Thanks so much for the support, guys. It means the world to me.

Chapter 4

-A Thorny Affair-

The Magic District was born as a sort of ghetto, but that had had been centuries before and even more money before. It had soon turned out Fae had been a significant portion of the families that provided good ol' Santa Barbara's funds in its early days; therefore most of them currently resided in fancy terraced houses with placid gardeners and absolutely human maids sweeping away snake skins and claw-cracks from their spotless parquets. Fae were powerful, often beautiful, utterly able at concealing: and they were old in a way no human could even imagine. They hadn't ever left the boundaries they were given; but they'd managed to make any young Normal die to sneak a peek past them. At some point, well before Vamps and other Sups moved to be publicly recognized, the whole District had become a tight, bursting knot of entertainment. The trendiest discos, the darkest strip-clubs, Irish pubs, underground clubs, they all were in those two-blocks of stone-walled hallways, all packed up with breath-taking, shimmering fae owners ready to wipe out tourists in the most pleasant ways and cheap magic filling naive mortals' eyes; and the Fae owned it all.

Thinking it back, the District had not been a great idea.

Shawn lent back on his uncomfortable pub's chair, taking a sip from his shamrock-tini.

-Gus, can you please chill a bit?-

-I can't.-

-At least stop with that thing. You'll give me a headache.-

-I can't help 's this place.- He hissed fiercely. - Everyone's watching us 'cause we're not damn Fae.-

-No, they're watching us because there's a Jiin in polyester pulsing like a strobo.- Shawn sighed. -Calm down. There's nothing to worry about. It's not like you don't know her.-

-That doesn't make it any better, Shawn.-

Gus took a fast bite of his waffles, smearing half face with green frosting. The glyphs tattooed around his body flickered again with power, so hard the table actually buzzed with it. That's why Shawn was sipping his drink off it.

-You're being over-dramatic. You've always liked 'Gail. And we didn't break up bad, after all.-

-You didn't break up bad?- His best friend's gilded eyes squinted. -Shawn. Do we remember the same 's Day?-

Shawn took another sip. A voice called them before he had to reply.

-Shawn. Gus!-

A young woman had pushed the pub's glass doors open, hopping towards them on lovely pink heels. She was petite, wrapped in a flowery summer dress, with the kind of glowing, cream-shaded complexion only Pureblood Fae could sport. Various heads nodded at her from the locale's corners, but she didn't even acknowledge them.

Abigail stopped at their table, bending a bit over it. Chestnut hair spilled downaround sharp cheekbones. Hazel eyes batted at Shawn with appreciation.

-Mh. I see you're cute as ever, Shawn. You don't look a day older than the evening at the Rainfalls.-

-Same for you, 'Gail. But I suppose that's less surprising.-

-Indeed.- She slipped daintily on the third chair of the table. –But I appreciate all the same.-

Shawn hinted at his best friend. -You remember Gus, right?-

-Of course I do. You were always such a perfect gentleman with my kin. I so regret our last encounter ended in, so a troubled way.-

Gus half-choked onthe word. -Troubled. Yeah.-

Shawn discretely pestare Gus's foot under the table.

–So. How are you doing Abigail?-

-Oh, you know.-'Gail crossed her legs under the table. -Same ol' things. Teaching at the kids down at 's, doing gardening. I give a hand with Ma's business during weekends.-

-Ah, Leah. She was so sweet. Give her a kiss for me.-

-I will. You've always been Ma's favorite.-

Abigail was a Tooth Fairy. Yeah, just the kind you're thinking about. Her Ma had collected the teeth of ten generations of Santa Barbara kids, so his own too, and on the first and only family dinner 'Gail dragged him too the sweet lady had chuckled in delight and asked to inspect his passed the exam only thanks to Gus's toothpaste fuss.

Once, before Patrick and Vikings came to Ireland and invadere their woods and thrones, her ancestors had sewn mankind's fates, had sciogliere its twists and its ends. Shawn didn't know how much life strand they still held, or what's the exactly meaning of gathering kids' teeth. He'd never asked. They might not be gods anymore, but they remembered how it feels damn too well.

-Oh, I'm glad you're still teaching. It suits you. I bet kids are just super-excited about a fairy teacher keeping them from eating pastels.-

-Yes. Enough with little talks, friend. You haven't called me to chat about good ol' times.-

It wasn't a question. Shawn pushed a knee a inch further, just enough to brush Abigail's. -Maybe I got a bit nostalgic.-

-You didn't. What are you here for, young Spencer?-

Abigail smiled hard. Her face thinned vagamente andshe let him glimpse all the centuries and millennia and battles behind it, the exquisite lie of her flowery dress. Shawn swallowed.

