Author's Note: EEP! I beg of you, readers, please don't be angry with me for the incredibly short chapter. I can't help it. I was drained of energy when I wrote this, and when I thought about saving and continuing this, my brain screamed for me to upload this document and make the next chapter longer. So that's what I'll do.
CHAPTER NINE:
"Do you really think he's in there?" Becky whispered to Veronica. She would have gone straight to Balthazar for some reassurance, as he was a few feet away, but that would have been an incredibly bad idea.
Becky had went home with Veronica. She did some studying and finished up a load of homework she thought she would tackle days earlier. However, it didn't take her long to beg Veronica to take her to the campus with Balthazar. They entered the university quite easily. All it took was a simple spell to put the guard to sleep, and another to actually break into the school itself. But now, they stood in the long, gleaming hallway. Becky was standing next to Veronica, who remained silent as they both watched Balthazar conduct another spell to search around for Cyril Stutler. Veronica would have performed the spell herself, but Balthazar wanted her to protect Becky in case something occurred.
Veronica finally answered. "I believe so. But this could also be a trap. However, I think we might be actually getting our way."
She didn't want to break Balthazar's concentration, but she had to speak. "Veronica, do you think Dave is…hurt?"
Even with his back turned, Becky could see Balthazar's head perk up a bit as he listened more intently. His arms were still out, sending out silky waves of blue.
"Not at all," answered Veronica. "His uncle may have just wanted him there for a reason. He didn't have it in him to truly harm David."
"I don't think he'll hurt Dave either. But he really was angry when his family was brought up," whispered Becky. She watched Balthazar continue to conduct his spell. "Maybe his temper might earn him pain." She winced at the sound of her own words.
"Don't think like that, Becky."
"Veronica, I'm trying not to," she cried imploringly. "Come on, you're probably thinking it too!"
"Dear…"
"There's something wrong with him," Becky said, frowning as she spoke. "It just doesn't fit. It's the way he looks whenever his father is brought up."
Somehow, some way, Veronica managed to smile at her. It was a soft, kind smile that didn't mean she was having fun. It was a pleasant smile.
"It can't be anything that bad," she assured the younger girl. "No one can truly hate their father."
Was that true? Was it really?
Becky just focused her thoughts on finding and saving Dave from his circus of a family.
She gasped suddenly as Balthazar collided with the back wall. Veronica had grabbed her and pushed them both out of the way in time. When they got off from the floor, Veronica looked incredibly pained. Becky understood that pain. She knew what it was like, feeling horrible because you couldn't help the person you loved.
Balthazar was on his feet in a matter of minutes. He had a glowing plasma bolt ready in his gloved hands.
"I sensed something, but it was too late for me to react," hissed Balthazar. "Stay with Veronica, Becky." In the distance, Becky could see a blurry figure coming at them. Balthazar shot the plasma bolt. Becky's eyes widened as she saw it go, not to the thing, but to the light installed into the ceiling. It made contact successfully. The lights crackled and hissed, admitting sparks as it went haywire. Veronica tightened her hands around Becky's waist, pulling her only an inch away from the lights. Balthazar looked determined as he stared at the lights. And then it exploded.
One by one, each beam of light went out after another. Becky gasped as darkness flooded through the hallway. The figure that Becky caught a glimpse of was gone with the blackness.
"Veronica!" Her scream came out as a foggy whisper. Her voice was barely audible. Somehow, the woman heard her. She felt Veronica's comforting hands pull around her waist even tighter. Becky was relived for this; she was afraid of being left all alone in the dark. It was a rational fear, because now, there was an enemy out on the loose.
Where was Balthazar? Becky could feel Veronica's hands, and knew they were hers. But Balthazar was nowhere in sight.
"Balthazar Blake!" a voice called out. It was clear and as sharp as glass. It had to belong to a woman's.
Please don't be a villain, Becky begged mentally.
"Modesty, where are you?" demanded another unfamiliar voice. This one sounded tough, and was clearly female as well.
"Stay still, will you?" shouted the glass-like voice. "Balthazar, Blake are you here?"
"Who is this?" Becky could hear Veronica ask.
"Modesty Kay," the voice answered. "And Rue Carter, my friend. We have information that a Cyril Stutler is here."
"You know him?" Becky suddenly asked.
"No, but my mother is familiar with him…"
"Your mother?" Veronica repeated. "And who is that? What was your last name again?"
"Er, my mother is Modessa Kay," Modesty said uncertainly. "My last name is Kay. We can't explain much while we're in the dark. But to make things short, we came for Cyril Stutler."
