I was restocking shelves in the shop while Loki and Zevi played around my feet with a kid sized soccer ball when the door opened, the bell ringing quietly. The boys froze, listening, and if they’d been wolves then, I could almost see them prick their ears, Loki even going so far as to bare his teeth at whoever was at the door; I’d have laughed at the thought if it hadn’t reminded me of Jack’s comment about me. I glanced back at the door and the hairs at the back of my neck stood on end as the stranger’s scent reached me past the herbs, fingers moving to the silver knife on my hip even knowing it wouldn’t work on him.

“Reyna Wildes?” I bit back the snarl as I met his gaze.

“Yes,” I wiped my hand off on my pants after setting the inventory binder aside and offered him a hand to shake. “What can I do for you?”

“Oak,” he shook my hand, taking me a little by surprise given my past experience with Fae Folk, “I was tasked with this investigation when we received word that one of ours had broken Fae law and the Accord; I was initially sent to retrieve her for trial,” he cocked his head to one side as he seemed to appraise me, “however my investigation has led me to conclude that you…” a pause while he likely searched for a more civil way to phrase my ‘execution’, “took care of it.” My hand returned to the knife on my hip and he smiled slightly before stepping back as if to show me he meant no harm, “They require no disciplinary action to come to you, especially with your status as a Caeleste licensed hunter, they only request that you answer a few questions for our records.” I nodded slightly.

“Alright,” I leaned against the shelf as the boys shuffled behind me, “ask away.”

“How did you recognize her as one of the Fae?” I smirked.

“She called a Cambion a floozy, the scent, and besides,” my smile turned more wicked grin, lip pulled up enough to reveal double sets of sharp canines, “I’m a Soul Collector.” The Fae took another step back at that, this time well out of my reach, in a gesture I struggled not to laugh at.

“How did you learn of her crimes?” I shrugged briefly.

“She tried to buy a very poisonous plant from me and a day or two later, a body showed up with that as the cause of death. The rest I figured out by investigating on my own.” He nodded slowly as if debating asking for details on my ‘investigation’ before he decided against it.

“And the trap-?”

“No, I think that’s enough,” I cut him off, I didn’t want to explain that designing that trap hadn’t been all that different than designing seals to contain curses, something I’d always had a talent for, “I’ve got things to do and you’ve already scared my kids,” I didn’t much like answering questions in general, “so I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” He seemed to hesitate a few minutes before swallowing his argument.

“Thank you for your time, Miss Wildes,” with that, he turned on his heel and slipped back out the door. I shifted to lean my head back against a shelf and exhaled slowly, waiting for the intoxicating scent of Fae to fade. Then I gave up, moving the inventory binder to its shelf behind the counter with a mark where I’d left off before turning the sign around to closed, locking the front door, and heading to the back with the boys in tow.

I’d put a movie on for the boys to watch before I headed out to work on my Jeep, replacing worn springs and gears as needed. I was under the engine with a pan of dirty water when I felt my phone vibrate and shifted so that I could fish it from my pocket.

I sighed at Jesse’s text and sent a quick reply before turning back to my water. I’d initially figured it’d be some sort of emergency, but I didn’t hear back till the tank was nearly empty. I choked a little when I saw her answer, not quite managing to get the air in the right pipe when I’d inhaled and the phone slipped from my fingers while I struggled to remember how to breathe, tipping off of the edge and into the pan of dirty water.

“Son of a—” I scrambled to snatch it back out but my fingers were slick with engine grease, “fucking—” Finally, I managed to pull it out with a flurry of swear words not all in English and not without making a mess.

“Reyna?” Jack’s voice came from a few feet away and I jumped, knocking my head against the bottom of the Jeep and another swear escaped my lips, “You alright under there?”

“Tell your sister she has the wrong ебаный (yebanyy) number.” His quiet laugh came across a little forced; knowing what we both did, she probably knew exactly who she’d been texting.

