Enid was walking beside Edward. Hazel was chatting with a couple of the band and was trailing behind. The tunnel was remarkably well kept and lit. Edward was talking.

“You didn’t say you had a daughter.”

Enid shrugged.

“I have many children.”

“Man, you should have told us. That is wild. We were kind of broken up when you vanished.”

“I’m a busy woman.”

“So, were you over here hunting down another bad guy?”

“It’s complicated to explain. But no, no, just trying to find a girl in Paris now. Then we have to head to London.”

Hazel whistled. Enid looked back and her daughter was sniffing the air. Edward looked at Enid.

“What’s with her babe?”

“She’s smelled something.”

The woman in front tired to grab Enid’s shirt but she got air because it was the holo-web. She was too upset to notice.

“Your daughter needs to shut up.”

“She’s telling us someone is coming.”

Enid ran back to Hazel.

“What is it?’

“I smell…people. You should run. I’ll take care of it.”

“What?”

“They’re mortal, and one tainted. I’ll deal with them… Mom I love you but you will have no chance against a vampire as a mortal, get the band and guide to safety.”

Enid nodded. Hazel started morphing as she walked and started to run in her half-wolf form the band members at the back started rushing away from her. Hazel’s form vanished from existence.

“What the hell?”

Enid shrugged.

“There are Stasi coming, we need to run, she’ll slow them down.”

“More like she’ll rip them apart did you see those fucking claws?”

Enid shoved them forward.

“Run. You don’t want to see what happens next.”

*****

Hazel ran through the void in between. She found the group tracking them. The man leading them was pale, had pointed ears and dark hair. He was sniffing the air. There were ten armed Stasi with them. Hazel ripped out of the in between space landing on the vampire first her claws tearing into his shoulders and ripping his arms off in a gory spray of blood. Her weight crushed his knees. He screamed. The Stasi started shooting at her but the bullets had little effect on the rampaging wolf-born. There wasn’t much left of them when she finished. The people who followed them would only be able to say that a wild animal tore them to shreds. The vampire was still alive Hazel walked to him and stabbed him in the gut with her talons lifting him up. He dangled there screaming.

“Who else is coming tainted one?”

“No one! I’ll go and never come back.”

Hazel shook her wolf like head.

“Sorry, you shouldn’t exist in the first place.”

She reached out her hand and ripped his head and off and tossed the pieces into the pile of humans. She shifted to wolf form and started running down the tunnel. By the time she reached her mother and the band they were walking again most were out of breath. Hazel was in human shape. Her half wolf form would need a serious cleaning but there was no trace of the blood on her human form. Enid hugged her tightly.

“Taken care of, don’t think anyone else is coming any time soon. They have a mess to clean up.”

Enid nodded to Hazel. Edward looked at the pair. Everyone seemed to be keeping their distance from Hazel. Enid looked at them.

“She’s a sixteen-year-old girl she doesn’t bite…like I do.”

There were a few chuckles and the group started moving forward. Edward spoke in low tones to Enid.

“Your daughter is like you?”

“No, she’s different but she has her own strengths. Trust me what she killed wasn’t human.”

He nodded. The group moved on and finally came up on the surface through a boarded-up building. There was a van waiting for the band who motioned for Hazel and Enid to join them. Enid shook her head.

“We gotta head our separate way guys, can’t be seen with you. Trust me.”

Edward frowned and nodded.

“Hopefully we’ll see you again babe.”

Enid and Hazel waved at them. The guide went back through the tunnel without a word. Enid looked at Hazel.

“Find us a car. You drive the first leg. We’re going to Amsterdam, then Brussels, then Paris.”

“What?”

“I told you, we’re going up against the CIA, I want back up. Go find us a car.”

“Who are you going to bring?”

“Mercenaries who I trust.”

Hazel grumbled and walked off. Enid sat on the stairs of the building and waited. It took Hazel forty-five minutes to return, dawn was coming soon. Enid walked up to the silver Porsche.

“You stole a Porsche?”

“Well I figured I wanted something fast.”

“Does low profile mean anything to you?”

“We’ll be in the Netherlands before the owner notices.”

Enid grumbled.

“Interpol is a thing; You know this right?”

“Nope, but we’ll be fine.”

Hazel peeled out. Enid was starting to be reminded of her sister’s driving.

“Fuck you drive like Eyre.”

Hazel was ignoring posted speed limits once they hit the highway. Driving it like she stole it.

“You fly like a maniac, fair is fair.”

