bloodsong1 | Because I had to.

"Tell me again WHY we're here?" I groused, following Thomas into Mac's. While I'm not above taking a free meal once in a while, Thomas' reasons were highly suspect. My birthday is over a month away!

"I'm not going to repeat myself, Harry. Just come on and enjoy your early present."

"The last time you gave me a present, she had a bow around her neck and nothing else."

"And you didn't even appreciate it! Don't worry, you'll like this one. She's fully clothed." Thomas sauntered to the impromptu stage set up between two of the thirteen pillars that, along with thirteen tables and ceiling fans, keeps stray magic in check. Mac's place is Accord Neutral Ground and Steak Sandwich Heaven. And Beer Heaven. Mac's a league of his own. Speaking of, he beckoned Thomas over. I watched and grinned when Mac went to the grill and Thomas came back with two bottles of Mac's brown ale. We clinked and drank and then the lights went out.

"What the hell?!"

"RELAX, Harry. The show's about to start." A single spotlight, how on Earth?, shone on a young woman, early twenties. She wore a black fedora, a short black leather trench coat, jean skirt and red scoop necked shirt that showed her cleavage nicely. I blushed, then frowned when I recognized the boots. Was that...a wand in her hand?

"When the days are cold and the cards all fold, and the saints we see are all made of gold. When your dreams all fail and the ones we hail are the worst of all and the blood’s run stale," She sang, a slightly husky alto that caressed the words while somewhere the music backed her up. I folded my arms and scowled. Thomas was getting a serious ass kicking for this. Her eyes met mine and I looked away before the soul gaze could start.

"I wanna hide the truth, I wanna shelter you, but with the beast inside, there’s nowhere we can hide. No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed. This is my kingdom come. This is my kingdom come." The beat picked up and she went up an octave. I blinked.

"When you feel my heat, look into my eyes, it’s where my demon hides, it’s where my demon hides. Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It’s where my demon hides, It’s where my demon hides." Her voice dropped and she took two steps forward, the wand tapping against her leg. I thought I saw a tube along her cheek, a wireless mic? Was Mac good enough to keep those kind of electronics safe?

"At the curtain’s call, it's the last of all. When the lights fade out, all the sinners crawl. So they dug my grave for the masquerade, she called me out at the mess I made.
Don't wanna let you down, but I am hell bound! Though this is all for you, don't wanna hide the truth. No matter what we breed, we still are made of greed. This is my kingdom come, this is my kingdom come." My fingers curled into fists. Whoever this chick was, she knew way too much. Thomas had to be in on this, I was going to kill him and feed him to Mouse. I was so angry I missed the refrain, but my awareness came crashing back for the bridge.

"They say it's up to fate, I say it's what we make. It's woven in my soul, I need to let you go! Your eyes, they shine so bright, I wanna save that light! I can't escape this now, unless you show me how!" She held the last note for a solid five seconds. My teeth ground and my fingers started creeping towards Thomas' neck. How. Dare. He!

"When you feel my heat, don't look into my eyes. It’s where my demon hides, it’s where my demon hides. Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It’s where my demon hides, it’s where my demon hides." A pentacle of fire appeared in front of the girl. I blinked as her wand lowered. "Happy Birthday, Mr. Dresden," She said softly. The pentacle flared, I blocked the light with my hand. When it faded, there was a perfectly cooked steak sandwich and french fries in front of me. I shot to my feet, punched Thomas in the nose and bolted out the door.

-----

I sighed as I walked through the parking lot. Mr. Dresden. I still tingled from the thrill of singing to him, for him, about him. It was completely worth it. Under the street light at the edge of the lot, a tall redhead in shimmering green waited. I walked right up to her and gave her the wand.

"How did he look?" She asked. I shrugged.

"Scruffy." She sighed and looked over my shoulder. I heard a faint "whump" of something running into something else. The woman smiled, showing very sharp teeth.

"How sweet. He thinks to save you again." I shrugged again.

"Unlike him, I keep my bargains."

"Yes, my darling child. You have proven true. Are you ready, then?" I nodded, taking off my hat. I held it my teeth as I shrugged out of the trench, folded it neatly and laid it on the sidewalk. My token went under my hat and I lined the boots beside the coat, toes pointed behind me. I heard a faint shout behind me. Stepping right, I angled myself to the Fey and held out my wrists.

"Our bargain is complete, Lady Leanansidhe. Take me to the Winter Lands. I understand exactly what I've done." Leanansidhe purred, stroked my hair with one hand and closed her other over my wrists. When she let go, I had thin crystal bracelets and a cool crystal choker around my neck. I turned around. Mr. Dresden was pounding on an invisible wall, shouting very rude things. I winked at him. His mouth fell open. I winked again as snow blurred my vision.

----

When the freak snow squall vanished, so did the barrier my twisted fairy godmother had blocked me with. I stumbled, ran and fell to my knees beside the clothes left so carefully on the sidewalk. Hands trembling, I picked up the fedora. Underneath was a small silver ring with a faint pink glow. I cursed under my breath and crushed the hat in my fingers. Two photos fluttered out. One was a cute ten year old girl; pigtails and private school uniform, cockily saluting the camera with two fingers. A silver ring gleamed on her thumb. The second picture was the woman who had sang for me, a present that cost her life and soul. The hair was spiked and punky, glittery makeup accented her eyes and she was saluting the camera with the last two fingers. A silver ring gleamed on the fourth digit. Faith Astor. One of my first cases, way back when I was a dumb young PI wizard. What could have driven her to do bargains with the Fey? Didn't she know better? Didn't that troll teach her anything? I turned the second photo over, it was covered in neat writing in silver ink.

"Don't worry about me, Mr. Dresden. I know exactly what I'm doing. A high placed Winter Fey will be honest with me, unlike those selfish bastards who raised me. Trust me, Mr. Dresden, Arctis Tor will be fun compared to that. I never lost my faith, Mr. Dresden. I'm going to serve the Lady Leanansidhe and work my own little magic. I'm not as strong as you, Mr. Dresden, but my singing has power, so I will sing to the Fey and show them the value of humans. Thank you for the ring, Mr. Dresden. It helped me so much, but where I'm going it will harm me, so I return it to you in good faith and with sincere gratitude. Keep your fire burning bright, Mr. Dresden, and don't forget to check your grave."

"Hey, you okay? You ran out without eating," Thomas said behind me. I gathered the coat and boots, spun and shoved all the clothes into Thomas' chest. He grabbed them as he stumbled back. "Empty night, Harry, what's wrong?"

"Have Mac box it up for me. I've got to go."

----

The headstone was fine white marble, my epitath and a pentacle elegantly lined in gold. A small manila envelope was taped to the bottom. I removed the envelope, avoiding the open pit waiting for my demise, and opened it. Inside was money. A lot of money. I counted it. Twenty five thousand dollars, the reward Faith Astor's parents had reneged on while trying to get us arrested as kidnappers when Faith had simply ran away. I sighed and shook my head.

"Good luck, Faith."

That story has been stuck in my head for YEARS.

Harry, Thomas, Faith, Lea and Mac property of Jim Butcher
"Demons" property of Imagine Dragons