Chapter Eleven: Mission Statement

Tanner unlocked his apartment door and stepped inside. Moving through the darkness he thought about ordering a pizza but that only brought to mind the memory of Wynter spending the night....so he opted for Chinese instead.
After he placed the order he changed out of his uniform and into jeans. It had been a rough day as another body was discovered; this time it was a twenty something man. The coroner was at a loss to explain any of the deaths and he could find absolutely no signs of foul play. Yet they knew they were connected because each body had one thing in common; a tiny mark where the skin had shrivelled and turned black.
It was frustrating on his part for he knew what had been the cause but he could say and do nothing...well nothing as a police officer. His real job as he liked to think of it was much more of a higher calling. A family tradition passed down through generations and thousands of years....
Opening the old wooden armoire that accompanied him everywhere he moved, he looked at the shelves and selected one of the brown leather bound books. Flipping through the ancient yellow pages he found the one he was looking for. Taking it out to the living room he turned on the single lamp and sat down to read while he waited for his food to arrive.
A gust of wind ripped through the apartment so strong that it knocked the heavy book out of his hands. Giving a sigh of annoyance Tanner looked up expectantly. “Cayden” he greeted the large figure standing before him with a nod of his head.
“Lorcan” the figure greeted him in turn. Tanner wrinkled his nose at the sound of his fey name but said nothing else as he waited for his visitor to reveal the purpose for his visit. Cayden who was built like a CFL football player looked rather out of place amongst all of Tanner’s things but that didn’t stop the fairy from creating his dominance over the tiny apartment. “Why do you choose to live amongst them?” demanded Cayden in puzzlement as he peered about the room in distaste.
Tanner who was used to jeers and the barking of orders was not expecting this so he foolishly answered in truth “I like them”.
“You truly are your mother’s offspring” announced Cayden as he looked down his nose at Tanner.
“Why thank you brother!” smiled Tanner who knew that Cayden had been trying to insult him was pleased that he had turned the table on the overbearing fey instead.
“We are not brothers” said Cayden with vehemence and his skin began to take on its phosphorous green glow.
“Sure we are...remember? Father explained it all to you and Oisin at the last Beltane celebration.....” He had gone too far. The celebration had turned nasty and both Cayden and Oisin were humiliated in front of the entire fairy Kingdom when their father berated them for not welcoming Tanner into the family.
Faster than he could blink he was slammed against the far wall with such force that he was wedged inside the now broken gip rock. Unable to move Tanner watched as Cayden strode over to stand before him. “We will never be brothers” he said with his face inches from Tanners.
Tanner who had survived a few assassination attempts from his two ‘older brothers’ couldn’t agree more. “All right...so do you want to tell me why you’re here then?”
Cayden glared at him and stepped back. “You have not completed your mission. Father would like to know what the delay is and for you to finish here as soon as possible as he wishes for your company....Your apartment reeks of mortality...” he suddenly announced and looked around with new interest. “I told you to stay away from her! Father will not be pleased when I tell him of this! Have you told her about...?”
“No!” exclaimed Tanner partially out of embarrassment and partly from panic. “She has no clue...Which reminds me who sent that...message to her store?”
“Message?” repeated Cayden with a grin “Oh!” he laughed “That was payment for the other night....I could have been much more vengeful but Oisin would not allow it...Next time however she will not get so light a punishment as memory loss...”
Tanner tried his best to hide his anger and fear...to reveal either would prove far more dangerous to Wynter’s safety then he could afford at the moment... The phone began to ring shrilly and Cayden shook his head at it. “Finish the mission” he stated before disappearing.
With a sigh of relief Tanner removed himself from the wall and winced at the damage as he brushed himself off. He would have to fix it tomorrow...The phone rang again and he rushed to answer it....nothing but static on the other end told him that his supper had arrived.
After he had finished his meal he thought about calling Wynter but given the recent threats against her he thought the better of it and continued his research into the wee hours of the morning....
He woke to the sound of knocking at his door. Taking the book off of his chest he placed it carefully on the coffee table next to the carton of dim sum and the empty beer bottles. Walking groggily to the door he peered out of the peep hole. Cursing silently he unlocked it and allowed Wynter to enter.
Her hair was wild and she was still in her pyjamas. “What’s wrong?” he asked and was taken aback when she flung herself at him and began sobbing. At odds he just patted her awkwardly on the back and waited for her to finish.
“Can I have a tissue please?” she sniffed and Tanner who was glad for the task eagerly went to fetch her some toilet paper. After the tears were dried and she had drunk a glass of water she gave him an embarrassed smile. “Sorry about that I ...should probably leave....”she moved towards the door but Tanner stopped her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked her again but this time his voice was more gentle and concerned.
“I was just having a little break down...Sorry but my brother and Shannon are knocking boots and I had no one else to turn to....And I wanted to apologize for earlier today...I shouldn’t have behaved that way but I can’t stand not knowing everything....Sorry.” she finished lamely.
“No need to apologize...we were both on edge” he said. “What made you...break down? Did something else happen?”
Wynter took a deep breath and explained everything to him that had gone on that day including the lost hours in the bathroom. “It seemed like a few minutes....” she said and looked up at him with puzzled eyes. Tanner had to look away to keep from kissing her.
“So you have no idea what it meant when it told you to stay away...” he said and wandered about the room restlessly.
“No! I mean how could I? It never explained itself or even so much as given me a hint...I wish I knew so that I could stop this craziness!” she exclaimed and her voice hitched. Clearing her throat she fought back the tears that wanted to spill again. “What do they want from me?”
Tanner paused and stared at her. Why did his father want him to stay away from her? What was so important about Wynter and her family...obviously they had some kind of connection to the fey...He would have to find out and soon for it might just contain the answer he needed in order to do his job....
“Locan?”she said.
“What did you just call me?” he demanded.
“Tanner; what did you think I said?” she asked.
“Nothing. I’m just tired” he said.
“Me too” she agreed and he suddenly became aware of how exhausted and drawn she looked.
“Do you want to spend the night then? I’ll sleep on the couch if it would make you more comfortable” he offered.
“Yes to the first and no to the second. I’d like it if you would hold me....” She stood up and held her hand out to him and was pleased when he took it. As they walked back to the bedroom neither of them noticed the face in the mirror that was watching them.