The cyber cookies go to VizeerLord and petros308 for letting me know when the new Dresden book Changes comes out. The release date is set for April 2010. That's a long time… I guess I'll just have to pass the time with more fanfiction! Speaking of which, role disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Jane and Talin… and Fred the cat. Other than that, I am just a poor retch who has a love obsession with dark chocolate and Pepsi.
Take that lawyers!
I've been made aware that there is also a graphic novel. I think I'll investigate and for all of you that have read a few of the Dresden comics feel free to let me know if they're any good.
Thank you all and now on with the show!
Chap. 5
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Balancing on the edge of the curb with her arms spread Jane slowly made her way to the newly revived Blue Beetle. A car blazed by and caused her to wobble into a staggering step until she finally leaned against the multicolored catastrophe that Harry had driven them in.
"Not to interrupt but what are you doing?" asked Murphy.
"Not stepping on the cracks," she responded in a singsong voice.
"Why?" asked Harry unlocking the door for Murphy. Electronic door openers were useless not to mention way before his Beetle's time.
"So the mothers' backs don't break," she stated pirouetting while Harry pulled the seat forward for her.
"I beg your pardon?" said Murphy, her cheek twitched as she tried not to smirk.
"It's good fun and great for balance."
"If you're five," said Harry chuckling as she clamored in.
"Five or Five hundred, I'll take fun over fear any day."
Harry looked over at Murphy as they pulled away. She was looking at his dashboard pondering something with her fists in her lap.
They pulled in across the street from the Carpenter house, that way the chances of losing another windshield to a fly ball were lessened. Most of the Carpenter brood was playing catch while the littler ones played house in the tree house. The little houses windows were just low enough that as Harry passed by he could see his namesake playing dress up with the neighborhood kids. At least he's a lady's man thought Harry as he watched the little guy be fawned over by girls with bows and ribbons.
A few of the older kids waved in-between passes as they made their way down the path. Molly came out on the porch rolling her eyes with her mother right behind her up to her elbows in flour.
"Perfect timing, get me out of here," said Molly coming down the stairs in a huff.
"When I asked you to help with making your sister a cake I did not mean use spells to burn my pie tins," said Charity wiping her hands on her apron. When she turned her attention to the trio, she sighed tiredly.
"As usual, something blows up and you appear. I take it you are here for the mail Michael mentioned?"
Jane tilted her head trying to figure out why Harry looked so piqued. The woman was about her size, if a little more shapely and the only menacing thing about her was the flour.
"Now Charity, you can hardly blame me for a cooking accident," said Harry.
"Using magic, you taught her" Charity replied curtly.
From the way Murphy was reacting, or not reacting this conversation was not out of the ordinary. Time was not usually a problem for her but she had a date with immortal fury and she didn't dare show up late, so she leapt up the three steps to Charity and tried to appear innocent if not harmless.
"Hello, I don't believe we've met before. I'm called Jane and it's actually wonderful to finally meet Molly's mother," she said holding out her arm. Attention averted she turned to look over Jane and shake her hand.
"Charity Carpenter. It's a pleasure. You should fit into my old armor, will you need the whole set?"
"Just the mail please, and thank you again for letting me wear it."
"Michael said you needed it as soon as possible so I'll show you to the shed, after that take what you need," said Charity as they followed her through her house and out to the backyard.
"I have to get back to baking before guests start arriving; her siblings can only keep her occupied for so long before she figures out the surprise. I have some weapons if you need them in the back trunk," she told them as they came to a back shed in the far corner of the yard. She unlocked it and started back to the house.
"Thanks again!" called Harry pulling the door open. Inside was a collection of bits and pieces of armor and mail hung neatly on the walls. A trunk was slid into one corner to make room for a rototiller and the garden rakes.
Frolicking in, Jane pulled chain mail and bracers off the shelves and took off her jacket. Pulling the metal jerkin over her head while holding her hair out of the way she spun in place.
