A.N. It's been a long time since an update. There were parts of this chapter I was struggling with but I have it finalized now. So enjoy

Recap:

The door cracks open and the curtains are pulled aside, they make that annoying noise of steel rings on steel rod. I wince and look up to yell at whoever it is when I'm struck dumb.

Haloed by sunlight streaming behind her is a tall woman in a pure white summer dress, a Bible held to herself in one hand. The summer dress comes down to her knees and a golden cross rests in the dip of her neckline. Her silky blonde hair shines golden in the sunlight enveloping her, falling straight over her shoulders on tanned arms and she shifts her weight so that her leg shows a little through the modest side slit in her dress, a very long, shapely leg.

I look at her face, which was shining a little from the sweat of the summer heat and catch her intense dark eyes. She swallows and I catch the movement and keep following her neck down to the swells hiding under that white dress and then up to her gorgeous face…and I am very, very ticked off.

"What the hell is this? The bad angel, good angel routine, and why are you both so hot?"

CHAPTER 10

“There's no reason to yell. I must have come into the wrong room. Excuse me.” She frowned and turned on her heel. Her hair whipped behind her in a curtain of gold, she really doesn't belong in a stale hospital room like this.

“Oh no, you have the right room.” I can taste the bitterness in my voice…but maybe she can help me get out of this situation. She's an angel, a real life angel, she can take me back to my world; I should be nicer, definitely nicer. She's looking at me over her shoulder quizzically.

“You are…Harry?” She looks embarrassed as if she's thinking she asked me a silly question. Looking at the doorway quickly she begins to ask in a quiet voice, “You are the Occisor Dracoginea?”

“Maybe,” I draw out the word. I'm no dragon slayer but if the Knight of the Cross thinks so I'm not telling anyone otherwise. “Umm, who are you? Is there a title for you? Do I call you O' Angel something?” I give her a smile trying to be pleasant. She walks into the room shutting the door, and drawing the curtain between the door and my bed.

Standing at the foot of my bed she gives me another unsure look then pulls the chair Lasciel had slumped in next to me.

“I am Charity Carpenter, Michael Carpenter's wife…the Knight of the Cross or Sword if you prefer,” she introduces herself again in the quiet voice, looking over her shoulder to check if anyone is there. Ah! Now it makes sense that she asked if I was the Occisor thingy. Michael must be lucky to land an angel; up close she's even more beautiful.

“Nice to meet you, I'm Harry. So does this mean I call you Angel Charity or something?” She gives me another odd look and then her lips stretch in a smile that bares her teeth…she's looking a little fierce. Did I say something wrong?

“You're not going to use the line 'heaven must be missing an angel' are you?” She demands in a very low, threatening voice. All I can do is open and close my mouth in embarrassment, she makes me feel like a kid with a crush. I hate acting like an idiot around beautiful women.

“I mean like fallen angels call themselves like Lucifer of the Fallen or Black Denarians, are you called something like that?” I clear my throat trying to cover my embarrassment.

But her fierce smile is gone, she is looking at me wide eyed and the color has drained from her face. Her hand goes to the golden cross around her neck and grips it, and I try hard not to look at her covered cleavage. She swallows again and whispers some prayer under her breath and I feel something touch my skin and leave. Felt like the same power the Knight had when he had sworn an oath.

“I…” she falters, “I am not a fallen angel,” she heatedly denies.

“Didn't say that,” I hold up a hand, it's the one I had a needle in, there's a little trickle of blood on it now. “You are an angel, the regular, not chucked out of heaven type, right?”

“Um, no, I'm a woman. Why do you think I'm an angel?” She's not angry anymore and back to being confused by me.

“You had the whole angel halo around you and you're an agent of God…I just figured you were an angel. So you're just Michael's wife?” I ask.

Maybe Lasciel was wrong about her, and why would an angel lie about not being an angel, they're not supposed to lie right? She shifts uncomfortably in her chair and crosses her leg, the modest hem line shows a little more and I stare fixedly at her face. She's already thought I was hitting on her, better not let her see me checking her out.

“Yes, I am just Michael's wife.” uh oh! sounds like I offended her. “There was a halo around me?” she suddenly smiles and looks up around herself but doesn't find anything. “I don't know Occisor Dracoginea, perhaps all who have faith are His agents.”

