Chapter 04

Someone shook his shoulder and called his name. At first, his sleep-drunken mind didn't quite make the connection as to who the voice belonged to. Then it finally clicked and the master sorcerer groaned inwardly. He'd been dreaming such a nice thing... why'd his apprentice have to wake him? Half awake he rolled over slightly, glaring daggers at Dave who shrinked his hand back and smiled sheepishly.

"What?", the older asked levelled but obviously unnerved
"You... have been talking in your sleep.."
"I see. Sorry if I woke you."

The elder knew that didn't sound much convincing. Actually, he didn't particular care either. He was tired and about to turn his back on Dave and slip back into the folds of his dreams, when the boy spoke again. It was now Balthazar registered the complete darkness outside the car. Must be midnight... or later, he thought and his mind already planned quite a few ways of payback.

"That's not it...You sounded so desperate.. wanna talk about it?"
"No. I don't want to. Good night, Dave."
With that, he turned around, snorted slightly and just faintly heard the grumbled "Good Night" from his apprentice's mouth before sleep claimed him once again.

The morning came with all its glory and – less pleasant – a thick cloud of falling snow. Dave stared at it with a numb expression. He was tired. And hungry. And tired. Sleep had evaded him successfully as thoughts filled his head the more he tried to clear his mind. Yes, he had tried everything from counting sheep to shutting down his brain but nothing worked. The worries came back with revenge. He couldn't stop thinking about the words his master had mumbled. Don't do that, Veronica and Stay with me were the ones concerning him the most. Most of the other stuff hadn't been audible enough to understand the whole context, but the elder obviously dreamed of the one he'd lost. It still weighted heavy on his master and began to take it's toll. Knowing this and his longing for Becky, who probably still was angry with him, had kept Dave awake ever since.

A quick look over his shoulder confirmed his master's still sleeping form. At least one of us will be well rested if we get attacked.., he thought with grim sarcasm and sat up, stretching his numb limbs as far as possible in the low car. He did wonder though, if anything would leave their hideout in this kind of weather. Bears maybe, or more wolves, at least nothing too dangerous. But if they wanted to get on with their journey they'd have to walk through this. And to do this – and maybe get home some day – he'd have to wake his master. The youth reached out once again, but as he was about to touch the leathery shoulder of the other, he heard him mumble "I'm awake" and pulled back the offending limb. Dave saw the elder sit up with crackling everything and, as Dave before, shook off the stiffness by stretching his long limbs out before turning to the younger Merlinean.

"Doesn't look like we'll be going anywhere for now", the master stated, looking thoughtfully outside. "No use if we freeze to death. We will do training instead." - Dave stared at him unbelieving as he said that – "Get your Encantus.", the elder attached, irritated by the confused look on his students face, snapping two fingers in front of the youths face.

"Back to earth, Dave."
"How can we train in here?"
"Get your Encantus.", Balthazar repeated, this time less patient.
"But..!"
"Enough with the buts."

Dave submitted with a sigh and twisted his body, fishing on the back seat for the huge book, which rested somewhere below the other baggage. When he'd finally got a grip on the leather cover and dragged it to the front, he was panting for air, very much to his masters annoyance.

"Ready?"
"For what?"
"Chapter 11. Page 223."

The student frowned a bit, but browsed the book, finding the suggested page. Defense against black magic was written on top of it, a picture of some two-faced creature below the head line. Dave stared at the picture for a moment, then looked up to Balthazar. A simple question formed in his mind and his lips formulated the matching sound.

"Why?"
"Come again?"
"Why do I have to learn this right now?"
"Because we've got nothing better to do and it might come in handy some day."

With that, Balthazar slightly opened the window left to him, reached into the biting cold and touched the car's top. The effect was immediate. The metal stretched and reformed, forming a huge dome of black steel, windows evenly distributed in a circle just above their heads, letting the scarce daylight in. An astounded Dave found himself sitting on the ground, right where the seat had been just seconds before, the baggage behind him on the same height. "Move", his master said, making the youth jump to his legs and drag the stuff to the wall in a hurry.

