Chapter Thirteen: More Meetings

The next few days were a little more quiet, with two jobs in between. Wait, that's not quiet is it? They were nothing relevant though, just two angry ghosts and a crazed elemental. Obviously nothing I couldn't handle, in fact, it was rather tiresome. Have I grown bored from fighting the undead and saving people?

No, I'm sure that's not it.

But what do I know? My mind was occupied with so much I couldn't think about of my own feelings. Occupied with things like carrying all of these groceries in one go.

"You know," Halina said, "there's no shame in going back."

My arms strained from the ten bags. "Going back is for the weak. We'll never go back. Not now, not ever."

"I'm going back." She shrugged. "Forgot my purse."

"I--wait." Standing on my gravel driveway, a ghost floated by, pointing inside. The aroma......fuck. "Somebody broke in."

Halina froze. I dropped the bags, not even caring about the egg's cracking. "Spot!"

It was stupid, just running in without a weapon. But I didn't care. Bursting through the door, hands covered in magic, nothing was going to stop me. "You fuckers better not have touched my cat. I'll kill you."

There they sat. In my living room. Acting as though what they did was okay.

Valory Asore. On my chair. Smirking as she pet my cat, leaning towards another witch. "See. Told you he'd be angry."

"He is fuming," the woman said. I didn't recognize her. Big, brown hair in a braid, and with a fluid blue dress on, she frowned. "Maybe too much."

"You better have a damn good explanation for this Valory," I whispered. It's so rare that true anger comes out of me, a pipe just waiting to burst. "Or I will kill you. And your friend."

"Oh come now sweetie. No need to be like that," Valory stated, perfection in her voice. "I told you that you'd pay for taking my business. This is Callery Jankins, from the Witch Exorcist League. She's a lawyer......of sorts. Here to explain what's going on."

Halina came in, probably scared from the tension. Or maybe the presence I was giving off. "I'm going to get my groceries. I'm going to put away my groceries. I am going to calm down. And you better carefully think about what words you are going to say. Because the next stupid ass thing you say." I've never felt this angry before. Not even after the one time my old master stabbed me through the chest. "Could be your last."

I went back out to the car, picking up the mangled bags. A hand fell on my shoulder.

"How angry are you?" Halina asked.

God, even if I could truly answer that. If it was even anger I was feeling. What are with emotions, so human, so vulnerable. "Who knows. The fact that it's Valory.....just pisses me off. My home is my home. No one can do that. Not in my only.......place I've ever belonged."

"Asking her to leave doesn't seem like an option though." Halina took a bag from me. "Listening might be the best way to solve the issue."

"Oh I'll listen. Then I'll make my own claims very clear." My blood became hot again. "If she ever pulls a stunt like this again, I will not hesitate. She will regret it."

"You want me to say anything?"

"Do what you like." I went past her, holding one less bag. "You live here to. Might as well speak your mind."

Taking our time, we put our food away, everything in perfect order. We both entered the living room, Halina with waters for our.....guests.

"Thank you sweetie," Valory complimented. "I knew you were a kind soul from the moment I met you."

"No problem," Halina replied with a smile. Ugh, sickening.

I sat in my last recliner, waving Spot to me. She came in a flurry of soft meows. "Okay Valory, what do you want so badly that you had to break into my home."

"For you to stop taking my job contracts. They are mine, and don't belong to you." The witch flipped her hair, all smug like and disgusting. "You've been taking more away from me each month, and I want you to stop."

"This is clearly Valory's territory," Callery said. Bringing out a briefcase, she removed some papers and tossed them on the table. "The League has very explicit rules on this. Any witch assigned to a given area must have either priority on exorcist calls or simply no competition. So we must demand that you step down from your position as an exorcist."

"Okay."

Halina nearly spat her drink. "Okay? It's as simple as that?"

"Sure," I said. "I made myself very clear when Valory first moved here. I'm not an exorcist. I'm a necromancer. Two distinct categories."