"What do you think?"
"That's a bit obvious, don't you think?" said Murphy pulling on the links so it lay properly.
"The jacket should cover the rest," said Harry.
"The bracers are small enough to go under your jacket Murphy," said Jane tossing them to the confused cop.
"For me? What for?"
"I don't know Murph, they clash with your holster and gun." said Harry.
"Wouldn't want to go look for you in Faerie now would we?" said Jane pulling on her jacket and feeling a little reassured by the added weight.
"Well I feel ridiculous."
"Now Murph, just cuz you're only a level four Paladin and I'm a level 39 spell caster is no reason to be jealous," said Harry with his hands on his hips.
"Wow, Harry I never knew you were into W.O.W." came a voice from behind him.
"I'm not, read it on a t-shirt."
"You still need to take into account your shadow from the sun," said Jane tossing her jacket over Molly.
"I'm working on it," she said pulling off the red jacket and sliding back into visibility.
"Keep it up, we'll have to postpone lessons for a few days until we get something cleared up" said Harry as they made a hasty exit to the front yard as they heard a siren blast followed by screeching tires.
"Quick! Hide the booze!" said Jane as two cops jumped out of their cars.
"Jane, lets play a game. It's called the quiet game," said Harry noticing blood spatter on the arm of the younger officer's sleeve. Their eyes locked on Murphy and one hastily pulled a wad of crumpled newspaper out of his coat pocket. Harry recognized the older officer; it was Paul the mechanic-cop who had brought his Blue Beetle back to life.
"Murphy we have a situation down on Sheridan by the water front. You're going to have to see this." said Paul nodding over to the young officer who was pale and fumbling with the newspaper wrapping.
"What happened?" asked Murphy glancing between Harry and Jane. The officers' fear and confusion looked like it might be their variety of baddie. Taking the wrapping, she pulled it apart to reveal a white leather glove and rose petals.
By this time all of the Carpenter kids had run inside to tell Charity who came out on the porch with a frosting covered spoon.
"What's going on out here?" she called coming down the stairs with a flock of children in orbit around her.
"Nothing Charity, we'll get out of your way." Harry called back to her. "Let's take this party somewhere else," he said ushering them out of the front yard.
"Paul this is the worst prank I have ever seen. Who put you up to this?" demanded Murphy crumpling up the glove and paper.
"I only wish. That was on a girls hand and it burned her down to the bone Murph," said Paul gesturing.
"Which hand?" asked Jane snatching the paper and pulling it back open.
"Right." said the young cop looking like he would be sick.
"Shite. This is too soon, it's too soon… We have to get to that girl. Where is she?"
"Still at the scene. No one can get her to move. She's covered in ivy and keeps saying that she answered our riddle, that we can't hurt her any more. She's been screaming at the trees to leave her alone." said Paul already moving to the first car.
"Where there any witnesses?" asked Murphy jumping in the other side.
"She is the witness, a body was found in the water. It's an old women but the delusional girl is acting as though she was her classmate."
"Take us to her," said Harry crouching down to slide in back.
"Jane? Are you coming?" asked Murphy leaning over to peer through the window.
"I'll meet you there, I need to get some things," she said pulling off the metal jerkin and tossed it in next to Harry.
"Gotta feed your kitty?" he asked. Paul shot him a strange look as he shifted gears getting ready to pull away.
"Sure, see you there." she said backing away toward the Carpenters tree fort.
"Hurry" said Harry as they pulled away lights flashing. The siren came on as they turned the corner drawing all the attention to them as she ducked under the tree's shadow and rang her little bell.
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When they arrived, the beach and road were blocked and strung with police take and barriers carefully patrolled by anxious officers. Over the wind coming off Lake Michigan a girls hysterical screams and ranting was heard making your hair stand on end.
