Fine," I concentrated. The runes on my staff glowed and crackled with power "Fulminos!"

Seaweed and water make for a rather poor conductor. But if you shock with enough electricity, it'll conduct. The Denarian screamed as electricity arced through it and grounded out on the puddle it was splayed in.

I stomped forward. Hooray, for thick insulated boots.

The Denarian screamed and this time the seaweed pulled against my legs. As I fell, I slammed my staff against its face. Then I hit the ground and my staff clattered off. My hand went to my belt and grasped something.

Twitching, bleeding, and actually steaming a bit, the Denarian scuttled towards me. Its mouth roared and I got a good glimpse of the hooked lamprey-like teeth in its mouth.

Then I saw them shatter as I rammed my revolver into the Denarian's mouth. I cranked the trigger, emptying the cylinder. Green blood splashed out in a frothy fan. Gagheil crumpled in front of me and I used the gun-barrel to knock the dying Denarian off. I caught a glimpse of where his spine had shattered from the heavy bullets. Bits of brains and maybe bits of heart, all tinged a nasty green, leaked out.

I gasped, feeling bruised and drained and a bit choked. "Holsters... what a concept," I laughed as the green blood and limp seaweed started to smoke and turn translucent and jelly-like.

Behind me, the explosions and gunfire continued. But I forced myself to concentrate on reloading my gun, retrieving my staff, and then watching the body.

The Denarian slowly reverted to human form as the ectoplasm used to make its demonic body evaporated. With a sickening lurch, a head drew out from the flat shoulders as the body turned into that of a pale, almost Nordic looking man. Well, it was hard to tell, as most of his face was shot off, as well as the gaping hole in his chest.

"So.... there's a downside to moving your head," I remarked, while waiting for the characteristic ting of metal bounding on concrete.

There was no flexing hand to reveal a coin. However, among the shattered, now human-looking, teeth and past the torn tongue was gleam of tarnished silver.

Pulling out the sample box I knelt over and popped it open. "Bless your paranoid egghead hearts," I said, taking out the little wand. Turns out, it also extended. It made short work of fishing the coin out of the watery viscera and dropping it into the box. Tossing the glue stick to the side I closed the lid and hit the red button. There was a hissing noise as it sealed itself shut.

Giving another gasping exhalation, I shook the box to confirm the coin was still rattling inside and dropped it in a coat pocket.

I caught my breath for a moment. Then I heard Magog roar, smelt the sulfurous scent of hellfire, and was almost knocked down by an explosion that shook the ceiling and made the lights flicker and almost go out.

I groaned and pulled myself to my feet.

***************


Leaning on my staff, my head swam. My feet splashed as I jogged away from the remains of the truck. I focused and controlled my breathing. It wasn't the same as getting a second wind. But you don't get to be a wizard without the ability to hold your concentration, no matter the pain and fatigue.

And Hells Bells, compared to some of the stuff I'd survived this was just being lightly winded. I made my way towards the pillars dividing the room. That was where the sound of fighting was.

Well... the loudest fighting. In front of me were the pillars, and beyond that was Magog's roaring bellows and heavy gunfire. To the left were Tendo's and Rawlins' teams.

A dozen or so wolfmen were splattered along the concrete floor in pools of watery blood. Some of the bodies still twitched and thrashed, and earned more gunfire for their trouble. Meanwhile, Rawlins and his men were working. Two men guarded while another used a careful under hand lob to drop an incendiary grenade on a wolf's head, and then, once the fireworks had died down, a fourth man chopped the head off with a fire axe.

Their armor was smeared with gore, and I was pretty sure that Rawlins was man short. I nodded to them as I lopped past. Their work was hurried but... business-like.

It made sense, the wolves could regenerate, and if they weren't put down then Magog and Tessa would have a lot more reinforcements. I don't know if Rawlins' actions would be enough, but I wasn't sure what more they could do at the moment. Well, I'm sure they had some flamethrower crews. Immolating the entire body would probably work. But that took time.

My thoughts halted as I passed the pillars and darted back behind the concrete column.

Green fire splashed against the pillar as Tessa screeched and covered Magog's backside. For his part, the giant wolf-gorilla was far to the right side punching the heavy steel loading dock door.

The walls shook with each punch. And the steel had dented and pushed down. I frowned Magog seemed.... smaller and... wider Then it hit me. He had to be able to pass through the door once he brought it down. As it was, his curling ram's horns were just a hair shorter than the head of the door.

He pulled his arm back and... a pair of purple beams shot out and sliced through knuckles and fingers. The Denarian's roar pounded at my ears as Magog turned and charged the redhead.

Tessa screamed and pointed to the door, unfurling her whip. She then flicked a wave of green energy at Ranma who dodged to the side. The succubus was in constant motion, occasionally pulling back to let the mercenaries get a hit in. Still, it looked like she was holding back... or waiting for something.

I glanced to the left, the mercenaries had pulled to the left side by the maintenance bay. They were giving harassing fire to the Denarians and had established a perimeter to gun down the remaining half dozen wolfmen.

A few of them were down, including some who had been left on the concrete unmoving. Still, there was a bit of triage by the access door past the maintenance bay.

The door on the far wall just past maintenance hissed open.

I felt the tingle on my neck. Looking at the people wounded and worse, rage boiled within me. Sure they were soldiers, but this wasn't their fight. I clenched my teeth and let the Winter Mantle focus my rage, my will.

This was where I'd stop them. I planted my staff on the concrete and pushed in a bit of soul fire. It rang like a bell.

Tessa turned with an annoyed expression.

Magog roared.

For a moment Ranma simply boggled... then taking advantage of Tessa's distraction, launched herself at the Denarian and body-slammed her to the ground. Claws dug against chitin until Tessa flicked her whip and knocked off the demon, who landed with a messy roll.

As that happened, I rushed forward. "Hey Magilla! Remember me!"

Magog roared insanely. And he bore down on me like a train. All four eyes glowing with pure rage.

I planted my feet to get a grip on the wet floor.

"Forzare!" I screamed as the water rushed past my feet and under Magog's.

Then I leveled my staff. "Arctis!"

Magog's footing slipped... but he caught himself and started thumping forward. His pace had slowed but each, deliberate ice-crushing step brought him closer.

"Out of tricks little mortal?" he grumbled voice like as steam-engine.

"No... just stalling." I ducked down My shield flared into existence and the grenades started to fall. And an orange-haired demoness cackled madly.

I knew Misako's gun was something special. Bulky grenade launchers tend to give that impression. But what had eluded me were the details... like how it was fully automatic....

And belt-fed.

Dozens and dozens of armor-piercing high explosive grenades rained down on Magog as Misako continued to laugh.

The other broodlings came in on her flanks. Her platinum blonde partner had one of those bulky rifles leveled and was giving supporting fire.

Thick hide opened, and blood poured out of wound after wound. Magog bellowed and turned to the demons. Wispy green energy rose up as ice shattered beneath his feet

The brood separated with the aforementioned Misako and Ukyou forming one group, and the two blue-haired demons in another. Nariko stood in between with her sword drawn.

Both Ranma and Tessa moved in to intercept the giant Denarian. "Get back to that door! I'll take care of them," Tessa ordered while the redhead gave a thin smirk
Heedless, Magog roared. And once again, I was thankful for my earplugs.

Running near the wall, Ranma glanced over. For a moment those purple eyes caught mine.

The penny dropped. With the brood spread, Ranma to one flank, and myself on the other. Magog was being drawn into a trap.

The succubae opened fire. Shadows, lightning, grenades, exploding ice, and other attacks opened up. The mercenaries behind them also launched a pair of missiles.

"Pyrofuego!" I cried pushing more will and launching a pillar of flame into Magog's side just above his hip.

A curiously human scream came out as Tessa realized the same thing I had.

Blow after blow hit, and for once the damage actually started to accumulate. Bleeding, the giant bellowed and swelled further in height. A DarkStar bust slammed into the side of Magog's head burning off an ear and tearing up the creature's shaggy scalp.

The Denarian howled; furious eyes focused on the demoness as he turned to the redhead. The wounds from the original grenade strike had healed, and the rest were slowly closing up. The ice had also been fully chewed up and a green miasma floated above the floor like a mist.

The two blue-haired demons shifted to Tessa. The smaller one launched a barrage of exploding ice until Tessa pressed in close only to have her older sister grapple her away.

Synchronized, Ranma and Nariko jumped forward. The redhead with her claws out. Her daughter with her red sword.

Magog's attention was split. One massive paw came down and Nariko parried, catching the claws with her blade. The other tried to take out Ranma; the redhead dodged and flayed Magog's wrist.

That's when Tessa struck. She knocked one sister down, ensnared the other with her flashing green whip, and in that second lined up a clear shot.

Hellfire flashed out in an angry destructive wave.

"Infriga!" I cried. My own lance of Winter power crossing Tessa's hellish power. Ice formed and flash-steamed. A damp sulfurous smell filled the already stinking garage. The hellfire was diminished, but the range was short.