The next thing Dave recognized on first sight. The pose his master took, right in the middle of the dome, arms lowered to each side of his body, the high concentration the elder emitted, then a fast upwards move of both arms before green flames shot out of the ground with a blazing sound, forming a double circle. The spheres for 'elemental', 'transformation', 'mind', 'time', 'motion' and 'matter' burned itself into the earth and lit with each line in its corresponding color, finishing the Merlin Circle with the master in the very center.

It was then Balthazar relaxed and looked over to Dave who had watched in awe.

"I never knew you could – or would in that matter – do that to your car..", Dave said, but his master ignored the comment.

"Listen closely, Dave. Black magic is all mind based, so you will be training in the mind domain", the older sorcerer said, motioning his apprentice to step into the circle, right into the blood-red glowing symbol.

"Before we begin... can I ask something?", Dave tried and waited for the reply which first came as a sceptic look, but finally a nod. "How exactly do we train defense if there's no offensive?"
"I happen to know a few basic black magic spells so we'll work with that."
"You of all know black magic?"
"Something strange about it?"
"But I thought Merlineans were.."
"The good guys? There is no such thing, Dave. But I didn't learn them under Merlin, if that's what you want to know. Can we move on now?" The topic obviously was uncomfortable to the man, as Dave noticed the edge to his voice, so the youth let it drop and nodded.

"Good. When black magic relies on illusion, what could be the ultimate goal of a black magic user? Destruction? Control?"

"Destruction of the mind or control of the person?"
"Exactly, but there's no or in fact. A person is controlled easiest when their mind is in shreds. Black magic also disturbs the flow of your energy, rendering you unable to cast advanced spells."
"Besides, some of the higher spells ask for fees", another voice said directly behind Dave, making him flinch. When he turned around in a jolt, he thought he saw his master brush past him, but as he stared at the picture, it was gone. His eyes wandered back to the mid of the circle, finding Balthazar standing there with an amused smirk. So he had done something.

"Is something wrong, Dave?", he asked without losing that expression.

"N-no.."
"You did see the afterimage, right?"
"I think so.."
"We need to work on that. An enemy will use this technique to confuse you and make you lose your focus. The Shadow Clone."
"Didn't you say you only know basic-..?"
"This is basic, Dave."
"Ugh.."
"If you can keep an eye on me the whole time, you're ready to face offensive magic."

This couldn't be too hard. He already knew Balthazar didn't leave the circle. Everything else had to be a trick.. right?

"Wrong", his master suddenly said next to him, making the youth flinch more on the inside than outside, but he didn't look this time. Instead, he focused on the center, just to find it empty. It was unnerving. A side-glance to the master standing beside him, holding one hand up as if preparing for a plasma bolt.

"If I was Hovarth, you'd be dead now. Concentrate, Dave. Don't use your eyes. Feel my presence to locate me." The elder stepped past Dave, re-entering the Merlin Circle, each step without a sound, like a predator stalking prey.

Wait...

His apprentice stopped, closing the eyes. There was no footstep! At all! But a slight crackle a few metres behind! Without thinking he loaded a plasma bolt, turned around in a flash and sent his attack in that direction. A surprised yelp followed, then fizzling as two bolts cancelled each other.

"Good work. But by the time you reacted, you'd been dead two times by now. Don't depend on your usual senses, Dave, the nerves connecting them to the brain aren't fast enough. Feel it. Again."

"What am I to use then if not my usual senses?"
"Figure it out. That's the point of training, isn't it?"
"You don't want to know what I think about it!"
"Probably. Back to work!"

And he was gone again. Dave looked around, gave it first a sigh and then a try. Don't listen, don't see.. feel the presence.. Damnit!, he thought frustrated. Come on, concentrate, clear your mind..
Taking a deep breather, he suddenly seemed to feel something; a slight pulling in the back of his kidneys. It wandered around his waist, touching the stomach's frontside and stayed there for a moment, just to start going left and right in huge strides. When he heard the obligatory crackling again, he jumped aside just in time, as the plasma bolt passed where he'd stood just before.