-Okay. No jokes, correct?-

-No jokes.-

-Okay.- He shared the briefest look with Gus, licking his lips. -Is it, going on something funny among your folks, 'Gail?-

-Something nefarious, I should suppose.-

-Yep.-

-Well, no, Shawn.- -I can't talk about the Trooping, but no Sidhe is warring right now. There's nothing that should concern your pretty face.-

What a nice way to tell him not to mess with their business.

-How's going with Vamps?-

Abigail gave in a deep sigh. -It is not going, and that's the most satisfying arrangement possible. Is this about them? I heard the bloodsuckers are having a pretty rough time. Someone's picked up the old ways.-

-You know anything about it? You know, some rift one could like to get back for?-

-No, and. Oh. Oh. I see.- Round dark eyes fixed on him. -Shawn, do you think the murderer could be a Fae?-

-I didn't say such a thing.-

-But you think it. I bet it has been that vampire friend of yours to suggest the idea, right? Victoria's pet. The detective.-

Lassie. Shawn's back stiffened. –How do you know about him?-

-I read newspapers, Shawn me dear. There's not a lot of Vamp cops around, and only one Department that would employ a vampire hunter too. Sodid you choose to betray me for them, mio amore? For those vulgar leeches?-

-Well, actually the trail is mine. I'm not on official mission, 'Gail. I'm a freelancer. I just need to get this done, give them a scribbling and take the bucks.- He leant on the table, putting on his best Good Boy face. He gently took her hand. -Please, give me a hint and I'll be out. A little favor. For the sake of old times?-

Abigail held his fingers with a darkchuckle. -It hasn't changed anything, has it? You're still so good at smiling, wrapping people around your finger.- She wasn't smiling.-You did hurt me that day at the Waterfalls, Shawn.-

-And you nearly skinned me alive, 'Gail. Literally.-

-That wouldn't have been a even vaguely proper punishment, Spencer.- She said. -I am Fae. We can forget, but never forgive.-

He was going to reply, but it was a bit Gus was tapping obsessively on his shoulder.

- Dammit Gus, what's up?-

-Shawn. Shawn, now they are watching us.-

Now that he said it, there was something strange in the pub. A sudden lack of sounds, of voices. Shawn dared a look around. Every other costumer had slowly stood up, and was now staring at them in complete silence. Fuck. He bet no one of them was human. Fuck fuck.

Shawn pulled, trying to get his hand out of 'Gail's grasp. It didn't work.

-What does it mean, 'Gail?-

-It means you're in trouble, boyo.-

Abigail was staring right at him and the bones under her skin were nowhere human. He gulped, trying to prevent things from going completely downhill.

-I don't get it. We're friends. I'm not accusing you of anything.-

-You played me, Shawn. You enjoyed my love, my home, my treasures, and then threw them away like dried sterco horse.-

-Well, that's, that's not true. I just humbly ventured the hypothesis we should have taken it slower.-

-You refused me in front of my elders.- She snarled. –And tried to snatch away with our gold all the same.-

-'Gail.- Shawn breathed. -'Gail-babe. Could you gimme my hand back? With all the fingers attached, please.-

'Gail's fingers squeezed harder. -You dishonoured me, my whole kin. You betrayed by trust. You are the one under accusation, human.-

The table was shivering again under their touch. Gus's skin sparkled uneasily.

-Shawn.-

He ignored him to focus on the pissed fairy clutching his arm. If a werewolf could rip human flesh with a single shove,Fae could do a variety of nastier things. It was the worst part with them: you know they basically want to kill you, but you could never guess in how much time and in how many ugly ways they intend to do it. The Hunter blade would just make her laugh. Crap.

-Shawn.- The air around Gus's head started to buzz.

-Stay cool, Gus.-

Abigail snorted. –I wouldn't stay much cool, Gus.-

-Shawn.-

-Don't do a thing, buddy.- Shawn said. –It's all peachy.-

-I don't think so, boyo.-

-Shawn!-

His hand was cracking. Abigail dashed forward. Shawn shut his eyes. And Gus flared up.

