Chapter 1
The phone rang its shrill cry. Movement stirred under the throng of blankets and comforter arranged haphazardly on the bed. The phone began to ring again but cut out halfway through a foreboding buzz. A head lifted and peaked out of the mess of covering to stare into the doorway leading from the bedroom to the main living area. Woken from sleep was a woman, her eyes squinting from the weight of slumber.
Isabel Brand was the woman's name associated with the surveying head in the darkness. She waited with bated breath to see if the phone would ring again. She wondered if she burned out another one with her annoyance of being awoken. Isabel was not normal, a regular mortal, but was a wizard. Not just any wizard, but a Warden; a policing law keeper and sometimes soldier for the White Council of wizards.
A Warden deals with protecting both the Senior Council and other White Council members from attacks, dealing with the multiple Vampire Courts, the Fae of the Nevernever, warlocks and other supernatural threats of the world. The Wardens serve as judge, jury and executioner when in the field and handle those that violate the Seven Laws of magic.
It wasn't the first phone that she broke with her wizard's aura, nor the last. A wizard's aura had the tendency to lash out against modern technology when the wizard's own feelings flashed inside. On other occasions it did not seem to matter how composed a wizard was. Some things just fizzled, popped, and fried when they were near them. It seemed only technology made near World War II or earlier were safe to a wizard's temperament.
Isabel was just about to relent, to dive back into sleep when the phone apparently was resurrected and rang again. She groaned. Whomever it was calling, it was probably important. Her phone number was not something she handed out hastily.
She got herself out of bed while keeping a thick afghan blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She had lit a fire in the late night before stumbling into bed. It seemed to have burned itself out, the embers the only thing to emanate heat throughout the building. It was mid September and already composed of chilly mornings.
She made her way into the living room snatching the phone from the cradle while it was in mid ring. "Brand speaking." she said into the receiver. There was a faint buzzing sound followed by a couple of pops. Of course, she thought while pulling the blanket closer with her free hand.
"Isabel?" a voice asked. "That you?"
Isabel lifted her head up opening her eyes somewhat. "Yes and who am I speaking to?"
The voice was male, but sounded distorted, probably the on the fritz phone's fault.
"You sound like you're in a cave and far away." the voice said.
Well my place could be called a cave I suppose, one that I venture out of sometimes when things need to die.
"It's Seno," the voice said. "I mean, well, Detective Asari. In case you don't recall my first name."
Detective Seno Asari...of Seattle P.D, she recalled. The lumbering cogs in her mind began to slowly grind and turn with recollection. The lead Detective of Remnant Division for Seattle Police; R.D. for short.
"Uhhh, you still there?" Seno asked.
"What?" she asked. "I mean yes. I'm still here. Just waking up. What's going on?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. It's just, well, I know how you like to look at things before a hundred feet come trampling through or meddling hands grope at and disturb everything." he explained.
Look at things? Her mind still trying to catch up to speed.
"What happened?" she finally mustered to ask.
Seno sighed. "Burglary, theft, and a murder..." he said. He trailed the last word as he said it. "It seems like it might involve your area of expertise."
"Right." Isabel said standing straighter. "Give me the address."
She took down the address on a notepad she kept by the phone that had 'Merry Christmas' printed on it with a cheerful scene with a humanized snowman and Christmas trees. It was a free gift from her insurance company. I had their information along the bottom as well. She had to call upon them in the past with claims for them to process.
"It's at Seattle First National. How soon can you be here? I'll try to hold them off as long as I can." He sounded urgent.
The address was downtown. A bank it seemed. Isabel threw a glance to the clock ticking away on the wall in her living room. It was almost a quarter past 7 a.m. She inhaled a breath thinking how much sleep she only was able to get. Maybe three hours? It was a late night.
Isabel spent spent the better part of the previous night trying to track down the distribution method being used to push a new drug on the streets that everyone is calling 'Pixie Dust'. Apparently it is the hottest new item and is gaining popularity quickly. Better than Ecstasy so she was told. There is something more going on with this drug though. It brings out emotions of people way more than any normal chemical item should. She believes magic is involved.
The frustrating part is that she can't seem to find where it is coming from. Those affected by it say it brings the sexual senses to a whole new level. Everything is increased by ten fold and you yearn for anyone to be with. There sometimes is a downside however, if the opposite party isn't interested and tries to pull away, this drug seems to cause them to go into a frenzy of anger. They usually end up physically attacking those that don't want to be with them. It seems to be the newest way to spike unsuspecting women's drinks.
