XXIX.Vendetta

Jasper

The fire burned furiously in front of me in an icy blue flame. Unlike an ordinary fire, it was as cold as Greenland's icy mountains, freezing you with its touch. It made the atmosphere similar to that of a crypt. Cold and unnerving.

An unburning arrow stuck out from the flame. The arrow had been used to light the fire. By my calculations, it had from  travelled beyond the castle walls, past the large opening where there should have been a wall and landed right onto the spot it currently was. The work of a skilled marksman. Or markswoman.

Below the cold waves was a sign. A sign with an unmistakable message. It was as old as time itself and everyone knew what it meant. Revenge. Vendetta.

The sharpness of the points of the star-like sign chilled my bones.

This was the work of powerful magic.

I stared across the room. It was evening now. Night was approaching. Ivan would soon be here. I greatly anticipated his reaction to this. He would either lose his tempter and break something like he had every time he returned from hunting Zoladie or he would be eerily calm. My money was on the former.

I heard footsteps but they were not Ivan's. They were light and gentle. Looking past the open threshold, I saw Merideth passing.

She was about her business, probably on her way back to her chambers after a long day of work.

After gaining Ivan's favour...or pity at a human slave auction -he had only attended to ensure the proper standards were met- , Merideth was taken in and given homage in the castle. Ivan had paid her father's debts and in return she worked for him now. She was to give a modern touch to the age old healing techniques they used in the infirmary whilst working under one of the healers. It was either that or she would live a harsh and cruel life as a blood slave to a merciless vampire.

Her gaze met mine for a moment before she averted it quickly and hastened her pace. She was currently ignoring me. She hated me for how I had treated her. I hated myself too but it had to be done. Still it was nice to watch her walk away. The way her hips swayed as she strode... It could kill a man.

My guilty, lust-filled thoughts were interrupted when I noticed that Ivan was approaching.

He was dressed in black pants and a thick roundneck navy blue shirt. He had no doubt just arrived from the mortal world. The sweet feminine scent he carried indicated that not too long before, he had been with his beloved.

Despite the dark expression on his face there was joy in his eyes. The girl had that effect on him. She had that effect on everybody.She was so young and full of life. But I could tell there was more to her than just her smile. She was smart and humble and generous. Also considerate. And compassionate. Her attributes were endless.If all went well, with a profusion of the proper training, she would provide a balance he needed and rule at his side.

Only time will tell ,I thought. Thank God we have lots of it.

"When?" Ivan's guttural voice came to my ears. He stopped right in front of me, facing the flame.

"It appeared an hour ago. Maybe less." The exact time the flames had appeared was not clear. I had only been made aware of it an hour before. "It means-"

Facing me suddenly, he cut me off," I know what it means."

Ivan's knuckles whitened as he made tight fists. His jaw clenched and his teeth grit.

These flames were rarely used and when they were beware! War was coming! And quick.

There was no doubt in my mind that it was Zoladie who sent them. Such magic was only possible for strong witches and sometimes required an entire coven to perform.

Not only was this a declaration of war but a show of just how powerful she was. She was making it clear to the man who stood before me that she would ruin him. Devour him just like the fire devoured the air.

"She is coming..."I breath. There was hitch in my voice. I was fearful. I was right to be so. The Dark Sorceress was a force to be reckoned with.

"She is."

"She is coming for you. For Cara."

His jaw clenched. He rolled up the sleeve of his right arm.

I stood astounded as he reached into the flame with his bare hand and yanked out the metal arrow from were it pierced the floor.

The fire was extinguished leaving only the mark of the ancient symbol.

"Let her come and may she learn that I do not take such threats lightly." With an effortless swing of the wrist, he cast the arrow aside. It rolled across the floor, running past the edge and right off. "We will all crumble into rivers of blood before a drop of my beloved's is lost."

He turned. And walked away. And he was gone.

She declared war. He promised death.

Cara

Fumbling with the bunch of keys in my hand, I attempted to find the ones that would open the front door with one hand as my other hand balanced a bag of groceries. All the while, my phone was ringing away in the pocket of my denim jeans.

After a few frustrating attempts, I finally found the right keys and unlocked the door. I entered the house and kicked the door shut with my foot then placed the bag of groceries  on the kitchen counter.

Glancing at the clock, I checked the time. It was still too early for supper so I decided to unpack the groceries and do some last minute preparations minute preparations for the interview I had the following day.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I checked who was calling. I had eight missed calls from a strange number.

The phone rang again. I answered. It had to have been important for someone to call that many times.

"Hello,"I said, pressing the device to my ear while unpacking the groceries.

"Oh my God! Cara," a woman spoke. Her voice was laced with distress. " This is Caroline Stewart, Liza's mother. Are you with Liza?"

"No. I haven't seen her since the yesterday. Why? Is something wrong?" I was suddenly filled with worry.  It had to have been important for Liza's parents to call me up. They were very busy. The two were some of the best cooperate lawyers in the state of California and ran one of the top law firms in the country.

"Liza is missing. We haven't heard from her since graduation day. We thought she was with you."

I heard very little after the words 'Liza is missing...'

"Are you sure?" I was in doubt of the situation. I did not want it to be true.

"How could we not be sure?...You know what, you are no help at all," she spat. Frustration was clear in her tone.  " Call me when you hear anything."

She hang up. The device fell out of my hand.

I found that I had taken a seat on bar stools due to the shock. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as the blood rushed in my veins. I was suddenly light headed.

It surprised me how useless I was I the situation. My mind was blank of ideas. Whatever it was people did when their loved ones went missing, I did not know.

I figured that the Sterwarts had already notified the authorities and filed a report. They had called everyone they could and considering the fact that they were highly esteemed lawyers, they had probably tracked her cell phone.

Then what?

What was to be done after all that? Were we to just wait?

Instinctively, I reached for cell phone and scrolled through my short contract list. I was conflicted between calling my father or calling Alice.

Alice would probably be better help. But in times like this, I was used to relying on my father for support. He'd made up my entire support system for an entire decade. The man had been there for me through thick and thin. From the time I sprained my wrist and ankle trying to skateboard to the time I got my first period. Weird as it may have been for him, he helped me through it. To this day, he never remembered the correct brand of milk we use but never forgot to buy me sanitary towels and skittle for my time of the month when he went out shopping.

Scrolling lower, I found Ivan's contacts. A breath of relief left me as I remembered him. His memory alone made me feel safe. He made all well.

But I had to notify Alice. She was Liza's friend too. I dialed Alice and waited for her to pick up. She did not. I rang her again.

There was a loud knock at the back door. Followed by another, so loud I feared it would break the glass.

I turned my attention to back door,I saw through the glass someone I had not expected to see. Of all the places...

I rushed to open the door. As soon as I did. She fell to the ground.

Bloodied and dirty with soil, my friend lay on the back porch. And I wasn't so sure she was alive.