Harvest Moon, Part 7

I pushed my way through the crowd, shoving aside goblin and troll alike. Size didn’t seem to matter, they all folded by easily until I had stepped onto the dance floor and found myself thrusting a finger at the big guy and shouting.

“He deserves no acclaim for what he has done!”

The room fell eerily silent. And it was then that I realized I just stepped out and accused him going only off Corrigan’s word. Sure, she promised me the information. Only problem was, she hadn’t given me anything to go off of. I was blindly throwing accusations.

Titannia didn’t bat an eye, “well, Elroy Reardon. You’re reputation precedes you. However, I had no idea you’d be so brazen as to interrupt me.” She stepped down slowly from her small podium. Her moves were heavy, yet she did not stomp. More of a slow lumbering. It reminded me of a bear pacing its food.

She rolled her shoulders, and under the full fur gown she wore, it really added to the whole bear look. A gorgeous creature about to tear my head off. That is until, the big guy in the small suit step forward and took a knee before her.

“Please, my Lady, it would do you no honor to bring yourself down to his level. Allow me to deal with this matter,” he never looked up to her. Not at her eyes. Not even up to where my eyes were set on her. Uncouth, thy name is Elroy.

She considered his proposal, all the while looking to me with fire in her eyes. I had made things rough the past couple of months, not directly to her. But this was incidentally the final straw. She wanted to deal with me herself. But the fire subsided as she gazed around at her Court. Not here. Not amongst the murmurs of the party. To take action in front of this large a crowd, it’d be the end of her reign.

So, instead, she bowed to her man, “you do me great honor, Adolf. I’ll leave this matter in your care.” Her hand extended and the man, Adolf, kissed the ring upon it. Then she shot me a gaze. If looks could kill, I was half expecting her to childishly stick out her tongue too.

Titannia slowly back behind her Court and returned to her lofty position above them all. She waved her hand and smile down the length of the dance floor to me, “what matter do you bring to the Court today Mr. Reardon?”

“I come to challenge Rite of Claim!” my fists clenched and I tried not to let slip that I was sweating. It was only the doublet that caused it. But it'd be like blood in the water whatever the reason.

Whispers broke out all around us. But they were silenced by Adolf laughing. His great stomach shook and rumbled beneath his suit. The silence he caused had a different air then Titannia’s. Color left the faces of our audience. They didn’t fear him for political reasons, it was strictly physical. And his laugh scared them.

“Do you come with more? Names? Faces? The fact that I even took them? Perhaps even some evidence that I had not made Claim?” he crossed his arms over his chest and dug his feet into the floor.

“Jacob and Margret Dietrich,” I withdrew the photo that had been given it to me and held it up high for all to see. “They were taken from the City. They were under constant watch and no known patches of Fog exist in the area they live. This means, they had not stumbled into Faery and no Fae holds Claim within the City limits. Therefore, when taken you could have made no such Rite.

“And under an oath, one of your own kind fingered you as the kidnapper,” I wasn't about to drop Corrigan‘s name. If I got out of this and she lost some of her standing she probably consider me a new statue in her private collection.

“You’re correct, Mr. Reardon,” he smiled all teeth. “I did not have Rite of Claim.”

“Then, the children will be returned-”

“I didn’t need it,” he slowly stalked towards me.

“Without it, especially in the City is grounds for King and the Irons stomping their way right into Faery and-”

“The children were lawfully traded.”

“Traded?” I took in a deep breath, and blinked. “What do you mean traded?”

Adolf held a sheet of paper up, “traded. By their parents.”

Without hesitation, I grabbed the sheet of paper. It was old sheep parchment, hand scribed, and notarized. A weird out of place feeling, who the hell would get such a thing notarized?

“You have done me a great dishonor today, Mr. Reardon. I have no choice but to earn it once again,” he continued, as I tried to read through all the legal jargon. “I demand satisfaction.”

The slap spun my head around and stung my cheek. I hadn’t even seen him pull the glove. He was incredibly fast for his size. As I turned back to face him, the crowd had begun to whisper among themselves.

“A duel has been established!” Titannia cried from her seat of power, sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. Damn Corrigan, I could see her smug smile. She had planned this all from the get go. I fell for it hook, line and sinker. She knew every bit of information, but just wanted to bait me with one that would send me out to get myself killed.

Adolf and I walked down the dance floor. The shouts and cries had grown more blood thirsty. Some of the more unsavory types had begun to foam at the mouth. Too much dancing at this party, not enough blood. It was a walk that seemed like an eternity till we stood before Titannia, the voices had died down as she spoke. “Duels have long since been the method we use to absolve disagreements in our Court. Adolf, as the aggrieved party, you may choose time and location of the duel.”

“If it doesn’t not displease my lady,” he said stretching a little more under his collar. “I ask that this duel begin here and now.”

She fought the smile, not well enough, “it would do no harm to our Harvest rituals and I should think make sporting entertainment for our celebration. Your request is granted.

“Elroy Reardon,” she said turning to face me with a furrowing brow. “As the challenged you may select the manner in which the duel is won. The most common options are to the death, to first blood-”

“First blood,” I interrupted her again, it was doubtful I’d get another chance. “To first blood.”

“Very well,” she said and adding an upward turn of her nose. “choose your weapon-”

There was a cry through the crowd, as a pair of Changelings burst in front of us. “Boss!” They both cried. “Wait, you gotta stop this!”

I recognized the voices. One was larger, more troll like. A light green skin tone that was stretched tight over rippling muscle. His teeth were oversized and he had an incredible underbite. I still had soreness in my jaw from where he punched me the other night. The other was smaller, a bit more wild. He had the horns and legs of goat. That explained why a couple of those kicks were a little more solid and a hell of a lot more painful.

“Silence!” he spoke harshly as Titannia eyed the men. "You dishonor me further!"

They cowered from both his word and her gaze, “but…”

“I said SILENCE!” he barked.

