Always a thief(lady/moon)

“Yea.it is. Someone’s looking for something. And things are missing. From each house. I can tell there’s something missing. But I can’t figure out what. Figured you two, with your....talents, might know how to look and find out if someone’s keeping them for trophies, or if they’re selling what they steal.”

“...Always twins. Though they’ve ranged to as old as twenty. Someone’s not sure what they’re searching for, but knows it’s existing.”Alex sighed tiredly, relaxing a little as gabe touched his shoulder. He was mentally and emotionally exhausted, despite getting a night’s rest.

Sith frowned thinking about that, eyeing the man with green cat sit eyes, glancing at the godling standing in the doorway. “We’ve met before.” “...In Rotterdam, when you were named lord of cats. Yes, your coronation was a thing of legend.”Loki said tilting his head as he considered the man. Sith nodded a little, studying the man before looking at james. Considering him, because if he was who he suspected, he should have been able to hold the shields without a problem. Much like the other. “Moon struck iron. You wont be able to talk to anything, or it will be hard, but here in the heart of faerie, moon struck iron will be the only thing that can hold your shields. There’s a way to wed iron to your shields, but I am not the one who knows how to do it, and who you could ask is very hard to get to.”Sith frowned a little watching the officer go. Thinking about it, because moon struck iron was hard to come by, cold iron was about any earth bound iron and would harm fae, but to have moon struck iron forged under the light of a new born moon, made from meteorite chucks, was about the only sort of iron fae could handle and still work magic around. It was hard, but it would keep the wild from attacking his shields hopefully.

“Yes...we will.”Alex said pausing in the doorway as he headed downstairs, pausing at teh sight of his brother talking to the fae, uneasiness in his stomach at the sight. “We need to know what to do with the funeral arrangements.” “...Just clean them up. I’ll take them to faerie for a funeral. The hunt will deal with the bodies.”Sith said almost coldly, because as soon as they had died, they were truly no longer his children. While it was a cold sentiment, it was like how a normal cat would see anyone they were attatched to. And giving the bodies back to the hunt, would keep them alive, would tie their spirits to the hunt they were supposed to join but hadn’t been old enough yet.

"Something missing? you mean besides the hearts?" James asked, scowling, baffled. what else could be missing? "is it a tangible thing or a magical thing? how do you know something is missing?" he wondered. "selling something? it doesn't seam to fit, but i can't imagine wanting to keep something as a trophy in this situation either. there has to be a reason for taking something like this." James muttered, being as he was a criminal, he knew better than anyone how a criminal worked. murderers did not steal for no reason. while it was possible fr criminals to branch into several 'layers' of crime. but typically they stuck to specific crimes. murderers murdered and sometimes they stole to take trophies but they didn't go into buildings and rob from banks. some thief's hurt others to steal, muggers, people who robbed stores but they didn't systematically murder or go after safes. there where levels to crimes and it was very rare for someone to spread along multiple levels. whatever this was, whatever they where taking it had to do with the ritual. most serial killers did it ritualistically after all. every serial killer had a different ritual, this one carved out their hearts, stole something they weren't sure of and did it to half fey twins. figure out the whole ritual and they where closer to finding the murderer.

"You've met the King of Cats before?" James asked Loki, looking very amused before flinching. "fuck... Moon struck Iron. shit.." he pressed a hand to his face. "i already tried that..." he admitted to Sith. "it completely cut everything off and that was almost worse." he admitted. "nothing but silence. i had a nervous breakdown after a day." he admitted, unknowingly proving just how strong his gift was. it wasn't a matter of control, it was a matter of his gift being too strong to be controlled without help. a gift so strong it was just as bad to be cut off from it as it was to have no control of it. a gift so strong he was constantly seconds away from loosing control of it and without it was almost too dead in the head to function. "I wore it as a necklace and it cut everything off. i couldn't hear and it was like something inside of me had died." he admitted with a shake of his head. "I still have it, in case my shields fall again, but i can't wear it permanently." he admitted with a sigh. "i'll have to find something else. someone to actually teach me." he admitted, looking at Sith. "thanks for the help..." even if it wasn't much help.

"Your giving them to the Hunt?!" Gabe asked, horrified and James turned to glare at him.

"Don't you dare go all human on us Gabriel Bloodslake." James growled, Gabe wincing because, yeah that had been a huan reaction.

"Sorry. human raised." Gabe reminded them. "it slips out sometimes." Gabe said, looking as embarrassed as he could.

"The Wild Hunt are closer to nature than any other being. they don't think like us, they don't think like humans, or even remotely like Fey." James knew better than anyone, he was one of them and he thought very differently than most people did, he understood better than anyone. that and he had researched it extensively when he had been a child and hopeful still that his father might still come for them and take them into the woods to be happy.

"They are dead now. their souls belong to the Hunt." James stated softly. "Souls in the Hunt never pass on, they are reborn, for energy can never be destroyed, only reformed." James admitted. "They will be born anew in a new life." He admitted, smiling at Sith. "they won't know him, but he will see them again as they pass into their new lives in new bodies with new memories." at least, that was what the Wild Hunt believed. and truly, that was what Jmes believed too. that souls weren't 'moved on', they where reborn until they where ready to rest forever in the afterlife. there where no truly evil souls, as James had once told Alex and Loki in the orphanage. only souls learning new life lessons.

“Yes some possession, something magical. Something that they kept with them. Last time it was a fae crafted necklace. The mother had a picture of the twins wearing them, but we searched everywhere and couldn’t find it. Whatever he’s taking, whatever the killer is using the hearts for, I think it has to be personally tied, even more then simply using their hearts.”Alex sighed sounding frustrated. “I just don’t know. It’s why I needed help.”

“I am. A very, very long time ago.” “I was mostly a kit then.”Sith said looking amused before wincing, realizing that he wasn’t going to be much help. There were two people he could think of, maybe three, to help, and asking them to help james was nearly as dangerous as simply telling Mab the twins were alive. “You need a teacher then, someone who can show you the kinds of shields your brother has. And I have a necklace you might be able to wear. But it’s not here.”Sith frowned a little, wondering if it was simply difference in talents, that kept Alex from losing his mind like this. He didn’t seem to be as bothered by being in the heart of faerie. But asking for help from the hunt or Oberon was asking for mab to find out. He’d have to figure out if they knew or not, and how to help teh twins the best. Eyeing the half demon he looked at the prince, sensing the connection, and looking bemused. It was interesting to see them not know what they were.

