WITCH SHIfT

JP

We rounded up all the rabbits and word was passed to the shifters to exactly what we did so they knew to watch out for of the rabbits if any escaped our notice. We dropped them all off at the local SPCA in town and then we joined everyone back at the command center where everyone was plastered to the televisions that were set up outside.

“I’m glad you lot made it back in one piece, some of the other Super’s from around the country are not faring as well.” Tom said as his daughters walked over and joined him watching a flat screen.

“What happened,” I asked following along.

“The same thing as here, organized armed mobs of humans attacking areas they knew to be high in Super’s. Of course to look you can’t tell us from humans so the mobs are just killing everyone not involved with them. Humans and Super’s are dying side by side and no one is stopping them.” Mar’s dad said with shock and sadness.

I didn’t say anything because what could I say. We got lucky here, so far, and who knew what would come next?

“Here’s a new report,” Someone shouted as a woman with bright eyes took the screen over and began talking.

“All reports from St. Louis are now in. The city is effectively under Vampire control. All remaining humans are hostages and the government has been threatened that they will kill them all if the armed mobs are not dissolved and dispersed. This is a sad day in our country when we are willing to let a group of terrorists make us back down if that is what the government does. It’s time the government did step in and eradicate these predators from our world once and for all so normal people can live in peace. Vicki Pollock, Channel Six News.”

“Now you see how they see us?” Someone yelled. “We aren’t even human in their eyes.”

“Yeah but what do we do, they out number us a hundred to one?” Another called out.

This was getting bad and it had to be stopped before it could get out of control. I don’t know what made me step up, and to this day I still don’t but I raised my voice and called out “Everyone, settle down. We have diminished the threat here. Now we need to ensure it stays that way. Get with your team leaders and prepare to protect this city. In the meantime I will make some calls and invite any more Super’s here who feel threatened, so we will have more recruits coming.”

“That will just make us a bigger target,” someone called out.

“Then let us be the biggest target. If we can stop them now, then we can finally have peace, or at least a truce. Now get to your team leaders and get back to work, we have a lot to do.” I said again.

Everyone did as I asked even if they were grumbling as they did it. “That person was right, we are painting a target on our back.” Tom said looking at me.

“With my damn family here we already are,” I said not forgetting I hadn’t seen them and I didn’t like that fact.

“Hey now, that’s just rude.” Charlie called over and I smiled.

“Present company exempted.” I said to a few chuckles. “Everyone, if you have family that is in danger, get a hold of them and have them come here. Arrange with Harper as they get close so she can find a way to let them in. Pass the word,” I called out to the people that could still hear me as we all broke up and joined respective groups.

I was with the unofficial town and disaster council. Of course that group consisted of just about everybody that we had worked with up until this point, so all my friends and Mar’s family. The Sherriff was giving us the rundown on everything we missed while we were on Bunny patrol.

“The Humans have lost Nashville, New Orleans, Seattle, and Portland Maine. There are other cities where the battles are raging as well as small town and places across the world. It’s not just this country this is happening in, it's all over the world. Rome is a bloody mess.”

“Well we don’t have to worry about another country taking advantage of the situation at least while we are trying to figure this out.” I said shaking my head. “I think what we need to do is contact the president and see where he stands. If he is going to keep a hands off approach things are going to keep getting bad until they get even worse.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Charlie stepped up. “He might still take my calls even with all this going on, and if not I still have a few friends in the right place to put a bug in his ear.”

“Good, we also need to get a hold of all the individual councils to see what steps everyone is taking and letting them know what we have done here if they need someplace to go.” I threw out next.

“We only have so much room here JP,” Harper said. “We don’t have room for the rest of the country.”

“Yeah, I guess that won’t work. Ok how about we just talk to the councils and let them know we can take in emergency cases only. If they have a better idea I would welcome it. In fact if anyone here has any ideas I would love to hear them.” I said looking around.

Al looked like he wanted to scream so we all looked at him and finally he cracked. “Don’t tell the dwarves I told you but they have secret passages running from mountain to mountain. They also have a lot of rooms unoccupied that could be used right away if someone isn’t claustrophobic.”

I should have thought of that knowing how dwarves like to plan their own little empires but I just nodded and looked at Al. “Will you begin the conversation and let them know I would like to talk to them about maybe housing some refugees and about using the tunnels if the needs arise.”