“Call me Harry.” I don't try to keep the disappointment out of my voice. I wish she were an angel, she could've been my way out. It's all the more annoying that because of her Lasciel left. “Don't mind this but why are you here if you weren't sent by…you know…Him?”

Looks like she didn't really hear my question, she's looking at the shriveled up IV bag and the other things that were on my body, now just strewn about. She shakes her head, unsure of her self again.

“My husband invited you for dinner, you missed it. We called Mr. Dresden and found out about the emergency. My husband has been with you since evidently Mr. Dresden can not enter a hospital without short circuiting medical machinery.”

I blinked at her not really understanding. From the tone of her voice it did not sound like she liked Dresden too much though.

“My husband brought you here after you collapsed, I came by to see how you were doing. How are you?” She sounds like she really cares to know, her voice is warm. Only a second ago it was cool and aloof. So I collapsed…and missed dinner, I was looking forward to that.

“Are you alright?” she asks again, I must've stared off. For some reason I want to answer her truthfully, but I've had enough heart to hearts lately. Don't think she'll understand I'm trapped, or my disappointment that she is not the one who can get me out.

“I really wish you were an angel,” I mumble but she hears me anyway. Now that Lasciel is gone I feel colder, more alone, as if she had been just a dream.

Probably shouldn't trust a Fallen Angel, can't help it though, Lasciel is just so trustworthy. Right, Potter, 'trustworthy' is the word you were looking for there.

Charity Carpenter is looking at me with the same confused expression she has been since she got here, she doesn't look happy about it.

“I'm sorry?” she tries and I laugh. She finally figured out I was hoping she was a real angel.

“No, I was just getting carried away hoping. My mistake. Thank you for coming to see me, and I am sorry about dinner, I was looking forward to it.” I smile again, trying to hide my bad mood and despair.

She returns my smile and it warms her cool expression enough to make me feel better, I hope its not to obvious how she's affecting me. She gets up and wets a cloth in the sink in the corner of the room, and wipes away the small trickle of blood on my hand. I try to act cool about it but I've never been comfortable with anyone just touching me like that, feels personal. Even though she isn't really touching me, just dabbing the wet cloth on my skin, with her brows in concentration.

“Are you sure you are alright?” she asks me once again looking at the state of the room. Physically I am much better; the Unspeakable's potion is gone, the Gatekeeper's curse burned away by Lasciel's power.

“I'm good, thanks. Just need some fresh air-”

“And food and rest,” she adds. I quirk a brow at her not expecting to be bossed around so soon after we'd met. This I do not like.

“The doctors do not know what happened to you, but they mentioned you are very underweight and have muscle atrophy. Frankly they don't know how you've been moving about…or how you are alive. Your heart stopped three times…” she trails off obviously disturbed. I don't know what to say, I just look at her stunned.

“How am I alive?”

“I don't know.” She meets my eyes and we just look at each other sharing our shock. Then something in her face softens and she sits again, leaning a little forward and looking earnest. “My husband has gone through a lot to keep your identity secret since you've been here. I want to warn you now that you are awake that they will come and ask questions. I will stop them but it is up to you how much you want to reveal.”

“You shouldn't get involved, why are you helping me?” I was harsher than I wanted to be, but she sounds like so many others who stupidly offered me help and got in the way and got hurt. A flicker of a frown passes her face and then she is kind again.

“There hasn't been a Phoenix graced warrior in centuries, it is our honor to help you and you need it.” She puts up a hand to halt me when I open my mouth to interrupt her. “Save me whatever macho thing you're about to say. You can't even walk right now and you are very young.” Oh ho! So I am too young, really? Let's see what you make of me then.

“I don't know if I am this Occisor Dragon whatever, you need to get away from me now! Before the Doctors get you too, you have no idea what dark powers they can wield!” I argue, okay now Harry think of some dark power that doctors can wield, what the hell did I go say that for? I can come up with a better lie than that.

She sits back in the chair arching her brows at me in question. Then her lips quirk and she laughs, her voice becoming deeper because of it. It's a nice laugh better than a shrill girly laugh. I'm still glaring at her. I am so making you believe in evil doctors Mrs. Not-Angel.

“You can't be serious, doctors wielding dark powers, you must be hallucinating.” Damn! How does she know I'm hallucinating?

“Yes, but that is besides the point. Come on we have to get out of here.” I jump off the bed and shake the dizziness away. She stands up too.

