Miyuki stretched as she sat up. Her silk sheets falling down her incredibly sore body. She had only gotten in from Peru the night before and needed every second of rest she could get. She was glad she wrote the after action report on the plane so all she needed to do was turn everything in.

  Her apartment’s bed was as perfect as she remembered. It was the perfect set up, the softness of the padded mattress along with the cooling effect of the silk and topped it all off with dryer-warmed cotton pajamas. There was always only a handful of seconds separating her head hitting the pillow and falling asleep.

  She thus began her morning routine. One might think that just because magic was a thing a being’s morning would be different from the regular human, they would be mostly incorrect. Did he have a mana powered vibrating toothbrush? Yes. Did she have a magic wardrobe that put together the perfect outfit for the day? She wished.

  After downing a protein shake for breakfast she took a shower and did her morning beauty treatment. Boring right? Well, she was about to get her morning really pumping with what she did next, CHECK HER SOCIAL MEDIA!...Okay maybe she didn’t have the most exciting morning. When she compared it to the last week of nonsense it was a comforting pattern.

  Once her routine was complete she wondered what she would do with the rest of her day. She’d definitely go to the boardwalk for lunch. After that she was pretty open. Maybe she would head to the shooting range. Nothing could calm her like some demolition therapy.

  With a bright outlook she left her apartment. The hallway was much like the halls of HQ. Beings of all shapes and sizes walked up and down the wide corridor. It was so nice to walk around with her ears and tails out even for a few minutes. Annoyingly, she had to retract them before she reached the lobby. The risk of some random human not in the know seeing something they shouldn’t was too high for not having such an inconvenience be standard. She shuddered lightly at the one time she forgot and some legal delivery service was there. The term “goth cosplayer” was used by the security to explain her appendages. Needless to say that was the last time she forgot to put on her disguise.

  *********************

  A few hours later she was relaxing at the beach with a fish taco in hand and the salty breeze blowing her hair. She had always loved the beach since she first saw it as a teenager. It took that long due to a combination of noble-class overprotectiveness and post-war recovery. She still remembered the first time she walked across the sand with her bare feet. It was so different from the sand in the family’s Zen garden.

  When she took a bite out of her taco and hummed at the combination of flavors and textures. The slight spice of the fish was perfectly balanced by its slaw and sauce. As she was about to take a second bite her phone rang. The rock music coming from her ear buds instantly cut as the ring tone replaced it.

  She sighed. Couldn’t she get one day before being called up for something stupid. She tapped a bud to answer the call. “Aren’t I supposed to get at least one day off? What do you want?”

  “I must say that your manners have much to be desired,” said a very imperious and chastising voice. Her mother never called her directly. She usually used a servant to do any of the regular communications while only talking to Miyuki after the secretary started the call.

  Miyuki quickly sat up when she recognized the voice. “Mother,” she said, fixing her tone, “Oh, uh, what’s up?”

  Her mother hummed in her “bored and disappointed” tone.

  Miyuki cleared her throat. “I apologize. May I know the purpose of this call?”

  It took a second for the councilor to answer. Miyuki could almost see how she was somehow looking down her nose at her even on the other side of a phone. “Due to the increase in The Light’s activities I have called a gathering of all communities in North America. There will be dozens of ambassadors and representatives. As such I will require your presence. The information will be sent to you shortly.”

  Miyuki clenched her teeth as she had to force herself to not say something she’d regret. “Yes ma’am,” she said, as stable as she could. She was so glad her mother couldn’t see the grimace she was wearing.

  “And please put on something proper instead of whatever rabble wear you usually use.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I shall do my best.” Miyuki said, swallowing her response.

  “Good. I will see you tonight.” Without a goodbye she ended the call.

  Miyuki had to use every ounce of self control not to throw her now slightly squeezed taco into the sea. It took a handful of breaths before she was able to stabilize enough to take another bite. She could barely taste the food past how pissed she was.

  That wasn’t the first time she was going to be used by her mother as a wall flower or a not-so-hidden dagger. What makes a statement better than a Keepers Councilor with a ranking Hunter as a child. Miyuki knew that even if she refused to participate as a daughter she would be ordered to as a Hunter. That was a battle she had already fought and lost. She couldn’t believe that she was actually missing the amazon.

