The office was spacious enough—nothing fancy, nothing different from any other government office.
By one of the large windows stood a tall, slender woman, gazing out at the urban skyline while a light drizzle blurred the horizon. Her eyes were deep-set, her features angular. She looked to be in her fifties, maybe sixties—but in truth, she was older than her agents. Older even than the city itself.
Over the decades she had gone by many names.Now she was known as Agarthi.Everyone called her Mama.
And she had been the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department… since the 1920s.
Seated near her desk was a man neatly dressed, wearing thick, black-rimmed glasses. He was a freed golem, who had long served in the LAPD as a forensic specialist under Mama Agarthi's direct command—her most trusted subordinate.
Mama lit a cigarette. Smoking indoors was strictly forbidden by California law, but Mama did as she pleased.She was the law inside the LAPD building.
"Still, I don't understand it, Huik," she said after taking a drag and exhaling slowly toward the golem, who sat patiently in silence."You've built an excellent career here. I need you—especially now, with everything going on. Yet you've decided to go back to the other side, where they still look down on you, even as a freed being…"
"I'm sorry, Mama," Huik said softly. "I understand how difficult this is, but… His Excellency Cincinnatus of Antearis has requested my help to resolve a problem."
"Cincinnatus?" Mama raised an eyebrow. "I don't doubt his integrity—he's a decent sort—but why do you care what happens over there?"
"He granted me my freedom," said Huik. "I owe him fealty. He's asked for my help. I can't refuse him."
"I can't stop you," Mama sighed, taking another drag. "But I hate letting you go. Just promise me one thing—keep me informed about what's happening on that side. We already have serial killers, riots, drugs, shootouts… and now this. Problems from the other world always end up spilling into ours."
She blew a slow ring of smoke."Good luck with your mission, whatever it is. And if you ever wish to come back, your post will be waiting."
Huik rose. Mama stood too. The golem was tall, but she still towered over him by a few inches. When he bowed, she grabbed his shoulders and straightened him up.
"You're not in Carpathos, for all the damned hells of the demons," said Mama. "You're in the United States."
She shook his hand firmly and gave him a pat on the shoulder. The golem smiled faintly.
"How are you planning to reach Carpathos?" she asked.
"I intend to take the Devil's Gate vortex," Huik replied.
Mama's eyes widened."Hell… isn't it safer to use the transporter?"
Huik cleared his throat. "Apparently there's a situation on the other side. They want me to cross discreetly. There's a… well…"
"Call things by their name," Mama said flatly.
"Smugglers."
Mama's lips curved in a bitter smile."Then something must stink on that side if they're asking you to go through that damned hole. I'll have my boys drive you there—you never know what's lurking near that cursed place."
"RUTH!" she shouted.
Two knocks on the door. An elderly secretary entered, quiet and discreet.
"Call Tom and Keith," Mama ordered.
The woman left. Fifteen minutes later, the door opened again.
Agent Tom Durkan stepped in—tall, broad-shouldered, his blond hair cropped short, square-jawed like a man who'd once been a gladiator… or a Viking.
He stood at attention as Mama glanced at him sideways.
"Well, I almost forgot why I called you," she said dryly.
"Apologies, Mama," Tom replied. "I was busy at a crime scene—"
Mama arched a brow."You've got traces of your 'crime scene' on the side of your mouth."
Huik smiled faintly. Tom blinked, confused, until the golem tapped his own cheek. Tom quickly wiped away a smear of mustard from his lunch.
"Tom," said Mama, "I need you and Perken to take Mr. Huik to Devil's Gate. He needs to cross to the other side."
"Keith's handling a report," Tom said. "But I'll tell him to hurry. We'll take Mr. Huik to the dam."
"Really, Mama, that won't be necessary—" Huik began, but she cut him off.
"Don't worry. They'll take you," she said, giving him a pat on the back.
The golem gathered his coat and backpack, bowed lightly, and she nodded in return, turning back to her computer screen.
"When you return," she said to Tom, "we'll need to talk. The mayor's breathing down our necks, and with Huik gone, things might get complicated."
Tom led Huik down the corridor toward the elevator.
"I assure you, Agent, I can go alone," Huik said.
"No way. That area's crawling with smugglers—and worse, vampires. I just need to grab my partner. He's wrapping up a case. Wait for me in the lobby."
Huik nodded and rode the elevator down. Tom stepped off a few floors earlier.
He followed the hall to an office door marked:
Officer Keith Perken
Through the blinds, Tom saw his partner speaking with a well-dressed older woman who gestured furiously while a teenage boy slouched beside her, staring at his phone.