Ranma was struck in the side, her armor boiling off; the demon screamed in pain and anger. I saw a flash of ribs and organs. She began to slump down.

Nariko raced to her mother.

But Magog was faster.

A meaty paw the size of the redhead's torso lunged out and scooped her up.

Laughing, Tessa shot out with Hellfire. Towards me. I got my shield up and hunkered down. The Winter Mantel helped keep me cool but I knew she was holding back. She had enough power to pop my shield, but she seemed content to keep me in place.

Holding the battered demon, Magog raised his right arm and squeezed. From behind my shield, I couldn't hear Ranma's ribs and spine crack but I could see the blood raining down in sheets.

Red eyes flaring, Nariko dodged Magog's other arm and closed in. A crater was blasted on his chest as someone took a shot at him with some sort of heavy gun.

Cutting at his fingers, Ranma's tail thrashed; she had one free hand. Fire washed over his brutish lupine face. Lunging forward, his jaws bit down on her arm.

Obviously, Magog wanted to take his time. He was furious. He wanted to make the redhead hurt, instead of simply crushing her into paste, or biting her head off.

Screaming, Ranma narrowed her eyes and twin beams shot out. He shook her, but until he bit through her arm their faces were transfixed. The purple beams cut into the wolf's golden eyes. They boiled and exploded.

Both screamed, then Ranma detonated a DarkStar Burst. Magog's jaw blew apart and Ranma's arm ripped off.

Tessa screamed and launched a blast of Hellfire.

My stomach turned, but there was something I could do. Nariko's wings flapped as she tried to jump to dogge Magog's grabbing arm. "Forzare!" I cried as my magic blasted the Denarian's limb aside.

At the apex of her leap, Nariko's katana slashed down. There was a bit of resistance as it hit the demonic hide of Magog's wrist. The blade flashed, flesh and bone parted.

Magog's right hand hit the ground with a thud. The Denarian howled in rage. The platinum haired demon rushed in and peeled her mother out of the giant fingers, while Nariko stood guard.

Glaring with hate-filled eyes, Tessa turned and with another blinding burst of Hellfire burned through the door Ranma and I had used to enter the garage.

Well, two can play that game. "Pyrofuego!" I yelled, using a lance of fire to slam her into the concrete wall. The mantis demon then turned and in a hoarse screech cast her own force-spell, knocking me down.

As I fell, I noticed that the green miasma had gotten higher, maybe up to my knees. Well, if I were standing.

Tessa leapt though the hole she had burned in the armored door. I heard an echoing explosion, and the retort of sniper rifles. I recalled the wall panels in the airlock on the other side of that door.

As I pulled myself up, I could see Ukyou dragging Ranma's body off... blood smearing the ground. The tingle on my neck increased as Magog's hateful bellow returned. Though, it was more of an inarticulate scream with his lower jaw turned to pulp.

Her face set tight and eyes narrowed, Nariko shouted orders to her sisters and pointed with her sword. I wasn't sure what she said, but I stood up shakily.

His remaining glowing Fallen's eyes full of madness, Magog made a beeline for Nariko.

Then the other girls struck. I could feel the hate radiating off of them.

Misako intercepted him with a fresh belt of grenades. It was then that I noticed the greenish miasma was thickest around her legs and it actually seemed to be pulsing, even flowing from Magog to her.

I then noticed that the Denarian was still blinded in his lupine eyes, still had a mangled jaw. And that the bleeding hadn't even stopped from his right forearm stump.

The blue haired demons came in a pair.

Misako ceased her grenades as the older one struck. Shadows sprung out from Akane's legs and blew up around Magogs' feet. The younger one came in and launched a burst of ice into the Denarian's thighs. The frozen slivers sliced into the thick hide and exploded, shredding flesh.

Magog bellowed and turned to them instead of Nariko, but in doing so had to widen his stance.

Flicking out a pair of great folding daggers made out of the same material as Nariko's sword, the tiny demon then fell into a slide.

I rushed forward. I knew that move; it was flashy and risky, but if she could pull it off...

Then she shot between Magog's legs and with each arm sliced through the Denarian's hamstrings.

Just as Magog lunged downward, Ukyou opened up with her rifle, the heavy rounds blasting apart the Denarian's remaining meaty paw.

I caught up to the little power-blue haired demon. I looked up. Even mangled and sliced apart the wolf-monster was an imposing mass of muscle. "Forzare!" A blast of force hit the floundering Denarian in the chest.

There was a burbling howl as Magog hit the concrete floor; his legs unable to support his weight. His wounds were healing... but with an agonizing slowness.

"Ahhhh..." I said with realization. The grenades and other opening attacks were a distraction. Misako and Ukyou were laying the real groundwork. While Ukyou's mental whammy ensured Magog was too enraged to think straight, Misako's miasma kept his injuries from healing. Probably by draining him in some way. After that, it was a matter of keeping him off balanced until they could knock him down.

"Nicely done. The bigger they are..." I offered a hand to Nabiki.

"Yeah, yeah," the little demons said as she stood back up.

As Magog tried to pull himself up, Nariko darted in. Dodging a stumpy arm she stabbed forward with her blade spearing a glowing Fallen Angel eye and into the creature's skull. The Denarian was down to one eye left.

"Lightning Devastation," the succubus coldly stated.

Lightning flashed down, frying the glowing eye and boiling brains.

Sniffing the air, almost savoring the scent, Nabiki smiled. "Go on Mr. Wizard, we can finish this up.

"Watch out for the coin," I stated. Ukyou and the others had gotten closer.

"First thing we'll do is find it." The platinum blonde demon promised and pulled a combat knife, not do dissimilar from my K-bar, out of a sheath on her vest.

I turned and saw five demons descend on the Denarian. Each had a blade of some type in their hands. Including a wan, blinking redhead.

Running towards the door Tessa had burned through, I didn't spare much of a look at the butchery behind me.

***************


The burned edges of the steel door were still glowing. Which meant they were still far too hot to touch. I gauged the size of the hole, then glanced down the hallway.

Tessa was a short little monster, but on the upside, Hellfire tended to burn pretty big holes into stuff. The narrow hallway between the two sets of doors was blasted and battered. The panels lining the walls were just... gone. The metal frames they had been set in were twisted wrecks and behind that the concrete was blasted and pockmarked.

Clearly my estimate that there had been dozens of claymore mines hidden in the walls was... optimistic.

"This is a bad idea." I exhaled a bit and pulled my staff in close. "Parkour!" I shouted jumping through the hole. My boots just cleared the bottom of the hole as my knees pulled in.

I then hit the ground running and jumped over some burned wreckage. I could see burnt smears of what might be blood in the middle of the floor. I quickly crossed the hallway and with another cry jumped through the second door Tessa had burned through.

My boots then hit the tile floor and skidded to a halt.

The next room was.... empty. After the devastation of the garage and the airlock the pristine security station was eerie. It looked like the guards had just stepped away from the heavy counter. Only the scent of burnt plastic rising from the room's electronics belied that status.

"They pulled back. That means..." I murmured. There was an explosion down the corridor followed by another insectile screech. "Oh, crap."

Taking my staff, I resumed my run.

"You!" Tessa screamed. She had stopped short at an intersection with a perpendicular corridor. A crystal pendant held in one clawed hand and was being drawn to the left.

"Me," I gave a strained grin and looked past her down the far end of the hallway.

There was a hissing whoosh as another rocket shot towards her.

With contemptuous ease, she flicked her wrist and a shimmering green shield popped into existence and the rocket's payload blasted against it.

"Impudence," the Denarian hissed as she slowly turned.

Glancing at a panel just beyond the intersection, I chuckled. It was the same panel Dirac had fiddled with. "You don't know the half of it. Defendarius!" I cried dodging to the side.

The shield sprang up around me. A chain of little charges detonated at Tessa's feet, blasting clear a circle of tiles which revealed a blackish-red line.

The air hummed as the circle energized. Even from here, I could smell burning ink and blood. For a split second confusion clouded Tessa's face, until her shield began to fritz and flicker.

That's when the heavy machine guns to my left opened up. Rounds started to hit. Chitin armor broke and shattered. Blood spurted as Tessa raised her hand and fed more power into her shield.

I screamed in surprise but held my own shield. Not because I was worried about being hit by them. No... I was worried about the demonic sniper straight down the other corridor.

Which unfortunately, put me downrange of a giant gun longer than its shooter was tall. There was a heavy boom that resonated over the machine guns.

A hole blew though Tessa's chest. Her mandibles scythed and with each arm she fired a beam of hellfire down each of the corridors.

Screeching as her armor reformed, she slammed the floor with a clawed foot, broke through the circle, and darted down the remaining corridor to my left.

Which led to the room where the books were kept.

I started running.

The layout of their ambush, meant the Company knew Tessa was going that way...

Which meant they had another trap planned. And given that Tessa was still holding back her sorcerous power...

I started to run faster. Then I started to wave my hands to the mercenaries.