They slowly backed away, but eyed me suspiciously. I gave them a little wink then returned to the matter at hand

“Now then, if we’re through with distractions Adolf?” Titannia spoke.

He bowed his head, “yes ma’am.”

“Then gentlemen, select your weapons and let the duel begin.”

Adolf rose then he and I stalked into the center of the dance floor. Luckily, in her desire to strip me down Corrigan had missed the hidden knife I kept. It was pure iron, which the Fae had a noticeable weakness for. Usually, it’s illegal, by Fae law, to bring it inside Faery. It was one of the few things that kept King at bay. But I really didn’t mind the repercussions. I’d have felt naked without it. I brandished it with a smile and everyone took an audible, singular step back.

Everyone, except Adolf. He continued to grin. I didn’t notice it before, the sharpness of his teeth. Each of them canines. Or I hadn’t noticed it before, because they hadn’t been that way before. I could see it, the back ones were beginning to change. Moving from flat to sharp, pointy.

His suit was groaning against his form pressing against it, he was actually growing right now beneath it. Seams tore, until the thing began to peel off all around him. Till finally it erupted as the fabric could not hold back his bulk any more.

Suddenly, fur, long and shaggy sprouted from all other his body. A dark gray pelt over took him. He reared back as his hands elongated, becoming more like a pair of massive paws before slamming to the ground.

His jaw popped, dislocated and stretched outward along the nose. It flattened out into a wet black snout as a mass of hair covered it, little whiskers at the end. His lips curled back into a snarl, and I looked deep into the eyes of the big bad wolf staring back at me.

Shit.

Harvest Moon, Part 6

I missed my suit. Sure, it was old. And smelt of liquor. And dirty. And a whole host of other unattractive adjectives. But mainly it was mine. The outfit Corrigan had fit for me was beyond out of place. She had me in a bulging shoulder doublet with a frilly shirt underneath. The pants were nearly painted on. And to be quite honest, even I felt the codpiece was a bit too boastful.

Pride thankfully isn’t my vice and I simply swallowed it down and waited Corrigan in the pumpkin carriage. She intended to make me wait, just as much as the party. It would have been well under way by the time we arrived. But I suppose, if she was going to make an appearance being that last one to arrive would certainly give her that.

Another fifteen minutes I spent out there all alone, before she exited her temple and made her way down the steps. I took a deep breath, and reminded myself of the person she was underneath. But that’s the problem with women, it’s hard to forget what’s on the top.

Her legs were long beneath the dress, with a firm shape that were displayed well in the tight fabric. It didn’t conceal her like the toga she wore. This one was entirely meant to reveal, while still moderately covering her smooth skin. If many Sidhe personified their patron element, Corrigan did this almost certainly like a set of gently rolling hills. From calves at the peak, then down for the knees, up again smoothly for the thighs and hips, rolling with her waist into the peaks of her breast. For a frilling loose fitting shirt, I still felt hot under the collar.

“Please try to maintain a little decorum at the gala Elroy,” she said upon her approach, lifting a leg up into the carriage. The slit of the dress fell to the sides  “You’re drooling. Now be a gentleman and offer me your hand.”

I did. She accepted it graciously, and pulled herself inside. And with that we were off.

The ride was short, though I stole as many glances as possible. It was hard not to. I notice she maintained a lack of make up about her eyes, she did say many of the Sidhe would have brought humans along. I suppose that made the precaution necessary.

“What’s the party for?” I asked.

“Tomorrow is the final day of the Harvest, the day of the Harvest Moon. Tonight, we celebrate that event.”

“The Harvest Moon?”

She sighed before smiling at me, “it’s the last full moon of the Harvest season. Because of the early rise of the full moon we will have more light to work the fields. If we perform the rites to perfection, we may even be granted long enough to reap the benefits for a full day with the moon guiding us at night.”

“And since it’s the last day, you’ve got to get all you can.”

“Correct,” she added while pressing her finger to my nose. I rubbed it and looked away. “It was not so important for us till we began trade with Notion City. You humans eat so much, and it’s so hard to maintain even enough for ourselves.”

“That also justifies stealing children off the streets as a work force?There will probably be a few who die in the fields tomorrow."

“Sacrifices, Elory. Sometimes they must be made for the greater good to survive.”

I crossed my arms as best I could with the doublet then decided to keep my mouth shut for the rest of the ride.

The hall was lit brightly by the dying suns light in thousands of gems and crystal when we arrived. There were already carriages waiting off the side and the amount of noise emanating from the hall meant we were late. Quite late at that. Even so, Corrigan took care and patience when stepping down.

Inside, was the party of the year. I couldn’t name the number of strange creatures I saw from off the top of my head. And those that looked human may very well have not been.  It was a ball for everything decadent and odd. I felt at place with the latter not the former.

There was a single entrance, that led down a great stairway to a dance floor. From the look one might have expected courtly dance, some medieval. But everyone was doing the Charlestown to some form of jazz played by a trio of muses. It hurt my ears, but the Fae didn’t notice. They didn’t really appreciate jazz they only did it to fit in with humans. And muses are meant to inspire, they’re not actually good at much else.

As the custom, I stood atop the great stair waiting for Corrigan to enter and take my arm at her introduction.

“Introducing, Mistress Corrigan of the Daoise Sidhe,” not a head turned to pay her any mind. “Escorted by Elroy Reardon of Notion City.”

She couldn’t have planned it perfectly, even the jazz band faltered to silence to turn and see as she stepped out onto the great stair and wrapped her hand in mine. Every old crone, oddity and Sidhe of the bunch stared at the pair of us. It became clear, from the looks of anger I received. To those of adoration for her. Most of them I had taken something dear from, or at least tried. And now here I was with one of their own on my arm.

Their minds were racing. How did she get me here? What did she have over my head? And how could they get it? They’d be plotting against her all night, though it didn’t matter. She got what she wanted, they’d be talking about her all night.

