Chapter 37
Tension
Fox's POV
I cautiously entered Owen's apartment. "Owen?"
He wasn't in the living room. Or the kitchen. I tried the bathroom next. Not there. I had to face it; he was in his bedroom. I stepped as quietly as I could. I winced as the floor creaked. I got the door and slowly opened it. He was asleep in the nest of Talia's clothes. They didn't smell anymore to my nose.
Ever since Brooklyn brought them home, Owen was very protective of them. He had fought the dogs for a shirt. We gave some socks to them because they had gotten upset. He later explained that it was a side effect of magic puberty. Apparently, that happened if they were young enough and Talia was physically 17. It'd tapered down to 'a more manageable level' after her magic got situated.
The air shifted and Grandmother appeared. She carefully settled next to me. She frowned as Owen's stomach gurgled.
"What are you doing here?" I asked her.
"I have been keeping an eye out since we left. I did not realize the princess's condition had been affecting the area for this long." Grandmother's brow wrinkled.
"The hunger isn't so bad anymore." I commented.
She looked at Owen. "Where did he get these?"
"One of the gargoyles found it in a dumpster." I answered.
"It is not good that he has nested." Grandmother said.
"Because he's upset?" I asked.
"The princess's scent is making Puck territorial because she is going through puberty. He would have to fight off other hobgoblins, especially males, if they caught her scent." She frowned.
"You mean they'd kidnap her?" I didn't like where this was going.
"During the breeding season, they venture from their homes to try to catch someone's eye. But some hobs do not want to risk not having a mate so they take young ones and make them submit." Grandmother explained solemnly.
"Why don't the hobs just mate a human?" I knew David would be curious about our conversation.
"It has become much harder to ensure the babe will stay within the area. They don't travel like Puck does." She looked at him.
"Is that the only reason for the nest? Keeping her scent close?" Owen's chest rose and fell.
"Puck is somewhat of a rebel compared to other house fae. He loves tricking humans and causing trouble. But he cannot disconnect himself from his instincts. So, he attempted to placate them with Robin Goodfellow. However, attaching an identity to his core intertwined Robin to his spirit. And thusly changed him." Grandmother said.
Owen gasped. We stared at him. He rolled over and kicked. He mumbled and settled down again. I turned back to her.
"Why is Talia's scent so strong; I could smell it for weeks, and how come it makes the dogs happy?" I thought.
"Halflings express their magic involuntarily through their aura and perspiration. Talia's magic is stronger due to your mother's magic. Nān Ganhān's makes it more… enticing overall. No one will fall in lust with her just because they catch her scent. As for your second question, it is part of Nān Ganhān's powers. Animals want to near her and plants will grow better around her." She told me.
"Wait, does it have an affect on us?" I suddenly questioned.
She laughed a bit. "Calm yourself, child. It affects you differently; you are her mother."
"Ok." I nodded.
Then she disappeared.
"Fox?" Owen yawned.
"Get dressed; we have to go check on my commission." I went to the living room.
Fox's POV End
Kai's POV
"… Little fox?" Someone asked.
My ears twitched. I yawned and stretched. Someone was here! I hopped out of my den.
The Child was shorter than Fox. She had a blue shirt and orange skirt. Her hair white and down to her mid back. Her ears were pointed and big, blue earrings hung from them.
"Hello, little fox." She petted my head. My tail wagged.
"My name is Kai!" I told her.
"I am Grandmother." Grandmother smiled lightly. "Who made you?
"The prince and Creator. His daddy." I explained.
She hummed. "I see."
My tummy ached as Mistress had another pain. I whined. Grandmother dug through her bag and a stick fell out. I laid down and chewed it. It had a strong taste. She took it away. I huffed. Bronx got a stick, I want a stick.
"No, that's licorice root." She petted my ears and I rolled on my back. "You're a submissive one, aren't you?"
"Rub tummy!" I barked.
"Very well, Kai." Her fingers ran through my fur. I yipped happily.
Grandmother rubbed my tummy for a few minutes then she sat in the chair. I watched as she used her magic on my den. She clicked around until she found something.
"January 16, 2023…" She frowned.
"What's that?" I asked.
"It's your birthday." She looked through it a bit more then got up.
"Where my presents?!" I spun around.
"Kai, shush. You get presents next year." She said.
