Detective Docherty and the Vampire's Mirror: Detective Docherty, #2

By Sarah WaterRaven

It's been eleven years since the Great Awakening. Not much has changed around Toronto, minus the rumor there's a new Goblin King in town and that a series of gruesome murders and disappearances are plaguing the city. Are the goblins raiding again or could this be the work of a serial killer?

With the flood of bodies and missing fairy reports, the Detective and his team have their hands full. If things weren't bad enough, the agency has been hired by wizards. Everyone knows wizards can't be trusted, but how far can their deception go?

A shadow has fallen over the city of Toronto. Can the Detective, along with his assistants, Ares and Alexandria, stop this wave of murders? Will their relationships survive the oncoming darkness or will they be changed forever? And will someone please name that d*mn goldfish?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sarah WaterRaven
• Release date: Jan 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9780991688432

Book preview

Prologue

The streets were drowning in traffic. A chaotic cacophony of sputtering vehicles, angry horns, and sirens filled the air and the sidewalks were flooded with human and magickal folk alike. Otherkin that could fly took to the skies like migratory birds to escape the mayhem. It was just another Friday night in the city of Toronto.

Listen, Scott...No, no that’s not what the report said. If your people had any brains in their thick skulls, they’d have noticed that on page seven... Well it is a big deal! I’m pissed and Richards is pissed. What the hell were you thinking? Hey...Hello? Hello Scott? Scott, did you hang up on me? Scott!

Carl pulled his ear piece out and threw it at the dash. It bounced back and hit him in the face, causing him to sputter a string of swears. The car in front of him stopped, and Carl to hit the brakes. He swore again before leaning his head against the wheel. It was going to be a long weekend. Forget going out; he now had a stack of paperwork to get through, all because of someone else’s mistake.

A honk from the vehicle behind him told him the light had changed. Carl stepped on the gas and sped through the intersection only to stop immediately at the next light. It was well past six, and traffic was unrelenting. Carl had a hard time believing this many people lived the same miserable life he did, but then that’s the way life was: you worked until retirement and then worked some more. With his luck, he’d be working well into the afterlife.

He leaned back and ran his fingers through his hair. What was he going to do? Screw this. He just needed to quit; that’s what he needed to do. He would take Marlina on that long vacation he had been promising her. They had money saved up. He’d worry about finding a new job when they got back.

The car sputtered, and a black cloud of smoke puffed into his rearview mirror, reminding him he needed to attend to some serious car repairs. Maybe a vacation was not the best idea. Damn it.

In a world without rush hour, he was twenty minutes away from his apartment but, with this traffic, he could walk faster. Carl considered another long rest against the steering wheel when he noticed a side alley. He paused to glare at the menacing red light ahead of him and then decided to chance the alley. Carl backed up a couple inches, prayed to the gods of power steering, and then turned. He was in the alley. Yes! He was going to make it home in time to watch Supernatural.

A sudden, loud bang caused Carl to skid to a halt. His tires complained heavily and everything echoed through the alley. A trash lid rolled in front of the bumper, and a giant figure thudded onto the hood. Carl yelled as he gripped the steering wheel.

A large pair of goatish eyes stared at him. Carl’s fear began to subside slowly as he realized the troll looked more terrified than he did. They held each other’s gaze briefly before the troll pushed himself up off the hood and took off running. It slid on the pavement and into a row of garbage cans, recovered quickly, and kept running.

Carl watched the troll limp as it ran. He sat back, exhaled, and decided to look over his windshield. It was covered in troll blood. He turned off the car, then stepped out and scanned the alley. What on Earth could have scared a troll like that? He turned to examine the hood. It was dark, but there was enough light for him to see the massive troll imprint.

Great, just GREAT, Carl exclaimed, knowing he’d have to pay for the damages.

He stepped around the front to further assess his vehicle when he realized he was airborne. Within the few moments he seemed to defy gravity, Carl considered his stupidity for getting out of the car, the small red bicycle his grandfather had given him when he was nine, and whether or not he would ever see Marlina again. His body hit brick with a crack. Carl was fairly certain most, if not all, of his bones were broken.

A growl emitted from a shadow, which had somehow appeared in front of him. Carl wanted to move, but his body would not respond. A wolf howled somewhere in the distance, long and low, but before Carl could consider how ridiculous that was, the shadow was on him.

His screams were lost in the sounds of the city that night. Some time later, two police officers would find a parked car in an alley and only a few pieces of Carl remaining.

Chapter One

It was misty out. Alex had a hard time seeing Raven’s silhouette through the fog and nervously watched her dog’s black figure sit beside the retention pond. She squatted behind a tree as still as possible.