“You are serious? The doctors are really…” She doesn't finish her sentence but is looking back at the door. I catch a glimpse in her eye and it looks like disbelief and then determination. Maybe I got carried away again, well at least she's on board with getting out of here.

“Yes, they are horrible. Doing evil experiments, testing dark potions, changing boys into girls, taking over muggles, eating babies,” I list, while putting on my clothes, someone had them washed and ironed. Muggle hospitals with house elves? What a crazy world.

“Eating babies?” she repeats and her face is pale so that her dark blue eyes stand out. Alright I overdid that bit, but I can't stand people trying to take over my life. 'Oh! You're too skinny, let me tell you what you will do now,' tired of all that.

“Let's go before the dementor hippogriffs come after us.” This is too funny, dementor hippogriffs might actually be scary. Charity Carpenter reaches for her cross and takes it off her neck, with a flick of her hand four inch knives slide out of the ends. “Wow! Where'd you get that?”

“I made it. We should leave if you're in danger. Michael has been standing guard over you, now I know it was for good reason.”

“You look a little scary with that thing, gorgeous but scary. Come on.” I walk away from her hearing her sputter indignantly behind. Circe screwed me over again, I'm messing with a woman who wears a two ended dagger around her throat. I can't help but giggle, my luck is too awful to not be funny.

Slinking around the door I hurry to a nook in the corridor and she follows my steps. I creep around, hopping behind doors making her look ridiculous by making her copy my moves.

We are hiding behind a rack of pillows and other bedding from a group of doctors passing by. Charity's body tenses next to me, she's clutching the dagger low, ready to bring it in an upward sweep. Her face is dark and there is shining anger in her eyes.

“Are these the ones, the one's who…ate children,” her voice chokes saying it.

“No, those doctors are home with indigestion.” I giggle and run off knowing she'll follow me. I hope she's nauseous thinking about babies giving you stomach problems.

“What are you giggling about?” she hisses behind me as we huddle under the reception desk. She has the knife up ready and shielding us. I snort and slap my hand over my mouth before I break out laughing. I can't believe I actually have her believing me.

We walk out of the main doors and jog to the parking lot. She's breathing hard behind me and there's sweat on her brow. She takes deep breaths in the parking lot. I feel a little bad about scaring her like that, but she did chase away Lasciel.

It's great to be out of that small room, I can't stand being inside a small place like that. Besides I didn't want to answer anyone's questions.

The parking lot is packed with cars, the sun is bright and I have to squint to stop it from hurting. Some people are looking at us strange, well a boy in half robes and a woman almost doubled over is odd after all, not to mention the cross dagger she has. I had better make sure she puts away that thing.

“Well that was fun, glad we're out of there, aren't you?”

“We have to stop them.” She fiercely throws back her hair. It shines gold again in the sunlight and I'm struck dumb for a second. She looks like a warrior, both powerful and beautiful. Her eyes are haunted and enraged, I really did go too far. A giggle comes out of nowhere again and I clamp my hand on my mouth, but I can't stop the grin from showing.

She glares at me and I smile sheepishly at her shuffling my feet. Feel like I've been caught in a lie at school by one of my teachers. In her muggle dress she reminds me of some old teachers from back before Hogwatrs. Don't think any of the teachers looked as good as her though. Come on Potter, she's married, let it go.

“Why are you smiling?” she bites out.

“You're really gullible. I just wanted to get out of there. You thought they were actually eating babies,” with that I burst out laughing. I shut up quick though when she steps up to me in my face, she's nearly half a head taller than me.

“Never ever joke about human sacrifice,” her voice is steady and I can taste her hot breath.

“I said nothing about human sacrifice.” I frown at her.

“Oh! Infanticide is better?” she snarls.

“Hey, I told you not to get involved with me. I was trying to scare you away, but you thought I was being macho. Do you want to know how many people are dead now because they thought it was better to stay close to me then get the hell out?” I snap back. Suddenly angry for nothing that really had to do with her.

“So you made up a story? Was there anyone dangerous in that hospital?” she demands stepping forward and I take a step back. Though if I didn't I could probably use her chest as a pillow.

Lasciel came to my mind, she was definitely Charity's enemy. There is no doubt of that. My anger and humor bleeds away at that thought. If Lasciel had been strong enough she would have fought Michael's wife. Charity Carpenter must see something in my face because she drops back in a hurry.