Grandmother started to leave. My insides felt heavy. Like when I couldn't go search for Mistress when Fox went to the Nightstone building.
"NO! Grandmother stay!" I howled. The room shook.
"It's alright, Kai, I am here." She bent down, her hand running up and down my neck.
I licked her, whining excitedly.
"What do you want to do?" She asked.
Do? I thought. "I wanna go outside!"
She teleported us to Central Park. The sun was warm and bright. I rolled in the grass. Then I got up and went to the pond. There were ducks. I said hi, but they flew away. I drank some water.
"Kai, come here." I turned back and saw Grandmother had a stick!
I ran back. "Throw stick, throw stick!"
She threw it and I chased after it. Some of the dogs noticed, trying to get the stick. I got there first. One of them grabbed the other end. I barked. This was my stick! I tugged it away. I went back to Grandmother, but they followed. The big one tried to nip me. She petted them. I pouted.
"Go back to your masters." She told them.
They left. We played fetch for awhile then the ducks came back. I played with the ducks and ate some bread crumbs. People were throwing it on the ground so they must have wanted me to have it. I yawned, laying at Grandmother's feet.
"Are you sleepy, little one?" She asked.
"Yeah." I nodded.
She picked me up. "I will take you home after I check on Elisa."
"Elisa…" I smiled.
Grandmother teleported us again and we were in the police station. There was lots of people. Most of them were wearing the same style of clothes. There was Elisa sitting at a desk. She was working on something. Mister Bluestone wasn't here. I woofed softly, yawning again. Grandmother hushed me, petting my head. She took me back to my den. I curled up and went to sleep.
Kai's POV End
Matt's POV
Slightly earlier
"Dammit! Dammit all!" I growled.
I threw the book across the table. It fell off with a thud. All this research had made me more confused. What was happening to me? I tried to find my phone, but it was missing. I sighed, getting my keys. I drove to the Eyire Building. My mood worsened as I tried to find a parking space. I finally found one and went into the lobby.
A punk was at the front today, barely hiding that he was on his phone. "Welcome to the Eyire Building. What do you want?"
"Call Xanatos. I need to talk to him." I said.
"No can do. Not allowed." He droned.
"I'M- I'm on the list. Call him." I explained.
"The fuck's the list?" He looked up confused.
"What do you mean 'the fuck's the list?' You're working the front desk! You better not be fucking with me!" I grabbed his collar.
"Jesus, chill!" He leaned back as far as he could.
"Detective Bluestone, what seems to be the problem?" Owen asked.
I turned. Owen and Fox had come over. My jaw slacked as I noticed a transparent Puck floating above them. Puck seemed to be delighted.
"He wants me to call Xanatos." The kid explained.
"Did you check the list?" Fox asked.
"What list?" He frowned.
"The list is the people who are allowed to go to the castle without an appointment." Owen stepped to the computer and searched for it.
Puck flew around me, as close as he could without touching me. I swiped him reflexively. My hand connected with his chest and he tumbled back. We looked at each other. He grinned.
"Oh no…" I whispered.
Before Puck could renew his prodding, something pulled him back to Owen's side. He crossed his arms and pouted. He blew a raspberry his human half.
"Detective Bluestone is here to see you, sir. I have an errand with Fox. Yes, we'll be back soon." Owen hung up. He walked back to Fox. "Mister Xanatos will meet you in his office."
"Right." I nodded.
"See you later, Bluestone." Fox smiled as they left.
I rode the elevator up and went to his office. He was waiting for me at his desk. The big monitor on the wall was on so I could see the screen. It was of the security footage. Somewhere in the castle, there was Grandmother and a black fox. They were both transparent.
"What can I do for you?" He asked.
"Grandmother, Grandmother's here." I blurted out.
"Bluestone?" He frowned.
"It's just like when I saw Puck! He was transparent and he flew around me. Then I smacked him and he felt it-" I rambled.
"Matthew!" He barked. I stopped. "Start from the beginning."
Matt's POV End
Third Person
"Demona, you said we could meet at your office." Fox Xanatos' voice was tinny on the phone.
"Plans change, hu- Xanatos. You should know that…" Demona's human form, Dominique, stomped through the office. "Stupid humans and their troublesome brat. They better find her so they'll leave me alone."
