Erlking

Two

"Father, my father, and don't you hear, what the Erlking promises silently?"

"Be quiet, stay calm, my child; the wind rustles through withered leaves,"

Erlking Franz Schubert, elglish translation.

Swift stepped aside, allowing me to enter the room. I took in the entire space at a glance. Ignoring the words around me, I crossed to the board at one side of the room. The pictures of six boys all around the age of six smiled out at me, below me were the photos of their lifeless bodies.

"Commander Live said you received correspondence from the unsub," I called softly over my shoulder.

"We did. You can look at the letters in the truck. There has been another one." A deep, menacing voice replied. I turned to study the huge male, covered in green and red scales. I motioned for the male to lead on.

Sitting in the back of an armoured police truck, I leaned back against the wall, stretching my legs out.

"Sargent FireBrand. Thank you for coming." The scaled male said, holding out one hand. I shook it carefully.

"It wasn't by choice, Sargent. I do not like missing children as a rule. They are hard to track. Unfortunately, I topped my class at it,"

"Who doesn't like kids?" I glanced in the direction of the whispered comment. It had come from a female.

"You are Sharee Visor, the Oracle. Two live firefights and a year undercover with the drug squad. The male next to you is Morgan Stock, Centaur squad, the army retired. Forty kills and a shield of courage meddle. Tobias Garu, Warewolf special ops, navy. Tactical command retired, two valour and one saviour cross. Timothy Swift, Manticore, graduated police academy early, passed over for promotion to Captain on account of him sleeping with his ex-bosses wife. Unsubstantiated rumour. Jackson Fireband, Dragon Shifter, yanked out of retirement to lead Crimson division. I am Captain Amity Gloom, second Legion, Bloodclaw division. A pleasure to meet you."

"Bloodclaw! Holy s**t. They only bring you lot out of your cage when they think an ancient-. No f*****g way!" Stock cried, staring at me in horror. I opened the folder in my lap, scanned the page and reached for my phone. I pressed redial. The voice of my commander answered immediately.

"I am looking at the letters. It is the Erlking," I growled.

"You are sure?" He murmured.

"You lovely child, come, come play with me! I'll play oh so beautiful games with you; There are a couple of flowers near the shore, my mother has a couple of golden robes. Do you, good boy, want to come with me? My daughters shall take care of you nicely; my daughters lead the nightly dance, and lull and dance and sing you to sleep." I read from the two letters in my hand.

"Shit." Live snarled.

"Sir, do I have the permission of the Elite to terminate the Elf King, for the k********g, and murder of six children?"

"The song is not enough to go on, Gloom. Follow the bodies, and bring me proof. Only then can you can walk into his castle, and cut off his head. Oh, while you are there playing the police officer. You might want to work on your other issue."

"What other issues, could I possibly have?" I replied in a dry tone.

"Keep me posted Captain and watch your back. The Erlking is not going to take your involvement lying down."

"As you will, Lord commander." I pressed the disconnect button and slid my phone back into my pocket.

"Well?" FireBarad asked. I sighed.

"We need more evidence before action is taken; he is a King," I stated in a disgusted tone.