"That's it", he heard Balthazar say and peeked through one half open eye, finding him in the direction the pulling in his guts came from, maybe a few meters in distance. "Keep in mind that enemies will try to hide their presence. You need to keep honing the detection skill, otherwise it will start to lose its edge. Got it?"
"Kinda.."
"Looks like the weather is better now. We'll stop for now. Step back."

The apprentice backed off until his back touched the steel dome. He could watch his finally fully visible master touch the other side of the dome, his ring glowing and telling the metal to return to its original form. With an earshattering screech it reformed back into the Phantom, which gave off a satisfied purr when it's master gently touched the metal roof.

"Welcome back, baby..", he whispered, very much to Dave's consternation, and motioned the boy to load their stuff back into the car, an order that was followed out of a confused state of mind. Dave knew his master loved his car, but this was ridiculous!

When he was finished, both of them swung into the seats and closed the doors, while Balthazar started the engine once again. The empty-on-fuel engine growled.
Dave stared at an oblivious Balthazar.

"Can you tell me why it's suddenly working again?"
"She had enough rest."
"It."
"What?"
"A car is referenced through by 'it', not 'she'", Dave corrected, but winced at the look his master gave him, practically gaping as if he'd said that about shoes again.

"Do you know the history of this vehicle, Dave?"
"How would I kn-..."
"In 1910 an alchemist's experiment in human transmutation failed. Instead of reviving his dead aunt, she only was dragged out of oblivion, but didn't find a body. She was doomed to wander the earth from that day on. Where do you think the soul is right now?"
"Balthazar.. you're giving me the creeps... you know that, right?"

A smirk of the elder and Dave felt goosebumps rise up his back, neck and leave through the scalp.

"Do I even want to know?"
"You started this, Dave. The alchemist and I met in a bar on that day. As he got more and more drunk he told me his story. But by the time we left the bar, my car already had received a very special enchantment."
"The aunt."
"Exactly."

Why do I even wonder, Dave thought while repressing a sigh. That's just like him to animate dead objects. Best thing if I don't think about why that crysler eagle moves.

"Don't worry about that one, Dave. There's nobody's soul in the eagle.", the master broke into Dave's thoughts, making the youth, once again, flinch.

"Would you stop doing that?"

"No."

With that, the engine purred and followed it's owner's directions, bringing them deeper into the woods...

The next stop was the final one. Phantom had found the hut, nearly without any help of its owner, which, in combination with the tale, gave Dave more than enough reason to be concerned. It – no, she – had an intelligence of its – her – own. So it – she – was per definition alive. The youth scowled at his mind for correcting perfectly correct and logical sentences. He felt so stupid, referring an object with a personal pronoma, but thinking back.. his friend and master had done so all the time. Why didn't it ever occur to him that there might be a reason for it, other than the old man being quirky?

The youth looked at the elder, who still held the wheel and watched the hut with a cautious intense.

"Are you ready, Dave?", he asked, once again ending Dave's seemingly endless string of thoughts, calling the apprentice back to reality.

"Ready for what?"
"When we're leaving that hut, Morgana will be gone. For good." And so will I.
"How can I be not ready for that? I mean, we've been fighting for that all along, didn't we?"
"Yeah.. that's right..."

Dave didn't feel comfortable when he heard the tone of the elder's voice. He sounded so exhausted. But somehow relieved. Alright, both was to be expected, since the millenia old quest would be over for good. Something wasn't right though.

"And then we're going home together and you reclaim your shop!"
"Yeah.."
"If they don't leave it, we'll haunt them out!"
"Good idea..."
"And after that we'll go down into my lab and.."
"Dave.."
".. train till we drop!"
"Listen."
"We will, won't we, Balthazar?" There was a hint of desperation in the youth's voice, as he struggled against the growing knot in his stomach. Dream on, a voice in his head said – not belonging to his master for once. The one in question stared at Dave, silent as a grave, making the youth shut his mouth and only gulp hard.

"Whichever way this ends, promise me you will go back to New York."