“You coming out from under there anytime soon?” I hesitated a moment before screwing the plug back into the drain in the now empty water tank, slipping my dead, but hopefully savable, phone back into my pocket, and crawling out from under the Jeep.

“You look like hell.” Jack forced a smile at my words while I wiped my hands clean on the rag in another pocket.

“Just haven’t been sleeping well,” the dark circles under his unusually dull eyes made that sound like a bit of an understatement, but I didn’t see a point in telling him as much.

“And you’re asking if I’m alright.” He only offered me a shrug so I changed the subject, “Well, what can I do for you?” I’m pretty sure those words sounded about as strange as I felt saying them to someone who wasn’t a customer in Dogwood.

“It…” He spoke slowly, enough so I was leaning over the engine to finish changing the water in the steam powered portion, “It’s been awhile and I thought—” he cut himself off, scratching the scruff along his jaw while he tried to put it into words, “If I don’t say something, it’s going to drive me mad.” I closed the hood, leaning the pan of dirty water on my hip while I looked up at him again, resisting the urge to point out that he was already at least half mad.

“Are you alright?” He forced another smile in answer and I swallowed hard; I’d never seen him struggle so much for words, especially not like this, and I wasn’t sure what to think.

“I will be,” he paused with a half shrug, glancing down at his hands, “or at least, I hope so.” I started to ask what was going on when the phone in the shop started ringing and I turned.

“You mind waiting while I answer that? You can come inside if you like.” He followed me in, pacing the wood floor as I set the pan aside to filter and distill later before passing through into the shop and lifting the receiver for the old rotary phone on the wall from its hook. “Dogwood Apothecary, how may I help you?” I glanced over at the boys through the door into the back as I spoke.

“Reyna, I didn’t think I’d get you.” I bared my teeth into the receiver when I recognized the voice on the other end.

“You’re just lucky I don’t have caller ID on this thing,” I snarled the words and Jack stopped pacing, “goodbye, Michael.” I started to hang up but his yelling piqued my interest.

“Wait, I didn’t call to fight!” I stopped, waiting for him to say something worthwhile. “Reyna?” I exhaled slowly and lifted the receiver back to my ear.

“Three minutes, and this had better be good,” my voice was low, a warning when I finally spoke and I heard a sigh of relief.

“What do you know of the Jorogumo?” I didn’t answer; that was pretty good. I exhaled again through my teeth before glancing back at Jack with a look of silent apology.

“Where?” Jack seemed to flinch at the question, as if it physically wounded him.

“Portland. There’s an old warehouse she’s nested in.” I cocked my head to one side as I thought it over, my neck cracking with the motion. Then I exhaled through my teeth.

“I’ll meet you there.” A relieved laugh came through from the other end.

“Just like old times?” I bared my teeth in a silent snarl.

“Just give me the address.” He did—maybe he could tell I wasn’t in the mood for conversation, at least not with him—and I hung up the phone again with a rather forceful click.

“You’re going to meet him?” There was the scent of pain in the air around Jack, though he didn’t let it show in his expression and it only seemed to make him sound resigned, like he’d given up. If there was something I could’ve said to make it better, I wasn’t sure what that might be, so instead I only gave him a sheepish shrug.

“No choice, there’s a Jorogumo, and…” My words faltered and died on the explanation as I held his dull gaze, silent for what felt like a long time before I opened my mouth to speak again. “I’m sorry, Jack,” my voice were barely a whisper when I managed to bring it back to some semblance of life. “I’ll be back tonight,” I glanced at the door into the back where the boys still sat watching movies on the old tv I’d gotten for them, “if you don’t mind sticking around, we can talk then. Would that work?” Jack looked like he wanted to argue, maybe to insist we speak now and I leave after—and maybe I would’ve been alright with that—but his gaze seemed to waver for a moment and he gave a slight nod of agreement instead.

“When you get back then.” I flashed him a grim smile as I tied my loose braid into an untidy knot.

