Hypnos: Seeking the Zodiacs, #1

By R.J. Blain

Following the devastation of World War III, nuclear radiation has spawned magic, ranging from nuisance koppa oni plaguing the Golden Gate to masters of the elements. It falls to the FBI's supernatural quads and their supervisors to protect those who can't protect themselves.

 

But when a mysterious force storms through a busy shopping center and fells everyone in its wake, Olivia Abrams and her team of special ops must find who is behind the attack and why before the entirety of San Francisco succumbs to its powers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pen & Page Publishing
• Release date: Apr 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386286103

Book preview

Chapter One

An upstart hunk of a police detective invaded my office, waved his badge in my face like I cared, and barked, Where were you last night?

As it took a lot of balls for a local cop to storm into an FBI resident agency and start asking questions without even an introduction, I refrained from encasing him in a bubble of water and drowning him. I was tempted to drench him so I could admire him for a while, however. Beneath his black suit, white shirt, and prissy black tie likely lurked a lean man.

If his face was any indicator, a lean, gorgeous man.

The good upstart cops countered their donut intake with gym time, and my invading cop seemed to have forgotten to pick up his share of the donuts on his way to the gym.

I smiled, leaned back in my chair, and enjoyed a few more moments of admiring the view. Well, this is a memorable start to a Monday. Do I intimidate you, or do you always start questioning sessions so abruptly? I will say that was a nice entrance, Officer. You got my attention. I’m sure you would’ve unsettled most suspects. I leaned forward and closed the folder closest to me to hide the case file I’d been reviewing. You have the advantage.

The cop closed my office door. Paper pushers are hardly intimidating.

What did I do to deserve the abrupt treatment? If I missed a blind date again, I might be sorry for once in my life. I had no idea Oakland had such nice police officers. Detective? I relaxed in my seat and kept a close watch on him through half-lidded eyes. There must be a lot of women committing crimes for a chance to be arrested by you. Alas, I missed our date because I was stuck here working. That’ll teach me to skip out.

I assure you there was no blind date.

Well, that’s a pity. A blind date would’ve been better than critical case reviews. I rose from my seat, circled my desk, and held out my hand. Lee Jing Chi. How can I help you, Officer?

To unsettle, disturb, or otherwise gain the advantage over those who came to my office uninvited, I employed my mixed heritage. Americans like the spunky cop considered me inferior, but the men couldn’t help but stare, especially when I wore a pencil skirt and posed on my desk. The instant my legs came into view, most of them forgot about their petty prejudices.

He locked onto my bare calves, shook his head, and forced his attention to my face. Licking my lips counted as unfair play, but most who came storming into my office ultimately objectified me anyway. Tweaking the cop’s nose would amuse me until I sent him packing.

Unlike most, the cop shook my hand without trying to break my fingers. Raymond Davis, Oakland Police, Detective.

I’d guessed you were with the Oakland police from your badge, Detective. Alas, I missed our date because I was here working. You can verify that with the security desk downstairs. I’ve been here since two.

Detective Davis released my hand. In the morning?

I turned enough on my desk to give the files pestering me a venomous stare. While my four-man quads were responsible for the monitoring and policing of the supernatural, we also got to deal with money laundering and other financial crimes that fell under the FBI’s jurisdiction. When the supernatural did the money laundering, the files were flagged as critical, resulting in an unwanted call at one in the afternoon on a Sunday.

I hoped I’d get to go home before Tuesday.

In the afternoon. I’m hoping I can go home in the next hour or two—

Someone knocked at my door, and I kissed my hope of leaving today goodbye. Enter.

Of all the quads I managed, Luke Doloman’s team drove me crazy. The quad leader visiting me meant trouble, and it wasn’t the fun type of trouble. Detective, if you’ll excuse us for a moment?

Luke’s eyes widened. Hey, Ray. I haven’t seen you since the koppa oni infestation on the Golden Gate. What are you doing here?