“There was someone who was dangerous to you.” I walk away from her feeling like an idiot. Silly to let a joke get this far, but I don't like people suddenly sticking their necks out for me. I have enough blood on my hands.

“Am I supposed to believe that?” she calls after me and I shrug. “Why didn't you tell me when I got here then? You're lying again. You are supposed to be a Knight of an ancient order but you're just an immature child looking for a laugh at the pain of others.” That stopped me.

I turn and see her hands curled in fists at her side.

“You're right,” I say and look off for a second. “I am sorry for scaring you. I honestly didn't think you would believe me. But I needed to get out of there and I wasn't about to argue with someone I don't even know telling me what to do.” I begin to walk away again but she doesn't call after me. I make my way to the driveways out of the hospital and leave.

Ten minutes later a red van pulls up next to me, Charity Carpenter is in the driver's seat. It's in the wrong side of the car, why do they switch driver sides in America? Makes no sense.

“Apology accepted, now get in,” she flatly orders after rolling down the window.

“I'm sorry Mrs. Carpenter, if you really are Michael's wife. I've been attacked by everyone I have met ever since I showed up with the exception of the Knight. Forgive me if I don't trust you are who you say you are.”

She rummages inside a purse and holds out a card to me, I step close to the car and look at it, not wanting to touch the card in case it's a portkey. It's an identification card of one Charity Carpenter with her face on it. I shrug and pull open the door and sit. She drives off the curb faster than necessary.

There's a tense silence, she's frowning and driving a little aggressively. Fifteen minutes later she finally says something.

“Is it true someone died trying to help you?” she asks. I tense not wanting to talk about it but she is owed after I frightened her.

“Yes,” I answer curtly.

“Who?” she demands.

“Too many.”

“You could be lying again,” she says as if she was remarking on the weather.

“Makes no difference, they're still gone.” My voice is hollow.

“A knight is honor bound to speak the truth,” she argues.

“Already told you I'm not sure if I am this knight you and your husband think I am. Look I am sorry again for pulling a prank on you but you were damn pushy coming and assuming things about me.”

“I was right wasn't I? You did all this just to prove you could. It was all your pride.” She is unrelenting.

“I have been here seven days I think, and I have fought seven wizards since then. The last one nearly killed me evidently. Do you really think it is a smart idea getting close to me? Do you think it is safe to be defending me?”

“I'd just offered to help you evade the doctors' questions. I might be mistaken but I think wizard duels and dragon hunting is a little more dangerous than that. You over reacted.”

“And what would've happened if someone recognized me? How long before the Unspeakables swooped down…” I trail off remembering there's no ministry here. There's no one who really knows who I am, besides maybe the Gatekeeper.

“So you're saying you were actually in danger when you just said you were not. Which one is it?”

“I wasn't in danger from the things I joked about. But I am always in danger, always. People always think they know better than me, and then they get killed for it and I have to go on with their blood on my hands. Do you know what that's like?” I get angry at forgetting where I am and adults not taking me seriously as usual. She's quiet now, I glance at her face and she doesn't seem angry anymore.

“No, I don't know what that feels like,” she finally answers. “My husband believes you are a Phoenix graced Occisor Dracoginea, but you are so young. I didn't believe him really,” she says sounding apologetic.

We watch homes and streets go by for a while, I try to take in how different things look. After a while the houses fall away and we're driving through fields and farms, it's peaceful. Can see flat land as far as the horizon. I sigh, feeling like I should apologize.

“I guess I don't look like I know what I'm doing, right?” I ask her, smiling. She gives me a hesitant look and smiles back; the kind of smile that makes you want to keep on grinning like a fool. Get a hold of yourself Harry, she's old enough to be your mother. Gorgeous she is though.

“Finally something you and I agree on, Potter. I must say she is a woman after my own heart,” Snape comments from the backseat, bastard even has a seat-belt on. Unfair.

“Yeah and her legs are after my own heart too,” I agree.

“Excuse me?” Charity nearly shouts, looking at me scandalized. I quirk a thumb back.

“It was Snape, pervert he is. Don't mind though, I'll take care of him.”

“There is no one there.” Charity looks in the rear view mirror and finally turns in her seat.

“You just can't see him,” I assure her. “He's dead, you see. Just doesn't have the decency to keep his mouth shut.”