“It shouldn’t take long.” He watched without reply as I moved back through the door to retrieve my hunting bag and my kukri, shrugging on my old leather jacket as I turned to Loki. “I’ve gotta go out for a bit, but I’ll be back later tonight, so I need you to take care of your brother, alright pup?” He nodded vigorously so I smiled and ruffled his dark hair, “There are leftovers in the fridge in case I’m not home for dinner and Jesse’s number is on the fridge so you can call her if you need anything. The other number on there is for emergencies only, alright?” Then I pressed a kiss to both of their heads and shouldered my duffle bag.

“Good hunting, mum.” Loki’s rust colored eyes watched me, glinting with an unnatural light while Zevi echoed his words and I smirked to myself.

“Thanks. I’ll bring back some teeth if all goes well,” then I turned back to Jack as I started to leave, “and I’ll see you later.”

“Reyna,” I paused with my hand on the doorknob to look back at him, “good hunting.” Another grim smile flickered across my lips and I let go to press my hand to the side of his neck and my forehead to his, balanced on the balls of my feet to accommodate the height difference.

“Try to get some sleep Jack, even I worry when you’re like this.” He forced a smile at my quiet words but said nothing as I let go to slip out the back door.

I’ve never really cared one way or another with spiders, so long as they left me alone, I left them alone, but Jorogumo are a bit different. I couldn’t say why exactly—though if I had to guess, I’d say it’s the fact they have the same prey—but Jorogumo and Kitsunes cannot cross paths without getting into a fight and since apparently “fox is fox” to them, Owhi and their cousins sometimes get caught up in the feud.

As a result, most of us don’t like Jorogumo any more than Kitsunes do, so of course when I found out one was encroaching on my territory, I came running.

Right about now, I was regretting that decision.

Michael and I hung from the rafters of the old warehouse bound in spider silk and mostly upside down; I always hated how strong that stuff is, it always ends up as such a hassle.

The woman cackled—honestly, I can think of no better description for her laugh than ‘cackle’—again and I looked up (or is it still down at this point?) at her with a for once clear expression of annoyance; she was really starting to grate on my nerves.

“You fell so easily into the trap I’d laid for you,” she continued laughing as my gaze narrowed slightly.

“Yeah well, what else is new,” I muttered the words but she paid me no more mind than I’d expected.

“The moment I came to this town, I could smell your foul fox stench all over it, so I made this plan to kill you and take your territory.”

“So assuming you actually had me, what was your plan from here?” She balked at my question, a moment I used to work my hand into place on the handle of my machete.

“What was my—Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve said?” She voiced her frustration, apparently not hearing the snap as the sheath opening so that I could draw it just a little.

“Honestly? No, not a word,” I shrugged as best I could bound as I was, “but then listening to other people has never really been one of my strong suits.” Michael nodded from a few feet away and for a moment, I wondered if I should’ve felt at least a little indignant at how quickly he’d agreed with me.

“I’m going to kill you,” the Jorogumo practically shrieked the words in her frustrated outrage, “I’m going to mount your head on a pike.” Something tells me—the scent of confusion that wreathed around her to match the expression that wrote across her face, maybe—almost hysterical laughter wasn’t the reaction she was expecting from me, but that’s what she got.

“Oh sweetheart,” I flashed a broad smile, all sharp teeth and condescending amusement as I traced a rune on the flat of my kukri’s blade, “I’d say get in line,” the smile twisted into something more sinister as I finished the last line, “but I killed them all.” There was a spike of fear, but she recovered quickly, for all the good that did as the smile disappeared. “Ignis,” the blade caught on that word, flaring to life with fire that burned through both sheath and silk and I dropped to the ground. It was a long fall, I won’t say it didn’t hurt, but I’ve survived worse and I had enough adrenaline pumping through my veins from the rush that it didn’t exactly bother me in that moment. The fire flickered out as I brought the blade down to rid it of any surviving webbing; I didn’t need the flame to take her head. “You should’ve done your research,” my eyes had changed when I looked up at her again, constricted slit pupils in red gold, though I only realized that because of the reopened scars my canines sliced into my lip and the instinctual steps she’d taken back as I closed the distance, “then you might’ve known better than to try anything here.” I darted forward, closing the distance and removing her head from her shoulders in one clean slice, watching as it rolled across the floor and the massive spider body crumpled, black ichor pooling around both. With a deep breath, my eyes and canines returned to normal and I drew my tongue over my teeth in an almost reflexive gesture before sliding my kukri into my belt and turning my focus on retrieving a pair of fangs for Loki and Zevi.

