Shayne told his team that he would find them later as he had things to do, Lina insisted on coming with him as did Ellice, Shayne knew better to argue with Lina so he let them come with him, Hanna Dundra and Eddi went into town to locate something that Eddi wanted.
They arrived at Shayne's mothers store at 11:30 am and when they walked in she was sat at the counter, she hid it well but Shayne knew she was upset about something. She looked up at the bell and quickly wiped her eyes as she saw them.
"I thought you'd be coming alone Shayne"
"So did I but they insisted on coming"
"So where are the others today?"
"They went to do something that Eddi needs to do"
"Okay then, Ellice can you go with Lina and make sure my kids are ready for school"
"Sure, c'mon Lina"Lina nodded and followed Ellice upstairs
Once Selena was sure that they were out of earshot she beckoned Shayne closer.
"Shayne, I told you about the men coming later, well they called just before you arrived and they moved up when they are coming to half one, and they seem to think I have security now, so they're bringing more than just the two, I'm not sure you'll be as useful as I thought"
"I know that Lina can handle herself in a fight…"
"Shayne that's not the point, I'm having trouble even having you here, let alone her and Ellice"
"I have an idea but it will take some time…"
"What is it; I may be able to help"
"I need a large open space and a large Dust crystal"
"Well I have a small warehouse out back and there's a Dust shop around the corner, if that's any help"
"It is, I'll be back soon"
Shayne left and quickly found the store, he was browsing the glass cases when a commotion was heard from the front desk, Shayne peered around the corner at the clerk, he was being held at gunpoint. Shayne counted two men at the counter and another keeping the other clientele quiet. Shayne made his way to the counter, nobody was looking at him. He was about to take one in a strangle hold when he was hit from behind, Shayne stumbled into the one holding the gun and it went sliding across the room.
He turned to find another of the thieves righting himself after hitting Shayne. Shayne straightened up and ducked an incoming punch, sending a jab to another of the thieves, by now the one who had been keeping the other patrons quiet had heard the commotion and had joined the fray. Shayne dodged punches and blocked kicks, delivering his own when he could. He was taken into a choke hold and was suffocated until he dropped to his knees pulling the thief over his shoulder and punching him in the face, knocking him unconscious. Shayne couldn't celebrate as he was hauled to his feet before being thrown through one of the glass cases; he felt a large shard of glass pierce his thigh as he rolled backwards off the Dust. The thieves advanced on him again as he removed the glass from his leg, he had just pulled it free when he was kicked in the face, he blinked the pain from his face as his nose was broken.
'Why am I taking such a beating today?' he thought as he was hauled to his feet again.
He looked one of the thieves in the eye and saw the familiar red glow of the Grimm. He felt around in his pocket for a weapon or something he could use, he closed his fingers around Rose's claw. His fingers slipped into the holes of the hand plate and as he squeezed claws shot out from the plate metal on the back of his hand, going straight through the arm of the guy holding Shayne.
Shayne pulled the claw free and turned to the last two thieves, they were clearly nervous but if they ran Shayne wouldn't hesitate to chase, so instead the rushed him at the same time. Shayne caught the arm of one and swung him into the other, they careened across the room before coming to rest unconscious against the wall. Shayne staggered forwards and the claw felt to pieces in his hand, he dropped to his knees as the clerk made his way gingerly over to him.
"Hey kid, are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine, just give me a minute"Shayne said, grimacing as the gash in his leg was being healed.
The police arrived moments later and began cuffing the thieves. Shayne stood up as they were escorted from the building. He approached the counter holding a particularly large crystal from the case he had been thrown through.
"I'd like to purchase this crystal but it needs to be cut to specific dimensions"
"Well, what dimensions do you need?"
Shayne handed him a scrap a paper with the dimensions scrawled on it, the clerk disappeared out to the back room as the police dealt with the other people in the store, and Shayne heard the grinding of metal through Dust. The clerk came back a few moments later the crystal already wrapped in a paper bag.
"Thanks how much do I owe you?"
"Nothing at all, you saved both my store and my life today, take it as a gift" Shayne smiled and walked out ignoring the reporters completely.
He arrived back at his mother's store and Lina ran straight up to him and kissed him. When she eventually let him go his mother was smirking.
"Is the warehouse ready?"
"Well its empty if that's what you mean" Shayne nodded and walked out, leaving Lina with his mother.
He walked over to the large delivery door and slid it open, a gust of fresh mid-morning air wafted in. he strode over to the center of the room and put the crystal on the ground. He knelt down facing both it and the open doorway; he closed his eyes and waited.
"Dundra we need to talk"
"What about?"
"Where is this relationship going?"
"What do you mean?"
"I think we should break up dammit!" Dundra stopped, he stood speechless.
"Dundra…are you okay?" He turned at the new voice.
"Nelwyn? What are you doing here in Mistral?"
"I'm having an unofficial vacation, what about you guys?"
"We're here as a team but Shayne and Lina are helping his mom and Hanna is somewhere around"
"Okay, Dundra you look upset, is something wrong?"
"No…everything is fine"
"Dundra we need to talk about this"
"Eddi, there's nothing to talk about, you've made up your mind"
"I'm not sure that this is the best place to be talking about this guys"
"You're right Nelwyn, Dundra lets go back to the hotel and talk about this"
"No, I said there's nothing to talk about" he stormed off
"Dundra! Wait…!"
He didn't stop, Nelwyn put her arm around Eddi and they walked back to the hotel.
A dark shadow passed by one of the warehouse windows, and Nemea walked in through the large door. Shayne opened his eyes as he approached.
