“That makes sense.” Agent Balerd agreed. With that he turned and walked toward the parking lot.

  A little startled by the abrupt acceptance the women followed. Madison taking Suzy’s hand.

  “I’m starting to like this guy. He really seems to be here to help. Never balking and letting me choose how we interact.” Madison thought.

  Agent Balerd stopped in front of a non-descript white SUV with government ptes.

  Leaning against the front, he took off his sungsses and in a patient tone, asked, “So Ms. Read, how can I help you?”

  Madison gave Suzy’s hand a quick squeeze before letting go. She knew she would be talking with her hands as well as she described the incredible events of the day and didn’t want to drop Suzy’s hand abruptly.

  With that she unched into a description of the day starting with the attack at the club. As she approached the point where the wound had healed, she paused and gnced at Suzy, wanting her permission to be open about their retionship. Suzy smiled and put her arm around Madison’s waist to reassure her.

  “I’m gd the other girl was with her when she was attacked. Damn it Brian, I told you I was worried something like this might happen!” Agent Balerd thought, mentally berating his supervisor.

  “So, we were in bed together and when I orgasmed really bright light came from the bite, and it was completely healed.” Madison finished trying to be as clinical as she could. Both women were blushing, but Madison was determined to find out what was going on and Agent Balerd seemed to be her only resource other than Solveig, the dy from her dream, and she had no idea of how to contact her.

  Noticing the women blushing, Agent Balerd focused on being strictly professional. He had to admit the thought of the two of them in bed was…stimuting, but he was a professional and would not let his baser nature intrude on his work.

  “I understand, so there are several things we should consider. First, knowledge of your existence is held by others. It’s not likely that those that know will spread the information. Second, Solveig seems to be an ancestral guide that seems to have your best interests in mind. Third, you need some training…actually Ms.?” He looked expectantly at Suzy.

  “Derry” Suzy replied.

  “Ms. Derry, you will probably need some training as well since you are likely to find yourself in combat again. While I and some of my colleagues can help with the physical aspect. We will need to contact other…personnel…to help with the other aspects of your training Ms. Arkiomaa.” He concluded

  “In the meantime, I suggest you consider moving to a safe house we have avaible rather than staying in the dorm. We really cannot effectively protect you here, we just don’t have the personnel or finding to secure a building of that size.” He continued.

  “Ummm…I can’t afford to rent a house! I’m not rich or anything.” Madison replied.

  “I understand that ma’am. You wouldn’t be charged rent for staying there. You would become…sort of…an employee of my organization.” Agent Balerd expined.

  “A ummm employee? I really don’t have time for a job. I’m here on schorship. Between my csses and practice, I don’t have much time for anything else. I’ve only had more time for the st couple of weeks because of my accident.” Madison told him.

  “Work for the FBI? That does not sound like fun at all. I seriously have no interest in being any kind of cop.” Madsion though to herself.

  “Well, the ‘job’ is something you are probably going to be interested in regardless. You must understand that the FBI and by extension the United States Government has no real understanding of this phenomenon. We need to study it and understand how it will affect our fellow citizens.” He expined.

  “How about this, both of you pack a small bag and follow me to the safe house? That way you can check it out and you’ll have a way back to campus for csses tomorrow. I’ll make arrangements for some of our staff to meet there tomorrow evening and you can decide if you feel comfortable. Also, I’ll accompany you around campus tomorrow, in a very discrete way, so you won’t have to worry about being attacked again. How does that sound?” Agent Balerd maintained an open posture and a patient demeanor while going through all of this.

  “I can’t believe she was so foolish, that guy at the club could have been a real threat if he had taken her seriously. They obviously learned from their mistake but didn’t count on Derry being with her.” Balerd thought as he waited for the women to consider the offer.

  “Just a sec, we are going to go and talk about this, OK?” Madison asked.

  “Of course, take your time.” Balerd agreed reasonably.

  “Wow this is crazy, what am I even getting pulled into?” Suzy thought. Then she looked at Madison, a fierce desire to be with her, by her side and protect her came over her.

  “I’ve never really felt like I should get violent to protect someone before.” she thought, “I’ve always stood up for people…” thinking of how she always stood up to bullies and had even stopped a football pyer from messing with her older brother. If you would have asked anyone in her life back home in Texas, they would have told you she was always standing up for people. That said, she had never really been violent.

  “Today I just snapped. I was scared and mad because I was scared and they had hurt Tink.” she marveled at the sudden change in herself.

  She focused on what Madison was saying, “…don’t know what to think. This is fucking crazy!”

  “Yeah, I was just thinking about that…but I think he’s right. Remember how that guy broke down that girl on the third floor’s door st month? I mean people helped but…that was crazy…what if it was a bigger version of those things today or more than one of those guys…which I am kinda freaked out you didn’t mention before now…I think you need to be somewhere safe, and this is all so crazy…but I think we should take him up on his offer.” Suzy said in a rush.

  “Yeah, that was shitty of me…” Madison replied, “…no excuse, I’ve been freaking out for a few days now it feels like. I'm still not sure what to even do with all of this. I need to I guess talk it out with someone.”