“Reyna,” Michael called my attention from his place still bound in the spider silk and I looked up at him, debating whether to cut him down or let him sit until it dissolved naturally, “can we talk about this?” Maybe it was the fact I held his freedom in my hands and had a rather cold gleam in my eyes as I studied him that made him suddenly turn polite, “Please?” I exhaled slowly through my teeth before pinching the bridge of my nose and going about finding my way back within reach so that I could cut him down. He dropped with a heavy thud, though he’d still managed to land on his feet; the sight earned a rather bitter laugh from me.

“You’ve gotten rusty,” I spoke the words like an insult, but he didn’t seem to take them as one.

“So—” I shook my head and cut him off.

“I need a drink first.” He seemed about to protest, whether to my drinking or my procrastination, I wasn’t quite sure, but he thought better of it when he saw the cold glare I directed his way.

Then I started walking; if he really wanted to talk, he’d follow.

Despite my absolutely abysmal drinking habits, I don’t usually get black out drunk because it takes a lot of high proof alcohol consumed quickly to beat my metabolism and get me that drunk.

I say this, but I still have no idea what happened after about 18 or 1900 last night.

Last thing I remember is nursing a glass of scotch while Michael seemed to talk in circles around whatever excuse he had because I knew I had to drive home.

Then Jack called.

It was simple enough, just meant to let me know he was heading home because something had come up with his business that meant he had to leave town for a few days.

I should’ve been fine—

He’s my ex.

It’s been six years…

...and yet something about the way he sounded made me quick to finish my glass so I could order more.

Then I was waking up the next morning on the couch in the backroom of the shop.

Michael looked up from his book when I sat up with a groan, settled into the desk chair like he was still meant to be there.

“Reyna,” I growled, more to myself than to him as I glanced toward him and climbed to my feet.

“Why are you here?” He frowned.

“I did tell you not to drink that much.” My gaze narrowed, emerald gaze flickering to red gold for the briefest moment before I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly.

“I don’t want to hear it,” I growled the words and when I looked back at him, he seemed to be studying me.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you control it that well.”

“Michael,” my voice was a low warning and he raised his hands in silent surrender.

“I’m here because, though I did tell you what happened in Maryland, by the time I figured out how to say it you were drunk enough that I doubt you remember.” I swallowed, ignoring the comment about my drinking while I unlocked the locker I kept my weapons in.

“For your sake, I hope you have an extremely good reason,” I pulled the kukri from my belt and hung it on it’s hook, making a mental note to make a new sheath for it later.

“She was a Siren.” I stopped and turned to study him a moment, my duffel hanging from my hand. My breathless laugh came out harsh and quiet.

“See, was that so hard?” My voice came out in mocking tones before I continued in a mutter, “A Siren, though. That explains a lot,” I paused a moment, “what about the blood?” Michael sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“She touched my feathers, you’d just walked out, and the PTSD kicked in. When I…” he seemed to struggle for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to put it, “‘woke up’, there was blood everywhere,” he paused, staring down at his hands, “It was an accident, but,” he looked back up at me, “I’d killed her.” I chuckled, flashing a cruel grin as I slid my bag into the locker and closed the door.

“Well that’s something at least.” Michael glared at me a moment as I locked the door, but I ignored it. “Well?” I spoke after a moment and he blinked in surprise.

