My whole body was tense as I stood there looking up at him as he towered overme, terrifyingly and incredibly tall. I was in awe of the being in front of me, even as every fiber of my being told me to run.

Grabbing me by the neck he lifted me into the air as if I weighed no more than a rag doll, my feet flailing uselessly beneath me, trying to lift me up to breath or see his face. I barely had a chance to register the thought before I felt weightless and realized I was I was moving through the air; my body slammed into the wall that had been farther behind me.

I heard my bones snapping and slashing, an unrelenting wild animal tearing me apart from within. My lungs tried to pull in air getting nothing but blood. Even as the pain wracked my body I heard the approaching footsteps, now allowing me a clear view of his face. As he loomed over me I closed my eyes as the pain worsened when he nudged my side. I did not want to die. I refused to die and deep within me I heard a click and opened my eyes.

Ch.1:

Sitting at my desk I glanced over at my so called partner’s office, feeling like I was drowning in the paperwork we should have both been working on. We’d only been partners a couple months but I was fast becoming convinced that my nightmares of being crushed by paperwork mountains could come true. Okay honestly they were daymares, I wished my nightmares were so ridiculous instead of the constant replay of the past. Thanks to them I barely slept anyways. I glanced at his office again feeling more like a glorified receptionist; I kept telling myself he got an office just because they were trying to contain him, like caging a tornado or something.

I shouldn’t be complaining, not that I wasn’t free to but I’d a good career so far. I’d started in Baltimore as a beat cop and quickly earned a promotion up to detective. It was helpful that I was semi-related to the Irish mob, not that it had helped any when I went to New York. I had still run afoul of the Italians one too many times for their liking and soon as my captain heard the merest suggestion that they might have taken out a contract on me I was restricted to office work and soon shipped off here to Chicago. I had to admit Chicago was nice, and I enjoyed working homicide. I didn’t get homesick, home meant family and that meant my parents who were still rather protective of me, whether or not I had given them plenty of reasons to worry.

According to my records though and as far as my first or current partner knew I had only recently made detective. It was a little annoying pretending to be a rookie all over again and sure I’d been hazed a little but I supposed it was worth it. I wondered why my captain had shipped me off so quickly, I doubted that the Italians would move against me but he had insisted. As I looked to his office again I wished my first partner hadn’t been transferred to the FBI, though in the beginning I hadn’t heard of Joseph Ames.

I should have been suspicious from the start, the day had started out far too well with me managing to not char my breakfast. My captain had called me into his office, already looking like he had an ulcer or two with several files sitting on his desk, one of which I noticed was mine. The look on his face struck me as apologetic, another bad sign.

“I’m really sorry you and Valerie couldn’t remain partners. We know she’s all thrilled to be going off to the bureau though. I wish I could say that it was difficult finding a partner for you but it’s almost an unfortunate turn of events that one of other detectives needs a new partner. I’m going to guess you’ve heard of Joseph Ames already.” He looked at me as if expecting me to jump out of my seat and starting flipping out and shouting at him, or arguing about the assignment.

Ames? I took a moment to think, his office was on the other side of the office from me. Had I seen his name in the newspaper or had Aron mentioned him? I think I may have heard a few jokes about too. “Only in passing, though he’s cut in front of me for coffee a few times.” Another omen to how things would be.

He looked at me stunned silent for a moment then squinted at me like I might be pulling the wool over his eyes. “Oh,” he said as if unsure of what to say next. He gave me another skeptical look before regaining his composure. “Well you two will be partnered up working homicides eventually. We’re going to start you with a beat to give you time to adjust to working together. Here are some things we’d like you to keep in mind while working with Ames. If you have any questions my door is always open.”

Taking the folder I couldn’t help but get the feeling he was handing me a fragile piece of glass or perhaps a bomb of some kind. “Yes sir.” I headed out of the office and headed over to Ames’s office, noting the desk closest to it was empty and was either lightly used or frequently restored. The light was off and the door was closed but I took a peek in the small window anyways.

“He’s not in today,” Henry told me, startling me a little. When had I gotten so tense? “Thankfully he’s off today but that probably isn’t keeping him out of trouble if you know what I mean. What has you looking for trouble on this fine day?”

