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The Black Dragon stood up, “It has come to my attention that the Special Division have a problem with the current leadership. Is this correct?”
“Yes, my Lord,” Ivanisevic rose to his feet, “When the last Jade Cat was killed by the previous Gold Phoenix, Detective Zhao was seconded to the department as a temporary manager. With the recent increase in danger, the officers of the department feel that his leadership is against our interests.”
The Black Dragon looked toward Zhao, “Explain.”
Zhao sighed and stood up, “The department has lost several officers in the pursuit of Melanie Reading-Smith and Tabatha Smith, and it has been revealed that Andrew Reading-Smith is not only working with the Fae in this case but is also a Ghoul. The latest development has had two of our officers killed...”
“And eaten, don’t forget the details, Zhao.” Ivanisevic snapped.
The assembled officers muttered, and Kai felt their unease and disgust fill the canteen like a cloud.
“That’s not helpful, Ivanisevic.” Zhao said.
“What do you want us to do? Get eaten one at a time when the Fae could deal with the bastard easily? He’s one of them after all.”
The Black Dragon looked at Lord Faidren, “Is this true?”
“I know that our Maor Ard has a Ghoul as a pet curiosity, but I wasn’t aware that she’d allowed it to embody itself. Maybe the queen gave her permission; it isn’t something that I would be privy to.” The Fae lord quirked one eyebrow and shrugged indolently.
“So, you knew it existed, but had no idea that the Ghoul was wandering around the Dark Cities?” The Silver Wolf barked irritably, “Why were the Triang not informed of the Ghoul’s existence?”
Faidren shrugged, “It belongs to the Maor Ard. Why would we tell the Triang?”
“Well, considering that it’s taken the Gold Phoenix hostage, I’d think that you’d want help to save her.” Kai pointed out.
“The fact remains that we will not put ourselves at risk for someone that the Fae are responsible for, against a creature that the Fae control.” Ivanisevic said, glancing around the room.
Kai noticed that the only officers who weren’t nodding along with the Union Rep were the ones she’d marked out as part Fae. They all seemed to be staring at anything other than Faidren or Ivanisevic, They look decidedly uncomfortable, as if they really don’t want to be involved.
The muttering increased in volume.
“Enough.” The Black Dragon’s metallic voice cut through the noise.
“I have not heard anything to suggest that Lady Torqithrelle is missing or in danger.” Lord Faidren said.
Zhao gestured to the forensic tech that had handled the box. He brought a brown card folder up to the dais and passed it to Kai, who in turn opened the folder and showed Faidren the summary report. She felt a great deal of satisfaction as the Fae Lord’s face drained of colour, leaving dark shadows where his eyes and mouth were.
“You are completely certain of these things?” Faidren asked, his mouth becoming a thin dark line.
“Science does not lie.” Kai told him.
“What must we do to retrieve her?” He closed the folder and gave it back to Kai.
She let out a sigh of relief.
“The Golden Phoenix is a member of the Triang Council. It is up to us to track her down and retrieve her; the people designated for this task are the SDPO.” The Black Dragon told him in a monotone.
Ivanisevic looked furious, “We will not do it.”
Kai stood up and moved to the side of the Black Dragon who nodded and sat back down, “Your contention is that the department does not have proper leadership?”
“It’s one of the main points that my members have brought up.” The Union Rep said.
“Well, I can solve that one at least.” Kai grinned behind her mask, “Officer Ivanisevic, have you observed my regalia?”
He glared at her and she got the distinct impression that he didn’t like the direction she was taking the discussion in, “I have.”
“For the information of the rest of the department, would you like to come up and announce who I am?” she motioned for him to approach.
Zhao had a malicious smile on his face as Ivanisevic walked up to the dais and bowed, before turning to face the rest of the room.
“I have the distinct honour to introduce the Head of Special Division, The Jade Cat.” He said.
“You sound so enthusiastic.” Kai murmured behind him.
The officer shot a poisonous glance back at her as the assemblage in the canteen stood and bowed.
“Thank you, Officer Ivanisevic. You may return to your seat.” Kai said.
Once everyone had taken their seats again, Kai straightened her shoulders, “I’ve spent quite a while observing the department since my appointment to the post. You won’t have noticed me, but I have seen a fair few things that I wish to change about the way this department is organised.”
Zhao had sat back with folded arms with a smug grin on his face, clearly enjoying himself. Ivanisevic looked like he’d bitten into a Loquat and found a worm. Kai checked the Fae officers and saw them looking more than a little worried; several from different areas of the room were sending panicked looks at Faidren. Maybe I have some Fae informers to deal with? I need to talk to Zhao.