"You're freaking me out, man..", Dave said after a second or two, trying to mask his panic by looking away. He sounded a little hoarse.

"Answer me."

"Only if you promise to not get yourself killed!"

The elder didn't comment on that, turned away to open the door, and left the car without reply. His apprentice followed after a short delay of getting out himself and hastily closing the door, followed by a short sprint to the side of his master, who walked with both hands in the pockets, just waiting for the youth to catch up.

The hut had seen better days for sure, covered with slick moss, weeds growing everywhere around it and giving off an overall musty smell. The wood looked marantic and decaying. Not a pretty sight! As Dave further looked around, he saw a pentagram itched into the frozen earth, its flames had melted the snow. He'd never seen a real Morganian Pentagram, but the Encantus had depicted it somewhat... smaller. This one was huge! He guessed it around the size of the Merlin circle back home, but even then it was pretty big. Maybe he over-assumed it as pictures always tend to be smaller than the real thing. He left behind the scary symbol and joined his master.

Balthazar knocked on the rotten door, steps were heard inside the building. When the door opened a bit, an angry eye stared through the slight gap.

"What do you require?", the voice asked in a flat tone.
"You know why we're here, Armatha. Can't we talk?"
"I won't help you. I thought I'd said.."
"Please."
"I suppose you won't leave whatever I say?"
"Indeed."
"Come in then. Let us talk, Balthazar Blake and Dave Stutler."
"Thank you."

After recovering from the first shock of the witch knowing his name, Dave followed his master inside and heard the door shut behind him, wincing a bit at the loud sound, before the witch led them to a low table, surrounded by four chairs. She offered her guests seats which were taken. Tea was served by the hostess and cups were given to the guests. It was then Armatha Doshinski joined them.

"You want my help in destroying Morgana. But I can not help you. And you know why", she didn't ask that. It was a statement.
"Because you were Morganian once."
"Not were, am." At that, Dave paled and even made a move to defend himself against the imminent attack, when Balthazar gave him a calm but warning side glare, forcing the boy to relax, even if it was just enough to keep him from jumping at the witch.

"And am not. I'm hunted as traitor, you know that too. If I were to help in destroying Morgana her followers would find and kill me."

"If their leader was killed, the minions had no reason to go after you. They would be busy to replace the loss."

"No.. We Morganians may be fighting for ourselves, but we all love our leader for one reason or another. Revenge-attacks would be inevitable. And I'm too old to fight them off. Seems you will have to remain the grimhold's keeper for a while to come, Balthazar Blake", she said with a smile that gave Dave the creeps. It was sweet, but snakes can smile just as nice before biting you.

"So you don't trust your powers, right?"
"What are you scheming?"
"If we give you strenght to defend yourself, would you change your mind?"
"Oh, I don't know, maybe? How do you think you can help me?"

"Blood."

There was something in her eyes. A glint, maybe a trick of the room's twilight.. maybe not. In any case, she burst out into a roading laughter, making both sorcerers jump.

"Aren't you old-fashioned, huh? Hahaha.. Oh Balthazar Blake, you amuse me. You of all should know that drinking virgin blood doesn't help my kind."

"I wasn't thinking of usual blood..."
"Ooh? Are you saying you'd offer your apprentice's blood to me?"

The elder took a sideglance at the even more paling Dave and sighed.

"No."

"Then we have nothing to haggle with!"
"We'll use mine."
"Oh?"

Two pairs of eyes looked at the master. One interested and that one's face's lips licked by a greedy tongue, the other one reflecting pure shock.

"You can't be serious!", Dave exclaimed, suddenly standing up and staring down his master, who remained still sitting, just saying: "I am."

"Magic enhanced blood of the 777th degree? I heard Merlin was of the 1000th degree. Some Morganians get close to the 850th. Sacrificing you won't help me against those."

"There can't be that many left.."
"You don't have a clue, old boy.."
"Take mine!"

