The Returned (11 page)

“You're not going anywhere till
quatro
and I have a word,” Wraith said. “What did you do to Geek, Con, and Sprout? And why?”

Ovation opened his mouth.

“He was acting on my orders,” One said. “And I'm acting on orders from my superiors.”

“Not good enough,” Wraith said. “I want answers! Are you Order?”

“No, but that's all you're getting,” One said. He casually lifted his hands, showing intricate pentacles of blue light on each palm.

Wraith wasn't sure if he was lying about being with the Order, but she'd never seen magic like that before.

“We can shoot it out right now if you like,” One said, “and you might even make it out unscathed.” He nodded to Caitlin and Edward. “What do you think their chances are? Or the others in this building?”

Wraith wanted to spit acid. Actually, what she really wanted to do was kick these two suited jackasses in the balls so hard that they got lodged in their nostrils. Then she'd really hurt them. But she knew she couldn't. Wraith could sense Edward's ward, and it was good, but if power started flying, things would get ugly quick. She didn't want any more innocent deaths on her conscience.

“Get the hell out of here,” Wraith said through gritted teeth.

One lowered his hands.

“But don't think this is over,” Wraith said to Ovation.

“I was about to say the same thing,” One said.

“Are you incapable of speaking now?” Wraith asked Ovation, or Four, or whatever the hell his name was, as he moved to leave.

He just stared at her, and the contrite look on his face almost looked sincere. “I'm sorry,” he said softly.

Wraith blinked. She hadn't been expecting an apology.

“If you'll let our men up,” One said.

Wraith unraveled the equation, and the two goons at the door stirred. One and Four helped them to their feet and, with one eye on Wraith, exited the building. She half wished she would've melted the tires of their vehicles or something on her way in. Maybe she could figure out the magical equal to a stink bomb.

When she was sure Ovation and his crew were gone, she turned to face Caitlin, Edward, and their friend.

“You okay?” she asked.

Edward dropped his ward.

“Who was that?” Caitlin asked. “You know him?”

Wraith shrugged. “I thought I did. I came across a group of kids in Seattle who sort of took me in. Con and Sprout, the two you helped, they were part of that group.” She looked over her shoulder. “Ovation, or I guess Four now, was too. I thought he was just another slinger.” She turned back. “But apparently he got into their heads. Geek's too. I don't know why. I think it was to manipulate me. What I do know is that I'm going to make him pay for screwing with their memories, and if they are part of the Order, I'm going to tear them apart.”

“What are you even doing here?” Edward asked.

“Oh,” Wraith said and wished she'd come up with a cover story in case this happened. “I, um, well, uh. You know, looking for other—”

Caitlin gave her a dubious look.

“Not buying it, huh?” Wraith asked.

“Not even a little,” Caitlin said.

“It's your secret mom powers, isn't it?” Wraith asked.

Caitlin smiled. “If that makes you feel better, sure. It was Dante, wasn't it? He asked you to watch us?”

“No,” Wraith said, happy she didn't have to lie.

Caitlin narrowed her eyes.

“Damn, you're good,” Wraith said and looked away. “It was Brigid. Dante asked her to ask me. Are you going to ground me now or something?”

Caitlin stepped forward and hugged her. “Thank you,” she said. “I'm glad you were here.”

“I have a few questions,” Edward and Caitlin's friend said.

“Who's he?” Wraith asked.

“Henry, this is Wraith,” Edward said. “Wraith, my friend Henry.”

“He a slinger too?”

“Slinger?” Henry asked.

“It's what the cool kids call wizards,” Wraith said.

“In that case, no,” Henry said.

“We should go,” Caitlin said, then looked at Edward. “Get Henry away from here.”

Edward nodded. “Agreed.”

“I'm not just leaving John here like this,” Henry said.

Wraith knelt down and examined the quantum information around the unconscious man. It looked to be a two-pronged spell. The first was a lot like her sleeping spell, but the second equation looked to join the first. It had faded too much for Wraith to see what it did, but she could guess that it took memories away.

“He'll be fine,” Wraith said. “Should wake up in a few minutes.” She looked at Henry. “Would you care to explain all this to him?”

Henry looked at her. “I would not.”

“Let's go, then,” Wraith said and turned to leave.

The others followed her.

“My God,” Caitlin said as they passed the fourth unconscious person.

“I wonder if that warrant included seizure of memories?” Edward asked.

“Warrant?” Wraith asked.

“Later,” Edward said.

They stepped outside, and Wraith was relieved, and a little disappointed, to find the van and SUVs gone. No one on the street seemed wise that anything unusual had happened.

