The hammer fell, but there was now deafening report. No horrible mess. Whether a dud round or magical intervention, Dev had been spared watching his friend die. He got out of the car and rushed around to Jim's door, wrenching it open and dragging the older man in to a hug on the side of the road. They cried into each others shoulders. After a while, when the tears had stopped and the sun had risen, they got back in the car and Dev drove Jim away from his home. They stopped briefly at Dev's house so Jim could clean up and put on something that wasn't bunny slippers and a bathrobe.

Dev busied himself in the kitchen, a ritual he had done many times the past few days. Coffee, bacon, eggs. Jim joined him at the table, clean shaven and for once in a shirt that didn't have food stains on it. He looked both haggard and renewed. The men ate in silence. The taboo of feelings taking both of their voices. When they had finished eating, they sat in silence.

"I'm sorry, Jim. I know this must be hard."

"I, um, think I'm better now. Can I have my gun back." Dev just stared at him. "Please." Dev got up and went to retrieve Jim's revolver from the living room. He had unloaded it while Jim was washing up in the bathroom. He handed it over, butt first. Jim took it and swung the cylinder open. "Yeah, I'd have taken the bullets, too."

"You were pretty bad for a minute there, Jim. Are you sure you're up for this?"

Jim cleared his throat and stuffed the empty gun in an extra holster Dev had had in his closet. "Never mind that. We are gonna find your lady friend and then we'll confront Beth. I'll need some bullets if we fight some spell slingers, but until then, you can keep them."

"Jim, she may be involved in some very serious crimes. Not to mention she is a very powerful magician. Are you positive?" Dev asked.

"I don't really know how long I've known about Beth and her, hmm. Extra curricular activities. I do know that I found her at least once, so I must be a damn fine detective. I don't know why she kept me around. Maybe to be close to the police so that she could move me around to intercept any cases that she was involved in. Makes sense. I don't know, however, how the Captain is involved. But I'd bet dollars to donuts that bastard got the job because of her magic." Jim sighed. "Shame, he was a good cop, once." He stuck his hand out to shake Dev's, who grabbed his hand firmly. "I think I'm done feeling sorry for myself, partner. I'm thinking a little less law and justice, and some good old fashioned payback and ass-kicking."

Dev laughed. "That sounds good, partner. Before we go off organizing a posse, I need to introduce you to someone." Dev nodded to P.H. who had been hiding from Jim since the incident in the car. "Jim, this is Pandemonium Harmony, the source of my magic. P.H., my partner and mentor, Jim Appleton." P.H. materialized a few feet away. Jim's breath caught in his throat, hand moving to his hip. It didn't matter that the gun was empty, it was instinct. Luckily, P.H. still resembled a photo negative version of Dev.

"My God, what is that?" Jim asked and stepped forward, the barest of smiles at the corner of his mouth. "He looks like you!"

"Hello, Jim Appleton. Allow me to show you what I am." P.H. extended his hand like Jim had done previously. Dev watched as Jim reluctantly took P.H.'s offered hand. Jim's spine went ramrod straight, eyes wide. Stars filled his vision and a faint golden mist poured off of him. Dev was entranced watching it happen to someone else. Jim took a gulping breath, like he had just breached the surface after swimming for an extended period. He had a big grin.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"That's amazing."

"Devlin Brígh, Jim Appleton. We should begin search for Julianne Nestor. I fear she is running out of time. We should leave no stone unturned." Dev nodded and pulled a speed-loader and a box of shells to Jim. He loaded the cylinder and holstered the weapon.

"Alright, P.H. How do I get into a cave with no entrance." P.H. smiled his knowing smile. "Right, right. Use my will to make it happen. Can I take others with me?" P.H. nodded slowly. Dev retrieved the bottle of Julianne's perfume from a cabinet. He stood behind Jim and put a hand on his shoulder. "Last time I tried to find her, I was attacked. Be ready for anything." Dev sprayed the perfume and inhaled deeply.

Julianne.

Unlike the first time, he felt himself move. The air smelled stale and metallic. And putrid. He felt Jim under his hand before he heard the sound of him vomiting. Dev opened his eyes to absolute darkness. He blinked and thought about being able to see and unable to smell the rot. The smell went away and the magic let him see. He wished he couldn't. There were dozens of bodies in various states of decay, but no Julianne. The chamber they were in was relatively small, the walls seemed closer due to the piles of remains surrounding them. He heard Jim heave again and passed along the magic for his senses. Jim spit on the floor to clear the taste of vomit and held up his gun. His eyes were glowing the same gold as when P.H. had shaken his hand.

"Jesus H., Dev. This is bad. Do you think she's in here? Your lady friend I mean." Dev knew who he meant, but it made sense that he still had his wife on his mind. They had been together for a long time. How long?

"Jim, how long were you married to Beth? I suddenly can't recall. I remember the ceremony, but I don't remember when it was."

"We got married in forty one, right before I shipped out to France. You were there as my... Best man?" Jim waffled his hands in front of him.

"I was barely 16 in forty one, Jim, and still living in Boston. We didn't know each other, but somehow we both remember me in your wedding party? Think hard, do you remember when you found Beth and Captain Townsend in his office?"

"It was before he became Captain. Four or five years ago? You remember, it was right when you made detective." Jim said.

"I think I must have been involved in your investigation, Jim. Beth must have put a spell on me as well, and for some reason she chose you to live with. Jesus, how many cops does she have under her control?" Out of the corner of his eye, Dev noticed a faint red shimmer. He held up a hand to quiet the conversation. He motioned for Jim to watch his back as he approached a crack in the stone. He stuck his fingertips into the fracture and pulled with his magic. Turquoise mist seeped into the cleft and the solid stone parted, revealing another chamber. Julianne was crouched in the center of this cave, her bindings in tatters next to her. She swayed and turned to look over her shoulder at the sound of the stones grinding loudly.

"Its her! Jim, we found her!" Dev said and rushed into the room. He stopped just as suddenly, noticing horns jutting out of her head and the shattered halo resting atop them. "Kushiel?"

Julianne turned, tearing a chunk of flesh from a severed arm she had in her hands. She had blood all over her, soaked into the clothes he had lent her and caked around her mouth. Her eyes were solid orbs of crimson energy. She spat the meat out and roared at Dev. He covered his ears, the sound threatened to deafen him.

Blackened wings ripped through the shirt bearing her chest. She resembled a hellish Harpy, crouched on all fours, wings furled behind her. With a powerful flap, Dev found himself lifted off the ground by his throat, her hands around squeezing the life out of him. Dev began to black out. He heard a gunshot and flopped unconscious to the ground.