Authors: C S Winchester
Frankie flicked through them slowly, taking in as much detail as she could.
“
I don't think it's witchcraft,” she said.
“
Why not?”
“
I've been boning up on witchcraft ever since Demon Boy was killing women last year. There's no traditional spell debris.”
“
Like what?”
“
Candle wax, runes, spell ingredients, that kind of thing. I think these animals have been bled out, their necks are cleanly cut, see.” She handed him a close up of one of the cats. “It looks more like a sacrifice than a spell.”
“
So someone else is trying to summon a demon again?”
“
I don't know. As I understand it, there has to be a marking for the demon you're trying to summon and I can't see anything like that.”
“
So you've got nothing?”
“
Sorry,” Frankie shrugged. “But if I can keep these, I'll do some research when I get back, see what I can dig up for you on uses for animal blood.”
“
I'd appreciate it.”
“
Then consider it done,” she smiled.
Will frowned as his thoughts wandered back over their earlier conversation.
“
Why silver and diamonds?” he asked.
“
In the supernatural world, silver is a strong cleansing agent and diamonds help purify things. We're essentially scrubbing the magic or mystical energy out of the region.”
“
So magic won't work here any more?”
“
New spells will still work but it'll clean away any existing spells, curses and anything mystical that the rain falls on.”
“
But it won't harm you, will it? With your gift?”
“
No because I'll be inside. If it did fall on me, it probably wouldn't affect me because skin is waterproof. If I drank some of the rain though... yeah, maybe. I don't know. I don't know where my gift comes from, so anything's possible.”
She frowned as she remembered that silver rain could hurt Dante.
“
Will, can you give me a second, I have to make a call.”
He looked surprised but acquiesced. “Sure. I'll be next door.”
Frankie checked her watch. Sunset was just before 7pm so Dante could go outside in just over two hours. She took her phone out and called him.
He answered the call saying, “Did you miss me?”
“
Like a hole in the head,” she said, deadpan.
“
So what can I do for you this fine evening?”
“
Stay indoors, or at least stay out of the rain.”
“
Whatever for?”
“
There's a siren in the area, so we're seeding rain clouds to dump a whole lot of silver dust over the region. If you do go out, take an umbrella and avoid getting the rain on your skin.”
“
Wait a second, back up there little lady. A siren? Are you talking about a woman who lures-”
“
Sailors to their death on the rocks,” she finished for him. “Yes and no. Real phenomenon, fake cause.”
“
Oh. Well. I guess you learn something new every day.”
“
Then you must be very knowledgeable by now.”
“
Well, I try.” Frankie could picture his almost trademark smirk. “So this seeded rain will hurt me? What is seeded rain, anyway?”
“
I'll explain some other time and I don't know if it'll be enough to burn you, but there's silver iodine and silver dust in it, so it's best to stay inside if you can. Better safe than sorry.”
“
Then I'll be careful.”
“
Actually, you might be able to help me with something else given your... proclivities. I don't suppose you know of any uses for animal blood, do you?”
“
Some, why?”
“
Will Campbell showed me some pictures today of slaughtered animals. It looks like they were bled out in some sort of ritual.”
“
Oh yes, I saw that in the paper. Bring the pictures by and I'll take a look.”
Just then the door opened and Will popped his head in. “Frankie, looks like we are good to go next door.”
“
Okay, I'll be right there,” she told Will. “Look, I've got to go. I'll drop by later.”
“
I'll be here. I heard that the weather's going to be awful tonight anyway.”
Frankie smiled. “What's your address?”
“
I'll text it to you.”
“
Thanks. See you later,” she said as she hung up.
“
Who was that?” Will asked, holding the door for her.
“
A friend. He might have some suggestions on your case.”
“
Great,” he said, though his vice was tight. Seeing that no one else was in the corridor, he grabbed her arm before they went into the next office and turned her to him. “You told me this stuff was safe,” he accused, keeping his voice low.
Chapter Three
“
It is safe,” Frankie assured him.
“
Then why are you warning your friends to stay indoors?” Will crossed his arms, clearly sensing that she was lying to him about something.
“
You were listening?” she hissed.
“
Not intentionally. I came to tell you that they were ready in here.”
“
Will” she wanted to scream at him for being so stupid. If he ever found out about vampires... She didn't want to think about that. She paused for a moment to get her emotions under control. “Trust me when I say that eavesdropping on me could get me killed.”
She stepped around him and went into the office. She was mad at herself more than him; she should be more careful. Thankfully she hadn't said anything incriminating this time but... she shook those thoughts away.
“
What's our status?” she asked Adams.
“
The squadron is taking off now. Cloud cover looks good, wind is dropping steadily, we should be able to deploy the payload in a few minutes.”
Frankie turned her attention to the computer screens. The operators were giving verbal updates as the status changed, and she alternated her focus between the weather and the flight information.
