Page 16 of Shadow Dreaming

Most of the Supes had specific needs when it came to medicine. What worked for humans didn’t work for shifters and what worked for shifters didn’t work for witches, and so on. The Supe community was a diverse one, and just as some humans had allergies to foods and medications, so certain meds and foods created problems for some of the Supes.

“Thanks, I’ll take care of it when I get back to the office,” I said. I had a first aid kit in my car with a variety of supplies in it, but it had been a little puncture and I didn’t think it would cause a problem to wait.

The coxigans were giggling over near a bush beneath the oak. I shot them a nasty glare. One of them waved his trident in the air, as if challenging me.

“Little assholes,” Dante said. “Okay, they’re obviously trouble. How do we catch them? We’re not supposed to kill them.”

“What about me? If I knock one out while defending myself, will I be in trouble?” Merry asked, throwing the coxigans some serious shade.

“I think, if you’re defending yourself, you should be okay—” I paused. “Though I don’t recommend riling them up so you can kick them in the ass.”

“You take the fun out of everything,” she said, winking at me. “I’d love to come out here with a baseball bat.”

“Let us try, first. We’ll…” I paused. “We’d better talk inside. I don’t want them listening in,” I added.

As we headed for the back door, Dante yelped. I turned around to see him holding a rock the size of an egg.

“Little assholes pelted me with it,” he said. “All right, it’s on.”

We followed Merry into the house, ready to make our battle plans.

By the time we left, we’d set a time for the next afternoon to meet Merry at her house and do what we could to trap the coxigans. I thought about humane traps that rescue shelters used for cats, but the coxigans were smart, and I was certain they’d figure it out.

“Orik, do some research, find out what coxigans can’t resist. We can try to lure them into a box or something that doesn’t look like a trap.” I tossed my notes on my desk and shrugged out of my jacket. “Maybe we can send Lazenti out there at night to mesmerize them.”

“I don’t think they can be charmed. Though he’s a vampire…who knows?” Orik said.

I paused as my phone set off an alarm. Curious, I picked it up, thinking I must have set some reminder. But then I saw that it was my security camera, and I swiped open the app. The recorded event began to play and I gasped, watching as Penn—standing in the living room—turned around, asking “Who’s there?”

The next moment, the front door burst open and two thugs came running through. I shouted as they grabbed Penn, zapping her with a stun gun. She went down, shrieking, as the cats bounced away from where they’d been watching. Except Murdoch, before he raced off, turned to the men and let out a hiss, and one of them let a yelp as some sort of shock sparked against him.

“Carson! Call the cops and send them to my house!” I screamed as the men pressed a cloth to Penn’s face. She slumped against them and they began to drag her off.

Carson raced in, followed by Dante. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Penn—somebody’s kidnapped her.” I was on my feet, frantic. “I need to get home!”

“You should wait for the cops—” Dante said.

I can’t,” I said, crying. “Tell them to meet me at my house. Dante, come with me?”

He didn’t ask questions, just grabbed his jacket and followed me out to my car. By that time, the recording showed that the men and Penn were gone, and they left the door wide open. The cats were sniffing around the open door and that sent me into a spiral, as well.

“I’m driving,” Dante said, grabbing my keys from me.

Orik, right behind us, was running for his van. “I’ll follow you,” he shouted.

I slapped my seatbelt closed, leaning forward, panic racing through my heart. Carson texted me that he’d called the cops and they would meet us at my house.

“Please be okay, please be okay,” I whispered, rocking as though the mantra could protect her.

“Who are they? Did you recognize them?” Dante asked, pushing the speed limit as we raced along towards Shoreline, where my house was.

“No, they were wearing hoods and bandanas over their lower faces. They looked like men though, by their build, and there were two of them.”

“Does the camera pick up your driveway? What about cars and license plates?” he said.

I frantically opened the app and swiped through the recorded events. There—in the front drive: A van, but there was tape over the license plate. It was a generic white van, with no identifying marks.

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