Enid rolled her eyes her white knuckles grabbing onto the door’s arm rest.

*****

They pulled into Amsterdam in record time. Hazel had stolen a Netherlands license plate and put it on the car. Enid got out of the car and glared at her daughter. She was glad she slept through most of the trip. The next leg would be on her.

“Wait here. Godfried is jumpy at the best of times.”

Enid knocked on a blue door. There was a purple neon sign declaring the location Sex Parade in Dutch. A tall blond woman answered the door. She was middle aged and wearing a bathrobe. She looked at Enid and frowned.

“You’re too young.”

“I’m here to see Godfried. Tell him its Lina.”

The woman quirked an eyebrow and motioned for Enid to enter. It was eight in the morning and the residents were starting to stir. Enid smiled and waved as Godfried, or Frida for his alter ego. It was Godfried this morning. He was wearing a pink bathrobe and the spindly tall blond man leaned down and hugged Enid tightly. Enid returned the hug affectionately.

“You don’t look a day older than the last time I saw you.”

“The years have been kind to me. So uh, you still working jobs outside the club?”

“Let’s discuss that over breakfast sweetie.”

“My daughter’s out in the car, you mind if she joins us? I bet she’s starving.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Any child of yours is welcome here darling.”

Enid walked back to the door and waved for Hazel to come in. It took Hazel several minutes to join them. She looked around the brothel. She’d seen them before in the distant past, she had no problem with people doing sex work. Enid motioned for her to join them all at the dining room table. The majority of the inhabitants were still asleep. The middle aged woman put out eggs and bacon and left the three alone.

“Lina dear, you didn’t tell me you had a daughter.”

“Never seemed to be a reason to say.”

Hazel didn’t say much she was too busy eating.

“So what do you need Lina?”

“I was hoping you were still…the best sniper in Europe.”

Godfried pushed his blond bangs out of his face.

“I’ve given up guns for sequins dear.”

“I know, but I really need someone I can trust doing overwatch.”

“Well, what is the job?”

“I need to extract a Soviet Agent, she’s only twenty-five. Got in over her head. CIA is all over her and the Soviets want her dead.”

“You’re going to need more then little old me dear.”

“I was going to see if Elle would help.”

“Oh, you’re getting the crew together again.”

“No, just you and Elle, don’t have time for the rest.”

“I suppose I can help out. I won’t look fabulous though, sequins and sniping don’t mix.”

“I’ll take you anyway I can get you old friend.”

“Is your beautiful daughter taking part?”

“She’s good with her hands, and she’s not bad at driving.”

“Wonderful. Well, when do we leave?”

“Now.”

“Oh my, let me just get ready.”

*****

Hazel pouted as she laid on one of the benches in the Volkswagon bus that Godfried had pulled out of a garage. Enid was driving Godfried was in the passenger seat. Enid had sunglasses on.

“I can’t believe you made me ditch the Porsche for this…thing.”

“How exactly were we going to use the Porsche with three of us hon?”

Godfried was chuckling at the pair.

“She really is your daughter. No one but a parent and child could talk to each other like that.”

Enid nodded.

“Go to sleep Hazel.”

“I’m not tired.”

“You’re a pain in the ass.”

“Look who is talking.”

Enid shook her head and reached into her pack and pulled out an 8 track tape and shoved it into the deck. It started to play Enid smiled as Credence Clearwater Revival started to play through the speakers. She started singing along to Fortunate Son. When the song stopped Hazel was sitting up.

“Oh my god mom, this is amazing.”

“I know.”

Godfried was looking at the tape with his head quirked to the side.

“Interesting sound. American?”

Enid nodded. She didn’t mention that the music wouldn’t be released for at two years. But she needed something to relieve the boredom of the road. Enid switched to Black Sabbath Paranoid next. Hazel didn’t get any sleep she was too busy listening to the music. Godfried was blown away by the music. Also three years before its time, but Enid figured who would know in the grand scheme of things and her selection of 8 tracks was limited. Her last eight track was Johnny Cash. Hazel was losing her mind.

“Mom you’ve had these all along and never let me listen to them?”

“They’re eight tracks dear, not exactly easy to find hmm?”

“But…but…”

Godfried laughed.

“I had to add this myself, hard to find tapes though. I have a few.”

Enid went through her tapes and they started on Godfried’s they finally pulled into Brussels and Enid parked on the street in front of Elle’s house.

“You want me to come with you Lina.”

Enid shook her head.

“Let’s not overwhelm her hmm?”