Both elders looked at Dave, who still stood cast-iron, emitting a resolute energy. While Balthazar carried a serious and thoughtful expression, the witch only laughed again. "You boy? What are you, a kindergartner?" At that, Dave clenched his teeth, temper taking over fast enough to prevent his master from intervening, raised his fisted right hand, presenting his ring to the witch, who whistled through her teeth as her red eyes followed the dragon-like contours.

"Oh, I see, I see. So the mighty Balthazar Blake finally found the prime Merlinean, yes? Took you long enough, old boy", she said with a side-glance to the elder, who gave it a slight flinch and a deadly glare at the witch, who didn't seem impressed by it. At all. Dave just snorted at her playful tone and slowly lowered his fist until it was on even level with the rest of his body, saying nothing for the moment.

"Merlin's heir, huh..? Even if you can't control your powers yet, they're even greater than your teacher's. If I consumed it, it would protect me for quite a while..", she said thoughtfully. As she looked at the young apprentice, smiling knowingly, he remained surprisingly motionless.

"What do I have to do?"
"Just give me your hand."

"Dave, don't", Balthazar finally chimed in, drawing their attention once again. "I don't care if I have to carry around the grimhold a few centuries longer. You will not involve yourself into this!" Somehow, his voice had taken an unsually anxious tone which, deep inside, gave Dave second thoughts, which were shoved aside the next moment.

"As I see it, I'm already involved, being the prime Merlinean and likes.. It's just a bit blood, what do I have to lose? Nothing else than donating blood..."
"Yes, that's right boy", the witch laughed, further adding to Dave's irritation. "You donate your blood to me and that's as much as you'll get about it. I will help you getting rid of Morgana and you both are free to go."
"You will not do that! I forbid you to do this!", Dave heard his master nearly shout, as the elder jumped up, kicking over the chair in the process.

"I just want to help..!", Dave tried, but his master stopped him with a growled "No."

"Just now you were about to do it yourself and suddenly-..."
"What I do is not important! You still have your life to live. I won't let you sacrifice your future for one who should be dead by all that matters!"
"It's not as if I'd die from that, is it? Come on!"
"You will!"

At that, Dave just gaped at the master, unable to comprehent the information. All he managed to say was something barely audible between "What" and "How". They stared at each other for a moment, before the old sorcerer spoke again, this time forcing himself to calm down.

"Just don't do it.", he said, then turned to the witch. "If we can't get together elsehow, then we'll leave. I'm sorry to have bothered you."

He made a move to turn, but the witch gripped his hand in a somehow desperate gesture, her eyes holding the spark of a fighting spirit in a paradox way.
"You can't. Darkness will fall soon. Stay here for the night. You may go tomorrow", she said, her voice steady and her body tense. "Downstairs is a guestroom."

"We can take care of ourselves. Dave, let's go."
"No! You stay here!"

"I appreciate your hospitality, but since you refused our offer, we have no reason to stay."

With that, the elder ripped his hand from hers, faced the door, was about to walk over and motioning his apprentice to follow, when both of them heard a loud click from the rotten wood.

Oh boy.., Dave thought sourly, feeling reminded of a certain sorcerer's trick to keep a 10-year old boy from leaving his shop and looked cluelessly at the same one, meeting his gaze. The elder sighed in defeat, facing Armatha.

"Seems we don't have much of a choice..."
"Are you sure?", Dave just stared at him unbelieving.
"She is right, Dave. We were lucky last night."

The youth hesitatingly nodded, but the bad feeling in his stomach didn't waver. Something wasn't right with this. Beside the fact they were staying in a freaking vampire witch's house over night in a place where their cries wouldn't be heard for miles if anything were to happen to them.

Otherwise, what could happen anyway? If that vampire made a wrong move, he and Balthazar could jolt her to oblivion.

Armatha seemed to pick up on their decision and relaxed visibly, walked over to a rug and lifted it, revealing a trap door. Opening said one it revealed hidden circular stairs, which led deep into the earth. She turned to them one last time, smiling. "Just follow the passage", she said. "Your luggage is in the last room."

"Wha..? How did you..?" All Dave got was another smirk by the witch.

Dave followed his master as they went down the stairs.

