Arcane Ops Read online

  “By who?”

  He laughed, and the machine hiding his voice activated to remove the mirth from the sound and left only a harsh buzz. “By the only person fit to judge my actions, troll. By me.” He strode around the edge of the building and out of sight, and by the time Rath dashed over, he had vanished into the darkness.

  “Gwen, warn Cara and Diana of new danger.”

  “Done.”

  “Have drone deliver gear. We need to check on Griffins and go patrol.”

  “Affirmative. Ten minutes.”

  The troll nodded and crouched to wait. The graveyard would make a good superhero lair. Wonder if there are any zombies around for target practice.

  Chapter Four

  Even though Iressa had expected a summons from Dreven’s patron, it was still a surprise when it arrived. That the person was aware of where she lived was troubling, and the fact that he had chosen such a beautiful piece of jewelry to include with the invitation revealed how much he knew about her. There was ample time between the delivery and the moment indicated in the elegant note that had accompanied the gift for her to prepare. Her first act was to investigate the fancy broach with every magical tool at her disposal. She finally confirmed it as an inert token rather than something that would come to life and attack her at his command.

  Most likely, anyway. One couldn’t be entirely sure about such things. But leaving it behind wasn’t an option as it would offer him an excuse to take offense, which might give him an excuse to engage in far more unpleasant undertakings in response. She visited her walk-in closet and selected a long black dress that covered her to her calves and knee-high boots. It required a significant amount of wriggling to get the outfit properly into place, but there was no way she would go into this meeting without her best battledress. She sat before her mirror and checked her hair, which flowed perfectly over her shoulders, and applied a little color to her lips and cheeks.

  The witch selected the rarest bottle from her array of perfumes, sprayed some on her neck and wrists, and inhaled, appreciating the spicy notes of the scent. She slipped on a thigh holster, swiveled it to the back so she could still walk in the tight sheath, and put her backup wand into it. Her main one slid neatly into the jeweled holder sewn into the arm of the dress. He’d know about that one, so there was no reason to hide it.

  A shiny black leather belt that rode low on her hips finished the look. A touch in the familiar locations confirmed the presence of hidden potions and other toys masquerading as ornaments. He might see through that, too, but there was no way she would walk onto his battlefield without them. If he doesn’t like it, he can always rescind my invitation. But I think he probably needs me more than I need him, at this point. Finally, she pinned the broach to her dress at her left shoulder, where its representation of a jeweled dragon in green, gold, and red set off the ensemble perfectly. With a nod and an exhalation, Iressa rose to start the evening’s entertainment.

  She summoned the portal and stepped through to a location outside a locked gate in front of a large plot of land. A castle stood in the distance, doubtless his home and her ultimate destination. In the falling darkness, it loomed like a living thing with a multitude of winking eyes showing through the curtains. She rejected the notion of playing this particular game and cast a spell that would allow her to see the structure’s entrance clearly. The witch opened her senses to catalog the barriers that would seek to prevent her from going directly toward it and smiled when she discovered they weren’t sophisticated enough to deter her. Another portal, carefully woven to avoid his outer defenses, deposited her on the porch at the closed double doors.

  They swung open silently before her and a shimmer along the deep-red carpet that lay in the center of the corridor indicated her path forward. She progressed slowly and took time to inspect the sparsely placed but beautiful and rare items of art that decorated the spacious hall. The tapestries on the walls, by contrast, were bloody remembrances of battles long past, and her lip curled in distaste at the mundanity.

  A number of twists and turns finally brought her to a lavish den with a roaring fireplace and two large wingback chairs facing it on either side of a low table. A crystal decanter containing a dusky liquid and two elegant glasses stood on its surface, and a pale hand rested on the inside arm of the left chair. She circled to the right and his greeting was filled with amusement under the heavy rasp of his tone.

  “Iressa, welcome. What a shame you chose not to wander through the field and appreciate the marvel of the building. Dreven never missed the opportunity to do so.”

  She completed her approach and paused, momentarily speechless at the sight of him. He appeared to be undistinguished in build, aside from looking slightly underfed. The scars that crossed his face, emphasized with scarlet tattoos, caught the eye and refused to release it. He radiated power, even in his casual position, and his red-tinted eyes burned as if they could barely restrain it. His simple trousers and shoes surprised her, but a red-and-gold jacket looked like it would feel luscious to the touch. Black hair swept back on the top and sides.

  Iressa lowered herself into the chair with a smile that displayed confidence she no longer felt. The aura of menace that emanated from the master of the castle battered at her mind and set her ill at ease. “I guess I’m less interested in games than dear departed Dreven was.”

  He raised a black eyebrow and his scars stretched and twisted with the movement. “I was, of course, aware that Dreven had left this plane of existence. I didn’t know word had spread, however.”

  Shit. Either I’m imagining that suspicious tone or he’s convinced I was involved. To say the least. As always, the memory of Dreven’s last moments brought a smile. She raised her brow in an echo of his gesture. “He hasn’t annoyed me in over a week. That alone tells me he must be dead. He could never avoid being an irritant for that long, otherwise.”

