Chapter Text
Vander, Grayson and Silco sit together in Graysons office long after the closing Feast had finished and the students had gone to bed. There is a tension between them, charged and unstable. Something had to give. That something was Vander.
"We can't avoid this." His deep gruff voice shook the silence.
"It's simply not possible, Vander. There must be some other explanation." Silco reasoned, unwilling to accept the situation.
"He's in Still Water, we took him down ourselves. No one else knows the formula and it was unfinished when we arrested him." Grayson leaned towards Silco's opinion.
"But we haven't gotten all his followers. Deckard is proof of that. You saw the reports from Azkaban and Still Water. He still has contacts and loyalties. In and out of the prison." Vander elaborated.
"And from what young Violet described the damn drug is back… Why the hell would people take that shit willingly." Grayson growled under her breath, it was rare for the Sheriff to curse.
Silco shook his head and downed a shot of tequila from the bottle on the table between them.
"I get it. What people wouldn't do for greed, immortality, power, vengeance…"
Vander placed a sturdy hand on his brother's shoulder. Silco had fought the desire for vengeance all those years ago, when their village burned. Holding back the call to arms against the purebloods. It was a difficult decision to make when the power and possibility was in your hands.
"So. What do we say to the council?" Vander looks to Grayson with a serious gleam in his eyes.
Hey Cupcake,
How've you been? Sorry it's taken so long to write but I've been helping dad and uncle with fortifying Zaun and Rye. Just because one of our own hasn't been taken doesn't mean we're safe.
We've briefed the rest of Zaun and spread the word to the wizards of Rye to be careful and watch out for each other. We haven't told anyone about Deckard. How's it going over in Piltie land?
-Vi
A week into summer the Council is called together. Another kidnapping… a Piltovan.
"The past is finally coming back for vengeance." Councilor Ferros declared, resting his elbows on the table and chin on his linked hands.
"We should have noticed it sooner all those years ago. Thankfully, Councilor Bolbok's connections caught him in the act." Councilor Shoola bowed her head slightly towards the copper skinned Councilor who simply hummed in acknowledgement.
"The blame lies on me as Sheriff. I had believed we'd captured all of his followers." Grayson's steady gravelly voice seemed to slightly calm the Council as she stood in the center of the open ring table.
"Placing blame won't fix our current situation." Cassandra speaks up. "What do you propose, Grayson?"
"I plan to mobilize my Aurors and recheck all their old hideouts, some may be foolish enough to return there… I have also sought the aid of Zaun."
The Council stiffens. They remember how Zaun paid the price. Wandering gazes landed on a certain wizard amongst them.
"Do those barbarians not seek retribution?" Councilor Bolbok's voice was laced with suspicion as he ignored the eyes on him.
The word caused Grayson to subtly bristle but before she could speak up, a different voice rose in their defense.
"Councilor Bolbok." Cassandra's voice was calm but her gaze was deadly as all eyes were on her. "I would suggest you keep from antagonizing the people who suffered for saving your family's life."
Now that sobered the man right up. Grayson felt pride wash over her in waves. She could see the Cassandra of their youth shine through the cold practiced expression.
"Thank you, Councillor Kiramman." Grayson bowed her head slightly. "Returning to my point, Vander Wick is currently contacting other smaller muggle communities and Wizarding families to inform them and gather information."
Councilor Heimerdinger chuckled. "The return of the legendary duo. The Sheriff of Piltover and The Black Hound of London. We expect a report within the next week."
"Yes, Councilor." Grayson bowed and glanced at Cassandra, pride in her gaze, before she left.
Hello Vi,
It's alright, I understand. There was a hearing yesterday, a Piltovan was taken. The kidnappings are so erratic and unpredictable it's frightening… yet I find myself drawn to the mystery. I've tried to ask the Sheriff to let me see the notes and leads. I want to help but she says it's too dangerous and I need to focus on being a kid. Mother agrees wholeheartedly.
Jayce and Victor are setting up a lab here in Piltover with the help of Heimerdinger, Sky is helping them out too.
Mel has gone home to Russia for a while. It seems her mother has called on her. Jayce cried.