“Yes of course.”Sith said, not looking upset, simply confused that the other was horrified that he was giving him. Snorting slightly. “It’s okay. We go a little fae on you sometimes, so it’s fine.”Alex teased his lover slightly. “They will be, we’ll see that the bodies are well taken care of.”Alex promised as he headed out to give the orders. Loki frowned watching Sith, who looked way to thoughtful for a man who’d just found his children and wife dead. “Is there anywhere we can take you?” “No. I’ll head back to Dublin. The courts need to be aware, if they’re not already of what’s going on. And no, cops aren’t allowed.”Not because they were human, but because sith wanted neither of the twins near sacred faerie ground while they were hiding.

"Is it always Magical?" James wondered. "Because that leaves a scent we could trace. find out what's missing here, one of the Foxes could scent it out if we can keep the last place it was laying clean of magical interference." James admitted. "We'll help anyway we can Alex. i swear." James promised.

"a different life?" he asked Loki with a smile before watching Sith, his head tilted a little. "It's alright. i'll find someone." he promised the Cat Lord before nodding.

"i don't know what it is, Alex can do such easy things. Glamours, mental shields. he has such easy control over his powers and i can't even go for a walk in the woods." he admitted with a small huff. "i know it's probobly because he doesn't have to deal with other minds, other wills. even the trees have thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions around me." he admitted. "That kind of force, hundreds of times over is impossible to handle." he admitted with a sigh before looking at him a little.

"A Necklace?" he asked, curious now. "Of Moon struck steal? i have one too but not all of them are the same, or so I've heard." he admitted. "mines in a lock box. i always have it with me, just in case. ever since the last time my shields broke. can't have the Madness of the Trees if my powers can't reach them." he admitted. "it's a good way to snap me head back into my head." he admitted. "Loki, Alex and Gabe all have the combination so they can get to it if i can't."

"It's better than going Demon i suppose." James admitted, Gabe rolling his eyes.

"If they don't know about this already then they don't care. twenty other families have gone through this. all of them with half fey twin offspring or where half fey twins themselves." Gabe said softly. "the courts don't care about the half breeds." which, unfortunately, was mostly true. Oberon probobly cared. Cernunnos certainly did but most of the full blooded Fey of the courts didn't give a shit if someone was murdering half breeds so long as whoever did it didn't go after the 'real' fey.

"So the courts really are here, in Ireland?" James asked, looking not at all surprised. "explains why everything is so... awake, here." he admitted. "there is no way that i'm going anywhere near the actual courts. i'd be totally insane in a day and i've heard what they do to people there who aren't full blooded fey. i'm sure mutts like me, Alex and Gabe would be so very welcome. Loki would probobly be very happily welcomed though being that he's an Old God and all."

“As far as I can tell, it’s always magical.”Alex agreed before smiling, pleased at the answer. Magical scent, that could work.

“Hmm. Yes. I was female, and a farm hand at the time. It’s sort of weird. Thinking about it.”Loki snickered a little.

“Just differences in talents. Most twins have different talents. My...meg could do shaping as easily as breathing, but Serene couldn’t. Just differences.”Sith muttered frowning a little. “One is usually closer to the wild then the other. Even when they are full blooded one court or the other, wild fey blood runs in all the old lines. It shows through sometimes.”Sith said shrugging a little.

“Yes. And it is different. Faerie made iron is different then what the humans can do.”Sith said, making a face. He wasn’t a racist, otherwise he would have never mated with a human, but there was just some truths in the world. That no matter how much they think they’re the best, humans weren’t always right, fae could forge things like no one else on earth. “Some would care. It just matters getting word to them.”Sith frowned, thinking about it.

“It is.”Sith said tilting his head a little. “You would be insane, and your shields would be gone, even with iron helping them.”Loki said shuddering at the idea. Sith raised a eyebrow watching james and alex, before looking at gabe as he got up. “They might welcome him. But I’d still avoid them if you could. For all your health.”he said heading for the door.

"Good. we'll talk to the father. find out what's missing." he agreed. "I'll call Kitiriku." he decided. "she's a specialist apparently. used to magic. she's searched before for other Fey." he admitted with a smile before laughing at Loki being a woman and a farmhand. straight from the storybooks!

"Really? i never knew that. there's not a lot about Fey. at least, nothing that was real." he admitted. "finding out anything that was real was nearly impossible. it still is." he admitted. "finding out anything i can was an exercise in futility." he admitted. "it still is actually. the few Fey i come into contact with are usually half breeds too so they never know anything either." he admitted. "The fey are just too secretive. no one can learn anything even when we need to." he whined, pouting a little. "I suppose they have to, need to protect themselves right?" he guessed. "I don't really understand why, it's not like Human's can really pose a threat to the Sidhe right?"

"well. maybe we can get the word out to the half fey, get them to start shoring up their defenses?" James wondered. "or would that make it worse?" he asked, looking at Alex because he was the best at knowing.

"As soon as i passed within distance of the wards i'd be skipping with the daisies." he admitted, smiling at Sith. "I'm sorry for your loss but there is something we need to ask before you leave. the murderer tends to take something from the house, something magical. can you tell if there's something missing?" he asked softly. "we might be able to track the magical signature." he admitted. not about to ask why the other was so intent on keeping them out of the Courts. well he didn't really need to. he could guess. couple of half breed fey, when something powerful and strong, very likely a pure blooded fey from the unseelie courts and thus, waiting for any half blooded fey to make the mistake of going to close to the source of their oncoming death.

“we’ll do that....and good idea.”Loki muttered, smiling slightly. Glad they had something to tell Alex, that they’d be able to help.