We mingled through much of the night. I kept as far away from the food as possible, or was careful when I ate from the trays. Anything you could have found in Notion City would be alright, but stories floated around about those foods only found in Faery. Some were true and others were myth, but I wasn’t about to test my luck. Eventually, I was able to ignore the hunger pangs.

Around midnight as I was chatting with the wait staff about the missing Dietrich children one of the Sidhe made her presence known. She lightly tapped a thin fork to her champagne glass. The music of the band died down and conversation eventually ended. I had never once dealt with the Queen of the Earth Court, Titannia but I’ve heard a few old Goblin limericks of her. And none did her justice.

She was young, and appeared born of soft earth. Her skin was a light brown tone and hair like wheat in fields. It didn’t shine, it didn’t shimmer. As for most of the women present she did not stand out at all. Yet she was no less beautiful. She raised her arm like a branch and lofted the glass high.

“On this night before the final harvest, I wish to raise a toast. In these times, we must struggle to maintain our way of life as well as the lives of others. However, there are those who understand more than most when the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. It is with that in mind, I truly want to honor our guests this evening. Who without them none of what we accomplish tomorrow would be possible.”

I moved beside Corrigan and looked out over the crowd, “what’s happening?”

Her smile was like a snake. Smooth and poisonous. “We were strained this year, as I said before, hardly would there be enough harvest for both Faery and Notion City. But with the sacrifices of some we’d be able to make the yield.”

The sea of creatures parted to reveal a single figure standing on the dance floor. He slowly approached Titannia and bowed at her feet. His suit strained against the bulk of him while he did this. It was made for someone a number of sizes too small. I guess he had made a run at the buffet. He looked either homeless or wild, judging from the amount of hair covering his body. And I thought I would have looked bad at this place in my suit.

“Appeasing the Woman of the Harvest is not easy,” continued Titannia placing upon the shoulder of the man before her. “She requires not much from us, but her orders are precise. And one of us here, had procured them just in time for the Rites of Harvest. We celebrate tonight not only in tradition, but for the bounty we will reap because of his actions. The moon light shall extend tomorrow, we will have more time then ever to reap from our fields and pluck from our trees. And the crop we find will be swollen, enough to feed twice the normal amount. No mouths shall go hungry this year.”

A great cheer erupted through the crowd. Corrigan’s eyes flickered to me and the edge of her lips rose into a small smile.

“You wanted information for this night did you not Elroy Reardon?”

“Everything involving the Dietrich children,” I said feeling my fists clench. Everything in my head was screaming what she was about to tell me. Sacrifices. For the greater good. Precise orders. They needed two children, male and female. Probably around the same age, twins made that easy.

“The Dietrich children were taken by that man,” she said. I shut my eyes to keep my calm. “And he did not have Rite of Claim.”

Harvest Moon, Part 5

Every muscle in my body clenched, sure I had threatened the girl with the same fate but I never intended to back it up. Corrigan stood there, brushing her hand against the cheek of the statue without a single passing care of the fate she just gave that poor girl. On occasion, you can see it in their eyes. They're still alive in there.

“Oh, my dear Elroy you're not mad are you?” she fluttered her dark brown eyelashes. It was probably right for her to maintain the look of an eighteen year old, she played the part too well for it to be an act. “Was this the one you were here to take from me? That would be such a shame.”

“No,” I said after unclenching my jaw. “she wasn't.”

“Oh,” she waved her hand. “Oh well, waste not want not.” With a playful giggle and a flick of her wrist, the statue moved into the deeper recesses of her office. “Now, then my dear, what brings you here then if not for one of my maidens.”

“My guess, some commission work you did recently.”

“I do plenty of that these days, harvest time is approaching and the Court does need its workers.” She moved gracefully from statue to statue, an incredible feat under the weight of her long and heavily adorned dress. The statues were sanded down, a cheek or maybe a nose as she fought against the imperfections age can have even over stone.

“Well, this would probably be a special case. Two children brought in at the same time.”

She never lost a step, “brothers. It's always brothers. They bring them two, and sometimes three, at a time. Good strong backs that will work the fields.”

“Not brothers, but siblings. A boy and a girl.”

I didn't like the smile she had when as she faced me, “twins?”

“Maybe.” I said with a bit of indignation.

“What do you offer for the information?”

I began to reach into my pockets, I had brought a good many objects and one would be sure to catch her fancy, but she held up a hand to stop me. She glided closer, a bit too close, well within my personal space. Her face was in mine, brown ringlets of hair were falling onto my shoulders. It's not often I choose to look at a woman's lips over her eyes. But for once, I considered the lips far less dangerous.

“No mere trinkets will drain this information from me,” she said while lifting a hand to my chin.  It was cold like stone. “I will take instead a small favor.”

“That's not happening.”

“Ah, yes. That's the Elroy Reardon of legend. The man who doesn't make deals with the Sidhe." She laughed again, her breath heavy on my cheeks. "You have another way of determining the fate of those poor innocent children? Their backs may already be breaking under manual labor. Or who knows? They could have been picked up as dinner to a troll, they do work up such an appetite in these difficult times. How much time to you really think they have?”

Her arm slowly wrapped over my shoulders, behind my neck. It drew tighter as I lingered in response. I still had some wiggle room before the noose tightened fully.

“I want your word that this favor won't bring anyone harm.”

“Not a soul,” she said with a wave of her free hand. And slowly her maroon lips peeled back to her pearly whites, smooth and marbled. “If you agree to my contract, I only desire your employ for one night.”

“That's it? One night?” My mind raced with thoughts of what a night spent with the Sidhe might entail. “One night of work, no harm to fall upon anyone and it does not interfere with my case? For that you'll give me the information I seek?”

“Of course.”

I took a deep breath. Every other option was cold. Women, they all want something and can't just let a man live his life. Though, if I kept my end of the bargain it could bring this case to a quick close. And she was probably right about the kids. They were on borrowed time. Once harvest was over, who knows what need would be left for them to fill. Servant to a Sidhe. Corrigan's newest statue was proof of the fate that held. And it could very well be the best thing to happen to them in Faery.