-Caitlyn
Cupcake,
Ah fuck. A Piltie? They got through all your barriers and shit? Cait if you plan to pull some Detective bullshit before we even get our Aurors license you better fucking call me.
Aunt G's been coming here a lot over the last week. I think she's been taking those case files here. They're safer here than in Piltover if those sick fucks got in.
Please don't do anything dumb, Cait.
-Vi
Grayson sighed as the Council doors closed behind her. It had been a week since the investigations began but they hadn't found anything significant yet there was another kidnapping. Another Piltovan, they were taken while they were outside the city but still the Council was truly becoming anxious.
Grayson was about to talk out until the door behind her opened just enough for a nervous looking Cassandra to step out.
"Cas? What's wrong?" Grayson turned to her friend.
"Odette… Can you get me a meeting with Vander and Silco?"
Dear Vi,
Admittedly Piltover is much easier to access compared to Zaun. It's only truly closed off the non-purebloods. Oh and don't you lecture me about being dumb! (Please read that with all my affection.) Either way of course I plan to tell you, we're kindred- partners-, I wouldn't have it any other way.
How is everyone over th---
Knock
Knock
Knock
"Good morning, Miss Caitlyn. Lady Kiramman calls you to her study." Caitlyn hears the maid speak from the other side of her bedroom door.
Confused but curious Caitlyn put away her letter and writing implements before straightening out her blouse and leaving her room.
The walk to the study was swift, the knock practiced, and the reply standard. "Come in, Catlyn." Cassandra called and that she did.
Caitlyn closed the door behind her and stepped closer to her mother's desk. "You called for me, mother?"
Nowadays walking into the study was less tense, less as though she were about to be scolding for something. She was slightly more comfortable around her mother, it was rather strange but definitely not unwelcome. Upon her approach Cassandra looked up from her documents with a tired smile.
"Sit, dear." She gestures to the chair across from her on the other side of the desk.
She waited till her daughter was settled before speaking once more. "Yesterday Grayson took me to Rye and I had a meeting with Vander and Silco."
—
In the private office, the hidden backroom of the Last Drop that stood in Rye; Cassandra, Silco, Vander and Grayson sat together.
"Vander, Silco, I know what this will sound like and I don't deserve your help but please. I'm begging you. Let Caitlyn stay in Zaun. Protect her. Piltover isn't safe." Cassandra pleaded.
The last two kidnappings happened within a week of each other, one of which was within the city. Call her paranoid but she simply couldn't shake the ominous feeling that things were about to get worse.
Vander takes a deep breath and sighs. "Oh Cas. You know we never held anything against you." He lets a warm smile grace his features.
Silco hummed thoughtfully. "Yes, we felt betrayed by you before but that resentment has faded with time. Moreover your daughter is not you. Even if we still wished you misfortune we would not allow that to spread to Caitlyn. We are not purebloods after all." Silco spoke eloquently in a flat tone and though the final jab was unexpected it was not unfounded.
"Also Vi would kill me herself if we didn't take her in." Vander's chuckle lightened the mood.
"Those two I swear." Cassandra sighed and shook her head fondly.
"You realize you won't be able to visit her or return here any time soon, right? You, a Councilor, being in our territory while this is happening will only worry our people." Vander explains.
Even in the city itself those high ranking in the ministry and even more so the members of the council are unwelcome.
"I understand. I simply wish for Caitlyn to be safe."
—
"Pack your things for the rest of the summer. You're staying in Zaun for the time being." Cassandra waited for her daughter's reaction.
Caitlyn was conflicted. On the one hand her mother was sending her away, staying behind with her father. On the other she's being sent to Zaun, with Vi… where the case files are…
"I understand mother." Caitlyn replies politely.
Cassandra raises an eyebrow. "I expected you to be more excited."
"I would if the circumstances of my visit were not so troubling." She replies with a straight face.
"I see. Well Grayson will be here to pick you up in the afternoon." With a wave of her hand Caitlyn was dismissed and she wasted no time slipping out of the room.
Caitlyn rushed to her room with one thought in her mind. 'Detective Kiramman is on the case!'