"They found a few shape shifters this evening, dead, with two holes in their neck, and the knights suspected it was a vampire attack."
I gave the man a single, slow glance, disturbed by how he managed to give me a wink. His chapped brown lips showed a smirk, and literal disgust overflowed outside my skin. I shook my head once, keeping my focus on the potion I've been stirring for hours.
Ever since the downfall of the courts of the vampires a hundred years ago, they have been buried thousands feet under, together with their kingdom, sealed by the powerful spells cast by the five wizards.
"Bluff, the remaining vampires were raided a decade ago. According to the Arcadians report, it is impossible for them to dig their way out." The ginger head man scoffed.
After the mass killings against the vampires, every city, especially Cardonia, is protected by the wall. The wall is hexed to protect its people against any forms of war and plagues, especially the vampires.
Mateo said, "Idiot, if it's just two punctured holes in their neck it could be anyone who likes to fool around to scare people," he is one of the professional teacher of hex in the nearby academia.
The academia is purposely built as the dueling and training ground for young wizards and witches. Only the ones who can afford to pay thousands of elixirs a month are the priority of the school. It's understandable given that teachers are well-trained, exceptional, and all types of privileges are given to the students. Of course, I cannot afford that kind of school so basically, like the rest of my family, I didn't study, except Luke, my younger brother. Mom made sure to save my earnings to fund his studies.
Mateo is considered as one of the respected wizard in town, and visiting this pub might taint a little scratch on his name yet the man doesn't mind.
"They said it wasn't just holes, the bodies were drained of blood, flesh chewed up and then torn to pieces."
I bit my lip as ice pits formed in my stomach. It's not a simple prank nor wild dogs doings.
"It must be the vampires Mateo," the blonde man went on. "I thought we are safe from them? This is alarming, they could be anywhere–"
"I was one of the witnesses of how the walls were hexed. Vampires can't enter the town. It must be the scavengers or the Alkanian rodents," Mateo cut in.
A tap woke me from my eavesdropping ventures. I turned my head to the side.
"The potion is already spilling girl, that's worth of hundred and fifty elixirs, I'll take that from your account this month." Maribel's throaty voice muttered.
Few drops of Lucky potion spilled from the couldron, white pearled liquid stained the wooden island table. I must have stirred it backwards.
Great, my mom would be ballistic to hear that. She wouldn't want me to waste time to earn money especially when I'm loosing handfuls because of stupidity.
I'm only the one who is capable and responsible enough to work my ass for my dear family. Bile of disappointment crept in my throat. My father is bed ridden and mom is attending him every second while making sure that her precious Luke is having a fun time in the Academia. My older brother is already married and refused to help us, he would say that I already need to be mature to take care of my family.
"Apologies ma'am," I voiced out making sure to have the proper tone.
Maribel is a terrible witch who can't perform magic. But one thing she and her family is known of, potion making. I once fancied working with potions and that pushed me to apply under her care. She taught me a lot but sometimes she loves to sniff Hakara leaves that would leave the user high for three to five days, and that would led her to slap me everytime I'll ask or do something improper inside the pub. I learned to shut my mouth and be her robot since then.
"We should do something with your habit of eavesdropping girl," she appealed, not accepting my apology.
The men turned their gaze to me. I duck my head to hide my embarrassment. Maribel pinched my forearm, but I refused to move a single inch or I'll make her more irritated.
I gave her a small nod, forcing myself not to shed a tear from the bruise of her pinch that is starting to itch because of the pain.
Mateo walked towards me with his long strides. Most of the days after his job he would enter the pub to give a look around or even protect me from Maribel's wrath. He's been doing this for months and this time he didn't even tried.
"One jar of pixie wings, please." The thicknesss of his voice resounded. I didn't dare to look at him. I don't have the courage to examine him out of respect. They would suspect me of drooling, and throw their immature sentiment that are directed to me.
I scanned the dusty shelf and when my I set an eye to an average jar with sparkles and ribbons I didn't take time to reach it.
"That is six hundred total of elixir sir." I quietly said while packing the jar in the clean white paper.
He handed me the elixirs, his hand brushed against mine.
"Thank you, have a magical day," he said then got out of the pub.
The clock ticks that means I'm out. I'm only present during days, through the night I need to take care of my father, cook dinner and clean the house while mom plans for the expenses the next day.
I quickly bag the elixirs from my last month's salary and got out of the pub before Maribel can gave me chores that will need an overtime.
I hurried along the narrow alleys and roads and finally made the steep walk up the hill, catching sight of the bridge. Gas street lamps lined the Hunted Bridge, casting a buttery glow across the jacaranda trees running along the riverbank. Before I crossed the river, I entered one of the many shadowy pathways that connected the many corners of the District.
Vines heavy with crimson red and white sweet pea blossoms covered the sides and tops of the arbors, spreading from one to another and another, forming long tunnels. Only the thinnest bit of moonlight led the way.
A shrill cry stopped me in my tracks. I wasn't sure how far I'd traveled, but that was nothing like the cries that had come from the nearby river. Wheeling toward the source of the sound, I found the closest exit and hurried out.
Tiny bumps prickled my skin as I walked down the stone sidewalk, staying close to the hedges that obscured the gardens.
The sound came again, this time shorter and hoarser. Slowly, I turned around and crept forward, passing a townhome where curtains billowed out from windows.
"The gods will punish you," the raspy voice broke the silence. "Don't hurt my family or I will curse you to hell that you'll bleed–"
Mist surrounded the place that suffocated me for seconds, then it vanished.
What in the...?
Telling myself that I needed to mind my business, I did the exact opposite and peered around the side of the building.
My lips parted, but I made no sound. Only because I knew better. But I wished I had minded my business.
In the courtyard of the darkened townhome next door, a man was on his knees, his arms outstretched, and his body bent backward at an angle that wasn't natural.
Standing before him was the cloaked man...his back turned against me. The symbol four and W marked his black cloaked in the back. I gasped for air. The Arcadians are near. The fourth dark wizard is here!
They hold the immense power of magic that crossing against them is crossing against the gods. They're powerful that in just a heartbeat they can twist your limbs or fold your body into two.
But what shocked me was that this fourth wizard had his hand on the man's forehead. He was the source of the white light inside his veins.The man's mouth stretched open, but no sound came from his throat. Only silvery-white light. It poured from his mouth and eyes, crackling and spitting as it shot up into the sky.
It was the Arcadian magic. I'd never seen one use it like this, nor did I think it would ever be necessary to kill a magi in this way. It simply wasn't needed.
The wizard released the man and he fell forward. His head turned to the townhome. A guard walked out of the house dragging a child, blood gushing out from his mouth.
Horror turned my skin to ice, I want to vomit blood and prick my eyes out of its sockets to forget the picture out of my head. It's horrible, disgusting and merely rightful doing from a dark wizard. The guard tossed the child besides his father and the fourth wizard stomped against the poor kid's head.
I was no longer empty and hollow. I was full, brimming with dark rage. I doubted I would be able to take out both of them, I'm not confident. I can merely justify the spell of incantation but one thing I'm good at. The spell of death.
I stepped out from around the building—
The only warning was the stir of air around me—a chill of breeze touch my skin.
A hand clamped down on my mouth, and a strange jolt went through me at the exact moment an arm folded around me, pinning my arms to my sides. The shock of the contact—the jolt of someone touching me, touching my skin with theirs—cost me the split second I had to break the hold. I was jerked back against the hard wall of a chest.
"You'll shut up or else your life is done."