Aradia was sat on the bed next to Nathan while Paul was perched on the nearby chair, his arms crossed across his chest, his eyes fixed on the warlock boy laying on bed while Edgar and Elliot leaned on to the wall, listening to Nathan.
"I was out of town for a couple of days to settle a deal. And today I returned back to the store, it was the most strange to find the store closed. Merlin was aware I was coming back so that we can attend the party together, so why would he close the store? Sabrina from the flower shop told me something urgent came up so Merlin had to go attend to it, so I made my way back to the house."
Nathan took a shaky breath before continuing with the story, "But then I felt unusual as I noticed that Sabrina, who usually had steel grey eyes was now sporting dark vicious black eyes at the moment. So, I told her that I left something important in the store hence I have to go in anyway. She asked me if I have a key and I told her that a warlock doesn't need a key to open doors."
"As I approached the door with my magic readied, the woman transformed into a massive crow-like bird, Hayaeta as you referred to. She began to attack me but I somehow managed to destroy it and break the door lock. And I got inside the shop only to find Merlin laying on the ground, covered in blood as a man was lapping at Merlin's blood. He was a blood-drinker. A vampire," Nathan hissed, "He made the whole store smell of death. As he noticed me, he quickly covered his head with the hood of his cloak. But then a woman, dressed all in black with only her weirdly honey gold eyes revealing, started attacking me with her two swords. While I was trying to dodge her, I realized there were three more personnel in the room, two men and another woman. As the woman continued to attack me, the vampire man fed from Merlin. Her swords were powered by some sort of dark magic because my magic was not strong enough to attack her but just enough to defend myself. The other female made a fire circle which distracted the honey eyed one who attacked, so I used that opportunity to send a spark of my magic into her, making her fall."
Edgar saw a faint tremor run through Nathan's being.
"I was ready to take the others down, but then the men who were left turned into Hayaetas and attacked me, together. The vampire and the women escaped through the fire circle. I managed to fend the bird off long enough to make a fire circle of my own, but well, they caught up with me. You know what happened next."
There was silence with everyone training their gazes on Nathan. Aradia's eyes were blurred with tears almost about to burst out of her eyes. Nathan couldn't dare to look at her. He felt guilty for not being able to protect Merlin. He should've been there for him. Unable to face his sister he glanced at Edgar instead whose glimmering blue eyes were already on him.
"Merlin is one of your ancients," Elliott broke the silence. "How's it possible for such a powerful man to be knocked to death by a group of vampires?"
"The man was the only vampire," Nathan said, taking his eyes away from Edgar and fixing them on Elliott. "The two men were Hayaetas and the two women," He paused for a moment and then said, "They were so human. I felt it."
"This is madness," Aradia cried, her voice heightening in pitch, getting up from the bed, tears streaming down through her rosy cheeks. "Why Merlin? Why couldn't the blasted vampire feed himself from a silly human? Why kill someone like Merlin for feeding?"
"Aradia," Elliott whispered, hoping to calm her down.
She turned to face Elliott who was still leaned onto the wall with the book he took for Elliana in his grasp. "Merlin is like my father! He raised me!" She fell on her knees with a sob, "And these damned creatures!"
Elliott went to her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a warm hug.
Edgar was sad because he knew what it was like to lose a father. To loose someone who you thought will always be there for you, to guide you, to share your happiness, misery and success.
Paul, who wasn't really affected by this predicament, roused from the chair and said in an ordering tone, "We are extremely sad about your loss." He looked at Elliott who had Aradia in his arms, "Elliott, I think we should be on our way out for what we came for isn't alive any longer. We should leave the warlocks to their mourning, there's not time to waste."
He walked towards the door as Aradia yelled, "Selfish bastard! How could you be so callous? You are no better than those cold hearts."
"Pardon me? I insist that you keep your tone respectful, milady," Paul glared at Aradia, "My family and I came here for assistance, and you don't seem to be able to provide it anymore. So why should we tarry any longer?"
Aradia took herself off Elliott's arms. "Ungrateful rat. If you had any idea how much help your dead parents have had from Merlin, you would be tweeting a different tune!" She laughed evilly. "Because you have no use of him any longer, you--"
"What did you want from Merlin?" Nathan asked, interrupting his sister.
Paul pulled out the necklace from his pocket, his angry eyes not leaving Aradia. Nathan's eyes widened as he saw the piece of jewelry.