  **********************

  Miyuki tried to move in the uncomfortable dress. Because of how the kimono was designed she was both forced to have a “proper” posture, she was also restricted to making small dainty steps if she wanted to walk anywhere. She wasn’t even able to sneak in either of her revolvers. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and deal with it.

  The only plus side of the thing was the design. Instead of being a plain color with a repetitive pattern, it was covered in a masterfully sown design depicting the hills of Kyoto and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Flowing hills lined with hundreds of red torii gates all leading up to a grand temple. Prominent on her back was the clan’s symbol of a kitsune mask under a red torii gate.

  The reason that particular shrine was on most of her clan’s formal clothing was because it was special to them. The largest reason was that the first of their family was formed there. Unlike other kitsune clans and families whose origins were based in trickery and capricious natures, they were formed from the belief that they were guardians.

  Her clan’s unique predisposition as protectors was because of the shrine. Fushimi Inari-taisha was located in Kyoto and was dedicated to the shinto deity Inari, the god of rice, sake and prosperity. Inari used her clan as guardians and messengers for centuries before the gods were sealed. Even after all these years her clan were the unofficial caretakers of the sacred area. That wasn’t an easy job considering millions of people visited the place every year and they held the 1300th anniversary of its establishment in 2011.

  She grew up only a kilometer away from the main entrance. In fact, the only time she was allowed out of the walled compound was to visit and work at the shrine. The days she would walk the hiss were some of her best memories. Well, there was one that wasn’t so pleasant. After "accidentally" insulting her mother at an important event she was forced to clean and polish the near ten-thousand red torii gates that shadowed the many paths. Only after two weeks of daily work was she allowed to stop.

  She took a deep breath to recenter herself. She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted. She had to be the prim daughter of a councilor while also holding an edge as a ranking Hunter. A dichotomy that she was unfortunately getting used to playing.

  It was only a few more minutes until a kitsune servant in a black kimono retrieved her from the small dressing room she was given. She was taken through the halls of whatever excessively expensive hotel her mother had chosen. She just reminded herself that her entire job was to sit there and look pretty.

  ‘Fucking hell’ she thought as she entered the grand ballroom and saw lines of circular tables all of which prepared for a multi-course meal.

  After a quick scan she located the head table and started toward it. There were already a dozen beings milling around chatting amongst themselves. She flatly ignored them and sat in her assigned seat at the rectangular head table. Without hesitation she reached into her sleeve pocket and pulled out her phone. If she had to be there she could at least not be completely bored.

  Over the next half hour more beings arrived until what should be everyone were at their tables coming out to little under one hundred. Only once every attendant was sitting did her mother arrive. Everyone stood, including Miyuki, at her entrance. Miyuki quickly stashed her phone and gave the woman a slight bow. Only when the Councilor sat did everyone join her.

  As always she was dressed to the nines. Everything from her hair to her shoes was immaculate and made with only the most premium materials. She wouldn’t be surprised that her mother spent more on that outfit than Miyuki did in a year’s rent.

  “I thank all of you for joining me today,” her imperiousness said as her eyes roamed over everyone gathered. “I wish this gathering was called under better news.”

  Miyuki saw a stirring go through the room. They knew that when a Councilor said they had bad news, shit was about to go down.

  “I will assume all of you know of The Light and their campaign,” she continued.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Almost everyone nodded. Those who didn’t clenched up as if controlling themselves.

  “The Keepers have come to the conclusion that they are no longer a minor irritant. With recent actions we are increasing their danger level to that of active threat.” She waited as a second stir went through her audience. “They have somehow obtained a source of enchantments and materials directly suited to be used against beings.”

  She stood and raised her chin even higher. “We will not rest until we discover this source and make sure it can never be used again.” Her haughty tone turned deadly serious. “While we do not yet know how they were able to do this, we have been able to identify what the enchantments are as well as the material they used.

  Miyuki’s eyebrows rose. That was new information to her. If they already had that data then why was her mother calling this meeting.

  “The easiest enchantment to identify was on a pendant they were wearing. It is a modified presence suppression enchantment that instead of using internal mana uses ambient mana around the wearer.

  “The second was on their bullets and were only slightly harder to parse out. Its purpose is to amplify the material both the bullets and amulets are made of.”