Keith—a tall, ebony-skinned man with storm-gray eyes—listened patiently. The woman was Edna Walder, and the boy was her grandson, Travis.
"What do you mean you can't do anything?" Edna was saying. "We've waited over two hours just to hear that?"
"Ma'am, let me ask again," said Keith calmly. "Have you received any message suggesting he's been kidnapped?"
"No."
"Any sign he's been in a danger zone?"
"No."
"Then on what grounds are you reporting him missing?"
"We haven't heard from him in almost a year," she said. "He always called my grandson."
Keith looked at the boy, who didn't bother to lift his gaze from the phone.
"Mrs. Walder, we have thousands of missing persons under investigation—"
"Oh! So my case doesn't matter?" she snapped. "I pay taxes like everyone else!"
"I didn't say that," Keith replied evenly. "But we need more evidence—last known location, anything distinctive, any clue at all—"
"A clue? That's exactly why we're here!" she exclaimed.
Keith sighed, leaning back in his chair.Travis glanced up, then shrugged.
"He's in Italy," Travis said bluntly.
His grandmother turned to him, confused.
"You have proof?" asked Keith.
The boy pulled a folded sheet from his jacket and handed it to him.
"What's that?" Edna asked.
"An email," said the agent, scanning it.
"Where did you get that?" she demanded.
"Last time I was at Grandpa's house," Travis said.
Keith paused, pen ready. "Where does your grandfather live?"
"Long Beach," the boy replied. "I was checking his rent receipts, opened a drawer, and found it."
Edna sighed. Keith leaned back. "Looks clear to me, ma'am. Your husband isn't missing—just… occupied elsewhere."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Keith handed her the paper. She read it, frowning.
"In cases like this, there's nothing we can do," Keith said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got another case. But I'll be at your service if needed."
Edna rose, followed by Travis, and they left. As they stepped into the hall, Tom entered.
"So, what was that about?" he asked, grinning.
"Shortest case of my career," Keith laughed. "They came to report her husband missing—turns out he's on a honeymoon in Italy with another woman."
Both men burst into laughter.
"Speaking of tragicomedies," said Tom. "Mama Agarthi's losing her mind."
"New case?"
"Her top CSI just quit. She wants us to escort him to Devil's Gate."
Keith grabbed his coat. "Then let's go."
Meanwhile, Edna and Travis waited by the elevators.
"I can't believe it," she muttered.
"Maybe we should hire a detective," Travis sighed.
She glared at him. The elevator arrived. Soon they were in the lobby.
Edna rummaged through her purse for her parking ticket when a small stress ball bounced out and rolled across the floor.
"Damn it!" she cursed.
"I'll get it," said Travis.
The ball rolled to a stop against the shoe of Huik, who was waiting nearby. The golem picked it up and looked up as Travis approached.
"I suppose this is yours," he said, handing it back.
As he did, he noticed the boy's eyes—blue with a faint violet tint. Uncommon… haunting. He'd seen eyes like that before—in the shadowed forests of the Dark Valleys.
Travis cleared his throat, and Huik returned to the present. He smiled, handed the ball back, and the boy walked away.
"Werewolf eyes…" the golem murmured under his breath.
Tom and Keith appeared.
"Ready, boss?" said Tom. "With the traffic and the rain, we'll reach Pasadena by dusk."
Huik nodded, slinging his coat and pack over his shoulder as he followed them out.
Outside, Edna and Travis descended the wet steps.
"'Forever yours,'" Edna muttered. "Right."
"I don't think it's what you think," Travis said quietly.
"Oh? And what exactly do I think?"
"That Grandpa ran off with another woman."
"Travis, your grandfather and I are separated. What he does is none of my concern."
"Could've fooled me."
She gave him a hard look and kept walking.
"You're just a boy. There's a lot you still need to learn."
"Like what?"
"Like…" Edna sighed. "You could've shown me that damn email before dragging me here to make a fool of myself—reporting him missing when he's off rolling in bed with that… Becky, that damn Englishwoman!"
"You know who she is?" Travis asked.
"Of course! His college sweetheart—a British tramp. Years later, and they meet again—fantastic, wonderful—while I'm stuck here dealing with everything!"
She sped up.
"And I don't mean you," she added quickly. "You'll never be a problem for me, even if you always take Victor's side."
Travis frowned. "Grandma… Grandpa is missing. He hasn't written me. That's why I'm saying—"
"Travis, for the last time!" she snapped, turning to him. "If he hasn't written, it's because he's busy in Italy. End of discussion."
"Grandma—"
"Enough!" she barked, walking briskly toward the parking lot, leaving him standing there.
Travis sighed and shook his head.
Some days were bad for everyone.