When they reached the guestroom, Dave, being dead tired, collapsed on the bed.

As it had turned out that room was rather spartanic. One closet, one double bed. It wasn't particular big either. But the witch had kept her promise. Their suitcases and even the Encantus were nicely placed next to the door. The youth felt his master's gaze on him and half opened his tired eyes, looking up to the elder, standing next to him, arms folded and mustering his apprentice sceptically, but didn't comment the loafing student.

"What?" Dave finally asked after being stared at for a minute.

"Oh, nothing. I just wondered where I will sleep since you claimed the bed."
"If you want me to shift, say so!"
"Oh, no need for that. I'll just sleep hovering over there", the elder said, thumb pointing at a corner.

"Alright, alright, I'm moving already", his apprentice grumbled, rolling over, back turned on his master, who got rid of any unnecessary clothing, just keeping vest and trousers on and putting the neatly folded cloak and the pointy shoes into the closet, before he returned to the bed and sat on its border. A glance over his shoulder gave the master a good view of his apprentice's back and he quirked an eyebrow. What was with that attitude? Then it dawned on him.

"No need to feel ashamed, Dave", he said, practically hearing the blood rush into the boy's head after this slight announcement. "W-why would I be ashamed?", he heard the youth reply.

"Oh, I don't know. We'll be sleeping in the same bed and all.."
"A-and so?"
"I just thought I'd tell you that you can relax. I'll keep my distance."
"I-i-i wasn't even thinking of that..!"

The youth threw a short glance over his shoulder, but seeing the elder's foxy smirk, he hastily faced the wall again. What was he so nervous about anyway? And what was that damn grin about? He felt and heard the cover move and risked another look, just to find the elder snuggling under the sheet, back turned to him. Again, he faced the wall, listening to his own fast heart-beat.

".. Balthazar?", he asked after a while of eerie silence.

"What?", the other asked, sounding half-asleep.

".. .. nevermind.. good night.."
"Good night, Dave."

When Dave woke, he did so because he'd heard something. At first, his subconscious hadn't noticed the noise at all. But as it kept on coming, more and more of it flooded the youth's consciousness, effectively waking him. Puzzled he laid still, trying to locate the sound. No need to announce to the danger that he knew it was there. If it was that vampiristic witch he would...

It only then occured to him that the witch was female and the sound he heard was a male voice, mumbling something. What disturbed him wasn't the wording though. Not only, at least. It shuddered a little every few seconds and if he listened close enough, he could hear the same desperate words of last night. The youth was once again torn, given that, whatever it might be, was needed for... recovery progress... or something...

He'd have to ask Bennet about it when they got back home, as his roommate was into psychology recently, since his girlfriend had bought him that book 'The animal within us; What our subconscious wants to say'. For some reason he suddenly wished for that book, maybe it could help him decide wether to wake his master or let recovery mechanisms do their thing. After the thought passed, Dave wondered, when he'd see his roommate again. And, maybe just as important, when he could apologize to Becky.

Luckily the sobs stopped after a while, giving room to silence once again. Dave was about to tick of the whole incident, turn back around and sleep on, as he heard Balthazar talk again. This time it was more than a mumble and sounded less delusional.

"Dave...", he said, as if half-sleeping and hoarse as hell.

"I'm here, buddy", the youth replied quietly, slightly touching the elder's shoulder blade, feeling skinny muscles tense under his hand and pulling it away, so he didn't cause discomfort to his bed neighbour.

"Did I wake you..?", that one asked, sounding less surprised about it, making it resemble more like a statement than a question.

"No. I was thinking."
"About Becky..?"
"Yeah... I wonder how she's doing."
"When this is over, she will come back to you, Dave. Don't worry."
"How can you be so sure?", Dave said, nearly giving it a dry laughter.
"She loves you. It must have pained her to just leave you."
"Wait, how do you-..."
"The Encantus, Dave. You made quite a nice headline. The prime Merlinean gets shot down by his sandbox love. A tragic story's ending. Keep tuned in for more next week. Good for you we're the last of the circle. Otherwise there'd be plenty of people laughing."
"Very funny."
"You should see the picture.."
"Not sure I want to"
"Even the Encantus' exaggerated version is worth a good laugh."