I’m questioning Miss Lee Jing Chi, he replied.

I smirked as the cop likely had no idea if Lee or Chi was my family name. Technically, neither was, but I’d have fun revealing I was American born and raised, much to my mother’s dismay.

She’d insisted on giving me a proper Chinese name despite my tendencies to take after my American father.

Is she finally being booked for overworking?

If Detective Davis did the booking and the pat down, I’d be quite happy with the interruption to my day and a chance for some rest. All I’d have to do was drench a few cops to get into a specialized cell, then my rest and relaxation would be quiet and undisturbed. Alas, there was no rest for quad managers. What do you need, Luke?

There’s a problem, boss.

Detective Davis’s mouth dropped open. She’s your boss?

You came here without knowing that? Luke tossed his head back and laughed. You poor bastard. She’s going to eat you for dinner.

Luke, I warned. What’s the problem?

Adrianna’s quad hasn’t checked in, and they’re an hour late. They aren’t answering their phones.

A different day, a different problem, and when working with a bunch of unwilling supernaturals who’d rather have safe desk jobs, I had a list of reasons why the quad wasn’t answering their phones at least a mile long. Unfortunately, my job was to make sure all quads reported back in and find out what had happened to them when they didn’t turn up after a shift. Take your quad, call for backup if needed, and I expect an update every twenty minutes. I reached across my desk and snatched my phone. Activate the trackers on your phones before you leave, and should you call in for backup, make certain they do the same.

Yes, ma’am. Good luck, Ray. Luke bolted from my office and slammed the door behind him.

I considered my phone, judging the situation to figure out the best way to get rid of the detective so I could do my job. A call to the security desk would get the detective out of my hair for a while. Well, so much for going home in an hour. Enough playing. I’ve a quad to locate. Tell me what you think I did, why you think I did it, and what sort of alibi information you need so you can head off and do your job. Any other day, I’d just love to play games with you, but a missing quad is too important for time to be wasted unnecessarily.

A koi statuette of importance to the Chinese, according to its owner, was stolen last night.

I stared at him. And this has what to do with me?

You have the required magic rating—which is a rather rare rating in case you need a reminder—needed to pull off the robbery, and you have motive, he announced.

I blinked at him, returning my phone to its cradle. I do? What the hell am I going to do with a fish figurine? If I want a paperweight, I’ll order one online.

It’s Chinese.

And?

You’re—

Chinese-American. I’ve never been to China in my life, my Cantonese is so bad it makes my mother cry, and I’m a special agent in the FBI. Why would I wreck my career over some dumb fish?

The dumb fish is worth over five million dollars.

Okay. Five million dollars could sway a lot of people, but I wasn’t one of them. Why would anyone buy a fish for that much? Is it made of diamond or something? I snorted, slid off my desk, and returned to my seat. I can send you a copy of my schedule and authorize security to send you copies of the hallway security footage proving I haven’t left the floor all night. Would that be sufficient proof for your needs, Detective Davis?

To begin with, yes.

Hot damn. How had I been working in Oakland for so long without running into the spitfire detective? Now that he was on my radar, I’d enjoy creating excuses to tweak his nose and toy with him.

Nothing spiced up a boring work day more than playing with the local police, especially when the detective was easy on the eyes and had enough spine to invade my office.

I’d have to make certain my father didn’t find out I was toying with one of the local cops, or he’d find some way to ruin my fun.

He had a bad habit of ruining my fun whenever I found one of the local cops entertaining. His status as the area’s police commissioner, formerly a police chief, had something to do with that.

I needed to remind my old man he wasn’t a uniformed officer anymore.

Knocking Detective Davis down a few pegs would buy me the time I needed to deal with my missing quad. I’d even apologize to him for being curt later. Next time, perhaps base your investigations on something a little more solid than my race and magic rating. You’ll waste a lot less time that way. I smiled at him. And as for that blind date, sorry. I’ll try not to skip out next time. Give me a call if you think I’ll be late.

