Satyr Play 02 Pt. 01

Henry smiled and closed his door. Sandy was good people. The world needed more people like her.

As he got ready for bed, he realized he was feeling a little better aside from the beginnings of a headache. He took some painkillers and drank a glass of water to prevent dehydration.

Talking it out with Sandy had helped. He didn't know why it was so easy to talk to her, but he was grateful she was there for him.

Speaking of good people, he needed to check if the not so good people had tried their luck with the VRL firewall. He logged in and brought up the logs. He smiled. Just the usual casual poking. So it seemed Kent wasn't successful in wrangling his hit team after all.

An image of Jun popped into his mind, and that triggered his recollection that he'd left the remote instance of his firewall running on her high school project. He sent a command to the VRL firewall, and a shutdown command would go out with the next scheduled update packet.

He shut down and crawled into bed.

Sighing, he pulled the covers up and let himself drift off, casting off his troubles for just a little while and hoping for a little dreamless sleep.

-=-

Kent was living in a waking nightmare.

Due to his exhaustion, he slept through his alarm. He didn't have time to shower or change his clothes and raced out of the house to drive at reckless speeds to get to work.

He'd tried to buy a coffee to perk himself up on his way to work, but his credit card wasn't working, and neither was his bank card. Then when he got to work and walked up to his desk, his PC was missing. The pranksters had gone above and beyond this time.

"You FUCKING ASSHOLES! Where's my computer?" he screamed.

A large man in a dark suit and a flat top haircut appeared next to his pod. "Kent Davidson?"

"Did you take my computer?" he blurted in a daze.

"Kent Davidson?"

He frowned and nodded.

"Come with me please."

Kent shuffled after the big man down the corridor to one of the larger boardrooms. He looked around in surprise when he entered as he saw Director Yosman, Supervisor McCalin, and Graham standing together and some FBI agents in a second group.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Did you crack that firewall?" Yosman asked.

Kent sagged with a frown. "No, sir. I need additional time. It's like nothing I've ever encountered-"

"He's all yours," the director said to the FBI agents.

The middle agent walked up to Kent and wrinkled his nose at his stench. "Kent Davidson, I'm placing you under arrest for trafficking child pornography. Agents are in the process of collecting the computers at your residence as we speak-"

"You can't do that!" Kent barked as a second agent cuffed him. They took his cell and put it into an evidence bag.

"We can and are," the first FBI agent said. Then he turned to the NSA agents. "Thank you for your assistance with this Director Yosman. Good luck with that breach."

Kent stared at Graham, but the man wouldn't look at him. Two agents took his arms and dragged him away as the nightmare continued.

"This can't be happening," Kent gasped, panic seizing his throat.

One of the agents grimaced and glanced over at him. "The fun has only just begun."

Director Yosman glared at McCalin as it was his man who caused the breach. Graham Wilkins brought them the email from Kent disclosing the backdoor access but it was too late. Someone had already used that access to infiltrate their network. The extent of the damage was under assessment.

"State of the art firewall technology circumvented by a fucking hack added by your man! We spent millions developing that software. When the FBI is done charging that punk, I'm going to press charges of our own to make sure he never sees the light of day."

McCalin scowled but nodded. He turned his eyes to Wilkins. "You have anything else you'd like to tell us?"

Graham froze like a deer in the headlights. "No, sir."

"Get back to work then," McCalin barked and Graham rushed from the room.

Yosman glowered at McCalin. "You've got an eye on that one?"

The supervisor nodded. "He's under the microscope."

The Director rubbed his face with his hands. He was going to have to report this breach to the president, and that was likely the end of his career. Many heads were going to roll because of that little freak's doing. But maybe they could salvage something. "How good was Kent?"

McCalin stared at his boss incredulously.

"With the tech!" he clarified angrily.

"Oh! Well, he was one of the best we had. Maybe the best."

Yosman thought about that. "Yet he couldn't break this firewall he was investigating. We need that software. Get someone to review Kent's findings. Get it to agent's Kaiba and Sparling by the end of the week at the latest. We'll send them to VRL next week."

McCalin nodded then quickly left.

The Director stood in the empty room, thinking about the short length of time he'd had this position. He wasn't going out like this. He'd ensure the agency was secure once more. He'd brief the agents personally. They were going to come back with that firewall technology or there'd be no reason to come back.

