III
Andrei was confused; his face was expressing his mental state, "In searching what?" he asked. Anton looked him like he should have known it, "Of course the bastard who robbed you!" he said. Andrei seemed he couldn't fully understand, "Search Bardem? Do you think finding him will be possible?" he asked.
"It won't be an easy street," Anton said "indeed I have to try it. I need to find him!"Andrei looked at him and didn't reply, he didn't believe what he heard. "You want to encounter him again?" he said, "He is a murderer, he can kill you too!"
"But I can't let him go on loose like this! I need to ask him why he is so merciless and make him pay for tearing my life apart!"
"I understand what you're feeling right now," Andrei said, "this is so unfair and so cruel. You want to avenge your parents, but finding him is impossible. Also fighting him will be insane! You may not stand a chance against him!"
"You're a friend of mine and I need allies for my cause. I will not turn back from this path, I will find him and destroy everything belongs to him. You have a binary choice, come with me or stay away. There is no way to persuade me in this"
Anton's determination was so certain that Andrei didn't fight it anymore, "Okay, you are a brother to me. I cannot betray you, I will do what I can" he said. Anton answered: "I appreciate it, do you have any idea who can be his friend?"
At that moment another friend of Anton's got inside the tavern, he was Mladen, he looked at Anton and Andrei the well built man with black hair and eyes almost as tall as Anton. He ran and gave Anton a hug, hit him on the back and said: "I'm sorry brother, do you have any idea who is responsible?"
Andrei answered instead of Anton: "Yeah, that Bardem guy…"Mladen's expression changed into an angry one, "The Bardem? Oh, he has gone too far this time… Robbing us is nothing, but killing in this little town is too much for him" he said.
"And I'm going to find him" Anton said changing Mladen's expression again, "Oh," he said, he felt fear "Find him? Then what, fight him?" Anton nodded and Mladen shouted: "You can't! You can't fight him! He is too treacherous, he will figure out the way to win unfairly!"
"I have no choice; I must learn the reason why. The true reason…" Anton said. Andrei interrupted: "I understand your bereavement, but it is just not sane to go against him! Let the guys of law accomplish this!"
"NO!"
Anton's scream was out of control and way too loud. People in the tavern looked at him with fear, some of them stood up. Anton waved his hands and said: "Everyone calm down please, I lost my temper, I'm sorry…"
He watched them to return their conversations and drinks. Then he turned back to his friends, "I need support. I cannot go alone, searching him. But my encounter will be one on one. Just help me please!" he said.
Mladen nodded, "Okay, if you say so I think you are righteous and need help. I will inform Zaria about this" he said and hit Anton on the back again. Anton shook his head and said: "Your sister doesn't have to get involved"
"Oh yes she does, yes-she-does!" Mladen said with a determined voice, "She will help you and do it by heart". "Thank you, then" Anton replied kindly, "I will wait you to get your belongings. Do you think Cecilia and Aurel would join us?"
Mladen and Andrei looked each other and Andrei answered: "Cecilia and Aurel might join you too, we will look around. Wait for our sign, you know the enchantment?"
"Yeah," said Anton, "Chiamatale, I suppose?"
"You're right" Andrei said, "We will send our sign and you will see if we are ready, ok?"
"Ok"
His friends left him and he sat down in an empty chair. The blonde woman came near him again; "Seeking revenge, forming your gang?" she asked, she was lukewarm like she had never been. Anton looked at her beautiful face, stood still and answered with no change of expression: "Yes"
"Yes? So you think that is that simple?"
"I think so…" Anton said, he never felt so emotionless before. The woman's eyes got wet, "Do you think it is easy to take a life? You will torment your soul multiple times!" she said with a cracked voice, "Why not leave it to the Ministry of Magic, the Aurors!"
"He thrives from the idea of being tracked by the Ministry, he gambles and gets rich but nobody gets their hands on him! He is untouchable; he always finds a way to escape!" Anton said, defending himself.
"Always… How many times did you see him? You just encountered him for once! How can you be so sure? You are trying to sell my information to me! Are you aware of this?"
Anton looked at her, his manner was expressing he was considering her words. "You may be right, but I cannot let the truth go away. He will never surrender to the Aurors without a fight… Most likely a fight to death… If he dies, I won't be able to discover the truth" he said.
"What truth?" she asked with a deepened voice, she was strong and prevented herself from crying.
"He made a deal with my father about retrieving his winning prizes when my father prepared them, but with an unexpected act, he came and asked for money. He said he needed it and as you know the events led to murder…"
The blonde woman held Anton's hand within hers, "I know you are in a terrible pain, you are over encumbered with the burden of your grief. But we both know you will kill him after you're done with him" she said, "Don't embrace your darkness, please…"
"How come do you know I will win?"
"I… I can tell by your determination. Compared to his issues, you're just focused on defeating him. One way or another you may succeed, but this can't be your remedy to cure your spiritual wounds. Furthermore…" she released her grip, stood up suddenly and ran to a door behind the bar.
Anton chased her; she shut the door behind her. She shouted: "Please leave me alone! Please!" Anton drew his wand, pointed the door and whispered "Alohomora". The door didn't budge; Anton lost his temper and pointed the wall "REDUCTO!"
A hole was created with a loud collapsing. He passed through, the blonde woman was crying. She was too frail and defenseless. Anton pointed his wand to her, "Furthermore?" he asked, "I wasn't aware that you are an oracle…"