I say, anything yet? Detective Docherty asked from behind her.

Nothing yet, Alex replied. They had been camped there for two hours. Evening had already fallen, and Ares would be there soon. If nothing happened by the time he got there, they’d have to call it quits and try another night. Ares was their security plan should anything go wrong, but the otherkin they were hunting would never come out if it sensed a vampire nearby. 

Alex failed to hold back a yawn and rubbed her eyes. She was about to suggest to the Detective they try her as bait instead of Raven when a dark figure appeared in the water.

Alex heard Raven's thoughts in her mind. Finally.

Raven tilted her head and stared at the dark blob floating toward her.

Any minute now, Alex thought.

Raven stood up, tail wagging.

Good girl.

Alex pulled on Docherty’s coat sleeve and got up slowly. Docherty was up in an instant without a sound. It amazed her how stealthy he was for such a portly man.

Just a little bit closer, she whispered to the Detective.

The creature was a foot from the shore.

Detective, do you see it? she asked.

Aye, it is as I suspected.

Should we—

They are shy otherkin. See if you can’t draw it out of the water first.

Gotcha.

Alex reached out to her friend’s mind. Raven, back up a little. We need to draw it out of the water.

Gladly. I am uncomfortably close as it is, the black lab replied. Raven feigned fear and took a couple of steps back. She added a whimper for good measure. When she moved, the creature paused in the water. The air around them stilled, and the park went quiet.

The otherkin burst out from the pond, lunging for Alex’s dog.

Oh crap, Alex yelled as she sprinted toward the shore.

Docherty shouted after her. Alexandria, wait! Come back!

Raven turned to run, but the creature grabbed her back. She cried out, but the moment the yokai’s webbed claws dug into her, she disappeared. A small, hematite figurine in the shape of a dog slipped through the fairy's grasp and fell to the ground. The creature stood there dumbfounded as Alex slid to a stop in front of it.

The kappa looked up. Alex stared at it, curious and a little terrified. It stood on two legs, about four feet tall, with a large turtle shell, and webbed hands and feet. Its head was round and looked similar to a turtle's, but there was a dish in the top of the skull, a depression that was filled with water. Small hairs that looked like pond weeds grew out the side and around it. The kappa blinked again and then took a step toward Alex.

Whoops. Alex tried to run away, but her feet were stuck in place. They were literally planted to the ground. In the time it took the yokai to realize it had been duped, the roots from the neighboring tree had crept up and out of the earth, ensnaring Alex at the kappa's command. The fibrous roots snaked around her ankle and wove into her shoe laces. Alex tried not to look back so she wouldn't draw attention to the Detective. She only hoped he knew she needed help.

As the kappa moved toward her, Alex raised her hands protectively. She really wished Ares were there.

H-hey there. Listen, I’m not here to harm you. I just wanna talk... you know, ko-nni-chi-wa?

Alex began to summon her power around her. She might not be powerful enough to take this guy, but she’d be damned if she didn’t try. She took in a slow deep breath and visualized energy from the ground moving up and into her. She funneled it into her arms and out through her hands, forming a blue shield. The water in the pond rippled in response to her. Alex reached her consciousness over to the pond and beckoned for its help.

The kappa raised one of its webbed hands and swiped it across the air. The water stilled and Alex's shield evaporated. Now it was time to panic. Alex was about to tear through the silence with a scream when the calm voice of the Detective cut in.

Good evening, sir.

Alex turned to gawk at him.

The turtle-man stopped and turned his glossy gaze at Docherty.

A pleasure to make your acquaintance. The name’s Docherty, Detective Docherty, at your service. He took his hat off and bowed.

Bug-eyed, Alex turned back to the kappa, expecting it to be right in front of her, its beak clacking in hunger. Instead, it regarded the Detective with a tilt of its head before returning the bow. As it did, the water from its head spilled out. It shot up, alarmed, and let out a strangled-gurgling sound. The roots that had trapped her slowly released her feet, and freedom returned to her limbs. She quickly moved away.

What happened? she asked as she distanced herself from the hungry otherkin.

Kappa are a very polite species. One merely needs to bow, and they will respectfully return the favor; however, they always seem to forget that if the water comes out from their heads, they’ll lose their magick. The poor man’s terrified, I’d imagine. We’ve rendered him powerless.

Alexandria shook her head. How did he do it?

Best not keep the poor chap waiting. Alex, would you pull the trunk over? I’ll keep him company.

Alex nodded and listened to Docherty as she walked over to the trunk.

I'm a detective, so you can imagine I come across a number of odd cases, Docherty told the kappa. Strangest thing happened in 2009. I was hired to investigate the wail of a banshee in downtown Hamilton by a local Irish pub...