Chapter 16

Time would not be denied, even for the immortal.

Queen Mab wasn't particularly worried about growing old. She was already very, very old. What she was concerned about, was power. In particular, the waning nature of it, especially in recent times. That was what led her to make what might be the most foolish decision in her long life. Binding the Satyr's dragon bone ring to the Fae's Global Overlay Spell had put her in a precarious position. She'd been working on a plan to extract herself from the mess since that day.

She learned the spell was in no danger of collapsing after its conversion to being powered by the Wild Magic. If anything the spell was stronger. There were positive signs that the disease was abating. Her people would be cured, given time.

That's where the trap was. As time passed, her power was diminishing. The Fae power base was the original realm of magic and access to that continued to diminish. They'd witnessed a growing number of breaches to the realm of Wild Magic, but the corruption the Humans brought to the world was slowly closing off the access to the realm the Fae drew upon. Her magic was waning!

She immediately thought of the witch responsible for this entire mess. Baba Yaga had her crooked fingers in this and Mab couldn't yet put all the pieces together to see the crone's plan. Playing the long game was something the witch did exceptionally well. She'd thought she'd had a grasp of the master plan at the sanctuary beneath Rockefeller Center and enjoyed watching it fail.

Now though, she believed the crone's plan hadn't ended with the Satyr's refusal to spin the ring and end Humanity. She now believed the game continued. Baba Yaga had played her once more. That thought threatened to push her into a rage, so she forced it down.

The Satyr, though, he intrigued her. While not a wielder, the powerful magic coursed through his body. She'd tested his seed and found it saturated with the chaotic energies. While she currently could not use this new power herself, due to being a wielder of the old realm's incompatible source, it had given her a brilliant idea.

Henry would be the key element in a new spell she was creating. The difficulty would be in getting him to be a willing participant. She wasn't blind to the fact that she terrified him. She'd gotten quite used to that. She expected it when dealing with vastly inferior beings. They could feel their deficiencies, and that had to be frightening.

Mab summoned Ikehorn to her chambers. Her most loyal subject and enforcer had fallen into melancholy since his partner sacrificed himself in the sanctuary. She would give him a mission to rekindle his spirit.

When the Fae arrived, she had him sit next to her on the small couch. She saw him tremble at the honor and smiled.

"I have a mission for you," she began and watched him immediately perk up. "The Satyr, I need something from him he will not be willing to give."

"I will take it-" Ikehorn growled fiercely.

Mab chuckled and looked at her agent fondly as he looked back in question. "I have no doubts as to your abilities, but in this instance, it's something I need him to give willingly. That's one of the requirements of this particular ingredient. It's a component of the largest spell I will ever have crafted. Nothing less than the survival of the Fae is at stake, so sharpest attention is required."

"Yes, my Queen!" Ikehorn said trembling with new purpose.

"I need leverage against Henry Gable. Put surveillance teams on the Humans who are important to him. Bring me your report by the end of next week."

"Yes, my Queen! Thank you!" the agent exclaimed. At her nod, he bowed and rushed from her chambers.

Mab smiled again. She knew Ikehorn would come through for her.

She turned her attention to working on the other key component of the spell. That was a very delicate but exhausting task, but the end goal would vastly reward her and her people for the physical toll she paid now.

No matter how painful it might be.

-=-

Siobhan went immediately to Marisa's desk the moment she arrived at work. She needed to tell her about Nate, but she also wanted to confirm she was ok after rushing off the night before. She sighed in relief when she saw the gorgeous blond behind her desk. Marisa gave her a brilliant smile then her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the mahogany hair. Surprise gave way to confusion then alarm.

"What happened to your evening with Nate?!?" she gasped.

Siobhan smiled at her friend for her concern. "The night was eye-opening and delightful, and we need to talk about it... privately."

"Ah! Ok." Marisa stood and joined Siobhan by the door.

"Is Henry in yet?" Siobhan asked with a glance at his closed office door.

Marisa shook her head with a worried look that disappeared as quickly as it formed. "I haven't seen him yet," she said simply. She looked at her friend and saw she wasn't buying it.

"Was this the crisis that pulled you out of the club last night?" Siobhan asked gently.

