Ascension

The phone rang causing Detective Alicea Duarte to blink, her smile to fade, and her greeting to stop. Her smile was apologetic to the two Council members that stood at her door, before answering her phone. She kept her eyes on them.

“Detective Duarte.”

“This is Sergeant Yazzie, sorry to disturb you, but we need your talents. A body has found.”

She doubted Sergeant Yazzie would call her for kicks this early. She also didn’t know why two prominent Council members were at her door. Kai ruled the Mountain which was her region so it could be social, but she doubted it. Achak ruled the Midwest; she doubted he’d show up for a social call in another’s region for shits and giggles.

“Send me the location; I’ll be right over.”

The Council was the monsters the monsters feared. Their brute force kept them in power and kept the others under control. It was comforting knowing something could keep the preternatural community under control. Even so, no one wanted the Council in town.

“Thanks again.”

Alicea ended the call and eyed them both for a moment. Her talents were time sensitive and she didn’t wish to offend them, well Achak too much. Alicea worked for the Department of Preternatural Investigations. As a Prete herself she couldn’t decide if it was a disadvantage or privilege. She looked human and considered herself human, but her abilities were beyond human. As the only ‘Out’ Prete in the Department, she had the privilege of being the official escort of the Council. Along with discriminated against because she was beyond human.

I’m super, the thought was sarcastic but no less true.

“Detective,” Kai purred as he reached out for her hand. Alicea glared at him, ignoring his hand as she kept her distance. “It seems we’ve arrived in time.” He was Native, but wouldn’t disclose his tribe or any of history. The most anyone knew of Kai was that he appeared 30, stood less than six foot and was lean muscle. His skin was a smooth untanned brown that covered prominent cheeks and a strong nose. He smirked, his black eyes focused on Alicea. “It is always a pleasure to see you.”

The Council was the Alphas of the preternatural world. They each ruled a region of the States allowing the government a sense of false comfort. These creatures were the examples of why Alicea knew they humans treated them different. It wasn’t fair for some, but it kept order. The two alphas stood outside her door and she’d snubbed the one with indifference. The restrained sour look on her face spoke that she’d do it again.

Achak coughed to cover up a laugh but stepped in front of Kai before Alicea could speak. He was the youngest on the Council, but still high enough on the food chain to be Council. Achak seemed less threatening because he was a Thunderbird whereas Kai was an Ascended Skinwalker. Achak hadn’t slaughtered his family and tribe to become what he is, he hadn’t killed anyone who might know his true name. Kai’s power was his true name; it was his greatest weapon and weakness. It was his most guarded secret.

“Kai is correct, it a pleasure Detective. I appreciate your warm welcome, though I wish the circumstances were different,” Achak expressed with a solemn gaze. His electric yellow stare reflected the contained power of his true form. He was Native as well, she believed Algonquin. He resided in Chicago most of the time to her knowledge.

“It’s good to see you Achak.” Alicea looked to Kai and felt her spine quiver as her hardened resolve cracked a bit. Living in Kai’s region had brought him to her door more than she liked or cared to admit. “What brings you to my door?”

“There is a Skinwalker that has escaped his boundaries and into mine,” Kai answered. Achak nodded, confirming Kai’s words. “She has slaughtered from his to our region.”

“Wonderful,” Alicea muttered. “I guess we should get going.”

“Do you think she has made it here already,” Achak questioned, looking to Kai.

“Alicea.” Her name was firm and stopped her movement as she locked her door. “This Skinwalker is not my level, but she is ruthless.”

“Do you know her name?” Alicea questioned.

“Catelyn Whitewater.”

Achak left the name before walking off the porch and standing a distance from her house. His body glowed and she watched his form elongate and transform into a magnificent giant bird that reminded her of something prehistoric. His true form’s wingspan was 18 feet. The feathers were beige and brown with a scaled head and neck leading to a thick curved beak. The curved talons at the ends of his scaled feet dug into her lawn before he launched into the sky.

Kai was standing in her way at the edge of her porch’s gate. She squeezed past him; determined to leave him behind as she focused on leaving her domain. Her plump breasts pushed upward and against him as her hands pushed against him as she squeezed past. Their skin touch and she shivered, hating that he only wore a tight, black leather vest and left his arms bare along with most of his upper body. It was over in a moment and she was at her Jeep, getting inside, and pulling the door shut.

Where she left Kai there a large coyote staring at her leaving no doubt he’d shifted into his preferred animal form, out of the many he could take. His glowing amber eyes blinked at her before it winked and took off. Alicea checked the coordinates and drove off while trying to ignore thoughts of Kai. If she could leave their history behind she’d be fine, but as long as he ruled the Mountains she’d always have to deal with him.

The location of the body was inside the Department’s district, near a lake off a jogging trail. It wasn’t uncommon to have minor attacks or deaths. The mountain lions and bears were active this time of year. A small part of her hoped it was an animal attack so she wouldn’t have to deal with Kai anymore, but she knew her responsibility. It was 3 in the morning and Yazzie had made sure to secure the area. An ambulance, a squad car, and Sergeant Yazzie stood with one officer close to what she assumed was the body. Alicea saw paramedics with a woman sitting at the ambulance.

She must’ve discovered the body, Alicea deduced as she prepared herself for another long night.

A knock on her window startled her. Kai was standing there; his long black hair tied back and out of the way. He smirked, his dark brown eyes unnoticeable in the moonlight. His demeanor was calm and airy for the situation. Kai was dangerous and he was hunting her more than she liked. Alicea got out of her jeep and Kai smiled.