"Oh honey. That's not good enough." Did she just call me honey? Valory is really starting to test me now. "The League has signed a contract with the council of Water District. I'm here, so you should not be. You are still performing exorcisms. Which is my job. Mine. Not yours honey."

"You want me to leave?"

"No, me and Valory have discussed this." Callery flipped to a page, doing the weird thumb licking to separate the pages easier. "We would simply ask that you let Valory make all decisions on what jobs you get. She is the resident League Witch, and therefore has all executive power."

"But you can leave to."

The water was cool and smooth down my throat. Very refreshing. I looked at the witches, in the eye. "I made it very clear to Valory when she moved here that the by laws she showed me have no authority over necromancers. Heros maybe, but not necromancers."

"You are in direct violation of the Exorcist Accordance that you signed ten years ago." Callery showed me my signature, all sloppy and black. "Is this not your signature?"

"Eh, looks fake."

"Come now sweetie," Valory said. "We signed this together ten years ago. You said it was a fair and legal document. Now you must follow through."

"Ugh. Not really. Because last time I checked, article three subsection five states that your jurisdiction must not be infringed on by fellow exorcists who are trying to move in on your business. I am neither moving in on or an exorcist. There is nothing in that legal document that says anything about necromancers. In fact, I'm pretty sure there's a statement that says 'the League cannot stop locals from using their magic if they deem their magic wrong or invalid. A Witch must respect the right of the locals magic customs'." Spot began licking my hand, making me giggle like a child. "Plus, your rules are stupid. I was here first. I am the superior officer. I decided to let you be here. The Rules do state that you must comply with any local exorcist heros that share the area. We complied. Case close."

"But you are a nobody!" Valory screeched. "A stupid ugly nobody. You're not a hero, or even remotely popular enough to be recognized in your own town. I'm a hero, a distinguished exorcist, and a fantastic witch. You--you are nothing."

The room got silent, even Spot stopped purring from the outburst. I had an inkling Halina wanted to reply, but I got to it first.

"Meh. What can you do?"

Callery looked between us, not sure who to side with. Instead she stuck with the law tactic. "Your points are valid, Ditto. We just feel it'd be better for everyone if you agreed with our demands."

"Whatever. I don't care. Valory can have the higher threats if she wants. The big shit." Anything to get the annoying woman out of my hair. Death can be later if I deem it necessary. "Happy?"

"If I may finally speak, what moral grounds do you even have coming here?" Halina asked, very stone cold faced. "After all, you did break into his home. I'm sure there are legal repercussions that Ditto could take. I'm sure the Hidden value private property as much as humans."

"I--uh......" For once she was at a loss for words. "I thought it'd make my point across."

"I think that you if simply drop the claims, keep things as they were, and walk out," Halina shrugged, innocent and flirty, "then we won't break into your house with a lawyer."

"Yeah, uh, what she said."

Valory blinked, then again, then a third time. "Are you saying you'll sue me?"

"Oh yes. I have plenty of lawyer friends that owe me a favor," she added. "They'd love to defend me if need be."

"But--you don't even live here."

"She does actually," I said. "So might as well listen."

Callery nodded in defeat. "This might be the right path to go on. Valory, maybe in another, more civil manner, we should address this."

The look on her face, I wish my camera was out. "You can't--I won't allow for this. Ditto, I demand that you step down."

"Don't tell me what to do," I said. "You have no authority here. So I thank you both for rudely stopping by."

Valory's eye twitched, red hair spread across her face. I think a circuit broke, or even better her sanity. "Very well. We will resume this discussion on more proper terms. Have a good day."

And as they got up to leave, Callery already in the hallway, I grabbed Valory by the arm and pulled her close. My voice fell cold and low. "If you ever do this to me again, break into my house, I will add you to the ranks in my cellar. Understood?"

"Get off of me." She yanked free, nose high, and went off. "Come on Callery. I think some tea will do us some good."