Godfried nodded. Hazel had finally got herself to sleep. Enid walked up to the house and knocked on the door. An eight-year-old girl with long brown hair opened the door. Enid smiled at her.

“Is your mother here?”

The girl looked back into the house and yelled.

“Mom!”

Enid fold her hands behind her back and Elle came into view. She had a grey streak in her usually dark brown hair. Her eyes went wide when she saw Enid and there were no words just a tight hug.

“Lina! I thought you were…never mind come in come in!”

“Hey, Godfried is here…and my daughter.”

“Oh, bring them in, lets have lunch and catch up!”

Enid walked back to the van and motioned for Godfried to follow. Hazel came with him after he shook her leg. Hazel looked groggy at best. They sat down at the table while Elle’s twins played nearby. Elle shook her head.

“I had no idea you had a daughter when we were doing that…I am shocked you took the risk.”

Enid shrugged.

“It is what is. Yours are adorable.”

Elle nodded and was placing down sandwiches for everyone, and she looked at Enid.

“You didn’t come here all the way from the United States to catch up.”

“I need help, Elle. A girl’s in trouble. CIA, Soviets are after her. I’m paying well.”

Elle rubbed her temples.

“I’m not really doing that anymore.”

“I was hoping you’d come out of retirement for one more job.”

Elle looked at her kids.

“How dangerous is it?”

“Truth is, I don’t know. It is going to involve the deaths of CIA agents, they don’t like that so there is risk, maybe some KGB. We’ll use disguises I have some…new tech that can get us through it without being ID’d. But of course there is risk, it is the job. But I’m basically paying the same kind of money we got from our last job.”

Elle took a bite of her sandwich. She glanced at a shelf in the kitchen then back to her kids.

“Truth is…money is short. I’m not working, and husband doesn’t make much.”

“Three days’ work, two hundred thousand US each.”

Godfried and Elle spit out their drinks in unison when she gave the amount.

“The girl is that important?”

“She’s that important to my daughter, so yes. I haven’t been sitting on my hands since our last job. Look this is dangerous no doubt about it but this kind of money you’ll be set for the rest of your lives.”

Elle put her glass down and got up. She picked up her phone and dialed a number. She was speaking for several minutes, she came back and sat down.

“I’ll do it but…I want Canadian Citizenship for my family.”

Enid blinked at her and sighed.

“Can I use your phone?”

“Yes.”

Enid picked up the phone and made the call she didn’t want to make. Her daughter answered.

“Hello Eyre.”

“Who is this?”

“Your mother. I need a favor.”

“Figures.”

“It is important. Ask your grandfather I know he’s staying with you.”

Enid heard the phone put down. A few minutes later.

“Okay, what do you need?”

“I need Canadian Passports and ID’s with full citizenship in the paperwork for two adults, two children. Can you do that if we meet in Paris?”

“Easily done, I have people in place.”

“I’ll need UK id’s for one teenage girl, myself and another woman.”

“Also easily done. Where will we meet in Paris for photos?”

“Hotel Scribe. I’ll leave a message at the front desk.”

“Alright, I’ll get the backend stuff done. You got names for me?”

“Don’t care about the British ones. Make the teenager and Myself related. I’ll put someone on for the Canadian ones, see you in Paris.”

“Of course, mom. See you there.”

Enid motioned to Elle.

“Hey Elle, tell the woman on the phone the names you want she’ll take care of the rest.”

Enid passed the phone over.

*****

Everyone was piled in the van again. Hazel was snoring shortly after it started rolling. Leaving Elle, Godfried and Enid to speak quietly. Elle was leaning forward.

“So, what is the play here?”

“Intel is non-existent. We can assume the CIA either has her under surveillance or has her in custody. So first stop is the US embassy, we all know it the front for the CIA’s western European hub.”

“What is our part in this?”

“Elle you’re going to do what you do best. Gather Intel from the street. Godfried when we hit the CIA to rescue the asset I’ll need you on overwatch. Elle I’ll need you to be the driver when we exfil her. Hazel and I will be doing the actual dangerous part.”

“She’s a kid.”

“She’s been training with the Soviets for two years to be a super spy. Also, she has a few tricks up her sleeves, trust me when I say if things go hard, she’ll go harder.”

“Okay, so we’re just here as a back up for you.”

“That’s it, look Elle you got kids, and Godfried you have your girls. I’m not trying to get anyone killed here but I’ve had some setbacks recently and I’m not the person I was on our last job. Old me could have done this on my own, no help, but me now, I can use all the help I can get.”

