WSG- Chapter 7
Misha entered the shack to find Kenzi sitting in the living room with Bo, the Siren, Hale, and a fae he recognized from the Morrigan's compound. Moving on instinct Mikhail reached up yanked the swords chain from his neck and was across the room with his sword at the throat of the dark fae.
Vex barely had time for an 'eep' and no time to try to manipulate the old man who was holding the sword at his throat. Bo started to lunge forward only to find Kenzi's hand planted in her chest, and it was actually holding her in place.
"Misha would you mind not killing our newest ally?" Kenzi said with dry affection.
"Ally?" said the wolf his brows knit in confusion as he looked over at Kenzi, the sword not wavering from Vex's throat.
"Yes he, Hale, and Bo came over to help plan the theft of the remaining Regalia from the Morrigan and Hale is here with the information that his father knows about the Belt. So could you maybe not cut his throat?"
Slowly he pulled the sword away from the Mesmer's throat and then Vex lunged up and grabbed the blade of the sword to examine it. "Do you know what this is?" said Vex in awe.
Kenzi replied deadpan, "Yeah, it's our sword. Now I have to talk to Misha alone for a few minutes. Be right back."
Taking Misha's arm Kenzi led the older fae into the kitchen where Annie was waiting. She had the older pair sit at the kitchen table. Annie already had three cups of hot tea prepared and sitting on the table.
"So I imagine you know I've made my decision. I only have a couple of questions. One" she said looking toward Annie, "do I get to call you Nana and two," she said looking at both of them. "I'm expecting presents,, lots of presents from missed birthdays and so forth…." she said cheerfully, before laughing and saying, Just kidding…"
"Come on I want to introduce you to our team." she said as she kissed Annie on the cheek and grabbed Misha's hand and dragged him towards the living room. "Come on daddy, time to meet the other kids."
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Ennoi had done something in the kitchen, something rather amazing and when they had come back in to the kitchen to discover a huge heavy wooden table with enough chairs for everyone with some left over. There was also an array of snack food set up on a sideboard. The space was much larger than it had been before.
The group had gotten over there amazement fairly shortly, and were currently gathered around the table poring over blueprints, and hand drawn maps of the underground structures in question. There were even some hand drawn pictures of the two missing Regalia items.
"So according to my father this is where the belt is being stored." Hale pointed to a room on the lower level of the compound. Apparently it is used mainly for the storage of documents. It was about three or four years ago, my father is responsible for arbitrating conflicts between fae clans that are in conflict with each other."
"Anyway around that time my father negotiated peace agreements between several clans that were having problems," Hale explained thoughtfully before concluding, "Ashe personally took him to this vault, to file the papers. While they were there my father noticed the belt in a glass case along the back wall of the vault.
"It's actually kind of incredible. My father is one of the best arbitrators among the light fae. Before my father started doing this, the skirmishes between arguing clans caused the deaths of as many fae as the Great War between the Light and Dark." Hale said wonderingly.
"It's not a bad thing to respect and love one's parent Detektiv Hale." Mikhail said softly.
"You don't know my father, sir." Hale said respectfully, with a self-deprecating snort.
"Actually I do remember him, there have been more than a few times when Shifters and fae have been on opposite sides." Misha said with a wry look, "Though I doubt those treaties ever found their way to the vault you speak of. Even if his opinion was always on the side of the fae in question and not Shifters. Your father did make the effort to be a fair man."
"Well that's more than he seems capable of these days." the Siren said morosely.
"Perhaps we could discuss it later bratets (my boy). Fathers are sometimes very challenging creatures to understand…." said the older fae as he placed a supportive hand on the detectives shoulder.
"Thank you, sir." said Hale, "I would really appreciate that."
"Now back to the information our young Mesmer has for us." Ennoi said looking at Vex expectantly.
"I'm not a child," the fae in question said rather childishly.
"Youth is no indicator of experience or strength, Vex. I believe both Bo and Kenzi are evidence of that wouldn't you agree." Vex looked at both fae women before reluctantly agreeing with a nod of his head, "But then the little human has always been a spitfire, the Change has just made her more so." The Mesmer admitted generously and with only a hint of a leer.
"As for your age Mesmer, you may not be rebenka (a child) but I think you will agree, that my mother and I are quite a bit older than you. Yes?" Said Misha mildly.