“I know. Fey as a whole, aren’t overly friendly.”Sith made a face, because after so many years in the human world, he’d made a life for himself here, away from the politics he really didn’t care for, he had started mimicking humans more, to fit in better. So he acted more human. “....You can outbred us. Sidhe rarely procreate pure blooded children. The ones that do, are....different. Odd, at least for some.”Sith said tilting his head, watching him, answering not because he really wanted to, but because this was his prince, maybe not the prince who ruled his court, but a sidhe prince, who would need protecting, at least till he figured out what to do. “Purebloods are never quite....right. At least, not most.”He corrected, because the two princes in front of him seemed to be functioning quite well really. “Most fey fear the halfbreeds because they could end up better then their screwy purebloods.”Sith made a face.

“IF I could figure out how to get in contact with them all, I would. But it’s hard. Most of the ones I find are on accident, talking to me tends to strip others of the glamours, but I can’t simply search the neighborhood to find people.”Alex said, which had been the most frustrating part. He’d been aware the killer had a type, had known and still hadn’t been able to get the word out without making a wide spread announcement to the whole world, not wanting to cause a panic, that would surely happen if he did. “....I’ll see what I can do. If I can get a word in with the hunt, they are the most friendly with the half breeds we know about. We might be able to get word out without causing a panic.”Sith said frowning slightly.

Sith startled, tilting his head a little,”Hm?”he frowned looking startled at the question, studying the two. “It’s true. There’s something missing from the house. Usually from the fae parent, though you are the first we’ve found that was actually still living with the kids. So he might not have taken anything.” “No...I’ll look.”Sith frowned standing up heading for his study, pausing as he looked around the room. Frowning as he moved over to the bookcase, and pulled down a copy of grimm’s fairy tales, and letting it fall open. Not in the least looking surprised as he saw the missing bracelet. “My cat’s eye bracelet is missing.” “....What’s it do?” “Usually I can only look through a cat’s eyes if I’m in the same city as they are. See the world as they do. With the bracelet I can find any cat in the world, as long as they’re standing on a ley line.” “....in other words, anywhere on earth, and see half fey.”Alex shuddered, well aware cats were more sensitive to magic then they sometimes gave the animals credit for.

"Overly friendly?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow. "that's the biggest damn understatement i ever freaking heard." he scoffed, shaking his head. "The pure blooded Fey think we're cockroaches, but humans have figured out that inbreeding is really bad, like really bad, hundreds of years ago. the Fey pre-date humans but that doesn't mean they're better or smarter. sure humans are fucked up but lets be honest here, the fey aren't much better." he pointed out.

"we can out breed the pure blooded Sidhe but not the Wild Hunts. for some reason, the Wild Hunt doesn't seam to be declining the way the other two courts are." Gabe admitted because he did have some connections and tried to keep up. the last few hundred years had been full of rumors about the declining courts. but the Wild Fey didn't have the same kind of court games. they where too wild. too feral for court games, they where simpler and didn't care of a mate was pure blooded six generations back. well, some did but they didn't get very many mates and Cernunnos wasn't the sort to give a damn so long as they obeyed his Laws.

"Actually... you only have to find one, or three. a lot of the half fey are actually connected to each other. how many half fey do we know Alex? back at home. how many people just like us?" he asked. "All we have to do is find one half fey or as many as we can, warn them and tell them to spread the word silently. make sure they understand that this is dangerous and to only tell the half fey they know and no one else." he hesitated and then glanced at Sith as if wary about announcing this before going ahead and doing it.

"Carrow can tell the difference between certain magics. Half fey, full Fey, magical creatures and so on. He could go scout it out, find some and we could go talk to them as both police and half fey twins with our lives on the line as well." he admitted, Gabe stiffening at that. "Don't tell me you hadn't noticed Gabe. honestly. whoever is killing, is killing any half fey twins they can find under the age of thirty. even then there was only one set as old as that. we're in just as much danger as the others. more, if only because the killer won't like us sniffing up their business."

"I don't like thinking about it." Gabe admitted simply before watching as Sith focused on what was missing. James glanced at Alex and then followed Cat Sith to the study, watching him and then gently picking up the book and spread his power out, calling for a fox. one specific fox in particular. Foxes where one of those funny animals that where neither cat nor dog and tended to fall outside of the Wild Hunt's spectrum, making them quite capable of ignoring the wards on Sith's house and in Kitiriku rushed in, barking and chattering excitedly, mouthing at James hands as he stroked the fox all over with a small sad smile before holding out the book, letting her snif at it. getting the scent of the magic in there before barking and racing off to find the trail.

"So it's a way of tracking targets. i wonder if all the other stolen things where of the same? whoever this is, they are taking whatever they can to continue their hunt." Gabe muttered, James nodding.

"i'll keep my mind linked to Kitiriku. if she finds the bracelet i'll know in an instant." James promised Alex, looking at Cat Sith. "Thank you for everything."

“probably is.”Sith muttered looking amused before wincing. “Yea. There are some who think that’s why the sidhe courts are struggling. They’ve outbred themselves, made the magic so potent that it’s fucking with what they should really be doing. Breeding.”Sith made a face, because it was Oberon’s pet theory of why some sidhe could bred better then others. Because some lines over the years had only had a few children, while others had multiplied like rabbits, breeding so much magic into the lines that it was like they’d hit a maximum point, and simply refused to add more children to it.

“True. There are some at home we know.”Alex frowned thinking about that, nodding slightly. “Between us and sith we’ll tell a few and spread the word that way.”Alex agreed feeling stupid for not having thought of it before. But he’d spent so much time standing over the dead bodies of half fey, he sometimes forgot about his connections to the living. Tensing a little at James’ words. “They’ll probably believe you more, simply because admitting something like this could put you in danger. Tying yourself in like this, will make the potential victims will probably make them pay more attention.”Loki frowned because he disliked knowing his friends were in danger, but it was still their best idea.

“We’ll do that.”Alex muttered shifting to brush a shoulder against gabe’s, as much to comfort the other as himself, before looking at the animals as they came in. Smiling slightly as he looked down at the quiet fox, watching her. “Probably. ”Sith paused. Thinking about it. “They’re burning it out, aren’t they? Whatever they’re stealing, if they’re using it to track, however they’re doing it, it’s destroying what they’re using.”Alex frowned a little. “Probably. If they are, you’ll be able to track the object until they burn it out. After that....it’ll be gone.”Sith shuddered a little. “It’s horrible to say, but this might have been luck. For you to end up here. That bracelet should last longer then most others, simply because I wear it alot. Soaks up magic.”Sith shrugged a little heading for the door.