The door closed, wood hitting wood, time ending before my own eyes. "What is with people? This is the second occurrence of complete bullshit having to happen under this roof in barely a week. Can't I catch a break?"

Spot rubbed my leg. I bent down to her level. "At least you're okay."

"Meow."

"Next time though," I said while scratching her head. "Don't get to comfortable with strangers. It usually goes bad."

She began her loud purring again, amusing me to no end. Tired of the hallway, I sat in the kitchen, cracking open a cold beer. What, I deserve it.

Halina opened one too, joining me in my solemn angst. "Maybe you need better security."

"Probably. I'll do something about it later." Apparently just having ghost sentries wasn't enough. Maybe some ghouls or zombies patrolling the woods will stop fools from entering my sacred grounds. "Hey, thanks for the assist. I was just going to let Valory have her way, to finish my suffering. But you stepped in and killed her. I appreciate that."

"Oh it was no big deal." But I could tell she liked the praise. She deserved it, along with another beer. "Just helping you out is all."

"Well, you did me a solid." I lifted my can in admiration. "And so you have my thanks."

We dinked and chugged, myself enjoying the buzz. No matter who or what dominates the planet, alcohol will be the only thing that always survives, always makes it's way into the recipe books. Which is fantastic since who wants to go their entire life without a buzz?

"So what happened ten years ago with Valory to make her hate you so much?" she asked. "Judging from how she treats you, it must have been bad."

"Personally, I don't think so. But the woman makes everything about herself." More memories began coming back, back from a time when I was young and foolish, eager to do the impossible. "The Witch Exorcist League it a huge organization. It spans completely across this province. So naturally they have a huge amount of rules and laws, plus huge funds to go with it. But the Hidden councillors aren't easily intimidated by big groups. When an exorcist witch wants to make a place their home, they must go through the resident councillors, be approved, and have a license."

"Sounds fun. I didn't even realize there were so many ghost problems."

"It is incredible how often supernatural events happen," I said. Really, it's just pesky ghosts who want to cause trouble. That's about eighty percent of what goes on. "So, ten years ago a prime, hot blooded twenty year old witch moves in, and seeks to gain approval from the Lake City Council." I brought over a bag of chips, munching on them slowly as I retold the past. "Usually, the approval process is quick. If there isn't a exorcist hero in the area, the signatures happen that day. Unfortunately for our young, pretty witch, I was not in town. I happened to be in Europe, or more specifically, Greece, learning about magic and ancient history."

"That slowed down Valory's permission then. How long she have to wait."

"Three months. Not that terrible, in retrospect."

"She however didn't take it well?"

I tossed the empty can into recycling. What, I'm not an animal. "Better than what you'd expect. I returned, and her anger shifted from the fact that I was late to the fact I was a child. Which made no sense since she was barely old enough to be a college student. But I digress. She wanted me to step down from what I do. And I'll admit, I wasn't trying to be a hero at this point. I was still just learning the ways of the world. But I said this then, and I'll say it now: I'm far superior than any exorcist. Mentioning that may have caused some.......tension between us."

"Yet you two worked things out. So what's been the issue?"

"The issue is that Valory is stuck up, comes from a long line of well to do exorcist witches, and thinks she can boss me around." You know, when you're a kid who just wants respect, but is handed shit, you tend to be bitter at the world. "So after a month, I would try to do a job. She'd get pissy. I try to do anything productive in town. She'd find and bark at me. And so it went. I ignored it the best I could, only showing her up every chance I'd get. I overcame that, overcame the stupid petitions, and even the time she got the organization down here. And then she called her parents."

Halina raised a brow. "She called her parents on you? Wow, that's really pathetic."

"Yes I know. And so mommy and daddy came running in, demanding their child be treated with the utmost respect." The look on their faces was priceless. "I told them to fuck off. I said how can I treat her with respect if I'm not? The normal bullshit. They stated I was a good for nothing punk who deserved to live in the garbage. I replied while that's fair, I'm far too busy to deal with this now. To which I walked out, and ignored them too."