  His dark laughter conveyed his disbelief in her explanation and his lack of concern over it. “Speaking ill of the deceased is uncouth.”

  “Not if the deceased is—was—uncouth.”

  A thin smile settled on his lips as he inclined his head. “Well said. However, I asked you to come here for reasons other than wordplay. The broach looks beautiful on you, by the way.”

  The abrupt change of direction left her momentarily off-balance. “Thank you, it was a very thoughtful gesture on your part.”

  He waved a hand. “To business, then. Dreven was my pawn in matters on Earth. With him off the board, I find myself in need of another champion.”

  “Certainly not another pawn, however.”

  Lechnas grinned. “Certainly not. Dreven was too deeply flawed to rise higher. You, however, could be a bishop, at least.”

  She scowled at the taunt. “Many have underestimated me. Each has paid a substantial price for doing so. You may want to consider whether you wish to be among them.”

  He gestured at the pin on her shoulder. “Surely I have already paid.”

  Iressa laughed. “Surely I cannot be bought for trinkets or for palaces. Only power suits.”

  Instead of responding, he poured the liquid from the decanter into both glasses and offered them to her. She chose the one on the left and waited until he drank from his own before sipping. It was bourbon—in the top five of her favorite tastes from Earth—and of the highest quality, at that. She nodded in appreciation, took another sip, and set it down before she focused on him.

  He sighed and did the same. “Were we to enter into a partnership, I would hold the superior position, always. Is that an arrangement you would be comfortable with?”

  “But of course.” Until I kill you. “Your power exceeds mine.” At the moment.

  His smile suggested that he heard the unspoken words and was as unconcerned with them as he was with Dreven’s fate. “In that case, then, allow me to be blunt. What do you have to offer me?”

  A flurry of answers ranging from flirtatious to outraged flipped through her mind, each quickly d
iscarded. She leaned forward and saw his gaze flick to the low-cut neck of her dress and suppressed a grin. So, you’re not as detached as you’d like to pretend. Good. “With the proper support, I can accomplish any goals we may set ourselves. However, I require a significant degree of autonomy.”

  He nodded. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have enough to occupy my attention on this planet.”

  “Dreven never revealed he was working for someone else. In fact, he didn’t share any plan beyond simply gaining power on Earth. I assume you have additional plans that he either failed to share or wasn’t aware of?”

  He rose and gestured for her to do the same. “I do, and if we are truly to be partners, I will share them all with you.”

  She pushed herself to her feet and paused only to swallow the rest of her drink. “When do we start?”

  He summoned a portal, and she peered into it to see that it led to the street outside her home. “As soon as you show me you can manage things on Earth. Step in for Dreven. Lead the magicals and the humans against the forces that oppose them and sow chaos. We have stood in one place too long. This city shall burn, as must every city that supports a kemana that refuses to submit.”

  Her eyes widened at the scope of his plan, and she smiled with true pleasure at the opportunities ahead. “I have one question. Why not simply eliminate Lady Alayne instead?”

  He grinned and bared his teeth in the most intimidating look she’d seen from him. “Darling Iressa. Where would the fun be in that?”

  Chapter Five

  Sarah had been at the warehouse when the insistent pressure in her mind told her Iressa wished to speak to her. She sighed contentedly, lifted her boots from where they rested on the office desk, and set them on the floor with a thump. Since Marcus and Dreven had both met their well-deserved ends, her life had improved a hundredfold. The new human leader, Murray, was far more pliable and far less capable than his predecessor had been. And, better still, he clearly felt threatened by her magic and the abilities of her followers, which meant the balance of power in the Remembrance gang had finally shifted to its proper position.

  She’d chosen not to reveal the existence of their new patron, content to let the others believe she was at the top of the chain. It increased their respect and their distance, both of which suited her. With a flick of her wand, she drew a rift in the air and stepped through it to the parking garage under her building. She had learned to manipulate the electronics of the elevator with magic and could turn every ride into a personal express trip if she willed it so, which meant she was in her apartment in under a minute.

  The statuette that had connected her to Dreven rested on her glass coffee table, pierced with tiny holes she’d blasted into it for fun while she watched a movie. Each new wound on the item was like one more dagger stabbed into the man she still despised. She looked forward to reducing it to powder, piece by satisfying piece. But for now, such diversions would have to wait.

  She kicked her boots off, lay down on the couch, and arranged herself comfortably. A twitch of her wand moved the table several feet away—a sensible precaution since sometimes, her new superior enjoyed ending their sessions in ways that caused her to thrash and fall when she reentered her body. That risk was why she had abandoned a respectful upright posture in favor of making sure she was horizontal before she reached out to Iressa. It’s petty but undeniably effective. In the other witch’s place, she’d have done the same. One final movement of her wand activated the wards that protected the condo from prying eyes and ears.

