The Keepers
By Elizabeth
Part 24

"So we just go on like nothing happened?" Anna asked 
as the foursome strolled down the street, searching 
for a place to have lunch.  
 
"I'm afraid so." Ace admitted. "That's the worst 
part of our role: the waiting game. Morpheus isn't a 
corporeal entity, so when he strikes against us it's 
always very subtle...it's a life of close calls and 
near-misses."  
 
"But in our line of business, a close call can leave 
you dead." Moe added, speaking aloud the silent 
message in Ace's words.  
 
Ace nodded. "That's the long and the short of it."  
 
Anna removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of 
her nose wearily. "I'm a student, for Christ's sake. 
I didn't ask for this...any of this."  
 
Ace slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled 
her against him, pressing his lips to her temple in 
a reassuring kiss.  
 
"Neither did I, coz." Moe assured her. "This little 
godhood deal cost me my career. I was up for a 
promotion, you know."  
 
"I remember, Moe." Anna told her. "I'm sorry about 
that...you deserved to get your gold shield."  
 
"Yeah, I did. This is more important, though...more 
vital. Without The Elder, there wouldn't be anyone 
around to give me that shield." Moe flashed Peter a 
wry grin. "I guess I've become a cop of a different 
kind now...still trying to catch the bad guys."  
 
Peter leaned in and pressed his forehead against 
hers. "That's my little detective. I'm just grateful 
that you're the officer that took me in that day for 
assault."  
 
"I never did ask you," Moe wondered, "why WERE you 
wailing on that guy when I arrested you?"  
 
"He was a Howler...a demon in human form. They're 
the strongest creation of Morpheus, beings that can 
kill with song."  
 
"Their voices are painful to hear so they never 
speak, they have no language." Ace added. "When they 
sing, though, the sound is literally a call to the 
soul...a command to die."  
 
Anna shivered. "I hope I never run into one. How can 
you spot them?"  
 
"Simple...they all have blue eyes with ruby flecks, 
even in human form. You can differ from normal 
humans because their eyes will literally glitter...a 
Howler's eye is a solid thing, and far more precious 
than any gemstone."  
 
"Shit." Moe breathed. "That's some heavy stuff."  
 
The quartet paused their conversation when they 
found a small diner to eat, a fifties themed place 
called Rocket Ride.  
 
"They have great food here." Moe told them as they 
were seated. "This was where my partner and I loved 
to come when we had the beat around this 
neighborhood. You're nuts if you don't try the chili 
burger."  
 
"I wonder if they'll make it rare for me." Peter 
mused.  
 
"I see your kitty's a carnivore." Anna grinned, 
catching Moe's eye across the table.  
 
"I'd like to see what your space man considers 
food." Moe shot back, eyes twinkling.  
 
Ace gave the menu an appraising glance. "Think 
they'll put nacho cheese on my chili burger, Moe?"  
 
The two women groaned.  
 
"Ace, you're gonna be fat as a pig if you keep 
eating like that." Anna sighed.  
 
Ace gave her a petulant glare. "Will not...I'm too 
skinny."  
 
"You're perfect." Anna assured him, proving it by 
sliding one hand suggestively up his thigh.  
 
Ace grinned wickedly. "After lunch, can I have you 
for dessert?"  
 
Anna leaned close, warm breath fluttering across his 
cheek. "Only if you say pretty please with a cherry 
on top."  
 
"Don't forget the whipped cream." Ace murmured. 
"Can't have dessert without whipped cream."  
 
Anna giggled as Ace bent his head to capture her 
lips with his own. She nipped at his lips teasingly 
before finally pressing her mouth to his, tongue 
flickering out to swipe across his upper lip as she 
heard Peter and Moe making sarcastic remarks across 
from them.  
 
As their kiss deepened, Anna felt something in her 
rise up, like bile in her throat only she knew it 
was energy. By the time she could pull back from 
Ace, she felt it slide out of her and crash through 
Ace's flesh.  
 
"What was that?" Ace asked, staring into her eyes 
with concern.  
 
"I don't know." Anna whispered. "Whatever it was, it 
was evil...and I think some part of it went into 
you."  
 
"You think Morpheus put The Mark on her?" Peter 
asked.  
 
Ace met his comrade's eyes and nodded. "Could be 
likely."  
 
"Shit." Peter swore, rising from his chair.  
 
"What is it?" Moe asked. "What just happened?"  
 
"We need to get to Ben, fast." Peter explained 
quickly as the rest of the group stood and they 
headed for the door of the diner. "He's Ace and 
Anna's only hope...there's a good chance that their 
lives are in danger."  
 