“Well what?”

“You told me what happened in Maryland, so why are you still here?” I turned away and slipped through the door into the shop. “It’s not like you don’t know where the door is.” He set the book aside and rose to follow me as I muttered the words.

“I—” The bell over the door rang as it opened and I looked away from Michael towards the door. Jack seemed to hesitate in the doorway when he saw him, what was left of the spark in his eyes flickering out in an instant.

“Jack,” even I was surprised by the soft tone to my voice and the honest smile that tugged briefly at the corner of my lips, “I thought you had to leave for a while.” He forced a smile and came, if hesitantly, to the counter.

“I don’t leave until tonight.” I nodded slightly and started to say something else but Loki and Zevi bolted through the door, nearly knocking Michael over as they slipped around him and slammed into me.

“Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t come see you last night,” I reached into the pocket of my jeans and pulled a set of dulled Jorogumo teeth out as Loki grinned, “I brought you teeth.” I found a couple of leather strips left over from the last time I’d rewrapped a knife hilt and strung the teeth on them before tying them loosely around their necks. I watched as Zevi wrapped his small hands around the tooth, feeling it’s surface while Loki darted over to Jack to show him.

“Thank you, mum,” I smiled at Zevi’s small voice and as Loki hurried to echo it, laughing quietly to myself while Jack and Michael watched.

“Did you need something?” My blood ran cold when Michael finally broke their uncomfortable silence, my muscles tensing as I waited as if a part of me—a perfectly reasonable part in my opinion—expected them to get into a fight again. Jack only flashed him a tired smile.

“No, I just came by to see them before I have to go,” he crouched down and lifted Loki into his lap before he looked pointedly at me, “they’re more like my family than my actual family outside of Jesse,” he paused with a wistful smile, “I wish they were my family.” I wasn’t sure how to react to Jack’s words, what with him being a Cambion, a species famous for their ability to manipulate other people; I had no way to know whether he was serious, or just trying to get on Michael’s nerves and even if he was serious, it was a lot to process when I’m as… terrible at relationships as I am.

“You keep your—”

“No. Don’t start that again, I really don’t have the patience today to clean up after you knock something over.” I cut Michael off with a pointed look. “Actually, I’d appreciate some time alone for once,” I turned to Michael, “Leave.” He stared at me.

“What?” I frowned further.

“Do I really need to get out my gun,” I flashed sharp canines in a cruel smile, “again?” Michael seemed to hesitate a moment longer before he turned and disappeared into the back. I exhaled a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding when I heard the back door open and close, moving to lean heavily on the counter.

“Reyna?” Jack sounded genuinely worried as he set Loki back on the floor and straightened up, “Are you alright?” My laugh was cold and harsh.

“She was a Siren, a fucking Siren,” I shook my head and took a deep breath. After a moment, I shook my head as I decided I really wasn’t in the mood to even try to process that and what it meant as I looked back up at Jack. “So, what did you need to talk to me about yesterday?” He seemed to wince at my question.

“I—” He stopped, seeming to hesitate a moment before he began again, shaking his head and not meeting my gaze, “I just wanted to say that…” he looked up as if he were about to say something extremely important, but his words seemed to falter when his gaze met mine and he shook his head instead, looking away again, “It’s nothing important. Just—” A part of me couldn’t help but be a little worried by his uncharacteristic lack of eloquence, “Good hunting, Reyna.” I nodded slowly and Jack turned to start to leave.

“Jack, wait.” He paused and turned partially back to me, so I reached up and pressed a kiss to his cheek, “Being a Soul Collector and all, I don’t normally say this, but good luck.” His easy smile tugged at the corner of his mouth and the light in his amber eyes flickered back to life, however small it seemed then.

“Thanks,” He sounded almost relieved as he turned and disappeared back out the front door, leaving me alone.

I was alone, I had exactly what I wanted: time to try to figure everything out.

Of course, that didn’t help me feel any less stuck between overwhelmed and numb.