"Give it to me!" Nathan said and Paul tossed it to him.
Nathan clenched it and closed his eyes, whispering in a strange language.
"This was the necklace around the neck of the woman who attacked me," Nathan said when he opened his eyes. "Yes, this is exactly that!"
Those words drew Paul's attention. "We need to find its owner. We came for Merlin because we thought he might be able to help."
"I've been Merlin's apprentice for 30 years," Nathan said, shocking Edgar. Nathan looked as if he was of same age as the boys but of course he's a warlock and he's immortal. "He has never traded Tanzanian when I was with him."
"Are you sure?" Paul asked. "What if you missed?"
Nathan shook his head. "I make the accounts so I know all the deals. Tanzanian gems and jewelry are extremely rare and Merlin wasn't really interested in them."
Upon hearing this, Paul sighed in disappointment.
"So that's not going to lead us anywhere?" Elliott asked, standing up and giving a hand to Aradia to help her stand.
"What if Merlin had a rival we weren't aware of?" Aradia suggested for no one in particular.
"What if that enemy was a rival with my family too," Paul suggested and Aradia shot him a look.
Suddenly Nathan's eyes changed their color to a burning red, shocking everyone. The ruby lighted up, vibrating in Nathan's hands. He quickly threw it to the floor and his eyes regained their green and the ruby lost its light.
"Something's wrong with it," Nathan said, trying to catch his breath.
Aradia picked up the necklace and pushed her power into it.
All eyes set on her, she said, "This is a soul carrier."
Her eyes scanned Nathan as if they were searching for something. And they stopped on a blood patch in his arm.
"I strongly suspect the blood on your arm belongs to the shell of his soul," She said.
"I don't understand," Elliott said, his eyes squinted in doubt.
"Soul carriers contain souls and the wearer are the shells of the carriers," Aradia explained. "The ruby will spark when it nears even the slightest belonging of its shell."
"Then we'll have to get going until the ruby sparks, hoping it will lead us to its shell," Paul said.
Aradia nodded.
"Better get going then," Paul said and gave a tiny rare smile to Aradia, "Thank you."
She returned the smile.
"I'm coming with you lads," Nathan announced before Paul reach the door. "I too, want revenge," He paused and looked at Aradia for affirmation, "For Merlin"
"But you're not completely recovered yet," Elliott protested, by Aradia waved him off.
"He's a warlock, Elliott," Aradia said. "He'll be well in a few hours."
"Excuse me, but can you give me a hand?" Nathan asked from Edgar, surprising him.
Elliott placed a kiss on Aradia's lips and the two walked out of the room after Paul, letting Nathan have some privacy.
Edgar walked towards the bed and held his hand for the warlock boy. As Nathan placed his hand on Edgar, a shiver went through Edgar. He feared if Nathan had noticed and yes, he did notice for he smiled and got up.
"Do you think your bossy brother would mind giving me time to get into some clean clothes?" Nathan asked.
Edgar nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll be by the door for you" and at that Nathan smiled. Edgar couldn't help but notice he has never a seen a smile more pretty than Nathan's.
"I'm injured, Edgar," He said and another shiver went through Edgar. If this is going to keep happening every time the warlock boy says his name Edgar is going to be in so much trouble, "Perhaps you could get me some clothes from the cupboard?"
"Um, yes, of course," Edgar stammered and went to the cupboard, took the first clothes he could find and threw them at Nathan.
"Thank you. Now, turn around," Nathan said once again Edgar obeyed.
Short minutes later, Nathan said, "You can turn around now."
Edgar turned around to find Nathan in a brown pair of trousers and a clean white shirt. He smiled at Edgar, and raised his hand from the bed.
"Would you mind giving me a hand?" He requested, batting his eyes at the younger man who blushed before lending him a hand.
"Has anyone ever told you than you have a pretty blush?" Nathan asked, placing his arm on Edgar, his eyes not leaving Edgar's.
Edgar gaped at the boy, flushing like a tomato and stammered. Nathan giggled.
"It's perfectly alright to accept a compliment with a 'thank you', Edgar," He took pity on the werewolf, and stepped towards the door, Edgar's arm wrapped tightly around his waist.
"Come, we should hurry," Nathan replied, and Edgar nodded.
Together, they exited the room.