Chapter 11: At Lake Geneva

Tarah sat at near the water's edge, looking out at the lake. If she weren't so cold blooded and focused on the task at hand, she might have actually enjoyed the sight. The lake was blue. And not just the murky greenish-brown appearance most lakes had. It was bright blue, and it was clear enough to use as a mirror.

For once in her life, she felt like she was looking at something truly beautiful. Being in the Huntsclan, she rarely got to experience moments like this. Moments when she questioned who she was. Moments when she questioned what she was doing and why. In a way, she also hated moments like this. They made her look back on her life with regret and think about what it would have been like to be a normal girl.

But she always pushed those thoughts out of her head quickly. She despised dragons, and she intended to murder each and every one with her own bare hands as soon as the Huntsman failed once and for all. In addition, if the Huntsman ever found out she was having second thoughts, she would be gone in a heartbeat. After what happened with his last apprentice, he wouldn't take any chances.

Thus, she tried carefully never to let her feelings show. Eventually, she'd become a hard, empty shell of nothingness. But she didn't care. Now, being a bitch was all she knew.

She was pulled out of her deep thoughts by a loud rumble off to her left, and she looked over to see the Huntsclan using all sorts of complicated tools to locate the stone in the bottom of the lake.

The Huntsman stood nearby "supervising", which to Tarah was another word that meant making other people do all the work for you and keeping the glory to yourself. Then again, she would have done the same thing. Only better.

Tarah rolled her eyes before looking back out across the lake. She knew what she was capable of, and she knew she wasn't going to get it accomplished in the Huntsclan.

She continued to sit there unmoving until the Huntsman called her forward.

Immediately, she sprung up from her place by the lake and walked toward him.

"Yes, master?" Tarah bowed before him.

"I recently received word back from New York that there has been another attack on the civilians," he told her. "But since we are here, in Switzerland, you could not have possible been the attacker," he stated. "Do you have any idea who might have done it?"

Tarah stared back at him in shock. Another attacker in New York? Was someone trying to frame her or something? Were they trying to steal the credit for her accomplishments?

"No master," Tarah replied shakily, "I have no idea."

"Very well, Huntsgirl," he folded his hands behind his back. "The probable possibilities are endless. If something of the nature happens again, you will look further into it. Do I make myself clear?" He asked.

"Yes, Huntsmaster," Tarah replied turning to leave.

"Huntsgirl," Tarah turned back around at the sound of her name. What else could he possible need to ask her?

"I have a feeling that the information of our whereabouts and plans has been leaked to magical community, particularly the American Dragon," he replied coolly. "My spies in New York have told me that they have not seen the dragon or his filthy dragon master enter or leave their headquarters in a few days."

Tarah nodded, pretending to care. In her mind, she knew this whole plan was a disaster. She seemed to be the only one that knew the full potential of dragons. How clever they truly were. Her master underestimated them greatly, and that had resulted in plan after plan failing.

There was no way he would ever accomplish what he wanted; the destruction of magical creatures. His methods of doing so were useless and ineffective. She could single-handedly do better on her own.

"So what do we do, master?" Tarah asked, though she had no doubt that he had a plan thought through well enough to work.

"The stones cannot be at their full potential until they are united," he replied. "Three united sisters, three united stones. It's as simple as that," he added.

He looked out on the lake at the Huntsclan members hard at work and smiled evilly.

"If the American Dragon is after one of the other stones, all we need to do is meet at the last destination. There, we will fight. There, we will gain possession of all three stones. They shall be destroyed, and magical creatures will be left powerless. Easier for the taking," he looked out in the distance.

"I'll have my spies locate the American Dragon and his grandfather," he said. "We'll find out which lake they are at, that way, we will know where they are headed next."

"It'll be a race to the finish line."

XX

In a small grouping of trees nearby, two hooded figures stood observing every move of the Huntsclan. The sun continued to set slowly until all that was left of the Huntsclan was silhouettes in the distance.

"So they are after the stones," the smaller of the two figures said. "My stones."

"And so they are," the larger figure smiled underneath his darkened hood.

"They'll never succeed," the smaller female added. "Not without the book."

"Indeed so," the male's smile widened. "Don't worry my loyal servant. Your stones will be ours for the taking. My sources tell me the American Dragon is headed for Lake Louise, Canada. Therefore, they will run into the Huntsclan at the third destination."

"And that is where we make our appearance," he added. "Okoboji, Iowa."

XX

Well, sorry for not updating last week. Stuff happened. Lol. And actually stuff happened this week too…came down with the flu on Monday. At that point, with all the makeup work I had to do, I figured I wouldn't get to update this week either. BUT I just sat down and wrote it! Thursday night at 10:00. Lol. I'm such a procrastinator. But hey; at least I updated! And tried really hard to make time to do so!

So be happy okay? Lol.

Well, I wrote this really really really fast. Like in less than an hour. So expect mistakes. And I'm awfully sorry about that.

~ada