“No, I'm not directly related to Head Councilman Murdock of San Francisco,” he griped. “You know how many Murdocks there are, Extinguisher Sloane.”
“It'sAmbassador,” Councilman Ted corrected Murdock.
“It's fine,” I waved away the intended insult. “I am and will always be an extinguisher.”
“Well said,” a man across the table nodded approvingly. “Nothing wrong with being an extinguisher, especially one with scores like yours.”
“You know my rating?” I lifted a brow at the brunette. He looked neither stern nor friendly, just an average sort with average Irish features and the typical pale Irish skin.
“We looked into you before we sent for you,” Councilman Ted explained.
“You're a fascinating woman,” the man across from me added. “The highest rated female as far as psychic abilities goes.”
“I think you'd find her to be the highest ratedextinguishernow,” Tiernan added. “The block to her fey blood was hampering her psychic talent.”
“Oh,” the man's dark eyes widened. “Maybe you should retake the tests.”
“Blast the bloody tests!” Councilman Murdock snarled. “We could be attacked by fairies at any second.”
“Attacked?” I looked over to Councilman Teagan, absently laying a hand on Cat's head when she started to growl. “What does he mean by that?”
“He's exaggerating,” Teagan sighed.
“Not entirely,” the man across from me muttered.
“I am not exaggerating at all!” Murdock declared.
“Enough!” Ted Teagan stood and the room went silent, even Cat stared up at him respectfully. Gone was the boyish charm. Before us stood an imposing man who looked like he'd sooner kick your ass than tolerate any lip. “Thank you for your input, Councilman Murdock and Councilman Sullivan. I will take it from here.”
Both men nodded contritely and Councilman Teagan took his seat. I turned expectant eyes to him.
“Ambassador Seren,” Teagan began. “We called you here so expeditiously because something disturbing has come to light.” Councilman Sullivan coughed and Teagan gave him a quelling look before continuing. “I'm sure you've been informed that this matter concerns the raven mockers and I'm also sure you know more about those fairies than I do.”
I nodded but didn't offer anything, so he went on with a slightly disappointed look.
“The legend of the raven mockers is alive and well in this part of the United States,” he sighed. “A local shaman went as far as to contact a ghost hunting group to come out and research the occurrences.”
“A ghost hunting group?” I lifted my brows.
“Paranormal Parameters,” Councilman Teagan made a face. “They do a television show where they scientifically research hauntings and the like. Out of all the shows about ghost hunting, theirs is probably the most respectable. Most of their time is spent debunking hauntings or monster sightings.”
“But they didn't debunk this one, did they?” I asked as Tiernan tensed beside me.
“No, they caught a raven mocker on infrared camera, as it was attacking its victim,” Teagan confirmed, tapping his fingers nervously on the table before him. “We managed to steal the footage but they're a rather determined bunch, especially after what they witnessed. I think they'll be back.”
“They're the least of our concerns,” a councilwoman said from the other end of the table.
“Councilwoman Erickson is right,” Teagan gave me a grim look. “The raven mockers now know that not only are these ghost hunters after them but we are. They've gone for so long without being caught, I think this has really thrown them. We have warrants to extinguish any we catch but there's the rub; we have to catch them in the act because we don't know which individuals are actually instigating these attacks and we cannot simply extinguish a fairy for being a raven mocker.”
“Well, as much as I feel your frustration, Councilman,” I offered. “I have to admit that I'm relieved that you don't want to simply go on a hunting spree and kill every raven mocker you can find. I've just been informed that they are twilight fey and as such, I feel both responsible for them and protective of them.”
“So what do you propose we do, young lady?” Councilman Murdock asked me.
“Did you seriously just call meyoung lady?” I asked him as Tiernan's lips twitched.
“Murdock,” Teagan shook his head.
“Well, if she won't kill them, how will she help?” Murdock grumbled.
