KING IN THE SHADOWS

CHAPTER 1

How the hell is this even possible? I hated situations like this, especially now. Elena wouldn't like the idea of moving, and how was she even supposed to suddenly quit her job as Questore. I sat looking at the phone in front of me, and thought it was all some kind of joke, a ploy to take me back home maybe, but this was extreme; even for someone like my brother. I had left home a long time ago and never thought of going back, not even after fixing things up with my family. I discovered the truth about my family and its secrets, age long secrets I wasn't prepared for. I took all the money I could and ran off without thinking. All the training, the upbringing, was all a lie to get me prepared to be a hunter. My family was an ancient sort of association of hunters - vampire, werewolves and things of the sort. I never believed the rumors until I walked into that room that night, the image still clear like it was tattooed to my brain. My brother, the wolf in chains and the iron daggers in his hands, the cry and pain the man felt as my brother cut him with it time and again, only giving him enough time to heal so he could do it again. I gave a light shrug and tried to forget, like that ever works. I laughed at it all and decided it was best I did what was expected of me. I looked at the computer and started typing, goodbye peace and goodbye Venice. I submitted it and didn't even wait for it to be signed or anything. I gathered my stuff as the entire office watched me in surprise and dismay. Someone was happy though, they could get my position now, and with little competition. But I already handled that. I got a private vaporetto and headed home. Elena would be thrilled to see me home this early. I cleaned and arranged the necessary stuff we needed to move and cooked a simple meal. My daughter is gonna hate me today. At least not on an empty stomach. I sat down at the table in the kitchen and looked across it, into the living room. My eyes instantly caught the picture Elena and I first took together. It was the day I adopted her and swore to protect her no matter what. I could still remember how I met her back then; I had run away from my family shortly after I got back from college. I had studied criminal psychology as my Dad wanted, but if I knew why he wanted me to, I would never have done so. I used my certificate to apply for a job here in Venice and start over. Two years into the job with great results I had a lot to show for my little life here. I was on patrol that day and was enjoying the cool evening breeze brushing my face constantly as I continuously pulled my hair back. Then I noticed the small speed boat on the edge of the lagoon. Ordinarily I would have walked away thinking it was just someone doing fishing or taking a swim, but this was more. I noticed the boat's engine was still alive, whoever it was would have shut it off, but it was choking; meaning it ran out of gas and was still supposed to push further. Then I stood still to take it in for a while. Then I saw her. Beautiful in every way, perfect skin color, if it hadn't been beaten and battered by God knows what, curly hair that was as black as coal. She was heavenly, but she was alone and she was in tears. Then I realized she was alone. Without thinking I reached for my radio and yelled for help and an ambulance immediately and gave my location. By now she was already on her feet and prepared to jump into the water. Jesus! Why would a kid want to commit suicide for. I jumped in and swam over to the boat and reached under to grab her. And just like that she seemed to have broken out of some sort of spell, or compulsion. I pulled her to the bridge where people had already gathered and were all busy gasping and taking videos, while a few came over to help in any way they could. About five minutes later, the hospital's speed boat arrived with the necessary equipment and were attending to her, but she didn't let go of me and neither did I. She was quiet and was taking in the look of where she was, confused and scared. One of the paramedics tried to separate us but she screamed so loudly and jumped on me. “It's ok, it's ok! We just want to help.”, the nurse tried saying but she wasn't listening at all. It was then I realized the engine suddenly stopped after the screaming and was now producing a lot of smoke. I didn't think of it then, but I later realized I had come across a little witch. Originally the witches were allies with my family, and they helped subdue powerful wolves or vampires. We had to wait for another boat to get us to the hospital because the first one wouldn't even budge. She didn't let go of me the entire ride, the nurses had to manage that. A few other officers and detectives got to the hospital to investigate. Among them was Roberta Simons in charge of the homicide department. I hated her a lot, a very thin woman I could beat up anytime but that was insubordination, I didn't want that on my record. “Where is she?”, she asked coldly, looking me in the eye. She already knew I didn't like her and she