Heirs of Our Own

Epilogue:

What started as a peaceful night at one of Vegas's favorite diners turned into a high-speed foot chase through the back alleys of Las Vegas. Alecto, a new and relatively unknown Beast of the Summer Court, came upon her debt collector, Ian Black of Winter. Also important and present were Rowan of the Autumn Court and Firebringer of the Iron Spear. As the four came together to chat and finish up their meals, two police officers entered the diner and had a seat to relax and enjoy their break. Two more in plainclothes showed up, but sharp-eared Rowan had transformed his Arcadian form into a Whisperwisp. What he heard would spark an insane night for them all: they were here for the new Lost.

Alecto seized control of the security system and bolted for the washroom, changing her outfit and her face with Arcadia's blessings. Attempts were made to leave, but the two plainclothes detectives showed paperwork to the cops. The group was detained, as Detective Chin checked the washroom... only to find that the woman she was looking for was no longer here. Alecto was trying to figure out a way to be let go when it became readily apparent that Chin was being guided by someone on the telephone who could see her for who she was.

A running gun battle ensued as Alecto and Firebringer were chased into the back alleyway. Despite her Fae Cunning, a lucky shot from Detective Sadler struck Alecto in the kidney, starting a clock before she would bleed out if she did not have treatment. Trying to run, she found herself caught at the bottom of a fire escape. Sadler aimed and fired two more rounds, but the expert marksman missed. Alecto had her revenge; supernatural claws flensed the mortal's gun arm, and she Ravaged him, draining him of his emotion as she dragged in all of his fear to keep her power flowing. Wisely, Sadler fled. Firebringer dragged Alecto through a mirror to her closed-down workplace, the Desert Wind Coffee Shop.

Meanwhile, Ian Black and Rowan deceived their way through the last remaining police officer's efforts to question them, satisfying him with a story about Ian being an older gentleman whose nephew was taking him out for a bite. Who were the girls? In Vegas, it was anybody's guess.

The group reconvened thirty minutes later at the Desert Wind, inviting Finn of Summer to join them to provide healing and support. After all, the good Sergeant was a cop and the police were involved through a warrant, right? As first aid was done and a break was taken, sharp-eyed Rowan saw a flicker off metal that drew his attention. Recognizing a trap about to spring on them, he commanded everyone to get down with not a moment to spare. As the Lost pressed themselves to the wooden floors of the café, the woman trying to pass herself off as Detective Chin unloaded on the lot of them with an assault rifle set to rock and roll. Calling down the Wyrd for more Fae Cunning, Alecto charged to the car Chin was firing from, pressing herself low to avoid the gunfire. Faerie's luck did the rest, fortune drawing the gunfire away from her... but Firebringer was not so lucky. As the group pressed forward and Finn fired his pistol into Chin's body armor, Firebringer was maimed by the arc of gunfire.

Alecto engaged the assassin in hand-to-hand combat, ably assisted by Rowan and the wounded Firebringer. Her assault weapon clattered to the pavement. Ian took cover and caught a glimpse of the cameras needing to be disabled, but was forced to help save Firebringer's life when the assassin drew her pistol and put one more round in the Elemental. Claws, fists and weapons flashed, but the murderer was only wounded by the time she had the chance to put her weapon to the fallen Summer Courtier's head.

Her message? Walk away, and she lives. Was she serious? Fuck around, and find out. Except the Lost were no fools. Burning with rage, Rowan stepped away. So too did Finn and Ian, not wishing to escalate things beyond the brink.

Alecto de-escalated the situation, explaining to Chin that she had been touched by the supernatural and marked. Danger would follow her forever if she was not pledged into the society of the Lost. Seeking to cut a deal for her and her partner, Sadler, Chin expressed her willingness to keep her mouth shut that was Sealed by the Beast. With an uncertain future between them but sirens on the horizon, all who remained decided that discretion was the better part of valor.

Meanwhile, in the back of Alecto's mind, hatred burned from afar. She hadn't told anyone, but she knew. Tonight's mayhem was a message from her Fetch: stay away from my family, or this will never stop.

But if it were your heirs on the line, would you?