“Get close,” Wraith said. “I'll get us back to your hotel.”

“I have a car,” Henry said.

“Oh,” Wraith said. “I don't.”

“Then how—?”

Wraith smiled and wiggled her fingers. “Magic.”

“Not to sound unappreciative,” Henry said, “but I think I've had my fill today.”

“Fair enough,” Wraith said.

“I'm parked just over here,” Henry said and walked over to a silver sedan.

Edward and Caitlin opened their doors to get in.

“Are you coming?” Caitlin asked.

“I, um, don't do cars,” Wraith said. “Bad experience.” Which was a massive understatement. She could still remember the accident and being suspended in the backseat by her seat belt as her parents died in the front seats.

“It's good to face your fears,” Edward said, not unsympathetically.

“You take the front seat,” Caitlin said. “I'll ride in back with Wraith.”

Edward walked to the passenger seat and got in, though he watched over his shoulder.

Caitlin went to Wraith and took her hand. “It's okay, sweetie.”

Wraith was surprised to find she felt less scared. She went with Caitlin to the car and got in. Caitlin slid into the other side and shut her door, and they were off.

Wraith felt queasy, and her hands were sweating. She kept telling herself she was being an idiot and that nothing would happen. And even if it did, she could do something about it. This time at least.

“I like your hair,” Caitlin said and brushed some from Wraith's face. “It's a good color for you.”

“Thanks,” Wraith said and smiled. She figured Caitlin must be the best mom in the world.

“What hotel are you staying at?” Henry asked.

Caitlin, Edward, and Wraith answered him at once.

Caitlin and Edward both looked at Wraith.

She shrugged. “What? I was asked to watch you,” she said. “Not like I was peeping into your room or anything.”

T
hey all sat at a secluded table in a corner of the hotel bar. No one was talking. Edward took a drink from his whiskey as Caitlin nursed her beer, Wraith ate one of the six maraschino cherries in her Coke, and Henry signaled for another scotch.

“Since no one else seems inclined to say it,” Caitlin said to no one in particular, “who were those guys?”

“Military,” Edward said. “Without a doubt.”

Everyone looked at him.

“They might actually be working for Homeland Security,” Edward said. “But everything about them screamed military.”

“Homeland Security?” Wraith asked.

Edward nodded. “That's what they said. Their credentials looked authentic, and I'm sure John would've noticed if the warrant was bogus.”

“Are you sure?” Wraith asked.

Edward noticed her hands were shaking a little and she kept glancing around. “What's wrong?” he asked.

Wraith glanced up at him for a moment then back down, then she filled him in on her encounter in Seattle.

“Oh, honey,” Caitlin said and took Wraith's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Admittedly I didn't encounter any Order members,” Edward said. “But everything about them feels like government officials to me.” He shrugged. “I suppose they could be Order operatives as well, but it just doesn't seem to fit. Why did they back down? Why put the staff to sleep instead of just killing us all? From what you said, they don't sound terribly concerned with innocent bystanders.”

Wraith chewed on her lower lip. “I guess that makes sense. The Order are more of the scorched-earth sort. But if that's the case, and they're government agents, what were they doing there?” Wraith asked.

Edward told her.

“Anyone else feel a bit nervous about the fact that the government knows about magic and the fae?” Wraith asked.

“And has access to magic—a special military unit no less?” Caitlin added. “Yeah, just a little.”

Everyone went quiet for a long moment.

“We should probably focus on the more immediate concerns,” Caitlin said.

Wraith nodded. “Why the hell would the government want the body and the files?”

“Probably something in them that would tell us,” Caitlin said. “Too bad they took everything. Including John's memory of the case.”

“So we think,” Wraith said. “We could go back and talk to him, see if he remembers anything. I'm sort of living proof that that kind of thing doesn't always take.”

Edward shook his head, then looked at Henry. “We've brought enough innocent people into this.”

Henry took a drink. “I appreciate your concern,” he said. “And I do apologize for, uh, shall we say—?”

“Losing your shit?” Wraith asked.

Henry chuckled. “More colorful than I'd say, but not wrong. That being said, I'm not a child, and I understand the risks.” He shrugged. “Honestly, as much as this is all blowing my mind, I'm glad to know the truth.”

“Does that mean you're going to tell Hannah?” Caitlin asked.

“It does,” Henry said. “And she might even believe me. Her family has been in New Orleans for a long time. Word is one of her great-great-grandmas was a voodoo queen. She might take this better than me.” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, the single large ice cube clinking the sides. “What I was going to say though, before we digressed, is that they don't have everything.”

