Glenn Marbeck was a talented alchemist and a cunning liar. Ever since he’d been assigned to this duty, he’d wondered about if the higher-ups were putting far too much worth on this backstreet alchemist. Now, however, he knew that they’d seen a potential diamond among coal. Han had to be one of the oddest, and strangest alchemists he’d ever met, but her skill could not be denied.

A skill his company planned to use extensively, and with or without her permission. His goals were simple. Get in contact, make a connection, gain some trust, and then snag her. She had some connections to a local orc group, but nothing too bad. They might make some ruckus, but their company could deal with a single outer plane orc clan. They’d be terrible if they couldn't, and in the world ruthlessness was a requisite.

That was why he was stood outside Han’s home at midnight, with a magical object in one hand and his mana ready and waiting. Her defenses were adequate, but they were also too narrow. They would detect people trying to break in, but she hasn't put any for direct teleportation, mainly because the wards she did have against it already would cause problems for most practitioners. But he was not most practitioners, and his resources were vast.

With a whoosh of air, he was gone from the street and into the building. He had active spells on muffling his sound, smell, and even a perception-altering field. He made it to her room with ease. She lay sound asleep, and it was child's play to touch her and make sure she was dead asleep. She wouldn't be waking up easily. With that done, he lifted her onto a bed of air and glanced down at the magical object in hand.

It was pebble shaped with runes etched around it, and a metallic gleam. Even in the darkness, it shone slightly. It was an expensive portal stone and led directly to the warehouse his company had purchased when they’d decided to take part in the auction. They had their eyes on what was supposedly a dragon, mutated in some way. Dragons could be used for a lot in alchemy. From their blood to even their urine and fecal matter.

The portal ripped open, a jagged tear, unlike the usual oval shapes most stable portals had. He guessed it was due to the wards on the other side. His company was heavily guarded, far more than this dump of a store. He stepped through with a smile, leaving an empty home behind.

*****

Ashley stared down in shock as the were she’d been tracking met with a familiar face. “Zara?” The half-elf was dressed in tight pants and a shirt with a black jacket and looked annoyed. Around her swirled a powerful magical defense of multiple layers, and Ashley could even sense a few items on her. She’d come prepared for something, then again, with what she’d heard had happened, it made sense that the elf was walking around with protection now.

But why was she here?

“Alright, speak fast, and quickly,” Zara said. “I got out of bed for this, and I didn't come alone. My bodyguards are close by. I couldn't get them to leave me, and I didn’t want them to.”

The were, Annalee was her name, smelled of fear, and nervousness. It was wafting off her in waves. Ashley's ability to smell emotions was an inborn gift gained from her mother's ancient blood and ties to the old fae. Her mother's line went back far, and her abilities were all the more potent for it. Zara smelled annoyed, but her emotions were serene as usual. She was an empath.

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Good thing I’m shrouded. She could sense me if I wasn't.

The were walked closer and began to speak in a hushed tone. Ashley strained to hear, but her attention was caught by something else. She felt life, multiple presences moving in. She sniffed.

More elves?

Ashley had been going through Jacob’s pack alongside a few others of her coven in an attempt to find the other half of the key or who knew of it. So far they'd come up short, but Ashley had been ordered to continue on until she'd checked them all.

She'd gone in reverse alphabetical order and Anna was the last on the list. She had little hope that this would be the one. The alpha had obviously hidden it someplace and not told any of his pack. That was smart in Ashley's opinion.

As the presences neared, Ashley considered what to do. Then the were turned to the lake. They were on its edge, near one of the bridges. She made a turning motion, as though she was turning a key.

Ashley raised an eyebrow. No way. Can't be. Had it really been this simple? If she'd just started in proper alphabetical order then it would be all solved? But no, maybe she was referring to something else.

The presences were closer now, seconds away, but Ashley didn't care. She crept closer until she could finally hear them.

"He told me it was dangerous. Never to tell anyone about where it was."

"And this is what you called me here for. To tell me something you promised you wouldn't?"

"No." Guild like a tidal wave rushed up from the were. "I called you because I had to. I don’t think they’ll keep their promise."

“Who—” Zara’s words were cut off as magic exploded from around her. She gasped and Ashley sensed mana surge from within her. There were several bursts of magic, and Zara’s eyes widened, but before the elf could form a spell or defense, the were lashed out and drove something into the elf's neck, right through her defenses.

Then something magical on Zara triggered and Ashley felt something be sent down a connection. The elf fell to the ground, twitching.

Ashley stayed close to the wall she was by as elves appeared from the shadows. Two quickly approached the still-twitching body of Zara and dragged her away while the others walked up to the were. The were’s shoulders were slumped and Ashley could smell more fear, resignation, and the barest hint of hope. The hope fled as the other elves raised their rifles and Anna was torn apart.

Ashley watched the clearly magical rounds tear holes in the were. They released magazines into her and when she was just pieces on the ground, an elf in an expensive-looking suit waved a hand and cast a spell. The pieces burned to ash and then even the ash vanished.

Ashley watched as the elf pressed a hand to his ear and spoke. She sensed it was a magical device and guessed it was some sort of communication device.

“It’s all done. We’ll have her through the portal in under an hour.”

Not if Ashley had anything to say about it. Anna had told Zara where the other half of the key was. She sensed a lot of magic on the elves, but she didn't plan on fighting them, or on going it alone. She had allies. She had a coven. She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number as she sniffed the air. She had Zara’s sent both magical and non-magical. She could track the elf, and the closest Portal Port was a few miles away.

Her witches would be there to intercept the elves.