A dozen witches and their Familiars taxed the admittedly limited accommodations at the scrapyard. However, they had settled all the newcomers on a bed, couch, or air mattress in the main house by the early hours of the morning. Several of the new arrivals had joined the demons and Familiars patrolling the scrapyard, adding an extra layer of security in readiness for the inevitable battle to come. Outside the gates, the mage watchers had returned to their posts, no longer bothering to hide their presence or mask their dark intentions.
Everyone agreed that Michael and his co-conspirators wouldn’t attack during daylight hours, and, with dawn not far off, they’d likely have until darkness fell that evening.
Larry, curled nose to tail at the bottom of Jesse’s bed, lay awake until the golden light of the new day reached his position on the comfortable mattress. He knew they had little time to initiate their plans, but it should be enough. Hopefully. Not that anyone would be around to worry about it if it wasn’t. Failure would mean no more Earth. No more Milky Way. No more anything.
At the sounds of activity coming from the kitchen, Larry jumped off the bed and hurried downstairs. If this was going to be his last day here ... well, anywhere, he wasn’t going to miss enjoying a hearty breakfast … or two.
* * *
After breakfast, the daylight hours were filled with meetings, messages, and magic.
The newly enlarged team of defenders eagerly undertook their work, which included strengthening the wards and constructing defenses, both magical and mundane.
Cerri’s SBI team, along with Jesse and several of her former coven mates, plus Larry, Midnight, and Carb, sequestered themselves in the office for the morning. Colored sunlight streamed inside from the newly repaired windows above the desk. One of Larry’s former coven members had a magical affinity with glass. It had taken her mere seconds, as well as a handful of wet dirt scooped from the large flowerpot by the office door, to repair the shattered glass in the windows. She’d even showed off by adding a stained glass insert at the top.
Cerri stood near the windows, purple and blue light from the stained glass dappling her red hair. She and the rest of her team had abandoned their old lady disguises. The bad guys now knew they were involved in the scrapyard’s defense. Besides, it would be easier to fight in leathers than velour tracksuits and voluminous dresses. Jesse had grumbled about how damn comfortable her sweatpants were but smiled in reluctant delight when Cerri produced a set of leathers in just her size.
“Okay guys, listen up. Here’s the plan.” Cerri’s raised voice quieted the room’s chatter. “I’ve contacted the local SBI office, and they are going to liaise with their counterparts in the FBI. They’ll have teams in place outside the scrapyard just after dark—”
Jesse interrupted Cerri to ask, “The FBI? Is it wise to involve a mundane law enforcement agency in magical matters?”
Cerri’s eyes sparkled with suppressed mirth. “Do you really think mundane law enforcement, especially at the highest levels, isn’t aware of the supernatural? The SBI is good at policing supernatural matters, but we’re not that good, and we can’t be everywhere. We’ve developed relationships with most major law enforcement agencies over the last century or so. In fact, the team the FBI is sending out has more mages and witches on it than humans.”
“Shows what I know,” Jesse murmured. “Sorry I interrupted.”
“No problem, Jesse. It was a legitimate question. I’m sure your former coven members were wondering the same thing.”
“Yeah, my former coven members.” Jesse’s eyes dropped as grief flickered across her face.
Larry pressed himself against Jesse’s knee to offer comfort. She stretched down and scratched under his chin. Oh goddess, that felt good. Larry’s back leg moved in unison with her hand.
Clearing her throat, Cerri resumed her report, but not before adding a cryptic remark. “We’ll see about that ‘former.’ Here’s the deal. The FBI agents outside cannot assist with the magical end of things, but they can help with rounding up the bad guys once they break mundane law.” Grimly, she added. “It’s not legal to firebomb buildings or shoot at people, whether using mundane or magical means.”
“How can you be sure they’re going to attack tonight?” Carb’s gravelly voice queried Cerri’s assertions.
“Because we are going to make them.” Cerri’s mouth thinned, her sharp eyes glittering with danger.
After a moment of stunned silence, everyone started talking at once.
“What?!”
“How are we going to do that?”
“Why would we do that?”
Cerri patted the air and asked for quiet. Finally, when the hubbub showed no sign of slowing, she shouted. “SILENCE!!!” She’d put some magical oomph into her command, enough to rattle the floorboards and cause the newly repaired windows to shake, scattering drops of sunlight across the shocked faces of those present.
“Thank you. Now, let me explain.” No one interrupted Cerri after that, and all agreed her plan was brilliant. It would work. It had to.
* * *
Sid soared away from the scrapyard just before lunch. In his sharp beak, he carried a message addressed to Michael the mobster, along with one addressed to Councilman Jenkins.
The message to Michael offered the Universum in exchange for the hostages, Ted and Risa.
