A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps by Kit Bryan

Ten minutes after I called dad, no less than five police cars pull up on the street. That's enough to drive the few neighbours who had ventured out to their front porches back into their homes. Now I'm pretty sure they're just spying through the curtains. Not that I blame them, I would totally be doing the same thing. Most of the police getting out of their cars look familiar to me, but I don't really know them well. They definitely know who I am, that's for sure. I'm relieved when George presses his way to the front of the group. At least I know he will listen to me. I told dad what needed to be done with the imp and that I would need help with Ashton, but seeing someone I trust here to help makes me feel a lot better about it all.

"Kat! Your dad is going nuts. What have you gotten yourself into?" His words are demanding but his tone is full of concern so I know he doesn't mean it the way it sounds.

"Ashton fought one of the assassins. That guy. He's an imp. He needs to be locked up and it's super important that no one takes the necklace off of him. It's stopping him from burning everything up." I explain, watching George closely to make sure that he understands what I'm saying and is taking it seriously.

"Of course. I'll supervise his transport myself." George waves forward a few of the other cops and starts giving them directions and soon the imp cuffed and moved into the back of a police car which is waiting for George to leave with them. I have shifted closer to Ashton and moved his head up onto my lap. I have no idea how I'm going to get him home. I could ask the cops to get him in my car, but how will I get him out of the car again? George is looking at Ashton curiously. “Did... Did he look like that before?" He doesn't sounds freaked out exactly, more just confused. Like his brain is telling him the unconscious man in front of him is Ashton but his eyes are saying something different. I nod. "Yes, he was wearing a sort of magical disguise before to look more human. It doesn't work when he's asleep though... Is dad really upset?" I ask nervously. He was already not keen on this whole arrangement, but to be fair I'm completely fine. No injuries or anything. Ashton kept his promise.

"He's not happy. He would be here himself but he's trying to deal with a bunch of reports from concerned citizens saying there are fae fighting on the streets and that a house is going to be burned down." he says pointedly. I sigh. "Yeah, he tried to keep it on the down low but the imp wasn't so agreeable. Uh... nothing was burned down, but the owners of that house are dead. The imp killed them." I say quietly. George waves a few more of the cops forward and they head into the house to investigate.

"We're going to need a proper statement from you Kat, from Ashton too.” He says apologetically and I sigh.

"I know. But can we get Ashton back to my place first. I don't think it's a good idea to leave him out here on the ground. Plus the neighbours are going to get brave eventually and Ashton isn't in a glamour. If someone could get us home, I could give a quick statement and we could come in and give a proper detailed one when he wakes up?" I suggest hopefully. George grumbles about how that's not how things are usually done, but ultimately agrees. It's not like I'm going to vanish on them. My dad is literally their boss. They'll get their paperwork.

It takes two cops to lift Ashton into the back seat of my car. They grunt and complain the whole time. Apparently he is heavier than he looks. In the end we decide that Dave is going to drive my car home and his partner, Robbie will follow in the police cruiser. That way the two of them can help me get Ashton to bed, I'll have my car AND they'll have a car to head back to the station in. I did tell them I could drive my own car but George put his foot down and outright refused. No matter how much I insisted that I'm totally fine, he is convinced that I'm probably in shock or something and shouldn't be driving. Whatever, there are worse things than being driven around, although it's a strange experience being a passenger in my own car. We make it back home and after some awkward manoeuvring, Dave and Robbie manage to get Ashton to the bed. I spend the next thirty minutes or so explaining everything that happened to the cops while they take copious notes. It's not until I'm falling asleep at the dinner table that they finally leave. I check the time and realise it isn't even that late. Why am I so tired? I suppose I did go walking around a lot today... And it WAS a stressful evening. I sort of want to just go to bed, but I remember how we left Ashton and I just can't. With a tired groan, I pull myself to my feet and grab the first aid kit from under the bathroom sink. It's a pretty full on kit because my dad is paranoid. Then again, it's coming in useful so maybe he isn't so paranoid after all. I also grab a towel and fill a bowl with some warm water.

Ashton is exactly how I left him. Sprawled awkwardly on top of the blankets. His clothes are torn up and burned in places. There are some nasty looking burns up his arms as well as a few cuts and the cut on his cheek has bled everywhere. I'm kind of hoping the blood is making it look worse than it actually is. George wanted to take him to a hospital but it didn't take much for me to convince him that it wasn't a good idea. Plus, Ashton himself requested to just be taken back here t rest. I take my time cleaning off the dirt and blood. I clean all the cuts with antiseptic and bandage anything that I can. We have some cream thing for burns that I picked up last time I attempted cooking a proper dinner and accidentally dumped oil on my hand. It takes the entire tube, but I slather it over all of Ashton's burns. I don't know if the medication will work the same for fae, but they eat and drink like we do. So it stands to reason that they're kind of similar so it's worth a shot. I blush bright red as I use the first aid kit scissors to remove Ashton's ruined shirt. I don't want to leave it since it's filthy and I'm pretty sure there are a few cuts on his torso. Luckily the jeans he was wearing fared a little better. Probably because they're a more solid fabric. I don't think I could bring myself to remove them anyway. Hopefully Ashton isn't bothered by all of this. I've sort of touched him an awful lot, but I needed to take care of his injuries. Once I've done everything I can, I grab a light blanket from the hallway cupboard and drape it carefully over him. I know I should go to bed, but I can't shake my worry. He's so still. In the end I steal my dad's office chair and drag it to his bedside. I tilt it back as far as it goes and I settle in to spend the next few hours keeping an eye on him. Maybe I can manage a nap at least.