"Nemea, I haven't had to call you for some time, how are things in the forest"
'Nothing new, but right now we are being watched' Nemea looked to Ellice and she yelped involuntarily. Shayne looked over and stood up.
"Sh-Shayne…we should probably run"
"Don't worry about him, he won't hurt you" he held out his hand, she took it gingerly.
Shayne led her to where he had been knelt, and sat her down next to him, keeping his hand in hers, a deep voice echoed in Ellice's mind.
'Greetings Ellice, you fear me, do not be afraid child I mean you no harm' Ellice was shaking slightly.
"Nemea, I require some assistance from you"
'You know that I am glad to help, what is it that you need'
"I want to channel some of my Grimm into this crystal" Nemea nodded and Shayne focused on the crystal before him. It rose about an inch above the ground and remained there as Grimm leapt from Shayne's arm into the Crystal turning it black as night, tendrils of darkness spilled from its edges. Nemea snarled and the flow of Grimm from Shayne's arm slowed an eventually ceased. He flexed his hand as the Grimm settled once more, the crystal now floated of its own accord. Shayne inhaled deeply and blinked repeatedly, his eyes had dried out while transferring the Grimm.
Shayne moved his hand under the crystal and it moved with his hand, floating an inch above it at all times. He stood up but Ellice remained seated, she looked quizzically at Nemea. He roared quietly and she panicked, she ran to Shayne as he neared the door.
"Ellice, I told you he's harmless"
"That doesn't make him any less terrifying" Shayne smiled and patted her hand.
He sat down at the table in the back room of the store and put the crystal on the table. He held up his left hand and he projected his mind into the crystal, he formed the Grimm into a physical shape that could be projected from the crystal, he chose the one thing that came naturally, a wolf. He formed it around the residual Auras that sat in the area, picking out his mother's Aura as well as her families; he also added his team, Ellice and Lina. He removed himself from the crystal and awoke to find his mother stood over him trying to wake him.
"Shayne, thank goodness you're okay"
"I told you he'd be fine Selena; he often zones out like that and comes out of it within minutes, so we don't worry about it anymore"
"Mom, if I told you to name a pet what would you call it?"
"I'd probably call it what I'd call my next son, if I was going to have one"
"Which is?"
"I'd call it Blaine"
Shayne smiled and stared into the crystal again, his eyes glazed over and Selena's brow furrowed again. After a few moments Shayne blinked and grabbed the crystal, allowing it to settle above his hand before speaking.
"Now call Blaine"
"But none of us are called Blaine"
"Selena, just indulge him I think I know where this is going" Lina said folding her arms
"Oh all right….Blaine!"
The word barely left her mouth and the crystal became perfectly still and emitted a low hum as the tendrils of Grimm thickened and began to pool on the floor. The pool became about 3 feet in diameter and was perfectly circular; it boiled as a shape began to rise from it. A wolf, about 5 feet long and 3 feet high now stood in the middle of the circle, pitch black with a bone white face, its eyes glowed red.
"Sh-Shayne what is that thing" his mom said nervously while slowly backing away from the large Grimm.
"Now don't panic, but it's a Grimm, I made it to help you stay safe"
"How did you make a Grimm Shayne" Ellice asked confused herself.
He held out his left arm and the tattoos writhed as if on cue.
"Shayne, when did you get that done?"
"Well I didn't get it done more, it just happened over night and I woke up with it, it's been my curse for almost seven years now" he flexed his hand.
The large wolf padded over to Selena and licked her hand before sitting next to her.
"Shayne, I'm not sure about this, so it's friendly with me and you, but what about my kids and my husband…."
"I've tuned it not to harm any of you using the residual Auras that I could sense in the area" she gave him a look of scepticism.
"Well, isn't it almost time for those guys to get here?" Selena looked at the clock and she grimaced. She nodded and turned to Ellice.
"Could you go look after my kids upstairs please" Ellice nodded
"Lina, you should go too, just in case"
"But Shayne…"
"No buts just go" Lina pouted and folded her arms tightly before going up the stairs after Ellice.
About a minute later the door opened ringing the bell. Blaine's head raised as Selena walked through to the front accompanied by Shayne.
"Selena, it's that time again"
"Yes gentlemen, I know but I don't think you know my son, Shayne" he nodded at them from the doorway.
"Enough of this, give us what we came for or I'm gonna be forced to do something ill regret" the larger of the two men said drawing a machete from his belt.
Shayne was behind him in a split second, with a knife to his throat.
"Or ill do something you'll regret, put the machete away, now" the man slowly sheathed the blade and brought his hands released him and stepped away.
"Good, now let's conduct this properly" he looked to his mother who pulled out a black case.
"I want 50%"
"No, you get 35%" Blaine padded into the room, their eyes were drawn to the animal and the small man gulped slightly.
"Okay 45% percent, that's all we can offer"
"It'll do, for now" money exchanged hands and the men went on their way.
"Shayne I can't thank you enough for that, last time I got almost nothing now at least my family can have some nice things"
"I don't want any more part of this, Blaine is yours but when I leave I may not be back for a long time" She nodded as Lina and Ellice walked in.
"They're fine Selena they were watching TV"
"Good you guys are free to go now if you want; it's about time I closed up anyway" She walked to the door, turned the sign to closed and locked the door. Shayne looked at Lina and Ellice.
"So what do you wanna do now?"
Before either of them could answer Shayne's Scroll went off. It was a message from Dundra.
'We have your friend, come to the docks at midnight if you want him back alive'
Shayne looked grim, Lina looked at the message and they left without another word.