This is split up into three short stories. The Ring, The Horn and The Lantern. All three are a look at Harry's (and Bobs) interactions with three common archetypes of Women in literature. Femme Fatale, Desirable Object, Sentimental Figure.
Based on the FEW books (ok only one) I have read and the TV show.
Original story by Jim Butcher.
The Ring
It was a quarter past noon; I knew this because I had just gotten back to my office after having run out to grab a bite to eat. The door had opened almost right after me, odd, it was a little too early for the mail to be arriving I thought. That is until I heard the footsteps. They were soft but the sharp clack of a heel is what gave her away.
I looked up from a book I had just opened to see a tall, willowy, young woman staring down at me from the door way. She was pretty enough, but looked like she would be more comfortable on a beach in California than in my office in windy Chicago. Her skin was lightly kissed by the sun and her blonde hair almost white from the its rays. Definitely wasn't from Chicago. If that hadn't been enough to prove it what she wore was so out of season it made her stick out even more. No one in their right mind wore only a short jean skirt and tank top during March, at least not without jacket.
She stood there next to the door for a moment longer until I realized she wanted me to be the one that spoke first.
I sighed a little of my annoyance out not wanting to intimidate her if she was a possible client.
"Hello," I said with false cheerfulness. "I'm Harry Dresden. Can I help you with anything?"
She blinked as if she had not seen me before I spoke. When my greeting registered with her she walked forward and looked at the floor slightly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry how rude of me. I guess I'm still a little rattled. I've never been to someone like you before. My name is Lillian Peters."
Lillian never reached out to shake my hand, but I didn't mind. I was use to people forgoing pleasantries around me. Most so nervous they forgot all courtesies. What got me worried about her introduction was her name. Often I can tell when people give me a fake name because of the tone in their voice or by how they pause. Some names just sound fake. Yet Lillian wasn't lying, but somehow wasn't telling the truth either.
I think she got nervous because she continued talking.
"I read your add. It says you can find lost items?"
"It is a specialty. What is it you lost?"
"A ring. It means the world to me. My grandmother, who recently passed away, gave it to me. My sister says I miss placed it, I think she may have stolen it."
"You and your sister don't get along?"
"No, I was grandma's favorite. It's just like her to do this out of spite."
"I think I can help you. It's fifty dollars an hour plus expenses."
"Of course I brought three hundred with me today to get this started if that's alright."
"That should be fine." I tried not to sound too eager. It had been a slow month though and rent was due. Every bit helps.
Just then the mail came through the slot. Lillian turned around and began grabing the envelopes one by one from the floor. When she was done she turned back to me and placed them on a corner of my desk.
"Is there anything you need me to do?" She asked as if I had been keeping her from some errand.
"Yeah, I'll need something that was your grandmothers."
"Ok, I can bring that in for you tomorrow. Around the same time?"
"Sure."
With that she hurried out of the office.
"I don't trust her Harry." Bob was shaking his head in disapproval after I was done telling him about my visit from Lillian.
"So you think I shouldn't take the job?"
"I never said that. Take the job, we need the money. Just don't trust her. Find the ring and nothing else."
"What do you mean nothing else?"
"Need I remind you of your tendency to go out with some of the women that have employed you? You did after all mention she was pretty."
"Get back in your skull. I'm going to bed."
The next day Lillian arrived around the same time she had before. If I kept a clock it would not have surprised me to find she had returned at exactly the same time. Today she was different though. Instead of some outfit that would be more fitting in a beach environment she was wearing something more to the liking of Chicago's taste. This time she wore a pair of dark jeans with a blue t-shirt and fitted leather jacket. On her it looked awful, this outfit did not suit who she was. Also her attitude was different. Yesterday she had been shy, tongue tied trying to find the right words. Today was a complete 180. When she came in she was abrupt and a little impatient.
"I brought something. I think it may help."
"Ok, may I see it?"
From her pocket she pulled a silver chain out, at the end was a multi colored pendant made from glass that flashed red when it swung one way then green.
"The necklace was hers?"
"No but the hair inside is."
"Excuse me?"
"It's hair jewelry… used for mourning…"
"I know the custom, I'm just surprised you have. That tradition is not really practiced anymore."
"Grandma insisted. She didn't want to be forgotten."
"Well that should do it then. Do you mind if I hold on to it?" She clutched it to her chest as if afraid if she handed it over I'd never give it back.
"What exactly are you going to do with it?"
"I'll have to set up a mixture, boil the necklace with it. Then I can use it as a kind of tracker to find the lost ring."
"Boil the necklace?"
"Don't worry no harm will come to it, it's really more of a simmer any way."
Again the mail came through the slot. As I was explaining to her what I would have to do, she went to go pick up the mail and brought it back to me. She looked disappointed and a little distressed. Normally I was the only one that got upset at my own bills, but she seemed to be taking my debut just as hard.
"So anyway, I have to let everything cook for a while and tomorrow if you like I can go to your place and start looking.
"My place? That would be fine." She placed the mail down with the necklace on top. "Um, if you don't mind can I come and pick you up? I'm no good at giving people directions."
"That's fine." My car was in the shop anyway.
