Chapter 18

We dropped through the Way and landed at the front door of William and Georgia's apartment. Actually, we landed on the front door. I hit the door face first, immediately followed by Butters, and then Pyrrha slammed against the two of us. The door cracked under the sudden impact, and the hinges gave way under our weight, with us following suit. I'd say I've suffered worse, and I have, but nearly three hundred pounds of people being thrown at your back hurts, Winter Mantle or not. Our crash onto the ground was equally painful.

I let out a strangled gasp of "Ow" and didn't bother trying to get up.

"Harry?!"

"...Present…" I moaned, and pulled my head off the floor.

Murphy and the Alphas were gathered in the living room again, and Murphy looked like she had been preparing to leave, with one arm in the sleeve of her jacket, while the other was now hanging loosely behind her. William and Georgia had started to change, but when they saw it was just us, their features lost the wolfiness of the change.

I saw a dozen different emotions cross over Murphy's face, before she shrugged the jacket on, put her hands on her hips, and demanded, "Where the hell have you three been? You had m- us worried sick!"

Pyrrha and Butters groaned, and rolled off me, and I started to get up. Karrin sighed and moved to my side, helping me up. Her voice went low as she said, "I thought you were dead, Dresden. Why would you make me worry like that?"

"Heh, I like to keep you on your toes," I chuckled, then said louder so everyone could hear me, "how long were we gone?"

"Three hours." Georgia reported.

"What? But we were only there for a few minutes!" Pyrrha said.

That was about the typical reaction to Nevernever shenanigans. I leaned on my staff and said, "Reality and the Nevernever are in a bit of a strained relationship. Physics tend to be more suggestions than actual laws there. We're lucky it was only three hours."

Pyrrha leaned against the wall and started rubbing her temples. She was going to need time to process that, so I turned back to the others. Karrin had her hands on her hips and was wearing her interrogation face. Will turned off the TV and he and the others all looked at us too, expectantly.

I sighed, "We found a horde of Grimm under the street. Someone had placed a bunch of those stones underground, and the Grimm had made some sort of nest. What we fought in the streets was just a scouting party. There wasn't enough time for a clean getaway and stopping them, so we retreated into the Nevernever."

"That explains what we saw on the news," Georgia said. "A few minutes after we got the civilians out of the way, the entire roundabout sank a half dozen feet into the ground. News reports are saying it was a sinkhole. No one's said anything about the injured we saved."

"Probably being taken care of by SI," Andi noted, "If any of them mentioned what they saw, that'd bring them in, right Murphy?"

Karrin shrugged, "Probably. I'm not sure what protocol for SI is anymore, it's been a few years since I worked there. That's besides the point, where did you three land in the Nevernever?"

"The spooky, crazy death Sidhe lady," Butters answered.

That got a groan out of everyone. "Lea? Seriously? How'd you wind up there?"

"She's a Muse," I explained, "inspiration for artists and inventors alike, and we were under a big college campus. In hindsight, it makes sense. We're just lucky we landed there instead of a sentient garden or something."

I shuddered at the thought of where else the Way might've taken us. Jumping blind like we had was incredibly stupid and dangerous, and I wouldn't repeat the situation if I had the chance. But we didn't know if there were anymore Grimm in hiding, and using that vial of Dust to block the entrance might've just slowed them. A hundred plus Grimm breaking through into Chicago to wreak havoc just wasn't in the cards, so I had taken a gamble that thankfully paid off. I made a mental note to avoid doing that again, if possible.

"So if you landed in Lea's house, is that why we've got Xena, Warrior Princess in our apartment?" Will asked.

Pyrrha blinked and looked up, "Who's Xena?"

"TV show," Murphy explained, "buff warrior chick, wore a lot of leather armor, kicked a lot of ass."

I grinned at her, "You are so hot when you get nerdy, you know that?"

"Down boy," she flashed me a smile.

Pyrrha looked down at her outfit, confused, "I don't get it. What's wrong with my outfit, I wore this all the time back home."

Oh. Awkward.