“I…see,” she says and her face tightens. “Do you need to…exorcise…no I mean banish him?” she whispers.

“Just ignore him, he'll go away.”

“But why is he here?”

“Hmm, probably because he's bitter I killed him.” Suddenly she slams the breaks and the tires screech on the road, I'm thrown forward and the seat belt cuts into me, keeping me from kissing the windshield. “Bloody hell!” I swear. She's turned in her seat with her cross held in front of her towards the back seat, watching wildly.

“There's a vengeful spirit of someone you killed and you just tell me?” she shrieks. “Your friend Dresden, he can get rid of it, call him,” she orders and throws me a mobile phone.

“What does this blasted muggle woman think she can do to me with her pretty trinket?” Snape scoffs. “Muggles and their delusions, a cross, as if that is the answer to everything.” He crosses his arms and gives Charity his best glare, though of course she can't see it.

“Mrs. Carpenter…Charity, please, he really can't-”

“Who was he? What was he? A dragon spirit?” she interrupts.

“Er..no, he was a dark wizard, a Death Eater. But really he's really…impotent.” I grin at her.

“I beg to differ,” Snape snaps. Charity has turned her dark flashing eyes to me and is breathing really fast.

“He was a wizard? Fool, sprits of wizards are not impotent!”

“Ah! So she has a brain after all, pity she's a muggle,” Snape comments.

“Shut the hell up Snape, get out!” I loose it and yell. Though, I have to wonder what kind of experience Charity Carpenter has had that she thinks spirits aren't impotent…I'm pretty sure Nearly Headless Nick couldn't get it up, Snape can't either.

“That will not work, we need your friend or Michael. But I am not taking you home to my children with that thing in the back. We're going to Mister Dresden's place.” She floors the accelerator and we are off again, the scenic farms fly by us in a blur. The engine's noise is too loud in the car for easy conversation.

Time passes in our tense silence, and we finally enter what looks like the city; well there are four lane highways and too many cars, so this should be the city. Can't see how one finds their way about here. Snape hasn't said much in a while, that's because he's not there. Charity keeps looking into the rear view mirror, she's scared.

“Mrs. Carpenter, you can slow down. I promise you he can't harm your children.”

“Excuse me but you think the ghost of a wizard is harmless, I happen to know better,” she bites out. “Now he's seen me.” She slams her hand on the steering wheel.

“I swear, he can't harm you. Even if he had the power to I wouldn't let him.”

She scoffs, “Is that the promise of the Occisor Dracoginea? The Phoenix Graced?”

I don't know if I should swear it properly. I don't think I am a dragon slayer, but I was gifted phoenix tears by Fawkes. Well, here goes, maybe it will blow in my face, maybe it won't.

“I promise as the phoenix graced, you and your family will not be harmed by any ghosts that follow me around, I will not let them.” I swear to her, and feel the rush of magic under my skin and the feel of feathers brushing against my face. Fawkes. So there is something to being friends with the bird. “Anyway Snape's gone, so you can calm down.”

I didn't really need to tell her to slow down, she's almost pulled next to the curb. Her breathing is shallow again. “What's wrong?”

“I haven't felt…” she pants, “anything like this before. Your power is…a bit strong.” She is trembling.

“Umm…sorry, I didn't think I did anything. Will you be alright?” She just nods in answer, keeping her eyes very fixedly away from me.

“Thank you for the oath, Occisor Dracoginea. I shouldn't have doubted you were one of the Phoenix Graced.” It sounds like it costs her to apologize. It's not like I make believing in me easy, hardly her fault.

“Thanks for coming to look in on me, and to watch out for me. I'm just Harry, alright?” I try to give her a smile. Some people don't like a big deal to be made out of their apologies, I think she's like that.

“And I'm Charity. Let's get you to Dresden and Lieutenant Murphy, she's been concerned about you.” She smiles as well, I guess we're friends now. Murphy…I forgot all about her.

Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden

The booth in Mai's restaurant was dark and secluded, quite in keeping with how slightly upscale Chinese eateries should be. Furniture with dragon motif here and there added that special bit of authenticity that was for the benefit of us Americans. Gee, didn't know Mai cared.

