Yawning, I rubbed a hand down my face and set my coffee on my desk.
The night had been long, but then it was always long. I turned on my computer and waited for the old piece of crap to boot up, leaning back in my squeaky chair, aimlessly swiveling it back and forth. I had several reports to type up this morning, and then a long afternoon of sorting through old records, again. Combing over all our old cases on mages, to try and figure out the missing piece to the puzzle.
Then, I had to go on a hunt for a goblin.
Sounded like today was going to be a great day.
“Morning, Raf,” Francis called across the floor as he walked in.
I waved but didn’t say anything. He was used to my being quiet. Everyone here was. Part of the reason I enjoyed my job as a Fed, working for the Paranormal Unit. One of the youngest agents to be successful at the ripe age of twenty-five.
My being a demon might have something to do with it, too. I was stronger than most, faster, had heightened senses that let me track down whoever we were chasing down on any given day. I would never brag out loud, but I was damned good at my job. And rarely did it involve being sociable or chatting it up with coworkers.
Several supes here thought they knew me. The truth was, there were days I wasn’t sure I knew myself. Not really. There was so much I’d blocked out… so much I never wanted to remember…
The computer beeped, and I sat back up, logged in, and began my reports for the day. I was barely through the second one, ready to grab some coffee to warm up what I hadn’t drunk yet, when a file slapped down on my desk.
“You’re off the hunt for the goblin.”
“What? Why?” I asked, confused, staring up at my boss, Nor.
Nor was a demon, too. Twice my size with black horns that curled close to his head, red eyes, and a sneer that scared the piss out of plenty of criminals. I was one of the few he did not intimidate. I’d seen much worse than him. But this goblin he was taking me off the case for, he was wanted for questioning concerning several disturbance cases in the human sectors.
“Read the report,” he growled, leaning against my desk.
My brow furrowed as I picked it up and skimmed the details from one of our contacts in the Underground. “Damn, she snagged another one?”
“Whoever she is.”
“And Rufus?”
“Gone. Dropped off the radar once she left the Underground. Damned bounty hunters. I keep demanding we outlaw them, but all they tell me is we should be faster. How did she beat us to him, Rafael?”
I skimmed over the report again, taking in the details of the fight which occurred at the bar. And how the contact—translation, informant—described this woman’s style. She was fast. Faster, he stated, than he’d ever seen. There was no mention of what she was, though. There never was. Or a good enough description to know exactly what she looked like. Give us a chance to figure out her name. We’d been one or two steps behind her on over a dozen cases. Each time, none of our agents could even get close.
“She knows different people, moves in different circles—worse circles—than we do,” I said, setting the file down. “Somehow she found his location before we could.” Which as soon as I said it, ticked me off. This contact had been at the bar, which meant either he had no idea what Rufus looked like, or he held out on us, and was, in fact, working with the bounty hunter. Instead of us, as promised. “I suggest we lose this contact. He does not seem to be loyal to the Feds.”
“Good call,” Nor said and grinned. “Already done.”
I nodded, not sure why he was still at my desk. If the hunt for the goblin was off, that’d give me more time to search for more details on another target.
“You have plans tonight?” Nor asked slowly.
“Same as usual, why?”
“Going home and disappearing into your apartment? One of these days you should try to meet someone. Friends. A demoness. Someone.”
I shrugged. “I have reports to finish, sir.”
“There is more to life than work.”
“Hmm,” I replied, turning back to the computer.
He dropped something on my keyboard.
From the fancy envelope, it was important, and I opened it up. “An invitation?”
“To a ball. I need an agent there. Tonight. Word has it our mage is going to be there, and I want recon on him. If nothing else. I want to know what the hell he’s doing socializing with the reapers.”
“How do you know he’s actually going to show up?”
“Because, not all our contacts are more loyal to the bounty hunters. Snagged us an invite and I will warn you, this bounty hunter who keeps messing up our well-laid plans will most likely be there, so keep a sharp eye out. Heard the Gathered put out a bounty for him yesterday. But—” Nor tapped his jaw with a forefinger, deep in thought. “—but we need him, understand?”