Alexandria retrieved the trunk, listening to the thudding and squelching sounds it made as she dragged it across the wet ground. When she was near the Detective, she opened the trunk and pulled a small flashlight from her bag. It was getting dark, and the labels were hard to read.

... and that’s when I realized that it wasn’t a banshee at all! It was a wee baby harpy who had gotten separated from her mother.

Sorry, Detective, what am I looking for? Alex asked.

Excuse me a moment, Docherty said politely.

The Detective left the kappa standing in the fog with a blank expression on its face. Whether it understood a word either of them said, Alex had no idea.

I see you two have managed to stay alive, came a voice from the mist.

With the flashlight in her mouth, Alexandria looked up from the trunk, blinding Ares.

Sorry, she mumbled as she pulled the flashlight out.

Ares shook his head and held in a smirk. Her childlike behavior fascinated him, and her smile never ceased to quicken him.

Ah, Ares, just in time, said the Detective. I’d like you to meet our kappa friend over here, Mr....Uh, dear me, I forgot to ask him his name. Excuse my rudeness, how should we address you?

Docherty stared at his captive eagerly with an openmouthed grin. There was a long pause before the otherkin blinked.

The Detective continued, Ah. Well, this fellow here is Ares and the charming young lady over there is Alexandria.

Hello, Alexandria said enthusiastically from behind the trunk.

Ares inclined his head before studying the odd turtle-man. It bowed to him, but seemed unable to move otherwise. Ares suspected it was under some sort of enchantment. One of Alexandria’s perhaps. Her charms and magick had proven most useful in the last couple of months, though she had expressed some difficulty with water, her natural element.

Did we bring them? Alexandria asked the Detective.

No, no, not that drawer. Here... Docherty stepped over to the trunk and fussed over the drawers with Alexandria while Ares stood and looked down at them, unimpressed.

That? That’s what you wanted? Alexandria asked. I thought that was for dinner.

Cucumber? For dinner? I think not, though I am rather fond of a nice crisp cucumber sandwich on occasion. It has been forever—

Ares cut in. Detective.

H-hem. Yes, we are supposed to carve our names into the cucumber and toss it into the pond, naturally.

Oh, Alexandria said, looking on in disbelief as the Detective pulled out a pocket knife and started to carve their names in.

Ares with an I-E-S or just E-S? asked Docherty, despite having written Ares’s name on countless forms and documents for the last ten years.

It’s E-S, Right, Ares? Alexandria asked him.

Yes, Ares replied dryly.

So, why are we carving into the cucumber again? Alexandria asked the Detective.

It’s an offering to the kappa. We offer him a cucumber with our names on it and, in exchange, he won’t eat us.

I thought maybe he was going to eat me, Alexandria said thoughtfully.

Without question, Docherty replied.

Ares regarded the two of them as one might observe primates at a zoo.

And how did you two subdue him? Ares inquired, smelling the predatory need in the otherkin.

First, we lured it out with the doppelganger trick... Alexandria began.

You mentioned something about that last week, Ares said, unintentionally interrupting. I am sorry I missed it.

Yes, well, I got fed up with the series of heart attacks I was having because you two insisted on using Raven as bait for bloodthirsty fairy, so Roisin and I developed a way to have Raven in one place while using an anchor to project her into another.

Ares stepped over to the shore and picked up the small figurine he had spotted earlier. The hematite stone was light in his hand. Though shaped like a floppy-eared dog, its likeness to Raven was minimal.

He handed the stone to Alexandria and said, It’s an interesting trick. Is there a limit to the distance? Where is she now?

We haven’t had a chance to test the distance. She’s sitting at home with Nimhaway. She cast a circle and got Raven ready at home while we had the hematite statue here. It worked like a charm, but unfortunately, physical touch dispels it. Our friend here got a little overzealous and pounced before we had a chance to really see how much movement the spell allowed. Luckily the Detective bowed to him, and his water spilled out, temporarily paralyzing him and draining his powers, Alexandria said as she watched the Detective step around the kappa to toss the cucumber into the water.

Interesting. Ares was genuinely impressed with their method, though he wished he had been there to witness it.

So, now that the cucumber is in the retention pond, what’s next? Alexandria asked. How do we know he won’t try to eat us when we release him?

Because I am here, Ares replied. He stared the kappa down to make sure it understood. It made a croaking noise and looked around anxiously.

Really, Ares, that is entirely unnecessary. Docherty turned to the kappa, I apologize for my colleague’s abrasive behavior. Now then, I have a trunk full of cucumbers here for the residents of this neighborhood, and they’ve assured me that they’ll do whatever it takes to keep you in your pond. I am going to let you go on the condition that you promise not to eat any more pets. Cats and dogs are not food. Do you understand?

