Temp Work: A Dresden Files Short Story
Temp Work: A Dresden Files Short Story
Four
"I don't drink, Harry, you know that." Michael said, but not as forcefully as I thought he was going to.
"Oh, come on, Michael. There's a first time for everything." I replied, looking at my fellow warden, Carlos Ramirez, and watching the blush rise in his cheeks. This particular evening took place shortly after Ramirez and I had foiled the plans of a couple of White Court Vampires. They were attempting to thin out the wizard population by going after potential birth mothers. Young women with a fledgling talent for magic that might someday give birth to a future wizard were being hunted down and killed. By the time that Carlos and I were finished: the vampires were dead; Lara Raith (Thomas' sister) was in control of House Raith (and therefore the entire White Court); and I had learned that Warden Carlos Ramirez…was a virgin. And I wasn't going to miss a target of opportunity like that.
"Come on, Michael, drink up. Mac doesn't sell any of those cute little virgin drinks here." I said, unsuccessfully stifling a laugh as Carlos started to choke on his drink at the mention of the "v" word. We were at my favorite watering hole - McAnally's. Ramirez had come for a short visit and Charity had actually decided to join the human race (for at least one evening) and allowed Michael to tag along with us on a "boys' night out". "You know, Carlos, if Mac did serve virgin drinks here, I bet Michael would go for the kind with a little umbrella and a cherry on top."
"That does it, Harry! You and me! Outside! Now!" exclaimed a somewhat infuriated Ramirez, pushing back from our table and beginning to stand.
"All right, Ramirez. Calm down. You know I was just having a little fun." I said, with a snickering grin on my face.
"Yes, but at my expense, Amigo. How did you get to be such a first-rate ass? Carlos asked, trying to sound angry (but not succeeding very well).
"Practice. Lots and lots of practice. Come on, 'los, lighten up. You'll live longer." I replied.
At that moment the door to Mac's place opened and in walked three Red Court Vampires, accompanied by at least six ghouls. Ghouls. Crap! There is almost nothing that I hate more than ghouls. And vampires are probably a close second. The vampire at the head of the small army of supernatural nasties approached our table, fixing his eyes on…me.
"Wizard, I would very much like to have a conversation with you - a private conversation." The unknown vampire said this calmly and without a hint of menace. Still, I don't make it a habit of talking to vamps. I much prefer killing them.
"Shucks, Snaggletooth, I can't think of anything that you and I would have to talk about. You don't mind if I call you Snaggletooth, do you?"
"Disrespect me if you wish, Mage. It matters not. But I believe that it is in your best interest to listen to what I have to say. I wish merely to speak with you and then I, and my companions, will leave this place."
At this point I didn't really know what to do. The last thing I wanted to do was engage in a conversation with Snaggletooth, but I also didn't know what he might have to say. It could be important. I looked at Ramirez, and then Michael. They both just gave me the deer-in-the-headlights look, although I could tell that Ramirez felt the same way I did. He prefers killing vampires, as opposed to having conversations with them, also. Michael, a Knight of the Cross, can kick serious ass when it is required. But he isn't the kind that goes out looking for a fight. And he doesn't enjoy killing anything - even the undead.
"Have it your way, Snaggletooth. But make it quick." I snarled. We made our way over to an unoccupied table in a secluded area of the small pub. After we sat down at opposite sides of the table, Snaggletooth immediately started to speak.
"You are a disgrace to your kind, Wizard. Long have the vampire and the mage coexisted in the world. We have battled before, this is true. But when you killed Bianca, and the other vampires that were with her that night, you crossed a line. In addition to that, your total lack of respect for the Accords is reprehensible. It is a shame that Duke Ortega felt he had to cheat in order to best you in your duel, else we would already be rid of you." This time, Snaggletooth's words had taken on the very cold of the grave and menace dripped from every word.
"What can I say, Snaggle? I'm just a 'Rock and Roll Rebel'. I'm not sure why, but I've never been fond of rules. And, it would seem, Duke Ortega did'nt think very highly of the Accords either. Except when he could employ them to suit his purposes. Now, if that's all that you came to say, this conversation is over. It's starting to smell in here." The last part of my response came out somewhere between a snarl and a growl.
"That is not all that I came to say. Not in the least. You are going to die, Dresden. Perhaps it will be at my hand - perhaps not. But die you will. In the meantime though, I think I might seek out she who was turned on that night of nights - or maybe the policewoman. I've thought of them both - and often. I've devised all sorts of games that I would like to play with them. I hear their screams in my sleep - and they please me."
Susan! Murphy! The bastard was threatening them. My all too familiar friend, mindless and consuming rage, returned in an instant. I stood to my full height, my chair crashing to the floor behind me. The runes and sigils carved into my staff were already beginning to glow. I began to draw up my will - as well as the rage. I was going to make Snaggle wish he had never heard the name Harry Dresden. But then…
"Dresden! Don't! Stand down, man!" It was Mac. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Ramirez and Michael in a stand-off with the rest of the goon squad.
"I've got it, Mac. Thanks!" I said. I turned and faced the still-seated Snaggletooth, who was looking up at me - and smiling. "You planned this. This whole thing was a set-up. You came here to piss me off - and get me to attack you. Here in Mac's - on Accorded neutral ground. I'm a card-carrying warden now. The White Council would have to take action, possibly drastic action, against me. Well it didn't work. Get your undead ass out of that chair and the hell out of here. If I see you again, I'll kill you." I hissed.
Snaggletooth stood and rejoined his companions. Then they left. Not another word was spoken. Michael, Ramirez and I once again sat down at our table. I filled them in on the conversation that had taken place between Snaggletooth and I. When I was finished, they had no problem understanding why I almost wasted the mother humper right then and there. We sat there for a while longer. Enjoying Mac's beer and each other's company. We even had one of Mac's to-die-for steak sandwiches. Then, saying our good-byes to Mac, we left - and ventured forth into the dark night.
"Madre de Dios!" Carlos softly exclaimed.
We knew we were going to be ambushed. We were ready for it. We just didn't know there were going to be so many of them.