The two approaching demons stopped just across the intersection. One was tall with bright green hair and eyes and the other was shorter with dark red hair. The green-haired one carried one of those thick boxy rifles that fired the thumb-sized rounds.

Her companion carried a gigantic sniper rifle. Up close, it was no less ridiculous. The barrel still reminded me of a length of drainage pipe. She'd slotted in another hardcover book-sized magazine and maneuvered the lengthy gun.

In the confines of the corridors, it was fairly awkward. But she still managed to turn and face the wall on the right side of the hallway. Holding the gun vertical, she then dropped to one knee

Hells Bells, the thing was only a hair shorter than my staff.

Edging to the corner, my boots crunched on the shattered tile around Dirac's magic circle. Wisps of smoke and sparks still rose up from it.

Meeting my eyes, the green-haired demon pointed with a gloved finger. She then pointed to her sister, then to the sniper rifle, then to me, then made a sweeping motion with her hand over her forehead.

I blinked. Why did they have to do this secret squirrel stuff? Still it was simple enough. She wanted me to protect Little Red while she made the shot.

I then made the thumb and forefinger "Okay" symbol. And, amusingly, Miss Green nodded and squeezed her sister's shoulder.

I had a fraction of a second to be amused at my ability to speak spy-spook.

Then Miss Green fired a bolt of green fire across the intersection.

Suddenly, the machineguns stopped.

The succubus sniper leaned to her right and the giant gun snapped down.

I stepped to the side and lowered my staff crossing it diagonally over that ridiculous barrel.

"Defendarius!" I cried focusing my shield bracelet out via my staff, concentrating to keep a gap around the barrel itself. Down the length of the corridor, Tessa had her own green shield up as she used a narrow, blinding lance of fire like a blowtorch to burn a hole through an armored door.

The lack of overt Hellfire concerned me. Either that trap had taken more out of her and she wasn't able to slag through doors in one go, or she had decided to hold that ability in reserve for the moment.

The auburn haired sniper, apparently, had no such musing. The instant her gun came down she pulled the trigger. In the confined space the detonation was deafening. The first round slammed into Tessa's shield.

Her partner also opened fire. The green energy rippled as each round hit, like a pebble being dropped into a placid lake.

However, the armor piercing grenade reacted more like fast-balling an iron ball into a pond. Instead of ripples the entire surface splashed, undulated, and frothed. Then the grenade exploded.

Tessa set her face and poured in more will. The entire surface frothed. But at the point of impact....

There was a small gap. Screaming in rage, Tessa's form blurred and shot forward.

The sniper-rifle boomed again. And, despite the lithe Denarian's twisting motions as she bounded and dodged, the sniper hit the... exact.... same spot on her shield.

This time the grenade tore through the shield dug into chitin armor and exploded.
Bleeding ichor, Tessa stumbled.

That's when I acted.

"Forzare!" I screamed, pushing more Soulfire into the spell. A shimmering ghostly hand shot out from the end of my staff, caught the squirming Denarian and slammed her into the armored door.

The little sniper fired two more rounds, blasting chiton, flesh, and blood off of Tessa's chest.

I followed with a sweep of my staff. "Infriga!" Needle like icicles froze out of the air and shot towards the mantis-girl in a barrage.

The sniper was raising her rifle when Tessa gave a screech that was somehow even louder than the giant rifle.

That end of the corridor exploded in a blinding flash of sickly green light.

Angry buzzing energy and shards of steel and concrete slammed against my shield. The barrel and muzzle brake that extended beyond my shield were burnt and covered in carbon and scratches.

Feeling the heat pressing against the shield, I gasped and held. And held. Then with one final push I released the spell and nearly stumbled to the floor. Bracing hot air still washed over me, but it was like standing by an oven... instead of a blast furnace.

Her face betraying a bit of shock, the green haired demon glanced at me.

"That's what happens when you corner her!" I shouted, my ears ringing. Once again I thanked my earplugs. Though even with them I'd be lucky to come out of this with just tinnitus. "Forzare!" I repeated, this time without the extra soul juice.

The smoke and debris cleared, revealing an impressively damaged hallway. And that the two inch armored steel blast door was simply... gone.

The green haired demon stepped forward and covered while her sister reloaded the bulky sniper rifle. She then smiled with a flash of teeth and darted down the hallway.

Grumbling, I followed her and her sister.
***************


We passed the room where I had studied the books with the other eggheads. Evidently the case had been moved. Which made sense; why else stick the books in a locked case?

Still, I was pretty sure Tessa knew where the books were. That pendent she was using probably had a piece of the Testament in it. Given we knew the Brotherhood had pages from the book... they could have provided her with some scraps. Or maybe she tore off a corner herself after she bought the book with the wolves.

Either way, with a scrap from the book, she could do a bit of thaumaturgy and generate a link that would draw her inexorably towards the Testament. It was an easy enough spell. Heck, it was the one I used all the time as a Private Investigator to find things.

Which meant...

I upped my pace, using the Winter Mantle and my longer legs to sprint past the two demons. The corridor was ending ahead of us. Fifty feet ahead of me, Tessa reached the door at the end of the hallway. More doors were on opposite wall, including one that was ajar, but the Denarian ignored those and slashed through a plain metal door.

After tearing through multiple reinforced steel blast doors, this one fell easily.

My disquiet grew.

See, these mercenaries were a paranoid bunch. They put in layers of defense and prepared their facility in a way that would make Marcone give a grudging nod of respect.
"Gentleman" Johnny Marcone, was the undisputed leader of the Chicago criminal-underworld, employer of a literal Valkyrie, and a Freeholding Lord under the Unseelie Accords. He also believed in preparation and designed his facilities to take on supernatural and magical enemies. Frankly, I'd be a bit insulted if he didn't. But when the Denarians came after him, they managed to compromise his safe-house and abduct him.

These mercenaries... I wasn't so sure.

As the mantis monster jumped into the bare concrete room, more clicked into place.

They knew Tessa was after the book. Stars and Stones, they heard her demand for it. Which was why they didn't immediately open fire. They wanted to be sure of what she was after.

They tried to stop her in the garage. They failed. But they accomplished two consolation goals. First, they stripped her of support. Instead of having Magog, Mr. Seaweed, and a gaggle of wolfmen rampaging in the facility... it was just her.

Second, they slowed her down. And since they knew exactly where she was going, that bought them time to clear the corridors, put people in place for their ambushes, and...

I looked into the room. It was empty except for some crates, what looked like a pile of conduit tubing, filters and HVAC supplies, and a large, thick fire-safe bolted to the far wall.

The Denarian went straight to the safe. Even Tessa would need to spend some effort to get through that. That is if she didn't want to burn the book to ashes. She held her hands and a narrow, blinding jet of Hellfire began to carefully cut through the thick steel plating.

The mercenaries had planned this. Or I should say, they anticipated this. They figured Tessa would somehow get here, that she'd find her way to the book. I had spent a whole briefing warning them about how dangerous she was. It looks like, for once, someone had listened to me.

It was a novel feeling on my part.

And now they had Tessa, who was alone, who had been injured, who had been harried every step of the way, who was now distracted by finally seeing her prize in front of her.

The ajar door to left of the safe-room silently opened further.

Slipping through, a statuesque figure held a green satchel with one arm. She was tall with her blonde hair tied back in a tight bun. With one smooth motion she yanked a cord with her other hand, paused for an aching moment, and then lobbed the satchel though the doorway into the safe-room.

I was down on the ground a split second before the green-haired demon's hand pushed my shoulder down. So, those two demons had caught up to me. I concentrated; my shield went up enveloping the three of us.

The tall blonde then pulled back and slammed against the wall inside the room she'd come from. The green satchel skidded on the tile floor and bumped against the hooked feet of Tessa's mantis armor.

Hearing the door move, Tessa had already spun and was about to kick the satchel charge. She was too late.

It detonated.

Most of the explosion was caught in the room. But the hallway gave a convenient funnel for a lot of the pressure-wave. I took a moment to realize I was lying with two very... healthy young women. Even if most of their figures were obscured by their armor.

My musing was interrupted when a secondary explosion rocked the hallway. It was a bit larger than the first.

This time I laughed. Of course there was more than one bomb! What had they told me? Two is one, one is none. Heaven forbid, you have only one bomb, what would you do if it was a dud?

I could see thrashing and inhuman screaming from inside the safe-room. Greenish light roiled and flashed from within. Once again Morgan touched my shoulder. She then lifted me up.

As I got back up and raced towards Tessa, I saw the tall blonde dart out of the side room for a second time. This time Eve as accompanied by her third daughter.

The shorter black-haired demon had something with tanks awkwardly slung on her back, interfering with her wings. In her hands was a long metal wand connected to those tanks via a hose. She pulled one trigger and the tip of the wand sparked, she pulled the other trigger and a bright yellow gout of fire shot into the room. She twisted the wand splashing it back and forth.

A second later Eve flexed her hands and a jet of blue flames launched out. The magical napalm hit the mundane stuff and exploded in a blinding corona that left spots on my vision.