Everyone looked at him.

“When John first asked me to look this case over, he sent me a copy of the police report and his findings.” Henry stared at his glass. “He never recorded that he did it, which is technically illegal, but we're old friends, and he didn't think it was problem.”

“Where are they?” Edward asked.

“I have the flash drive he gave me at home,” Henry said. “In my safe. I intentionally didn't save it on my home computer.” He looked up from his drink. “But if they are who they say they are, should we even get involved?”

No one said anything.

“Don't get me wrong,” Henry said. “I don't approve of their methods, but they had a legal warrant. And the warning was pretty clear. Admittedly, I know nothing of this world that has apparently existed right under my nose, so I don't know; would the government spend time and money pursuing a gang murder if there wasn't more to it?”

“I can tell you they felt entitled to screw with the memories of homeless kids,” Wraith said. “I don't care what made them feel that way; I'm not letting that go. If you all want out, that's fine. I won't hold it against you. I'll go it alone.”

“You're not going at it alone,” Caitlin said.

“No, you're not,” Edward said.

Wraith opened her mouth to protest.

“Something's bothering you,” Caitlin said to Edward. “What is it?”

“I don't think the person behind all this is doing it intentionally,” Edward said.

“You mentioned that you recognized the magic,” Caitlin said. “What did you mean?”

“You remember what I told you?” Edward asked. “What happened when I tried to find Fiona?”

Caitlin nodded.

Edward turned to Wraith and Henry. “I botched a spell, and somehow I let, well, ‘something' in.”

“In?” Henry asked.

“Something?” asked Wraith.

“Something bad,” Edward said. “Into my mind. I don't know for sure, but I think it was some kind of demon.”

“Demon?” Henry asked. “As in . . . ”

Edward shook his head. “I don't think it was a biblical demon, like a fallen angel. Dante called it a Hellspawned. I didn't ask a lot of details.” He took a drink. It wasn't easy to share this. He'd almost kept it from Caitlin, but in the end he'd decided it was best for her to know. Especially with all the guilt she was feeling after coming back from Tír na nÓg. “Anyway, it got in and gave me power, lots of it, but it also started warping my mind and how I thought.”

“And you think this same demon is manipulating whoever is doing this?” Henry asked.

Edward shrugged. “I don't know if it's the exact same one,” he said. “But I definitely think it's the same magic. If someone else is being influenced by it, they're not really in control of what they're doing.”

“And neither One or his group strike me as the kind that would accept the ‘I was corrupted by the dark side' defense,” Wraith said.

Caitlin shook her head. “They'll probably wind up in Guantanamo,” she said, then looked at Wraith. “Or worse, they'll just do something to their heads.”

“But you're right,” Edward said to Henry. “You've been involved too much already. This isn't your fight.”

“We should call Dante,” Caitlin said. “At the very least he needs to know the government knows about him and the court.”

Edward nodded. “That's a good idea. I'd feel better with some backup.”

“Yeah, about that,” Wraith said. “He's, um, not going to be able to send help.”

Everyone looked at her.

“You didn't wonder why they asked me to keep an eye on you instead of a team of marshals?” Wraith asked.

“Now that you mention it,” Caitlin said, “I've got to talk to Brigid about sending a teenager to—”

“Wow, that's not condescending at all,” Wraith said.

“I didn't mean it like that,” Caitlin said, then shook her head. “No, I did. But why are they sending you to do their job for them? It's not right to put you at risk—”

“If I hadn't been here,” Wraith said, “you'd likely be none the wiser about what's going on.” She moved her head side to side. “Which admittedly wouldn't be entirely bad, but they probably would've gotten into your heads too, and you wouldn't know. There's no telling what they might've done with the elves sent to protect you.”

“You have protection from elves?” Henry asked Caitlin.

“Actually, it's Fiona,” Caitlin said.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Edward said.

“Apparently.”

“Anyway,” Wraith said. “Brigid has been really good to me, and you two helped out my friends when they needed it. I don't consider it an imposition to pay back some of that kindness. Besides, I wouldn't have known about Ovation otherwise.”

“Well, thank you,” Caitlin said. “But I still don't like it.”

“Yes, thank you,” Edward agreed. “And neither do I.”

Wraith took a drink of her soda. “It's cool. You both totally owe me now.”

Edward laughed softly. “But you haven't said why Dante can't send in the cavalry.”

Wraith explained what Brigid had told her about the Cruinnigh, the five houses, and the territories.