Though, it could be possible that I am in the wrong, that all of these problems are my doing. Honestly I'm pretty sure I'm right. How could someone as smart as me be wrong? Tons of ways, but that doesn't mean others can't be wrong as well. It's a tug and pull. Gotta realize when you need to give up, and when you never quit. The line may be thin, but there is a line.

"Is this how your relations are with everybody else? Kinda seems a bad way to live life."

"Ehhhhh, can't win them all. That's a fun motto of mine," I said. "But it's not everybody. Just every other person I know. Gedec and I are cool."

"You truly are surprising." Halina went on her phone, eating chips and drinking beer. "And apparently so are other people. My few dedicated followers are really finding you interesting. Don't be shocked if you get a call from a stranger about a potential job."

"I need a good one. The last two have been rather bland."

"Haha. I'll put that in the feed," she said, typing away. "But no promises."

Checking my own phone, I frowned in vexation. "Fina was supposed be here a few minutes ago. What's taking her?"

"Probably just ignoring responsibility, like what I do," Halina responded. "She's only half human after all."

XXXX

I was digging through some boxes in my study when the doorbell rang. Halina called out 'I got it', and Fina's voice hit me loud and clear. Setting aside the large black hedron that took me a near hour to locate, we greeted each other in a warm embrace.

"Thanks for finally coming around Fina," I said. "I thought you skipped out on me."

"Sorry, I sorta was sleeping," she muttered, rubbing her arm. "It's been busy, collecting everyone's reports. And even busier watching the council. And then there's....another problem."

I particularly don't like the sound of that.

"Let's go through the reports," I said. "That'll be quicker than anything else."

Fina nodded, handing me a stack of papers as we sat down in the kitchen. Halina left, murmuring about doing some writing. The fae watched her leave. "She got a fine ass."

"Please stop." The stack wasn't as big as I anticipated. "What's first?"

"Sasha's," Fina said. She helped herself to my fridge, chucking some grapes in her mouth. I'd point out I'm not a charity, but that might make her leave. "She found that at least two members at these cities," she pointed out, "are corrupted. These have a definite three. And these she doesn't know yet."

More than half of Water District. Way more, at least eighty percent. My hopes were becoming increasingly smaller, the search for city wide alliances is no longer an option. Gedec will have to pull through on this one.

"I never expected this," I whispered. "What'd Sasha do? Did she travel to each place?"

"For some. Others she merely watched TV." Fina tugged at her knives. I flinched. "But it's pretty clear to her who's on who's side."

"Good. There is no room for doubt." Her list was thorough, names with each city, possible names to go along, and even a few heros. "Who's next?"

"Buddy. His is pretty straight forward. The centers of learning are clean. Though he did notice a rather new apothecary shop in West Toledo City. Said it never existed, until about a few weeks ago. But it's never open, and doesn't even have hours listed."

"Huh. I probably know what's up with that." I briefly explained what happened at the place Paul sent me, and what I was able to recover. "That might be where they're making this drug."

"What you do to the people working there?"

Shrugging, my voice went low again. "I took care of it."

Fina smirked, winking in delight. "I understand. Buddy was pleased to know that his colleagues were on his side. Imagine if his heart got broke, Huna be damned, that would be the worst."

He wouldn't be the only one. The Lake City College was a great love of mine, a first stop on this journey I began so long ago. If I recall correctly my first week there I met a young shifter, eager to learn, a thirst as strong as mine. The memory brought back a smile. "Is this report your's?"

"Uh huh." Naturally it was mess compared to the others. Angry handwriting, smudges, ripped paper. "The council is very contained. They don't leave. But others are constantly coming to their offices." Fina gave me photos. "Multiple city councillors, outside heros, and investors have visited all three. Dean especially."

