Chapter Two:

Then Run and a Surprise

I wasn't sure I was quite ready for this run, but when a vampire tells you, you are… you kind of just nod and follow her. Jenks shared my opinion, but Ivy wouldn't listen, saying we were just scared and out of practice. My point was, if we were scared and out of practice then why were we starting with a clan of black witches.

But, Ivy was right, I've fought a demon and won… heck… the whole Ever-After, and won. Speaking of, I should call Al, see how he is… when did I start caring for the demon that tried to rip my throat out when we first met? I shrugged and shook my head when Jenks looked at me from the rearview mirror.

"Is Ivy crazy or what?" Jenks snapped and took flight, he buzzed around before he sat on the dash.

"Nah, she's right… we've done worse. Well, I've done worse…" I shrugged again and watched to make sure I didn't lose Ivy. She wanted to ride her bike, as usual.

"It'll be a snap, or we have to do is go in take them down and come back out…" I smiled, thinking Ivy was right.

"I'd rather come out alive…" He snapped before he flew back to rearview mirror.

I sagged, way to go Jenks, thanks for popping my bubble. "What's your problem? No one can catch you, and you can just fly away… I'm the one they will be shooting at!" It was my turn to snap, I sighed and took a deep breath.

"Exactly… who will I live with if you are dead? Ivy?" He laughed a bitter laugh. "She'd probably invite Nina to move in. Even for a family of pixies, two vampires is too much."

I smirked and pulled into an office buildings parking lot. "Weird place to practice dark magic…" Jenks muttered from the mirror, I silently agreed.

I'd made a homing spell to focus in on the dark witches, so far it was not working, or maybe there were no witches… not the first time I've gone into a trap.

"If this is a trap Jenks, you get out and tell Trent, yes, Trent! Don't ask…"

"I'm afraid you might attack me again…" He said bitterly, but with a slight side of pride.

"I told you to stop bothering me…" I said, not at all guilty.

"When did you get vampire reflexes?" He asked in awe, I just shrugged and shut off the car; I grabbed my bag and climbed out.

Truth being, I didn't know how I caught Jenks, but it wasn't that big of importance, so I didn't think about it too much.

"No one's inside as far as I can tell. Jenks!" Ivy pointed to an open window on the second floor window, he nodded and flew off.

"Ivy, I don't like this, it just smells all wrong. Who does black magic in an office building?" I sighed, Ivy just waved me off, I sighed again and decided to be extra prepared. I found the nearest ley line, not too far from here, I reached out to it and spindled as much as I could into my chi. This just didn't smell right.

"Lets go…" Ivy started off for the lowest window she could find, I snorted and followed her.

"You might have 2 lives Ivy, but Jenks and I only have the one." I shouted to her, she hissed at me to be quiet as she pried a window open.

I just rolled my eyes and hitched up my bag as I climbed through the window. I pulled out my locater charm and was surprised to see it glow a faint green. Meaning someone here was a part of the coven, as the object I was given was from the coven. Or they were here and just left, that wouldn't bother me at all. But, as the lights flashed on overhead, that hope was dashed. In the doorway was what looked like five big burly guys, I glanced at Ivy, with daggers, she just shrugged and got ready for a fight. But, another thought accord to me, if we went with them, they would lead us straight to the witches, I smiled and slowly stashed my bag in a cubby hole then raised my hands in surrender.

I heard Ivy grumble and do the same, I was relieved when it looked like they wanted us alive.

"Move it!" The one with a big orange mustache said, it had to be a mistake, no one has orange mustaches. I just nodded and stared at his moustache. One took my locator charm and looked at it confused, definitely not witches or warlocks then.

"It's a locator charm… it's how we found you." I smiled, Ivy snorted. Ok, so Ivy found them, but still. My run, so my glory…

"Be quiet and move!" The orange man pushed me again. I grumbled and kept walking.

"Is it part of the job to push your captives when making them walk somewhere?" I heard Ivy sigh, but I'd always wanted to know, they always pushed. I think they just liked it.

We entered very large empty room, obviously it was conference room cleared of all furniture. "Love what you've done to the place ladies!" I smiled, but froze when they parted to reveal a circle with a demon in it, not any demon… but Al. "Swell…"

"Itchy witch? What are you doing here?" He snapped, I rolled my eyes and gestured to the witches. "Oh right, capturing the black witches, gotcha."