"Now that's just not fair," I gasped as the safe-room became a hellish inferno. The back blast from the fire attacks roasted my skin.

The flamethrower guttered out. The black haired demon lifted the back trigger and shrugged the backpack off her shoulders. I guess those things didn't have much capacity. Then again it looked like it was dumping what half a gallon a second? The tanks looked only a few gallons in size each.

The figure within the inferno had stopped screaming. Which would have been a relief if she wasn't standing stock still. A green aura flared around her battered from.

I had seen this magic before. It took a lot of skill and concentration to ward off this much heat and walk in an inferno. But it could be done.

I coughed, smoke was already billowing out of the room and it was getting rather hard to breathe. The Denarian didn't seem to notice. Even the demons at least coughed once or twice as Eve and her green-haired daughter had switched to their rifles and fired into the Denarian.

I could see vast swaths of her insectile armor were simply gone, leaving Tessa's pale human skin visible. However, the figure's eyes, both human and her Fallen burned with hate.

She reached into a section of her exoskeleton and pulled out a black crystal that glinted in the firelight.

"Stop her!" I shouted.

Morgan snapped her sniper-rifle and blew Tessa's arm off at the elbow. Her clawed hand twitched as it and the crystal fell to the floor. I noticed that while Tessa hissed in pain, her eyes were still triumphant.

The crystal hit the burned tile. It shattered. Sparkling black sharks skittered across the floor like a fine powder.

The flames stopped.

I mean they completely stopped. One second there was inferno the next it was a steaming, smoking, burnt beyond recognition room. The air still shimmered with heat.

Oxygen.

The room had lost its oxygen. Without that fire couldn't burn. And without it... That meant....

My head pounded and dizziness grew as I started to twitch. My lungs burned. The Winter Mantle raged at this, but I knew that was a sucker's bet. The Mantle didn't give me any extra power, it just let me ignore my body's limitations. Granted without those limitations, I could train like nothing else.

Except oxygen deprivation wasn't something you could just ignore. It wasn't something you could train against. If I let the mantle run wild I could fight... but then I'd just get hypoxia all the faster.

The four succubae attacked, I could tell their moves were more sluggish and uncoordinated.

Tessa laughed as she strode forward. "I know about of your little affinity for fire. So, I came prepared," she said, her voice echoing oddly. Provably a side effect of her spell.

My vision dimmed, but I could make out a green shimmer around her mandibles. Of course she brought her own air supply. How else would she have kept her lungs from boiling in the inferno?

"Enough carbon dioxide to tamp out any fires. And enough carbon monoxide to knock out any meddlers," Tessa gloated.

Then a pair of ice-blue beams shot out of Eve's eyes and knocked the battered one-armed Denarian onto the floor in front of the safe.

Despite myself I snickered, of course the massive safe had survived. As I wondered if Tessa had cut enough to ruin its fire rating, I slumped forward and the green-haired demon caught me as she dragged me back while the others fired on Tessa.

My vision started to grey out, bluffing at the edges. I tried to dig my heels as I was being pulled away. My head swam, and everything went dark.

***************


Light blared into my eyes as something pressed against my face and a cool blast gushed into my lungs.

Someone batted my side. "Wake up Mr. Wizard," a familiar voice purred in a somewhat muffled voice.

"Graa," I muttered behind the oxygen mask. In front of me glowing purple eyes came into focus. My vision was still blurry but something seemed off about her face.

"Looks like I missed some fun," Ranma said pulling me up. We were in a side room down the hall from the safe-room. Eve and her daughters were there. They had already removed their oxygen masks. And were slipping on goggles and gas masks. Lousy demons and their supernatural recovery. Outside I could hear more gunfire. Including Misako's crazy machine grenade gun.

"You're a lucky man, acute carbon monoxide poisoning isn't something a human can just take a hit of oxygen and walk away from," Ranma said.

I coughed. "I told you she'd react badly to being cornered," I said. Or I tried to. The mask may have garbled it.

"Correct, Mr. Dresden." Eve stated, her voice raspy and hoarse. "The target is contained for the moment. And is focused on breaching the safe. A fortunate side effect to her countermeasures is that even her fire magic is far less effective at cutting through the armor."

I could see the green-haired demon watching the safe-room via some type of compact periscope. She periodically stated which part of the safe Tessa was cutting through.

"Well, isn't our glass half full of napalm," I groaned and pulled at the mask. I turned to Ranma and blinked. Then blinked again.

She had both her arms. That wasn't surprising. And she had a... contented well-fed aura about her. That wasn't surprising either. Not that I wanted to contemplate on exactly how she had gotten well-fed.

What did surprise me...

After a few more breaths my vision cleared up.

For starters her face was definitely... different. Her features were sharper with a little upturned nose and sharp cheekbones. But unlike in the break room yesterday her cheeks weren't hollow nor was her chin-line sharp.

No, she definitely looked well-fed. Also her face was a glossy and smoothly feminine mask with inlaid makeup and gold tracery. Porcelain white, her features had solid purple eyes, ruby eyebrows, and full plump purple lips.

"Mr. Wizard?" The redhead asked. The lips on the mask stayed sealed.

"Uh... new mask?"

The demon chuckled. The effect eerie given her unmoving features. "Protection," she simply said.

I blinked and looked at the glossy red updo her hair had been sculpted into. Behind the larger pair of spiraling black horns was a massive layered bun. I suppose it could be armor.... or armor like. At least there were no loose strands to grab or catch fire.

Lower was a set of contoured pale lavender chest armor. It reminded me of the bodice Ranma wore when she sat in my lap. Except instead of showing generous cleavage, this one went to her shoulders and clasped around her neck. Also this garment was thicker around her torso. Disquietingly the metallic armor had ice-blue inlaid trim.

A set of gleaming leather harnesses and pouches was strapped over the chest armor. A familiar heavy knife slung from one sheath and a large pistol was holstered on an opposing chest rig. The holster was made of strange leather, perhaps some kind of sharkskin or manta ray.

Her forearms had bracers made out of the same lavender material. Under the bracers and running up her arms was some sort of textured silver bodysuit. If I didn't know better I'd say it was her own skin.

I definitely avoided looking too closely at her silvery hands. Other than to notice that her talons had returned. But unlike the flashy long ones she had in the break room, these were thicker and more business-like, more stabbing and piercing than slashing.

Her skirt was something else. Curved spade-shaped dark purple plates the size of postcards overlaid each other like scale armor to fall over her legs down to just above the armored greaves over her hooves. They were anchored up top by gleaming silver armor with blue tracery that went around her waist and linked to the bottom of her bodice.

Each segment fronted matte material that seemed to drink in the light, but if I had my guess it had a ceramic plate backing, to give some extra ballistic protection.

The spades overlaid more flexible and smaller inner plates forming a fluted pleated structure that could bend and twist. Which I had plenty of opportunity to observe as she checked me over and fitted me with my own set of goggles. In addition to extending the strap she also disabled some sort of computer display and pulled the batteries. She then bent down and took out a gasmask to clip under the goggles.

So, I had ample chances to watch how both the bodice and skirt moved. Honestly, I was making sure her armor was fitted probably. Honest.

Below the hem of the skirt peeked a pair of lavender greaves that locked over grand hooves with white edges that gleamed with wicked sharpness.

Gazing down allowed me to determine that additional armor flexibility was given by slits on the left and right hip of the skirt. Behind the slits, similar material covering her hips was visible, flaring them out, including solid plates on the sides of her hips giving extra armor over shapely legs thick with muscle. The additional width caused the skirt plates to be pushed out at the top of her hips around her backside.

Because of this, the silver armor that the skirt segments hung from arched further out in her back and actually curved down arcing over the tops of her thighs. With her thick, two yard long tail emerging from the back, the whole thing resembled a molded armored bustle. Worse, I noticed that the ice-blue tracery formed a single snowflake over each cheek.

My face flushed.

Ranma looked over her shoulder and somehow her mask winked. She then slipped a taloned hand into my coat and secured an oxygen bottle that ran to my mask.

"If we've made sure we're properly attired," Eve stated.

"One last thing," Ranma said in her muffled voice. Nimble talons opened a pouch and a grey plastic cube dropped into my hand with a metallic rattle. I almost dropped it.

"Don't worry, Nariko made sure no one touched it when Magog's body shrank down into a human and we found the collar around his neck."

"Uh... great..." I said slipping it into an inner pocket in my coat. A deep one.

"Pattern Silvers have arrived at the ready point," the black haired daughter of Eve said, holding blocky telephone. It looked like something a lineman or a phone technician would use. Braided cables ran from the phone to a plug in a far wall.

"Good, keep them there as reserve. I want them mobile in case we need to contain a breakout."

One of Eve's daughters spoke into the phone, she looked back up. "I've now got HVAC control on the line.

Eve nodded. "Good, can they do the flood?"

The daughter frowned. "They have the O2 reserves but..."

"Yes, fire suppression systems have been compromised. We'll burn that bridge when we get to it," Eve snapped.