James chuckled a little because he was pretty sure that even if some of the Fey realized that the inbreeding was a problem, they wouldn't do anything about it. they'd just rot themselves further because those that tried to branch into the lesser fey or worse, the half breeds where instantly and completely ostracized from the courts. they wouldn't risk that, at all, not even to improve the bloodlines. it didn't matter to them that they where slowly dying, their social status was more important.

"The word will spread but i don't know how much good it's going to do." James admitted. "whoever is attacking the people here, they're tough as shit. full blooded fey. there's no way humans and half fey are going to be able to actually put up a fight against a pure blooded fey with actual court connections." the Fey with connections at the court where stronger than the wild Fey for a reason and James had a very sinking sensation that this person, whoever they where, where very close to the courts. Mab's courts. the Wild was practically screaming at him, warning him about the unseelie Magic.

"I'm more than sure people are going to believe us." James admitted. "it's hard to ignore when they are probobly already aware. people knew the people who died and when they start talking to each other, i'm sure they made the connection at just five murders. people aren't stupid, after all. it's hard to ignore the exact same pattern over and over again." James shook his head. "No matter what you fancy ass cops say." he admitted with a chuckle. "the common person isn't as stupid as that." he admitted.

"i think so. i tried using a focus to look for someone once." James admitted. "i can't remember why now. i never managed it, i burned the thing out before i even managed anything because i'm crap at it." he admitted. "maybe this guy isn't so good at it either?" James mused before pausing. "Kitiriku found it." he said suddenly. "they didn't even go very far. to the woods not even a mile from here." he admitted, looking at Alex. "this person is confidence. or maybe cocky." he shook his head. "either way they seam to have abandoned the Cats eye necklace. hope Sith can made a new one. if they got more than one use out of it though... i have no idea how to tell."

“It’ll do some good. If they know, they can be ready to flee. Or look for help. I don’t know, but it should do some good.”Alex sighed softly, because even without james’ connection, the man knew that whatever this was, was wild and uncontrollable, with the cold slice of winter magic slicing through it. He’d just been relucatant to face the the fact he was going to be declaring war on Mab’s court if he tried to catch this killer.

“No, if he’s stealing them this often, then no I doubt he’s good at it.”Alex sighed softly, looking at james even as his phone went off. Glancing at Sith as he walked out with a quiet goodbye, shifting into a cat as the man headed for the courts. Alex held up a hand, even as he picked up his phone. “Hold on, then we’ll go get it.”. Moving into the other room to answer the phone. Returning in a few minutes, with a small frown. “Can you guard him if you two go alone?” “Of course. What is it?” “We have a missing girl a few towns over. Me and Alex will go check that out, if you catch up after. Aria left a car for you two if you want.”Alex said sighing softly, worn and guilt ridden, trying not to break down as he looked at gabe. “We’ll head to the girl’s apartment, see if we can find anything.”

"that's true. relocate even. go visit family in the states or in other countries." James mused. "whoever is doing this seams to be focusing here. there has only been two deaths in another country right? in the states."

"Yes. in this case, it was that one twin was living here and the other was in the states." Gabe explained. "At least, as far as we can tell. there might be others but if there are, we don't know about them." Gabe looked at Alex and then back at Loki and James. "this is going to get very serious very fast. if you want to back out, you have to do it now."

"I am not leaving my brother to deal with something like this alone." James said, scowling at Gabe. "the fact that you think i would abandon my brother over something so trifling as death is extremely insulting. Family is everything. that's what me and Alex swore. Family is everything, not family from blood, but Family of the heart and Alex is both." James admitted. "i would rather die now than abandon him." Gabe had to admit, he was touched. he hadn't realized how Loyal James could be.

"Missing Girl?"James asked, looking confused. "how does this tie into whats happening here?" James asked, baffled, Gabe snorting.

"It doesn't. but we're Interpol and we where asked to help, likely because the missing girl is Fey." Gabe admitted. "we're specialists. we don't work just one case, not all the time." Gabe admitted. "you can't work that one because it's unrelated and your not cops." Gabe explained.

"Then why can we work this case?" James asked, baffled.

"Because Alex is allowed to pick his specialists and we think that you and Loki could be the only things that make, or break, this case." Gabe admitted. "now, go check on the Cat's bracelet."

"Sir, yes Sir." James scoffed before smiling a little at Loki. "Come on. we'll go after Kitiriku. they'll go after the poor girl. if anyone can find her it's you two." he assured Alex. "Come on Loki. let's go get the cat eye bracelet and see if you can't lay some skills on it and find another magical trace or something."

“Whoever he’s looking for, must have been here at some time. Or at least he’s focusing on the countries that have the highest Fey presence.”Alex frowned a little before wincing. “He might have killed before this pattern, but it wasn’t anything recognizable that we could connect them all together.”Alex sighed softly. “You guys could go you know...”Alex muttered watching loki and james. Willign to let them, even if he needed their help.

“No. We’re not going anywhere. Even if I die....”Loki shrugged. “Risking death isn’t something new to me. And they’re the closest family I have. So, even if I have to put up with your grouchy ass Gabe, I’m staying.”Loki said offering a small amused smile, even if it was strained.

“She’s fae. And since we are specialists, working on a fae serial case, it was kicked straight to us, since we’re the team that was closest. The next nearest team with the skills to handle it are nearly 20 hours away. And in a kidnapping, every minute matters.”Alex said looking pale before smiling strained. “Besides, I trust you guys to do this.”Alex said watching them go before looking at gabe. “Let’s get going.”He said following the other’s to the door. “Hopefully if we can get the bracelet, the trace will be there. Something to go with.”Loki muttered as he smirked at james. “I’m driving. You don’t get to drive. I remember the last time you drove in london, it was a mess.”he teased sliding into the car, and following james’ directions.

“...They’ll be okay?”Alex said looking at gabe as they headed for their car.