“Yes, sir.” I glanced over the details, then stopped. “Sector 13? We have no jurisdiction there.”
“The hell we don’t,” he snapped. “The reapers can say all they want that we have no right being in their territory, but they’re citizens in this city. Just like every other supe. That will get you in, but I suggest you don’t go parading around or advertising that you’re a Fed. I’d like to see you in one piece tomorrow morning.”
“Ball… that means a tux.”
Nor handed me a business card. “He knows you’re coming and is ready to put in a rush order for you. Use him all the time. Great warlock. Wicked fast with alterations.”
A tux. And a ball with a ton of supes, some of who would enjoy trying to kill me if they learned my identity. And magic. I made it a point never to socialize with any magical race. No matter what the case.
“It’s just a tux, Rafael,” Nor said, his voice quieter. “Don’t rip the poor man’s head off.”
Belatedly, I realized I’d been growling and stopped abruptly. “You sure this is a good idea?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Which part makes you nervous? Being in danger? Or being around so many supes?”
I frowned. “Never said I was nervous.”
“Don’t have to. I can smell it on you.” He patted my shoulder. “Chin up, Rafael. Who knows, you might have a good time before you have to arrest the mage.”
“Surrounded by reapers and the company they keep… I doubt it.”
“Then get in, find him, and get the hell out.” His gaze ran over my face as he sighed. “You look like shit by the way.”
I grunted, tossing the invitation to the side of my desk. “Thanks, boss.”
“Did you talk to someone yet?”
I went on typing, ignoring what he was asking me until he reached over and rolled my chair away from my desk.
I crossed my arms, glaring up at him. “Yes, boss?”
“You’re too young to be bearing this weight on your shoulders,” Nor uttered, worry clear in his voice. “And if you sit there and try to lie to me and say you’re fine I’m going to call bullshit. Just like I do every other time. You need to talk to someone about what happened.”
I stiffened, gritting my teeth and doing my best not to snarl at my boss.
“It’s going to eat you alive if you don’t. You’ll burn out. That’s all I’m saying. And this aversion to magic, it’s going to get you in trouble one day. I can handle a few slip-ups every now and again, but if you lose it one time, if you kill someone out of spite, for what they are… I’ll have to arrest you. You understand that, right?”
“Yes, I do. I’m fine, sir,” I promised, but his pinched look said he clearly didn’t believe me. “Can I finish my reports now?”
“You’re the most stubborn-ass demon I’ve met,” he muttered and started to walk away. He stopped, turned halfway back to me, then grunted, and kept on going.
I pulled myself back up to my desk, but my fingers hovered over the keys, not making any motion to actually work.
A ball.
I had to attend a damned ball in order to track this mage down. That was just fantastic and not even close to what I had in mind for tonight. Locking myself in my apartment, being alone, that was the plan every night. The plan was not socializing with criminals and other scum in Sector 13.
Unable to think of my current reports, I pulled up the file we had on Liam Manchester, figuring I might as well take the time to study up on him before I headed out tonight.
There was very little we knew about the mage. We mostly wanted to bring him in for questioning. Rumors circulated about his being involved with the dark magic trade, bringing banned products in and out of Nashville to various sectors. He was violent, too. Several high-profile deaths of judges and supe cops were connected to him, but there was never enough proof to throw his ass in a cell.
We needed to get our hands on him, interrogate him and break him down. Liam was a little fish, in all honesty. He was working for someone. The question was, who? If he was going to be at this ball, his boss might be, too.
I cursed quietly, musing at the possibility he worked for the reapers. That would make my whole night even better. I scrolled down and read over the other few facts. He had been part of the Gathered, and they put a bounty out on him, probably wanting to clean up their own house. If they got their hands on him first, we’d lose our shot at figuring out the bigger picture. Liam was part of it, and I needed his ass sitting here at the Fed building, not disappearing into nothingness.