"Wait..." I blinked. "Do you have sprinklers?"

"We have several types of foam and gas systems," Eve said a tad irritably. "We had to remotely turn them off in that room of course."

"No. Do you have water? Plain water."

Eve's eyebrow went up. She then gave a thin smile.

"If you can pour water into that room...."

The blonde nodded. "Sophie, see to it that when Mr. Dresden arrives he'll have plenty of... working material."

"Yes, Ma'am," the daughter said before ordering into her phone.

"Target is on the last two bolts, less than thirty before the safe is open," the green haired demoness said.

Ranma turned to Eve and the two sisters exchanged a look.

Eve cleared her throat. "Mr. Dresden. Do you have any electricity based spells? Like say an electric discharge sufficient to vaporize an electric wire?"

Next to her the armored redhead's lips somehow shifted into a grin.

"Uh... yeah I can do something."

Handing me my staff, Ranma slapped my back and grabbed the door back into the corridor. The pounding grenade and rifle fire stopped.

The armored demon pounced across the threshold, and I followed.

***************


My neck tingled. Maybe from the demonic emotional mind magic. Maybe because I had some amount of carbon monoxide poisoning and really shouldn't be fighting. Maybe because I was running towards a pissed-off, cornered, Fallen Angel. Maybe because said Fallen had been pummeled by machine guns, grenades, and grenade machine guns, all of which were now pointed at my back.

Or maybe, it was because the last time I fought Tessa it was also in an underground vault room. And that time she had covered me in creepy bugs that crawled all over me, in me, and whispered me maddening secrets.

It took the intervention of a Knight of the Cross to drive her off. And while the Knights were known to show up just in the nick of time... I was pretty sure I was a bit out of their jurisdiction now. Still, I would have loved to have a Knight show up and help me.

So yeah, there were plenty of reasons why I wasn't feeling too great about this. Let's not neglect that I was wearing a hot gasmask because Tessa, of all people, was the one to finally figure out how to defeat my preference for fire attacks.

Still, the caveman part of me, well I preferred to call it my chivalrous part, didn't want to have a woman take the brunt of the damage in my place. Even if said woman was a succubus who had already been wounded far, far worse than I had been today.

On the other hand, watching the redhead run did reveal something. With each powerful lunching step her tail grew longer and thicker. Almost four inches at the base the dark purple tail started to push more vertical as her torso leaned forward a bit, her legs and hooves also adjusting to the slight change in stance.

Three yards long, the massive tail curled up. And actually rose up past one of her folded wings, the end lifting to nearly shoulder height. I watched her hips grow out, the flare increasing to support all that tail-weight. The silver armor in back also widened and lowered further down in a sculpted sweep. The snowflake adornments seemed even larger and twinkled with an icy rime.

All of which I noticed because I was concerned about her structural support. Actually, what did concern me were the half-dozen icy blue iridescent ribbons that trailed off the fins of her tail. Twinkling with an uncomfortably fae-like script the translucent streamers writhed behind her lofted tail.

Her hands went up and a pair of DarkStar Bursts were shot off. The dark orbs exploding against Tessa's green shield. Hissing, the Denarian turned. One of her arms looked withered and misshapen. As if her armored exoskeleton was simply wrapped over her human skeleton.

Black wisps of fog still clung to the floor. So, she still had her anti-oxygen spell up. Her other hand wielded a narrow, cutting torch-like, beam of Hellfire. Her eyes widened at me, then blinked at the armored succubus.

"Forzare!" I cried using her distraction. My voice was all muffled, but it's not like that was important. Invisible force lanced out, slamming Tessa into the burned safe.

Still rushing, Ranma's tail shot out, as she crossed the threshold. The heavy appendage slammed into Tessa's shield. Ribbons of ice twisted and cut. The shield flashed, two of the ribbons melted. The shield parted. And the rest plunged through. Strips of razor sharp ice slashing into the Denarian's armor, prying under chitin plates. Tessa went down in a greenish smear of ichor.

Then the sprinklers hit. Well, the actual sprinkler heads had already been melted, bent, or outright destroyed. But since the water supply had been cut off to the room ahead of time, the room had stayed dry. However the pipes were still there, and once the flow was turned back on...

Water sprayed down from the blasted ceiling in uneven spurts and fits. Some sections were blocked entirely and no water fell, and in the far right corner a pipe had busted and water simply poured out.

Which suited me just fine.

"Infriga!" I cried as my goggles threatened to fog. I pointed my staff to the sluicing downpour and swung it towards Tessa. The wave of freezing water followed and spattered against her form.

The ribbons on Ranma's tail continued to slash through the armor and tear at the diminutive body beneath. Then the Denarian screamed. The sound cut into my skull. If I hadn't been wearing the ear plugs I probably would have gone deaf. However the likelihood of prolonged tinnitus had increased.

As it was, I barely had time to duck when the block of ice exploded behind a wall of force. Chunks splattered against me. Then, with another ear-rending screech, Tessa held out her withered arm.

I flew back and slammed into the concrete wall a few feet to the right of the door. Eyes burning, Tessa flicked her other hand and Ranma went flying. As the demoness pulled herself back up, the Denarian grabbed the steel door to the safe and pulled.

Metal groaned and creaked, then the last bolts gave way and the door tore free. She heaved the thick steel door into the air, and then, with an evil grin she hit it with a blast of magical force and the thee foot by six foot three inch slab of steel rocketed towards me.

I rolled to the side just as the safe door smashed against the floor with a crunch of breaking concrete and a cloud of fine dust. The hellfire blowtorched edge was less than an inch from my right leg.

My relief was short lived as right on the heels of the safe door was Tessa's pouncing form. "Why must you interfere!" she raged as her claws raked down.

The Winter Mantle surged as ice formed around my fingers. My arms shot up, long ice talons blocking Tessa's mantis claws. I then kicked out. Say what you will about super demonic strength. I had more leverage, and I was already on the ground.

Tessa howled as my boot slammed into her ankle. I then tried to sink my claws into her shoulders as she slashed at me. Then Ranma lunged at her from the side and knocked her all the way to the ground, tail stabbing and claws piercing.

The Denarian hit the redhead with another force blast. The succubus crashed into me, the writhing ribbons of her tail falling just to the side of my left hand. There were still hunks of exoskeleton and flesh hooked onto Ranma's claws.

Tessa looked down at where her armor and parts of her shoulder and chest had just been ripped off. Blood and ichor poured freely.

"You dangerous, mute lunatic!" she hissed at the demon raising a hand.

Then the sniper rifle boomed.

The side of her torso blowing apart, Tessa spun and summoned a shield that flared up in the doorframe. Further hits blasted against the shield. I frowned; she was pumping a lot of power to keep that up.

Then again... this was probably what she was holding back for. Giving a frustrated screech, Tessa darted to the safe and pulled out the metal case.

"You know, I'm gonna have to see your library card before you can take those out," I wheezed as Ranma flopped off me and slumped onto the floor. Her hooves shifted and fell against the wall.

I looked up and saw Tessa's mandibles spread, revealing all too human looking lips.

"There's got to be an easier way to take out old Nick," I said.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the redhead's tail swish, and her legs tense.

Tessa smiled. "I'll tell Nicodemus that you gave every effort trying to save him."

Kicking off the wall, Ranma slid across the wrecked floor. Her right arm shot out and hooked Tessa's leg.

I then leveled my staff. "Forzare!" My blast of force hit her in the chest.

Tessa knocked to the floor. She held onto the case with a death-grip. Ranma ignored that and with her left hand grabbed one of Tessa's mandibles and wrenched it off.

This time the Denarian didn't scream. Blood poured down her face.

Ranma rose, her armor stained and dusty. Her mask seemed almost amused. She let the mandible fall to the ground.

I watched as it started to smolder with green fire.

Then I saw that the hate, the fury in Tessa's eyes had gone cold.

"Oh, crap," I muttered and then looking back to the mandible shot out a burst of Winter power and froze it in a block of ice.

Then Tessa slammed the briefcase onto Ranma's head. The Denarian hit the redhead with a surge of speed. Hellfire shot out, and I ducked to the left as a blast nearly took the side of my face. The attack had also blown past the redhead's skirting.

Spade-shaped plates hissed and cracked as the entire left side of the succubus's skirting slumped to one side. There was even a smoking furrow cut into the side of her hip.

I pulled myself up. "Forzare!" I said, this time my blast only pushed Tessa back a couple of feet. Still it separated the two.

Ranma used the opportunity to pull something out of a vest pocket. I recognized the long device Eve had handed her when we left for lunch.

A detonator. Lovely, of course they had another bomb. A clawed finger flicked the rocker cover and pressed the button up top.

Nothing.

There was a bare moment of silence. Tessa's head tilted.

"Mr. Wizard, shock the case!" Ranma ordered. Despite the mask, her voice was clear, demanding.

I dug deep. Normally, I had to have a channel, or at least a conductive path to do this. But electricity can arc through air. Just look at lightning strikes. "Ventas Fulmino!" I screamed pouring Soulfire into the spell. The magical matrix added strength, but more importantly, it added structure.

