Book One; Chapter Six
Simon Says
Maxii groaned as she opened her eyes. Last thing she remembered was that she'd threatened to kill her illegally in love friend, Rashel and then pain. In her head. Almost like somepony had hit her on the back her head. Hard. She sat up and ran her fingers through her hair and felt the large bump. Somepony had hit her.
"You're awake." a voice stated behind her. Maxii whirled around. It was only Caramel in his blue pajamas. It was then that she realized she was in a painfully small closet. She was a tangle of silky nightgown fabric and limbs.
"What are you doing here?" she asked stupidly. Caramel smiled.
"I live here." Caramel said wittily. He handed her a cup of water. "I know you can't really get your thirst quenched from this but it's all you can get for now." Maxii stood up and then, the thirst really kicked in. Her hands flew to her throat and she coughed.
"God, how long have I been out?"
Caramel shrugged. "A day or two." Maxii's eyes widened.
"A day or two!? What did you idiots do!?"
"You were threatening my girlfriend when Flash handily gave me a wooden plank."
"You hit me?"
"Damn right, I did." Caramel narrowed his eyes. "Don't think I'll have any remorse for you when the time comes for you to die."
"What? What are you talking about?"
Caramel sighed, "It's a shame. You don't even know."
"Know what?"
"Do you know what an Old Soul is?"
"Of course I do, you moron. A pony that is reborn over and over. Nopony knows why. They are to be killed as soon as they are located. Why?"
"I've met one. She said, "Tell the young huntress that she must find her heart before she finds her doom." I knew she meant you when she said 'young huntress' but I don't quite know what the rest means." Maxii chugged down the water.
"I don't know what it means either." Maxii staggered past Caramel and plopped down on the bed they'd put her on before. Caramel sighed again. Maxii didn't see him shake his head or hear him mumble, "I hope you figure it out because I can't tell you."
Simon kept his head down and his eyes on his computer at all times when Iona was around. She tended to get irritated and antsy at the office. He, of course, blamed it on hormones. Simon was surprised when he saw the chief with several other cops and detectives, including the only other rookie, Flash Sentry. All Simon knew about the guy was that he was a detective, a pegasus and he was a rookie like him. Simon kind of envied him. Simon was the only earth pony at that station. He laid his ears back and walked right up to the crowd.
"What's going on, guys?"
"Did you file all the missing reports?" Iona snapped.
"yes ma'am.," Simon said with a little cockiness. "Of course I did."
"Good. These ponies have been up my plot for the past few days. Where's the files? Where are the police? Where are your detectives? Why haven't you found our kid?" she imitated the voices and then screamed.
"Ah, calm down, boss. We're on it." a deep-voiced detective murmured.
"Yea, boss, we'll find the kids. Don't worry." a blonde cop with a bun agreed. The rest of the cops and detectives all mumbled in agreement. Nopony liked to see their boss hyped up about anything.
"C'mon." Flash said to Simon while everypony else was coaxing the chief. "Let's go find out exactly what's going on."
"Who me?"
"Yes!"
"Hey, guy, I'm all in for a snoop around anypony's coop but detective work? Nah, bro, I'm just an intern who does a little of this an' that on the side. Know what I'm sayin'?"
"You better come with me before I ask if your 'this and that on the side' is legal." Flash growled. Simon laughed nervously.
"Why didn't you say so, my dude? Let's go."
Rashel watched the hunter from afar. He had killed yet another vampire right off the streets. She flicked her ear and a low rumble escaped her throat. Blueblood had a look of triumph on his face as he wiped the blood on his faded jeans and happened to turn her way. His smile dropped. Rashel knew what he saw; A huge black wolf with non-animal green eyes. He was probably trying to decide whether or not she was a werewolf or a shapeshifter. He stared into her eyes for a second before smiling again.
"You're no 'shifter. Just a werewolf. What's your name again?" Blueblood approached her. Rashel growled low and clear, a warning for him not to get closer. Blueblood raised his hands. Blood dripped off of the wooden knife.
"Hey, hey. I won't try anything." he narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. "But wood doesn't hurt you anyways." Rashel laid her ears back and a whine escaped her.
"Ah, yes. Silver is what harms you. Fire for ghouls, iron for fairies, and salt for goblins." Rashel's head shot up and she barked in surprise. How does he know that!? she thought.
"I bet you're wondering how I know all that." Wow. Maybe you should be a detective too. There was a howl in the distance. Rashel's ears perked up and she turned her head slightly. Blueblood chuckled.
"Meeting somepony?" Shut up. Rashel rolled her eyes and turned and bounded away. "Be careful, Fido! Wouldn't want you becoming vamp food!"
Rashel slid to a stop in front of a huge grey wolf with a black stripe down its back. The wolf was older and a female.The two wolves licked each others muzzles in greeting and started going back and forth with their thought-speech.
[Sis, what's the deal? We agreed to meet an hour ago.]
[Yea, I know but I got... preoccupied.]
[With who?]
[Can we not talk about this right now? We need to talk.]
[You're damn right we do. What's this I hear about huntings everywhere? So frequent in this town!]
[It's the vampires...]
[Yes, but somepony's been killing vamps too!]
[I know. I've got Maxii in my possession-]
[Maxii? That girl is nothing but trouble. I know you two used to be friends but... it's time to let her go.]
[She's just confused, Mimosa. She was raised by the highest ranking vampires. They're brutal. If I can change her...]
[Enough. If I don't have proof of her changed ways in three weeks, she's done. I'll dispose of her myself. On other terms, Rashel, there are kidnappings going on.]
[I don't know why but I've got an idea.]
[I do too. Slave trade.]
[What!?]
[I think the vamps are taking kids, not just little kids mind you. Teens too. They're selling them to other vampires as food for extra bucks.]
[Oh no.]
[I'm depending on you to find things out while I get the rest of the pack. Can I trust you?]
[I... yes...]
[Good. Love ya, sis.] Mimosa turned and left with her tail raised high and her nose in the air. She was alpha and she clearly hadn't forgotten it. Rashel headed home. She was exhausted. She's have to convince Maxii to change and gather some details about the kidnappings.
Mimosa sat at the local bar to order a quick drink and head back to inform her pack. Two stallions approached her with grins.
"Uh, hey miss. We saw you with this girl that we know and we wanted to ask you a few questions."
"What girl?" Mimosa huffed dangerously. One of the stallions trembled.
"You guys weren't girls, if ya know what I mean."
"I'm afraid I don't"
"Please, miss. You were with Rashel but you guys were wolves when we saw you."
"Freaking wolves!" the trembling stallion nearly shouted. "Then we saw you change into... into... well... you!"
"Who are you? How do you know Rashel?"
"I'm Flash Sentry. I'm a friend of hers. This is Simon, an intern who works at my job. Can you answer a few questions?"