I was in a foul mood; Ebenezer McCoy had finally forced me to make good on his invitation to have lunch with him at Mai's place. Ever since finding out about his alternate identity as the Blackstaff I wasn't too excited about reminiscing old times with him. It's not everyday you find out your mentor, near parent figure, wears a cape and cowl and goes around striking terror in the night.

Well, maybe you do, I am a wizard after all. Capes and cowls are standard issue. Either way, I wanted to avoid my crisis of faith in the old man. I kept my eyes at the double door entrance to the restaurant, letting the bright sunlight of the day remind me that it was actually day time and not the middle of the night. Also, I wanted to keep the doors in sight in case Mai showed up and decided she wanted revenge from the other day.

With a thud I put my head on the table and took a few deep breaths. Stress will kill you, and between Murphy, Mai, and the Outsider dropping all kinds of metaphysical drama on my head I hadn't had a moment's rest. I so do not need McCoy today.

Speak of the costumed villain with nifty street name, he's here. McCoy was always a hard man, but a kind man, I had to fight the usual joy I felt seeing him. I don't like thinking I don't know him, but that's what I felt.

“Hoss, you don't look good,” he said, clamping a broad hand on my shoulder near where I'd been shot. I winced and nodded, motioning him to sit. He gave me a piercing look which he quickly replaced with his usual indulgent demeanor with me.

I looked away from him and at the menu, clenching my teeth to keep from shouting. Learning temperance in my young age, that's depressing.

“Hoss, keep smiling and act like everything is fine. We're being watched and I need to tell you some things. Why didn't you come when I told you?” he asked with a lot of reproach.

“Because you're the Blackstaff, Sir,” I retorted. I saw his back eyes widen in shock and then he smiled and laughed. It was fake.

“ho ho! Now that was a funny day wasn't it? You looked angrier than the time you tried to take your cat swimming.” He gave a great belly laugh, making his wispy white hair fly. It was a lie, I never took Mister swimming. McCoy was sending me a message that we couldn't talk about it. “Look here, boy, Mai added some more to the menu.” He leaned over pointing to something. I bent my neck too, so we were nearly head to head.

“Steady, Hoss. There's more here than you know. Act calm. For once listen to me or I can tell you neither of us will get out of this.”

“How can I trust you? You tried to kill my best friend.” As soon as the words left my mouth I felt him go very still. He tapped the menu three times and I saw the words change their places and settled into sentences that had nothing to do with General Tsao, or Happy Family Special, pork, chicken and beef.

It said: 'The Merlin is here. He and Mai are looking for the Outsider. There is division in the high council. The Gatekeeper is keeping you from being questioned. Merlin is looking for an excuse to interrogate you.'

The Merlin? The big cheese, the head honcho, the most powerful wizard of the World; not like the World Series, here I'm including those other continents like Europe and Asia. The leader of the White Council is called The Merlin, not that he is that Merlin, the one who rode around with Arthur and tried to stop him from knocking up his sister. He's just the one we elect, because he is magically the most powerful, technically it could be a 'she' but that hasn't happened yet.

“Hmm, yes, I'll try that today. Although, there is a new Italian place around the corner if you'd like that better?” I hoped he would take the out I was giving because I really needed to panic about the Merlin being after me, and apparently I couldn't do that where we were being watched.

“Oh! No, I've been meaning to try her new cook's specialties.” McCoy slapped me on the arm again, and I glared at him while giving a big friendly smile. I was thankful for the dark décor and lighting because I'm a terrible liar, and didn't want to take a risk on my acting ability.

So for some reason we couldn't leave. I told McCoy to order for me and we sat back letting the shadows in the corners of the booth cover us. McCoy kept tapping the menu every now and then, changing words around. I made new words appear, I don't have that skill yet to just move around menu print. Though it might have something to do with learning that it could be done just then.

And this is what he said.

'They're holding me back from tracking the Outsider. If you know what I am now, then you know how ridiculous stopping me is. So be careful, go on a trip, get out of Chicago.'

'What exactly are you?'

'I can't explain it if you don't already know. Ask that lecherous skull dweller of yours. I did not try to kill your friend, I am tasked to go after those who perverse and distort our laws.' He wrote this with very sharp jabs of his finger on the menu, while we talked about his plans to grow watermelons on his farm. I suggested he look into honeysuckle instead.

'The night you were attacked by the Outsider, you went after Karrin Murphy. The one the Gatekeeper helped protect in my trial.'