I scratched at the back of my head, "Er, nothing wrong with it Pyrrha, it just… stands out a bit. Most people don't dress like that here. You'll turn heads with an outfit like that - well, more heads than usual."

She looked back up at me, "That was the idea, Harry. I'm a huntress, I'm supposed to stand out in a crowd. If there is a Grimm attack, seeing a hunter in combat boosts morale."

"It'd definitely boost something," Butters muttered under his breath.

Murphy sent him a dirty look, and I sighed, "Kids, come on. We've got bigger things to worry about than Pyrrha's outfit of the day. Will, Georgia, where's your phone?"

"Kitchen, by the fridge," Georgia said.

I nodded and pulled my keys from my coat, and tossed them to Pyrrha. She caught them and raised a brow at me. "The list of attacks that Marcone and Lara gave us are in the glovebox of the Blue Beetle. Can you go get them, please?"

She smiled and nodded, stepping over the fallen door into the hall. I went for the kitchen phone while Butters filled everyone in on any details I left out. I found their phone where Georgia said it was, and punched in Thomas' number. I'd hoped to give him a day off, but after what I'd seen today, there was going to be no rest for him.

On the third ring, a woman answered the phone, "Raith residence, Justine speaking."

Justine was Thomas's girlfriend, no debate about that. She had started out as another victim of Thomas's vampirism, but over the years the two had grown close together, culminating in Justine nearly dying to save Thomas when his hunger was at its most ravenous. That act of True Love had made Justine all but untouchable to Thomas, but that hadn't stopped them from pursuing a relationship. Now the two lived together, and had finally found a way to circumvent Justine's protection.

Which was how my half-brother wound up having wild threesomes every other night nowadays. Sometimes, life is particularly cruel.

But Justine's a nice girl, and I couldn't hold that against her. So I smiled and said, "Hey Justine, it's Harry. Is Thomas available?"

"Oh, Harry! It's good to hear from you again. Thomas just got home, let me go and check."

I heard her set the phone down and waited patiently. A minute later, Thomas answered the phone with a "Harry, I saw you on the news. Graduated from arson to full-on demolition now?"

"It was a joint effort," I replied, and added, "How you holding up?"

Thomas grunted, "Better. I've still got bruises in places bruises shouldn't be, but I'll live. You need me for something again?"

"We're investigating those leads Lara gave us. Figured I could do with your help, if you're up for it."

Thomas grunted again, "Course I am. When do you need me?"

I grinned, "Hour, hour and a half, I'll meet you in front of your apartment. Can you do something for me in the meantime?"

"Sure, what?"

I told him, and Thomas said, "Should be easy enough. You bringing Murphy and the redhead again?"

Pyrrha walked back through the door at that moment with the list in hand, glancing over it as she walked, her lips pursed in concentration. She set them on the table and leaned against the wall, where she pulled out one of the comic books she'd snuck into the Blue Beetle and began to flip through the pages.

"We're gonna be splitting up today," I said. "Cover more ground. So don't worry, your pride will remain intact."

"It wasn't my pride I was worried about," Thomas grumbled.

I winced, "Right. I'll see you in an hour then?"

"Bet on it."

He hung up, and I returned from the kitchen. Will had thought ahead and pulled out one of those big wall maps of Chicago, the kind you'd find on bad crime shows. It would probably have been easier to bring it up on a computer or something, but I'd probably fry it within seconds if I got too close, so old school it was.

Pyrrha folded up her comic and stood up as I approached, as did everyone else. "We're splitting up?" she asked.

"There's a lot of ground to cover, and not enough time to do it," I explained. "If we split up, we can cut that time in half."

That made her frown, "Someone could get overwhelmed Harry. There's a reason Huntsmen are trained in teams."

"I didn't say we were going solo, we'll pair off."

Butters, who was thumbing through the list and circling locations on the map in red marker ink, spoke up, "Most of these attacks are from a few days ago, and in pretty crowded areas Pyrrha. If the Grimm were trying to hide another horde like the one we saw, someone would've stumbled onto it by now."