Clutching the folders I was suddenly feeling like the new kid in school, sure I’d only been there a few months but I had gotten over that quickly. “I’m not, I was looking for Ames. He’s my new partner since Val left.” Why would I be looking for trouble.

He paused a moment looking at me as if waiting for me to say just kidding and laugh with him, when I didn’t he started laughing aloud causing several heads to turn towards us. Grabbing my arm he dragged me over by some of the others trying to calm himself down enough to talk. “You guys aren’t going to believe this one. I asked Koen here why she was looking for trouble, obviously trying to find Ames, and she said I’m not I’m looking for Ames.”

Tony choked on his coffee, coughing violently a moment. Maggie burst out laughing, as did Joe, Henry was in stitches again. I stood there feeling increasingly frustrated at failing to see the joke that they were all so amused by. “If this is another ‘let’s trick the rookie moments’ I am not amused and have better things to do.” Before I could walk away Henry wrapped his arm around my shoulders giving me an apologetic look. Rolling my eyes I decided to give them a split second of a chance. “Fine what’s so funny?”

“The fact that you think Ames isn’t trouble,” he explained.

I rolled my eyes again at them all. “I didn’t say that,” but once again he dragged me back as I tried to escape.

“Let us explain,” he insisted. “ Ames is pretty infamous here in homicide.”

“And the CPD,” added Maggie.

“And the entire city of Chicago, heard he’s closing in on the mayor when it comes to recognition,” added Tony.

Now they had caught my attention. He sounded like a high profile partner, the antithesis of who I should have been partnering with. “Let me guess then that you don’t call him Ames, you call him trouble.”

“Never to his face,” confirmed Henry. “But seriously the guy is infamous. I’ve he’s been through like fifty partners and driven most of them out of the force, some just changed careers to escape. You seriously haven’t heard any of this?”

My cheeks burned at the question. “No, I’ve been a little distracted getting used to things out here and such.”

Henry was leaned on me a little and ruffled my hair. “Let me give you a tip for working with Ames, don’t take your eyes off him. Never know what kind of shrapnel might be coming off him…Oh and I promised to give you a cut of whatever I earn from the pool.”

“The pool?” I asked, almost sure I didn’t want to know.

Maggie smirked. “We always takes bets on how long his partners are going to last.” Suddenly I liked her even less than I had.

“Hey you lot back to work. I still see stacks of paper work I should be getting from you any minute now,” called our captain from the door way of his office. He headed back into his office to speak with the couple in there, shaking his head a little.

The group dispersed back to their work before I could asked any of the questions buzzing around in my mind. Shrugging off their words I went back to my desk and sat down starting to review the details of my assignment of working with Ames. At first glance it seemed like the typical keep an eye on your partner stuff, a little background, but it was the post it notes that struck me. ‘Try to keep the collateral damage down as much as you can.’ ‘Remember play the part of a rookie.’ ‘Try to do the driving yourself.’ ‘Try to keep him out of trouble.’ ‘Keep your vest with you at all times, better yet keep it on.’ ‘I’m really sorry Koen.’ ‘Good Luck.’ I wasn’t sure if I should be awed or awfully upset. I was beginning to, or rather thought, I was beginning to understand what they were talking about. If only I had know.

As I looked back to the office again, still drowning in his paperwork and mine, I made a mental note to learn how to fold paper throwing stars, at least my delivery method would properly express my feelings. It had only taken me one shift to understand what my coworkers were talking about.

We had been given a simple beat assignment keep an eye on the streets and respond to any disturbances or calls that we got. It was supposed to give us time to adjust to one another and to get used to working together. I had a feeling it was to ascertain whether we would be a functional team. So far his reputation had preceded him to the point I was seriously questioning whether or not this was another hazing or an early April Fool’s joke. That first shift should have been the easiest eight hours or our lives, keep your eyes open and be alert. Even the conversation was easy.

Ames was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for a green light. “So seems we’re going to be partners for a while…At least that seems to be the plan…”A grin slid across his face and I wasn’t sure if I was glad I couldn’t read minds or not.

“Seems that is the plan,” I agreed, trying to put aside all the post it notes that I had almost memorized from reading so many times. In a weird way he almost seemed a little awkward than I would have imagined a cop with such an infamous reputation to be. He was almost a little geeky, as if he was shy around girls, which I had heard stories about as well. Biting my tongue I managed to keep from laughing.