It was the only case she had been working on lately. The atmosphere of the city had been pretty quiet. That could all change with this scene she was going to.
"I'll be there in fifte-" she cut off looking down at her flannel pajama bottoms and thick socks. "Give me twenty-five minutes."
"Alright, very good. Thanks Isabel. See you soon. I'll let them know to let you in." Seno said before ending the call.
She returned the phone to the cradle and yawned. She then proceeded to jump slightly from movement on the raised counter over looking her small kitchen and living room. She had her hand raise readying her willpower as something scurried towards her across the top of the counter in the dim sunlight coming from behind closed curtains of the window opposite of the room.
Isabel let out the breath she was holding when she made out it was only Nalri. A rat with auburn colored fur. Nalri paused in the middle of the counter looking up towards Isabel with its black beady eyes with what Isabel could have sworn was a grin. If a rat could grin she supposed.
"You know," she began. "I was nearly ready to burn you from existence. I prefer you more as a cat and you know that." She lowered her hand releasing her will. She was pretty sure that fire would not have destroyed her but liked the idea of the threat anyways.
In a few eye blinks, the rat began to grow in size. It changed shape, bone structure and before long was a similar looking auburn colored feline with piercing green eyes.
"Show off." Isabel muttered. "That wasn't a command by the way."
The cat sat on its haunches and began to purr softly with satisfaction. Its tail swaying back and forth.
To Isabel she was merely an annoying roommate. At other times though she would consider Nalri as close as a sister. They had been together about a decade and Isabel shared much with Nalri growing up through her teenage years.
"You let the fire go out last night." Isabel said with a glare. "I know you get cold as well, so don't pretend you didn't know."
The animal got up and jumped the floor brushing once on Isabel's leg before walking past. Isabel eyed the address scratched on the pad, her brow furrowed. Detective Asari's voice, with what she could hear on the phone, seemed worried. Could this be something that actually would require the skill and need of a Warden?
"I apologize Isabel," a voice said behind her. The voice was soft and the words said slow and enunciated. "I found myself caught up in a book and lost track of time."
Isabel turned to face Nalri. She was taller than Isabel's average height. He auburn hair was wavy and fell with perfect curls on the sides. Her eyes remained green as the feline but were downcast as if she were ashamed she did not live up to Isabel's command. Her skin was smooth as silk, free of imperfections. Her lips the perfect shape and shade without need of lipstick. Beauty that could contend with one of the Fae. The clothing she chose matched what Isabel was wearing; pajamas.
I hate when she does that.
Isabel scoffed. "Must be nice not needing sleep." she said.
"Maybe for you, but I find it hard to keep myself occupied to pass the time. It would be most welcome if you got cable TV."
"Right," Isabel replied. "Then we can take bets on how long it would last. Look next time I can I'll pick up some more books and puzzles for you."
Nalri looked up a smile forming. She loved jig saw puzzles and crosswords. "Make sure to get at least a thousand piece or greater. The other ones take no time to finish."
"Will do. Make a list of books also. I'll see what I can rummage next time I'm at the second hand store."
Isabel looked around the room and whispered the simple spell to light the candles set on shelves and end tables throughout the room. The building had power but she was tired of buying bulbs. Anything with electricity did not fare well with her. She used the radio every so often, for music or a Mariner's baseball game. The radio had to be repaired quite often by Nalri or replaced.
Nalri nodded. "Thank you Isabel." She turned to move aside the blinds covering the window to the room to let more light in.
"Get the fire going again. Need you to make some coffee." Isabel said looking around letting her eyes adjust to the light and confirming her gear was in order and ready to grab on the way out. "I have a place to head to. Might be a case."
"Of course. Do you think I might be able to accompany you this morning? I can take a small form besides the rat if you wish. I won't be a bother I promise." Nalri had her head tilted slightly, face pleading.
Isabel thought it over. "Alright, if you don't burn the coffee then yes. But you must come back here if I tell you to. Deal?"
Nalri nodded with vigor. "Yes, thank you!" She rushed forward and gave a hug to Isabel.
Isabel gave her what she thought was a good amount of time before nudging her off. "Alright alright. I have to quickly get ready. Coffee. Please."
With that Nalri went to the wooden box used to store cut wood to get the fire stove going. Isabel turned and made her way back to the bedroom to get dressed. She paused once inside the bedroom. Her eyes fell to an old photo of her parents with Isabel between them. The last good memory she had of all of them together. A trip they took to the Grand Canyon one October.
Isabel said a quick prayer that her father be kept safe on his trip across the ocean in China.