The girl was standing on a rock by the shore with barely an inch of tidewater around her. Her eyes darted around as though she were surrounded by sharks. She was gripping the bloodied remains of her hand now charred and mostly bone and shaking it at the cops who were attempting to calm her down or tackle her. The rock was half as high as the tallest officer and the girl for all of her blood loss was in such a state of pure adrenalin that she darted out of their reach screeching as she went.
Murphy's business face came on as she waved away the men and headed for the crazed girl.
"Paul, what can you tell me about her?"
"What you see is what you get, the Jane Doe is not in our systems and no relatives have come to claim her."
"Of course not, middle schoolers don't usually have a record," said Jane noting that the girls gaze had locked on them. Paul paused for a moment and turned to Jane.
"Look mam, I don't know how familiar you are with investigations but unidentified female bodies are called Jane Doe for the time being until we can identify them. As for the girl on the rock, our boys have been here for hours trying to get her to come down but nothing will work," said Paul trying for politeness.
"Did you try a tranq. gun?" asked Harry taking his hat off to the eerily quiet girl who quickly turned back to watching the water.
"She pulled them out and tossed them like they were flies. She's had enough to knockout a linebacker."
Murphy raised her eyes to Jane who shrugged and looked over at Paul.
"I think we can handle it from here Paul," said Murphy as Jane walked over to Harry nearer to the breaking tide. Paul nodded and went back to sent his boys on to the next call.
"Thoughts?" asked Murphy coming up behind the wizards who were once again bickering like children.
"It's not a kelpie," said Jane.
"Then why is she scared of the water?" said Harry watching the girl judging the distance from dry land and her rock. An Olympic jumper couldn't make the jump without getting their feet wet.
"The glove is the key; the damn Grimm Brothers would be having a field day with this one… This is bigger than some nobles pet pony. This is… Stanley Cup big!" exclaimed Jane.
"The what?" said Harry.
"Hockey, the frozen four…" said Murphy. Harry gave her a strange look. "My cousins are diehards, it's something really big, right Jane?"
"Do you still have that glove?" she asked instead of answering.
"It's in the car."
"You might want to go grab it." said Jane as she watched the girl stagger and barely catch herself.
"I'm on it," said Murphy taking off like a seasoned sprinter.
"This girl is not part of our deal," she told Harry.
"It's part of our case, they're connected" reasoned Harry.
"I needed chain mail, fae proof armor exchange for helping with the lad, the girl is another matter. What else do you have to offer?"
"My charm and wit?" said Harry trying to judge if she really had any valuable information on this matter or if he should just handle it himself.
"As delightful as that sounds, I need better instruction on the rules of this time."
"I can-"
"From your apprentice."
"Wait, from Molly?" he asked a little stunned.
"Yes, who knows this world's rules better than the young, and how to break them without reprimand?" said Jane grinning at his floundering.
"No deal, Charity would kill me in horrible and barely imaginable ways if she found out I'd sold her daughter as a present day instructor to another wizard." he told her deciding that he might be better off trying to tackle the girl himself.
"A favor for the future then, agreed upon by us both then?" she recovered drawing him back.
"Desperate are we?"
"One never can have too many favors owed to them" she replied.
"Agreed upon by both of us?"
"Yes, quickly now or it won't matter." she said extending her arm and glancing behind him. The girl swayed drunkenly, her breath came in huffs as she came nearer to the rocks edge.
"Done!" he said grasping her arm, he felt a small tug but dismissed it. He had no idea what might have taken hold of the girl and right now it looked like she was in need of a professional.
Jane grinned impishly and passed around him in a flurry just as the weary girl fell. Jane caught her and landed on dry land in the newly parted wave. She scooted back just out of reach of the waves and checked that the girl was still among the living, a hacking cough assured her that the girl could still make it. Uncorking a vial she made the feeble girl choke down her brew as Harry raced over to stop her from strangling the girl.