"No. i think, whatever this person is looking for. whoever. they assume the person... people, are going to be here. they're looking for someone specific and the murderer obviously thinks that the person is here in Europe. we just have to figure out who they are, before the murderer does." James mumbled. "there's no other reason why they would do it only in Europe, right?" he asked. "the murderer is obviously not using connections if he's stealing things to scary, then clearly he's not using any connections to find these victims." James admitted, shaking his head.

"We're not leaving." James stated before he snorted at Loki. "you'll just be born again. there's not much risk of death there Loki." he teased with a chuckle before watching Alex.

"So you think there might be a connection of some sort?" he asked Alex, a little bit baffled. why would a murderer become a kidnapper? that didn't make any sense at all. none. all the murders had been done in the home, what reason then, would the murderer need to kidnap someone? they where missing something. something big. if the two weren't connected though, it was a hell of a coincidence. a distraction maybe? they where finally making progress and suddenly this? something was... funny, here. and not funny 'haha' funny as in crawling down his spine.

"Something for us to track at the very least." he agreed with Loki, smiling at him. "you know this is a crap job right? someone's going to get hurt, if not dead." he admitted simply. "this is going to end so bad.. i can feel it. turn left here." he ordered once they where on the road. he knew better than to try and drive all wonky.

"They'll be fine. they might not be cops but they're professionals." Gabe admitted. "they won't get into much trouble." he hoped not at least.

“Yes, that makes sense. Especially if it’s someone that’s been hiding from the courts.”alex sighed softly before nodding. “Yes. We’ll find them first.”Alex looked sad because he knew there were people who died because he hadn’t been able to make the connections. “There’s a risk I’ll be on another incarnation before Thor will be.”Loki said sounding both depressed and annoyed at the idea.

“Yes. I do. Some. I mean, when you hear hoofbeats you think horses, not unicorns. Usually the easiest answer is the right one. I don’t know why a murderer would resort to kidnapping a full fey, but I can’t stand coincidences.”Alex made a face, hating that he had no idea, but it was like a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, it twisted him all up. He knew he was missing something, and it was going to bite him on the ass.

“At least.”Loki agreed before huffing a little. “I know. But like you said, we’re not going anywhere. Beyond leaving Alex to face off against it alone, I can’t afford the bad karma that would come with pissing off Gabe that badly.”Loki joked a little shuddering at the idea. Before nodding, turning as he headed down the street.

“Professional thieves you mean. They’ll get in trouble. You know it.”Alex said as he drove, which was normal for him. This mother henning and fussing, it made him twitchy to not have james under constant watch. The fact that he usually was far away from his twin made him twitchy. Stopping in front of house, he looked up at the quiet looking townhouse, as he got out. “Her roommate is the one who reported her missing. Apparently first cops on scene recognized the wards when he crossed them, so he kicked it up to us.”Alex sighed shivering a little as he felt the wards crash into his own shields and sending them trembling. Shuddering a little as he felt Loki’s glamour tremble before settling again. “Remind me to thank the godling, later.”he muttered,

"Someone hiding from the courts? no way, if it was someone hiding from the courts, all of the Fey would be looking right? someone hiding from the courts would mean trying to hide from Oberon or Mab right? and they would not be quiet about it." Gabe asked, looking puzzled. "No, this is being careful, quiet. someone doesn't want someone else to know. this is secret i bet anything this is secrete." he knew it had to be, because his Alex was the missing prince. and he bet anything that something had tipped off Mab that he was still alive and was sending someone, probobly hr special little hunter, out to kill any twins he could find so they would be murdered before Oberon ever realized they where still alive. how could he tell Alex this without revealing Alex was the missing fey prince? this was serious, this was dangerous, this was so very bad and Gabe couldn't do shit. damned if he did and damned if he didn't and he bet anything that Loki was having the same issue. wait, who the hell was Thor?

"You'll find him. hey, maybe that'll be our next mission eh? tracking down Thor?" James offered to Loki with a grin. "and anyway, even if you flip lives they always re-synchronize right?" he asked with a smile. "it'll be fine." he promised, patting Loki's shoulder.

"Your right. the answer has to be simple. or simpler than we think it might be." James agreed. "there's a connection, there always is nd it's usually stupid obvious once we... you, figure it out." James agreed. "...are Unicorns real by the way?" he wondered. "i've never heard for sure." he admitted before smiling as he watched Loki. "yeah we don't need that kind of Karma. turn right. the forest there. there's a glen." he explained. "Kitiriku said there are wards up, lingering not active but they could be dangerous so we'll park from a distance and then see about the wards... or you will anyway. i'm not good at wards." he admitted before smirking at Loki. "we should try getting Gabe a date. that man needs laid."

"Yeah well... i don't think it will be bad trouble." he admitted. "at worst we'll have to pay some bail money. you know how they are." he admitted with a smile. "come on. relax. he knows how serious this is. it'll be fine." he promised. "how long has she been missing?" Gabe asked, frowning a little as he felt the wards. "shit. this is some serious warding. scared, paranoid?" he wondered. "i'm not thinking the little punk. hundreds of thousands of years old and he steals paintings and burgles safes. seriously."

“Then from someone in court maybe. I dunno. It’s something. It’s nagging at me and I just can’t put my finger on it.”Alex grumbled, sighing a little. Rubbing a hand over his face before nodding. “A secret sounds right.”He agreed. “Hm, maybe. With my luck, thor’s milking cows or something in the middle of Scandinavia.”Loki huffed a little before smiling. “It’ll be fine.”He agreed.

“probably really simple. We’re just holding onto to many pieces to make it think it might be. Simple...”Alex sighed shaking his head before smiling. “we’ll figure it out....and no. As far as I know, there are no unicorns.”He snickered a little. “No, we really don’t need that karma....”Loki agreed following the directions, before nodding. “I’ll take care of the wards.”he promised as he parked and got out, frowning a little. “Yes...though I think we try, we’ll probably get yelled at for the efforts, you know.”he said frowning as he neared the bracelet, feeling the fading magic, but trying to figure out what they could be as he edged closer without activiating them yet.