Power deflagrated around the table, pouring lightoff like a beacon. Gus's glyphs flickered, shifted in other shapes, eyes burning like gold moons. The Fae shrieked as hot winds crashed them against walls, and Abigail was torn away by Shawn's hand with a startled gasp. The blow kicked him off the chair, crashing his butt against stone. For a moment there was nothing but earth and skin and bones humming with magic thicker than incense and older than dunes, and in the middle of itstood the gold-black statue of his best friend.

Then it went as it'd come. The buzzfaded away, light died. Shawn looked at Gus from the floor. Gus stared at him. They all watched the others as if no one could believe what has happened.

But they all knew it. A Jinn had just used his charms against a fairy folk, in their territory, with no explicit threat. It was one unforgivable outrage. It was an outrage worth of spilling blood.

Abigail was up before Shawn could see it. Her hands had somehow turned intolong twisted claws, clacking against the crowd behind her snapped and changed, howling softly. Her mouth split in thin rows of fangs.

Oh oh.

Gus squeaked. -Shawn.-

-Gus, fly.-

There was one big disadvantage in fleeing from a bunch of wrathful Fairies. Shawn had fled from his fair share of creatures through years, so he knew the matter, and Fae were the worst, because they are unpredictable. And the only way to get away alive, is to be really fast. He and Gus were at the rear door in seconds, rushing past it without slowing down. Among the crowd Shawn'd glimpsed leather wings and chicken paws and arms that shouldn't be there. He didn't take a second look.

-Dammit, Gus- he gritted out as they flashed down the rear of the pub. -What the Hell were you thinking?-

-I don't know, Shawn.- Gus whined. -You've always told me I should use more my powers. I wanted to help.I thought it would be cool.-

-It was absolutely cool.- He replied. -But I wouldn't have tried it with a millenium-old enraged fairy gang, maybe.-

The rear corridor was echoing with theFae army's shrieks. Kitchen door. Toilet door. Storage door. Where was the damn exit door?

-I've told you that was a horrible idea, Shawn.-

-Just look for the freakin' exit, Gus.-

The screams and growls were getting closer. The rear door flashed on their right. Shawn plunged through it with a back shove and ran in the meanders of Magic District. It was not a smart move, considering their chasers actually lived there. They'd get lost in no time. Dammit.

-Now?-

-No idea.-Shawndared a glimpse at their back. 'Gail was almost on them, and a big snake thing with bigger fangs too. He had a sudden image of those fangs clasped around his butt.

–Oh, crap.-

-Shawn!-

He turned in time to see the dumpster, but not to avoid it. His knee connected with the bags, Shawn lost his balance and found himself rolling on the ground.

Gus froze midstep. -Shawn-

-Go, Gus, go.-

Gus didn't move. The Fairies rose over them like a crawling wave of faces and claws. Shawn gasped, waiting for the blow.

And then the air burst in flames.

The fire blossomed suddenly, all the way across the hallway, raging high like a burning wall. He had a second to jerk back his foot before it was caught Fae lot shrank off the heat, screaming, claws and wings ablaze, wrinkling back to hands and faces. Shawn looked blankly at the flames. They were blazing in purple. Iron powder.

He blinked. -What the…?-

A dark figure darted suddenly from the corner, clasped an arm around their necks and roughly shoved them in a mop of garbage bags before they could even get scared. Gus yelped as kitchen remains droppedon him. Shawn cursed loudly. The figure,the man, crouched back in the street, wielding a rowan crossbow in front of him, an iron arrow already in place. The eye-shaped tattoo shone off his sleeve.

-Get back, Paddies. Abigail, you too.-

From behind the line of fire, Abigail growled. -No need to be so rude, sir. We're just claiming ourrightful prize.-

-Not tonight, ma'am.-

The crossbow was still firmly aimed at her head. She hissed, smiling a very unpleasant smile, andlifted a hand to her henchmen. Someof them wriggled in the shadows on beatles-like paws. Big-eyed ghostsfloated off in the night sky. Many just disappeared, until was no one but'Gail, and she too melted awayin thin air. The hallway got suddenly silent.

Shawn grimaced. The dark figure stood and turned to them, strapping off his pilot's goggles. The man underneath should be around fifty, bulky, mostly bald, strong jaw. The eyebrows line looked utterly familiar, something in the lips too. The last purple flames flashed off his grim face.

-You have lots to explain, kids.-

Shawn gave a sigh.

-Hi, Dad.-