"Since I don't exactly know who you are, I can't really say. I mean I'm pretty sure that you're the pet the Morrigan was so pissy about losing a few months ago. She kept you under wraps though, don't even think her second knows who you are." Vex said studying the older fae thoughtfully.
The Shifter looked over at his newly adopted daughter, who merely nodded her head at her father, with a slight smirk. Catching on to his daughters mood through their link the bearded man smiled at the Mesmer and said, "My name is Mikhail Volk, though you may know me better as the Shifter King. The first born of Ennoi…"
"Ennoi doesn't exist," said Vex arrogantly, "She is a story fae mum's tell their little babes to make them behave."
Kenzi snorted as Annie raised her brow at the Mesmer, "Way to make friends and influence fae Vex." As Bo studied the older fae woman, she saw a slight flutter of the older woman's hair, as the red head leaned forward,
"Mind your manners little Mesmer, I haven't had one of your kind for lunch in a very long time." with that statement a chill went down Bo's spine. Which was apparently nothing compared to what Vex was feeling, the fae's face was even paler than usual and his mouth was hanging open slightly as he panted slightly.
"That's enough Gran, ally… remember…ally." Kenzi was saying before finally getting a little tense and yelling, "Ennoi enough!" The goddess swung her head to face the baby fae, and Kenzi did not flinch. "Sorry little one, I did say I found the others annoying, these days." she said shrugging her shoulders in apology.
"Fine, you alright Vex?" the Mesmer still looked dazed, but looked up at her and simply nodded his head. Unfortunately the fact that he didn't say a word only convinced Kenzi and Bo he really wasn't okay. Neither woman wanted to embarrass him though by calling him on the lie.
Annie though quite so circumspect, "Come here cub," she commanded while tilting her head at the Mesmer. Behaving in a very un-Vex like manner, the Mesmer shuffled forward rather sheepishly. Rather like a kid who just figured out the fae equivalent of Santa was real.
As he took the seat beside her, Annie caught Vex's chin gently and looking into his eyes she said, "I know your past little Mesmer, I apologize for my temper and will fix what damage I have done." she brushed his unruly hair off of his face like an older relative would do to a hurting child, before she continued. "You deserve a better ruler, better friends, real friends. You deserve better, find better. This little pack for instance, if you do not find them a good fit, find others, but do not go back to that place."
Vex's eyes actually looked a little misty when the older fae woman released him and concluded, "You know what I mean, don't you Vex?" The Mesmer nodded, stood and returned to his seat, not meeting anyone's eyes for a moment. Then he looked up and moving the maps and drawings of the Ashe's compound aside carefully, he drew out a large sheet of paper and began drawing a map of his own.
As he drew Vex explained the differences as well as the similarities between the two fae leaders. Whereas the Ashe was more into controlling a situation by controlling the police and the politicians, the Morrigan was more involved in the entertainment or celebrity side of things, and of course using manipulation and/or blackmail to control things.
He drew four levels, four separate floors, in exacting detail. Including where the cameras, motion detectors, guard stations, and so forth were located. The Morrigan and the Ashe while both ruthless and politically motivated in most things. They were different in the fact that while the Ashe was more interested in the well-being of his people, the Morrigan was more concerned with her one primary interest. Herself.
They were also different in another way, their methods of protecting their compounds, and valuables. While the Ashe preferred the more traditional fae methods of magic, spells, and traps to protect what was important to a light fae leader. The Morrigan was more inclined towards high end technology; cameras, motion detectors, and the like.
Vex drew out the four floors as a schematic style drawing. Including where the security system components were. He explained "The crown is in her bathroom actually."
Kenzi and Bo looked at each other and suddenly burst out laughing. Everyone else stared at them as they both practically rolled off the couch, laughing so hard they were snorting. Even Ennoi and Misha were staring at Kenzi, bemused.
"Alright I give up ," said Hale, "what's so funny?"
" Just imagine, the Morrigan in a bubble bath, wearing the crown and nothing else." said Kenzi still laughing, with tears streaming down her cheeks as she continued,. "I swear. It's seriously horrifying and once we get it back, we are so sterilizing that crown before anyone wears it." She said before she and Bo laughed and this time Kenzi's father, grandmother, and best guy friend laughed with them, while Vex looked on a little incredulously.
