Title: Legacy (part VI)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
Summary: The search. And a new villain arrives.
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
WK: 875
Part VI:
The three friends decided to separate to cover more ground. Vicki quickly listed the most obvious places to which Mike might have sought shelter and they split the list. Henry chose the more secluded ones, believing Mike would seek quiet and distance from humanity, though he did not share his theory with the women, of course. He did not know why, especially considering the history between the two of them, but he wanted to reach the blond first.
After making a quick call to Dr. Sagara and asking her to search for the significance of the number '39,' he quickly drove the women to their starting points of choice before he too went to his first location.
Surprisingly it was a playground. Vicki had told them Mike used to come here often with his nephew when the boy had been little and he still visited here from time to time.
Henry could see why. The playground was situated in the middle of a beautiful little park surrounded by big oak and chestnut trees. It was like a haven from the stress of city life and perfect for children. Children… Henry felt his heart ache. Vicki had shared with him how much Mike wanted to have children. Now Henry doubted Mike would ever allow himself that pleasure for fear of them being different and having to live with the consequences.
Henry had long ago come to terms with the fact that he could not have children of his own, but it would hurt so much more to know that you could but was afraid to allow yourself your heart's desire…
The ring of his cell phone interrupted his thoughts.
"Have you found him yet?" Vicki asked hopefully.
"No, sorry. I take it you have not either. Has Coreen checked in with you?"
"Yes, but she hasn't either and I'm running out of options. Coreen and I will take the city spots. You go to the park where we used to jog together. It is a bit out of town, but maybe you will get lucky. And, Henry, PLEASE, if you find him, be nice."
"Of course." With those words he hung up.
Henry was a bit offended that Vicki thought it necessary to remind him to behave. After all he was no monster and could probably imagine more than anyone what the detective was going through. However, he quickly attributed it to Vicki protecting her own and stopped taking it personally.
He was just leaving the playground when he saw something move in the bushes. Carefully he drew closer and found a strange being sitting between the blackberries. It was no higher than his waist and looked like it was made out of wood. Instead of hair, it sported leaves and where people wore clothes, it grew moss. The eyes were strangely big, like an animated comic figure's and were a very light green that glowed in the dark just like Mike's. Was this a wood elf?
It squeaked when it saw him, but after sniffing his scent it calmed down and turned to fetch something from under the dead leaves covering the ground behind its back.
It drew out something very long and carefully wrapped in gray material and presented it to him, squeaking:
"Prince must give present to lost son! Son's birthday brings great responsibility! Father says he loves son and will be back for him someday, but until then son has responsibility to humans. Evil spirit is loose and brings destruction. Will prince help lost son?"
Henry was speechless. How did this little creature know he was a prince? And was it referring to Mike as the 'lost son'? Perplexed, he only nodded and was surprised to receive another wrapped parcel.
"Then this is for shadow prince. Son must not be alone! Loneliness hurts son! Prince will protect son, won't he?"
Again all Henry could do was nod. What was this? Why could he not ask the questions he was dying to ask?!
"Prince is honorable being! Elves are indebted to prince! Wurzel must go now!" and with a flash of light it was gone, leaving Henry blinded for a few seconds.
Had this really happened just now? The parcels in his hands confirmed it, but he still felt lost in a dream. If anything, though this encounter had confused him, it had also proven his theory. Mike indeed was an Elf and was here to protect the world of humans from a terrible evil. That is, if Henry found him and Mike got a hold on himself. And now Henry had agreed to play watchdog to the moody detective. Great! Just what he needed! Another responsibility!
Sighing, Henry left the playground on his way to the secluded park where he hoped to find Mike.
At the same time in another part of the city, Astaroth took a scared breath as he felt a presence enter this dimension. Its power was indescribable and surpassed anything he knew.
So a new player was in town? Well, then, let the games begin! The nightwalker would never stand a chance and evil would rule – FINALLY!
His evil laugh could be heard throughout the whole block and all life left the area, sensing its impending doom.
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