"Rachel Morgan, as I live and breathe…" The one in the middle said, she lowered her hood, she was pretty old, probably about fifty.

"Let Al out and you won't be…" I smiled back, she lost hers and growled.

"Perfect, thanks for volunteering. We needed a life sacrifice." She smiled as Orangey pushed me forward towards her.

I put on a very scared face, which seemed to make her feel better, I could barely resist rolling my eyes, she was so gullible. Ivy was playing her part perfectly; she was screaming and begging them not to. Glad she finally caught on, as soon as I passed close by Als circle, I pretended to trip and land on my knees. The room laughed and fifty bitch yelled something about the almighty Rachel Morgan.

I looked up at Al, who actually looked worried, that time I did roll my eyes. At that he smiled, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my splat gun, idiots should have searched me first. I looked up at the fifty bitch walked up to me, she was about to kick me in the ribs, when I shot her right in the face with a sleepy time potion. The look of shock was priceless.

"You idiots, you didn't search her before bringing her?!" A man I had never noticed before, said from the corner.

I didn't have time to bother with them. No way, Ivy and I, could take on a coven of black witches and five, make that four, big guys. I heard Al make noises beside me, I smiled and slowly reached over and smudged the salt, at once the circle broke. The look of horror on all their faces was truly priceless.

"No Al, no killing or dismembering…but feel free to hurt and or maim. As long as they are in one piece and alive." I smiled and stepped back, Al stepped forward a huge grin on his face.

"You think he will listen?" One of the ladies said, her face under her hood was white.

"Of course, I freed him, so I control him. Also, I'm his student, he knows better than to piss me off.

"Please… help us!" She yelled, but the man in the corner was gone, and so was Ivy. Hopefully she went after him, I had to stay and make sure Al, didn't get too carried away.

"You summoned a demon, now you have to deal with the consequences. Have fun!" I smiled and sat down on a random chair.

I wasn't as traumatized or disgusted as I thought I'd be, I was actually cheering him on. He was quite well behaved, didn't rip or kill any of them, and he went especially light on the ladies. I doubt they will be summoning any demons anytime soon, idiots. Once they were all out cold, Al gave a little wave and popped back to the ever-after. Ivy reappeared bruised and bloody but empty handed.

"He was too strong, a very powerful witch. I think he knew some of your stuff Rachel…" Icy leaned against the wall and slide down, I fished a pain amulet out of the bag I had retrieved while Al had his fun and handed it to Ivy, she smiled gratefully. She must be in pain to accept one. Nothing her vampire body can't handle.

"I'd offer you a snack…" I gesture to the bodies. "But they aren't a good year, or breed…"

She just smiles and shakes her head. "I did get a good look at him though." She gave me a basic description, tall, brunette, blue eyes, stocky, fancy dress, expensive shoes, which means he's rich and powerful. Peachy… I wonder who our mystery guest was… I looked up as the IS burst in along with the FIB, not sure why they were here, but I was glad. The IS hated me, with a passion of ten thousand years, or more…

Maybe we can sneak out while they argue over jurisdictions? I looked at Ivy, and it appeared she had the same idea. We get paid if the IS or FIB take them into custody or not, so didn't matter to me. This mystery man did though…

"Ivy, you seen Jenks?" I looked around, she suddenly sat up straight and looked too, then I heard the sound of wings.

"Tinks titties, I missed everything." He snapped, I smiled and saw Ivy sag in relief.

"Where the hell have you been?" She snapped at him, he flew right into her face, she didn't move, just stared at him.

"I got stuck in some sticky silk, alright?!" He spat, I couldn't help but snicker. Those two fought like cats and dogs, but they still loved each other.

"I did find a back door, over there…" He gestured, I looked to it. It was unguarded, I nodded to Ivy, who nodded back. She slowly stood, and I slowly started to back towards the door. Slow movements are better than fast, slow they will ignore… fast they will notice.

Having successfully escaped the office building and parking lot without being spotted and stopped; wasn't as hard as I thought. I liked it better that way. All I could think about on the drive home was the mystery fellow. So, he was powerful, rich, and new lay line magic did he? Was he just a lay line witch, or was he also a demon?

Hmm… I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of him very soon. So much for the peace and quiet… I sighed and glanced at Jenks, fast asleep in my bag, I couldn't help but smile.