Detective Davis’s cheek twitched. You’re one of those FBI agents who live to toy with the local police, aren’t you?

It would be a shame to let such a nice opportunity go to waste, Detective. Can I call you Raymond? I guess it’s too early to start calling you Ray, especially after missing our date. Call me sometime. I grabbed my phone from its cradle and dialed the security desk. Detective Davis from the Oakland Police requires footage from the fifth floor common areas from last night. Make certain he fills out all the appropriate forms.

The guard chuckled. Understood, Miss Abrams.

I hung up and held out my hand. It’s been a pleasure, Detective Davis. Oh, just so you know. My name is Olivia Abrams to you American types.

If my mother heard the scorn in my voice, she’d be proud of me for putting an American man back in his place and giving him a taste of the prejudices we faced daily. To his credit he took my hand and maintained his base courtesy.

He squeezed, a gentle enough challenge. Next time, I recommend against dodging your dates, Miss Abrams. You might break a man’s heart.

Despite myself, I laughed. Do you detective types even have hearts?

He lifted a finger to his lips. That’s a secret.

With an entire quad missing, there was no way I was going to stay in my office and wait for news. Grumbling curses over my own damned rules, which I’d implemented when I’d discovered exhaustion had become a leading cause of death among supernatural law enforcement members, I couldn’t drive myself to join Luke’s team. Anyone who’d been on shift for longer than twelve hours lost their driving rights, and I’d even convinced the FBI to add an entire department of non-drafted employees, often former quad members, who had the sole job of driving quads around and serving as backup.

I hated when I needed to call my boss to get a driver, but as I was the damned supervisor, I needed to play by my rules.

What’s on the wire, Olivia? my boss answered.

I’ve got a missing quad and need a driver, sir.

As always whenever I called him asking for a ride, my boss sighed. When was the last time you got any sleep? I’m going to be nice and let you count those five minute power naps you like to take as sleep. Maybe that way you won’t give me extra gray hairs today.

Damn it, damn it, damn it. Saturday, sir.

His sigh promised I’d given him several more gray hairs, an accomplishment when he’d gone full silver before he’d turned fifty. While being a water elementalist is convenient, even you need sleep.

With my wretched luck, he’d bar me from coming to work for a day or two, and I’d return to a complete and utter disaster. I know. I was going to go home, but my quad disappeared.

Rating on your quad?

Soft hitters, sir. They’re investigators, and they always need to call in backup for the challenging stuff. They do good work as a general rule, but they’re drafters near the end of the line. I might be able to keep them with the right raise, though. They’re out in four months.

And as only an idiot abandoned ship four months before being free and clear of their draft, something happened. Team makeup?

A memento mori photographer, a medium, a minor air elementalist, and a thought sucker.

Why can’t you call them empaths or drainers like everyone else, Olivia?

That’d be too nice. They might get worried if I’m too nice to them.

My boss chuckled, and I relaxed at his good humor. That would be a tragedy.

Exactly. They might get even more uppity than they usually do if they think I’m nice. Can I get a lift?

As you’ll call a cab and be a pest otherwise, yes. I’ll recruit Eddy. Expect her within ten. If you’re tired, you’ll need the backup if you run into any tough spots. Don’t take any chances, and I will be ordering Eddy to make sure you get home and stay home after your quad has been located. Where are you headed?

I’ll track Luke’s quad and follow them. I told them they were to enable the trackers on their phones for this. Same with their backups if they call some in.

Keep me in the loop, he ordered before hanging up.

I grabbed my purse, which contained my gun, wallet, and badge, and headed downstairs to discover Detective Davis at the security desk hard at work filling out forms. You haven’t given up yet, Raymond?

He snorted. Hardly, Miss Abrams. You should see the violence report forms. They’re worse.

When I got back into the office, I needed to suggest we add a few extra forms to annoy the local cops when they wanted our security footage.