didn't like me either, so the feeling was pretty mutual. “She's resting, the doctor put her in a sedative cause she wouldn't stop crying. Says we should let her rest.”, I said without taking my eye of the girl, through the window. “Oh, please, for the love of God wake her up. I have other things to do than handle a missing kid who ran away from fighting parents.”, she said storming toward the door. “Oh hell no! You are not going in there until she wakes up and it's confirmed by the doctor that her condition is stable!”, I said, blocking her way without thinking. What was this woman?! Crazy, or dead heartless! “Are you by any chance connected to the child in question? Is there something you're not telling us. I never trusted you to begin with, so I would like to confirm my suspicion and have you kicked out. Now get out of my way!”, she said, reaching for the door knob. I blocked her path and looked her dead in the eye, honestly I was ready to start a fight with her there and then, but we were cut off by the Questore. Questore Gonzalez was a huge man with a beautiful moustache and very friendly. We called him Chief Smiles, because you could never find him with a frown in his face. He would always say that he had a huge size that scared people at first sight, but if he smiled it would change the way they saw him and put them at ease. Really if he were a wolf or vampire, I wouldn't want to challenge him head on, because even as a human he was dreadful. “And what is the meaning of this? Ms. Simons, would you actually try to question a child in such a condition? Do you know how traumatic you look and just how intimidating you sound? Let's not scare her any further than she already is. Thank you very much.”, he said, adjusting his blue trousers and belt, like he always did after giving facts. “My apologies sir, I didn't realize it would have such effects. I'll just come back when she's in better condition.”, she said defeated, looking at me with fiery eyes. I didn't mind, as long as the Questore had intervened, she wouldn't do anything further to taunt me. “Thank you sir.”, I said, taking my eyes off her and fixing them on the Questore. “Oh please. You're as considerate as ever, so I should be thanking you for rescuing the poor girl. She must have run away from home. Just wondering what kind of hell home she was raised in to trigger attempting suicide.”. He looked closely at the poor girl and gave a light frown, just for a second, then he had a smile back on in an instant, very few people caught sight of such from the Questore. “Mummy?!!!”, the scream came from inside the room, and I didn't know when I outran everyone and got into the room first, grabbing her and pulling her to myself. All the officers suddenly rushed in followed by two nurses and a doctor. Roberta was looking at me suspiciously, the Questore was as shocked as everyone else and the nurses tried to separate us, but she started crying all over again. “Let her go so the doctors can do their job, Phiona.”, Roberta said authoritatively. “Ma'am, we need you to let go so we can check her.”, a nurse said trying to pull her away, but that was futile, because for some reason even I won't let go of the girl. She kept whispering”Don't leave, please”, into my ears. I couldn't help but hold on. The noise got louder as both Roberta and the nurses tried to separate us, and then the Questore spoke up. “Enough! Leave them alone for now, or for as long as the girl wants. When she feels safe enough to talk to anyone but Detective Phiona, we'll ask questions. Everyone out.”, he bellowed and silenced the whole place immediately. “That's fine by me. We need her to be calm.”, the doctor said opening the door and ushering everyone out. The Questore smiled at me and then at the doctor, “Thank you very much Doc'.”, he said as he walked out. The doctor smiled back at him and closed the door behind him. I turned in the bed and yanked my shoes off, relaxing beside her and placing her head on my chest, giving her a gentle tap on her back. “Please don't go.”, she said softly, “There's no place I'd rather be, sweetheart. No place I'd rather be.”. We both slept off and didn't wake up until morning, and she was looking a lot better than last night. “Good morning angel. You're looking very awesome this morning, though we might need a bath.”, I said looking into her beautiful face. She looked up smiling and giggling as she responded, “Good morning mummy.”. I tried standing up but she got up after me. “It's ok. I'm right at the door, ok. I'm not going anywhere, promise.”, she didn't look like she believed me but she let me stand up anyway, then she stood up still. “Ok, come on then let's go.”, i said stretching my hand for her to take it. She took it immediately and followed closely behind. I stopped a nurse passing by and asked her for bathing materials for the kid, and a possible change of clothes, only then realizing I was still in my uniform. The nurse hurriedly zoomed off to get it, and I walked her back to the bed lifting her in my arms. “So what's my angel's name? You have one right?”

