probably can't come back to Jesus now, even if he wanted to. But all the others. We'll be unified. There will be no power vacuum for Oberon to move into. He's screwed.'
'Don't underestimate him, Domino. Don't underestimate any of the fey. You've seen what I can do, and I'm among the least of my kind.'
'I doubt that, Honey. Warrior-princess, remember? Anyway, I'm not underestimating anyone. I know it won't be easy. War never is. But it's a war we can win.'
'So what will you do?'
'Right now, I've got to report in and get my marching orders.'
I got on my cell and went into my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I trusted Honey, but I still didn't feel comfortable talking business in front of someone who wasn't part of the outfit.
Rashan had been prepared for what had to happen by the time I left his house, and he listened to my report without emotion. That's pretty much the way he did everything.
'Honey is convinced King Oberon is still coming,' I said when I'd finished.
'She's right. We might be able to defeat him, but he won't stop without a fight. It's not his way.'
'We might be able to defeat him? Don't be so modest, boss. We just need to get you down to Crenshaw and you can open up a can of Sumerian whoop-ass on him.'
Silence.
'Boss? You there? You can take this guy, right?'
'I'm here, Dominica. But I'm afraid I cannot participate in the coming battle.'
'You got something more important to do?' Maybe Rashan had agreed not to use his magic against Oberon.
Rashan sighed. 'You're aware of the effect juice has on sorcerers.'
'Yeah, I guess. It gives you a buzz, maybe it's a little addictive.'
'It's very addictive, and I've been using it for more than six thousand years. The addiction itself isn't the problem-it's the effect repeated use of magic has on the human mind.'
'What effect is that?'
'It drives us mad. Sooner or later, it breaks whatever part of us is left that is still human. Surely you've seen hints of this in your own practice of the art.'
Again, I recalled how I'd wigged out after trashing Terrence's gangbangers at the junkyard. I'd felt like a monster then, and I was feeling it now. I'd been at the edge of collapse after squeezing the changeling, but now I felt like I could do it all over again. Worse, I felt like I might want to.
'I guess I never thought about it much. You never really mentioned it would get worse.'
'Now you know. It's no coincidence that there are so many legends of mad wizards in human folklore. In the mythology of every culture on Earth, secret and forbidden knowledge always has a price for the mortals who seek it. Dominica, I haven't cast more than one spell at a time in fifty years. I haven't used magic seriously, for an extended period of time, since the sixteenth century. If I start using it now, I will become as great a danger to this world as King Oberon.'
'Well, ain't that a bitch.' It was like finding out your role model, someone you idolized, was kind of a loser. I hadn't been this disappointed in someone since Michael Jordan tried to hit a curve ball.
'I didn't intend for you to find out like this. Things are moving faster than I anticipated. I'd hoped for more time to prepare you.' He sighed again, and for the first time he sounded old and tired. 'There is never enough time. One thing you learn after six thousand years-there's never enough time.'
'What are you saying, boss?'
'You're ready, Dominica. You've proven that. You uncovered this plot. You revealed and defeated King Oberon's agent. You did that. I didn't lift a finger. I've been searching for someone who could lead us through the approaching storm for more than half a century. I finally found that person, in you.'
'Just like that? I'm the new boss?'
'Don't be presumptuous. I'm not dead. As long as I'm alive, I remain the boss of this outfit. Your boss. And should you grow weary of that arrangement and begin to think ambitious thoughts, remember that I've survived for six millennia. I enjoy being alive. If forced to choose, you'll find I choose madness over death.'
'Jesus, boss, I wasn't planning to rub you out. It's just…I'm not sure what to say. I'm not even sure I want this.'
Rashan laughed. 'Bullshit, Dominica. You want it bad. Even when I made you my lieutenant, you felt sorry for yourself. You always felt like you were just a serving girl, always running around doing things I could just as easily do for myself. Well, now you know the truth. I need you, Dominica. I always have.'
'So what is my role, exactly?'
'You're my wartime captain. In the old days, I would have called you my champion. As far as the coming war is concerned, you're in charge. You make all the decisions, you give the orders and your word is final. I'm available to advise you, at your discretion.'
'My discretion?'
Rashan sighed again, but this time he sounded more impatient than old. 'Yes, your discretion. As I said, your word is final. Even if I'm the one disagreeing with you.'
'What if I want to change the name of the Men's Room?'
'Don't even think about it. That has nothing to do with the war.'
'Just kidding, boss. Okay, I'm in. So advise me. What do I do next?'
'You tell me. You're in charge.'
'Okay, I'm in charge.' It felt good. I took a deep breath. 'Well, the Seelie Court is still going to try to come through. We don't know exactly when, and we don't know exactly what they'll do when they come, but at least we know where. The gate in Hawthorne is the key. That's where we have to attack.'
'And how will you attack?'
'I'm too tired to dick around with them. We mobilize in Crenshaw and fight our way into Hawthorne. We hit the gate. If we can take it down, the Seelie Court can't come through. That way we don't have to fight them block by block, house by house, down on the street.'
'Yes,' Rashan agreed. 'But you have to move quickly. King Oberon will send small tactical teams through to seize territory and lay down their own tags. He won't send an army at first, and you must use the window of opportunity that gives you.'
'Why won't he send an army?'
'For the same reason we avoid such overt action. Think, Dominica. This world is changing, but it's not ready for that change. How do you imagine the U.S. government would react if a fey army invaded L.A.?'
I didn't know. I couldn't even imagine it. It would escalate slowly, because the politicians and generals wouldn't be able to make any sense of it. Maybe just the National Guard at first, to deal with a wave of 'illegal immigrants.' The Marines would follow, and then…who knew? What would happen when they had to admit the illegal aliens weren't human and they were using magic? What would happen when the lid was finally popped off the underworld for everyone to see?
'It could get pretty ugly,' I said finally. 'Like, total breakdown of society ugly. But it would get even worse. Once it became clear L.A. had really been invaded by magical beings from another plane of existence…no options would be off the table.'
'Exactly. And King Oberon didn't wait all this time to eat a nuke the moment he finally makes it back.'
'So, no army.'
'Right. Not at first, anyway. Not until he's established himself here and consolidated enough power to sit down at the negotiating table as an equal among the nations of this world.'
'That's what he wants?'
'Of course. Long ago, even before my time, Arcadia was an empire that stretched from what is now Greece to the British Isles.'
'Arcadia. I thought that was just the fairy name for our world.'
'It is. For King Oberon, our world and his rightful kingdom are one and the same.'
'That's ambitious.'
'Yes, but he has to bide his time. His kingdom will not be built in a day. As you've discovered, he is exceedingly patient.'