**********  
 
"Dear Ma, today I had a convicted murderer teach me 
to prey upon the innocent." Ben orated. "That's not 
exactly what I'd expected to write home about when I 
woke up this morning."  
 
"Me neither, bro." Jim chuckled as the group walked 
out of Oswald. "Then again, I didn't expect this 
little darling, either." He reached for Ruby, who 
was coiled firmly around his bicep, scratching her 
under the chin with one finger and grinning. "Did I, 
little angel?"  
 
Gene grinned. "Does an old demon's heart good to see 
you get along with your familiar...especially a 
reptilian one."  
 
"She's absolutely precious!" Jim insisted with a 
smile. "How could anyone not be nuts about her!"  
 
Ruby rubbed her head against Jim's shoulder.  
 
"I know, I know." he soothed, stroking the reptile. 
"I'm sorry we had to leave you in the shrub outside, 
honey."  
 
At that moment, a soft pounding of wings caught 
their attention as Crystal swooped down and alighted 
on Mike's shoulder.  
 
"The Birdman of Oswald." Julia kidded.  
 
Mike just shot her a mock glare and reached up to 
let the bird nip at his fingers. "You all right, 
doll?"  
 
"Crystal good girl." she assured him quietly. 
"Crystal flew up. Flew around...saw things."  
 
"Really? What'd you see?"  
 
The group was surprised as they headed for the 
parking lot by the fact that Crystal proceeded to 
prattle on about all the things she'd seen and heard 
while they were inside the prison.  
 
"Damn...Rhea, is it normal for a Sebrus to have that 
kind of recall?" Julia asked.  
 
"Well, Mom's bird was pretty good, but I never 
interacted that closely with it." Rhea admitted. 
"It's a nice thought."  
 
"You know, Mike, you should take her down to the 
precinct." Julia told him. "I think the psych tests 
for shifters would be a good way to judge just how 
smart Crystal is."  
 
Mike rolled his eyes up thoughtfully. "Might be 
interesting."  
 
Rhea frowned in confusion. "Psych tests?"  
 
"All lycanthrope alphas have to register with the 
cops." Mike explained. "Part of the licensing 
process is a psych test administered to the critter 
in animal form...to see how well they retain their 
human mind after shifting. The higher the score, the 
more lucid the shifter. Alphas, the most powerful 
shifters, always score perfect. The test is rigged 
to pinpoint both sentience and 
intelligence...basically examining the subject for a 
human mind."  
 
"Crystal smart." the bird insisted. "Crystal knows 
things."  
 
Mike patted her clawed feet reassuringly. "We know, 
sweetheart."  
 
"Crystal study hard...take test good."  
 
Gene chuckled. "Crystal honey, it's not the kind of 
test you can study for."  
 
Crystal clawed lightly at Mike's shoulder in mild 
agitation. A soft gush of air issued from her beak, 
tinged with an irritated purr.  
 
Mike turned to her and grinned. "Crystal...did you 
just GROWL at him?"  
 
Crystal gazed at him with contemptuous blue eyes. 
"Dragon Man thinks Crystal has bird brain."  
 
He just reached up and transferred her from his 
shoulder to his forearm so he could look into her 
face. "I think you're a fucking genius, so don't 
worry about it."  
 
Crystal clicked her beak, and Mike swore that if she 
had the capability the bird would be smiling. "Love 
Mikey."  
 
"Love you too, angel birdy."  
 
"Just like a little kid." Ben marveled. "I still 
don't believe it."  
 
As the group reached the group of cars and 
motorcycle they'd taken over to the prison, Ben 
paused by one vehicle when a soft whine touched his 
ears.  
 
"What's up?" Jim asked, staring at Ben's focused 
features.  
 
The sound came again, this time loud enough for Jim 
to hear it as well.  
 
"Hang on, I heard something." Ben told the rest of 
the group, getting on his knees.  
 
Frowning, Julia followed suit, peering under the 
vehicle.  
 
"Oh, Christ!" Julia gasped.  
 
From under the vehicle, a jet-black wolf snarled 
dangerously, coal red eyes glittering as it bared 
curved, razor-sharp fangs.  
 
As the animal grew defensive, Ben felt a strange 
protectiveness swell in him. "Julia, quiet! You'll 
scare her."  
 
Julia looked at him as if he'd gone insane. 
"Ben...that's a blood mongrel! They attack without 
provocation and are nearly impossible to subdue! 
This thing could KILL you!"  
 
Ben shook his head. "No, I don't think so. I 
just..."  
 
Paul moved forward a step when Ben reached his hand 
under the vehicle. "Ben, no!"  
 