“I haven’t had a chance to really look over your file, in fact I’m surprised they would stick you with me. They usually don’t assign me to work with rookies,” he told me. I thought I heard him murmur something though about scaring one too many off.

I wanted to respond by saying this wasn’t my first rodeo but I had to remember that I was pretending to be a rookie, for now at least. “I’m not as green as you would suspect. I spent a couple years in New York working different departments and when I got in some hot water I transferred out here.” I felt like the swiss cheese holes in my stories were craters on the moon.

He raise an eyebrow glancing over at me. “Quite a record, I walked a beat for a couple years and been in homicide for nearly eight. You’ll be my—sixth partner. What happened to your last partner?”

“Went to join to the feds.”

“How long have you been on the force?”

“Not long enough to have a partner like you,” I told him. It was a partially lie, Michael had been infamous too. Just the name felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest.

“What have you heard?” My reputation seems to often precede me but I heard some people snickering more than usual the other day. I’d just prefer to not stick my foot in my mouth too soon,” he explained glancing to me again.

Those back stabbing rats. She wanted to ask him about what he had heard but that would have been obvious. “I’ve noticed things around you have a tendency for blowing up. Though I think all the good lucks I’ve been getting speak for themselves.” She leaned back a little almost beginning to wonder if the others had been putting her on, so far he wasn’t that bad at all.

He nodded. “Yeah I’ve blown up my share of things, a regular Arnold Schwarzenegger. Decade with the CPD and I’ve had a couple partners like you.” He pulled into a fast food join asking if I wanted anything to eating before I could say anything about his comment. A few like me?

“You’ve had other partners well trained in dislocation and broken bones?” I teased, refusing to let the comment go. I was a little hungry and debated what I wanted to get. He got a distant look in his eyes and nodded.

“My last partner knew how to handle herself.” He was heading for the door when he got a good look inside and sighed seeing the asked men inside. He never took his eyes off them as he issued me seeral directions. “Call for back up, I’ll take care of this.” He headed to entrance as I slipped back into the car leaving the door open.

If he thought I was going to just sit there and call for back-up and wait for them he was sorely mistaken. After all it was just a stick up. By the time I called in the robbery and headed inside Ames was shooting off his mouth. He almost seemed to frown for a moment seeing me then began babbling about me being that crazy cop. “Gentlemen it would be in your best interests to put down your guns now and give it up. Not doing so may be hazardous to your health.” The bullet chipped the tile near me and I frowned looking to the one with the gun. Ames looked to me nodding his head then overpowered the one he was next to.

I looked to the other guy. “Don’t suppose you would do me a favor and be a good boy?

“L-like hell!” I shrugged moving to disarm and twist his arm behind him. When he struggled I tweaked his arm as I cuffed him, hearing the familiar pop of a shoulder dislocating.

Sitting the two of the them down Ames ordered then kept an eye on the perps while I ordered, who mumbled something I couldn’t hear over the worker bee behind the counter. “Dude that was so freaking awesome- and that girl, didn’t know arms could bend like that. Can I get an autograph- guys won’t believe me when I tell them.” Looking to him I could see him giving me that look. “Could um could I get your um number?” Yep that was the one. The kid barely looked old enough to vote.

“Sorry kid I’m already taken,” I told him turning away to drag one of the bunglers out to the squad cars that had just pulled up, with Ames shoving the other one outside. How had a simple stop for food turned into such an ordeal?

After collecting our food we got back in the car and hit the road again. “Stopped in for lunch and fond the hamburgler and Grimace,” Ames joked before scarfing down his food in what seemed mere seconds. “Good job in there detective, seems you can handle yourself.”

“Thanks,” I told him between fries again hating my rookie cover. “Lots of practice handling hold-ups in New York.” Amateurs were amateurs, it was almost a little sad.

“So why’d you leave New York? Bit far from home here, and you could have picked a nice climate. I hear Miami is great.” he commented double checking he didn’t have any food left. “Love that place’s sandwiches.”

I sipped my soda wondering if he was asking or digging. “I visited friends here a few times and when I needed a transfer it was one of the few that had a spot available, and there aren’t many openings in Miami.” I sipped my soda glancing to him. “In regards to my family I could use the distance from for a bit…safer for all of us.”

