Still, the dark witch court was on the outskirts of Mystic Quarter, which made it easier for cops or the roaming human to wander into our community without really knowing. Still, something had drawn them out. I glanced back at the rookie, seeing nothing to help me understand why they were here. The older cop was going through his phone again.
“You haven’t told me what I’ve done?” I began, my gaze flicking between them. “You can’t just go around harassing decent folk for nothing. I’m just walking here.”
A sly, satisfied grin appeared on the rookie’s face. His eyes narrowed as he thought about his answer. “You look pretty suspicious to me. You look like you’ve been in fight or something. Care to tell me what happened?”
Hands on my hips, I glared at the young cop. “Nothing happened,” I said, not appreciating the way his smile widened. Creep. “I’m just on my way home. That’s all.”
Eyebrows high, the rookie cop asked flatly, “What’s your name?”
I clamped my mouth shut. This wasn’t my first time being stopped by human cops, nor would it be my last. But I’d always managed to get away before I had to give them my name—usually aided by some magic. Trouble was, if they got my name, they’d know who I was and where I lived. And that would be bad. If human cops started to snoop around Mystic Quarter, in our paranormal business where they didn’t belong, it would get really ugly—for them.
“Your name,” repeated the young cop, his dark eyes narrowing. The first hints of stubble were showing on his chin.
It was my time to raise my brows. “What? You think because you asked s-o-o-o nicely, I’m actually going to give it to you?” What a dumbass. I wasn’t giving him anything.
The bearded cop was still scrolling through his phone. What was going on?
My heart pounded as I stared at the cops. “I’d really love to stay and chat, but there’s somewhere I gotta be.” Like my bed. “So if you’re not going to charge me for anything—because I haven’t done anything—I’m going to go now.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” answered the rookie cop, his hand moving to his gun on his hip.
I frowned. Now why the hell did he have to go and do that. “Then tell me what this is about.”
“No.”
“Can you give me a clue?”
“No.”
I made a face. “Is no the only thing you know how to say?” I added, watching as the rookie’s face went a shade darker, the rim of his ears reddening. Cops were so easily provoked and jumpy. Under different circumstances, they were my favorite humans to play with. But not tonight.
“Sam,” warned Poe, “if you keep pissing them off, it won’t go well for us. Just play dumb. Dumb always works.”
I let out a sigh through my nose. If only my magic could work, I’d be on my way home right about now, with two oblivious cops on their merry way out of Mystic Quarter.
My anger deepened when I realized the higher demons had stabbed me on purpose. They knew cutting me with their death blades would render my magic obsolete. I hated those black-eyed bastards.
Plus, I knew they’d be back. They were sent by this Vorkol to kill me. But I wasn’t about to let that happen. I was going to find out who Vorkol was, and I knew just the demon to ask.
“It’s her,” said the bearded policeman as he neared, and my heart gave a thump before settling into a faster pace at my sudden panic. He stared at his cell phone and then flicked his gaze at me. “Yeah. That’s her all right.”
“What about me?” I narrowed my eyes, not liking the triumphant tone in his voice or the recognition that crossed his face. It was almost as though... almost as though he recognized me.
“What’s going on, Sam?” Poe’s voice rang loudly, drawing the attention of the cops. But I wasn’t worried about that. To them, Poe’s voice was just a regular raven’s caw and not an actual language. Sucked to be human.
“I don’t know.” I strained to control my breathing, my mind sifting through thoughts as I scrambled to find a plan of escape but came up short.
Poe’s claws gripped my shoulder hard making me flinch. “You need to run. Run, Sam!”
The urgency in his voice had my tension rising. “I can’t,” I said, though my posture had shifted subconsciously. “If I run, they’ll shoot me.” And I seriously doubted I’d get two paces before I’d be tackled by the rookie. Hell, he looked like the type who’d love to tackle a female.
“Cuff her,” said the bearded cop to the younger policeman.
Oh. Hell. No. “Excuse me?” I shouted, my pulse jackhammering. “You can’t do this. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on!”
The rookie cop started forward but then halted. He glanced at his partner. “What about the crow?”
The bearded cop’s eyes flicked to Poe. “Kill it if it bites you.”
A vicious snarl escaped me. “I’ll kill you first if you touch a feather on my bird.” Immediately, I knew that was the wrong thing to say as I saw the deepening scowl on the bearded cop’s face. Oh well. Too late to take it back. Not that I really wanted to.
“Did you hear that, Sergio?” The bearded cop slipped his phone into his pocket. “She just threatened the life of a police officer.”
“And you just threatened to kill my raven, you prick.” A sound of disgust slipped from me, and for a second I really wished my magic rings worked, if only to hex these cops. The Casual Castration hex came to mind.
“Hands behind your back. Do it,” snarled the rookie, though his eyes remained on my familiar. “We’re charging you with assault on a police officer.”
Bastards. “Poe,” I whispered. “You’re my one phone call. Get help.”
“Got it.” The bird leaped off my shoulder and took off into the morning sky, his wings beating strong and true. I took a half second feeling of comfort knowing he was safe.
Lips pursed, I glared at the cop. “I know my rights, copper,” I growled, though not entirely true. “I—I have a right to a lawyer.” Didn’t I?
“You do,” answered the young cop, his jaw muscles tensing as he stepped forward. Metal handcuffs hung in his right hand, winking in the morning sun.
My heart slammed against my chest, my blood pressure spiking to a new high. I took a step back. I couldn’t let these cops arrest me. I was a witch, damnit. Not some street thug. I had to do something. And whatever it was, I had to do it fast.
“If you resist,” he said, seeing my intention as he made a show of the cuffs by spinning them around his finger, “it’ll only get worse for you.”
Not as much as it’ll get worse for you. I gritted my jaw. “How can it be worse than being arrested by human cops when I didn’t do anything?” Oops. That kinda just slipped.
A frown marred his face at the mention of human. “You are a freak.”
“I’ll take that as I compliment, coming from you.” I stood there with my legs cemented to the pavement. Without my magic, I was out of options.
He took my silence as a sign that I wouldn’t run. He moved behind me and yanked my arms hard behind my back. The bastard did that on purpose.