Marisa gave her friend a troubled look and Siobhan raised her hands in surrender. "Never mind. Follow me." She led the blond down the hall into the executive washroom. She checked the stalls, and they were alone. She wasn't going to say anything that violated Hidden Races rules, but her demonstration was for Marisa's eyes only. The blond in question was looking at her cautiously so she took a deep breath and took off her sweater.

Marisa froze as she took in the beautiful cascade of hair that reached her friend's ass. Hair that hadn't existed last night.

"A wig?" she asked with a tight throat. She knew better.

Siobhan ran her fingers through it and sighed. "No, it's all mine, and that's not the most significant change."

"What is?" the blonde gasped.

Leaning forward slightly to whisper, she brought her lips next to Marisa's ear. "It's my pelt."

"WHAT?!?" Marisa blurted.

Siobhan nodded. "I had glorious sex with Nate last night, and this morning I discovered my... most precious possession was now my hair. This is so much better than it was before. I never have to worry about losing it, or someone stealing it, again!"

"How!" Marisa gasped as she shook her head.

"Nate! He explained that's why he insists on wearing a condom. Once before he forgot to wear one and his partner changed." Her smile slipped away. "He said that change wasn't... beneficial for her."

Seeing Marisa's outrage building, Siobhan jumped ahead. "He insisted last night too but you know I hate the feel of condoms and... I got him drunk."

Marisa pulled Siobhan into a tight hug out of fear for her, and her sight momentarily flared before she forced it back. Thankfully, she hadn't felt anything dark or foreboding but knew that could easily change based on decisions made or not made or a multitude of other factors. She hated this ability!

Sighing, she held Siobhan out at arm's length and looked into her pretty brown eyes. "Was there anything else unique about Nate?"

Siobhan blinked in surprise. "He- he didn't know he was... what he was, until recently. He didn't know! How could he not know?"

Marisa nodded definitively. "Let's go to mother's office," she said.

Siobhan read her expression then cautiously nodded as she slipped the sweater back on, once more hiding the length of her new hair.

They walked down the hall, glancing through the glass wall at the servers blinking their lights happily at the glass. Henry wasn't there either.

Felix indicated they could go right in, so they did.

Camila looked up from her desk with a smile which became a question when she caught the expressions on the two young faces. Siobhan closed the door behind them.

Then Camila noticed her hair. "Oh! That's a lovely shade of brown! It looks very nice on you!"

Siobhan smiled and nodded to the CEO then slipped her hands beneath her hair at the back of her neck and lifted the silky smooth hair from inside her sweater.

Camila's eyes widened in surprise. It wasn't a wig, and there was no way she'd been hiding this much hair under a blond wig the day before. She locked the door and set the privacy rune. She looked to Marisa who nodded to her. She looked back to Siobhan. "You've had unprotected sex with Henry?" she asked.

Siobhan stared at her in surprise. "Henry?"

Camila looked sharply at her daughter.

"There is another Hidden Races member like Henry," Marisa explained.

"What?!? Another Satyr?" Camila exclaimed then held her hand up. "Wait! We need Sigrid and Roy in here." She made the calls and unlocked her door. Within the minute Sigrid arrived with Roy following moments later. Camila held up her hand to forestall Sigrid's immediate question and locked the door once more, activating the privacy rune. She turned to her daughter. "Please explain your last statement to me."

Marisa nodded. "Siobhan and I went to a club last night, and we met a very nice young man. When I shook his hand, I had a flash from my talent. I knew he was an Incubus, not a Satyr, but there was..." She swallowed and once more forced back the images she'd seen. "...a strong potential on him. I received the SOS from Henry at that moment. I left, and Siobhan stayed to speak with him."

Roy was glaring at Marisa because Siobhan was present and they were divulging information about Henry. Then he noticed Siobhan's dramatic change.

"What happened to your hair?" he asked her.

"Hey! That was my question!" Sigrid complained.

"The young man from the club last night is linked to the realm of Wild Magic. He had sex with Siobhan, and now she's linked to the realm too." Marisa explained. Siobhan's eyes flew wide in shock as she looked to her friend.

"And all that happened is your hair changed length and color," Sigrid asked.

Siobhan glanced at Marisa who nodded to her. She sighed. "No, I'm a Selkie. My hair is now my pelt."