A silver bolt shot out from my staff and hit the metal case.

Which promptly detonated in a blinding flash and a metallic crump. Despite the gasmask I wore, the scent of burning paper still hit my nostrils.

Tessa still held the case. But it was a burnt husk. The sides had blown out, the bottom had fallen to the ground and fine slivers of ash sifted out.

A deep chuckle came from the redhead as she stalked towards the Denarian.

Tessa's eyes went down to follow the twirling ashes. Her hand opened; the shredded case hit the ground with a thud.

"I told you, you had to show your library card. These people take book theft very seriously," I snarked. Well, I thought it came off well, Tessa seemed more confused. Maybe my gas mask muffled it.

Glancing to my left, I activated my shield.

"You petty annoyances." Without one of her mandibles, Tessa's face looked even more wrong and lopsided. "If you think this-"

And that's when the redhead pounced, her talons hooked into Tessa's cheek and she launched a DarkStar Burst. The obsidian sphere must not have been entirely fire based. Or maybe it had its own oxygen.

Either way it exploded, snapping the Denarian's head back. Tessa's shield went down and I swung my staff at one of her knees. It hit, and the six foot length of oak reverberated against the armored limb. Still there was only so much armor you could add if you wanted a joint to still bend.

Another a dome of force pulsed out knocking Ranma and myself back.

That's when the machine guns opened up from the hallway. Heavy rounds peppering and beginning to piece Tessa's armor. Her body bled and ichor fell. A look of supreme frustration crossed her face. Then with one arm she pointed to the ceiling and with the other she pointed to the floor.

The swirling black fog at our feet fell to the ground in piles of dull black crystals. That meant that oxygen could come back into the room.

"Hellfire!" I screamed as the angry vivid red lance shot out of her upraised hand.

The ceiling breached and a tunnel started to burn through. I pulled Ranma to my side and held my shield as molten and flaming debris began to fall.

Smoke filled the room, and for once I appreciated the stupid mask tied to my face. Shouting and gunfire also increased.

Then the gunfire and shouting dissipated. After a minute or so the smoke did too. I blinked my eyes blearily. Despite my judgment I pulled off my goggles and rubbed them. That also pulled my mask off. Acrid air burned my throat a bit.

There was a tugging on my arm. I looked down and saw talons gingerly holding my arm as I was dragged out of the safe room by the redhead.

We were met by Eve's grim face in the hallway. Sophie was at her side still talking on the combat phone.

Ranma's mask had retreated, exposing her face. "Come on, we've got to get topside and-"

Eve shook her head.

"The Silvers and two teams intercepted her."

I noticed a bit of worry flicker across the redhead's face. "And?"

"They blew her up." Sophie said cradling her phone. "Then a swarm of insects flew off. Miss Hino and Miss Kino tagged a mess of 'em but..."

"Give me that," Ranma ordered holding out a hand.

Sophie complied.

"Uh, that's actually something Tessa can do."

"Yes, you said she could split up into 'lots of nasty little bugs', " Eve said shooting Ranma a look.

The redhead glared back but continued with whoever was on the other end. "What do you mean the bugs you got are still burning? Even the ones Mina took out?" the redhead growled. "Forget that. What happened?"

I shuffled out of the room. The green-haired demon took my arm and helped me lean against the wall. I slumped back a bit. A canteen was pressed into my hand. As I sipped, she held my cheeks and inspected me before patting down my arms, legs, and torso. Her hands even went high up the inseam of my pants and around the back of my thighs.

"What?" I asked as the business-like inspection continued.

"Injury check. When the adrenalin is up people often miss that they've been wounded," the demon said as she checked my neck. "I once got my side slashed up and hardly noticed it."

"Oh..." I sipped some water. Ranma had mentioned something similar after the fight in the park.

"Nothing's broken or squirting," she patted me on the back. "Still, the doc should look you over...." her expression clouded. "Well, once things calm down."

I nodded. I was a pretty low priority. Hells Bells, by my standards of injury, I'd gotten out of this pretty lucky. I took another sip and leaned back, sliding a bit further down the wall.

Despite that, the demon's expression brightened. "Thanks for the help," she patted me on the shoulder. At least that was at an easier height for her to reach now.

"Okay..."

"Why don't we take five?" she said leaning against the wall next to me. "We'll let the brass square things away for a bit?"

I nodded. That sounded like a wonderful idea.

"So, how did you get to be a wizard cop?" the green-haired demon asked.

***************


I chatted with the green-haired succubus for a few minutes and learned a bit about her. She was named Morrison. She and Morgan were Eve's eldest daughters. They were the inaugural members of the D Program. And Morrison's human family still didn't know she was a succubus.

Well, they didn't even know that Morrison was some sort of secret agent mercenary. But reading between the lines, it sounded like they had some idea. Apparently the Morrison's family, her human family, had a history of joining the Marines, and the perky green haired demoness was a bit of a black sheep for not. I didn't know how the USMC and the Company interacted in this world. Stars and Stones I hardly knew how the Marines operated in my world.

For my part, I gave a brief overview of the Wardens. Starting with how I got conscripted to fight a gaggle of necromancers that I just happened to stumble onto. And how I managed to resurrect a T-rex to ride into battle to stop their summoning ritual.

Always lead with a dinosaur story. It'll impress even the most jaded of trigger-puller slash spell-slinger operator types. Then I told a bit about the war against the Red Court Vampires. I left out how the war ended, and some of the nastier stuff, like what I did to the ghoul that had ambushed the Warden training camp where I was an instructor.

Morrison seemed to know I was holding back, but she didn't say anything about it.

Still, the small talk helped. Especially with the parade of agents and technicians running down the corridor. I could imagine there was even more activity out in the garage. And on the levels above us that Tessa had burned through.

But the alarms had silenced and there wasn't any gunfire or magical explosions or deadly gas attacks. So, that was nice.

With a groan, I got up from leaning against the wall and made my way back to the safe room at the end of the corridor

The room had been swept up a bit. Though I could see a team of eggheads looking up at the hole Tessa had burned through the ceiling. It looked like it had gone several stories up. Spotlights had also been pulled into the room. Sometime during the fight, the room's lights had given the ghost. Probably after the flamethrowers.

I say looked like, because there was already a steel plate bolted into place a couple levels up. It looked like they were doing all sorts of structural engineering tests. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole room would have to be abandoned. Or would need additional bracing, or new concrete, or something. The walls were certainly damaged enough, being shredded by massive swipes from the redhead's tail.

All I knew was that the mercenaries in hardhats and clipboards didn't chase me out. Though they did tell me to watch out for any loose cables. While they assured me there should be no live cables in the room, the damage was pretty extensive.

I just nodded and knelt down over the bit of Tessa's mandible. The area around it had been cleared, but the actual block of ice containing the thing had been left alone.

Eyeing the ever so slowly smoldering bit of Denarian flesh, I took a piece of chalk out of my pocket. Well no, first what I did was confirm that I still had the two locked cases containing Magog and Mr. Seaweed's coins.

And then I rattled the cases to confirm the coins were still there. I'd had my pocket picked by Denarians before. I wanted to make sure Tessa didn't repeat Thorned Namshiel's trick. He could be real nasty with those glowing filaments of his.

But after that, I took out some chalk, knelt down, and drew a circle around the little block of ice and started working my magic.

Then after a few more minutes, I slumped my shoulders and groaned. I looked over my shoulder to see some new visitors.

Unsurprisingly, Ranma was at the head of the little procession. She had returned to her Kevlar vest and skirt getup. Which was reassuring. I suppose the whole mask, battle gown, war-tail, and hooves look had some advantages. But it was... well it was a bit much. Say what you will about her normal battle-rattle, but at least it wasn't gaudy.

The idea of magical adaptive armor was neat enough though, especially in close quarters, facing a lack of oxygen and Hellfire. Thus I took her downgrading to a more "conventional" armor was a sign that she didn't expect stuff to explode.

Behind her was the regal form of Serenity. Her silver hair was still in a tight braided bun. She also wore the same dark blue almost Edwardian military jacket. But this time her long skirt had silvery armored segments that were reminiscent of the "armored battle-gown skirting" Ranma had, but somehow sleeker and more elegant looking.

She also carried a long wooden staff that looked something like a full-length flintlock stock. But instead of a gun barrel there was a black crystal shaft that ran the length of the staff. A smaller scepter tipped with a sharp-pronged golden crescent moon was socketed to the front, bayonet style.

I allowed a brief moment to imagine Serenity jabbing that thing into Tessa's form before frying her with whatever magical powers a Moon Queen could tap into.

Following her was a girl with dark green hair, dusky skin, and those spooky red eyes. She wore obsidian chest and skirt armor that was similar to the segmented skirting the brood wore. She also had bows and other bits of frippery on her uniform.

However my attention was on the ornate grey rod she carried. The garnet orb toping it drew the eye.