"Interesting. Is this ally building, or simply the finishing touches on a long awaited plan?" I pondered, reviewing her notes. "Even Kin Ray. The ports will be unavailable then."

"That's not all. Ditto, I was found out."

My head spun. "What?"

She gave me a broken knife, the blade missing from the hilt. "When I was patrolling the roofs, another fae engaged me. She said I shouldn't be spying where I don't belong. We fought, and I barely got out with a scratch. She was good Ditto. Very good."

"Fuck. What she look like?"

Fina huffed, as though her opponent was here, stabbing her in the back. "Small build. Silver hair, with red tattoos. A scar on her lip. Not a pretty picture."

My mind went back to the fae I bumped into all those days ago. Was that her? Honestly, I was so entranced by the necklace that even her face is a blur to me. It couldn't be the one hero from the meeting, but there is a large fae population in Lake City. This was getting complicated.

"She know your name?"

"I hope not, since she didn't say anything." Fina seemed at a loss. It's not common for an assassin to feel regret. "I'm sorry Ditto. If I was faster and more cautious, then she'd be out of our hair."

"Don't worry about it," I said. "You're not dead, which is what counts."

"Then what do we do about the assassin? Surely we can't let her roam free?"

My hands palmed my face, circling my cheeks in thought. "I'll try to find her later. It's hard to send ghosts anywhere if exorcists are in the city. Just be on the lookout, and finish if you can."

"Understood." Fina finally handed me the last reports. "And here we have Paul's."

Good God, Paul really came through. He had essay type responses, pictures, addresses, current events, newspaper articles. The works.

"Councillors all over have been going missing or are being killed," Fina said. "Shifter pack attacks are on the rise. Fae activity has spiked, with Huna sending supplies to North America. And even rumors of angels getting involved in some areas."

"Huna too? But she's already immortal. What the hell?" Huna, Queen of the Fae. True leader and voice, their true representative. Her conclave are in Africa however, to distant to be a problem. At least that's what I had assumed. "Oh boy. This will truly be interesting, won't it?"

"What's actually surprising is that councillors going missing, has been over the past few years. Slowly, inconspicuous, purposeful." Few years, oh those words will haunt me. "But in the last six months it's really picked up. And even though a councillor dies, life returns exactly to normal."

"So there's no need to freak out or panic," I muttered. "The Sleeping Witch sure is slapping me in the face."

"What do we do?"

Pft, as if I know.

"We need to gather as many allies, and try to cut this off at the source," I said. "Big Boys and heros are our best bet. Fina, how's your terms with the Guild?"

Fina laughed. "Decent. But could be better. I guess I'll get on that huh?"

Halina ran in, holding the TV remote. "Guys, you need to see this."

The first sight the TV showed was a giant hole in the middle of a park. The aerial view showed little else, except that the hole looked super deep. Imposing figures were on the ground, guarding the scene from others. A newsreporter, human, appeared, speaking in a frightened tone.

"It appears that the hole caused here in Veterans Park earlier today is the result of a group of Demons. Hidden have flocked the scene, trying to get an estimate on just how many are here, and what they're planning to do."

"Halina, where is this?"

"Some place named Bellville, a human city," she said, turning down the volume. "Apparently even though a number of heros have been called, none are willing to just jump down there."

"Shit. I'm sorry Fina, we'll wrap this up another time." This was a golden opportunity for many a reasons. "Get some rest, eat some food. I need to see if these demons are related to the Witch."

"Hey, no problem. I need a cat nap like no other." Fina went for the door before whispering, "You worried?"

"No. Not at all."

That bright white smile appeared, easing my mind. "Good. See you later sweet stuff." Her wink threw Halina's head back, eyebrows creasing in confusion. The fae sniggered and swayed out the door.

"Uh, what the heck?"

"Don't worry about it," I said. "We got to get to this Bellville. Now."

And see if I really should be worried.