The kappa gulped and nodded.

There’s a good chap. Now run along, Docherty said as he smiled and waved the kappa off.

Without a word, the turtle-man took off. His webbed feet squished in the wet earth as he ran until he leapt into the pond soundlessly.

Ares kept an eye on the rippling surface as he spoke to the Detective. So, that was the perp who was eating the neighborhood pets? I assume giving him permission to leave released him from his paralysis as well?

Yes and yes, and they’re lucky that was all he was eating. Some of the old fairy and otherkin still have a taste for human blood.

Ares thought of himself, but quickly put it aside. He risked a glance at Alexandria.

Hey! He’s eating it! Alexandria jumped up and down excitedly, forgetting it had attempted to eat her earlier.

Awww... How cute, she exclaimed.

Ares heard the crunching of a beak on cucumber. He gazed out into the darkness, but while he had excellent night vision, he was almost as disabled as humans were in the fog. The only advantages he had were his hearing and smell. Somehow, he spotted the silhouette of the kappa sitting on an outcropping of rocks and was relieved to see the creature so far away—that was, assuming there was only one.

Alright, you two, Docherty said, here are the bags of cucumbers. Please knock on the houses in the immediate area and dispense them with instructions to write the names of all members of the household on the cucumber, including pets, and then toss it into the pond.

Ares and Alexandria looked at each other as Docherty handed them the cucumbers.

All of the houses? Alexandria asked.

Yes, but mainly focus on the houses and apartment complexes closest to the retention pond. I’ll have a chat with Neighborhood Watch on further outreach plans for the upcoming year. Meet here in an hour.

Alexandria looked at Ares pleadingly. He shrugged. If she thought she was going to have a difficult time, she had never been a vampire. Alexandria rolled her eyes jokingly and then giggled at him. She trotted off toward the houses on the far side of the pond. Ares took her lead and made for the opposite direction.

Ares quickly came upon his first town house and rang the doorbell, a small push-button beside a pair of flower-patterned glass doors.

At the sound of the bell, two large dogs began barking and scratching against the wood door inside the small patio that led into the house. Ares instinctively took a step back, but he waited patiently, wondering how to broach the subject.

An Asian gentleman squeezed through the wooden door in an attempt to keep the dogs (golden retrievers, from what Ares could discern) inside. As the gentleman opened the glass doors, Ares cleared his throat and dropped his death stare. He attempted to smile but most likely looked like he was in pain.

Good evening sir, Ares said. Sorry to trouble you this evening, but I am here on behalf of the Neighborhood Watch and have come to deliver this. Ares reached into the bag and handed the man a decent-sized cucumber.

A cucumber? The man blinked and stared at him.

Uh, yes... you see, there’s a creature, a type of otherkin, living in the pond over there—

What?

I know, Ares said, it sounds strange. Here’s the deal. I am a part of a private investigation service that specializes in otherkin and paranormal activity. This evening we discovered a kappa living close to the premises—

The man cut in. Japanese water fairy? A yokai? Why didn’t you say so? So, I just carve in my name and the names of my family and toss it in the lake?

Yes, but be sure to include the names of your dogs and any other household pets as well.

Ok, sure thing. Thank you—sorry I didn’t catch your name.

Ares.

Thanks, Ares.

The man waved goodbye and went back inside. Ares stood on the steps, dumbfounded. He shrugged it off, then took confident steps to the next house and knocked. He should have known: they were in a predominantly Asian part of town, of course they would know about kappas.

This time a short, plump, woman answered the door.

Hello! she shouted.

Her high-pitched voice rang in Ares's pointed ears.

Good evening, my name is Ares and I am here on behalf of the Neighborhood Watch—

Why are you so pale? she asked with a thick accent.

I...what?

Why are you so pale? You got some sort of skin condition?

No. This is my natural skin color. I don’t venture out in the sun a lot—

Why? You afraid of cancer?

Not exactly...

Why do you dress all in black?

Ares looked down at his clothes. I guess I like this color.

It makes you look too pale. You look better in lighter color.

Thank you, but—

You selling cucumber? I don’t need. I got plenty. I’m a gardener.

I am glad to hear because there’s this—

Wait, let me see your cucumbers. Maybe they’re better.

The woman tried to grab the bag out of Ares’s hand and accidentally touched him. She gasped and stepped back. Ares was not wearing his gloves.

Cold hands mean poor circulation, she said. "You need more exercise. That or you’re trouble, mister. Hm, pale skin, dark clothes,