He nodded. “I can understand that. People closest to you are often the ones to hurt you the most,” he said. “Still California is nice almost year round too, that’d keep you out of reach. I have some in-laws out that way, nice folks in a nice neighborhood. If I wasn’t married to the job I’d probably move out that way, getting preety tired of dark, cold winters and such.”

He was married? He hadn’t mentioned being married had he? Didn’t seem like something he wanted to talk about though so I let it go. “I actually don’t mind the cold so much, I actually enjoy snow and such. Warm weather has never really been my thing.” Most of year away at boarding school or college and home for summers, no wonder I dislike warm weather.

“Then you’re in for a treat winters here suck. You have family in the area? I have a little brother going to college not too far from here.” He stopped at a red light sipping his drink. “Maybe I’ll introduce you to Sarah sometime, I have feeling you two would get along. Swap stories and methods of inflicting pain on people.” He was grinning until a red sports car flew past. “Hit the light and sirens.”

As he called it in I hit the sirens and put the light on top of the car. Seconds later we were flying down the streets of Chicago, clipping a fruit cart, as we chased after the stupid driver of the sports car. As we swerved past a couple cars I could hear some very choice words, even through the windows and the speed. “I would pull her over if we weren’t caught up in something.” I rolled my eyes at his statement. We wouldn’t have pulled tha move if we hadn’t bee in pursuit of the sports car. I held on to the car as he took a corner way too fast, nearly clipping the building. It was the bridge ahead of us that really got my attention. He wasn’t thinking of- “Do you believe in God Koen?”

“I do, and right now I’m really hoping that I’m in good favor with him right now,” I admitted already praying that we would come out of this thing with our lives and jobs intact. As he peeled out I saw the bridge starting to rise and heard him saying something about the suspension of the car. Seriously I was more worried about us than the car’s damn suspension.

He hit the gas even harder as we approached the edge we went off the bridge like some daredevil stunt. For a moment we were weightless but gravity caught up with us and threw us back down towards the ground just as suddenly, a little too far as we landed on the hood of the sports car, putting their engine into our trunk.

We sat in stunned silence for a moment as things settled hearing the approaching sirens. “Next time you drive,” he told me.

“Yeah, definitely…nice jump though,” I told him still feeling wide eyed. Hours we had been partners for hours and had already thwarted an amateur hold up while getting some food, been involved in a high speed car chase, and jumped a bridge. I was beginning to understand what the others had been talking about, if this was a typical day for him I could only imagine an interesting one.

In the few months we’d been partners things were still a little rocky. His collateral damage had decreased but we still seemed to be making almost weekly visits to the hospital for minor scrapes, the man was seriously a danger magnet. Most of the trouble came from special assignments, seriously who special requests Ames, but our main duty was homicide which in my experience was not as risky an assignment as it had become. Thanks to all our “fun” as Ames called it I had twice the amount of paperwork to do on top of him leaving me all of his to fill out.

Looking back to his office I glared at it until I heard someone saying they had a delivery for me. I looked up as someone directed them to me. I signed for the package and then sat back down starting to open it. “What’d ye get?” asked Ames leaning over my shoulder just as I was pulling out the newspaper. “You get the newspaper special delivered?” he scoffed.

I rolled my eyes. “None of your business,” I hissed at him. I grabbed a stack of folders shoving them into his hands. “Go do some actual work and sign these.” His recent round of stunts were beyond his usual caliber and I was tired of the precarious paperwork mountains on my desk. Once he walked away I opened the early edition of the paper seeing the note on the front. ‘You only made page 9, congratulations. –Aron’ I smiled lightly, ignoring anyone who might have been giving me a suspicious look. One of the reasons I was glad that Val was gone was that she couldn’t question my taste in men, she’d have been furious to know I was dating a journalist especially this journalist. Right now we were taking a break, I was so busy with Ames and our workload that I barely had time off. Maybe I’d see if we could catch dinner some time, I felt like I’d barely had time to say boo to him lately.

