Within 5 minutes, Lexter and I stood in the hotel lobby, both dressed in leather pants and biker jackets. Lexter had large army boots on vs. my black, metal high heels. Not exactly the first footwear that comes to mind for an assassination mission, but with the perfect balance my powers give me, the heels are just another weapon.
"The sun always shines on her reign," said a voice from behind us. Following protocol we remained facing away from the alien fae.
"And may it continue for centuries." It was the standard reply known by any active fae, a code to ensure we worked with only friends.
"Long live the bitch!" Lexter and I gasped, spinning around, and burst out laughing. Standing before us was Bytlock, a good friend to us both. "You should have seen your faces!" He laughed, bending over from the force of his merriment.
"Bytlock!" I ran to him, engulfing him in a hug. "You must be careful saying such things! You know She has spies everywhere." I held his face in my hand, holding his gaze so he could see just how serious I was.
"Tia is right, young one, She has no patience for such 'humour'." Lexter pulled Bytlock from my arms, ensuring (again) he understood how dangerous such things are to say.
"Gah! You two act like my parents! Are you sure you aren't harbouring any elflings?" This was a long standing joke between us. Most of his life, Bytlock had found parenting from both Lexter and I, always trying to keep him out of trouble. "Anyway, I brought the car and equipment... we better get going."
Following Bytlock, we left the hotel lobby, passing through the street with a ease (one benefit of travelling with hunks? Humans move out of the way to gawk as they pass). We all headed two blocks down, entering a large underground car park, a place no Were would enter. Even though they may enjoy city life, they cannot withstand being in a dark place underground: claustrophobia to the max. Bytlock led us up to a large, black Range Rover.
"Bytlock, you do realise a black Range Rover is about as suspicious as walking up to their gate, guns blazing." I smiled at the doubt that crossed his face. Even though he was 20 years older than me, I often thought of him as much younger due to his sweet innocence. "It's okay sweetie, we'll just have to walk the last bit." Still frowning, Bytlock opened the trunk, revealing a huge array of weapon. Reaching in, I picked out a hand crossbow; the arrows tipped in silver and designed to shatter in the body, a standard issue handgun for each hip, a silver whip and three silver daggers.
"Have you got enough?" Lexter asked, studying the condition of the weapons I had chosen. With a nod, I shut the trunk, following Lexter into the backseats. "I wish that damn barrier wasn't there, I want to kill some fucking dogs!"
"Lexter, keep you temper!" Buckling in, I watched his eyes flare in annoyance. "If all goes well, the barrier will be down soon anyway." I rested my hand on his leg, waiting until he met my gaze with clear eyes. Turning from him with a squeeze of his leg, I said "Bytlock, we're all set back here."
"Okay Tia." He started the car and began navigating the parking lot. "We have about a ten minute drive, traffic dependent." Two magical beings and one hybrid, and we still have the mundane problem of traffic. Typical.
..............
We pulled up to the curb 30 minutes later, a car with a calculating hunter, a sleeping ancient and a very terrified fae. With a deep breath I climbed from the car, leaving Bytlock still clinging to the wheel and Lexter snoring lightly, my mind completely focused on the job. Quickly, I checked that my weapons were still secure, the two blades fully tucked into the interior of my jacket. To hide the glinting silver I zipped my jacket up, looking furtively around (a completely unnecessary move as I hand hand guns on my hips and a crossbow on my belt). Regardless, I did it.
"We are close," Lexter muttered, climbing lightly from the car. "My instincts don't want me to stay here... this is strong magic indeed." A statement like that from an ancient would make most of us quiver, as it was, Bytlock squealed from the front seat. Turning towards them both, I nodded my head, making eye contact with each, before heading off down the street.
Even with my weaker fae blood I could sense the barrier, my blood boiling with every step. My nerves almost had me running for the hills when I came to a stop before an old warehouse. Above the door was a blinking neon sign with the words 'The Pack' emblazoned upon it. The door was red, the paint beginning to chip and peel off, collecting at the corners of the doorway. Crouching down, I peered through the mail slot in the door into a long dark hallway. Pulling a gun from my hip, I slowly reached for the door handle, willing the lock to open, directing my magic into my will. With a soft thud, the lock released. Allowing me to slowly turn the door handle, pushing the door open with barely a creak to be heard.