Her frown turned into a scowl, "When the Grimm don't want to be found, they won't be. And these Grimm are far more intelligent than I would have expected."

Admittedly, I don't have a lot of experience fighting Grimm, obviously. Pyrrha had been at it for years, and would understand them better than just about anyone in the room. On the other hand, I had been at this business longer than she'd been alive.

"They're smartish," I agreed, "But they're not that smart. We don't have the resources to scour every place in time, and I'm pretty sure Lara's timetable wasn't accurate as she thinks it is. People might brush off what happened at the UC today, but another attack like that will turn heads."

Pyrrha sighed, "I don't like it though. It's dangerous, Harry."

"And what we just did wasn't?"

She sighed, "Fair enough. What did you have in mind?"

I smiled and explained the plan. Pyrrha and Karrin would investigate the alley again, more thoroughly. If they found a Blackstone, they would do what I'd done at Torchwick's warehouse. The Blackstones had a lot of potential energy, but were surprisingly stable, so long as they weren't damaged. While they went off there, Butters and the Alpha's would investigate a location of their choosing, and go through the same motions as Pyrrha and Karrin.

We'd all meet up afterwards at the headquarters for the 'Chicago Justice League' that Murphy had formed during my absence. It was a big castle-like building built over the site of my former apartment by Marcone. I wasn't particularly happy about that, but it had resources we didn't have on our own, and would give me a chance to coordinate with Marcones people after Thomas and I finished our investigation.

I stood up from the map and clapped my hands together, "That's about the gist of it. No machiavellian plots this time guys, just pop in and get out of there before anything has time to go down. Got it?"

They all nodded understanding, except for Karrin. She pursed her lips at the map, and said"You haven't told us where you're going Harry. Which site?"

I pointed at the map, an obscure location no one would recognize, that Butters had traced with red marker, "After Thomas and I link up, we'll head here, to Club Zero."

I parked in front of Thomas' apartment about thirty minutes later. He was waiting for me, with a stack of steaming Chicago pizzas in his arms. I shut off the Beetle and got out of the car, pointing at the nearest alleyway.

"Right here, and now?" he asked, and we walked.

I shrugged, "Might as well get it out of the way. How've things been here since Torchwick ran off?"

Thomas grunted, "I moved guards into and around the apartment. Torchwick tries anything, Justine will have plenty of time to get into hiding until I get back."

I glanced across the street. A big white SUV with tinted windows was parked next to the sidewalk. I couldn't see through the windows, but if I were a betting man, I'd say that was were the guards were positioned. Some of them anyway, there were plenty of apartments around and knowing Lara, she probably owned half the neighborhood at the least, whether the tenants knew it or not.

"Smart," I said aloud as we entered the alley, "We don't need Torchwick causing anymore trouble than he already has."

Another grunt from Thomas and he shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah, you could say that. Where's Murphy and the girl?"

"Karrin and Pyrrha are off investigating another attack site," I explained, "The Alphas are heading to another with Butters."

"Split up? You sure that's a smart idea?"

We stopped and Thomas set the pizzas on a nearby trashcan. I opened one up as I said, "I think Lara's timetable is off. No one knows about those Blackstones we found and far as I could tell, it's using some kind of magic that's out of my depth."

Thomas raised a brow, "The Dark Stuff?"

"Lots of it."

"What else did I miss after you dropped me off?"

"I'll explain later, but first…"

I gestured, and Thomas sighed. He plugged his ears and turned his back to me. Satisfied, I cupped my hands around my mouth to prevent lip-reading and began murmuring a name, over and over again, infusing my will each time.

I only had to repeat the name a dozen times or so before a shadow flickered through the air, and something the size of a hawk dropped from the sky, wings a humming blur, and stopped in place, hovering a few feet in front of me.

"You called, my lord!?" piped a shrill voice, like someone had overdosed on helium.

Thomas let out a sigh, "Can I turn around now?"

"Go ahead."

