Under the Iron Fist

Chapter 15: The Pied Piper

Jax was not surprised to find Magnus awake and in his office. He knew from his short time as bodyguard that Magnus got up early and worked late. Violet, a female guard with the ability to melt anything she touched, was on duty. He nodded at her as he stepped up to Magnus's desk.

Magnus finished the report in his hands before he acknowledged Jax's presence. "I suppose this has to do with whatever kept you three out all night." Jax raised an eyebrow but stayed silent; he knew Magnus knew exactly what they had been doing. Little got past Magnus.

The two men looked at each other for a time before Magnus spoke again. Jax thought the Leader of Sanctuary sounded tired. "I know about the missing girl and have people looking for her. I wouldn't like to lose her abilities. If possible, she will be found."

"What about the other children?" Jax knew Magnus didn't care about the others, but Lily's involvement might change the way Magnus looked at the problem.

Magnus smiled his cold smile. "If they are with the girl, I'm sure they will be helped as well. That should make our little Elina happy."

Taken aback, Jax flinched at Magnus's words. Always he had referred to Elina as his. Why the change and what could it mean?

Changing the subject, Jax asked, "How long have you known about the missing children?"

The icy laugh that filled the room raised Jax's hackles. "Why, from the first child led away."

Jax didn't ask why Magnus only now cared about the abductions. "But you don't know where they are?"

For just a moment, Magnus looked troubled. Jax didn't let it fool him into thinking the man had a heart. "No, Jax, I don't. But I do know who has the children and why. Until now, his doings did not inconvenience me, so I did not see a point in taking action. A rare oversight on my part."

Jax stiffened. "You know who did this? I want to look for the kids. Tell me who did this and I'll find them and bring Lily back."

Magnus clicked his tongue, no longer amused. "No, you have a job, and as of now, you are not fit to do that. Get some sleep."

Jax knew he had pushed Magnus too far, and for now, he would need to back off. "Yes, sir." He made his way to his room and did as he was told.

Watching Jax go, Magnus thought about the problem these kidnappings had caused and knew he had miscalculated. When Frank James started collecting and controlling the children for his petty robberies in the lower districts, Magnus had thought it a good way to keep the children out of the way. He didn't care if the man took from the powerless as long as he stayed where he belonged; Magnus would let him be. And if he started to become a problem, Magnus would take care of that too. Now one of his elite students is missing, and Frank, aka the Pied Piper, has found a way to hide.

*****

The clinic bustled with activity as Elina tended to her patients, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts of Lily and the other missing children. She had barely slept since their fruitless search, throwing herself into her work to keep the worry at bay.

The sudden hush that fell over the clinic alerted Elina to a change in atmosphere. She looked up to see Magnus striding towards her, his presence commanding attention from everyone in the room. Behind him trailed another healer, a woman Elina recognized as one of the more competent, if less gifted, practitioners in the Sanctuary.

"Magnus," Elina greeted him, her voice carefully neutral. "What brings you here?"

Magnus's cold smile didn't reach his eyes. "Elina, my dear. I've come to relieve you of your duties for the day."

Elina's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand. There's still so much to be done—"

"And it will be done by others," Magnus interrupted, gesturing to the healer behind him. "This is Healer Sarah. She'll be taking over your duties for now."

Elina opened her mouth to protest, but Magnus held up a hand to silence her. "You've been working tirelessly, Elina. It's time for you to rest."

His tone left no room for argument, but Elina could sense an underlying current of warning in his words. Magnus leaned in closer, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

"I know about your late-night excursion, Elina. About the missing children. As I told Jax I will find Lily if she can be found; it's no longer your concern... There will be no more searching. Do you understand?"

She wanted to argue, to demand answers about the children, but she knew it would be futile. Instead, she nodded stiffly.

"Good," Magnus said, his voice returning to its normal volume. "Now, go home and get some rest. I expect you back at your best tomorrow."