"Keep still girl or you'll lose your arm in a twinkle" she admonished the girl as she began to thrash, looking wildly at the parted waves near them.
"I answered the riddles, it's despair. The answer's despair! Please just let me go! Let me wake up!" said the girl sobbing with her remaining strength.
"Can I have your name lass?" said Jane settling down with the girl in her lap.
"Colleen. Please lady, what did you give me? I don't want anymore of that food," she cried harder.
"Looks like your strength's coming back then Colleen. You were given a faerie brew and I gave you a healthy dose of mortal medicine for just this type of hangover my girl," said Jane wrapping the crippled bone hand in the girls sleeve until Murphy returned.
"Do you have a tale to tell, little Colleen? One with precious little fairy dust then?" she asked the girl who was so focused on the strange things Jane was saying that she hadn't noticed that her arm was now limp at her side.
"Don't take things from strangers. They had a horse that they asked us to hold, Jen and me. I told her the man's eyes looked strange but they were so…"
"Beautiful" Jane said is a deadpan voice.
"The lady asked if we would like a ride, Jen said she didn't need gloves- she grew up in the barn, had lessons-"
"The lady, did she give you anything? Even a trinket?"
"She gave me some cakes and some gloves, said I shouldn't ruin my dainty hands- shouldn't accept gifts form strangers…"
"That's right lass, so Jen went for a ride and you stayed with the lady and a man right?"
"Yeah… she was so pretty and nice, she would never hurt us. Her… guy that was with her, he wasn't very nice. He didn't like the lady but he gave me his gloves when she asked. It was like she was a…"
"A queen, love. Like a queen. The scowling man, what did he look like?"
"Boring brown, his pretty gloves weren't even his… somebody lent them to him. Where are they? He'll come back mad if he finds out I lost them… I only put one on my…" the girl went ridged as she saw Murphy approaching with the little white glove.
"No! Not again, you're one of them aren't you? You tricked me! Help! HELP! Somebody!" Colleen started screaming and thrashing. It was all Jane and Harry could do to contain the poor girl as she fought them and at the same time tried not to go near the surrounding water. Jane had had about enough of this when she got an elbow to the cheek. Adopting a darker continence, she went still and held the girls jaw in her hand squeezing.
"You're right girl. I am a fae but you have just one chance to escape me. You have managed to pass my lady's tests proving that you are a good girl but you have one more before you may go," hissed Jane calling up her ire. That got the girls attention as she sat stock still, brown eyes big and tear filled. The truth could only give the girl more harm, better to lie and save the poor wretch thought Jane hating herself.
She turned to see Harry with a stern look on his face. She had made her bed, best finish this quickly… but what to ask the trembling little mite?
Jane sighed. "On my way to St. Ives I saw a man with seven wives, each wife had seven children, each child had seven cats, each cat had seven kittens and each kit had seven balls of yarn. How many people were on their way to St. Ives?"
The girl stared at her for a moment. "One."
"Good, now close your eyes or I'll toss you into my watery realm mortal," said Jane elbowing Harry who had started to snort. The girls eyes closed but snapped back open warily.
"I promise I'll put you to rights, mortal girl. I'm a fae and so, cannot lie. Now close you eyes or I'll leave you to my pets." said Jane taking the glove from the stoic Murphy. You're not the only one who doesn't like this she wanted to tell the blond cop but the girl had closed her eyes again. Slipping the glove over the girl's hand, she dipped her hand in the water around them and let it drip into the glove. The girl whimpered but didn't open her eyes. Next she took a strand of the girls own hair and tied a knot around the glove and sent her will into it closing the ring. Pealing the glove off the girls restored hand she broke the strand around her wrist then stood letting the girl plop to the ground.
"Answer me this little Colleen, do you believe in faeries?"
The stunned girl looked at her hand then over at the harsh Jane Fae and shook her head.
