2nd to last part!


Unwanted, but necessary work came to Harry in the form of calling Murphy from Laura Miller's house and also an ambulance for the barely conscious woman.

It took approximately three hours for the wizard to give his statement and be subjected to ruthless questioning. But in the end, nothing could be confirmed or denied without Laura's testimony. And the woman was now in the hospital with a bad concussion. Knowing nothing more could be done until the next day. Murphy allowed Harry to go home.

Tiredly, Harry pushed the door to his storefront open, already feeling his bed as he walked in.

They were there waiting for him. And had apparently been questioning Bob, judging by the half worried, half irritated look on the ghost's face. The two wardens stepped aside, allowing Ancient Mai to walk forward. Her dark eyes glittered with an unfiltered malice.

"Dresden, what have you been doing?" she hissed.

"What?" asked Harry, dumbly.

"What did you DO?" she growled, taking a step forward.

"Oh, come on!" Harry protested, seeing the wardens following close behind her with a look that promised a lot of physical pain. "Look, Mai, Selby's dead, you have what you want," he said, tiredly. "My interfering didn't do anything."

"Where is the Eye?" Mai demanded.

"The trickster took it to take to you. Selby gave it to him before he killed himself," Harry replied, giving the small woman an incredulous look. "No, really. He took it."

"By the binds of his contract to me, he was to deliver the Eye to my keeping the minute he retrieved it," stated Mai. "And so far, no trickster. No Eye."

Harry gave her an astonished look. He glanced over at Bob, who shrugged, looking equally puzzled. "The only other one present during all of this is you. So I can only conclude you have it," Mai continued, quietly.

"Mai, I have no idea what you're talking about," Harry stated. "I wouldn't take something like that."

"As I have been telling you and your twin goliaths for the past hour," Bob interjected, gesturing at the two wardens.

"Quiet, ghost!" Mai thundered.

"Mai, I don't have it," Harry insisted, his fantasy of a warm bed getting smaller and smaller by the second. "Selby gave it to the trickster."

"That is impossible," Mai snapped. "If he had it, he'd have given it to me by now! All of this was simple before you got yourself involved. You will tell me right now what you did."

"The only thing he did was be a pain in my ass," stated a new arrival.

All heads turned to the front door where a familiar figure was casually leaning against the frame. The trickster easily walked in, a smile gracing his lean face.

Pushing past the surprised wizard, Ancient Mai walked up to the trickster, still flanked by her two mute wardens. "Hand over the Eye this instant," she commanded.

"Well, the thing is," said the trickster, lightly. "I no longer have it."

Mai's face darkened and for a split second it distorted into its true form before smoothing back to its normally youthful appearance. "Then you have condemned yourself to a crippled existence. Our deal is broken and your binds are forever."

"That's true," the trickster agreed. "Our deal is broken. The thing was, I had another offer. And wouldn't you know it? My binds are gone."

Mai laughed scornfully. "You're a liar. Who could possibly release you?"

"My original jailer, obviously," answered the trickster. "Odin was all too glad to grant me freedom in exchange for what is rightfully his."

From his point of view, Harry could only see the back of Mai's head, but even then he could sense the waves of utter fury coming from the Council member.

"You loathsome worm," hissed Mai. "You have no idea what -"

"Be quiet," the trickster ordered, flatly. The sheer surprise of the command seemed to silence the Council woman. Her wardens shifted uncomfortably.

The trickster moved closer to Mai until he was nearly standing on her feet. Despite not shifting his shape, he looked somehow larger and for the first time since meeting him, Harry could clearly see the amount of danger the trickster was capable of. "You stupid hag," he continued. "You think someone like you can control me?" Snaking out a hand, the trickster grabbed Mai's throat.

The two wardens advanced and despite himself, Harry held up his own staff. The trickster grinned and snapped his fingers. A circle of bright fire encircled each of them instantly, trapping them. Harry attempted to cease the flames with a gesture to no avail. Peering over Mai's shoulder, the trickster assessed the two wardens. "Ah, the two who you ordered to murder my dear wife Sigyn while moving me," he concluded. "I'll have to kill you for that."

"Don't be ridiculous," said Mai, disdainfully. She made no move to defend herself, despite her current situation. "You didn't love her. You seeking justice on her behalf? Don't make me laugh."

"How true," agreed the trickster, almost sighing. "But she remained while others chose to abandon me. For that, she deserved better than to be ended by you." He looked over at the wardens again. "Certainly by the two of you." He clenched his fist and the ring of fire closed in immediately. All that remained were two identical piles of ash. "And now," he said to Mai, who remained expressionless. "That leaves you."

"Hey, excuse me!" Harry shouted from his spot on the flaming floor. "Do you have any idea what you're bringing down on yourself starting a war with her?"

"Harry, keep quiet," Bob advised, eyeing the flames.

"I'd listen to your ghost if I were you," the trickster concurred.

"But he's right," said Mai, neutrally. She looked unbothered by the hand that was still encircling her neck. "Do you really want to start a war with me?"

"I don't need to," assured the trickster.

Logically, Harry felt like that should have been reassuring, but somehow the tone made him a little more nervous. Or maybe it was due to the fire inching a little closer to him.

"Funny thing about Odin. Around since the beginning of time and STILL he always leaves a loophole for me," said the trickster, conversationally. "He never said I couldn't use the Eye before handing it over. And you know me, I just had to take a peek at what was in store for you."

The trickster bent his head, leaning in close to Mai's ear. "One usually has several choices that lead them down several paths to several ends. I saw all of yours. And there's an ARMY of surprises waiting for you, you ancient bitch."

Maybe it was a trick of the light due to the fire around him, but Harry could swear he saw Ancient Mai, a leader of the High Council, pale several shades.

The trickster grinned. "I've seen what you can't escape. And knowing that, I'm completely satisfied." He released his grip on her. She turned to face him, energy crackled from her and shot toward the trickster who batted it away. "Now, now," he reprimanded.

"We are not done," whispered Mai. "You were chained up once. I'll find a way to do it again. And next time, I'll be the only one holding the keys."

And then she was gone.

The trickster's smile only looked more pleased.

He stepped forward, turning his attention to the remaining trapped wizard. "Harry Dresden. You have a knack for getting into trouble," he stated. "It almost makes me like you." With a gesture, the flames were gone, but Harry instead found himself pinned to the floor, face down. The trickster kneeled down by Harry's side as the wizard's face smashed up against the floor boards. "Payback's always so much fun."