The security guards grinned at me, and I was so tired I couldn’t remember their names. Both were young, and whoever hired them must have taken their appearances into consideration, because they were fit for a magazine rather than the ground floor of an FBI resident agency.

Why would you steal a fish? one of the guards asked.

When I asked about adding forms for the local police to fill out, I needed to ask that our guards wear name tags. "Paperweight?’

Your desk is too tidy for one, ma’am.

Unexpected weapon?

You’re more of the Ming vase type, he countered.

Whoever he was, I obviously liked him enough he wasn’t frightened of incurring my wrath like half the security people. Really? I hummed. Maybe. Have fun with those papers, Raymond.

Before the detective had a chance to add any commentary, I escaped the building. An FBI-marked SUV pulled up to the curb and turned on its hazards. Taking the hint my ride had arrived, I slid into the back.

Eddy didn’t need me clutching the dashboard whenever I thought she’d hit something, which was whenever she got behind the wheel of a vehicle. It still amazed me she’d never been in a single accident.

You look like shit, my boss’s sister announced.

You look like you need a bath.

Not in an official car unless necessary. Please. If you really think I need a bath, you can take your temper out on me when I get you home. Wouldn’t be the first time. A little water isn’t going to hurt me.

Little hurt a woman who could shapeshift into a dragon. I chuckled and checked my phone, selecting Luke as my tracking target. It looks like we’re going to Oakland City Center, Eddy.

Buckle up then, missy, Eddy replied. You got lucky today; I was just down the street. What’s going on?

Adrianna’s squad didn’t check in, and they’re not answering their phones.

That’s not like her. Sure, she’ll skip the last hour of her shift if she’s not rostered to go to the spa with her quad, but she always checks in.

Exactly.

Dumbass said you’re running on empty, and you look like it. When was the last time you had something to eat? He screamed something about you not having slept since Saturday.

Calling your boss a dumbass isn’t all that professional, Eddy.

Dragons cared little about professionalism, but if I did get into trouble, I had a dragon. Some sacrifices were worth making.

He deserves it for not getting off his lazy ass and coming with us. Two dragons are better than one dragon. Stay out of trouble while we look for your quad, and I’ll take you out for a bite before dropping you off at home. I could use a nibble, too.

In Eddy language, a nibble meant she’d be eating enough for five to help fuel her magic. I’d ignore the implication she’d shifted recently and be grateful I wouldn’t have to fend for myself. You’re a lifesaver.

I try. What’s the deal with the ping on your record? The cops are sniffing at you like you’re a powdered donut no one has claimed.

Damn it. I bet Eddy had been on her way to the office on my boss’s order because of the record ping. Detective Hunk barged into my office demanding to know where I was last night. I asked if I’d missed a blind date again.

Olivia, you didn’t.

I did, then I introduced myself with my Chinese name to make him uncomfortable. Turns out he’d done a check into Chinese people with a high magic rating. What would I do with a fish paperweight?

Hell if I know. You’re not the paperweight kind. Who are we meeting at the mall?

Luke and his quad. I also told him to call in backup if he felt it was needed, and they’re all to be tracked.

This is going to be fun. Not. Eddy drummed her hands against the steering wheel before sighing and easing into traffic. You armed?

I eyed my purse, which did have my gun. It’s in my purse. I’m too tired to carry, so you can carry it for me when we get to the mall.

Stick with me, then. My brother will kill me if I let you get hurt in the field. I’m fresh and fully loaded.

I disliked having a bodyguard, but until I got some sleep, a kid with a popsicle stick could take me out. Roger.

Wow. You really are tired. I wouldn’t worry too much. Those dimwits probably went to have their nails done and got drunk on mimosas and forgot to call in. It wouldn’t be the first time.

If Oakland’s residents learned the FBI’s supernatural enforcers and investigators were all cracked pots with alcoholic tendencies, our department would be screwed. The rare non-drinkers with better-than-normal stability levels would have to do the job of four, and it just wouldn’t work.

