Chapter 9

Chapter9

Best road trip ever.

Figured Garou would be having a blast. To Baptiste’s surprise, he was, if not having fun exactly, at least not sunk in a funk despite reeking of bug juice. He’d actually forgotten to be miserable for a bit. How could he when each time he tried, Daphne mocked him with those perfect lips of hers? Even the roach invasion had him feeling more alive than he had since the curse had been lifted.

“How long have you been an agent?” he asked Marissa as he maneuvered out of the motel parking lot.

“Joined when I was eighteen and I’m thirty-five now,” Marissa replied.

“At thirty-five I killed my first basilisk,” Daphne confided.

“You probably shouldn’t admit that to me, seeing as how they’re on the endangered species list,” Marissa chided.

Baptiste cleared his throat. “Daphne would have done that well before the basilisk population went into decline. She’s older than she looks.”

Marissa craned to glance at the back seat. “Considering they went on the list in eighty-seven, that would make you in your seventies or so. Nice glamour. I can’t even see its magic.”

“No magic. I don’t age like humans do,” Daphne retorted.

That statement led to Marissa asking, “What are you?”

“Dryad.”

“As in a tree nymph?” Marissa clarified.

“Yes.”

To which Baptiste quickly added, “But not the gentle kind you’re familiar with. Daphne isn’t kidding when she says she’s the Earth Mother’s protector.”

“A fighting dryad? Hunh. They never taught us about that at the academy,” Marissa mused aloud.

“Because I am the only one. Mother says the storms I weathered made me stronger than the others.” Spoken with pride.

“How old are you? If you don’t mind me asking.” Marissa remained twisted in her seat to face Daphne.

“I was nearing a hundred when I went into the seed. That was four hundred years ago.”

Baptiste just about ran them into a pole in surprise. He’d known about the four-hundred-year curse, but he’d never expected her to be that much older.

It’s called experienced. Seasoned. Mature and aged like a fine wine and good steak. Garou approved strongly.

“When you say went into a seed…” Marissa trailed off.

“I was severely injured in a battle and required time to heal. The best way for a dryad is to enter a tree and let it cocoon her in a seed. Usually, I would have been in it a few weeks to months, depending on the injury. However, the same witch that harmed me cast a curse that wouldn’t allow the tree to expel me.”

“Damn. That sucks.”

“What is most annoying is I didn’t get a chance to kill the witch myself,” Daphne grumbled. “I just hope something more horrible than old age got to her.”

“We’re almost to my place.” From the passenger seat, Marissa had guided them a few blocks to a brownstone with on-street parking. As they piled out, Baptiste headed for the cargo bed to grab the bag Clive had assembled for him. He snared the one for Daphne as well. They followed Marissa inside a place that made him shiver as he crossed the threshold.

He frowned. “What the fuck was that?”

Marissa waved a hand. “House ward. It scans for malicious spells. You’re both clean.”

Told you I wasn’t an evil curse. Garou remained salty about the time Baptiste ranted about hating the fact he wasn’t just a normal werewolf.

“There’s a shower upstairs in the master suite and another bath in the guest room.” Marissa indicated the staircase. “I’ve got a large hot water tank so you can both sluice off at the same time. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done.”

As he and Daphne headed to the second level, he couldn’t help casting a glance back down.

“Why are you acting as if you expect an attack?” Daphne asked point blank.

“Because she’s being too nice.” The agent had gone from holding a weapon on them and threatening them to inviting them into her home.

“The Mother says Hekate has told this witch of hers to give us any aid we require. She can be trusted.”

“Hekate is the goddess of magic,” he stated, trying to recollect his lessons on the gods of Earth. There were many. Too many for a man with a piece of one inside to really bother about.

“It’s a misnomer as all the gods have magic. But Hekate’s disciples tend to have access to more types of it as opposed to being restricted to just one element. From what I’ve sensed thus far, Hekate must favor Marissa as the wards on her home are strong. We can rest easy here. My enemies won’t be able to track us.”

They reached the top of the stairs, and he pointed her to the double doors. Mostly likely the master suite. “You can use the bathroom in Marissa’s room. I’ll use the guest one.”

It didn’t take him long to shed the ruined clothes and bathe the stink from his skin. Once dressed, he headed downstairs with his ruined garments and had to apologize as he entered the kitchen redolent with yummy smells. “Sorry for bringing the smelly stuff in here. I didn’t know where to toss them since they’re garbage.”

Marissa pointed to a door with a spatula. “Garbage can is outside. Just be sure to lock the lid. The raccoons keep bypassing my repelling spells.”

“Are you sure it’s raccoons?” he asked after he’d disposed of the soiled items and returned inside. “Smells like goblins to me.”

“Those little buggers.” She waved her flipping implement. “That must be why my spell isn’t working.”

“A friend of mine deals with their goblins by giving them scraps and buying the occasional treats.”

Marissa’s nose wrinkled. “Why would they feed goblins?”

“Because they can actually be good at getting rid of all organic waste, plus they provide security. They’re fiercely territorial and will protect the property.”

“Hunh. That’s an interesting idea. I might have to try that. Thanks.” She smiled at him, and it was as he replied in kind that Daphne walked in, dewy-faced, her hair pulled back in a braid.

She scowled as her gaze bounced between them.

She’s jealous. Understandable. You should reassure her she has nothing to worry about.

How could she be jealous? They had only barely met, and she certainly had no interest in him like that.

And people think I’m the dumb one.

“Hungry?” Marissa queried aloud as she turned back to the stove.

“Yeah, but I gotta ask, do you always cook in the middle of the night?” Because at not even four, it was still dark outside.

“I keep weird hours.” Marissa shrugged as she ladled scrambled eggs onto a plate and pushed some buttered toast at them.