Jack sighed as he rubbed his temple. Demona's thoughts were always so loud. He gently fixed his quiff and turned back to the computer. When he had first taken this job, it was easy to block out the unwanted thoughts. But the last few months in particular were rough.
Something was going on. He knew that. The hunger, the service animals acting up despite their training. Occasionally, he caught snippets of someone's mood. It was mostly fear and exhaustion, but sometimes he felt a spike of righteous anger. Jack struggled during those times to maintain his cover, as an office worker and as a normal human.
His forearm flared in pain.
"Not now, you piece of shit." Jack hissed as his mark overtook his vision.
"Why do we have to move her?" A black haired woman asked.
"Her body may reject the mutagenic formula if it's done in the cell. The formula works best if the subject isn't drugged." Sevarius told her.
"Hold still." A white haired lady tugged a strap around their chest.
A muffled scream could be heard. Sweat pooled beneath the straps.
"Shh." The blond stroked their hair.
Sevarius walked over, a needle in hand. "A shame her mother's bones had decomposed. But the experiment marches on."
He hunched over the table.
Jack 'woke' with a start. His heart raced and the terror chilled him. He tenderly touched his forearm. No more pain, but it still thrummed with energy. He went to his supervisor. The man looked at him.
"What-" He asked.
"I quit."
Third Person End
Lexington's POV
The late spring air was warm. Underneath the smog, you could smell the flowers in bloom. We were heading back to the castle when Goliath suddenly dropped.
"Goliath!" I dove after him. He grit his teeth and pulled back up before he grazed the street lights.
"I am fine, Lexington. I had a muscle spasm." He reassured me.
"Hey, Goliath, Lexington!" A young women called. We had seen her around the Labyrinth. Shari?
Goliath growled as we landed, nearly ripping the ear piece out. "It happened again."
"I've been doing everything I can, but I can't find anything. I might have to start from scratch." I said.
"Do what you must. I am tired of the ear pieces malfunctioning. They are supposed to help us." He gave it to me.
"What happened? With the ear piece and that dive." She asked. "I'm Shari, I live in the Labyrinth."
"I had a muscle spasm. The ear piece has been acting up at random times." Goliath said.
"What're you doing out here? It's late." I said. The ear piece seemed to buzz angrily. Almost like it wanted to attack.
"I have a night shift job. Unfortunately, it doesn't pay enough for me to afford an apartment nearby. Besides, Talon and the others still need help during the day." She explained.
We nodded. Elisa said the Labyrinth had lot more people than it used to.
"Well, I got to go catch the train." She said.
"Have a safe journey." Goliath told her.
She laughed as she walked away.
"Goliath, was the ear piece buzzing?" I asked.
"No, it screamed." He said.
I looked at it and it had calmed, but not stopped. I frowned. Why did no one else feel the buzz? Ever since Alex had taken control of my body, I was sensitive to magic. I could tell the difference between Alex's and Puck's magic. I'm sure I would be able to identify Talia's if I could go to one of her magic lessons. But I wasn't even sure this was magic. The hardware could be damaged; something internal could be making it buzz. Or I was still charged from watching Goliath drop from the sky.
We climbed up a nearby building and took off. We were the last ones back. The clan gathered and reported to our leader. All the Nightstone warehouses were gargoyle proof and none of them had clues, well any useful ones.
Angela had taken some bags of IV fluid, iron rivets, and syringes from an open truck. The syringes were most definitely Sevarius' and the rivets were for Talia. But the IV fluid? Owen took everything she had found to analyze.
"We haven't found anything to her whereabouts in six months, lad. It's May. Perhaps it's time we come up with a new strategy." Hudson said.
"I hate to say it, but she can't be anywhere but the main building. It's the only place that makes sense. Thailog has to have complete control over the environment because he's the only one who knows what she can do. That's the reason she hasn't escaped. She can't play her ace if he's drugging her like he did in the video." Brooklyn said.
Goliath frowned in thought, wings ruffling in displeasure. "Yes, but we cannot attack him now. We need to know the lay of the building, Xanatos."
He walked into view. "I'll do what I can, but he probably has the real blueprints under lock and key."
"You will get what we need." Goliath re-caped his wings and left.
We quietly filed out, leaving the human alone.
Lexington's POV End