I would like to applaud and thank all the people who were involved in this game and they are: Ian (Main GM, many NPCs such as The Wizard(whose name was John), Ben (Co-GM, many NPCs such as Aran (my character’s epic mentor), Jon C.(Joseph “King of No Pants” Ames), Jon P. (Leon), Jason (Victoria Camden), Charlie (Judas Ryan Scott), Steve (Jennifer Marlowe), Adam (Dr. Richard Donovan & Bill Price), Scott (Deis “Sin “Sinbad” Banisher”), Josh (James & Will), Harry (Ying Jang Kim), Nick D.(Father Jacques), Joy (Caitlin Rhoswen), and Ian’s Mom (Lots of food such as pizza and scones).

My character began this game as a homicide detective haunted by her own past. She became swept up in the world of the supernatural with a bunch of other mortals, who one by one proved that they were awesome even before their supernatural templates. She would go on to become the ghoul (half-vampire) of a very powerful old vampire, who began training her in the hopes that she would carry on his legacy when he passed on. In the end she carried on his legacy and her own family’s legacy as one of the dragon blooded.

At the end of the game the characters were able to rewrite history preventing the war of the supernal realms from ever happening and thereby preventing any need for all the events that happened during game. All those involved in those events still remember what really happened but everyone else has forgotten them.

Anna Saphyre Koen-Kage went on to live a long and happy life with her husband Aron Shimo Kage, who wrote a series of best-selling novels about a crazy group of mortals who become swept up in the supernatural that were inspired by this crazy dream his wife had. They raised a number of amazing children who carried the dragon-blood gene, and also caught on to the fact that a lot of the names, like their Aunt Victoria (who married Ying Jang Kim, who their mother always grinds her teeth at in the stories) and their Crazy Uncle Ames among others, seem very similar to the ones in their mother’s stories. She always kept a watchful eye out for any supernatural trouble that might crop up along with her friends who she meets yearly at the bar two of her cousins’ bought and reopened, for drinks and crazy stories.

Though it is sad to see this game close and I can feel my eyes watering up at the thought of it’s conclusion, it does not mean I am done with this character or her story. I now have an amazing story idea for NaNoWriMo this year and who knows maybe it will become a best seller.

Right back where we started
Fallin’ apart at the seams
You tagged your name on my heart and
I sat there and let it bleed

Sweetheart so now this is goodbye

I’m letting you go
You’re letting me down
Been caught in your reign and I almost drowned
I’m letting you go
Our love’s black and blue
How many words does it take to say I’m through

I… I… I… I’m… I’m through
I… I… I… I’m… I’m through
I… I… I… I’m… I’m through
I… I… I’m through with you

You said you knew what romance is
Jaded I fell for your lies
You’re out of second chances
Sadly we’re fading out tonight

Sweetheart so now this is goodbye

I’m letting you go
You’re letting me down
Been caught in your reign and I almost drowned
I’m letting you go
Our love’s black and blue
How many words does it take to say I’m through

I have to
Don’t want to
I’ve got to set you free
No more words
It’s over
Now I can finally breathe

I’m letting you go
You’re letting me down
Been caught in your reign and I almost drowned
I’m letting you go
Our love’s black and blue
How many words does it take to say I’m through

I… I… I… I’m… I’m through
I… I… I… I’m… I’m through
I… I… I… I’m… I’m through
I… I… I’m through with you

I wanna put your mind at ease again
(Make everything alright)
I know it’s getting underneath your skin
I’ve tried to tell you now

Don’t look over your shoulder
‘Cause that’s just the ghost of me
You’re seeing in your dreams
Wait, there’s no rhyme or reason

Sometimes there’s no meaning
In the visions when you’re sleepin’
Don’t wake up and believe them
You’re looking at the ghost of me

With your imagination and emotions running wild
Fueling my frustrations like a fire burning, clock keeps turning
I know it’s getting underneath your skin
I’ve tried to tell you now

Don’t look over your shoulder
‘Cause that’s just the ghost of me
You’re seeing in your dreams
Wait, there’s no rhyme or reason

Sometimes there’s no meaning
In the visions when you’re sleepin’
Don’t wake up and believe them
You’re looking at the ghost of me
You’re looking at the ghost of me
You’re looking at the ghost of me

Don’t look over your shoulder
‘Cause that’s just the ghost of me
You’re seein’
Wait, there’s no rhyme or reason