  She composed her mind, let her eyes drift closed, and allowed the summons to wash over her. Her vision went truly dark, a fearful moment of transition that always seemed on the verge of stretching to eternity, before the world around her slid into place with a lurch that felt like she might stumble. Unlike their previous meetings, which had been in rather generic outdoor settings, a room enclosed her. Two black leather lounge couches were set at a right angle to one another, and her patron lay on her back on the farthest, sheathed as usual in her tight ebony dress. The walls and other features were blurred and indistinguishable. A hand gestured at the couch beside her, and Sarah crossed to take it, mimicking the other woman’s position. Above her, the ceiling was fashioned of ornamental tiles in varying shades of white and off-white.

  Iressa sounded relaxed and happy. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  “Of course. Now that I’m rid of the half-man, my freedom has notably increased.”

  The other woman laughed. “We are both rid of those who have vexed us for so long. It is a cause for celebration.”

  “Is that why you summoned me?”

  “Hardly. Up until now, your group has not been a rousing success.” She made a noise of protest, and Iressa shushed her. “No, no, I know it’s not your fault. You have never had sufficient authority to achieve what is needed. You do not need to defend yourself to me. I only mention it because that time is behind us, which is another reason to celebrate.”

  Above her, a mist coalesced as if from nowhere and an image appeared. She frowned at the sight of the aerial view of Stonesreach. “I thought the kemana was all Dreven’s doing?”

  “We both thought that, and we were both incorrect. It turns out that his master wishes to claim all of them and to destroy those that will not surrender. As well as the cities above that harbor them, of course.”

  Sarah shook her head as the image burst into flames and the buildings burned to the ground as she watched. She was silent for a time, not sure how to respond. The witch was talking about destroying her home, the city she’d claimed as her own decades before. Finally, she shrugged. Whatever. There are other cities. I hear Columbus, Ohio, is pleasant. “Then destroy them both we shall. How would you like to proceed?”

  The other witch’s laughter was seductive, as always. “We will begin where you started long ago—by acquiring as many magical artifacts and items as we can. Surely some are housed nearby?”

  “It is very likely. The ones the authorities have taken are probably in their police stations or in a warehouse awaiting the slow process of their legal system.”

  “Good. That is a place to start. We will gather power, gather people, and act when the moment is right.”

  Sarah asked, “Do I have complete authority over the group now, or will you make yourself visible?”

  “You do. There is no need for them to be aware of me at this time—or, perhaps, at any time. Let the lines of power be clear to them.”

  “Excellent. I have felt for a while that the authorities somehow know too much about us. It was in my mind that Marcus was possibly a traitor and hindered the success of the group in order to bolster his own position. Hopefully, we will now discover whether that was the case or not.”

  The other woman’s voice turned cold. “If you suspect anyone in the future, kill them. Humans are plentiful.”

  The witch’s grin stretched her face. “Perfect.”

  For once, the transition back to her apartment was gentle, and she closed her eyes again and decided that the most appropriate form of celebration was a long nap.

  Kayleigh straightened with a groan. From the moment Alfred had warned her that there was activity in the enemy leader’s home, she’d listened in live from the devices Rath had seeded throughout the apartment. The visuals offered nothing, only the enemy witch lying on her couch, but it was clear when she spoke that a conversation took place, even though only one side of it was audible.

  The mention of a police station or a warehouse had made her worried. But when Sarah followed it up with a concern about a traitor in their midst, Kayleigh had transitioned almost instantly to panic. She hurried through her lab area and entered Deacon’s to tap him on the shoulder and draw his attention from the data on his screens and the music in his earphones. He pulled them down and tilted his head back to look up at her.

  “Hey, blondie, what’s happening?”

  She gave him a gentle slap on the side of his skull an
d plopped into the chair beside him. “Do you have a way into police evidence inventories?”

  He nodded. “Sure. It was a simple sidestep into them once we were given access to everything else.”

  “So they know you’re in there?”

  Deacon scratched the back of his neck and affected a neutral expression. “Well, I maybe wouldn’t go quite that far.”

  “So much the better. Can you see where any magical items or artifacts that were taken from the Remembrance idiots are being held?”

  He leaned forward and went to work, tapping his keyboard and touch interface. Although he muttered as he worked, she couldn’t distinguish any chains of words that made sense. After a few minutes, he relaxed and pointed to his monitor, where a map of the city was displayed with several small red boxes scattered around it and one large rectangle off to one side. “There are a few low-power items everywhere—those are the smaller markers—but anything near or at artifact level taken from the Remembrance is held in a main location, the station closest to the courthouse.”

  Kayleigh sighed. “Way to make it easy for them.”

  “Well, that makes it easier for us, too, right?” he countered. “If they were spread all over the city, we’d have more places to defend.”

  “I don’t want to have to defend anything. These people need to be shut down hard. I’m not sure why we shouldn’t simply dive in and arrest them all when they’re at the warehouse.”

  Her colleague shook his head. “You do know why but you simply can’t admit that you’re impatient. They’ve proven over and over that there are cells working in the city that they can activate at need. If we hit them hard, there’s no telling what those other folks will do. The boss is right on this subject—we need to keep them on the line until they over-extend and we can destroy them all. Maybe this will be the opportunity that gets it done.”