A Message to Deliver [Ulysses Henchmen/Shadowloved]

[Rowena Jones]

Rosemary stared from her position in the shadows, her brown eyes narrowing as she watched the Delivery arrive at Borgin and Burkes. It was late evening, and most shops had shut for the night, only a few staff remaining to restock for the next day. She was alone today and her left hand side felt her partner's absence. They usually worked together, her ripping into their opponents, causing chaos, while he methodically cleaned up any prey she had missed. But not tonight, he was busy this evening with another task Alyson had set. She would have to settle for seeing him later. And before she could return home, she had a message to deliver.

She did not know what had happened for her Lady to command such a task, but she was not there to question, only obey. It still rankled her to have to wait outside on such a cold bitter night to only destroy a few trinkets while Winston got to enjoy destroying a Kameren. Rosemary wanted to hear his screams too. She couldn't wait to hear the details, Winston had been planning the attack for several days now, gathering his power to better quash the annoyance that was Max Kameren. Rosemary still found it hard to believe that he had been the reason he powers remained the same. She should have had the Darkness bending around her, subject to her will, but one boy had ruined that.

The Dark witch returned her attention to the scene as there was a small bang and muttered curses. She smirked as two boys stepped into sight, the streetlight illuminating their shadows. And then her hand reached out as her eyes filled with black and pulled hard. Two shadows raced towards her and she threw them against the wall, listening in satisfaction as she heard two bodies slump to the ground as if they too had smashed into brick.

[Ulysses Holland]

WHMP.

"Watch it Georgie! Break summin and Bradford'll have your arse come morning."

"Fooker'd be so lucky as to have an arse like mine," Georgie grunted as he tried again to lift the heavy crate he'd just dropped the few inches he'd picked it up on the cart, this time successful in his effort. He hated late inventory days, but at least the high-strung codger they called 'boss' wasn't around to breathe down their necks as they hoisted his precious objects into the stock room. They weren't utterly alone, but at least they were without Bradford.

Jerry Hewlett grinned over his shoulder at his brother as he carried his own heavy crate up the creaky stairs of their employer, Boston & Burke's. Jerry didn't dally or look around in the stock room, lest he accidentally make eye contact with the small, glinting orbs that followed him as he moved. The better to spend his time working; slinging crates with Georgie, though backbreaking in the magical objects' weight, was infinitely better than toiling in the company of his employer's silent stand-in. He frowned as he turned back for the shipping cart in the alley, a chill going up his spine where Taylor's gaze dug into him.

"Hey, Geor - "

Suddenly both Jerry and his brother were flying through the air on a malicious shadow, hitting the opposite building of the alley with a heavy thunk. Airless coughs wracked the young wizards' chests as the air was knocked out of them and they were up, already pulling wands out of their pockets as the stars in their vision receded.

"TAYLOR!" Jerry choked. Georgie stumbled forward with his wand, levitating what was left of the cart while Jerry cast shields to protect them both. The twins shrank back as a tall, dark figure emerged from the shop with a low rumble.

[Ulysses Holland]

A tall, cloaked figure emerged into the alleyway and the ground produced tremors beneath their feet. small, round eyes searched from beneath the brim of a bowler hat for the assailant, and thin wormy lips twisted into a smile when he found it. He held his herringbone wand close to his torso, not giving away the movements of his counterstrike.

From thin air a giant Great White Shark erupted into the alleyway, nearly too wide for the small space. The large patronus illuminated everything in the alley, revealing the attacker’s position and protecting the bruised twins from harm. It had been two decades since he’d last heard from the cult he’d witness in Holland’s office weeks ago. It had been four decades he’d worked with Holland himself, and he’d seen a bit of everything and learned how to contain it. Before that, he’d seen even worse.

If they intended to assault the Association with a single witch, they greatly underestimated him. And they would learn from that mistake.

As Mr. Taylor stepped forward his shark joined him, circling the wizard and his prey so there could be no escape. He finally lunged forward with a silent Sectum Sempra, lashing gracefully with four slashes flicked in her direction. As he did so the Hewlett twins disappeared into the stock room, still slowly trailing the artifacts behind them.