“Then I agree, by oath and bond, to uphold my end of the deal. For one night, I am under your employ and you shall provide me with the information I seek.”

"Agreed," she said and extended her hand. I lifted it gently and kissed the knuckle. You don't make trips into Faery without learning the ins and outs of Courtly manners.

“Lovely!” she exclaimed, and clapped like a teenage girl. Even if she exceeded that by centuries. Then suddenly, she was pawing at my clothing. Attempting to pull off my hat and coat. “But first, simply we must change you out of these awful drab things.”

“Hey, my clothes are fine!” I said, pushing her hands away.

Her eyes quickly met mine, I averted them just in time. Her brow lofted along with a corner of her smooth lips, “breaking your oath so soon Elroy?”

“No,” I took a deep breath. “May I know why you insist on changing my clothing though?”

“If I am to be on your arm this evening for the gala, then you must dress appropriately. Honestly, a rumbled suit reeking of alcohol will hardly do for a gathering of Sidhe. You shall appear in the finest my maidens can prepare in short time!” She stepped away and spun on her heels with a clap.

“Wait, gala?” There was a rush of attendants, suddenly my arms were being lifted and measured. Each of the girls was equipped with her own tape, and was quite deft at using it. Though, they were taking far more measurements than I was used to. “That's what you wanted me to do? Take you to a party?!”

“All the Sidhe shall have a good man whose arm they cleave to. Were I to show up without one, why I'd be mocked right out of the Court. And besides, what better man to bring in than Elroy Reardon? You're a bit more than famous than you give yourself credit for in Faery, my dearest Elroy. If you accompany me, my favor is sure to be held in a higher regard.”

She beamed before departing, her maidens trailing behind her, all their measurements were taken. Suddenly, the great room was empty save me. First I was asked on a date, now one was forced upon me. It certainly wasn't possible that I had begun to exude some sort of pheromone. What is all this nonsense about good men? I looked down at the rumbled suit I was wearing. It was ill fitting, now that she mentioned it. Oh well, at least I'd get some damn fine duds out of this yet. 

Harvest Moon, Part 4

Best I could figure, they didn’t stumble into Faery. The kids were watched more than most political officials. Which meant they were taken without Rite of Claim, no Fae had claim within the city itself. That was the good news.

The bad news, my next stop was in Faery itself. The heart of the Earth Court. Nine times out of ten missing children were taken by the Earth Court. Cheap labor. Renewable resource. I’ve tangled with the Earth Court’s fetch maker before, sometimes I won and found she had no claim, sometimes she won. And I left empty handed.

I picked up a couple things from my office before hailing a cab to the freeway that led into Faery. Some time ago, a few Fae and Notion City scientists figured out how to make small permanent paths. I didn’t understand how they did it, but it meant I wouldn’t have to pick up a Cartographer’s map. Last time that thing sent me to the heart of the Fire Court. And I was told it was the latest version.

Weather may be strange in Notion City, but you head to any Court held area and you can pretty much bet how to dress. Autumn was taking over, I had the proper coat to keep the brisk wind at bay. And sure enough, after we were through the Threshold all I saw were the golden brown leaves of the trees. Ripe fruit could be easily picked from them. In fact it was, Fae and human, fetch and changeling, were out taking apples from the trees and reaping the fields of fresh wheat, it’d all be on its way to Notion City soon.

I tried not to watch for too long, there were quite a few children in the fields. Those that had stumbled in Faery and fell under rites of claim, and I couldn’t help in the slightest. Not with out breaking a number of old laws and probably never crossing the Fog again.

The car pulled to a stop outside of the town, they weren’t allowed inside. You had to get around by cart. The Earth Court’s realm looked much like something you’d expect from old Roman or Greek times. Most of their lower class lived in very simple farming houses, spaced far and abroad from each other to allow plenty of field.

   

I flagged down a suitable cart. Ass pulled and goblin driven. The other way around might have made for a smoother ride. My driver was hardly paying attention to the road, and shiny things off in the distance drew him too many times off the clear paths through the city. If nothing else at least we were making good time.

As the city approached, buildings of stone clustered together. High arcs and columns, great halls instead of office buildings and apartments. For a moment, I wish I was like the tourists visiting for the changing of seasons. That I could actually enjoy it. But it was another day in the office.

The goblin driver pulled the ass to a halt, and jolted me back into reality. I hopped off, and a little green hand extended as the goblin await his tip. I came with the best in Fae low class currency and offered the little guy a cloth button. He bit down into it then smiled with glee as he kicked the ass into gear. If you can make somebody’s day…

Corrigan’s office, they were trying to modernize, stood before me. Columns of marble stretched upwards, higher than most buildings in Fae. And every place you could fit a pedestal and statue, she had. Each of them were young, her ideal of beauty. Boys and girls it didn’t matter each in their prime, just before they lost most of their baby fat, were out and on display.

A young girl, a temple maiden wrapped in a toga greeted me at the top of the stairs. She kept her eyes downward, never meeting my eyes, “hello sir, is Mistress Corrigan expecting you?”

"Probably not,” I said moving right past her, “but it’s usually better if I get the drop on her anyway.”

I moved through the interior of the great hall, passing statue after statue. My pace kept me ahead of the little legs of the temple maiden. At least until I hit the doors. Stone. Large. Heavy. And magically enchanted to keep anyone not wanted out.

“I’m sorry sir,” said the temple maiden as she caught up with me. “But you can’t go any further. Mistress Corrigan is busy.”

“She has time to see me,” I said.

“If you’d please make an appointment. The mistress is quite busy.”

“Yea,” I said looking down to the girl. “Snatching little children off the streets can be time consuming.” I quirked my head to the side, “you know you look familiar. I think I’ve seen your missing persons flyer. But that one has gotten old. What are you? Almost thirteen. And Corrigan is still keeping you around?”

The color flew from her face, “wait here sir, I’ll tell her you’ve arrived.”

