Establishing pecking order becomes very important. Julie finds herself at a disadvantage.
Academically she's behind, so she can't use her accomplishments in that area to gain popularity. She's not very good at sports, partially due to malnourishment and partially because she doesn't have remarkable talents in that arena. We have some outstanding athletes and she realizes she will never be a star. She doesn't excel at combat, and while those with knowledge find her magical sensitivity impressive, children appreciate flashier magics more."
"In other words, she isn't a jock, she isn't a warrior, she's taking remedial lessons, and her magic is lackluster because she can't breathe fire or melt metals with a blink."
"Essentially. Some of the children in the same position reach for their family history to establish their cred with other kids."
"Julie doesn't have any remarkable family members." No heroes. No great mages.
"She has you."
"Oh."
"She's been telling stories. Beautiful, terrifying stories of demons and goddesses and witches.
I know they are true recollections because I feel her sincerity. But the kids . . ."
"They're picking on her because they think she's lying."
"Yes. We're monitoring the situation very closely. She has not suffered any abuse. However, Julie's an emotional child . . ."
"She's a chunk of plastic explosive with a fuse armed."
"Aptly put. She has a knife."
I closed my eyes and counted to three. I had taken away all her knives and searched her twice before I dropped her off.
"She refuses to part with it. We can take the knife away physically. But it would greatly reinforce the damage already done to her ego. It would be much better if she gave it up voluntarily and I'm afraid you're the only person who could compel her to do so at this stage."
I glanced at the clock. Eleven. Felt like 6:00 p.m. "What's Julie's schedule for the rest of the day?"
There was a pause. "Remedial algebra until one, second shift lunch until one thirty, instruction in the remedial arcane until three, social studies until four, and archery until five . .
."
"Does she take archery with the other children?"
"Yes. It's an outside activity."
If I hurried, I could get there before five. "Could you do me a favor? Please tell Julie at lunch, so the other children will hear, that her aunt is coming to pick her up during archery practice?"
"Absolutely."
"Thank you."
I hung up and saw Jim leaning against the doorframe. "Kid okay?"
"Yeah. I'm leaving to pick her up."
"I'll send someone with you."
"I don't need an escort."
Jim leaned his hands on the table and stared at me. "I assume the worst. If it was me, I'd have a way to track my dead. I'd track them here and watch the house. I'd follow you when you left and hit you when you're at your weakest - when you had the kid with you. You die. Julie dies. Derek dies. I don't tell you how to swing your sword. That's your thing. Security's my thing. Take someone with you."
My side had finally stopped bleeding. The magic of Doolittle's med-spell must've caught up and repaired the damage.
"Kerosene?" I asked.
He reached into the cabinet and handed me a bottle of lighter fluid and a box of matches. I went to the sink, dropped the gauze, sloshed fluid on it, and set it on fire. "Fair enough. Let me take Raphael."
"The bouda?" Jim's face wrinkled in distaste. "You want to bring a bouda into this?"
"None of you can go. In case you missed it, there is a Pack-wide APB out on you and your crew. But Curran would never give an order to apprehend me."
"You seem very sure of that."
I knew the way Curran's mind worked. Having me brought to him would not be as satisfying as catching me himself. He wouldn't give up that chance. Of course, saying that to Jim would lead to explaining the "not only will you sleep with me, but you'll say please before and thank you after" conversation Curran and I had had. And the insane morning antics. And the naked dinner promise. What the hell was I thinking kissing him anyway?
"I'm not under Curran's jurisdiction." I chose my words carefully. Hopefully he'd buy it. "He has no authority. Ordering the Pack to detain me would be sanctioning the kidnapping of a law enforcement official." Which wouldn't stop Curran for a second. "Let me take the bouda."
"What makes you think he won't turn us over to Curran?"
"He's in love with my best friend. I'll ask him to help me pick up Julie and that's