Sometimes there’s no meaning
In the visions when you’re sleepin’
Don’t wake up and believe them
Visions when you’re sleepin’
Don’t wake up and believe them
You’re looking at the ghost of me
You’re looking at the ghost of me
You’re looking at the ghost of me

Yesterday was over
Today I’m fine without you
Runaway this time without you
And all I ever thought you’d be,
That face is tearing holes in me again

Trust you is just one defense
Off a list of others, you don’t make sense
Beg me time and time again
to take you back now, but you can’t win
Take back now, my life you’re stealing

Yesterday was over
Today I’m fine without you
Runaway this time without you
And all I ever thought you’d be
That face is tearing holes in me,

but today I’m fine without you
Runaway this time without you
And all the things you put me through
I’m holding on by letting go of you

And when that memory slips away
There’ll be a better view from here
And only lonesome you remains
and just the thought of you I fear
grip falls away

Yesterday was over
Today I’m fine without you
Runaway this time without you
And all I ever thought you’d be
That face is tearing holes in me,

but today I’m fine without you
Runaway this time without you
And all the things you put me through
I’m holding on by letting go of you

Whatever Stephan was saying wasn’t important and I was asking Vic to open a door to my place in New York faster than I thought I could form words. I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t think, not without him. Seeing him there and okay, it was like a tsunami crashing into a wall when I hugged him. I came to my senses a moment later dragging him through whistling for Kolchak and seeing Chloe follow, thank God for obedient pets.

But where could we stay? Where could I put them? The wizard it was perfect…Or as close to such a thing at this moment. It would at least buy us sometime. How blind was I to let this happen?

‘Very.’

*

Okay this is my bad.

A foolish part of me believed things would calm down a little with the whole taking care of Magnus thing, a very foolish part of me. That very, very foolish part is the one that let their guard down, I’ll bet it was the one to come up with the idea of bringing Aron to Chicago.

So glad we don’t listen to that part very often.

Magnus is out of our lives but his lovely little legacy of a perfect weapon is still stalking us starting with me…Wait a minute…Why does this seem a little familiar. Someone very powerful, and kind of lazy (‘Shaking something until something falls out? And your solution for everything is demon summoning?’), leaving a legacy stalking the world, hmm nope doesn’t ring any bells. (‘Ha, ha.’)

Pretending for a moment that it is me who just lost their creator type person to some meddling kids my first instinct/reaction would be to hit my first target even harder, make them all pay…So how did I not see this coming? What made me think it could be even remotely okay to decline Stephan’s offer?

For that matter what even triggered all this self sufficiency I seem to be obsessed with? I would imagine Richard would ask something about a time when I wasn’t self sufficient or when I saw someone else being non-self sufficient. Maybe this goes back to my brother all those times I helped him out when he came home wasted, all the times my parents bailed him out. Is that what motivated my decision to depend on myself? Did someone disappointment me to the point that I felt I couldn’t trust anyone anymore? Plenty of people have disappointed me over the years, some of them it wasn’t their fault. I need to get over this whatever caused it.

At least we had a moment of peace though. We had enough time to get back from Northern Wisconsin, seriously who want to live up in the middle of nowhere? As if running away has ever helped anything. I did feel bad I wasn’t able to share my blithe acceptance thing, those clothes were awful. Even managed to sneak in a girl’s night out, which I could use again after all this.

In other conundrum’s why does it always seem my best friend has a habit of hooking up with the one person I can’t stand among my ‘friends’. I’m hoping this Vic and Kim is very temporary. Though it only took a supernatural freak fest to convince Adam to be friends with me…Yeah not holding my breath on Kim ever enjoying having me around.

So here we are. Husband, dog, cat, and I crashing the Wizard’s place for a undefined amount of time. I really hope that Stephan gets those feathers fast because the last thing I need is chloe being a spaz. My one saving grace is that Chloe isn’t in on this little situation, I hate when she gets to play the ‘I told you so’ card, and I don’t really know how to explain this one. “Well see what happened is that my friends and I woke up this cranky old fake vampire who turned my ex, your fiancé’s brother who you never liked, into the perfect weapon and sent it after me.” Yeah not high on my list of conversations I want to have; in fact discussing grandkids with my mother ranks higher.