“Elena.”,

“How old?”

“Six.”

“Remember what happened to you?”

Then I realized it was a little too early for that, but the question was already out there. “I was told to keep going and jump off the boat when I was far enough.”, she said emotionlessly without any fear. “Who told you to do such a thing, Elena?”. “I don't know, but they said I would be safe and mummy would get me on the other side, while they ran off and fought the monsters.”. That last part caught me off guard. “Monsters? What kind of monsters? Did you see them? You know what, forget about the monsters, let's just get you a bath, ok?”, I had to stop her from answering, so she wouldn't remember something she described as monsters. The nurse got everything we needed and added in a few things she thought we might need too. I carried her to the bathroom for a bath. Thank goodness it was a private room; wouldn't want to carry her down the long hallway. I bathed and gave her a thorough scrub, combed and styled her hair while she played with a doll the nurse gave her. She was quite inquisitive, asking all kinds of questions and answering some of them herself. A very lively child, she was. Then I gave myself a bath too, and packed my hair up in a single ponytail like u always did. I ordered food from a nearby restaurant and let her eat her fill, which was a lot. She finally allowed the doctor and nurses to touch her without making a fuss, as long as she could see me. By the time I knew it she was jumping and playing princess with her doll, and made me join in. Later that morning when the Questore and Detective Roberta came along she was playing with the Questore, but still didn't like Roberta very much. She kept on getting on his legs and asking him to play horse, which he did. To my surprise and Roberta's too, apparently he wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible - which was working quite well.

“So Elena, would be ok to talk now?”, he asked, placing her in my arms after he got tired, probably due to a back ache. Elena gave a nod, looking at the Chief, “Ok, sir.” “Then let's begin. Tell us what happened to you, and how you got here?”, he said, sitting down on the chair beside the bed, and Roberta brought out a notebook. Elena told them exactly what she told me, as she played with her doll. The Chief looked surprised at the monsters part, but Roberta wasn't buying it one but. “And this woman here is your mother?”, the Chief asked pointing at me. “Yes she is. She was there when I woke up just as promised. They said she's very powerful, and the only one who can protect me from the monsters when they come looking for me. But they also said that might not happen; because they were also scared of my mummy and what she could do to them if they tried to take me.” Roberta was about to protest to all she heard, but the Chief spoke first. “Oh, wow! Well your mummy is very strong, I'll tell you that. But these monsters, do you know who they are? Can you describe them?”, “Well, they had very colorful eyes like my mummy. And they could jump very high and far. Oh! And one of them had a mark on her left hand like a half moon. She was the scariest and very mean too.”, she said suddenly losing the glimmer in her eyes at the mention of the woman with the mark. “Well I think that's enough now. You've said all there is to know sweetie, you should rest, ok.”, I said tucking her in bed. The Chief understood asking her any further questions won't be good, so he shook his head in agreement. Apparently Roberta didn't catch on and protested, “We aren't done asking questions, Phiona. You might want to get her back up.”, the Chief looked her in the eye, and only then did she understand that - they were done. Obviously she wasn't satisfied one bit, “Oh come on! Don't tell me you believe all that. Monsters, and people who could jump very high, colorful eyes?”, “We can't prove any further Roberta, it's not right to put through all that again. So please let's leave. Phiona, a brief talk outside.”, he said smiling at Elena, “We won't be long, or go far Elena, promise.” Elena look d at me for affirmation, “I'll be right back sweetie, just need to talk a little, ok?”, I said, placing a hand on her head. Then I hesitated a little and added, “Mummy won't be long, promise.”, kissing her forehead, she smiled and nodded in approval. I smiled back and followed the smiling Chief outside, with an angry Roberta at my heels. “And what exactly do you think you're doing? Mummy? You're not thinking of keeping that girl when her real mom is out there looking for her, are you?”, Roberta spoke first once the Chief shut the door, looking at me inquisitively. “And if I am? What's wrong with that? She isn't just going to let go so easily. She literally trusts me with her life. I can't ignore that.”, I fired back with a lot of boldness and confidence in what I was saying. The Chief kept quiet and let both of us have at it. “You can't be serious, Phiona? Surely you've lost your mind to think the force would support that. Because I won't let you take that child away from her mother.” “Oh please. Why do you suddenly care about her? It's not like it's normal for someone like you to care about others. And what do you know about her mom? What if there isn't one out there waiting? What are you going to do then? Put her into foster care?”, “Yes!”. “Don't you dare send my daughter into foster care with a bunch of people she doesn't know and definitely can't protect her. I'd rather die than let that happen. You hear me?”, i was as shocked as anyone else after I said that. I barely knew enough about this girl and I become so attached to her I was openly challenging my superiors. Roberta was taken aback by what i said, but all the while the Chief was smiling. “Ok. This is what is going to happen. We'll inform all the radio stations to send the word out of a missing kid and see what turns up, until then Phiona is responsible for the child and her well-being. If after a month or two nothing happens she'll have full custody of the child as she wants.”, the Chief said authoritatively with a smile. I can't remember how happy I was after hearing that, secretly a part of me prayed, wished and hoped that no one would come looking for her. “And if nothing comes up…I'm adopting her legally.”, I said, not in the very least afraid of what Roberta would do to stop that from happening. She shook her head and asked the Chief permission to take her leave. After she left the Chief looked me dead in the eye and said, “Whatever or whoever these monsters are, when they come be prepared to protect her like she hopes you will. Don't fail her Phiona.”, he said smiling back into the window and waved at Elena, who still had her eyes on us. I promised him I would and he took his leave too. Two months later nothing came up and I adopted her and since then we've been together. A year later the Questore retired and sent in a personal recommendation for me to take his place, and I became Questore.

