Disclaimer: I do not own the rights To Harry Dresden or ANY other character from The Dresden Files. They belong to Jim Butcher.

Chapter 1: The Mission

"Damnit!" Azrin screamed as she moved in on the Shinryu of the Water court. She had been under orders to stop him at all cost and she was ready to fight. The great water demon ran at full force toward the growing crowd of people in the busy Chicago streets. It was just past four in the streets of this jungle of metal and concrete and all the suited business workers were just heading home. She was frantic. Panting she ran after the thin, stalky Izack. She had meet this man a few times and knew him rather well just as he knew her. He also knew her well enough to know that if there was a crowd involved she wouldn't strike at him, so he continued to weave in and out of the busy crowd of the city. Unaware that they were being followed, the two demon generals pressed on. Azrin pauses for a moment to look at the sun to see it beginning to make its decent into the other side of the earth. "Fuck. I only have two hours before I have to call this off," she thought to herself. She pressed onward sprinting as fast as her legs would carry her in and out of the growing mobs. It was New Year's Eve and she knew that once the sun went down she would only have enough power for one quick hit; it would also be harder to find him once the massive ball of fire set fully. A quick thought passed her mind and she pulled her fingers up for an earsplitting whistle. At her call a white wolf that almost glowed with the setting sun appeared by her side. The wolf ran to match her speed until she spoke.

"Orohmatsu I need you to run ahead of that demon and help me corner him. The sun will set in two hours and I need to catch him before then."

The wolf nodded and ran ahead of her to do as he was told. Quickly the wolf found footing on a vender trying to make a profit from the coming holiday and flung himself in front of the surprised Izack. Baring teeth, the wolf brought his head down in a challenge to him. At the last minute, he dashes down an alley forcing himself forward with all his will. He turns around to see both the wolf and Azrin still running after him. He hits the wall before he could turn back around. The force knocks him back a few steps and he realizes that he's surrounded. In a last moment of choice he stands and dashes down the small path to come to a thick steel security door and a garbage bin. He looks around for a way out but sees none. He tries to think quickly, but the thought of being beaten by the Fire Shinryu has him at a loss. He gathers himself as the other demon starts to slow to a stop ten paces from him. He decides to stall. The only way he knows how is to talk.

"Hey Azrin. It's been a while. How have you been?"

The great Fire Shinryu just stares at him. Her eyes of gold and blue glaze over with a blank existence as she answers him.

"Could be better. Given I will have to kill you if you don't agree to leave this mission."

A cold chill ran up his spine as he took in what she said. He tried not to show his fear on his face. For he knew he was useless in a fight against her until the sun went down. Then he looked up to see the full red glowing moon start to appear in the sky. He felt an endless flow of energy hit him like a wave on the beach and he knew at this moment that he was now on even terms with her and he no longer needed to stall.

"I'm sorry Azrin but I just can't do that. The Water God has wanted this to take place for so long that I don't want to be the one to tell him I didn't do it cause I was scared of a girl."

Azrin's eyes boiled over with malice as she realized what he had just proclaimed. She didn't want to fight her friend but now she had no choice. She looked down at the wolf and sent him to the end of the alley to insure no one was planning to venture down it during the fight. Without wasting any time Izack pulls his will to his hand drawing a sword from the blank air in front of him. it was a parlor trick that Azrin was well aware of. Not following showy suit she just removed the cloak as a whole revealing her for what she was. She was small for her form which was a slight bit shorter than 6 foot. Her hair was a striking range of two different colors. Her bangs flowing down to her shoulders were a very warm honey blond where the rest of her hair, a thick flowing blanket to her waist, was a marking jet black. Her eyes once more showed through with the fire that ran her from the inside with the oddity of having one a golden amber in the sun and the other as blue as waves against the rocks. Her formal robe though it resembles a fighters robe of the early Chinese it was made from a ruby cloth that kept her from being left unclothed from an attack from fire. It fit loosely allowing her to move with the full flexibility of a great cat but tight enough to not fall from its place around her. She pulled her sword from her hip revealing the gleaming silver of the Demon's blades.

She swung first closing the distance between them quickly. He blocked the attack grabbing her hilt and tripping her as he did. As she fell she rolled to the side barely missing the falling blade of Izack. She stood as quickly as she fell and locked blades with her friend yet again. As she brought up her leg to send a full force blow to the Water demon's chest, she heard a loud high pitched yelp. It was Orohmatsu. The white wolf came sprinting down the alley as fast as he could run. Azrin looked behind her to see her prized partner being chased by a large black dog. While she was distracted Izack seized his moment. He released his sword with his left hand and planted his fist square on her face. She recovers to be returned to the fight. With her concentration restored she kicks him strait in the gut. The force of it sends the great demon against the wall and down for the count.

As she walks over to the downed Shinryu, the large dog hits her hard in the left side, sending her to the corresponding wall in the opposite direction. A larger man walks into the view. Dizzy from the hit, all she can make out from the man is his long ragged looking duster coat. A thin blue light shows from a small medallion around his neck. Orohmatsu limps as best he can over to her. He lays between her and the black dog that had chased him there ready to jump up and fight once more if needed. She tries to move only to hear the two distinct growls of both animals in response. The man walks over and pets the dog that hit her. As he takes a step closer to the demon, Orohmatsu stands. He then begins to vocalize his oldest of warnings the only way he can. Teeth bared and hair raised, the wolf was ready to defend her with his life. His growling threat raises the attention of the large dog now behind the new addition. The dog goes to take a step forward but the man stops him. Azrin's sight begins to return as the setting sun begins to drain her of power. Orohmatsu knowing this takes a step forward putting himself in the direct line of any attack the new additions had. Azrin now aware of the too far gone sun realizes she is useless. Izack grunts against the wall as regains his consciousness. The dog eyes him and lets out a low roaring growl. Izack not yet aware that there are two new parties speaks.