“Are you sure you should be the one going in?”

“I have…tech that can help, but I might miss something Godfried might catch.”

Hazel stirred in the back seat and crawled forward to join the trio about three hours into the trip. She leaned forward and looked at Elle.

“So…. What was my mother doing when she was gone?”

Elle glanced at Enid who shrugged.

“We hired her to help kill two Nazi’s who escaped prosecution. I’m ex-Mossad. We actually knew each other from the resistance. Same with Godfried. Met her when she had a Nazi truck full of Jewish children, she’d rescued from a work camp. She is so small at first we thought she was one of them. We were soon corrected. Oh your mother… she saved so many people’s lives.”

Enid nodded.

“Anyway, there were some non-Jewish owned art pieces that had dead owners, so we sold them and that is why your mother is now rich.”

Enid nodded again.

“I retired from the Mossad married my husband, Godfried opened a brothel and started a drag show. And your mother vanished without a trace. The other two are back in Israel. Granted citizenship due to their valiant efforts in the quest for justice.”

Hazel smiled.

“Mom probably would have killed Nazis for free to hear her talk.”

“I got that feeling too.”

Enid shrugged.

“Anyone who’s going to hurt children because their eyes aren’t blue deserves a bullet in the head. Just saying.”

Elle nodded to Enid.

“This is why Israel loves her. She rescues Jewish children, hunts Nazi criminals and liberates concentration camps.”

“Elle seriously, shh, you’re ruining my bad reputation.”

“I will not shh. You gave the Nazis nightmares. They would whisper you’d come and get them in their sleep. They called you the ghost of the Eastern front. It’s how some of the resistance would scare them into talking, slap a red wig on someone. Show them in the shadows.”

Hazel was staring at her mother now.

“Mom you have so much explaining to do.”

“I was just doing my job.”

Godfried and Elle laughed. Enid shook her head.

“Okay we’re near Paris. I’m guessing my contact will meet us around midnight. I’ll get a suite. We’ll all get individual rooms. Use your fake Passports.”

Everyone nodded and Enid drove into Paris.

*****

As predicted there was a knock on the suite door Elle and Hazel quickly rolled up the US embassy blue prints, they had procured. Everyone pretended to be acting casual and Enid opened the door. Eyre raised an eyebrow when she saw her mother. Enid couldn’t do anything about the fact she was still currently mortal. Eyre had a man and a woman with her. Enid stepped back and motioned for them to enter. They pair each had a suitcase on wheels. Eyre blinked at Hazel then looked back at Enid and while the couple she was traveling with set up their camera and document forging kit she pulled Enid aside.

“You’re not my mom. You’re the Atlantean who pretends to be her. You’re a living breathing mortal which I really don’t understand and that girl in there is your daughter.”

Enid blinked at her daughter, completely confused by the conversation, she was no angel and Eyre should have never met Hazel.

“Yes, that’s it. Sorry for the deceit we’re desperate.”

“Why not be honest? You’re wearing my mother’s face. Are their demons?”

“No, no. I’m having issues and I’m stuck like this. I called you because I didn’t know who else to reach out too. There is a girl who is in trouble, and I need to get her, Hazel and myself across the border. It’d be best if you just pretend, I’m who I look like, these folks are…a former team of your mother’s. The know her as Lina, a former resistance member and freedom fighter.”

“My mom did all that? It doesn’t matter. You saved my life; I owe you a lot. I’m not sure how many times you’ve saved my mother’s life but… I feel like regardless of all that I should help you.”

“Thank you, Eyre.”

Enid looked at her eldest daughter. She felt like it was The Retreat all over again. Her child so close she just wanted to hug her tightly, tell her she loved her. But no way Enid from this time would do any such thing.

“Is something the matter?”

Enid pushed back her tears and shook her head. Cursing mortality once again.

“Sorry, just been stressful stuck as a mortal for so long.”

“I can imagine you’re as old as my grandfather. You must feel so powerless.”

“Exactly.”

“Okay I’ll do everything in my power to help you, I can go get that girl for you if you need.”

“No, this needs to look like a group of mortals. Soviets and CIA are involved. It is best vampires keep their distance. We’re going in with guns.”

Eyre nodded.

“Sounds dangerous for a mortal.”

“If the mortal didn’t have Atlantean armor and tech. We got this.”

Eyre’s mouth formed and O and she nodded.

“We should get started on the Passports and ID.”

Enid nodded and followed her daughter out of the bedroom.