The Councilman’s message offered the same.
The two men would have to work together if they wanted to get their hands on the device. And they’d have to bring the hostages to the scrapyard by nightfall that evening.
Cerri explained it would be better to ensure the bad guys kept working together, at least at first, as it would help ensure no surprises. It would also mean both men would bring their full contingent of mages. She was sure each side planned to double-cross the other once they had the Universum in hand.
When Midnight expressed concern for the safety of her magical partner, Cerri reassured her. “It is best if we have the hostages brought to us, so we have the home court advantage for the rescue. I’m sure that Michael and the Councilman will come prepared to do battle tonight. First with us, and then with each other. After all, we’ve given them the perfect opportunity. They’ll have the Universum and they will assume we won’t fight back for fear of injuring the hostages.”
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“So, we let them bring their full teams, all ready for battle, along with the hostages ... and we hand over the Universum? Then what?” Carb’s gravelly words dripped with disbelief.
Larry glanced around the room. Cerri’s team had battle-hardened expressions, which told him there was more to Cerri’s plan. “So, what’s the scoop, Cerri? How do we free the hostages, hang on to the Universum, and defeat the bad guys?”
“Oh, they’ll do most of that themselves, Familiar.”
Cerri’s smugly malevolent smile unsettled Larry. “Huh? How?”
“With a little help from our friends, of course. That’s why Carb is here.”
Carb’s face wrinkled in confusion. “I thought I was here to give an update on finding the Universum.”
“That, as well, demon,” Cerri replied. “But mainly, you are here as the representative of your fellow ferrous demons. We’ll need your help if we’re going to pull this plan off.”
With a shrug, Carb asked, “how can we help, Priestess of Cerridwen?”
“You guys like to eat metal, right?” Cerri grinned at the little gremlin.
“Well, duh. Of course, we do. Ferrous demons, remember?” Carb’s confusion increased, along with his sarcasm.
“Well, I seriously doubt the bad guys are going to walk here. They’ll travel here in cars, vans, maybe even a bus or two. There will be lots and lots of nice, fresh metal for you all to snack on.” Cerri leaned forward. She’d come to the crux of her plan. “You are ferrous demons; they can’t kill you. Fire doesn’t affect you, and bullets are for snacking on, am I right?”
“Well, yes.” Carb drawled. “Although we prefer to eat in peace. Not in the middle of a magical battle.”
Larry interrupted, his voice filled with hope and excitement. “Carb, I think I see where Cerri’s going with this! While we’re negotiating with the bad guys, you lot will get in position near the van holding the hostages. Once the bad guys attack—and they will—your job will be to munch your way through the bottom of the van holding the hostages.”
“While I create an earthquake or two as a diversion so you can lead them to freedom and away from the battle. Earth witch here, remember?” Cerri’s sharp smile could cut glass, while her eyes glittered with power as she gazed around the room. “Once the demons free Ted and Risa, we’ll counterattack. Our forces here in the scrapyard are a match for theirs, I’m sure. Plus, we’ll have backup outside the gates. The local SBI and FBI teams will move in from the rear.”
“That’s a lot of moving parts, guys. Lots could go wrong.” Jesse’s doubt tempered the excitement simmering in the room.
“We’ll win. We have no choice.” Larry’s simple statement fell into the room like a stone, sending ripples of determination outward until they touched everyone present.
* * *
The plotters left the meeting energized and determined. As the group filed out of the office, chattering about the coming showdown, a feline voice delayed Larry’s exit.
“Larry, wait. I need a word with you.” Midnight peered intently down at him from her perch on top of a filing cabinet.
Larry returned to the room and hopped up onto the desk chair, so he didn’t strain his neck during their chat. “What’s up, Midnight?”
The cat stared at him, her green eyes serious and sad. “You know I’m going to have to leave with Ted, right? The plan is for us to slip away with the Universum during the battle. My job as the Felinus Universum doesn’t end tonight.” She sighed deeply, resignation and regret settling on her feline features.
“Wait, what? But what about your kittens? They’re too young to hit the road with you—oh. Oh, no. No, you don’t. You can’t leave me in charge of the little fur-lings. I’m not cat-dad material. I’m not anybody’s dad material.” Larry’s ears flapped wildly as he shook his head in firm denial.
Midnight purred a laugh. “I’m not asking you to adopt them, numbnuts. Just to make sure they’re safe and get them where they need to go once the battle is over. They are old enough now to bond with their new magical partners, who can give them the care they need. DEAF has their assignments ready.”
Not done with his objections, Larry sputtered, “But I’m going to be busy during the battle. I’ll have ... shit to do!”