"Hey, sweetie." Ben crooned softly, reaching slowly 
towards the creature. "Whatsa matter, huh? Did 
someone leave you all alone?"  
 
The animal growled again, more softly this time, and 
Ben was shocked when he realized he could understand 
the feral sound.  
 
I'LL HURT YOU.  
 
"I don't wanna hurt you, baby." Ben whispered. "I 
just want to help. C'mon out here and let me."  
 
A whine. YOU PROMISE?  
 
"I swear. C'mere."  
 
"Mike, call Animal Control." Paul commanded, 
reaching down to pull Julia to her feet. "If that 
thing bites, it'll infect Ben."  
 
Ben raised his head and scowled darkly. "Would 
everyone calm down? You're scaring the poor thing!"  
 
"Poor thing? Ben, blood mongrels are vampire 
animals! They can infect both beast AND man with the 
vampirism virus!"  
 
"Would you just shut the fuck up?" Ben replied 
snappishly. "She's not going to hurt anyone." He 
turned back to the animal. "Are you, honey?"  
 
A much softer growl. WON'T HURT YOU...STAY WITH ME?  
 
"I'm right here." he assured her, turning back to 
Paul. "She's just a baby, and she's terrified. Gimme 
a minute, all right?"  
 
Paul frowned down at Ben as he rose up enough to 
back up a few paces, patting his knee as he squatted 
down.  
 
The group was shocked when Ben's silent urging was 
enough to coax the animal out.  
 
It was a small wolf cub, about a foot and a half 
tall and about as long. Its glossy midnight coat 
shone in the sun, while solid red, eyes devoid of 
iris or pupil darted around furtively. Its mouth 
lolled open, letting its forked tongue hang out and 
its abnormally long, sharp canines glimmer in the 
light.  
 
"It's beautiful." Rhea breathed.  
 
"It's also lethal." Paul warned her. "Blood mongrels 
are more violent than human vamps, and far more 
contagious because of their tendency to attack."  
 
"Easy, Paul...I had dogs growing up. This little 
girl's only a couple months old." Ben informed him, 
scratching the animal's head as it rested its chin 
on his knee. "Poor baby's lost...and she's hungry."  
 
"How can you tell?" Jim asked.  
 
Ben pointed to the wolf's tongue and teeth. "She's 
changed form. That's from hunger."  
 
The cub yipped at Ben piteously. I CAN'T FIND MY 
MAMMA. I'M HUNGRY, AND I MISS MY MAMMA.  
 
"Oh, God." Ben groaned, running his hand along the 
onyx back before lifting the cub and gathering it to 
his chest in a bear hug.  
 
"What's wrong?" Gene asked.  
 
"She's asking for her mother." Ben sighed, kissing 
the furry head lovingly. "Poor little girl can't 
find her fuckin' mother."  
 
"And you know that how?"  
 
"She just said so. I can understand her."  
 
Gene sighed heavily. "Oh, hell...another familiar, 
and this one's a homicidal maniac."  
 
"Blood mongrels DO have magick potential." Julia 
pointed out. "Trained properly that is. Mongrels 
created after birth are unstable, but natural born 
mongrels tend to bond psychically with their 
parents, establish a strong link early on. Taking a 
newborn as a pet IS possible, but dangerous for a 
Null." She gave Ben an appraising glance. "You could 
handle her, more likely than not. She'll be loyal, 
if nothing else."  
 
Ben looked down at the cub. "I don't know where your 
mother is...but I'll take care of you if you want."  
 
The cub looked at Ben appraisingly, yipping again. 
YOU AREN'T SCARED OF ME?  
 
"No. I think you're a very good girl...not to 
mention pretty."  
 
A whine. YOU LIKE ME?  
 
"Sure do, angel. You want to come home with me?"  
 
There was a pause before the creature growled again. 
I LIKE YOU. YOU'RE NICE.  
 
Ben smiled. "You're not so bad yourself, baby. Then 
it's settled. First thing we gotta do is find you 
something to eat."  
 
Ben stood, setting the cub on the ground. The animal 
sat patiently at Ben's feet, as close as she could 
get to his leg without standing on his boots.  
 
"What're you gonna call her?" Gene asked.  
 
Ben looked down, thinking for a minute. A slow grin 
spread across his face.  
 
"The only thing that fits." Ben chuckled. "Black 
Diamond."  
 
Gene threw his head back and laughed.  
 
Paul smiled.  
 
Jim knelt down in front of the cub and offered his 
hand. "Good to meet you, Di...I'm Jim."  
 
And when Black Diamond placed her paw in Jim's hand 
in greeting, no one was surprised.