  If Miyuki hadn’t gone through years of political training she would be on the edge of her seat. Ever since she and Logan were literally burned by the materials she had been wondering what they were made of.

  Her mother paused like she had to collect herself. “The material is blood silver.”

  There was a mixed response to the announcement. Most of the listeners, Miyuki included, clearly didn’t understand why the pronouncement sounded so grave.

  There was silence until a dwarf slammed the table with his fist and jumped to his feet. “By Brokkr’s hammer are you serious!?” he yelled.

  All her mother did was nod.

  This sent the dwarf into a tirade. “Those blasted monsters dare craft that assured metal!” He met her mother’s gaze with rage filled eyes. “I don’t care what else you got to say. I swear both my and my clan’s honor that as long as they are using that unholy shit that we will march. Just point us at whatever hold they dug themselves into and we will crush them.”

  Miyuki was already surprised by the outburst. Dwarves rarely got themselves involved in anything that didn’t directly involve them. She was actually amazed that her mother was able to call representatives from five different clans and put them in one room without a fistfight starting. She was further surprised when every other dwarf stood and made similar proclamations.

  She could feel the unease of the other beings present.

  The first dwarf that stood answered the hanging question. “Listen up you stringy bastards. Blood silver is only made through the living sacrifice of beings. The ritual takes the torment of the being and instills it into the silver. The silver is then corrupted and becomes the bane of everything considered a being. Everything from elementals to faeries are affected by the blasted stuff. Every dwarven hall has sworn that whenever the accursed metal rises, we will do everything we can to make sure the maker and every shard of it is destroyed. Every carving, note, victim and witness are to be disposed of.”

  Everyone was shocked. Ritual sacrifices weren’t new, far from it. What made this one so unique is the sheer vitriol the dwarves showed. There had to be something more to it that the dwarves weren’t sharing, not that she necessarily wanted to know what went on. The less she knew about any tortuous death rituals the better.

  “I thank the clans for your support,” her mother said.

  All of the dwarves then returned to their seats.

  Her mother straightened further. “As stated, The Light has somehow found out how to make it and is somehow producing it in mass.”

  Miyuki felt a chill at the thought. How many beings have they already sacrificed?

  “It is currently unknown how they discovered the method, where they are getting their sacrifices or how much they have produced. We require everyone to conduct a general census of your communities and report anyone missing. If we can find where they are sourcing their victims from we will be that much closer to ending this once and for all.”

  “This is just the first step of stopping them. Report anything suspicious to the nearest Keeper agents.”

  She sat then leaving the entire room quiet only to be interrupted by the first course being delivered. As always Miyuki’s mother amazed her at how she can seem serious in one moment and throw everyone else off with the next. How the hell could anyone focus on dinner when they just gained the news that terrorists were making anti-being weaponry using tortured beings.

  While still thinking about all the new information, she followed her mother and began eating. Nothing ruins a good meal like thoughtful dread.

  Miyuki ate the food placed before her with numb attention. She knew The Light was bad but this? What kind of messed up bastard makes living sacrifices to make something to kill the sacrificed’s friends. Well, terrorists she guessed. Nothing allows monstrous actions like dehumanization. How many times in human history were enemies treated less than even animals.

  “Daughter,” Miyuki heard from beside her.

  She turned to her mother. “Yes?”

  “I can see that you are disturbed by this news,” she said evenly.

  Miyuki almost winced at the rebuke. That line coming from some people would mean that they were worried about her mental state, but not her mother. She had to be stalwart and composed no matter what was said or done around them. In her eyes, the ballroom was as much of a battlefield as any firefight.

  Miyuki would honestly prefer the firefight, at least there you usually know who your enemies are. Someone shooting at you? That’s probably the bad guy. What should you do? Put a bullet in them. Politics were different. Your worst enemy, the one whose very existence disgusts you, is the one you have to wine and dine. One day’s ally is tomorrow’s target. The schemes upon schemes and daily betrayals were repulsing.

  Miyuki took a breath and put on her uncaring blank mask. Her uncaring face was one of the only lessons that her mother tried to pound into her head that she kept up. The blank face was useful in infiltration missions as well as when in a battle not showing how hurt she actually was.