The system was far from perfect, but it ran well enough. Most days. My main job was to keep the supes safe from humans that attempted to interfere or cause us grief. But when our own stirred up shit, it made my job even harder, and gave the humans even more excuses to hate us. Especially, when our internal fighting spilled out of the sectors and into their streets. The sectors were only connected by magical transports.
Transports looked a lot like the telephone booths during the days of old. Except these had no phones in them. Call them supernatural transportation, if you will. They were powered by magic. Type the sector one wanted to go to, a flash of bright light and poof! one was instantly transported to another sector.
Only supes with special passes—such as Feds—could travel into human territories if going after a criminal. Otherwise, we were restricted to our sectors.
No matter how shitty said sectors were.
I rolled my shoulders, growling quietly, but shoved the memories away and pushed back from my desk.
Gripping the business card, so it crinkled in my hand, I figured there was no time like the present and left the Fed building to walk the three blocks over to the tailor. Most got out of my way as I walked.
On several occasions, Nor had told me I needed to work on my facial expressions. It’s not like I wanted to look pissed off all the time, or like I was about to go into a rage. This was just how I looked. There were plenty of demons in Sector 21, but none of them grew up where I had. They had happy childhoods. Never had to fight to survive. No matter how many times Nor told me to reach out, find others to talk to…
What was the point when none of them would ever understand why I was the way I was?
“Hello?” I called out as I entered the small shop, the scent of magic hanging heavy in the air.
I rolled my shoulders again, my blood growing hot as flashes of memories attempted to surface. With a pang starting at my temples, I shoved them all back down and reminded myself this warlock never raised a hand to me.
The stench of magic did little to ease my rage, which was so close to breaking free. At least, I managed to stop myself from running out of the shop. Or killing the man who appeared from the back room.
“Ah, good morning.” The cheerful, small man in a violet suit hurried over, holding out his hand for mine. “You must be Rafael, yes?”
“Yes. Nor sent me over to get fitted for a tux.” Reluctantly, I took his hand and dropped it just as quick as I could.
The warlock seemed curious at the action but said nothing about it.
“He did indeed. Right this way,” he replied, humming under his breath. “I am Julius, by the way. Now then, up here… that’s it. Let’s just take this jacket off you. And your tie.”
I shrugged out of my black jacket and tugged off my tie. He measured me with quick, experienced movements, but when he reached up to undo my shirt, holding another shirt in his right hand, I snarled, baring fangs.
It didn’t seem to faze him, but he paused.
“There is a fitting room. Try this shirt on, if you please?”
That I could do. Taking the shirt, I stepped off the raised platform and ducked behind the curtain. Keeping my back to the mirror, I undid my plain black one and slipped into the white tux shirt, all the while focusing on anything, but what hid underneath the fabric.
With the new shirt on, I stepped out, and Julius was right back at it with more measurements.
An hour later, I looked back at a demon I didn’t recognize.
“There we are,” Julius exclaimed happily. “I’ll make a few quick minor adjustments and have it ready for you by five. Will, that work?”
I tugged on the uncomfortable jacket. “Don’t have much of a choice.”
“Oh, come now. A strapping demon like you dressed like that. Surely you’ll be picking up a lady or two tonight, wherever you’re going.”
I would not associate with anyone I met in Sector 13. Not even close.
But I said nothing, and he told me I could change back into my clothes.
Back in the dressing room, I let the tux shirt fall away and with a heavy breath out my nose, slowly turned around to take in my appearance. My tanned skin was marred here and there by white, puckered flesh, making a dizzying pattern along my chest and down onto my abs. It grew worse when it reached my shoulders.
I traced the scars, yells of terror flooding my ears until it was all I heard. Yanking my hand away, I spun back around and had to breathe long and deep for five minutes before I could get myself to move again.
Stupid. Why did I ever think I’d get away from what befell me back then?
Thankfully, Julius was busy with a new customer as I stepped out and placed the clothes on the table for him to take care of.
I glanced at the half-demon he was fitting now.
Hard eyes narrowed when they locked onto mine in the mirror.
I escaped before the warlock could talk to me anymore.