“Hm, we can spare the bail money.”alex snickered a little, knowing the slight laughter had probably been gabe’s intent, before nodding, relaxing some. “Since last night. Rommate came home this morning and she wasn’t in, and hadn’t been home when the girl left last night.”he shrugged a little. “Yea, it is. That, or she has some serious people watching out for her.”Alex said looking the rooms over, glad the roommate wasn’t home to interrogate, the normal police could handle that part. He’d see if he could find anything from magical standpoint. “...Did he tell you about the time he was a milk maid, or scooped up horse shit for a lord or something? For all that I dislike it, burgling is a slight step up.”Not that he’d ever tell them that. Smiling as he started searching the house, twitching every so often. “....Is it just me, or are you feeling watched?”

"Yeah. me too." James admitted. "i bet it's from another fairy tale. Mab seams to like repeating those..."

"would you stop saying her name!?" Gabe snapped. "the last thing we want is to draw her attention, considering whoever is doing this probobly has her protection. she won't give a shit about one of her favored mad ones murdering people and she might even be the one urging the murderer on. punishing Oberon or even Cernunnos, trying to find someone to hurt them. or worse. this person could simply be looking for his own revenge and is simply being protected. there's all kinds of ways... that woman, could be connected to this case and even if she isn't, we don't want that kind of attention focused on us." Gabe pointed out.

"Isn't Thor usually born somewhere near you? we could always just do the secrete agent thing, look up any kids from the orphanage who look the part and start the search from there. easy." James pointed out, smiling at Loki with an impish grin.

"Thanks. i'm shit at Wards." James admitted, stepping out of the car once he told Loki to stop and stroked the trees, pausing at the edge of the ward line. the trees warned him at the exact moment the wards began. "Trees say it's nasty. stripping magic." he said to Loki. "locked in blood." he patted the tree who had told him this. the older trees where often full of intelligence and wisdom and this one was hundreds of thousands years old. old enough it was starting to die of old age and it was wise enough to be able to tell when Magic was worked around it and what kind of magic and this was violent, wild magic and the trees didn't like it.

"Yeah. we'll get yelled at I'm sure. there's something wrong here." he muttered. "I'm feeling very... watched." he admitted, frowning a little before he faltered, startled when he realized that someone had planted their hand on his back and shoved. not Loki, Loki was already laying past the wards on the ground, out cold. he twisted, grabbing blindly, his hand wrapping around something before he fell past the ward. his skin burst int pearly luminescence, marking him as a full blooded, and very powerful young Sidhe. he was pretty sure it was the only reason why he wasn't dead, no one wanted to try and kill a full blooded Sidhe. especially not if this was supposed to be a secret. his hair, normally black, shattered. the hair dye he usually used disintegrating under the wards, revealing hair so fine, white/silver like starlight and eyes that glowed a soft pale blue so light they looked like a robins egg. he didn't notice though because his mind was lost,t he Wild took him, swept him away and he smiled. he was... everything. he could see everything. feel everything. hear everything and the smells. the beautiful smells of flowers and forest and wild things. he giggled because it felt so good, so very good and he got to his feet and skipped away, passing through the wards as if they had never existed. probobly startling the hell out of the assailant. James had never moved so soft and graceful, sweeping through the woods, the wild wild woods like a wisp.

"Last night. i think your right. there's a connection here. the cats eye necklace goes missing and then a few hours later this girl goes missing? there's no way this is a coincidence." Gabe mumbled. "He was just a farm girl." Gabe said with a chuckle. "she was the one from the stories. you know. abut the little girl who saw the procession of cats who told her the Cat King was dead, right?" he asked with a smile. "yeah. well. I suppose your right." Gabe admitted with a chuckle and a shake of his head before shuddering a little. "yeah i do feel watched. monitoring wards perhaps? or maybe someone's here? could be James, using his connection to animals to keep an eye on us or something? he fusses almost as bad as you do sometimes you know."

Alex winced, “please. The more we say it, the more she’s going to be drawn to it. Even more then anywhere else here, she’ll pay attention to things going on in this land.” “Sorry.”Loki winced a little swallowing hard, because it scared him to consider mab giving full consent to doing this.

“He is. Usually. Sometimes not. We’ll find out.”Loki smiled a little at the other’s smile. “You are. It’s okay though. Hold on.”Loki said making his face a little as he looked at the wards, shuddering a little when he saw the blood. Wincing as he felt the push that sent James straight into the wards and his own magic haywire, turning to confront the fey he’d recognized moments to late, twisting to lash out at him even as he felt his shields shatter as he past out. Indeed the fey that stood there watching james, frowned watching him go. Snarling quietly as he considered killing the young god in front of him, but...killing loki was a complication he wasn’t ready to deal with yet. Snarling as he realized that for the moment, james was out of reach, that he wasn’t going to be able to kill him yet. Not yet, not with the wild fey starting to come out of the woods to see what the wild had found. It’d never say a secret. Swallowing hard as he melted away, trusting that the sidhe might just piss off the wild so badly, he’d never come back.

“No, there really couldn’t be.”Alex said sighing a little before snorting. “oh yea. He does have some of the most amusing stories really.”Alex said, not that he’d ever admit that to loki, it’d only encourage bad behavior. “Maybe...I could see james doing that....and I do not fuss over him. I just make sure he’s not killing himself.”Alex made a face at the other, frowning as he paused at the bookcase, eyes widening as he saw the picture, frowning at the blood haired fey. Usually fey didn’t like their picture taken, but some of the younger ones didn’t mind so much. Holding up the picture he raised a eyebrow. Maybe he was wrong.”Look familiar to you?”he asked.

"We will have to find out." he agreed with a laugh before loosing hi mind to the wild, the murderer loosing his chance. of the murderer even realized who James was. really was. either way the man's hope that James would die for pissing off the Wild was a fruitless one. as always, the Wild loved James. loved him way too much, it would be more than a little bit of hell to try and snap him out of this one. it had been hard enough before and then there where only a couple of trees back in the city. this was an entire contaminant that thought, that felt, that was smarter than most people where. the Wild would not give him up easily but he wouldn't die save from old age. no animal, not even feral or rabid ones, would ever attack James and the wild wouldn't let him fall, eat poison, or be hurt. he was the Wilds most precious being, and he felt just so loved. worse, the Wild was so vast, they might never find him again. he was as good as a ghost now. worse, he had shed his clothes, they itched, not natural, and the little lock box with his moon struck steal was laying on top of his clothes as where all of his knives. thank god he had kept the Cold iron, the Wendigo and the Silver blades.. the Wild had insisted. he would go bury them somewhere else, make sure no one ever found them.