“However, the current crisis means that I am going to have to shelve my plans for the moment. The wellbeing of the Golden Phoenix is paramount.” She paused and looked around the room, “May I see a show of hands for the following: All those who wish to have nothing to do with this case?”
Ivanisevic’s hand shot up, followed by a few of his friends around him. More followed slowly until about a quarter of the room had raised their hands.
“Very well. Please move to the right-hand side of the room.” Kai said.
They did as she said.
“Of those who have not moved; please indicate if you are willing to remain in the office to help with co-ordination of the rescue effort.”
Half of the officers put their hands up.
“Please move to the left-hand side of the room.”
They did so.
“Those who are left, how many of you are willing to join me to track the Ghoul down and rescue the Golden Phoenix?”
All the remaining officers put their hands up. Kai was pleased to see that both Clarke and Amin were amongst them, sat beside Zhao. All the part Fae are in this group as well. Hmm.
“Excellent.” She turned to the group on the right, “Just this once I will allow the insubordination. You are as of this moment on Unpaid Leave; however, if this occurs again within the dept, I will not hesitate to fire you.”
“You can’t do that!” Ivanisevic protested, “You don’t have the authority...” he trailed off as The Black Dragon stood up again.
“The Jade Cat’s will is absolute within this department. The Jade Cat is the enforcement arm of the Triang Council, and you are their staff. If you do not like this, you are welcome to tender your resignations.”
Kai inclined her head to Louise in thanks for the support and turned back to glare at Ivanisevic, “Satisfied?”
The Union Rep gave a short nod, “Yes, Lord.”
“Very well. Those of you in the first group are dismissed. You’ll be contacted when your Leave is over.” Kai said, “The rest of the department are to go back their normal duties until otherwise notified.”
The SDPO’s stood, bowed to the council and left the room.
Once they’d left, Kai turned to the rest of the Council, “My esteemed colleagues of the Triang, I feel that we have now come to a place where the SDPD can move forward on this case.”
“I agree,” the Black Dragon said, “I move that we leave this matter in the Jade Cat’s hands. All in favour?”
Everyone apart from Lord Faidren agreed.
The Fae Lord bowed in his chair toward the Black Dragon, “With your permission, Lord Dragon, I would prefer to remain here for the planning session; I may be able to offer aid to the Glascat.”
The Black Dragon nodded, “Of course. I now adjourn this session of the Triang and suggest that we reconvene later in the month at the usual time and place; hopefully with the Gold Phoenix in attendance.”
“Good idea,” The Crystal Dragon said, standing up, “Jade Cat, if you have any need of help, do contact us in the meantime.”
Kai inclined her head.
They all stood and bowed to each other, then left the room with their guards. Kai beckoned to Zhao who was hovering by the door, “Take Lord Faidren to the office. I’ll be along shortly.”
Zhao bowed, “As you wish, Jade Cat.”
The Fae stood and began walking toward the exit without a word, the Heralds hurrying after him.
“Don’t let him speak to any of the Fae Officers.” Kai told Zhao, “I think there may be a few moles that we need to unearth.”
“You noticed that too?” he gestured for her to precede him, “After you, Lord.” He said aloud. Amin and Clarke followed her.
“Thank you.” Kai said and realised that the voice changer in her mask made her voice sound deeper. Must be a holdover from the days when the Triang members could only be men. Should I change out of my robes? She glanced at Zhao.
“Faidren will give you more respect if you stay dressed up, plus we can’t have him knowing your true identity.” Zhao told her.
In the office, Edward had rearranged the furniture. He’d seated Lord Faidren on one side of the room and as Kai entered, he bowed and ushered her to the chair behind the desk. Amin and Clarke arranged themselves either side of the desk chair as she sat down.
Wei Tian’s Jian had been set up on a stand on the desk, the blade bare. Kai wasn’t sure exactly why Edward had done that, but she could see the Spirit hovering above the desk, and it comforted her.
Zhao took a chair opposite Faidren.
Kai decided to use her anonymity to her advantage, “First of all, why are you here, Lord Faidren?”
“Your Personal Assistant requested my presence.” The Fae lord looked a little annoyed, “She was very insistent that I attend.”
“We both know that the Fae never do anything unless there is something in it for them.” Kai snapped, “The Fae have been asked to attend Triang meetings for the last five years and your people have ignored the requests. So, I ask again; why are you here?”
The two heralds behind him tensed slightly, nothing much more than a tightening of muscles, but Zhao registered it and began to move toward them. Kai felt the emotional atmosphere change and leaned forward to scoop the Jian from the stand on the desk in front of her.
