She threw him a bored look and turned to the other detective to answer. "They're a competitor of VRL. I believe my aunt knew the president." "Used to be a competitor. Closed up shop. No forwarding address." Harmon said with a scowl. Marisa didn't have to fake her surprise and Detective Harmon frowned as another lead seemed to be going cold. "Any idea why this tool Ulysses would want to kidnap little ol' Stanley here?" Morris asked Marisa. The detective was getting under Stanley's skin. He scowled at Morris. "Why don't you go ask him?" "We tried. His office was cleaned out, right down to the cement floors and even those were scrubbed and polished. Anything you'd like to tell us about that," Morris growled at Stanley in return. Stanley just shook his head in confusion at the man. "What the hell would I know?" "I'm not buying this bullshit about the floor just falling in so you could miraculously escape! I wanna know what really happened in that basement! What secrets are you hidi
"I will not explain how it works. The witch obtained the ability to disguise him at the cost of one of my kind. This is a debt I will see her repay." "Now I know you are boasting. She is too powerful for you to kill," the Queen smiled. "I won't harm a hair on her head... but I'll still have revenge for the life she took." He waved his hands and frowned dismissively. "But that is secondary to the main goal of ridding ourselves of the Humans. The witch made a fatal error when she took the ability from my kin to hide her pet Satyr. Because of her hubris, she's given me the means to destroy all of Humanity. With your help, of course." "You still haven't offered any proof that you can deliver what you say you can," the Queen said with a frown but he saw she was intrigued. "You are aware of Sympathetic magic?" he said to her. She tilted her head at him with a frown indicating she wasn't impressed with his stupid question. He nodded in apology. "I'm a master of its use. I'm also the on
She picked up from their scent, their touch, and looking deeply into their eyes that Detective Harmon was intelligent, stable, and healthy while his partner was a borderline psychopath with liver disease and a bad addiction to cocaine. She gestured to the chairs before her desk and walked back to hers. She felt their eyes on her ass but Harmon looked away while Morris struggled not to act on his impulse. Once they were seated she leaned forward slightly to trap their eyes in her cleavage and launched her first question. "Gentlemen, how may VRL be of assistance to you today?" Harmon cleared his throat and began. "We're investigating the abduction attempt on one of your employees, Stanley Garin." He watched her reaction closely and all of the physical cues he'd been expecting were present. She was worried about her employee, frightened that the abduction had even happened, and relieved that he'd gotten away safe and sound. "During our investigation, we discovered the scene of the cr
After a walk down a short hall he gasped as he took in the vastness of the space. They were... outside! The sky above them was a crisp blue Stanley had never seen before. Birds chased each other and sang in the trees. The sun was just beginning its descent to Stanley's right but its warm light filled the area ahead. The air smelled wonderfully fresh and he picked up the delicate scent of the flowering bushes that encircled the round clearing they were approaching. Butterflies and bees flew from flower to flower. Behind the flowers the forest began. "How?" Stanley gasped. "It's a form of illusion. A shared memory. I've been informed this is a present for you." Walter said as he admired the flowers. "For me?" he squeaked. "This is a memory of the world as it was when you were born. It's a present from Queen Mab." he said with another of those Dragon smiles. Stanley looked away from those teeth towards the people awaiting their approach. They were separated into two groups. The la
As she clung to his body her visions were sharpening. "Walter! He's planning to kill you... no... EVERYONE! Oh my god! You're the trigger!"The lawyer's professional smile was wearing thin as he watched the young Succubus disclosing his plot. His expression turned sour.Eyes turned in his direction. Lise-Anne stepped forward. "We were told your seer abilities were untrainable."Marisa was shaking in Stanley's arms but she faced the Minister of Security. "I'm untrainable by current seers because they aren't powerful enough to guide me." Her eyes turned to Walter who stepped back as the young woman's eyes flared bright white. "I see you for the monster you are, bringer of death, you diseased-""ENOUGH!" Walter roared and exploded upwards into his true form. He cast his wings wide and glared down at the pitiful beings at his feet. "It's too late for your whining. The spell is cast and primed. There is nothing you can do to keep young Stanley from fulfilling
"What?" Stanley started, surprised by her words.She gave him an annoyed look then closed her eyes and moved her open hands over his body. She felt the tug of magic. Someone was attempting to unbind a spell from Stanley. She grinned widely when she opened her eyes once more and looked over to see a hint of frustration on Mab's face. Most would simply see a calm and impassive expression but Baba had centuries to learn her opponent's tells. Mab was furious."He told you it would be safe, didn't he, and your failsafe release just failed," she cackled at the Queen.Glaring at her murderously, Mab neither confirmed nor denied her words. Baba just shook her head in amusement.She looked back at the young Succubus. "What does your seer sight see of the curse Stanley is bound to now?"Marisa closed her eyes and shook her head as she didn't want to see the death bound to him so tightly."Girl! Open your eyes and tell us." Baba commanded and Marisa gasped as she felt the weight of the compulsio
"Stanley, take four large steps backwards now please," she told him. He did, immediately, pulling Marisa with him. The old crone, grumbling under her breath stepped away as well.Morris was pissed off at how stuck up the intense bitch was as she stepped back as well. She was doing that whisper thing again and he felt his rage flare. It was time to put a slug in someone's head. She looked like a perfect volunteer.Walter was becoming exhausted. He was so out of practice and he was old. Even for one as long lived as his kind could be, he was old. The Valkyrie showed no signs of slowing or weakening. The skies they flew in were limited as they were merely a memory. He had to veer away from the edges as he felt them approaching and each time he did he felt the cursed woman gaining on him. In a straight flight, he might be faster than her but he didn't have the space.If he couldn't outfly her he would go on the offensive. He coiled his neck back to rapidly spit fireballs at her but she do
Lise-Anne and Rand added their signatures as witnesses and Michelle tucked the scroll back into the tube for safe keeping. "How long will Stanley be in Ireland?" Lise-Anne asked. "We must gather the most skilled Fae we have to build him a glamor. It will take a week, two at most. I do not give up the lives of my people willingly. We will find a way to do this as safely as possible," the Queen stated with finality. Stanley was collecting the rest of his dropped clothes into his arms and looked at her with trepidation. He didn't want anyone to die! "Michelle, Rand. Would you please accompany Stanley on this journey?" Lise-Anne asked. Rand nodded immediately but Michelle looked a little surprised to be asked. She finally nodded. She handed the scroll to the Security Minister who tucked it away. The fairy hesitated for just a moment then looked to Baba Yaga. "There is still the outstanding question of how you rescued a Satyr from so far in the pas-" Lise-Anne began but stopped abrupt