"well he is older than the earth is. of course he has some fun stories." he pointed out with a chuckle. "you do fuss. but that's what we all love about you." he admitted with a chuckle. "i am pretty sure he values life too much." he admitted with a chuckle before blinking as he took the picture, paling. "oh fuck. Alex. this is Princess Belladonna Branwyn." he whispered, quite pale. "someone has stolen the Horned Gods daughter." he looked up at Alex. "we're fucked. this all but confirms that one of the Courts is involved and i bet you anything it's the Queen. no one else would dare touch the precious daughter of Cernunnos. not if they didn't have the protection of the King or the Queen." of course, he could be overreacting. she could have just been mugged or kidnapped by a stupid human but Gabe very much doubted that.

“true.”Alex snickered a little before rolling his eyes. “You fuss. I don’t.”He grumbled before frowning at the other. “I meant cause that’s the girl James dreams about. Or at least a damned good likeness if his description is correct.”Alex frowned. “Are you sure that’s who it is?”he asked before tilting his head. “Are you sure Oberon wouldn’t be punishing her from some sort of slight?”He asked, because he to thought it was the queen if anyone, but he wanted to cover his bases.

“....You said Bell’s supposed to come home soon?”Sith asked looking at the lord sitting across from him, lounging very much like a cat, sprawled over the desk chair he was sitting in. Running a hand through his hair, wanting the girl home, not just because he liked her dad, but because he liked her. Even if the dead were all half fey, and he knew why they were being attacked, he still wanted her here, where he could look after her. He'd failed his own girls. he wouldn't fail her.

Gabe looked startled. "wait. wait a minute James has been dreaming about a girl?" Gabe asked, looking stunned. somehow, he had never known James had been dreaming about a girl. after three dreams of the same girl, James had called Alex to make sure he wasn't going mad. he had not been very happy with what Alex had told him and hadn't spoken of it since and pretended it never happened. now he was trapped in the woods with nothing on his mind but her and the wild. which was impressive that he could still think of her. "i'm very sure. i met her once. after... my accident." Gabe said, indicating his crotch. "i can't remember much about it. i was delirious with pain, infection and fever. they where not kind when they neutered me." this was the most Gabe had ever spoken of it. normally, it never came up, he'd always just said it had been from an accident. now he was speaking of a 'them' like it was some kind of great evil. certainly not the way he might have spoken about doctors.

"i'd somehow ended up in the Wild Courts. Cernunnos himself had found me and dragged me from death, and introduced me to his then six year old daughter and said in repayment of my life, i might someday be asked to risk it to save her. i burned her image into my mind, determined to take the promise to save her if i was ever asked." he looked at Alex. "her father probobly isn't aware yet... and i'm very sure it was not Oberon involved in the princess going missing. he adores her. or he did. he was there while i was recovering. they played tea party. he let her paint his face with that stuff your human women do. the red stuff on the lips and the color on the eyes..." sometimes Gabe couldn't remember the simplest of human things, it was hilarious. too bad the topic of conversation had gone so sour.

~~**~~

Cernunnos turned to look at one of his most dearest friends. he was a hulking bast of a man, with copper skin and hands so big the hawk resting on it looked like a pigeon. he could have been called a Giant, if he wasn't a god. two horns curled from his hair like a yearlings, only four points but they where large enough for a human head. his eyes where very sharp, like an animals though it was nearly impossible to tell, as they seamed to shift and melt from one to another. his hair was brown, but you could hardly tell with the cowl made of leaves, vines and moss that draped over his head and down over his shoulders. he reached down and picked up the golden goblet hat held his spring water, his nails painted black a sharp contrast against his bright skin and gold cup.

"She is to be back tomorrow i believe. she had a final test today in the... i forget which class. one of the easier ones i imagine, she seamed rather uncaring of the thing." he admitted, sounding very pleased to have such an intelligent daughter. "You appear very troubled my friend. what is wrong?" he asked, frowning a little, his eyes finally settling, appearing much like Cat Sith's. cat like and sharp, concerned. "ah, hello Moonshadow." Cernunnos said, smiling as a pith black house cat danced into he room, mouse dangling from her mouth looking very pleased with herself. she dropped the mouse in front of Cat Sith as tribute, or maybe because she thought he was cute, she never said. she did have an interesting story about someone being 'trapped with the woods'. which was very interesting. she'd reported before of people being trapped 'in' the woods but never 'with' the woods. other cats had reported like that though, people with developing powers who lost their minds to the Wilds Hold.

“Yes, at least if there’s no one else who looks like this, it’s been this girl. Since he was little actually. He wasn’t very happy about me telling him she was probably important to him and he’d just have to wait to meet her.”Alex shrugged because it had been the only explanation he’d had at the idea, frowning at the other a little. Crossing the room to wrap his arms around the other, tucking himself against the other’s chest, knowing this topic wasn’t one he ever wanted to talk about. Comforting both himself and gabe, knownig this just wasn’t a good thing for either of them to think about. Cause the more upset gabe was, the more anxious alex got. But they’d be okay. “dammit....”he sighed softly.

“Ah. I see....well. It seems like we’re going to get the chance to risk everything to find her.”Alex sighed softly at the idea, but he knew they’d have to go after her, even if gabe hadn’t owed her father, alex could never knowingly turn his back on someone in trouble. “No...I doubt it. He’d be here if he was aware...and that’s adorable. It’s make up by the way.”He muttered with a strained amused smile, rubbing a hand over his face. “We need to get word to him, without alerting everyone in the courts we were here. Cat sith seemed intent on keeping us away, I’d rather not find out why just yet.”So, alex was aware cat sith had reasons beyond just keeping halfbreeds out of the courts, just not what they were. Well aware he probably wouldn’t like the answer.