Eleven years later, Elena and I have had our ups and downs, but we've stayed together all the way. Just then I heard footsteps approaching the door. She was home. “Did you get fired?! Are you on leave? No, it's not even possible you never take one, not even a holiday.”, she fired on as soon as she saw me sitting at the kitchen table. “I quit.”, I said without pausing for her to take in the information. “I got a call from home, my father died and they want me to take charge of the family business because my younger brother turned on us. So we're moving to New Orleans, after your school party. At least you should enjoy that.”, she was completely lost. Mostly because I mentioned my family, even after I told her I was an orphan so many times she stopped asking. “Sorry, what?! You don't have a family as far as I remember. I'm all you have. That is all you ever told me as long as I can remember. Where is all this suddenly coming from?.”, she asked in a fury. “I know. It's just that I didn't want you to be a part of their madness and fanatics. But I can't protect you from the truth forever.” She shook her head and was turning to leave when I popped the question out there anyway. “When were you going to tell me about your powers? I know you've been trying to control them at will, and you don't understand, but I do. There's more of your kind out there - witches that is.”, that stopped her and she was surprised. Then she turned back and probably thought she was in a lot of trouble for not telling me. Because she was suddenly calm and sat holding her head down, like she always did when she was caught ‘in the act’. I gestured to her to sit opposite me, at the other end of the table. Then I told her everything; my family, what they did, her kind, and the so-called monsters from when she was younger and what they really were. I told her how I ran away, my suspicion of her being a witch and a wolf - a hybrid. And how I suspected she was also from New Orleans, because on this side of the world, that was their home. She was shocked and astounded by all I said and could barely keep her mouth closed as she listened. “So I'm a witch and a wolf?”, she finally spoke up. “Yes, I believe so. You mentioned your…real mom could do the things those monsters could and had glowing eyes like them, which means you're a wolf too, you just haven't activated the curse yet. I don't know how you're a witch though. Seems you're from a pretty strong family of supernaturals.”, I said, hesitating at the part of her real mom. “So we need to go back because…?”, “Because my brother turned himself into a vampire so he could live longer and free. So he can't rule the clan, and I'm officially next in line and there's something else too, but they won't say over the phone. So we have to go, because apparently I don't want to have to fight any supernatural here in Venice where they have the upper hand.”

“Why do they have the upper hand here?”

“Because here I can't clean it up and move on with my life, like I would in New Orleans. And my family can't take action, and you'll be all alone. So if you head back there are people who can protect you.”

“Ok, then.”, she said as she stood up to leave still shocked. I couldn't look her in the eye or even look at her, so I looked outside the window. Then I heard her running, and just as I turned, she wrapped her arms around me and whispered, “You're my real mom. I don't have anyone else because they never came when I needed them. And u think you're still super cool and would probably beat the other mon to a douchebag.”, kissing my ear. I laughed amidst tears and kissed her back on the cheeks. Then she ran upstairs and yelled, “Got packing to do. Expect me New Orleans!”. I was wrong about her, she would follow me into hell if it came down to it. So once again I made up my mind, if I had to kill a bunch of supernaturals to keep us together, I would.