"That seems... much more practical!" Sigrid said thoughtfully, and Siobhan nodded with a relieved smile.

"How did 'Nate' come by his link to the Wild Magic?" Roy asked cautiously.

Marisa sighed. "This is the part you aren't going to like. Siobhan, tell them the other unique thing about Nate."

The new brunette found herself the focal point of Mr. Duncan's intense stare and a chill went down her spine. "Nate explained to me last night that he grew up as a Human with Human parents. He wasn't aware of the existence of the Hidden Races until this past Hallowe'en."

"SHIT!" Roy exclaimed. "We are not getting involved with another of her... experiments!"

"Roy! Calm yourself! We don't know she's involved with Nate!" Camila snapped as she took in Siobhan's nervous stare at the security chief. "Siobhan, please continue."

The young woman glanced at her and nodded. "He said he was almost abducted by a Succubus by the name of Marquise Oletha Thanemark. From the UK."

"Shit!" Camila exclaimed with a frown then gestured for her to continue.

"After she failed to capture him that time she returned to New York six times, but he was able to avoid her by watching the art trades and online posts from her vocal fan base. She's a famous artist, according to Nate."

"She's after him for his link to the Wild Magic," Camila suggested.

Siobhan shrugged. "Nate said it was because of his unique coloring and his wings."

"Wings! You've seen them?" Roy pressed and Siobhan nodded quickly. "The witch is involved!" Roy snapped.

At Siobhan's questioning look, Camila explained. "We haven't had wings in millennia." She caught Sigrid's eye. "The witch pulled him from the past, like Henry."

Roy growled and nodded towards Siobhan.

"Oh for Pete's sake Roy, Siobhan has been physically transformed by Nate as Marisa was by Henry! She's on the inside of the secret now!" Sigrid scoffed then turned to the young woman. "Everything you hear in this room is secret and privileged information, not to be discussed outside of this group. This is a ruling straight from the Hidden Races Council which is also aware of Henry's unique status. Is that understood?"

"Y-yes!" Siobhan gasped. "Who is this woman who can pull people from the past?"

"We'll not be speaking the witch's name aloud. Is that understood?" Roy barked as his eyes went to each of them.

Ignoring Roy's intensity, Sigrid continued. "Where is Henry? Our lawyer dealt with the police issue last night, didn't she?"

Camila's intercom buzzed, interrupting them. She answered. "Yes?"

"Ms. Chandra is here to speak with you, Ms. Gunderan, and Mr. Duncan," Felix replied.

"Speak of the devil," Roy muttered.

Camila gave them all a stern look. "No one mentions Nate." She unlocked the door and pressed the intercom again. "Send her in." She looked at her daughter. "I'll bring you and Siobhan back after this."

Marisa and Siobhan prepared to leave. The sweater was once more in place, hiding the beautiful mahogany hair.

The door opened, and Mahati stepped in and paused as she saw everyone standing facing her. Marisa and Siobhan smiled and nodded politely as they passed. Mahati closed the door behind herself and Camila activated the lock and rune.

"How is Henry?" Sigrid asked.

Mahati locked eyes with her then relaxed as she saw the large blond was just concerned. "He has been extracted from the immediate danger at the police station, but we may be called in to give a statement regarding his involvement in the subway gas attack-"

"What?" Roy exclaimed.

"After dropping Mr. Gable off at his condo, I spoke with my Mother regarding Satyrs as she has significant knowledge of ancient history. The study of it is a pastime of hers. This bodily function is something Satyrs do or did. They could release pheromones in large quantities to cause a sudden loss of inhibitions. Legend has it they could generate spontaneous orgies at social gatherings. When I spoke with Mr. Gable about what happened that night, he confessed that he felt... a strong sexual excitement and people around him suddenly began to have sex. We know from the news that the effect lingered on the train after his removal, the police officers and rescue workers succumbed to it when they entered the subway car. That's where his pheromones concentrated."

Sigrid recalled her first encounter with this. Their first time. A sweet smile crossed her lips and she caught Camila watching her with a knowing smile of her own. She forced her smile away then saw Mahati was watching her as well.

"You've experienced these pheromones?" the lawyer asked.

Sigrid snorted in surprise at the bold question. "Yes, but they're not something a Valkyrie's will can't resist."