And with that she stepped up and pulled the door open enough to squeeze her way inside. She watched me the whole time and used the stone door like a shield. A shield from the monster.

I hadn’t finished the swig from my flask before the doors flung open in a dramatic display. I might have dribbled a little, but Corrigan was always theatrical.

“Elroy Reardon!” the voice called from inside, strangely light hearted. “Come in my dear!”

I took another gulp of the whiskey, if a Fae greets you with open arms it’s only cause they’re looking for a good place to stick the knife. Nonetheless, I made my way inside.

Her inner chamber went beyond grand. It’s always a pleasant reminder of how much better than Daoine Sidhe have it than the lower classes of the Fae. Elaborate reliefs were worked into the walls and domes, each depicting scenes throughout both mortal and Fae history. I can never seem to help myself but to enter her chamber with my eyes skyward. She probably did it to keep her guests from focusing on her, and catching her eye.

“Why, Mr. Reardon, you’ve seen that all before and yet your mouth still reaches to the floor. And you haven’t said a word about my newest statue.”

I followed the voice, but was sure not to look into the eyes of the speaker. It wasn’t hard when I got a look at her newest statue. A young girl in a toga, on her knees in with her hands cupped, pleading.

“I’m afraid it just isn’t as perfect as the others, this one had aged a little too long.”

Harvest Moon, Part 3

My head whipped around from the pure force of the blow. My knees wobbled, then simply gave out and I collapsed against the side of the building. I steadied myself as best I could, unable to get my senses straight. Until they both were above me.

No light revealed their faces, it shone behind them and gave off silhouettes. Although, it made them difficult to see, it also made it clear they were not human. The first, the one that hit me, was far too big. He towered above me by a solid foot and a half, putting him well over seven feet tall. And he had the bulk to back it up.

The second was shorter, much closer to my height. But in his shadows I saw the presence of a pair of horns. They curled around his head like a goat’s. He spoke first, “this is your warning Reardon. Just go home, hide in a bottle till this all blows over.”

“No thanks, I was beginning to enjoy having work again.”

The big man’s fist may have been slow, but then that’s the same as comparing an automobile to a bullet. Sure, one is slower but it more than makes up for it in size.

I was about to offer another point, but they didn't let me.

What followed was blow after blow. At first, it was easy to see who was throwing what. A foot from the little one. A fist from the big guy, he really liked to throw them. But within seconds, they all blurred together. They beat the stuffing out of me, and left me in the alleyway. It was awhile before I managed to collect myself and leave. I wasn’t going to let anyone see me like that.

My place wasn’t that far from Chinatown. I would get a few hours to myself. I could patch myself up and do exactly what the guy suggested. I hid in the bottom of the bottle. But at first light, I was going to crawl out and question the kid’s teacher.

I’ve worked cases before. And never once have the thugs come after me that soon and that hard. It meant someone didn’t want me to work it. Well, that someone just ruined my day. And I certainly felt like ruining theirs.

There was cotton in my mouth when I woke up. The bourbon was all gone, so I was left with water to wash it down. I switched into my second suit, it was less wrinkled from having not been slept in. Once I had finished cleaning myself up, I called for a cab and got to work.

The Dietrich’s had given me a "small" retainer to use while I worked the case. It more than covered the cab. And would more than cover rent for the next year.

Notion City had pretty clear class lines, even if people didn’t like to admit it. Public schools had little funding, as the government had lost its hold well before the Guilds and the Courts began to work their way into society’s basic needs. Schooling wasn't a big concern of the guilds, it really didn’t churn much of a profit. So no one picked it up. Windows were shattered. Roads to and from were pockmarked with potholes like the moon’s craters. They even emitted a foul aroma, the smell of decay and death. The Dietrich’s did not go to such a school.

My eagerness to get a little more information got me stuck in the principal’s office for a few hours. The chair they had me sit in was designed for children, not fully grown adults. It was not so much my curiosity that was excited when the recess bell rang, but more so my rear end.

“Please have a seat Mr. Reardon,” the Dietrich’s teacher waved a hand towards her students desk.

“You can call me Elroy, Ms. Hughes,” my eyes gravitated towards the chairs. “And I’d prefer stand, thank you.”

“You can call me Julie, Elroy. Please, Ms. Hughes makes me seem a tad too old.” And she really was not. I was used to the sisters doing my schooling, none of them looked like her. She was nowhere near leaving her forties and knew enough about make up, to know she only needed a touch of it. A classical beauty they called it.

I took out my little pad of paper and shook the thoughts out of my head, “could you tell me more about the Dietrich boy’s accident?”

“Kind of you to call it that,” she gave me a soft smile then began to erase notes from the chalkboard. “It was during recess, not but two days ago. Jacob was playing a rough game with the other boys. I didn’t see a need to break it up, boys will be boys after all. That was until I notice Jacob was injured and the others were backing away.”

“You thought it was strange?”

“It wasn’t the first time they had played that game. And it wasn’t the first time one of them had been injured. But you were a young boy once, weren’t you, Elroy? Nothing gets bigger bragging rights than an injury. Who has the worst, and what can be seen from it. But this time, the boy’s were terrified.”

“Because he bled straw?”

She nodded, “it’s awful. I can’t even imagine what it has to be like for those poor children.”

“Faery is many things. Chaotic is the best way to describe it. It’s hard to say really, to some it’s paradise and others," I said while scribbling a note or two down. "Perdition."

“I didn’t mean the children taken. I meant those left behind, the fetches.”

I blinked and looked up at her. She had finished the chalkboard and had moved back to her desk to sit down.

“They don’t know anymore than we do. They’re given all the memories of those children. Given their lives. For all intents and purposes, they are those taken. Yet the moment we discover we reject them. Fear them. Hurt them. It’s awful.”

"Yea," I nodded. "You have no idea."

“Sorry,” she said and standing back up to tidy the rest of the classroom. “I shielded Jacob from the other boys as their fear turned into anger. I called the father as soon as I could, but his mistress answered instead. Told me to take both Jacob and Margret out of class and she would personally pick them up.”