I can’t stop them from drinking once they’re off duty, Eddy. I can’t even stop them from skipping off an hour early as long as they’re ready to roll if I call them in. Damn it, most of them were drafted. It’s a miracle they show up for work at all.

Two years in a quad or ten years behind bars. Plus good pay. It’s not all bad. You have five career quads. In our business? That’s legendary.

I grunted. I do remind them the salary and benefits are hard to beat.

Sure, the benefits are just great—as long as you don’t mind psychotic survivors trying to kill you with powers they can’t control because they’re too stupid or stubborn to get help. There’s no excuse for that.

Draft dodgers aren’t necessarily bad people or psychotic. Some just want to be human again. It’s not their fault they were in a bomb’s radius.

It had taken me years to get to that point of acceptance.

Stop being so nice, Olivia. It’s creepy.

Despite everything, I laughed. I already met my quota of evil today. Just ask Detective Hunk.

You better watch yourself, woman. I just might.

Chapter Two

The Oakland police and a fleet of ambulances blocked the road to the shopping center. Eddy turned on her emergency lights and approached the barricade. An officer flagged for her to halt, and she rolled down the window. FBI Quad Supervisor, she announced, showing off her FBI badge and pointing in my direction.

You’ll need to move your vehicle and park down the street. We’ve got casualties on the sidewalk and street.

Number of deaths? I asked.

Two.

Injured?

A hundred and eleven unresponsives and rising.

Unresponsives? I unbuckled my belt, grabbed my purse, and got out of the SUV. Eddy, get parked and notify the boss we’ve got a mass incident on our hands. If that detective is still at the agency, put in a request for his file. You know how I feel about strange coincidences.

You hate them, I know. It could just be a strange coincidence. They do happen. Eddy grimaced. Rarely, but they do happen.

I don’t believe in coincidences, I grumbled. Especially when I’m the one who has been accused. Tell your brother I’ll have a hissy fit over it if I don’t get my way.

All right. I’ll tell him you’re tired, ready to have a hissy fit, and to figure out what’s going on with the cop. I’ll go park. Don’t wander, don’t get into trouble, don’t toy with the nice police officers, and stay with them. Remember, they’re the nice police officers. You got to play with an officer today. You’ve reached your quota. My boss’s sister waggled her finger at me. I mean it. Be nice.

All right, all right. Shaking my head over Eddy’s pushiness, I showed the cops my FBI badge before slipping through the barricade. Give me the brief version.

The cops, all veterans looking ready to retire, exchanged long looks. That they’d brought out the experienced officers worried me.

Then again, with over a hundred victims, I bet the police department had called in every officer possible to handle the mess. As soon as my boss found out about the incident, he’d be doing the same—and asking me to get my ass in gear and get my quads on the move.

To my surprise, the only woman present cleared her throat and replied, Two hours ago, there was a mass incident. We’re flagging it as a possible terrorism attack, possibly some form of nerve gas with quick dissipation. Our scanners aren’t picking up any radiation.

No radiation, no magic—and no quads. Still, I had to try. Have you called for a quad?

It’s not registering magic, whatever it is. No nuclear residues, either.

Despite the complete banning of nuclear devices following the conclusion of World War III, some idiot found the necessary materials and tried to build a bomb to strengthen the magic flooding the world. Sometimes, they got it just right, detonating them in a public place and creating a new batch of survivors with few fatalities.

It was when they got it wrong that things got bad. People like me happened when the bomb techs got it wrong. Determined to avoid wallowing in the past, I lifted my chin and directed my attention to the police officer, who challenged me with a narrow-eyed gaze.

Scanner sensitivity?

Mid-grade.

You can miss a lot with a mid-grade scanner. Are there any conscious witnesses?

As one, the cops shook their heads.

What looked like magic, acted like magic, and lacked explanation was often magic. I’d give them the benefit of the doubt for the moment; just as I’d danced with Detective Raymond, they’d dance with me to avoid losing their spot as top dog on the case.