He didn’t look happy but he nodded. “Look everyone, I know some tensions run deep, but we are in a fight for survival here, we all need to work together. Tom I would appreciate it if you would keep track of the hospital and let us know if you need anything.”

He nodded and I let out a breath. I was tired and it was probably evident, but we all were, so we didn’t have any options. Ok everyone let’s get to work and we will meet back here tonight unless we need to meet sooner.”

Everyone began drifting away and I was left with Mar, Carolyn and Harper. In any other situation this would be a one heck of a date, but with what we were facing there was no time for school boy fantasies.

“I am going to contact some friends and see if they need a place to work out of. Are there any houses left that I could rent or even buy?” Carolyn asked the three of us.

“I will give you mine.” I said thinking about it. “Mar and I can stay at the hotel and the office till all of this is over. It’s got plenty of room for anyone you find that needs to come to town.”

“I didn’t even know you had a house,” Mar said shocked and it occurred to me we had never talked about it.

“I’m sorry, I never stay there, so I forgot to bring it up. How about we walk over and I show it to you now?” I offered.

“Actually I will take Carolyn to it,” Harper said smiling. “You two need to rest and think about what comes next and be where people can find you. You are officially or unofficially the leaders of this town.

“That might be better,” Mar said but she didn’t look like she believed it.

“Harper, behave yourself,” I said smiling.

“Spoilsport,” she said back to me. Then she walked away with Carolyn in tow.

“I assume Harper knows where it is because she has spent the night there?” Mar asked me.

“Yeah I’m afraid so.” I confessed. She knew about me and Harper so I wouldn’t try and lie to her, it wasn’t right.

“I see,” was all she said and then she walked back to the television and took a seat and watched the screen.

Mar

Of course Harper had seen it. They used to be an item. I had to get past that. Knowing that and doing that was not the same thing. He was mine now, and I wasn’t letting him go, and to be fair he didn’t seem like he wanted to be let go of, so why did it bother me? Because I am a woman, I thought and then I laughed at myself.

I looked at the screen but I didn’t see it. I was in my head thinking about what happened already today and what I did. I turned humans into bunnies for crying out loud. I was no better than the witches who turned Harvey. I was a black witch. Shit I was bad.

“Mar, I don’t know what I said wrong but don’t be mad. The thing with Harper was before I even knew you.” JP said behind me.

Shit I was already passed that, well at least for now. I would probably dwell on it again some other time, but for now I was deciding I was a bad person because I was a black witch. I wouldn’t tell him it was fine because I didn’t know if it was, but I just nodded and kept thinking.

He took the seat next to me but he didn’t say anything else. He let me think which I appreciated. I didn’t know how long we sat there but Charlie came back in and pulled a chair around and faced the two of us. “The president won’t take my call. From what I gather he doesn’t want to associate with Supers. I got the chief of staff and she at least talked to me. I told her we had camera footage of being attacked and that we defended ourselves but no one seems to care. I asked her where she wanted a truck load of bunnies that got her attention.”

“Oh great, us turning humans into bunnies gets her attention but us being hunted like animals no one cares about,” I spouted pissed.

“Yup, pretty much, anyway, she says we are immediately to free them and turn them back and release them.” Charlie said smiling.

“Nope, don’t like that plan.” I said sullenly.

“Yup, told her that would be the response after being shot at. She called us terrorists and I called her a Nazi. I also said if anyone came near us again we would start turning them into frogs and not bunnies, and then the birds could have them.”

My surprise must have shown because he laughed at me. “Mar, with politics, it’s all about who the biggest bully on the playground is. Right now the government has its hands full. We are all citizens and when you start putting one group of citizens needs before another that’s a problem.”

“The military,” I started but he cut me off.

“The military is full of shifters and other paranormals, that’s why we have been so successful over the years. My guess is the military is having issues of their own right now. We need to make our claim and we need to make it now.”

“Why are you looking at me? Charlie I was just a beer rep, I have no hope of being a diplomat or whatever this is.” I said knowing how uncomfortable I was.

“Sweetie, I’m the diplomat, you’re the leader, you and JP. The rest of us are following your lead. You lead we follow. So what now Mar?”

“How the fuck would I know,” I cried as I put my head in my hands and began crying.