The squadron was already in the air when the weather technician announced that the wind had dropped enough to begin. She watched the display as the planes began flying over the Lothian region. Each plane was represented by a red dot. Their trails turned silver as they began dispersing the dust.
Six planes flew from north to south. Another six flew east to west. Each plane passed over the region four times to adequately cover the area.
“
We have rainfall,” the weather operator announced.
Frankie turned her attention to the third computer screen that was tracking the small tracers in the powder that activated when they hit the ground.
Small pink dots began to appear, gradually growing and darkening over the next thirty minutes. After an hour the Lothian region was completely coloured red.
“
Well, gentlemen, I think we can officially call this a success,” Frankie sighed.
“
The Air Commodore will be pleased.” Adams said. “At least we'll be ready to roll as soon as the scientists are.”
The dispersal data would come in useful, even if this hadn't been an actual test.
Frankie quickly said her goodbyes, then she and Will headed back to Edinburgh. Will offered to drive and Frankie accepted his offer. Neither spoke very much on the return journey; they were each lost in their own thoughts, so Frankie turned the radio on to cover their silence. As they got closer to Edinburgh they hit the very rain that they had just been seeding.
“
Where does your friend live?” Will asked as they approached the outskirts of the city.
“
What?”
“
You said you were going to see a friend about my case. If he's an expert, I'd like to be there too.”
“
I really don't think that's a good idea.”
“
Why not?”
Frankie tried to think of a good reason that would deter him, but she came up empty.
“
It's... complicated.”
“
Then explain it.”
“
Oh, Will,” she shook her head. “There are things I still haven't told you. Things I can't tell you about. Things I can't tell anyone about.”
“
And he's part of something you can't talk about?”
“
You could say that.”
“
I have security clearance now, Frankie.”
“
Minimal clearance,” she corrected.
“
And I signed the Official Secrets Act.”
“
It's not my employers I'm worried about.”
“
Then what? What could be so bad that you can't tell me about it? I'm not going to betray you or your secrets, Frankie. Hell, even if I wanted to, who would believe me?”
Frankie could tell from his tone that he wasn't going to give up and she finally relented.
“
Fine, you can come. Just keep a low profile and don't ask any questions.”
“
I think I can manage that.”
“
Then head to the new Quartermile development in the Old Town.”
Once there, they parked underground and made their way up to street level. Frankie checked her text messages for the address and they looked for his building number, getting steadily wetter in the rain. Frankie wished that she'd thought to bring an umbrella. It took a while but they found his building and Dante buzzed them in.
“
What floor?” Will asked as they entered the lift.
“
Nine,” Frankie answered, checking her reflection in the mirrored walls. The rain didn't seem to have done too much damage to her appearance.
“
Penthouse,” Will noted but made no further comment on the apartment. “So what is this guy, a witch? Or is it a wizard?”
“
There are no wizards, but he's neither.”
“
So he's just...?”
“
He's someone who has some experience of the paranormal, that's all you need to know.” Frankie was still slightly resentful that Will was here at all, and couldn't keep the sharp tone out of her voice. They got out of the lift but before they could knock, the door opened.
“
Frankie!” Dante leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Will noticed the physical contact, something Frankie usually avoided, but he didn't comment on it.
“
Always a pleasure. And I see you brought dinner,” Dante looked over Will.
Frankie elbowed him in the ribs and introduced them to each other, though she introduced Dante as Dan.
“
Well, come on in,” Dante opened the door wide. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
“
It's beautiful,” Frankie said, looking around. The walls were floor to ceiling glass, though she was pleased to note that they all had fitted blinds that could be lowered. The floors were wood and Dante had kept the furniture modern, with clean lines to match the apartment.
“
Thank you. I think it still needs more art but I'm gradually getting there. Can I get either of you a drink?” Dante asked.
They both refused so Dante gestured for them to sit on the leather sofas.
“
Well, I can certainly see why she's been hiding you, Will,” Dante said, clearly flirting with Will.
“
Don't even go there,” Frankie said, clearly unimpressed. “He doesn't swing that way.”
Dante smirked. “Jealous?”
“
No,” Frankie rolled her eyes. “Besides, you met Will in the salsa club a few months ago,” she said, referring to the time Dante had vamped Will, so that he wouldn't interfere with their investigation.
Will frowned in confusion as Dante shook his head; 'no'. Frankie realised that Dante had made Will forget the whole encounter.
“
Oh, sorry. My mistake,” she glared daggers at Dante.
Dante was so used to her dirty looks that he was thoroughly unfazed by it, though he did seem to recall her being exceptionally angry with him at the time for using mind control on her friend. Will was looking perplexed, so Dante moved the conversation on to safer ground.
“
You had something to ask me?” he asked.
“
Right,” Frankie pulled the pictures from her jacket pocket. “These animals are being killed and it looks to me like they're having their blood drained. I just wondered if you had any idea why?”