He did and we both looked at the little faerie that was closing on a solid twenty inches in height, with the build of a slender athletic youth and blurring dragonfly wings attached to his shoulder. He was dressed in a new outfit I'd never seen before, what looked like a tiny version of fae platemail. There was even a tiny helmet slung under his arm, which let the tuft of lavendar hair on his head explode like a dandelion. He wore several weapons on his being, secured by actual leather straps now. He still carried his letter opener sword at his side, but two new swords, actual tiny swords, were crossed over each other on his back. It was all very new and fancy and so… very unlike him.

I noticed that he'd taken a paintbrush to the armor, covering it in blue runes all over, except for the chest piece and the center of his helmet. There, an upside-down yellow triangle was painted, covered in tiny red dots, the 'Coat of Arms' for the Za-Lord's guard. That, was more in character.

"At ease, Major General Toot-toot," I said. "Do you remember Thomas? He's a friend."

Toot-toot loosened up and nodded, "Oh yes, I remember him. Hello!"

Thomas blinked and did a little wave. Toot-toot had already forgotten him and gave me a formal bow, "What is your bidding, my liege?"

Toot-toot had once been a Wildfae, faeries with no real allegiance in the Nevernever, who typically did their own thing. I'd used him to gather intel for me on a number of cases in the past, and in exchange, I paid him in mortal food. Pizza, in particular, was practically ambrosia for the Wild Fae, and it hadn't taken long for word to spread. The Little Folk weren't the most focused or dangerous of beings out there, but for simple tasks, they could be very easily motivated, and most people paid them so little attention that it made them the perfect spies.

So over the years, Toot-toot had formed the Za-lord's guard, a sort of elite honor guard that I could call on in exchange for a pizza or four. Odds were good that the militia would have to be called in too, but that was for another time.

"All business today, Toot," I said, "and I'll need you to gather everyone we can." I opened up the top pizza for him to see. "Consider this the initial payment. Do this right, and there's more where this came from."

I didn't normally pay this much, but given the risk I might be putting the Little Folk under, I figured they'd deserved it. Toot-toot's eyes slid to the pizza, then back to me, "Of course, my liege, very good."

They fell back to the pizza, "Um, my lord..."

I removed my hand from the box, "One piece, that's i-"

Past experience had prepared me for what happened next. Toot pounced on the pizza box like a lion taking an antelope. He crashed into it, swords flashing until the top of the box was cardboard, and seized the largest piece he could. Thomas and I both watched with morbid fascination. No matter how many times I saw it, watching Toot devour a slice of pizza that was proportionally the size of a small car was quite the sight.

"I swear I get sick every time I watch that." Thomas said. I didn't disagree with him.

Toot spun in a dizzy, entranced circle on one heel, and fell onto his back with pure bliss, his armor tight around his ballooning stomach. He made happy gurgling noises and licked the grease off his gauntlets.

"Ew."

"Toot," I said, "What's up with the new armor? Did you and the guys raid a soda can factory or something?"

Toot heaved himself up, his body already deflating to its normal build, "No my liege, it was a gift!"

I raised a brow, "A gift? From who? Lacuna?"

Lacuna was another pixie I had… acquired as an employee, who used to work for a someone trying to kill me. By the rules of Faerie, she was my prisoner and therefore my responsibility. Toot had taken on that role since then, supposedly, and was completely smitten with the little tooth fairy. Far as I knew, Lacuna did not return the gesture, though things could have changed since last I'd seen the two.

Toot let out a dejected sigh, "No, not Lacuna. She's been acting really weird for a few days now, well, weirder than usual. A lot grouchier and mean. Harry, you understand women, right?"

Thomas snorted and I awkwardly scratched at my head, "Er, no. Not really, sorry buddy."

His wings sagged, "Darn."

"You haven't answered my question though."

Toot perked back up, "Oh, right! It's a gift from her majesty the Winter Lady! She had suits and weapons made for the whole Za-Lord, said it was to 'honor our service to one of Winter's greatest warriors' or something like that. I dunno, but it looks really neat!"

