Balthazar walked into Dave's lab the next day covered with mud splotches all over his clothes. His hair was sticking out in all directions and he was slightly out of breath. Veronica was the first one to rush over and ease him to a chair. Drake, Abigail, Dave and Purity were eating breakfast at the table.

"I found Horvath," Balthazar muttered dimly.

"Don't worry about him," Veronica said, "You need to rest."

Balthazar felt a wave of pain wash over him and he felt like being sick.

Later that morning, Dave practiced some techniques he learned earlier and performed them in front of Balthazar who, by force of Veronica, was sitting in a chair. He looked less sickly but Veronica insisted that he rested until she was sure he was in completely healthy once again.

"Try the ice shards," Balthazar said looking at the Incantus through his glasses.

Purity watched Dave take in a breath and then push his hands out. Thick ice shards immediately shot from his palms and stuck into the wall by Abigail who shrieked and jumped away.

"Sorry," Dave said timidly, Abigail cast him a glare.

"Again."

Around lunch Abigail went to sleep in one of the cots. Balthazar watched her go and noticed her stepping was slightly off.

"Abigail," Balthazar asked.

"What?"

"When were you born?"

Abigail looked at him as if he had come from outerspace.

"What?"

"When were you born?"

"1690."

With that Abigail left without saying anything. No one knew what the reason for why Balthazar did that when he picked up the Incantus.

"Something is going on," Balthazar muttered.

"What are you talking about?" Purity asked.

"Abigail wasn't born in 1690, she was born in 1680."

Dave shrugged, "Ten years off, she may be tired."

Balthazar shook his head, "Abigail should know when she was born, especially at her age."

Balthazar flipped until he came to the spell he was looking for. The parasite spell. Purity could feel Drake's temperature go down as he squeezed her hand.

" It was suppose to take longer," Balthazar muttered.

"What was suppose to take longer?"

Balthazar took in a breath and sighed.

"The parasite spell slowly destroys its victims, eventually killing them unless the victim can find the sorcerer who took their powers and get their castor back. It starts with the mind, then basic abilities like walking or even speech."

Purity turned to see Drake shaking like a leaf, his face was pale with fear and his hand squeezed tighter.

"Abigail is young," Balthazar pondered, "Which is probably why the effects are happening to her faster."

"What about...," Drake didn't finish his sentence.

"A week," Balthazar sighed, "Two weeks at the most."

Drake looked like he was ready to faint.

"We need to find him," Purity declared.

"Find who?"

"Horvath."

Everyone looked at her as if she was crazy.

"You've done it before right? Fighting Horvath...defeating him. Why not do it now? Maybe we can even save Abigail."

Balthazar looked at Abigail who was curled on a cot.

"The effects are very fast Purity, especially with weakness not only physically but mentally too."

Purity looked at Drake and knew that it wasn't going to be easy.

"Can't we at least give it a chance?" she whispered.

Balthazar looked at Purity and saw that it was desperate. He then looked at Drake and then thought. Why was she so desperate all of a sudden?

Dave left his secret lab around three to pick up Becky and take her to class. Purity sat at the table and nibbled on a piece of bread. She heard a sudden thud of footsteps behind her and she turned to see Balthazar standing behind her.

"May I join you?" he asked.

Purity nodded and Balthazar sat. Both sat in silence for a while until Balthazar started.

"You like him don't you?"

Purity knew that it was useless to hide anything and she nodded.

"Why?"

Purity looked at Balthazar, "Because when I look at him...I see myself."

Balthazar didn't say anything.

"He reminds me of my brother as well you know? A major hotshot, but kind inside...you just have to work at it. Drake is cursed, I am cursed...it's amazing on how small the world is."

Balthazar nodded and said, "I may have a way of helping you Purity."

Purity didn't look at him, "Will it work?"

"I don't know."

Purity sighed, she placed down her half nibbled bread: "I want to start with Drake first, see if we can help him."

"Why?"

"I looked through the Incantus Balthazar," Purity said, "I know what spell you are talking about but you need three people."

"We have Veronica."

"Veronica is still slightly weak and disoriented from having another soul in her all those years."

Balthazar looked at Purity in amazement, he never told Purity about Veronica.

"Yes Balthazar I know," Purity said, "Drake told me."

Balthazar flexed his fingers and then said: "Purity...you can't always-."

"What Balthazar? Trust him? Is that it? You don't want me to trust Drake?"

"He has a bad history Purity."

"So does everyone else, what about you? Don't tell me that you have had the perfect life!"

Balthazar opened and closed his mouth as he was at a loss for words.

"He wants to help me too Balthazar," Purity said, the outburst seemed to have exhausted her, "He says once he gets his powers back he will try and help me."

Blathazar sighed, "Purity...he could be lying."

Purity got up and said: "I don't like him Balthazar...I love him."

A/N: short...yes, but next chap will be longer. Sorry I haven't updated, I've been busy with a new story and school. spitfire47