Lost

Matt and Jimmy stood opposite the closed kitchen door and listened to the sound of everything breaking from within. It had been half an hour and still it seemed Zacky’s rage had not abated even a little. Dani had remarked in passing that it seemed as if every plate they owned was going to be broken and it would take her a while to magically fix it. Jimmy nodded, they had seen this before and repairs via witchcraft were always extremely useful.
Johnny poked his head around a door further down the hall, his face a picture of concern and a little amusement.
“Stefanie and I found her mobile signal ends outside St Pancreas station.”
“It’s a start.”
Jimmy nodded at Matt’s words, his mind racing. There were several avenues this threat could come from and yet so far they hadn’t acted or even come after the other reapers. It smelt wrong and he thanked the various gods that Raven and Dani had headed out to see the mystics in London together rather than alone. If he had his way none of them would do anywhere alone until they had Claire back.
“You….ah….gonna go interrupt?”
Johnny nodded his head towards the door as something glass smashed against it and Matt shrugged. There was only one person who would get much response and she was missing. There only other option walked through the front door in mid conversation with his woman who appeared to be holding a very alive and very pissed off turkey.
“Lilith, this voodoo shit is dark magic and ain’t that supposed to be a chicken?”
“They’re hiding Claire with serious ju-ju, I gotta fight back with bigger ju-ju.”
Syn stopped and listened at the door, already knowing that he would have to intervene and that would mean so would Matt, Johnny and Jimmy. Lilith could read his mind and called out to Stef to come and help her upstairs. It would be better if the boys handled Zacky and it would keep them occupied while she meddled in some serious shit. The blonde appeared at her side, Johnny behind her, staring at the turkey.
“Really?”
Lilith merely smiled and lifted the squawking bird a little higher before leading the way up to the attic. Stefanie kissed Johnny and followed, leaving all the boys staring at the kitchen door. It had gone silent in there and it was probably the only chance they would get so Matt opened the door carefully and sidled inside followed by Syn, Jimmy and Johnny. There was nothing to see but smashed furniture and chairs, the floor littered with crockery and utensils which were mostly bent out of shape.
Zacky had his back to them, he was bent over the sink in silence and Syn could see that the knuckles on both hands were bloody and forming bruises. He walked over, speaking gently as he laid a hand on his lovers shoulder. Zacky flinched, the rage was subsiding and he knew the others had come to talk him down.
“Hey, you feel a little better now?”
Zacky didn’t answer for a moment, his voice hoarse when he could finally form the words.
“It’s my fault. I should have gone with her.”
“No. Someone planned this and well, you know how hard it is to take any of us.”
Matt pushed the chair debris away and opened the fridge, passing all his friends a beer as they sat on the floor. Sometimes a moment was needed and clearly Zacky needed his now. He silently knocked back the beer, Syn’s arm around his shoulder as Jimmy lined up several more, his face wearing a sad smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“Syn’s right. It’s not the first time we’ve been attacked. We have some leads now and hopefully soon another one.”
Zacky looked puzzled until Syn pointed to the ceiling and told him about the turkey voodoo going on in the roof. Despite himself Zacky smiled, it was so like Lilith to take the crazy route and Raven had been in touch with Jimmy to say that she and Dani had been told by an old friend that the government had been asking some very leading questions to some people that normally stayed out of sight.
“They were asking about the occult. Serious questions.”
What the fuck would the government want with one of us?”
Syn nodded at Johnny’s question, not liking the direction this was taking. Nobody wanted another war, least of all him. He had come to like the quieter kill, the stalking element that Zacky had long preferred. Not that he had stopped loving chaos but it was good to take some time out and enjoy his life, Lilith and his friends without thinking he could be blown up at any moment.
“We know her phone cut out at St Pancreas. We should start there.”
They finished the second beers in silence, Zacky’s head resting on Syn’s shoulder. He ached all over and wanted to kill whatever had taken Claire from him. He didn’t care if Lilith unleashed the demons from hell, if Raven sent angels from above or if Johnny went into full on psycho mode as long as he got her back. Matt could hardly bear the haunted look on his face, wishing for the thousandth time that Dani was back home with him. This threat was unknown and that made it worse.
Jimmy stood, wiping his hands down his jeans and carefully picking up a broken jar as he thought how best to do this. It could be an opening, an ambush or something else and the last thing he wanted was to risk Claire’s safety. There was a rumbling from upstairs and Johnny scrambled to his feet.
“You think…”
“Dude, you’re a braver man than me if you go up there now.”
Syn felt Zacky chuckle and hugged him tighter, kissing the top of his head before standing. The one drawer that his buddy hadn’t smashed contained the battered maps of London from the present back to the ones they had owned as mortals in the 1880’s. They checked out the area around the station, cross referencing to see what ran beneath and through the place in case they needed to search. Matt took some notes, relieved to hear the front door open.
“Hi guys.”
Raven hugged Jimmy and ignored the mess as Dani waved an arm and the chairs fixed and righted themselves. There was a hum of chatter, Zacky began to feel a little better now that they had some kind of plan and as always the presence of the beautiful dark haired girl with the transparent wings lifted the mood. Raven in human form was exquisite but in angel form she was deadly. Matt was shooed to one side as Dani righted the table and kissed him.
“So when do we go?”
“As soon as Lilith is done.”
Dani had felt the strange mix of Christianity and African magic from the end of the street and smirked to herself. It was powerful and Lilith loved it but she and Claire had tried to steer clear. There was enough knowledge in the craft’s various forms to keep them all happy and again, vainly, she tried to reach her sister.
“Never again!”
The kitchen door opened and a less than amused Stefanie walked in. She was splattered in blood and feathers, her face also blackened by soot. All of the room politely looked away and tried to hide the smiles of amusement as Johnny attempted to soothe his lover.
“I did try and warn you.”
“Sod off Johnny, the damn thing was flying around with no head.”
Lilith wandered in, similarly as splattered as Stef but a lot more triumphant. The blade in her left hand was dumped into the sink as she turned back, her face tired but her eyes alive with hope.
“I know where Claire is.”

Notes