“Achak is roaming the area. If she is here, he will herd her,” Kai assured.

Alicea nodded to acknowledge him but didn’t say much. She went to the back to switch out the bullets of her babies. She was the only out Prete in the Department, but Sergeant Yazzie was sort of an unofficial Medicine Men. He’d trained in his tribe’s ways to follow in his mother’s footsteps, but he took another path. He tongue was silent when it came to that life, but he had abilities that would classify him as a Prete. Which was why she was switching out bullets, he’d bless specific bullets meant to deal with his tribes Prete for her. The Council and Department licensed her to carry deadly weapons to use against the Preternatural.

“Those smell dangerous...someone knows a Skinwalker’s weakness,” Kai commented.

“We know these would only slow you,” Alicea commented with a smile. She carried a 23 for both hands in which she was a proficient shot. Her brothers K-bar also hung at her hip as well. Lucky 23 and Kay were her babies.

“A name will make a Skinwalker vulnerable to the point of being human. Depending on their power they can be killed without a name depending on the circumstances.”

“She’s looking for that last step,” Alicea mused.

“Likely.” Kai gazed into the distance, his eyes taking in the forest and the sky. “The Council exterminated Skinwalkers for a reason.”

The Council had a list of Preternatural beings deemed too dangerous for existence. They worked to keep the peace with humanity since they revealed themselves and integrated with society.

“Evening Detective Duarte...and Kai,” Sergeant Yazzie greeted with a smile. It was tense; his dark eyes were not obscure under the circumstances. Mato Yazzie was a good man and she wasn’t sure why he hadn’t followed through with his heritage. Either way, calling him a friend was an honor.

“Alicea, please. Council Member Kai and Achak are present due to a Skinwalker in the area,” Alicea stated. There was no use stalling.

“Skinwalker?” Yazzie repeated, grim. His brows furrowed as he looked to Kai and then looked away. “The body’s a mess.”

“We can’t replace the loss of life, but we can dispose of the threat and ease the tensions,” Kai stated.

Mato Yazzie scowled his distaste of the Skinwalker evident but not voiced. Kai’s existence went against Yazzie’s upbringing, he was an abomination. “The Department will appreciate your work.”

“Achak alerted me that Catelyn Whitewater was entering my territory, so I reported to Alicea. It is unfortunate to come to this,” Kai expressed.

Alicea wondered if his sympathy was an act because it seemed real. She wasn’t sure if he could feel anything for anyone else besides himself. This was part of the reason she kept refusing his advances, besides she could end up dead.

“How fortunate,” Yazzie said.

Yazzie looked to Kai and Alicea before leading them toward the body. No matter how many times she did this, she could never brace herself. It was always such a sad sight especially when the victim couldn’t recognize themselves as dead. In the small distance, she could see the soul standing next to the body. It was a translucent naked outline that was void of genitals, and it was gazing down toward the ground. She could tell it was male by the facial structure framed by the short haircut.

“There’s a soul present,” Alicea alerted them.

They came upon the body and it was fresh enough to not smell rotten. The cool mountain weather was keeping the scent fresh; the copper tang of blood was heavy in the air. The body was beyond mutilated; the face was gone, the ribs and gut ripped open. There were puddles of blood everywhere. She couldn’t describe it any more. Alicea looked over and saw the soul because her mother referred to them as souls and she didn’t know quite what they were.

The souls sometimes lingered minutes, hours, days, and on rare occasion years near their body. Each case was different, but they were more coherent closer to their death. The soul had a hand over his mouth as he gazed down at his body.

“This is some bullshit,” he muttered. She could hear him like a living person, but a living person couldn’t hear him.

“Sir,” Alicea said as everyone watched her, the soul ignored her. “You’re dead, and I can see you.”

The soul made eye contact with Alicea as he pointed to himself and said, “You can see me.”

“Yes, I see you. We don’t have much time, can you...”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know. I can find your killer.”

He scowled, and she couldn’t tell if he’d argue with her response. Some did, some argued until she blinked and they were gone and everything felt imagined.

“A rabid coyote that walked upright got me, it was as tall as me.”

“You’re right.”

He snorted and rolled his eyes as he said, “I sound crazy. I’m dead talking to you...I could be tripping bad.”

“What’s your name?”

“Scott Bleuco, tell my wife I love her.”

“There’s no doubt it was a Skinwalker,” Alicea relayed to the others as she looked to them. “It could still be in the area. From above them, there echoed a cry that boarded on the call of an eagle and growl, Achak.

“It is still in the area,” Kai confirmed.

Alicea looked back to find the soul gone. She let Yazzie know the identity of the man and then they heard it, a male screaming in the dark of the forest. The sound caused her to chill and she saw the officers drawing their weapons.

“Everyone on guard and close together, we got a Skinwalker!” Yazzie called out.

Alicea drew her weapon and removed the safety; her training and certification were for moments like these. Yes, she felt nervous, but it wouldn’t interfere with or disturb her ability to do her job.

“Keep everyone away from the tree line, I’m going hunting,” Alicea ordered. Her status as the Council’s Hunter overriding his rank. “I won’t scream for help, so don’t fall for that mimic shit.”

“Do you need back up?” Yazzie questioned. Yazzie could stand against this Skinwalker and wouldn’t hesitate to follow her after this thing.. Alicea stood away from him because her other ability was being able to see the future death of others and she didn’t want to see it coming; she never wanted to see it coming.

“I’m the backup,” Kai stated.

“Protect the others, and get ready to file a report,” Alicea teased with a smile.

“Good luck,” Yazzie said and didn’t try to touch her.