"... good night.", the youth ended the conversation dryly, turning his back on the surprisingly cheerful blond. Last thing he heard was a snicker, then a deep breath of his companion and master, indicating the elder found his way back to sleep. With that, Dave sighed and followed suit, unsuccessfully trying to clear his mind for another hour before sleep claimed him once again.

The next morning came and went by unnoticed by the sorcerers in their underground bedroom, who woke first thing around 12pm. Dave came to as he heard shuffling and movement in the room and sat up, to find Balthazar bent over his suitcase, digging in the contents, as if looking for something. The youth hesitated, watching his master clueless. When the elder stood and turned around, he seemed a little surprised of his apprentice being awake. Dave found him to be fully eqipped once again, as if ready to go.

"Good morning, Dave", he said, still sounding somewhat off.

"Morning", the boy replied, looking at what the master held in his hands, turning out to be a wallet.

"What's that?", he asked out of curiousity.
"A wallet."
"I see that!"
"Don't ask dumb questions. I'm about to pay for our nightstay, as you probably didn't think of taking money with you, did you, Dave?"
"O-of course I took my wallet.."
"Still a bad liar"

With that, the elder turned to leave the room, opened the door, left it and Dave alone, latter being consternated. After a while of staring at the door, he decided to follow his master. The young apprentice hadn't cared to strip last night so he didn't have to waste time slipping into anything. Jumping off the bed he took after his master.

He found him sitting on the table on the main floor, seemingly having a heated discussion with the witch. The elders didn't even notice the youth coming up the stairs until he joined them. As he did, they paused their conversation and looked at him; Armatha visibly annoyed, Balthazar somewhat tired, as always. Probably nothing to be concerned about.

"Good morning again, Dave", latter said, snapping the youth out of his staring state.
"Ah.. morning.. what's up?", he asked into the small round.
"Oh, nothing, little boy. Your master said you'd leave soon so I felt the obligation to tell you that I won't let you go."
"And that's why?"
"I have my reasons."
"And we're supposed to just swallow that?"
"Dave. Calm down", Balthazar said, breaking his apprentice momentary anger breakout, making him shut his mouth for once. "She said her spies detected someone who is following us."
"What spies?"

"The trees, the birds, even the falling snow. There's nothing I don't know around here. And somebody you both know is after your lives. Neither of my spies knows the human concept of names though, so I can't tell you his. But his aura wants revenge for whatever thing you did to him", the witch explained, licking her lips in anticipation. "Maybe it has something to do with the grimhold?"

The last words were directed at Balthazar, whose gaze got a tick more serious than even before. He knew he'd left the puppet down in the guestroom, tightly locked and warded in the closet. It was save for now. Which didn't mean he wasn't concerned.

"One more reason to leave as fast as possible. Staying in one location has proven dangerous in my experience", he said, but the witch shook her head.
"You're much safer in here."
"Are you gonna force us to stay?", was what Balthazar asked, even if he could guess the answer.
"Oh no, you're free to go. I'll keep my word. But I can't guarantee for your safety." The glint in her eyes made it an obvious threat.
"And you don't possibly do this out of fear?", replied a completely unimpressed Balthazar.
"Fear? What would I fear?", there was a slight panic to her voice now.
"While we're with you, nobody dares to attack. You must be standing with the back to the wall as they say. Ain't I right, Armatha?"
"I.. I don't know what you are talking about, Balthazar Blake. If you insist on leaving then go!"
"No. Now that you deny it – and you suck at lying even more than Dave does -, I want to know the true story. We'll stay and see."

Was that some sort of relieve in the witch's eyes? Dave looked between the two elders, trying to comprehend. So they were going to stay here for his master's curiousity's sake? There had to be more behind it. He was about to ask, when the vampire stood, smiling honestly for the first time.

"I think you both are hungry. Coincidently I got some regional specialities. Interested in a Russian breakfast?"