“Sorry, his mistress came and got them? I didn’t-”

“Oh,” she laughed a little. “Sorry, it’s what we around here call his fiancé. I’m sure you’ve had the privilege of meeting her. She hasn’t left his side in the past month. A gold digger is what she is. Men might not see what’s in her eyes when she looks at her husband to be, but a woman can. She looks at him and sees a paycheck.”

I added a few notes to my book, “did you notice anything before the day the Dietrich boy was injured? Anyone strange hanging around the school?”

She laughed again, it was soft and warming, “have you taken a good look around the school Mr. Reardon? We’re one of those that the Human Only League cries out against. Fae children left and right. Offspring of Fae and human. Honestly, I’m not sure there is anything left in this world that I could define as strange.”

“Someone shady then?”

“No.” she said.

“Anyone other than students, teachers and those connected to the Dietrich family ever visit the children?”

“No,” she replied again with an adamant head shake. It made her hair bounce around a little. Auburn to match the season. “I would have certainly mentioned it when I first noticed Jacob. Whenever they were taken, they weren’t taken from here. I can be absolutely sure of that.”

“Alright,” I said while flipping the notepad closed and replacing it in my pocket. “That should be everything. Thank you very much for your time, Julie.”

“Wait,” she stood and followed me to the door. “There is something I want to ask you Elroy.”

“Me?” I stammered a little. “What is it? I mean, how can I help you?”

“Would you like to get a drink with me?”

Usually I was on the other side of the questions and not used to curveballs coming my way. But in that moment her body language shifted, she angled her hips towards me and gave me a smile that made my knees shake like the punch that knocked me senseless.

“Why would you even think I’d engage in something like drinking?” I asked.

“You investigate missing persons. In this town, that has to be a job that puts more in your lose column than your win. I’m guessing that you need an escape. I was just hoping that you might want to make that escape with someone.”

She pursued her lips a little while she spoke. I couldn’t seem to work mine.

“Corner of sixteenth and Vine, meet me there tomorrow night at around eight. I know this great little gin joint. You like jazz right Elroy?”

“You’re awfully forward, aren’t you Julie?”

She smiled as the bell rang, she quickly shifted back into school marm stature, “a girl has to be in this city. All the good men seem to get snatched up really fast.”

Before I knew it, the door slammed open and about a dozen little children flooded in. Some shoved by me, others stared wide eyed. Quite a few were obviously not human, luckily I had spent enough time in Faery that I didn’t give them the same look back.

Once the door was clear, I moved to it and began to swing it close when Julie winked at me, smiled and then turned to face her class all in one swift movement. All the good men were snatched up she said. I didn’t have time to tell her I wasn’t one of those. She’d only be a little bit broken when I didn’t show. But that was better for her than getting involved with the likes of me.

I continued to watch her for a moment through the glass of the door. Then turned my gaze to the rows of children watching her.

Two seats were empty. I left, intending to fill them.

Harvest Moon, Part 2

“They’re twins,” I asked, unflinching. “Right?”

The woman was about to speak up, but Dietrich cut her off. “Yes, Mr. Reardon from my previous wife.”

Her face flared a little red, but quickly subsided. I made a note of that. “So, not your not the mother?”

“Of course not!” She turned her nose upward at the question. "Why would you even suggest such a thing?"

“The times, they are changing,” I said, and jotted another note down. "When is the big day?"

"Hoping for an invitation?" she said with a huff.

"I'm not holding my breath." I looked up to her and set the pencil aside, "I'm curious. If the kids ran off because you're nearing the big day. They may have stumbled into Faery on accident. In which case, they were most likely taken under Rites of Claim and there's hardly a thing I could do were that the case."

They both exchanged a look and nodded. Dietrich spoke up as his eyes returned to me, “we’re to be married in a few days. After the deals went through with the Earth Court so that at least for a few months, I’d be able to be focused on living a married life. But that is not why my children would have run, they love Joan dearly. Like a-” He hid his face once again.

I tapped the pencil, and scribbled something else down all the while watching the soon to be Mrs. Dietrich through the corners of my eyes.

“Could you tell me more about when you learned Jacob was a fetch?” I asked.

I jotted down the name of the school and the boy’s teacher who discovered him bleeding. They told me she would be the best person to ask for all those details. They went on to say that when not at school they were never not under the watch of their future mother, or at the very least a member of the help. All of which were quite trustworthy, they did their best to reassure me of that.

I had them go over some minor details twice. I hadn’t missed a single note, but the jazz was the same each time. Down to the beat. It told me one thing. They had rehearsed the story.

I ended up departing shortly after, both claimed they had an early morning. I said I’d get in touch with them as soon as possible. There was something else about this case that I was missing. If the Earth Court was looking to play hardball with the children, why bother having their fetches made at all? The point of a fetch is so the parents never know the kid is gone to begin with. Unless it was suppose to be a last ditch bargaining chip.

Either way, I knew something was up when I left the Dietrich’s place. There were more than a few questions flying around in my head. Before I knew it the elevator had deposited the driver and I at the lobby level, and we were heading out the door into the rain. The gargoyles didn’t mind it and neither did I. I just shrugged deeper into my jacket before climbing back into the Rolls with the driver.

“Take you to your office, Mr. Reardon?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “Chinatown.”

“Chinatown? Are you sure I-”

I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, “yea, I’m sure. Just drive.”

He grumbled and pulled the car out into traffic. He was silent the whole way up to the gates.

Chinatown isn't specifically filled with people from China. Plenty of other cities had them, so it was easier for the residents of Notion City to call it that when it would be better described as Asiatown. You’d think a town that was suffering from racism towards Fae and fetches would find a way to unite within their own species but I guess it still didn’t stop people around here from seeing a person of different ethnicity and just lumping them in with the next closest look alike.