Then there’s this daemon thing I apparently have lurking around in my head. I thought part of the point of this upgrade was to clear my head; no blood bond, no dominic, no michael, just Me. Though Vic said something about it maybe being someone I respect. Considering that Aran is still there I shouldn’t be surprised something or rather someone else is there. Maybe I’ll be able to find some time to do some soul searching; ha, ha.

Speaking of my mind a big thank you to it for reaffirming everyone’s suspicions about me being irresponsible and all that jazz, I’m trying to change, not like Rome was built in a day, or night. Though is it an accurate account or that I have a penchant for it? The card was on my nightstand which is where I put reminders, things I want to keep an eye on, and other important things.

I recognize that this is another trust issue type thing, really need to discuss this with Richard. I trust these friends of mine with my life but not my secrets? Blood related to the Irish mob for the win…and a dragon for an epic win. Honestly though if they asked about things I would tell them the truth, they’re some of the few people in on enough that I don’t need to give my words a good spin before telling them things. I really would answer their questions honestly if they asked them; with the exception of the time Ames and I were possessed, that I would flat out deny.

-sigh- This is a fine mess.

You gave it all, into the call
You took a chance and
You took a fall for us

You came thoughtfully, loved me faithfully
You taught me honor, you did it for me

Tonight you will sleep for good
You will wait for me my love

Now I am strong (Now I am strong)
You gave me all
You gave all you had and now I am home

My love, leave yourself behind
Beat inside me, leave you blind

My love, look what you can do
I am mending, I’ll be with you

You took my hand added a plan
You gave me your heart
I asked you to dance with me

You loved honestly
Did what you could release

I know you’re pleased to go
I won’t relieve this love

Now I am strong (Now I am strong)
You gave me all
You gave all you had and now I am home

My love, leave yourself behind
Beat inside me, I’ll be with you

Days go on forever
But I have not left your side
We can chase the dark together
If you go then so will I

There is nothing left of you
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye

Cold light above us
Hope fills the heart and fades away
Skin white as winter
As the sky returns to gray

Days go on forever
But I have not left your side
We can chase the dark together
If you go then so will I

There is nothing left of you
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye

I keep holding onto you
But I can’t bring you back to life
Sing the anthem of the angels
Then say the last goodbye

You’re dead alive, you’re dead alive
You’re dead alive, you’re dead alive

There is nothing left of you
I can see it in your eyes
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye

I keep holding onto you
But I can’t bring you back to life
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye
Sing the anthem of the angels
And say the last goodbye
Sing the anthem of the angels

“Is this actually my long lost wife calling home?” he teased in greeting.

She smiled  hearing his voice relaxing at the mere sound. “Hi Honey. Sorry I didn’t call sooner, I took a detour with the mages and it took a little longer than expected.”

“Uh huh, you were just having too much fun with your friends to be bothered to call and check in on us here,” he teased, the relief at hearing from her evident.

“Not as much as you’d think.” She sighed closing her eyes for a moment and visions of the white wolf flashed through her mind’s eye. She shivered a little wishing she had him or a jacket to snuggle in.

She could almost hear him frowning through the phone. “Okay how bad was it?”

Taking a moment to compose her thoughts she considered how things had gone. “Relatively well overall,” she admitted. “They captured this mysterious agent M, turns out it was Magnus. Isn’t that a kicker?” She paused avoiding speaking about her own team a bit longer. “Apparently he had time to summon a demon that was giving them some trouble.”

“Giving them? Where were you?” he questioned a little concerned. The Magnus thing was interesting but what had she been up to and with who? “And I’m going to guess they didn’t let you go alone.”

Chewing on her bottom lip a little she sighed. “I went with the surface team. Marlowe, Ames, and I-“

“Ames! No shit? How is that bastard?” asked Aron.

“Well when I saw him before all this apparently doing quite well. Right now in the hospital, he sustained quite a bit of damage in our fight,” she replied smiling lightly. She knew that Aron and Ames must have had some history of the journalist-detective disagreement type.

He listened actually feeling a little bad for the guy for a moment. “And Marlowe?”