I arrived home late at night as usual. I would like to say I had something important to do, or had a date planned that had been keeping me away all night. Instead I had gone for a walk and hung around McCanilies. Truth be told I was avoiding doing the potion to find the lost ring. After today I was beginning to wonder if the money was worth working for Lillian. It was a simple job really, but something wasn't right.
As I walked into my dark apartment my foot hit something and sent it sliding across the floor. I tried turning on a light which flickered then quickly shut off. So I set out lighting enough candles so I could see. Once that was done I saw on the floor a plan cream colored envelope. The front was written in green ink in the curly elegant writing of a woman. It had my name and address, no return address and a stamp in the corner. I almost never got mail at my apartment. All mail was supposed to be forwarded to the office. Non the less here I was holding an envelope.
"What is it?" Bob had less of a life than me to be getting so excited about some mail.
"I don't know Bob I haven't opened it yet."
Something heavy and circular was sitting in it. When I tore open a side the contents of the letter spilled out onto my hand. It was a ring; Made to fit the hand of a delicate woman. The band was silver with love knots on either side of a blue stone.
"Bob I think I just found the ring."
"Odd."
"Very."
I checked the envelope for any sign of a note but it appeared nothing but the ring had been mailed to me.
"Well, your job is done. Just give it to Lillian tomorrow and take the money."
"But why was it sent to me?"
"Who cares, the person who sent it didn't care enough to write a note. Besides it's hers."
"Just give it to her and be done with huh?"
"Precisely. Why worry? Your going to worry aren't you?" He drawled as he always did when I exasperated him.
"Only a little bit. Maybe if I tell her what happened I can get the truth out of her." I held the ring close to my face. Nothing seemed special about it. "Lillian Peters…what secret are you hiding."
I put the ring down on a side table and went to bed.
I don't know how long I had been asleep but when I woke up it was still dark out. A pressure was building in my place making my ears ring. I shot up, sitting in my bed as the pressure from an unknown magical source grew and bore down against my chest.
"Harry what's going on?" Apparently the magic was strong enough to get even Bob out of his skull.
"I don't know Bob." I gasped, the pressure grew making it harder for me to breath. Just when I thought I could black out, the magic popped. I mean actually popped like a bubble landing on your skin.
"What the hell was that?" I stood up lighting a candle I kept by my bed.
"I mean, it wasn't meant to hurt us I guess…"
"Harry." Bob sounded troubled. "You really need to look at this."
I walked over to where he was standing by the sofa. I followed his gaze past the pillows and onto the floor. There, curled up as if sleeping was a naked woman.
I jumped over the back of the sofa, worried she wasn't breathing. When I went to touch her shoulder, what should have been soft flesh against my skin turned into air.
"She's a spirit? How'd she get in past my wards? "
"Ask her when she wakes up…"
"Stop staring at her."
"I am a man. She's the one who came here without any cloths on."
I heard a small moan at my feet. The girl spirit began to stir and facing the floor stood up so her back was turned to me. Her hair was a river of golden curls falling down her back, just above her ass. That too was nice looking. She was tall with a tone body. I caught myself staring when she began to turn around. I looked down to fake modesty. Bob on the other hand was right beside me looking straight forward.
"I don't know who you are but you don't belong here." No response, great. I looked up quickly to avoid seeing her whole body and focused only on the face. What I saw disturbed me. It was Lillian staring right back at me. I was so surprised I let our eyes catch for a second too long. In her soul I saw fragments and pieces of a life, however it wasn't complete; Chunks where missing from it. What she saw I have no clue. She didn't even blink as I looked away.
"Lillian, how did you get here?" I tried not to sound angry. I had noticed before when I looked at her that she was scared.
"I don't remember." Her voice was distant and calm.
"Who did this to you?"
"I don't know."
"Bob a little help?"
"What on earth do you want me to do?"
"Something."
"My dear you look like the Venus de Milo coming out of the water."
"I meant something productive."
He sighed rolling his eyes. "Child, do you know why you are here?"
"You called me."
"No I did …" I had said her name and names where a powerful tool. Still I had never called a person without meaning to, let alone ripping out part of their soul. If I had done it I could get in big trouble with the counsel.
Lillian began walking around looking at the tapestries and oddities I kept all over my place. At one item, a rather old clay bowl I kept around, she lifted her hand and tried to touch it. It seemed to shock her that she had no mass. She frowned at her hand scolding her lack of touch.
Lillian whipped around tears welling up in her eyes.
"I don't know what happened. Everything is fuzzy, my head hurts."
"Calm down, I can help you figure this out. You came to my office today. I'm helping you find a ring, remember?"
"Ring? Do you have it?! Is it safe?"
"Yes. So at least you remember the ring. Why did you send it to me though, then ask me to find it?"
"I was hiding it…From Merideth."
"Who's Merideth?"
Lillian fell silent and dropped her arms to the side in defeat.
"Don't remember? Well nothing we can do about it now I guess. If I'm going to help you I'll have to get some sleep and start in the morning."
"Can she stay with me?" Bobs eyes shone as he ogled her bare beast.
"No."
"She can't stand around naked all night."
"I have my ring." With that she flickered out.
"Can we keep her?"
"No! What is wrong with you? She's nineteen or something. Not to mention she shouldn't even be here. Beside you're the one who said not to trust her."
"True, but that was before I met her. I think you may have miss read her Harry. This Lillian I'd trust with my life."
"Yeah, me too. So what happened?"