The place got a bad rap mainly because it didn’t just house a few Asians, but a couple of their Fae that got caught in the Fog years ago. No one really knows how they were here to begin with, tagging along with the beliefs of the people maybe. Either way, they were here. And even the Courts considered most of them pretty strange. Chinatown was a place for the most dejected members of society, cut off completely from their homeland.

I always felt a little better each time I came here.

The driver pulled up to the main gates, most of the streets through Chinatown were still pockmarked with vendors. He wasn’t about to drive through them, not in that boat.

“Alright, Mr. Reardon. Here you go.”

I just tipped my hat at him and stepped out into the rain. Even on the Edge, right where the Fog begins, Chinatown lost much of the usual gray haze of Notion City. Bright reds along with vibrant gold lit the place up like a candle. While Notion City slept, Chinatown was still working.

Through a small alleyway, and the backdoor of a building I arrived at my destination. A little bit of cloth hung about a foot down from the top of a sliding door. Strange characters where printed on the cloth. Japanese lettering. I brushed them aside and stepped into the little bar.

It fit ten people, though at maximum capacity it was more than a little claustrophobic. Tonight, I lucked out. I was the only one.

Ono was behind the counter. As he always was, cutting up little sections of fish and placing them upon rice. It was a dish I’d never developed a taste for. The alcohol he made from rice though…

“Ono, one sake, please.”

“Sah-keh.” He corrected me with a smile before placing the little cup on the counter as I sat down. He lifted the warmed carafe and poured a small amount for me. “You will have some tuna neta as well.”

A little plate of the uncooked fish was placed before me. The older man grinned beneath his goattee, “you aren’t serious, are you?”

His aged eyes brighten as he wiped the back of his hand on his headband, “know know the rule Mr. Reardon. One piece of sushi for one question asked. At least until you gain a taste for it.” He spoke in his usual broken English. He had lived here for a time, probably long enough to lose the accent but I’m guessing it made him seem more mysterious to the outsiders who stumbled into Chinatown for a good time.

I picked up the little fish dish and popped it into my mouth as he began to cut up more.

“What brings you in tonight?”

“I need some information on the Earth Court.”

“Ah,” he didn’t look up while speaking. “What kind of information?”

“Why would the Earth Court have an interest in twins?”

“Oh, it could be all manner of reasons. Just the same as any other Court taking any other child. Sometimes there’s nothing special about it. They just take them, maybe they liked the way they looked. Right now though, the Earth Court needs workers, last days of harvest. Two boys for one would make strong workers.”

I lifted the little cup to take a sip, “it was a girl and boy actually.”

Ono’s knife slipped.

He set it down softly, and went about cleaning it. I hadn’t even realized the woman had sat down beside me until she spoke, “twins, male and female are seen as a step towards a perfect or divine being by some.”

I would have to praise myself later for not jumping out of my skin. I'd like to think I'm not that easy to get the drop on. I turned my gaze towards the woman at my right. She was gorgeous, pure snow white skin. And black hair that nearly shone blue. I had seen her some nights in Ono’s bar. When I first asked him about her, he said she was his wife Inari. Ono was always extremely careful when the woman was around, walking on eggshells. I had to guess he saw her as delicate, even though the only thing that came off that way was her voice.

“Many cultures view twins as two parts of the whole. Beings of perfection. Divine and imbued with special powers. There are many reasons why they might have been taken by the Earth Court. And very few of them are good, Mr. Reardon."

I looked back to Ono who remained quiet before speaking up, “why do you say that?”

“It is most likely they are to be sacrificed.”

“What?!” I stood up from the bar. The ceiling was low, and I turned my head to the side quickly to avoid hitting it. When I looked back down, I found Inari’s seat empty.

“Forgive her please, she’s easily frightened sometimes. But she always comes back.” Ono spoke up, he had begun to cut again. This time with a fresh knife.

“What did she mean sacrifice? Why?”

“I;m, Mr. Reardon. My wife knows more of these matters than I, but she doesn’t know them all. I can guess that she meant, as a symbol of divinity they must be sacrificed in some manner to obtain it. It is still possible she’s wrong, of course. She is not infallible. Only wise.”

I shook my head, “no, not this case. It’s had bad news written on it from the start. If I had to guess, she’s right.”

“Which means you have very little time,” he withdrew the little carafe and the cup. “And means no more sake for you tonight.”

“Hey-” I started.

“No, you go home. Get some sleep. You’ll get more when you bring those children back alive.”

There was no intimidating Ono. He just stood there, his arms crossed with a big knife in his hand. He could have been from a different era, in armor with a large sword. Instead he was a man about a foot shorter than me and easily fifty pounds less.

I still moved away from the bar and tipped my hat to him, “goodnight Ono.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Reardon.”

The rain was still coming down, even in the small alley when I finally stepped out of the building. Nonetheless, the smell of tobacco was in the air. I don’t recall many smokers around Ono’s. Normally just the smell of food.

That’s when the fist came out of the shadows, and struck me across the jaw.

Harvest Moon, Part 1

I was sprawled out on the couch in my office when she called. Summer was just changing to autumn and it was still early even though the sky had darkened and only the moon lit the office through the blinds. It took a couple of rings from the phone before I was able to pull myself to my feet and make my way to the desk.

"Elroy Reardon," I spoke into the receiver, placing the bottle of whiskey on the top of the desk while I leaned on it.

"Mr. Reardon, hello," her voice was smooth. Which in my business meant dangerous. "I was wondering if you had time this evening to take a case."

"Office hours are nine to five, feel free to call back then," I moved to put the phone back on the receiver.

She kept right on talking, "I have a car waiting outside for you."

I sniffed a little and turned towards the window, flicking a blind up to take a peak outside into the street below. Across the street from my building sitting in the glow of a streetlight was an authentic Rolls Royce. Seeing as how there was no factory in Notion City that made them, I couldn't hide the whistle. This broad must be loaded.

"Mr. Reardon?" her voice repeated, distant until I put the telephone back to my ear.

"You're in luck," I said. "I just extended my office hours."