Ultimately, it would end up on my lap; I wasn’t buying nerve gas. Nerve gas would’ve left witnesses. I considered the problem, debating if it was worth going over their heads to order a high-sensitivity scanner. Magic came in many forms, but all magic came bundled with nuclear radiation of some sort or another. Geiger counters served as primary detectors, usually falling into the mid-grade range. Unless one of their scanners detected something, the police opted against involving the FBI.

My next words would annoy the hell out of them, and for a rare change, I didn’t like delivering the potential bad news. It could be a new type.

No one wanted to find a new type of supernatural, especially not one the mid-range scanners couldn’t detect. World War III had changed everything, every nuke dropped adding to the chaos of magic exploding into the world. Instead of the world dying to fallout, the ashes either killed or birthed powers.

For a lack of anything else to call it, it’d been dubbed magic.

The new supernatural absorbed the radiation, allowing life to go on and the planet to recover from the treacheries of man.

I should’ve died the day New York City had vanished, flattened by the largest bomb ever developed. Less than a percent had survived.

What should’ve been a college research trip had turned into a disaster. I shivered, clenched my teeth, and hated myself for sliding back into a past I wished I could change.

Reliving the worst day of my life could wait until later.

Since the cops weren’t talking, I’d have to push and hope for the best. I’ve got a missing quad on my hands, so maybe we can help each other out. How large of an area does this incident cover?

The woman relaxed, and she offered a sympathetic smile. At least the police and the FBI got along on that front; nobody liked when we had people go missing in the field. We’ve got casualties down a ten block stretch and in several stores so far. The two deaths were the result of unconscious drivers. There are injuries from other accidents, but it could’ve been much worse.

I’d take any silver lining I could. Estimate on possible fatalities?

We don’t expect any more fatalities from injuries, but we can’t wake any of the non-responsive victims, the woman replied, turning and pointing down the street. The paramedics are checking on them, so if you’re going deeper into the zone, please don’t touch anyone. They only look dead.

Vitals?

All strong; to all appearances, there’s nothing wrong with any of them. It’s like they’re asleep. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it. If it wasn’t for the scanner not detecting anything, I’d claim it was magic.

I’d never seen anything like it, either. Could be a haunter or another incorporeal; mid-range scanners won’t pick them up. Got a medium handy? If not, give me the go-ahead to help your investigation, and I’ll call one in. We’ll call it even for letting me poke my nose around where it doesn’t belong.

While grim, the woman smiled. I can authorize that. All right. No, we don’t have a medium on our teams. Mediums typically wash out of the force, especially when it comes to violent crimes.

Ironically, when it came to the odd cases I wanted to blame on haunters and other incorporeals, I would’ve called Adrianna’s quad. When it came to incorporeals, they could handle just about anything. Retrieving my phone from my purse, I called Luke.

I didn’t miss a check-in, did I? he answered.

No. I’m at the city center. I’m stalking you because I’m a helicopter boss with overprotective tendencies. Has Ethan had a look yet? I’m assuming you’re aware of the incident. If not, come down to the street.

We’re aware. He threw up trying. Something’s going on, and whatever it is, it’s big. He’s never felt anything like it.

Damn it, damn it, damn it. Any luck finding Adrianna and her quad?

There’s a lot of vics up here, boss. We’re looking, but it could take a while.

All right. I’m on the street. I’ve made an offer for the police to consult with a medium, but if Ethan’s getting sick trying, I’ll see about a high-grade scanner and someone with lower sensitivity. While I wait on you, I’ll get the cops to start talking. Maybe they’ve—

Hold that thought, boss. I think we’ve found them.

I will smack you around if you repeat this, but I’ll be happy if you find them conscious in a nail salon sipping mimosas and not answering their phones.

Ethan? Luke asked. Any response?

I waited, so tense I trembled.

Luke sighed. Adrianna is unresponsive, but the others are groggy. Conscious, but groggy.

In good news, having one of my