“Of course you will. Everyone will. But I need to know someone I trust will look out for the kits and get them away from here afterwards ....” Midnight paused. “Well, if there is an afterwards.”
Larry lowered his head in defeat. Midnight trusted him. She had said so. Considering his new commitment to mutual trust and to proactively helping those closest to him, how could he say no? “Alright, cat. Let’s tuck the fur-kits somewhere safe, then I’ll ensure they get to their new homes once things settle down.”
Midnight purred, then jumped down off the cabinet onto the desk. She rubbed her face against Larry’s in unspoken thanks.
Larry and Midnight moved the kittens from Jesse’s bedroom into the basement, where they soon slept snuggled up on blankets behind the water heater.
“Cerri has placed a shield around the basement. Nothing magical can get in here.” Midnight gave Larry a feral smile. “They’ll die trying, first.”
Larry fought to keep his face neutral. “Well, hopefully that doesn’t apply to me, right? How am I going to foster these fur balls if I can’t get to ‘em?”
“Of course it doesn’t apply to you, idiot. Only to those with ill intent.” Midnight’s narrowed eyes questioned Larry’s intelligence. “Luckily, brains aren’t required for what I need you to do.”
“Right. Of course.” Larry backed off. “Silly me.”
* * *
After Larry’s uncomfortable ascendence to kitten-keeper, he padded up the steep basement steps, leaving Midnight to bid a teary farewell to her brood. He rolled his neck as he went. Hoooo boy. Talk about straining his commitment to truth and taking responsibility. Did you have to test me so soon, Artemis? Larry threw his rhetorical question to the skies. He could swear he heard faint feminine laughter on the late afternoon breeze.
It took a good half hour, but he finally corralled Carb for a private tête-à-tête. They huddled in one of the tunnels dug by Carb’s industrious team of gremlins. Larry listened, then sent his magic out to search the length of the tunnel. They were alone.
“Carb, I’ve got a favor to ask.” Head lowered, Larry gazed at Carb from beneath his wrinkled brow.
“Spit it out, Lar. What’s up?” Carb squatted on the fresh earth of the tunnel, absently picking at a small piece of metal embedded in the ground near his feet. “I’m all ears.”
Larry heaved a sigh and sat, heedless of the muddy surface under his rear. He knew his next words would reinforce his commitment to trust in those around him. It would also cement his plans to investigate and tackle danger to those close to him from now on. “I may need your help.”
The pair sat in amiable silence for a while as Larry wrestled with voicing his request.
“Well?” Carb interrupted Larry’s pained musings.
“You know Midnight has left me in charge of the kittens, right? She’s got to leave with Ted and the Universum tonight, after the battle. It’s her job to protect that blasted thing, and she won’t abandon her responsibilities.” Larry sighed. “She can’t take the kittens on the road.”
“Yeeessss. I knowwwww…” Carb drew out his answer.
“Well, here’s the thing. I’ve got a bad feeling about tonight. Oh, I think we’ll succeed in getting the Universum away, but ... damn, I’m not sure.” Larry shook his head. “There’s something telling me I need to make contingency plans for the kittens.”
Carb’s enormous eyes widened. “Oh, no. Nope, not taking on kitten duties. Not even for you, Larry.”
“I’m not asking you to, Carb. I’ve got it. Unless and until ... I don’t.” Larry paused, his intense gaze seeking out Carb’s. “If anything happens to me, I need you to get the kittens away from here. Take them to the Furry Friends animal shelter in Westport. That’s where DEAF has arranged for their magical partners to find them. Can you do that for me? Obviously, only if I can’t.”
Carb growled, his face a mask of pain and anger. “Don’t say that, Larry. We—you will survive this battle. You can take the kittens there yourself, once this is over.”
“But if I don’t, Carb. I just have a feeling ... promise me you’ll see they get to the shelter?” Larry’s body tensed. This was hard, asking for help. Trusting others. Fuck. Larry sent another silent message to the goddess of Familiars. You better appreciate my self-improvement efforts, Artemis.
Carb’s long fingers closed around Larry’s paw, gently squeezing it. “I’ll do it, Larry. I promise. The kittens will get their furry asses dumped at the shelter, no matter what it takes.”
The two friends sat in silence for a moment, then Larry snickered. “Furry asses, huh?”
“Well, they are furry.” Carb’s honest answer sent Larry over the edge. He barked in laughter, then couldn’t stop.
Carb joined him, his rough, grumbly chuckles echoing off the tunnel walls.
After a long while, their mirth spent, Larry sat up. “I’m starving. Let’s go see what’s for dinner. I’m sure we can rustle you up a nice plate of metal. I’m gonna have a slice or three of that pot-roast I smelled cooking earlier.”
The duo ambled out of the tunnel into the late afternoon sunshine.