"Good, then we can expect you in twenty minutes."

"Twenty-five," I corrected her. "I've got to put on a pair of pants." The phone call ended with an audible click from her end. Well, that didn't end the employment opportunity. For whatever reason this woman needed me on the job, and something told me that wasn't a good thing.

She was right. It was a twenty minute ride in the posh car with the tight lipped driver to her home. Which also meant I was right. It took me five minutes to find and put on an appropriate pair of pants. That certainly said something about the condition of my office, I only had the two suits.

We pulled to a stop outside one of the grand high rise apartments the Fae had helped construct, and were mainly populated by their proxies in Notion City. It was heavily Gothic in design, massive stone work. And atop every pillar or arch or point stood a gargoyle in guard. They eyed me suspiciously, and I had no way of knowing how many were watching. Luckily, I had business. These type of places didn't need security in the lobby, the gargoyles were guards enough.

The driver accompanied me into the lobby. I wasn't all that surprised to find it grand in design, just a little amazed at the sheer upfront nature of the opulence. It was once in a blue moon I got a client on this height of the class ladder. These types could afford higher payroll. Again, a steady uneasiness was working its way through my system.

We called the elevator and the driver directed the operator to take us to the penthouse. They both had to insert a little key into the elevator to set it up. Posh.

My assessment remained the same when the door was slid open and revealed my new employers great room. I was going to have to up my hourly rates.

It was obviously for entertaining. Numerous chairs and couches wrapped around a central fireplace. Each side had their own television. Two televisions. In one house. Though, that’s why they were placed in the great room. They weren’t there for viewing, stations outside of the Fog that surrounded Notion City didn’t come through so there were only a few things to watch. Maybe one channel to pick up. But with only a few in the city before it was cut off, and production on new models slow going. Well, it certainly meant something to have two televisions.

I couldn’t help but whistle again.

The driver gave me a sour look from beneath his hat then led me further inside. He directed me further inside. The step down nearly sent me face first into the ground. I was given warning of it,  off-handedly, after the fact. I liked him better when he didn’t speak.

On a couch big enough for eight, sat two. A man and a woman, each held the other tightly, at least with their arms. Neither of the hands were actually holding, they were balled into fists and just pressed against the other’s body. They unclenched and separated as I approached. The man went to offer me a seat, but I was already taking it.

I had seen him in the papers. A mister Andrew Dietrich. Normally, in his photographs, the man stood tall and imposing. He had to be. He handled many negotiations with the Fae concerning produce rates for the business of Notion City. Against the Earth Court, it would be foolish to send in a weak man. They were consummate stonewallers.

Today, he wrung his sweaty hands.

The woman on the other hand, she worried me. She had those eyes that turn men to jelly. Piercing blue with little flecks of black in the iris. Her black hair contrast with his blonde. This was the woman I spoke to on the phone, she didn’t even have to open her mouth for me to know it was her. She was used to men doing exactly what she wanted.

“Mr. Reardon,” Dietrich said while staring at his hands.

“Mr. Dietrich,” I said unflinchingly.

“So, you know who I am.”

“Hard not to,” damn if this chair wasn’t comfy. The awakening from my nap and a little of the booze still in my system had me sinking into it. “You’re in the paper. Harvest time is upon us, hard at work keeping the costs of it low for us Notion City citizens.”

“You don’t have to be patronizing,” the woman snapped and moved to take Dietrich’s hand in hers.

He didn’t allow it, “leave him be, dear. There are those who often disagree with what I do. Are you part of the Human Only Organization? It would certainly explain your profession.”

“No, I don’t much agree with them either.” I said, “but while we’re on the topic of my profession, why am I here Mr. Dietrich?”

“About a week ago, my boy was inured during recess at school. Normally, they’d have patched him up at the nurse and I’d have never heard a word of it. Boys tend to get into all kinds of scrapes. But this time, he-”

I knew where this was going, “he didn’t bleed blood?”

Dietrich nodded and took a moment of silence, his hands shook furiously. The woman beside him reach down to hold them tight.

I kept a small notepad and pencil in the breast pocket of my coat and withdrew it. There were a few pages left that I began to take notes on while he collected himself. I waited for him to regain his composure then start again., "what did he bleed Mr. Dietrich?"

He bit his lip. And the woman beside him spoke up, "Straw. Mr. Reardon. He bled straw."

I wrote that down, "that would indicate he's a fetch made by the Earth Court. And you are?"

"She's my fiance." Dietrich reached out and took the woman's hand, forcing a smile for her then turning back to me. "Yes, straw is the usual indicator for the Earth Court."

"So, the question then is Mr. Dietrich," I set the pencil aside and focused on the two of them. "Why would the people who you often deal with steal your child and set you up with a replacement?"

He shook his head, "it's growing closer to the final harvest. Days away, in fact. Then we'll negotiate our contract. Maybe, maybe it's a bargaining chip. Uh, something to get a little more out of the deal." He blinked back tears, and shook his head while his eyes darted from side to side.

"Dad?" A small voice asked from the side of the room. There they stood. A small boy and girl, both with their fathers blonde hair. They weren't older than six or so, from what I could tell they were both the same age. Twins. Same height. Mostly the same features in every way.

"Is everything alright?" asked the boy, clinging tightly to his sister.

"Everything is fine," the woman rose and walked over to the two. Dietrich kept his eyes averted, trying to hide his trembling lip. "Mommy and daddy are just talking with a guest. Please, go back to bed now."

Their eyes met mine, before the boy turned to the girl and led her away. They departed down a hallway and I heard the door closing. A final audible click of the handle. I turned back to the man, he looked at the breaking point. He couldn't stop shuddering.

"Have you told your daughter yet?" I asked while adding another note to the book.

"That's the thing Mr. Reardon," the woman moved back to the couch and held Dietrich tightly, again with clenched fists. "Once we heard about Jacob we tested Margret that same night. She bled straw too Mr. Reardon. Both those children you saw, are fetches."