"What is all this I hear about a lady with powers?"
"Oh mum, my friend's mother went to her for a love potion. Remember my friend that lost his father some years ago? He told me that his mother didn't like to work, so she went for a love portion to use on a stingy, rich man that she had set her eyes on", Knaxx said.
"Eh!... women are dangerous sometimes"
"Really? You think so?"
"I know so. Finish the story, boy. Don't keep my ears waiting", Mrs. Pegg said.
"Hahaha... you like gossip, mama"
"See who is talking. The person that brought the gossip to me is saying I like gossip", she pulled his ears.
Knaxx continued, "The wedding has been set for next weekend. He invited me too. In a short time mum, his school bag and shoes were changed to finer ones. I asked him if he was comfortable... he said as long as his mother is happy, he didn't have a problem. I am happy for him though because sometimes, he'd come to school without having breakfast and I'd have to share my meal with him"
"Oh. You have a good heart, son"
"Thanks, mum. I have to run along now though. Mr. Adonis said to meet him in the office this afternoon after my last paper"
"Okay. Wait! let me package meals for both of you"
"Hurry, mama"
Mrs. Pegg rushed into the kitchen.
A sharp pain passed through her right leg, she screamed, losing her balance.
* * *
"Get the tape recorder! You, go tell Adonis that we are ready to go"
"Yes, sir", the secretary rushed out of Daniil's office.
Adonis came into his office, "Are we set for the interview?"
"We? You are only accompanying us. You are not asking questions. We made a deal, remember?", Daniil said to him.
"Yes, yes. Calm your horses", he replied, patting his shoulder.
"MR. ADONIS!!!!", they heard the shout from the waiting area of the office.
That was Knaxx's voice. Dread filled Adonis.
[What could have happened?]
Adonis was the first to rush out while the rest followed behind him. Everyone that heard the shout was worried.
"Knaxx... calm down, what happened? What is wrong?"
"I-i-t i-s m-m-um", he stammered while trying to catch his breath. He was almost crying but had to control himself.
"What happened to her, Knaxx. Talk to me", Adonis said
When Daniil saw that it was nothing as serious as he thought, he said, "Adonis, it seems like I would have to go on without you. I see you got some things to attend to"
Adonis looked at him, lost for a second, the said, "Yes, you can go on without me"
Daniil left.
It was the last time Adonis would see Daniil.
* * *
When they both got back to the house, Mrs. Pegg was still in the same position Knaxx had left her. She had stopped screaming but wasn't moving. It seemed to Adonis as if she had lost consciousness.
"Help me carry her. Get the carriage now!"
"Mrs. Pegg... can you hear me? Hang on, okay. We will get you some help. Just hang in there"
Knaxx came back into the house. Sniffed (he was crying)... he couldn't afford to lose his mother.
[What had happened to her?], he thought.
"It's ready, sir"
They lifted her gently and took her to the carriage. Knaxx manned the horses. They were on their way to the hospital.
* * *
Unknown to Daniil or anyone, he was being watched. Ajax had found out who wrote the story on the lady with powers and ordered that he be followed.
They had their eyes on him from home to when he got to the office, they knew when he went out for his coffee, they knew when he went back home and the route he took. They knew everything about Daniil in a very short time.
Since the boys couldn't get any lead on the lady because it became obvious that people on the streets were protecting her, no one told them where she could be found. Ajax was patient and knew that the Daniil man was going to lead them to her- sooner or later.
Ajax was informed that they had heard him talk about an interview coming up with the lady helping people. BINGO!
He told Joe and Rex, "Immediately after his interview, bring him to the office. Call me when you are on your way there, no matter the time". He wanted to handle the matter himself.
The interview was today.
* * *
Selena had left Jade's house the previous morning. Jade had given her the healing balm to keep applying on her wounds and some coins to start petty trading or enroll herself in some form of learning.
From the books she had gathered to broaden her knowledge on the use of magic and manipulations of the elements, she had learned how to open portals to transmigrate things or people from one place to the other.
She pierced a small part of Selena's finger and laid out a map in front of them. While speaking some incantations, she danced around the map and dripped Selena's blood on the place they had chosen she'd go to. Then the space beside them began to shift and a hole was seen surrounded with a bluish, smokelike substance.
"Go in and good luck, my dear"
Selena hugged her tightly, carrying few clothes and the money Jade had given her- all in a small sack. She stepped into the hole, and she was gone.
Jade had an eerie feeling today but she didn't know why.
[But Selena has gone. I had checked on her through my glass and saw she was fine. Then, why do I feel this way?]
She remembered the interview that was to take place very soon. [Maybe that was why she was nervous? But it was just an interview].
There was a knock on her door.
"Come in"
Daniil and his secretary stepped into Jade's room.
"Hello, madam"