One of the Heralds lifted her trumpet, aiming the bell toward Kai. Her finger slipped into the loop that held a green silk tassel and she pulled down on it.
Time slowed.
Kai watched a slim dart fly out of the trumpet bell and she raised the sword in her hand to block its flight. At the same time, Zhao threw himself out of his chair, across the coffee table and toward Lord Faidren. The second Herald aimed his trumpet at Zhao.
Time sped up again.
“So that there is peace, a time of war must come.” Faidren said, “You and the rest of the Triang have rejected our proposals to bring peace to the globe, so therefore we must eliminate the opposition.”
The first dart hit the Jian’s blade and ricocheted away. The herald followed up by throwing herself at Kai, drawing a long, slim bladed, leaf shaped dagger as she moved. Zhao proved to be much faster than the dart aimed at him as he had his hands around Faidren’s throat as the dart buried itself deeply into the chair he’d left.
Kai blinked as Wei Tian manifested in front of her, “Jade Cat, please allow me to take this fight.”
The Fae was on her before she could do much else, leaping over the desk, so with a deep breath, Kai let him take over her actions the way he had with Chamberlain. Thrusting the dagger forward and up, the herald’s set face betrayed her determination.
Wei Tian made Kai turn so that the dagger blade slipped past her at throat height, raised her free arm and tried to knock the herald away. Kai’s chair fell to the floor and rolled toward Amin, knocking him flying.
With a snarl, the Herald tried again, pushing Clarke roughly out of the way. This time the blade passed close enough that Kai could smell an acrid odour surrounding the blade before Wei Tian moved her. It’s tainted with something.
“She isn’t going to give up.” Wei Tian said, “You need something to distract her so I can find you space to get away.”
“Call off your dog, Faidren.” Zhao growled into the Fae Lord’s pointed ear.
The Fae Lord just smirked as the second Herald pulled out a similar dagger and attacked Zhao with a shriek of rage.
Kai looked around. Edward was curled up in a ball on the floor beside the desk, Clarke and Amin were picking themselves up. Only a few moments have passed? Shit. Amin was closer to the door, so Kai shoved her mind into his without a thought, “Amin, go get help.”
He looked up and nodded before scrambling out of the office door.
Clarke regained her feet and snarled as she changed form, “Get away from her!”
The herald attacking Kai barely spared the vampire a glance, continually slashing at Kai and forcing Wei Tian to concentrate on moving Kai out of reach.
Zhao twisted his fist into Faidren’s tunic and used him as a shield against the second herald, “Call off your dogs, Faidren or I’ll rip your throat out myself.”
“No.” The lord leaned his head to one side as the herald lunged, allowing the blade to pass him and forcing Zhao to drop his grip.
“That’s not going to work, Fae warriors are prepared to die for their queen at any moment.” Wei Tian told Kai, “He and the other two will die before they give up on their mission.”
She passed the information on to Zhao with a brief mind contact.
Clarke grabbed at the first herald as she slashed the blade’s tip toward Kai’s throat. The vampire succeeded in halting the progress of the attack for a moment and Wei Tian took the opportunity to move Kai into a safer position.
The herald turned and slashed at Clarke, the tip of the blade touching the vampire’s cheek.
“Ayah!” Clarke stumbled back, her hands flying to her face, “That burned!”
Turning back toward Kai, the herald smiled and attacked again.
Will my mask guard me against whatever is on the blade? Kai didn’t want to find out, but Wei Tian refused to let her move toward the office door.
“Riordan, we have to stop this fight now. Let me kill them.” The ghost tugged her back toward the fight.
“No!” Kai snapped aloud, “I will not kill, it’s against everything I believe in.”
“Jade Cat, sometimes we will have to do something we don’t like.” Zhao called from the other end of the office where he was fending off the male herald.
“I’d rather die myself.”
Faidren stood and moved toward the office door, “I do believe I shall be taking my leave of you now, Jade Cat. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.”
Clarke followed him, her cheek dripping with blood and green pus, “You can’t get away with this, Fae.” The pus appeared to be spreading rapidly through her flesh, but she kept moving.
Faidren paused by the door and looked at the vampire, “Oh but I will. You’ll be naught but putrefaction in the next few moments, as dead as all undead are supposed to be.”
Clarke gurgled at him; the pus having dissolved her voice box.
Kai dodged the herald’s knife again and tripped over Edward, landing just beyond him. Her mask flew off and shattered as it hit the wall. The noise attracted Faidren’s attention, and he smiled, “Much has been revealed in this meeting and I must report back to the Banríona. Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Riordan. I doubt we shall meet again.”
He spun and left the room.