"Mores the pity, for we believe in you. Get out of my sight and keep safe in your iron-poisoned city human." glared Jane ringing her bell. Fred grinned at his mistress and looked over at the frightened girl. The shadow cat's appearance was too much for the girl who fainted dead away and had to be carried back to the road to be taken to the hospital.
Stroking Fred she held on to his coat for a moment for strength to not dwell on the harm she had done the girl and focus on the good. That focus became harder when Murphy's cold gaze fell on her. Jane sent Fred on his way and brushed past the cop only to be dragged back by her collar.
"You terrified that girl, probably scared her for life. How could you?" she demanded keeping a firm grip on Jane's collar.
"I did what I had to." she told the infuriated cop. Murphy looked like she wanted to punch her lights out when Harry put a hand on her arm to still its shaking. Taking a deep breath, most likely counting to ten and back again she let go of Jane.
"That wasn't necessary." she told Jane levelly.
"I did what was asked of me. I saved a girl and gave her back her life." said Jane not liking how easily the bite came back into her voice. "And believe you me, she would have died for all the care you wanted to give her." Murphy started but looked over at Harry and said nothing.
"I don't enjoy scaring children, but I am not sorry for what I've done. This is only the beginning, the girl was right to be scared. She was a warning meant for us."
"Then it sounds like was had better pay that lord a visit soon then." said Harry watching the sun set over the hill, turning the water black.
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"I can't believe we're doing this…" said Harry adjusting his coat. Murphy looked less pleased in her borrowed dress as she fidgeted over the ruffles.
"The plan I had in mind was so much simpler, but you two had to be difficult." she told the well dressed couple. They were arm and arm in evening attire while she was dressed in a lab coat she had found for herself.
"This one involves less damage." said Murphy looking up at Harry in his suit. Their things were packed in duffle bags that Fred was ferrying over to the other side.
"I feel like I'm back at the prom, when can we stop reliving my awkward high school career?" grumbled Harry shifting his tie.
"And I look, oh so foxy in my lab coat and clip board. Play the part you two." said Jane hands on her hips.
Harry looked down at Murphy and gulped, for all her fluttering over her dress she looked every inch a lady in it. Which was probably more than he could say for his outfit…
"I mean it you two, lovely dovey or somebody's getting stabbed. Got it?" grumbled Jane trying to adjust to her new streak of lies. They laughed at her and walked behind her chatting about the night and how wonderful their nonexistent dinner had been. They passed a few of the lingering garden goers passing under the sign that proudly stated this to be the Chicago Botanic Garden. They had no problem making their way through the visitors center. Jane played tour guide and every few minutes would jot down the location of the exits and number of staff members that passed them.
Harry was having a hard time remembering that Murphy was a hardened cop when she held his arm and tilted her head up to look into his eyes. The neurons in his brain misfired.
"I'm sorry what were you saying?" he asked as she pulled his head down to her level, now they really did look like a couple.
"I said the crowd's dying down and Jane said we should meet her at the Rose Garden." she whispered into his ear. He didn't move away and she became aware of how close they were.
"Hey Murph?" he breathed.
"Hmmm?" she was focused on his arm around her waist and his very near lips.
"We're here." he said instead. They both looked up. They had crossed the bridge at a leisurely walk and ended up in the Heritage garden, one bridge away from the Rose Garden's gate.
"You're late, grab your bags and suit up you two. Fred found a bathroom for us." said Jane popping out from behind the sign. She had already changed out of her lab coat and back in to her red jacket.
Harry came out of the mens room feeling more confident in his spell proof duster. He noticed that the gardens lights had come on and darkness had finally come fully over the garden. Looking to the rose gate across one of the little bridges that served as dividers for the difference gardens, he say Jane slide something up into her sleeve. She noticed and smiled holding her fingers to her lips.
"So, now that we've committed fraudulence and trespassed what next?" said Harry as they made there way across the dainty bridge.