That caught me off guard. The new Winter Lady, my former apprentice Molly Carpenter, had been absent from my life for several months now. Her duties had taken her out of Chicago, and frankly, I was more than a little nervous about seeing her again. Molly had once been a 'normal' wizard like me, until the previous Winter Lady, Maeve, had been killed about two years ago. Since then, I'd only seen Molly once, when she showed up in the nick of time to help me deliver Bonnie before the spirit had split my skull open like a watermelon. It was during that visit I saw that Molly truly wasn't human anymore. She freely interacted with technology with no fear of it shorting on her, something a human wizard could never do unless their talent was next to nonexistent. Molly was a friend and ally, but the sway of Winter was a strong one, something I knew all too well.

But the fact that she'd used her sway in the Winter Court to armor up my personal guard? That was… very Molly of her. The power of the Winter could be dangerous, but it was not irresistible.

I smiled, "Well, it fits you Toot, give her my compliments if you see her again."

Toot nodded, "Uh-huh, you got it sir! Now, what was the job you wanted us to do?"

"Right," I clapped my hands together. "Remember where Bill and Georgia's house is? We went over this a few times."

"That's the werewolf house right?"

"Bingo. There's a map inside with a list of locations I need you and the Za-lord to investigate. Don't attack anyone, I just need you to pop in and out and tell me if you find anything suspicious."

Toot tilted his head to the side, "Like?"

"Big giant wolves with glowing red eyes, or other creatures like that. Oh, and Blackstones, about your height and covered in red writing. You can't miss them, they tear holes through dimensions."

I saw Toot visibly shuddered, "Outsiders, Harry? I dunno, the guys will be pretty nervous about that."

"Just a recon mission, Toot," I assured him. "If things get too dangerous, retreat. I won't hold it against you."

Toot brandished his sword and scowled, "The Za-lord's guard never retreats my liege, we advance to future victory! Your task shall be done!

I smiled, "That's the spirit. When you guys finish up, head to the Chicago Justice League Castle. I'll meet you there and I'll get a full report from you there. Understood, Major General?"

The tiny faerie slapped his helmet on and saluted, "By your will liege, no stone shall be forgotten, no corner unturned, and no pizza left cold!"

He shot into the clouded sky, and vanished. Thunder boomed seconds later, and a fat drop of rain splashed on the bridge of my nose.

I scrunched up my nose in disgust. "More rain, great."

Thomas grunted his agreement, and we returned to the Blue Beetle. I glanced back down the alley and saw that the pizzas we'd left out were gone already. The Little Folk worked fast, I just hoped they wouldn't get hurt for my sake. I didn't think the Grimm would pay them any attention, but I had no way of knowing until I met with him again at the headquarters.

"So," Thomas said as we got into the Beetle, "Care to enlighten me on what I missed?"

I let out a long sigh and started up the car, "Buckle up, you're in for one wild ride."

I explained everything we had learned in the past day or so to Thomas. What we learned about the Blackstones, which was next to nothing, what Rashid had unlocked from Pyrrha's memories, which was infuriating, and what we learned from the UC, which was ominous as hell. I only finished up my exposition right as we were pulling up at Club Zero.

Thomas folded his arms and let out a long sigh, "So we know someone is purposefully tearing open rifts across dimensions, we know that they may or may not possess power that might be on par with a Fae Queen, and we have no idea how long until Chicago drowns under an ocean of claws and fangs. Damn Harry, less than 24 hours for you to take an already bad situation, and make it even worse. That has to be a new record."

A/N: Things ran late, this chapter went through a few different changes, I apologize. It was also going to be longer, but my editor convinced me it would be for the better to break it off here. I kinda agree with him, honestly.

Now, I don't know when my next update will be, hopefully on Saturday, but I can't make any promises. I've got a Spanish Project and Test next week, and college transfers are coming up, so I've got that to worry about too. I'll try anyway though, because pushing myself is something I take perverse pride in.

Anyway, next chapter will be another Dresden File, and its gonna... be interesting, for poor Harry.

See ya all next time!