Serenity looked to Ranma, who gave a nod.

The tall silver haired woman stepped to me and bowed. "Warden Dresden, you have my apologies."

As a full member of the White Council of Wizards with power to represent and sign under the UnSeelie Accords, regional commander in the Wardens, and mortal champion of the Winter Court of the Faerie, you would expect me to be trained in the basics of supernatural diplomacy.

Instead, I looked up from my crouched position and sputtered. I offered a hand, still stained with blood and chalk dust and quickly pulled it back to wipe against a pant-leg that was stained with all kinds of gore and grime.

Smooth.

Ranma laughed.

"Uh, what'd I do wrong?" I shook my head. "I mean, what'd you do?"

The queen looked confused. "I let the monster escape."

I snorted. "Lady, look around." I waved at the burnt-out room. "We all hit her. None of us could stop her. Way I see it, at least you spooked her enough to do her thousands of bugs vanishing trick."

"Yes... unpleasant that." A strangely youthful look of revulsion crossed the queen's face. "But in that case. You and Ranma got her to flee in the first place."

"Eh, Red's the one that dished it all out. I just zapped the case." I turned to the demon. "Which was apparently full of explosives."

"Incendiaries." Ranma corrected.

"Were you not going to tell me it was rigged to blow?"

The demon tilted her head.

"That's just her way." Serenity forced a smile, and patted me on the arm. "However, Ranma, if your family wants to take a rest, my girls are still fresh. We can take guard."

Slipping closer to the queen, Ranma nodded. "Thanks."

Distracted by the way the two were eyeing each other, I didn't notice the green haired girl appear next to me.

"That's a part of the.... Denarian you called it?" Lady Pluto asked, looking at the frozen mandible.

"Yup."

"It hasn't burnt up like the bugs Jupiter and Mars caught."

"Failsafe," I said. "See any bit of yourself you leave behind, blood, hair, teeth, or creepy demonic mandible, still has a connection to the rest of you. That means another magic user can use it to track you, or worse."

"Ah. Law of Contagion?" Pluto asked.

"That's the one," I nodded.

She then inspected the symbols I had drawn around the chalk circle. "So, this Polonius Lartessa ensures any bits of her that get broken off burn up before they can be exploited. However, you managed to freeze a chunk, retarding the self-destruct."

"And it's still not good enough," I growled.

Lady Pluto raised an eyebrow.

"This is basic thaumaturgy. I've got a bit of her, I should be able to at least get an idea of her direction. Or at least a connection."

Lady Pluto quietly waited.

"And this is the type of thaumaturgy I'm really good at. Stars and Stones, I used to make most of my money finding lost things."

"Thus, she's shielded or..." Pluto inspected the mandible. "Or she's no longer in her mantis form."

I groaned and rubbed my forehead. I then swore.

Ignoring the profanity, and my embarrassed reaction, the girl smiled. "Well now, you just need to wait for her to go into battle, and you can connect this bit of exoskeleton to the rest of her."

If only it were that simple. Frustration bubbled within me. "Couple of problems with that."

"Yes?"

"Well, even under Winter ice, it's still burning. But even if it wasn't, this thing's ectoplasm. Come the next sunrise, it's going to turn to goo."

"Ah," Lady Pluto tapped her fingers against her staff. She looked pensive.

"Secondly, when Tessa summons her armor, it'll have new mandibles. So, the connection won't be that great. I'll really have to push it to get anything."

Pluto leaned in.

I looked down to keep my eyes from meeting hers. Opening my Wizard's Sight around her was bad enough.

The girl smiled. "I can't help you about the second part, but for the first... I'll break the rules for you. Just a little bit."

"Huh?"

She reached out and lowered the staff until the garnet orb was just over the block of ice. Her lips moved. Listening as hard as I could I could barely hear the words "Time Stop".

The garnet rod flickered and an iridescent sheen covered the block of ice. "There." Pluto stood up. She met my gaze. For a moment, I once more felt like a bacteria under a microscope. "Oh and if you're not satisfied, perhaps we can make... alternate arrangements."

"Ahh?" I blinked, my eyes darting down.

"Also. I'd be careful to not directly touch the ice. Living organics will not react well."

"Uh.... thanks?"

Deep red eyes flickered with mirth. "Happy hunting, Mister Dresden," she said, spotting the silver-haired woman talking to the redheaded succubus. Lady Pluto's eyes hardened for an instant before she turned on a heel and left the room to rejoin her queen.

My stomach clenched. On the face of it, that was a nice gesture. However, mucking about with time was a pretty serious bit of magic. At least it wasn't an outright violation of the Sixth Law of Magic. Freezing something in time might be frowned upon, but I couldn't see how this would cause the same type of temporal paradox that time travel or messages from the future would.

I took a moment to study the block of ice. The smoldering green flames had frozen. Maybe it would last past sunrise. In the abstract, it was a neat bit of magic. But I knew that there had to be a cost somewhere. I wasn't very knowledgeable on chrono-magic, see the Sixth Law, but I knew a small bit. And one simply didn't stop time for something, even something small, and not have repercussions.

Then again, Lady Pluto was something else. The images of her burned into my memory with my Sight were evidence of that. I had a feeling that I was being played. I frowned looking at the mandible.

No, it was more that Lady Pluto had her own schemes and I was merely ancillary. I sighed. I had more than enough "Court Intrigue" on my plate.

Suddenly, Ranma crouched down next to me. The redhead eyed the block of ice and sniffed the air. A thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Puu must like you," she noted, dropping a metal case between us.

"She stingy with her magic?"

Ranma nodded.

I sighed again. It figured that mysterious magical gatekeepers would take an interest in me. I looked at the case; it was about the size of a thick bible. "Got a bomb in that one too?"

The redhead gave me "the look" and opened the case. "It's a piece of something that tore through this base. What do you think?"

"Uh, right. I wouldn't touch..."

The redhead nodded and took out a set of tongs that had been slotted in the case. She glanced over at me. "Oh, are you done with this?"

"Yeah, I did my thaumaturgy. I'll want to check it out before sunrise. Make sure it doesn't melt. Maybe see if I can establish a link."

She nodded and lifted the ice block out of the circle and slipped it into the case. It closed with a click and she did the latches.

We stood up and I frowned at the case. This mess had started because of something they tried to secure in a locked case.

I followed her out of the room and watched as she handed the case to a group of mercenaries who carried it off... somewhere. Doubtless, where they stored things like the notes and photos they'd taken from the books.

We walked down a corridor, made a turn, went through a blast door and entered a new hallway. This one was spotless and had unmarred concrete and busy mercenaries. I noticed a higher fraction of them had body armor and rifles than before.

"How bad was it?" I asked as she led me to a break room.

The little bit of office banality caused me to smile at the incongruity. I covered it up by making a beeline to the coffee machine.

She slumped into a chair. "It could have been worse," she admitted after I passed her a cup.

I nodded. I saw a few bodies in the garage. In the corridor it looked like everyone had cleared out in time to prepare the ambush. Still, Tessa got some shots off, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were more casualties. Hells Bells, I wouldn't be surprised if that shaft she burned through the ceiling didn't hit someone.

"There's sandwiches in the fridge." She laughed. "We never did get to have our lunch."

I gave a wry smile and fixed us a meal. I guess she was still hungry.

"Oh, I thought you had some lunch?" I asked putting a plate in front of her.

"Doesn't count," she said, ripping into the ham.

I took a few bites. My curiosity grew. "What about the D Program?"

The redhead put down her sandwich. She shook her head.

"Huh."

"Langdon and Carroll were in the program but they were already KIA and none of the mortally wounded..." She gave a little shrug and looked down.

"Not that many people sign up?" I asked after a few moments of awkward silence.

"If you were given the choice, which way would you go?"

I picked at my meal. Then added some more mustard. "What about those who weren't mortally wounded?"

"The docs are taking care of them. Nariko and Cecilia are up there in case surgery goes wrong but..." She polished off the sandwich. "Most of the casualties will have time to make a decision as they recover. Well really, it'd be those that can't recover.... and want to get back into the game."

I thought it over. "I did something similar," I admitted.

"Taking Mab's job offer?" the demon ventured.

"Yeah, the Reds, the vampires, had my daughter. I broke my spine; my legs didn't work. But being the Winter Knight..."

Ranma reached out and patted my hand. "You did what you had to do."

I shook my head. I got up and made another set of sandwiches.

"I know why you had me do it, but it's a shame we lost those books," I shook my head and resumed eating.

Chuckling, Ranma stretched up, leaned across the table, and whispered into my ear. "Two is one, one is none."

"Oh." Realization dawned. The safe only had the one case. But the eggheads had filled two cases. One with books, another with the notes, photos, and cameras. If they had taken pictures of every page...

Then they'd have a backup copy of those books. Backups that Tessa's thaumaturgy wouldn't find. Because Tessa's spell worked off of making a magical link between the literal pages.

In computer terms, something I only have indirect experience with, Tessa was tracking the hardware: the material the words were written on. And the Company had made a copy of the software: the words themselves.