He was quiet for a very long time, his black beetle eyes shone from under his white bushy brows. Lunch arrived, we thanked the waitress, and I took the opportunity to look around the place. But I did not find any sign of eavesdroppers or people watching us. We are wizards so it was possible someone was sitting in the empty booth right next to us and I couldn't see them or sense them. Hells Bells! It could be the Merlin himself. He has a certain dislike for me, on account of me killing my power mad warlock of a master. Details to him, I'm sure.

I had trouble swallowing down the incredibly delicious meal McCoy had ordered, I was waiting for him to say something about what I'd just accused him of. But we were now talking about cantaloupes and walnuts. Finally he tapped the menu lying between us again.

'I don't remember anything but being attacked by the Outsider that night. I have no memory of what my mission was.'

We couldn't even pretend to have a normal conversation after I read that. I chewed the beef like I was trying to destroy it, my anger was building enough that soon my magic would let it out.

'Your mission was to kill an innocent police officer, and a close friend of mine.' I tapped on the menu, but instead of print appearing, the words were cut into the plastic, as if a child took scissors to it.

“I have to run, I have to check on a friend, she isn't well.” I suddenly stood up, and grabbed my staff.

“Well, I will be off home tonight. Come see me before I leave?” McCoy managed to make it sound like a request but it was an order from an old mentor. I'd known him long enough to know the hard look on his face.

“Sorry, dinner with a Knight of the Sword tonight. Some other time.” And I left him, already feeling an electric cloud of magical energy around my hands waiting to be formed to my will.

“Hoss!” he called before I reached the doors, everyone in the restaurant was looking at him. “Next weekend I get the land ready for seeding, still going to come?” He had a huge smile on his face, he can lie well, I wonder how well.

“Of course, I have to see the disaster first hand, don't I? Have a safe trip, Sir.” Look, I didn't even choke on 'sir.' I'm getting better at lying too. The glass doors opened to let in some customers and I made sure not to get too close to them as I walked out. Wouldn't do to give them a jolt of anger induced magic.

As soon as I was out, it was a different world, the sun light blinded me and I stood for a second basking in the heat. It burned away the tension and freezing air conditioning inside. So it was with an in-harmony-with-nature attitude I turned and was knocked flat on my behind. So much for flirting with Tree-huggy tendencies, my ass was grass. Get it? No? I don't either. Of course, being dazed and confused on the pavement does nothing for anyone's sense of humor.

Morgan was looming above me in all his scowling glory.

“Where is the Outsider?”

“Visiting his mother up north.” Someone laughed at my joke, too bad I wasn't too amused. I called wind with a little piglatin variation of the traditional spell. My anger had an outlet finally. Two mini-sized twisters left my hands and straight into Morgan who went crashing through Mai's glass doors.

The over concerned by standers had of course missed the magic but connected the dots of me getting up looking mad as hell and a man lying in broken glass to come up with 'Mid-day Entertainment,' a street brawl. It would have been that if I didn't get the pommel of Warden Guzman's sword in my gut.

“Hello Guzman, thought we were friends now.”

He shook his head and sighed as if he was suffering greatly.

“Believe me, Dresden, stopping you from doing something even more suicidal is what friends do. Get out of here.”

“No, we need to question him!” Morgan spat from the floor getting up, his lips were scarred and swollen. Ouch, that's where the Outsider had sewn him up.

“Donald, best not to pick fights when you don't even have your sword,” Guzman commented and acted like he didn't notice Morgan trying to kill him with his eyes.

“Why doesn't he have his sword?” I asked curiously, usually my curiosity upset Morgan, and if Guzman wasn't going to let me hit him I could at least needle him.

“It is cursed by the Outsider's magic,” Morgan growled.

“What?” I didn't know what he meant.

“It's still a snake, follows Warden Morgan around everywhere. Even went to sleep on him once. It is a black, black curse,” Warden Guzman said with a deep voice full of drama, and his lips quirked but he hid his smile.

I started laughing, and couldn't wait to tell my namesake his snake was tormenting Morgan. I started walking away when Guzman nudged me, I left him with his hands full of a crazed warden captain who wanted my blood. That makes it three, Morgan, Mai and Merlin.

Hark! Do you hear that? Beware the letter 'M' childe, for it brings great calamity.

No kidding, going to see Murphy next, another 'm' that's usually on my case.