  “Apologizes mother,” she said, “I did not truly understand how evil our enemies are. Attacks are one thing, but this.”

  “It is indeed disturbing. In the near future you may encounter something even worse. You must remain strong in this time of trials. Do not let your emotions sway your decisions.”

  Again Miyuki is reminded to shove down her emotions. She could almost hear the tumor singing in her head from all the suppression. And people wonder why she “acts out.” She was sick of people treating her like a child, she just turned ninety damn it.

  “Yes mother,” she said, keeping her inner thoughts to herself.

  Her mother nodded and returned to her meal.

  As the two of them sat in silence she listened in on the conversations happening at the tables. On one side of the scale were the quiet mumblings among some tables, on the other side were the dwarves who had barely calmed since the food was served.

  “Mother, we haven’t yet served the wine have we?” she asked after one of the dwarves bellowed an insult toward “whatever brain dead bastard” found the blood silver ritual.

  “You know as well as I do that they would be even louder if they were drunk.”

  That’s what Miyuki liked about the stocky folk. They knew how to live. They don’t pull punches in fights or conversations. If they thought you’re being an idiot they’d make sure you know it. They are also the best beings to drink with. She remembered when she joined a celebration of a dwarven smith graduating from journeyman to master. After the newly promoted crafter claimed that he was as hard headed as his anvil one of the party goers proceeded to hit him with a bottle. The party’s host quickly turned into a snoring lump. All the dwarf with the bottle had to say was that either the master had a soft head or he had a damn good bottle. The smith still went by Master Lump.

  She had to stop the smile the memory always gave her. They remained silent as the dinner progressed through the main course and into dessert.

  “It appears that a consensus has been reached,” Miyuki said. Every conversation she heard was about how the different communities would communicate and increase their security. There were a handful talking about how they would increase their guard forces in preparation of taking out whatever bases The Light may have near them. If nothing else, Miyuki was glad that no one was panicking.

  “Indeed daughter. This is another example as to why beings are better than humans. Even the most honest human politician will think of their own interests before that of their people. Where have you seen humans honestly pledge their honor and lives to a cause at just the mention of an atrocity?”

  Miyuki held back her first response. She wouldn’t say her mother was a being supremacist, but neither would she say the old fox saw them as equals. Maybe it was because Miyuki was still in a human’s lifespan that she saw them as more than just a bunch of angry barbarians.

  It would be easy for Miyuki to condemn her mother for her views, she did for years in fact. That changed when she was first taught human history. She had wondered why it had taken until she was seventeen. Why was she taught almost all of general being history before humans? Her question was quickly answered by how much of human history was nothing but war and slaughter. The history of Japan alone was filled with monstrous actions and human experimentation. From the boiling alive of prisoners in the Azuchi–Momoyama period to the horrors of Unit 731 in World War 2.

  Miyuki’s mother had no choice but to sit back and watch the humans around her do disgusting things to each other. She had the power to single handedly overthrow a human government and bring them into a golden age. What kind of future could they have if she was the one in charge instead of whatever warlord held the power? It was a what if question that many beings had.

  There was a reason why the only time they would interfere would be when beings or the world itself was threatened. It wasn’t their place to choose the paths of human kind. The Keepers especially were watchers and guardians, not tyrants. Did they force their choices onto humans? No. Did they play puppeteer every now and then? Of course. What’s the point of living on a planet if humans blew it up.

  “What of you, daughter?” her mother said. “What are your thoughts on the current situation?”

  How the hell was she supposed to answer that? A bunch of terrorists had a blood ritual that made them even more dangerous and they had no idea how many they had already killed. Oh, and they’re somehow getting enchantments done so they may have traitors on their hands.

  Miyuki took a second to think. “I believe that these enemies have hidden depths that we have yet to see. How did they do all this under our nose?”

  “I’m not sure daughter,” her mother answered without looking up from her meal. “We may have become too lax in our security or they are smarter than we give them credit for. Either way they will be found and destroyed. No quarter shall be given.”

  Miyuki was always amazed when her mother could order someone’s execution with the same tone as if she was talking about the weather.

  “I agree mother. If they belong to The Light they will be put down.”

  That was the last thing they said to each other for the rest of the meal. She could tell that her future would be getting very busy.