The walk back to the office was too short and did nothing to help me get out of my sudden mood change. Going home for the rest of the day should have been what I did, but instead, I swallowed down my anger and stormed to my desk, ignoring everyone I passed on the way.
The invitation mocked me from the corner of my desk.
A mage. It had to be a mage I was going through all this shit for.
Damned magic users.
I grabbed it and shoved it away, diving headfirst into my work.
For several hours, I was successful, and the afternoon started to go by quickly. The tux was dropped off around three—earlier than I anticipated, based on what Julius said.
I considered asking Nor if I could head home early to get ready when a voice reached me from across the floor.
“No,” I grunted, nowhere in the right mind to deal with any more drama today.
“Rafael, it’s so good to see you again! I missed you!”
Too late.
I glanced up in time to see Iris strolling quickly for my desk.
“Iris, this is a surprise. How have you been?” I forced myself to ask as I stood.
I was prepared to shake her hand, but instead, she hugged me, squeezing me tightly as I awkwardly patted her on the back.
“Oh, come on! You can’t tell me you didn’t miss me at all?” she asked, pulling back.
Failing to smile, I motioned to the chair beside my desk, and she took it. Damn.
“You just caught me off guard is all. Thought you were enjoying California.”
“Eh, I was for a while, but there’s so much going on there. Too many humans,” she said, waving away my question. “So I asked to come back. Thought you’d be happy to see me, but from that weird look on your face, I’d say not.”
“No,” I said and resumed my seat, “there’s a big case going on right now, and I have to go undercover tonight. A lot on my mind.”
“You were always so wrapped up in work.” She rested her hand on mine.
It was a concentrated effort for me not to pull back.
A whisper of the months we spent together rushed through my mind, but there was no moment that stuck out enough to make me take her hand and tell her I was grateful she was back. Because I wasn’t. Far from it.
“Are you seeing someone right now?” Her fingers rubbed over my knuckles as she leaned closer, letting her blouse part a bit.
I did move back this time, not caring when she pouted.
“No, figure I’m better off alone. Isn’t that basically what you told me anyway?” I growled and then removed her hand from my arm. “If you’ll excuse me, I have work to take care of.” I stood.
I was going to tell Nor I was taking off early now. Tomorrow, if I survived the ball, I’d give him an earful for not giving me a head’s up Iris was coming back.
“I did call you,” she said quietly. “Quite a few times. You never answered.”
A pang of loneliness crept through me as I debated not responding, but the words slipped out before I could, leftover anger from the tux-fitting coming through.
“You left me, remember? Said you couldn’t be with someone who never opened up. Said if I couldn’t change, then I was doomed to be alone forever.” I glared at her until she swallowed hard and her face paled. “You walked away without so much as a goodbye, and you expect me to pick up when you call? Expect me to be happy when you show your face here?”
“Raf, I—”
“Rafael,” I corrected sharply. “And really, don’t worry about it. Thanks to you, I’ve figured out I’m better off without anyone. Fewer people to let down. As I said, I have work.”
Snatching my tux, I didn’t even bother telling Nor I was leaving.
He’d call me if he wanted to chew my ass out, but I was not going to sit here and listen to Iris give me shit for not trying to stay in touch.
I met her three years ago when I landed a job here.
She was sweet, laughed a lot, and for some strange reason, I agreed to go on a date with her. Despite the fact she was a siren, and that was how she probably landed her dates with other supes, those abilities did not work on demons.
She genuinely seemed to like me, and I thought I could be with her.
That first date led to more dates, and we were together for about a year until she started to get mad at me. Said I never talked to her, claimed she had no idea who I really was, and that after a year she should.
Every time she tried to get closer, I pushed her away and kept pushing until she finally up and left.
I’d told her countless times to let it go. That I’d tell her when I was ready.
Thank god she never saw the scars, or she would’ve hounded me more than she already had.
Only one person knew what happened to me.
And that was me.
I never wanted to be close to anyone again.
I tried with Iris, and all it proved was that I was better off keeping to myself.
No one was going to save me.
It was too damned late for that.