I whistled. Hells Bells, I wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't already printed out fresh hardcopies of those books. Printed on plain copy paper that Tessa couldn't track.

I resumed eating. And that was only a first step. They could have sent our couriers with little computer drives. Sent copies to various bases, or stuck in anonymous bank vaults, or law offices. That's what made books so hard to stamp out. All someone needed was one copy, a bit of time, and there'd be dozens more to deal with.

"Once things get settled a bit, and the medics get enough of a breather to check you out, maybe after a bit of a rest..." Ranma smiled. "Then you can get back with the other eggheads and resume your research."

I groaned.


***************


My vision returned. And I immediately knew it was a dream. Sure the featureless, giant darkened room was a big tip-off.

But a bigger clue was the old VW bug sitting under a spotlight in the center of the room. It was battered, worn, the windshield was cracked, and only one of its fenders was still blue, but it was still my car.

Of course, the Blue Beetle got smashed into a cube three years ago by a vampiric monster. Hence: dream.

I took a moment to give the Blue Beetle a wistful look. It had been a crummy car, but it was my crummy car. And it had worked. Mostly.

Then I focused on the person sitting on the hood.

He was another clue that this was a dream.

He was a tall man with severe features, dark hair, and dark eyes. Scars crossed his face. It was a face I was very familiar with.

Less familiar were his clothes.

He was wearing combat boots, coyote brown cargo pants, and an armored vest under a tactical rig besotted with a Liefeldian amount of pouches. In what straddled the line between prudent and melodramatic fear of vampires and the like, the vest had a high, armored, collar. Inscribed on the front was a grey pentacle.

A revolver was in some type of black plastic composite holster strapped to his thigh. The black lever gun held in his hands had enough plastic gewgaws, scopes, lasers, grips, and slings bolted onto it to fill the ad pages in an issue of Soldier of Fortune.

Worse, he was wearing a boonie hat with the side brim curled up, and his goatee had been grown out into a puffy beard that played up the whole "operator mercenary look." Though, the topper was the pair of black shoulder patches with silver snowflakes.

I sighed at my unconscious self. The whole thing caused my hackles to rise. Not only was the getup ridiculous but it was also... familiar.

"And the tactical dressup is?" I asked, starting to circle around my car.

Turning to keep me in view he smiled. "Well, you seem to dig this kind of stuff. And it's not like I was gonna appear wearing a bodice and hooves."

I snorted. My unconscious self... well he's me. Maybe a bit darker, maybe more open with my instincts and urges. He likes to claim he's my intuition. And yes, I realize that talking to myself might be a worrying sign.

Still, I had a vague feeling of deja vu. I hoped it was merely because I'd been around mercenaries. I really hoped it wasn't my Foresight. See, as they get older, us wizards start to get a bit prescient, having the occasional flash of the future. As I was still a newb by wizard standards my Foresight was just coming in. But it did make me jump at every odd feeling.

"So, what questionable wisdom do you have for me?"

"When have I steered you wrong?"

"You could have been more clear when you warned me about Ash. Or about my daughter." I gave him a dark look.

He patted the rifle. "Not my fault you're too thickheaded to pick up what you're telling yourself."

I finished circling the car and tapped my foot.

Slinging the rifle, he hopped off the hood. "Dude, you're being played," he said meeting my gaze.

"What the mercs? Sure... they're keeping secrets, but so am I. Hells Bells, I fought alongside them in their base. I think there's some measure of trust."

"Not them." He gave me an annoyed look. "Remember why you're here. Remember who sent you?"

I thought back to last night's chat with Mab. "Oh."

He smiled. "Oh, indeed."

"Right... Mab said it wasn't her, which means..."

"We work for all three Winter queens," he glanced at his shoulder patch meaningfully.

"Yeah, yeah, it's just that if Winter Mother is behind it than that means...

"You can say it," he smiled.

"Outsiders," I knew as much. Outsiders were well... they came from Outside. That is beyond the NeverNever. Beyond places like this world, maybe even beyond the Squid monsters that attacked Ottawa. Outsiders were enemies to reality and they were constantly attacking, constantly scheming, always looking for a way in.

"Isn't it funny that Tessa found out about this place. I mean to get to this ass-end boondock of reality? We're way in the boonies of the NeverNever right now. And here's Tessa, already with allies and plots."

I sighed.

He continued with false cheer. "And funny how this place ended up not only having weak enough walls to allow the summoning, but they still had the book that'd tell her who to call. You know the book that was wiped out where we came from?"

"What's your point?"

"You know if this was just about revenge on Tessa's part there would be easier ways to get Nicodemus." He chuckled. "It's not just you that's being played."

"The Wolves have been keeping secrets from her too."

"They're also holding back. Did you notice the distinct lack of French Army surplus hardware?" he asked tapping his gun.

"So what? The wolfmen we fought were-"

"Dregs? Spares? Sacrifices? Why would they send their best to help Tessa retrieve books that they didn't really need?

"Why send her at all? Why not admit that they took precautions and had kept the critical stuff in a safer place?

He gave me a pitying look. "Yes, why would the magically weaker group let their obviously untrustworthy ally go on a mission with a high likelihood of weakening her forces, even if she emerged victorious. Look at this from the Wolves' perspective.

"They lost a bunch of men."

"And Tessa lost one of her sorcerers, her Heavy, and didn't recover any books. I think the Brotherhood of the Moon would be happy to make that trade," he said hopping back onto the Blue Beetle's hood.

"She could have died."

He shrugged. "Sure. Not likely. She's like a cockroach. But even if she died... well the remaining Denarians would either continue the summoning, abandon it, or betray the Wolves right away. As for the latter they'd be doing it without the help of Tessa, Magog, and Mr. Seaweed."

"And if she won the fight?"

He gave a predatory grin, which looked far too fitting on my face. "Worst case, she doesn't lose anyone, and returns with the Testament."

"She'll see that it was defaced," I pointed. "That the critical passages were removed."

"And she'll blame the mercenaries she stole the book from. She'll think they did it to spite her. Or you," he added after a moment's thought. "Yeah, she'd blame you."

I crossed my arms.

"Leaving the wolves off the hook," he leaned back on the windshield. "And later on they can reconstruct a ceremony that might work.

I swore. "You're right. We're being played. All of us."

He lifted his head. "Don't forget what you said. 'Tessa doesn't react well to being cornered.' What do you think will happen when all this comes down around her ears? Especially since you'll be the one front and center wrecking things."

I swore again.

He laughed. "Now, now, it's not like I'm asking you to tone it down."

"Of course you wouldn't." I glared. "You and the Mantle like it when I cut loose."

Stroking his beard thoughtfully, he eventually shrugged. "Look, managing our instincts and aggressive side is conscious Harry's problem."

"Don't fob this off on me."

"Which one of us is a figment of the other's imagination?"

I glared.

"You've got power, you've got a dark side." he fiddled with the rifle. "It's up to you to make sure you don't cede control. Besides those ice claws were pretty handy today weren't they?"

I huffed.

"Look at it this way, you've been Mab's for three years, and you're still not her pet monster."

"I resisted Lasciel for longer."

My dark-self nodded approvingly. "Still, you reached and accommodation, shame about events but..."

Shame was an understatement. Lash took a psychic bullet for me. I crossed my arms and waited.

"My point, is that you shouldn't let another opportunity pass you by."

"What opportunity?"

That pitying look returned.

"Really? You're not gonna do anything about Ranma? She's totally into you."

I scoffed. "She's not into me. She's just flirting, playing."

He thumped the hood. "Dude, do you know what flirting is?"

"She's not my type."

My unconscious-self shook his head.

"Yeah, because a beautiful, lethal, powerful woman is totally not your type."

"She'd a demon chick."

"So? Stars and Stones, you lived with a 'demon chick' for four years. You had a kid together."

"Lash was different," I admitted, quietly.

He nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, she was actively trying to corrupt you. Lash was trying to turn you into a Denarian."

"She got better. And what about Murph?" I asked.

"What about her? You worried about cheating on her? Because.... if your gonna do something with her, that'd be great. But you've gotta commit."

"That's not exactly an option right now is it? We're not even on the same planet."

"Then you better make sure you stay in one piece until you get back to Chicago." He leaned forward, eying me.

"Hey, I made it through today," I defended.

"Weren't you just complaining about the Mantle cutting loose?" He raised an eyebrow. "Besides we had a lot of backup."

I grunted.

"And it's not just Murph waiting for us back home is it?"

I glared. "Keep Maggie and Bonnie out of this."

"Hey, I want to get back too. But Tessa's gotta pay. So..." He patted the rifle. "We've gotta make sure we survive, no?"

End Chapter 6


I'd like to thank the prereaders for their help in this project: J St C Patrick, DCG, Kevin Hammel, Ellf, and Toxinvictoria . Special thank to : Ellf for getting this off the ground and inspiring this project.
Which is at the halfway point! So go read some of Ellf's Dresden Files fics, like Training Daze or the Building Faith series