"You forgot braking and entering" said stalwart Murphy appearing ahead of them looking much more comfortable in her cop get up. She was putting away her cell phone, the motion caught Jane's attention.
"Oh, so you heard about that did you? I'll give the botanist her keys back after I survive this, so it's more like borrowing with every intention of returning…without asking first" said Jane holding up her filched key ring. It was a good thing the tiny professor was a light weight or they could have been here all night waiting for her to pass out.
They made there way through the tulip garden and on past a sign saying Heritage Garden. Jane warily watched the still fountains for ripples or a glint of teeth. She took note of the water lilies on the waters surface, hoping they weren't the ones they found on the dead girl. Around a bend they came to the archway that announced the Rose Garden.
"Now what Jane Fae?" asked Harry looking at the closed blooms. If he wasn't sure that he'd get a fist to his face he might have picked some for Murphy. Speaking of which, Murphy was looking at some of the water lilies with a small smile on her face. She reached out to touch the one that was blooming under the moon light when a scaled head shot out of the water and latched on to her arm and attempted to pull her under.
"Fuego!" he shouted as the scaly water horse reared out of the water and lifted the shocked Murphy right off the ground. Murphy felt the heat pass right by her rustling her hair as it slashed at the fae steed that had her by the arm. Its teeth, she noticed distantly were all wrong for its mouth. She had gone hunting once with her uncles and come across an angry mountain lion and now she knew what those teeth felt like on her arm as it shook its head shredding through her jacked.
"Fuego!" Harry shouted giving it his all. This time it hit the creature square in the face and singed what was left of Murphy's jacket arm. The creature screamed dropping Murphy on to Harry as the steel bracer smoked and burned its mouth. As a unit they rolled off each other and prepared for a counter strike each drawing their firearm of choice.
"Uisce" came a voice of authority. Jane was shin deep in the fountain with her hands raised and a pained expression on her face. The water in the fountain began to claw at the kelpie with iced fingers until it was trapped in a frozen prison with only its head exposed. The beast turned its equine head toward her voice and its raptor eyes narrowed as its teeth protruded further in a predatory grin.
"Stand down horse and acknowledge when you are in the presence of your betters" said Jane glaring right back. Dark eyes shifted to the dynamic duo still poised to fire. It let out a huffing, guttural laugh and shook its mane.
"Well met my lady. I did not recognize you without your master."
Jane felt the jab but the steel in her eyes never wavered. "I have no master. Now look well or better yet listen well for the next time you forget me you'll have those pretty eyes burned from your skull Horse."
The creature huffed. "Just as you say then my lady, but you've hardly made it through the masters gate and already you are up to your knees in trouble." It lowered its head but looked up and curled its lip. "I wonder how much more you'll find with my lord. Perhaps to your hip, or…?"
"Get out of my sight before I forget my mercy Horse." she told it telling herself that she only shivered from the cold water.
"Until we meet again" it nayed as she let go of her hold over the fountains water. It dove back into the lily waters and disappeared.
"Well, that went well. I take it back Murphy, your questionable fashion sense is useful after all." said Harry holstering his gun. Murphy good naturedly punched him and holstered her weapon and grinned looking pleased.
Climbing out of the well is much harder than I remember getting in thought Jane nearly flopping to the ground. In her exhaustion it dawned on her.
"That sneaky bastard" she sighed sitting on the lip of the fountain.
"Was it a trap to get you worn out? Yes. The little boy and his aunt, the bar and girls by the shore less then a mile from here, this guy's definitely got an end game." said Harry shaking his head at the whole thing.
"Bread crumbs. He knows me, quite well it seems." said Jane looking over at the entrance to the Rose garden where she would summon… no think of that later. Keep calm and play the part or lose to the homicidal audience she thought trying to recall the haughty person that had put the kelpie in its place.
"Keep back behind the gate, I don't know if I can do this with you two to worry about." said Jane forcing her numb legs to carry her through the gate and to the fate that waited for her there.