VIII. Death's Caress

Earth

Thane walked down the stairs to the back of the shop. The alarm on the door going off the moment he grabbed the handle. Irritation filled him as he stepped back, pushing the air from his lungs in a big huff. He turned towards the stairs to head back up and wake up Willow. She was coming down the stairs in her pajamas. The night shifts fabric framing her silhouette in the morning light. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she reached the bottom steps. “Can you turn off the alarm and open the door,” Thane growled, “It’s  hurting my ears.”  Willow looked up at him and began removing the spell. “I told you I don’t like leaving the shop unprotected,” she told him, opening the back door, “Cressa should be checking on the twins about now, I’m going to get dressed.” Her tone was annoyed but calm. Thane leaned in as he passed her, taking in her scent. His nose scrunched, the fact she still had an affect on him making his irritation worse. Willow moved away from him and back up the stairs to her room. 

Skye

“How do you know no one has returned from facing it?,” Than asked Lxie. Lxie glared at Thane. “Just because I was hiding doesn’t mean I didn’t pay attention to who came and did not return.” A shiver visibly went through her. “Where do the creatures that don’t come back go?,” Antonio asked her. He hunched over his knees on the bar counter, his tail swaying back and forth stirring up the dust. Lxie looked at him, with sadness filling her eyes, “I don’t know, they come here, investigate, see the invitation to celebrate, and head out.” Cedric and Antonio shared another look. “We are going to investigate, aren’t we?,” Antonio asked. Cedric’s eyes shifted between Lxie and Antonio. Deep thought creased his otherwise smooth features. “No,” he finally said after a few minutes. Lxie and Antonio looked at him with shock. This was not like him at all. Cedric always made a plan of action and followed through. He was not the kind of vampire to sit back and not help others in need. “No?,” Antonio questioned, the need for clarification written all over the little imps face. 

Earth

Cressa worked around the bodies, removing the bandages slowly from each. Antonette was almost finished being wrapped when Thane and his disgruntled energy walked into the makeshift hospital room. Without looking up she said, “This is a room of healing Thane, please step back out and have some breakfast and tea. I’m sure you smelt it coming in.” Thane growled low in his throat. “How are the twins?,” he asked, expelling his irritation for the morning into his tone. Cress looked behind her at him, pausing in her work. “You are contaminating the room with negative energies, I understand you are not having the best morning. I can sense it radiating off of you, however you will not damage the work that has been successfully done thus far with your mood. Go eat and drink some tea. When I’m finished here I will gladly fill you in on the progress they have made.” Her normally sweet kind voice took on a form of authoritative tone that pulled at Thames irritation more. Another low growl left his throat. He stood there in the doorway of the room a little longer staring Cressa down. She turned from the table, her chin raised answering his challenge by standing her ground. “Stress does not look good on you wolf pup,” she said, “I’m sure your lack of sleep last night is not helping. But you will not disrespect this space in that way. Go eat and recharge.”

Skye

“Lxie and I will go to court,” Cedric finally said. “Antonio, we are going to need help. I’m sending you to a witch. She runs a little shop in an American city. This,” he said pulling a necklace from under his shirt, “will help you find her. Tell her what has happened here and that I sent you.” Antonio tilted his head pretending to examine the dust between his fingers. “Are you sure she’ll come?,” he asked with amusement in his voice, “the last time the two of you were in the same room Hitler got shot.” A devilish smile spread across Cedric’s face. “Give her a kiss for me while you're at it,” he said as mischievous amusement filled his voice as he waved Antonio off. The imp humphed at the idea vanishing into the air. Lxie and Cedric coughed, swatting the dust filled air around them. “Now, we need to go shopping,” Cedric told Lxie downing his glass of liquor.

Earth

Thane stepped back into the tarot room shaking his head. That woman can be insufferable, He thought. A chuckle filled the room. Antoinette is waking up again. You may want to think quieter. Cressa’s soft voice filled the room like a whisper. Thane growled in response, pulling the long backed chair away from the table. He distracted his thoughts by taking in the buffet on the table. Scrambled eggs with melted cheddar cheese,  thick slabs of bacon piled on each other, smoking sausage links, stacks of thick pancakes and french toast, steaming hot tea, bowls of strawberries, blueberries, syrups, hunnies and butters laying between the dishes in front of him. His stomach growled and he began talking some of everything onto the plate in front of him. Willow walked in taking the matching chair in front of him. She grabbed the tea kettle and began to pour some into her cup. Thane watched her in her ritual shoving food in his mouth, an odd feeling blooming on his chest. Willow brushed her hair behind her ear as she reached for the honey. Mmm she got the ones with the comb. She happily thought, mixing it into her tea. Oh Willow darling company is coming you’ll need to hurry so you can go up and pack. Cressa’s thoughts sounded across the room. Huh. Willow thought, sipping her tea. A loud crash rang through the front of the store. 

Skye

Cedric took in the fresh air of the woods. Lxie was complaining.  She was having a difficult time walking in pants and carrying the weight of her backpack. Her complaints and swearing when she tripped were a constant brigade on his ear drums. They had been traveling just north of the village towards the mountains. Lxie was not happy about leaving the ocean behind. She said as much repeatedly. She disliked the trees and bugs. Didn’t understand why it was so hot. Though she paid no mind to the humidity. Cedric let her talk. This wasn’t his first jaunt into unknown woodlands, nor the first time he traveled with a disgruntled party member. It was not difficult to drown her out. There was no other sound. Not a branch breaking, no feet moving on the ground or wings beating. The woods were eerily quiet.  Cederic appeared calm and collected as they continued, but inside he was on high alert. Lxie’s complaints kept him aware of how far behind she would get and that she was okay. They had been climbing uphill for hours. The Summer Court being at the top of the mountains. Nestled away in the crater closest to the sun. Cedric found the whole arrangement flamboyant. The court of light did love its outlandishness. So did the court of night. This though this had Cedric rather unsettled. It was not like either court to threaten the other creatures nor play with them. There was an unspoken agreement that all mythical creatures were fairies of some sort. Which meant neither court harmed without justification. Unfortunately complete destitution was not justifiable by either court. “We will camp here,” Cedric informed Lxie.” “Here,” she asked, “couldn’t we stay down by the river?” Cedric looked in the direction she spoke of. The river bank was blackened in some spots  where it touched the water. The trees pulling away from it. Further down the river was green and the grown lush with life. “No,” he responded, pointing at the blackened banks. “Oh,” Lxie said, stepping over towards the waterline.