“Angels?” Henry asked.

“Santa Claus?” Caitlin asked.

“I know, right?” Wraith said to Caitlin, then turned to Henry. “And yeah, I'm still a little blown away about that one myself, though not as much as about Santa.”

“Okay,” Edward said. “Then we're on our own. We should still call Dante and let him know what we've learned.”

“He's going to tell us to stay out of it,” Caitlin said.

“You could tell him after the fact,” Wraith said.

Edward nodded. “I don't like it, but that's probably best. Ask for forgiveness rather than permission.”

“What's the plan, then?” Caitlin asked.

“Can you get me a copy of those files?” Edward asked Henry.

Henry shook his head. “No, they're encrypted, and I'm not giving you the key,” he said. “I will, however, look through them for anything of note.”

“You won't really know what to look for,” Wraith said. “No offense.”

“None taken,” Henry said. “And you're right. I don't know what to look for, but I know what not to look for.”

“Huh?” Wraith said.

“I've worked on enough investigations to know what normal looks like,” Henry said. “Even with abnormal crimes. I'll just look for anything that doesn't fit the norm.”

“Good enough,” Edward said. “But be discreet. I don't want you going on trial for treason.”

“That makes two of us,” Henry said.

“We can ask around, see if anyone knows anything,” Caitlin said.

“I've made some contacts with the local slingers and fifties,” Wraith said.

“And fifties are?” Henry asked.

“Usually half-fae, half-mortal,” Wraith said. “Fifty-fifty. These are half First House though.” She scrunched up her brow. “What did they call themselves? It was hard to tell with the accent. Rooaroo maybe?”

Henry almost did a spit take. “Rugarou?”

Wraith nodded. “Yep, that's it.”

Henry coughed, then took a drink of water.

“What's a rugarou?” Caitlin asked.

“It's the Acadian version of loupgarou,” Henry said. “French for—”

“Werewolves?” Edward asked.

Henry nodded.

“You're making friends with werewolves?” Caitlin asked.

Wraith shook her head. “I don't think they're all wolves,” she said. “Benji probably is, but I'm pretty sure the others aren't.”

“A werewolf named Benji?” Edward asked with a grin.

Wraith gave him a blank look.

Edward suddenly felt very old.

“You keep interesting company, young lady,” Henry said.

Wraith shrugged. “I make no apologies for my awesomeness. Anyway, Benji and his group said there was some bad hoodoo going around and that one of the voodoo queens is giving out gris-gris to anyone who knows enough to want it.”

“What's gris-gris?” Caitlin asked.

“A voodoo protective charm,” Henry said, then smiled. “Kind of nice being the one to know something for a change.”

“They grow up so fast,” Wraith said and smiled at Henry. “Anyway, earlier today I met some slingers who said there was a gang war recently.”

Henry nodded. “It was nasty,” he said. “About six months ago three of them went after each other. Turned some parts of the city terribly bloody.”

Wraith nodded. “That's what they said. But they also said there were rumors that someone in one of the losing gangs, Royal Skeleton Brigade—which I only remember because, well, Royal Skeleton Brigade—got their hands on some dark voodoo and is making zombies out of their dead rivals.”

“Zombies?” Edward asked.

“What else would you call someone brought back from the dead?” Caitlin asked.

“Well, there was this one guy,” Edward said.

“Don't go there,” Henry said. “My faith is about all I have left.”

“Sorry,” Edward said.

“Anyhoo,” Wraith said. “I guess voodoo zombies are different from brain-eating
Walking Dead
–type zombies.”

“They are,” Henry said. “It's an old Haitian legend. A bokor—a magician—would curse someone and bring them back to life as a servant.”

“I remember reading something about that,” Edward said.

“You would,” Caitlin said and gave him a playful smile.

“A doctor went to Haiti and found tetrodotoxin from the pufferfish was the cause of the legend,” Edward said. “It caused a death-like state, so if and when someone recovered, it looked like they came back from the dead.”

“Could be,” Wraith said. “Or some inventive person who couldn't do real magic figured out how to fake it.”

“That's quite a bit more disturbing,” Edward said.

“So we start by talking to those voodoo queens?” Caitlin asked.

“The slingers mentioned one named Mama Toups,” Wraith said. “And I saw their gris-gris. It's the real deal. Nothing superpowerful, just makes people overlook you, but good quality and it works.”

“Do you know who she is?” Edward asked Henry.

“I've heard of her,” he said. “She's got a shop in the Quarter, if you can believe it. Sells trinkets and such to the tourists.”