“Marlowe as always, she was doing awesome til it used it’s spooky mode on her.” Why was this so hard? She was over him and yet it was still hard. Though it was the first time they had faced it since her upgrade. And she had wanted to end it right there, but they had been interrupted. Hearing her name she blinked focusing. “Sorry.”

“Sweetheart I know when you’re dancing around something,” he told her waiting for the bombshell. She sounded okay but not okay, shaken, she sounded shaken.

“We were doing all right up top and such, taking a little damage here and there, nothing that serious because things went quite for a moment or two. Then a secondary group arrived and it was with them. That damn reminder.” She swallowed feeling the swirling emotions of hatred and past love, wondering which were making her eyes tear.

That was it, now it made sense. “Didn’t go well?”

She shrugged as she composed herself again, glancing to the others to see if they had seen. “He was hitting a lot harder, but I used the ace up my sleeve. It was going better than it had in the past but then it took off like a shot. Damn thing. I was a little worse for wear but nothing I couldn’t take care of. Learned a new spellish thing.”

“That’s good…I’m really glad that you’re all right,” he told her leaning back. “So where are you now?”

She glanced outside catching a road sign. “Still in Wisconsin.”

“Wisconsin? I thought you were going to be in Chicago.”

“That’s the funny thing. Getting from the warehouse to this place did not leave us access to get back. So Jude opened a new one a little too far North, we’re on our way back now.” It actually amused her to think about, instead of making her brain hurt like it had in the past. “So how are things there?”

“Chloe is still ‘pretty upset’ with you. I think it’s become a compounding who you’ve met and how along with the whole sending everyone back to New York. I think she was hoping to make it permanent. Other than that everyone is good. Chloe made a few attempts at the plushie, good call on the reinforced glass. Kolchak has taken to helping guard it to,” he told her running through the list in his head.

She rolled her eyes knowing that the reappearance of this thing would strain things once more. At least none of them had heard about this thing running around. “And how is my poor husband doing?”

“Missing you like crazy. Wishing I wasn’t a thousand miles away from you or that I had some fancy trick for that,” he told her smiling.

She smiled. “I miss you too. Maybe if I have a moment I’ll work on that fancy trick. Love to be able to move a little more freely, even if it upsets someone.” She heard a loud purr and then a meow smiling more. “Hi chloe, you be good for dad and leave that plushie alone.” She heard a hiss heard her departure, but not a second later there was barking whining sound. “Hello to you too kolchak, you better be good too.”

“They both wanted to say hi,” he apologized.

“At least they’re not killing one another. Well I should probably go now, no telling when I’ll get back to my charger. Love you,” she told him smiling softly.

He smiled nodding in agreement. “I love you too. Be safe and don’t kill anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”

“Will do,” she told him. “Bye.”

“Bye,” he echoed.

When she hung up she glanced to the others to see if any of them had heard her but no one really seemed to be paying her any mind. That was fine by her. She settled in and watched the world roll by outside the window thinking.

Magnus was agent m, and losing his edge apparently. When she had seen his name on the records it had brought back all those memories, though with all the digging around she and Richard had been doing it wasn’t unsurprising. All of this had started because of him and it was amazing to see how far they had come, none of them had done it alone though, in her opinion. They were all in this together whether they had been there at ‘the beginning’ or not.

So it was back again huh. It annoyed her it had escaped but she was intent on taking care of this thing once and for all. In fact this had been a highly informative encounter. Without the resiliency it was much easier to hit, with a little effort as needed. If they could slow it down even better. Thinking back on the encounter she remembered the way it had come right at her, in the past it had always been distracted or she had been. Maybe Magnus would be polite and share a little, if not she was willing to use force. Okay that was a lie. She was almost dying to.

For now though she settled in for the ride back to Chicago getting a little rest until it was her turn to drive.

Now I’m all yours, I’m not afraid
and you’re all mine, say what they may
and all your love I’ll take to my grave
and all my life starts now

Tear me down they can’t take you out of my thoughts
Under every scar there’s a battle I’ve lost
Will they stop when they see us again?
I can’t stop now I know who I am

Now I’m all yours, I’m not afraid
and you’re all mine, say what they may
and all your love I’ll take to my grave
and all my life starts

I’m all yours, I’m not afraid
and you’re all mine, say what they may
and all your love I’ll take to my grave
and all my life starts starts now