~~

“Good. And well, she’s very good at tests. We’ll hope it’s easy and that she will be here soon after.”Sith said relaxing at the idea of her being here soon. Frowning slightly as he looked at the other. “Besides the girls? I am worried. The....two I met, things are going to be nasty, I doubt they will be able to avoid coming here. And the lady....”Sith sighed. “Obie will accept them. Will love them. I hate seeing him hurt. And if they come here, he will be.”Because mab will make sure they are hurt for the fact that their father loved them. Leaning down to pick up the cat he smiled amused at the mouse. “Hello Moon.”He muttered petting her before frowning, looking worried. “....Oh hell.”He muttered glancing at the other. “We might have problems right now. Feel like helping me hide something before it gets out of control?”He asked before looking at moonshadow.”Sweetheart, spread the word. Protect him, and not tell anyone else about him. He’ll be in danger if anyone else knows.”Might be to late, but he could try protecting james, and figure out what the hell happened.

Gabe looked a bit startled at that, realizing why he'd never known. Jmes had off and on called Alex about 'the girl from his dreams' when he was upset. James sometimes saw her in some pretty rough conditions. crying, bleeding, unhappy or pissed off and for a while he always called Alex hoping he could fix things. because it was Alex, he could fix everything. he had been very unhappy once he'd realized Alex couldn't fix this. "I would have risked everything anyway. she was a sweet thing. she used to sneak into my rooms when i was in so much pain i couldn't stand it, and sing me songs to make me feel better." Gabe admitted with a smile. "i owe her father my life, but i owe her my soul." he admitted. "had she not shown me such kindness, i might never have recovered. not mentally, or emotionally..." he looked at Alex. "I never did tell you, did i? what really happened? i'm sorry. i should have by now... remind me after the case is finished, i don't want you distracted." he admitted with a smile.

"It is adorable." Gabe agreed with a grin at the memory of seeing the might Lord Oberon, King of all that was light and life, dressed up in a tiara, makeup with a little girl painting his nails talking about unicorns and the tea they where drinking. "We need James. he can send a bird or a fox. Cernunnos is the King of all things wild, he'll be able to understand them." He admitted. "or Cat Sith can be told when he comes back for his little girls... did he ever say what was to be done about the human mother?" she would be buried according to her will. cremated and her ashes scattered where Cat Sith felt best. she had always known he would outlive her, and so had arranged for him to put her to rest. "I know why Cat Sith doesn't want you in the courts... but i can't tell you without putting you and James in even ore danger." he admitted softly. "please don't be mad for keeping secretes but i'm terrified of what will happen when you find out."

~~**~~

"What is wrong? you don't normally worry about my little Nightshade so openly." he'd always called her that, it was a term of deep affection. and a warning to anyone who might want to mess with her. she was just as dangerous as her brothers and anyone would be a fool to touch her. "the missing princes." Cernunnos mumbled, feeling safe mentioning them only because the Wild would never allow for listening spells here. he would never ris mentioning the twins outside of his own realms. "Of course Oberon will welcome them. they are his children and he has been pining for them for years. he thinks they are dead you know, not that he would ever realize that his wife was the one trying to murder the poor babes." Cernunnos grumbled. "He is a good friend, but he is blind to his wife's growing insanity. cruelty and rage. i would call her evil, but i rather know better." she was well beyond such simple things as human concepts.

"hmm?" he asked when he heard the other curs. "Oh? has one of our children killed something they shouldn't have again?" he wondered before blinking at Moon. if cat's where capable, he'd swear she would have rolled her eyes. "Really? how curious." he mused, watching the cat as she reported that the Wild loved the one who was trapped and would protect him. even from himself. not even the feral or rabid animals would harm the man child lost to the woods. Cernunnos hadn't heard of that since he was a child struggling to control his gift. if it wasn't for the fact that his daughter was his heir, he would have sworn this child might easily be the one to take his place as king of the Wild. still, Oberon had the same problems when he had been a child, too connected to everything. Cernunnos had power over everything living. Oberon had power over everything tht was life. what was the difference? Cernunnos couldn't talk to rocs and dirt or the sentience of the earth the way Oberon, and now James, could. Cernunnos new, without a doubt now, that Sith had truly found the lost twins. "Let's go save the child from himself. clearly he has been very lax in learning to control his powers. Go and fetch my Moon forged steal." Cernunnos commanded one of his footmen who bowed and dashed away.

“Yes, he was very disappointed to know I couldn’t fix everything.”Alex snorted a little before nodding. “Well then. We’ll get this girl back, Gabe. You know I’ll try.”He said smiling slightly, worried as he shuddered. “No you didn’t. And I respected that....and I will.”He promised as he stepped back, sighing quietly. “We’ll get james.”Alex promised as he dialed, frowning when it kicked to voicemail. Same with loki’s. Glancing at gabe worried before nodding. “Cremated and scattered where Sith wants.”He said before frowning harder at his mate, tilting his head. Getting ready to dig his heels in about knowing. “Fine....for now. You can keep the secret...”He decided, looking shaking as he realized they still weren’t answering. “Dammit....”

~~

“I know. And with someone killing half fey, she could be mistaken for a halfing. Worried about her.”Sigh sighed softly, making a face before nodding. “Indeed. Apparently they weren’t raised here. They sound like our kin in Boston.”Because most of irish americans at one time or other had lived in boston. “Of course Oberon would. But his acceptance might not be somethign they can afford, not if they want to keep breathing.”Sith said sighing a little, “He loves her. It blinds him.”

“no, worse.”He sighed a little. Before rolling his eyes. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. I’m just being cautious.”he huffed a little before smiling at cernunnos. “He’s like you. A wild child.”He teased a little, before shaking his head. “No...not lax. He’s been trying very very hard to build shields. Him and the twin. I think....I think they’ve done something to themselves, to hide. It makes control hard. His twin is so locked down that I didn’t even realize he was sidhe until I’d broken his glamour.”Sigh made a face as he stood, smirking a little as the footman handed them the boxes of moon forged steel, shaking his head. “It amuses me how much of this stuff you have.”