  Madison noticed Suzy giving her a ‘No shit’ look mixed with ‘I’m standing right here in front of you Captain Obvious’.

  “Yeah, I’m so sorry you are being dragged into this…so umm let’s get a bag and then we can talk in the car and tonight as well.” Madison said as she embraced Suzy. The woman’s warmth and returning embrace made her feel warm and comforted.

  Breaking the embrace, Madison took Suzy’s hand, and they went back over to Agent Balerd.

  “OK, give us about thirty minutes and we’ll be ready.” Madison said.

  “Of course, I will wait here and make a few calls, so everything is ready when we get there. Call me if anything comes up.” He agreed.

  As the women walked away, he opened his phone.

  ————

  “Alex, this is Mike. Arkiomaa was attacked by what sounds like a pair of boggarts…but I’m not sure. They weren’t armed so they were probably trying to take her. I’m going to take her and her girlfriend, a ‘Suzy’ or ‘Susan’ Derry to the house on Ashe. Can we get Rond and Siobhan to meet us there a couple of hours?” Agent Balerd asked briskly.

  “Yeah, good call. I’m gd to hear she called us instead of trying to go it alone. Brian’s got some egg on his face; he should have listened to you.” Agent Alexa Hernandez said.

  “I don’t really care about that. I’m just gd we have a chance to recruit an asset. This could be a big break for all of us with EMERALD. It always feels like we are step behind.” Balerd said.

  “We probably need to do a dive on, Derry so we know who she is. They seem pretty close, not just a casual couple, Derry could also be useful, she didn’t run off or freak out during the attack, she acted to defend Arkiomaa.” Balerd considered out loud.

  “Yeah, most of them just freeze. Well, if they are interested, I am sure between Rond and I we can train them up in hand to hand. Siobahn might have some contacts that will help Arkiomaa with her umm specialized training needs. A young one like her might be enough to get some of them off the sidelines to help.” Hernandez ventured.

  “OK, I’m going to start making calls. You should call Brian; he might want to be there as well.” Hernandez was about to break off but then she had a thought, “Wait…she’s going to need a detail, for a while at least, who were you thinking? I mean, she’s kind of your asset.” She asked.

  “Yeah, I was thinking about that as I was talking with them. I was hoping you and Rond would be interested. I’m not sure about the fourth though, any thoughts?” Balerd asked.

  “Well…yeah, if Brian is cool with it. I haven’t been on a detail in a while. I’m sure Rond will be down; he’s real a girl-dad after all. Hmm, maybe Becca? It might do her good to peel her away from all the research she’s been doing.” Hernandez suggested.

  “Yeah, that sounds solid. Let’s consider alternatives incase Rond or Becca can’t break away from their projects. I’m pnning on staying at the Ashe house tonight, I’ll need a second, can you?” He asked. The details surrounding this kind of operation were myriad. Luckily the house was avaible, and Siobahn had ‘cleansed’ it after the mob guy who was there before had been moved to his permanent protection location.

  “OK, see you there, I should be there with the dies in about an hour or so.” Balerd finished.

  “OK, sounds good. This is gonna be big man. Bye.” Hernandez ended the call.

  “Yay…now to call Brian, he’s gonna be an ass over a Sunday phone call but fuck him. This is big.” Balerd thought as he hit the call button on Senior Agent Brian Scarles number.

  “Scarles.” came the answer.

  “Hey Brian, this is Mike, look Arkiomaa was attacked today. I’m gonna put her and her friend in the Ashe house.” making what should have been a request a statement of fact.

  “Mike, look you’re an agent, you can make these decisions without fucking with my Sunday evening.” came Scarle’s terse reply.

  “Look man, you and I both know if I put someone in the house without telling you, you would have bitched about it.” Balerd’s reply in a cold and professional tone.

  “The only way to deal with this guy is to be like ice.” Balerd reminded himself.

  “Whatever, just make sure you fill out the paperwork tomorrow. Who is watching them tonight?” Scarle’s tone, still irritated but moving on to the details so the call could be ended quickly.

  “Hernandez and me. I want them to meet Rond and Siobahn. I’ve got Hernandez making the calls, we will all have dinner at the Ashe house tonight. We might be able to recruit them; it would be a big deal for EMERALD.” Balerd continued.

  Mentioning the possible recruitment broke though the senior agent’s obstinate irritability.

  “What? You think so? I thought she was just a stupid college slut that got mixed up in something out of her depth.” Scarle’s ambition peeked through his attitude.

  “First, stop being a dick. I get it, you’re a misogynist, but I don’t have to listen to that shit. Second, I proffered the idea, and she didn’t immediately start running away, so yeah, I think we might be able to recruit her. If you can manage to not act like an ass, you might want to meet her tonight.” Balerd responded, his tone was icy steel.

  “Agent Balerd, watch it. I won’t tolerate insubordination. You do make a good point. I will be there, I’ll even pick up the food…do you think they like Chinese?” Scarles’s tone hard but drifting into comradery. He recognized what an actual active asset would mean to his unit and…his career.