"Damnit Desirea. I just got rid of the last goose egg you gave me."

He rubs his head as he spots the monster of a hound in front of him. He speaks again. This time he wasn't sure how to react.

"A Fu dog? What's he doing in this realm?"

With that the ears on Orohmatsu stood up. Before even Azrin could register what happened, the white wolf had pinned the larger lionesque dog by the thinner scruff of fur under his neck. The larger dog yelped in pain as the wolf bit harder. With this Azrin was standing. She wobbled for a bit but maintained her balance long enough to address the wolf. With as much will as she could put behind it, she all but screamed.

"Orohmatsu! Drop him!"

The wolf, ears back, just growled at the demon. She tried again.

"Orohmatsu no Kami! I, Azrin, Shinryu of the Fire court of Elements, order you to spit him out!"

The authority in her words spilled out and was largely implied by her added now to the end. It sounded more like a growl than a word but the wolf got the point. He very gingerly let go of the fallen dog and backed away. With a slight laugh the other man spoke.

"Openly revealing your name in front of a wizard. You've got guts."

His voice came out rough and tired. The hidden warning didn't faze her. For the first time sense getting hit she took a good look at the man. He looked as rough as his voice. At a little over six feet and just enough muscle to say he had some, he didn't look like much. His dark hair all but pushed back reviled it to be a shaggy mess. His face looked as if it hadn't seen a razor in a week. At first she found herself doubting the man, but stopped after seeing the still soft glow of blue from the now identified pentacle around his neck. She took a short stroll around him, trying to take in the whole picture. His eyes followed her as she walked the counter clockwise circle. The dog growled again but was ignored. Halfway around the circle he spoke again.

"Does this coat make my ass look big?"

He grinned as a look of surprised shock crossed the fire demons face. Izack rolls in laughter as he sees Azrin turn a new shade of red after looking down. Both canines roll their eyes as they sit watching this. Orohmatsu had seen this happen before to his unwise partner. She was great in a fight with flawless tactics but when it came to normal interactions she didn't have a clue. Azrin finished the walk around the wizard regaining her original color with each step. When she had finished her study of the odd looking man she then turned her attention to the dog. As she stepped over to him, he flashed his teeth. Orohmatsu seeing this sat up a little straighter and pulled his ears back. He was not going to have much patience with this dog at all. Azrin crouches on one knee in front of the mass of grey fur and looks him curiously in the eye. He growls a bit continuing to watch her with caution. Her face goes serious and she asks in a very monotone way.

"A Fu dog huh?"

Izack watches her intently curious on her reaction. Orohmatsu stands and brings out his own warning to the dog. Azrin, ignoring her partner, continues to look at the dog until a curious look crosses his face. Her face melts to a wide friendly smile before hugging the dog and all but shouting.

"I LOVE DOGS!"

Izack burst into a roar of laughter so hard he was crying. The massive beast gave her a grin as best as only a dog can and could no longer bring himself to be hostile towards her. Orohmatsu in shame of knowing her puts a paw on his muzzle and pulls his head down. At that brief instance he notices something. Azrin had apparently out thought even him. For in burns of footprints around the wizard there lay a closed circle. He then looked over to where she sat hugging the dog and sure enough there lay another small thin circle inclosing him. the wolf grinned. He felt his ears go back in satisfaction as Azrin proceeded to let the dog go and walk over to him. She froze. Izack looked at her as she did. The chills returned as he looked into her face. Her eyes had gone dark once more marked by the being she was but a mere two hours ago. He found himself standing to meet her challenge and the dog went rigged. He stood and tried to dash in before the fight could start but found himself unable to move. The wizard noticing this tried to get over to the dog but found that he also was trapped. Without looking at then Azrin spoke.

"Forgive me, Wizard but I cannot allow you to interfere. This is between myself and Izack. I will not allow a human to get himself killed meddling in the affairs of demons."

Azrin grinned locking eyes with Izack as she drew her sword once more for the evening. Once more she looked at him to speak.

"Last chance Izack. Abort this mission or fight."

He had a defiant look on his face as he produced his own sword. He stood firm in his own mission and wasn't going to allow himself to be swayed away.

"I can't do that Azrin and you know it. Kazu wants to see the white council of wizards restored with the real child of merlin on his seat."

She looked coldly at her friend and spat at him in an angry tone, "the seed of merlin are dead."

Very calmly and calculatingly he responds, "There are still some but only one may take it."

"Name him!" Azrin demanded with a growl. Her eyes revealing her long hatred for the merlin family. He had been the reason that she was in this mess in the first place. The two words rolled off the Water demon's lips as if he were telling her scores to a Jets game and not naming a man to die.

"Harry Dresden"

*To all my readers: Given I feel as if I had cheated you of necessary details, I am rewriting all of my chapters. If you have questions or comments, please leave them for me in the form of reviews.