When she offered him bacon from a pile on a plate, he refused. “Sorry, I don’t eat meat.”

Marissa froze. “Oh shit. I didn’t even think to ask. Do you need, like, fruits or veggies?”

“I’m vegetarian so eggs and toast are fine.”

“He’s weird,” Daphne stated. “But I see it as more bacon for us.” She grabbed several strips.

As they ate, the discussion began.

“What can you tell us about this witch over in Palusville?” he asked, dipping his bread into the eggs before biting.

“She’s been around for a while but didn’t raise any flags. She was registered, and as far as the CA knew, and not causing any harm. She didn’t appear to be using her magic to do much at all. No store selling products. No adverts for her services.”

“When did the problems start?” Baptiste queried.

“That’s been harder to pinpoint. Palusville has always had a transient population. It’s a little town in the middle of nowhere that would have died years ago but for the fact it’s right off a major transport route. It mostly services truckers and those passing through. It took a while before the disappearances began forming a pattern that involved all last known sightings of the missing people being in, or around, Palusville.”

“This witch is sacrificing them?” Daphne asked in between inhaled bacon bites.

He still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact a dryad ate meat. Shouldn’t they be the ultimate vegans?

Marissa rolled her shoulders. “I don’t know what she’s doing. The CA has classified the file on her. Only those with authorization can get a look at it.”

“Surely someone is investigating her. You said agents went missing,” Baptiste pointed out.

Marissa shook her head. “Nope. Not anyone from our office, and it’s the closest CA hub. Even worse, they’ve not put out any kind of warning. People are still travelling through that area, and not all of them are making it to their final destination. Concerned families have been contacting our office and getting the runaround.”

“You mentioned you worried we’d be detained. Why?” Baptiste cleaned his plate of eggs with his last bit of toast.

“I don’t know if they would have, but given all the secrecy and oddness about my CA office’s dealing with Palusville, I think it very possible they might have done something to impede your quest had they learned of it.”

“The Mother would not have been pleased.” Daphne pursed her lips.

“Hence why we’re here instead of at the precinct.” Marissa leaned back in her chair with her mug of coffee. “So what’s your plan?”

“Go to Palusville, locate the witch, put a stop to her poisoning of the Earth.” Daphne had a simple answer.

“You’re not planning to arrest her, are you?” Marissa concluded.

Without any hesitation, Daphne replied, “The Mother wants the threat eliminated.”

Marissa’s gaze shifted to Baptiste. “And you’re okay with that? I thought the SMU was about capturing and bringing in the monsters.”

He hedged. “Technically, I’m not on active duty. A personal matter forced me to take a leave of absence. I’m basically just a chauffeur.”

“I don’t need his help handling a witch,” Daphne scoffed.

A chime sounded and Marissa stiffened.

“What is that?” he asked, rising from his seat.

We’ve got company, Garou stated before Marrisa could reply.

“Someone’s on the roof.” Her expression grim, she set down her mug.

His gaze went upward as if he could see through the ceiling. “Could it be a bird or raccoon?”

“The spell is detecting two humanoid figures.” Marissa’s gaze went out of focus. “Three more have just come over the fence from the alley in the back. And a pair of vans just parked out front with another half dozen people.”

“Any idea who?”

“Agents from my office.” Her lips flattened. “I think Ralph ratted us out.”

Daphne stood and pulled her daggers, leading to Baptiste growling, “You can’t kill CA agents.” He then glanced at Marissa. “I assume they’re here to bring us in for questioning.”

“Maybe. It’s odd they didn’t try contacting me first.” Her phone sat on the table and showed no notifications when she tapped the screen to wake it. “Let me go outside and chat with them. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding and they think you’ve taken me hostage.”

Marissa left them, and Baptiste moved from the kitchen to the dark living room where he could watch from the window, keeping his bulk to the side in case of snipers. He observed as Marissa emerged and confronted a woman in a pantsuit standing alongside Ralph. It seemed Marissa had been correct about the rat.

The good, quality windows kept him from hearing anything, but it did appear as if Marissa argued. Her hands waved and when Ralph dangled handcuffs, she slapped at them.

Two more agents moved in, boxing Marissa. Their hostess kept protesting but didn’t fight as Ralph cuffed and loaded her in the back of a van. That didn’t bode well if they were arresting one of their own.

I won’t let them take us alive! Garou promised.

We’re not fighting the good guys, Baptiste replied with a grimace. “Looks like we’re about to be arrested.”

“I have done no crime.” Daphne had her daggers palmed.

“No, we haven’t, so before you go on a killing spree, maybe we could try talking to them.”

She eyed him. “Do you really think they’ll listen to us when they didn’t listen to one of their own?”

She’s smart, that one.

She was, and Baptiste agreed with her assessment. Still, fighting against the office he’d held in high regard for so long stuck in his craw.

An amplified message suddenly came booming through the walls. “This is the Cryptid Authority. Come out with your hands up.”

They didn’t say paws. Garou’s sly rejoinder.

“There aren’t that many,” Daphne noted.

“If you fight them, you’ll have the entire Cryptid Authority coming against you.”

“They would defy the Mother?” she asked in shock.

“They don’t obey gods, but serve the people.” Part of the oath.

“I don’t have time to be detained,” she complained. “I have a mission to complete.”

“Most likely they’ll take us in, ask a few questions, and release us in a few hours for lack of cause.” He wasn’t exactly lying. Usually, in the case of a non-crime, that would be the norm. But Marissa seemed to think her office might not be exactly following the rules.

“And if they don’t?” Daphne countered.

“Then I guess you’ll be justified in using force to escape.”

Let there be carnage!

Baptiste hoped not. He only had one more clean outfit.