"Argh!" This must've been Rue Carter, for she was the only voice left unidentified. "This is getting ridiculous!" Becky heard fabric rubbing against each other and faint clicking. Then, a thin flame of light flickered in the air. She was surprised to see how far away it was. The light was orange, but it didn't come from a cigarette lighter. There was a girl holding the light in her hands. She looked demonic, with the light under her chin, and the shadows tumbling out around her like layers of smoke. Her red hair was messy and her eyes scanned the area.
She shifted her hands and the light bounced shone towards the left. A girl was there. She was older than the girl with red hair, but not by so many years. This girl was cloaked in black. Only her skin stood out; a light golden color.
"Modesty," the girl said, relived. It was the one with a tough voice. So her name was Rue.
"I'm here, Rue," Modesty replied. A pause. "With us is Veronica."
"How do you know my name?" Veronica inquired.
"My mother is Modessa Kay," explained Modesty. "She said she knew you as a child."
Veronica sounded pleased. "She does remember me."
"Yes, Veronica, dear, I've always remembered," sighed a voice. "But now isn't the time for reunions. Balthazar Blake is not here."
Cold chills ran down Becky's spine. She felt Veronica's hands tighten, and knew that the latter's anxiety was probably greater than her own.
Modesty couldn't see the faces of Veronica and her friend so clearly. She frowned, knowing that a single light wouldn't help them much. Modesty should have thought of this earlier. With a satisfied expression, she formed a stable ball of white light in her hands. It was brighter than Rue's orange light; the combination of the colors created a disco ball of colors in the hallway.
Modesty and Rue walked together to Veronica and the blond girl. The blond looked like a wreck, despite her efforts to keep her face together. Her hair was slightly ruffled, which meant she ran her fingers through it a couple of times. Her cheeks were drained of color. The girl's eyes were normal, but Modesty knew from the way she was breathing that she felt bad. A slight wave of sympathy washed over Modesty. She knew what it was like to feel such a deep worry. Poor blond girl, she thought. What happened to you?
Veronica had not changed at all. She had grown taller, but besides that, she was the same. Same beautiful hair and face. No wonder Mother had been jealous during her childhood. This thought reminded her why they came.
"Mother?" Modesty called out.
"Right here, Modesty." Her mother was right behind Rue, who was inches away from her. Modesty sighed in relief.
"What did you say?" Veronica screeched.
"Quiet, Veronica," Mother said. "They might be lurking around still."
"Balthazar is gone!" Veronica shouted. "I can't keep quiet! You said he wasn't here! Where is he, Modessa?"
"Veronica!" her mother shouted. Modesty saw the woman flinch. "Listen to me! Morganians are around this school! We mustn't let them know we are here."
Veronica remained silent. When she spoke again, her voice was a whisper. "Modessa, he blew out the lights. How are we to see?"
"With this," Mother announced. She took out a jar full of tiny specks of light. This increased the amount of light in the hallway. Now she could see the floor perfectly and the marble pattern of dots on the floor. Modesty felt the urge to hide her glowing energy, so she wouldn't attract Morganians here. There were four sorceresses here, a formidable amount of professionals to ward off other beings; but still, Modesty didn't like the attention of Morganians.
"Put away your lights, girls," her mother said. "We won't be needing them." As she set her jar down, Modesty and Rue flicked their fingers. The orange and white light were gone.
"Modessa, have you any more jars?" Rue asked impatiently.
"Yes, enough to light our path. Now, I want to speak with Veronica."
"I'm listening," Veronica said loudly.
Mother turned to her with a hard expression. "Veronica. All the lights are out in the building. Balthazar is not here. We must work together and try to find our way around here, so we may detect Balthazar as well."
"We didn't hear anything besides you guys," the blond whispered. Modesty and Rue stared at her. "So maybe he left on his own, or something?"
"Unlikely," Veronica answered. "He wouldn't have left us."
"Where else would he go, then?" asked the blond. "We didn't hear him being taken by force, right?"
"That's true."
"I don't know where he is," Mother said. "But he is not in this hall."
"Balthazar," Veronica cried. It seemed as if a bubble of urgency was in her voice.
"Calm down, woman," Rue said harshly. "We'll find him. Just focus on protecting the blond. She's human, so she'll need the help."
"She's right," the blond said.
"We can get down to all the facts later," Mother said, taking charge immediately. "Right now, we're going to search this building for Balthazar Blake. Has he got his ring on him?"
Before Veronica could answer, Rue said, "Yeah, he does. I saw him shoot a plasma bolt at the lights."
"And is he experienced? I've always heard you being better than him and Maxim at training," Mother said. Modesty wondered how powerful this Veronica was.
"Not always," Veronica murmured. "But sometimes. And Balthazar is very capable. He's training the Prime Merlinian, you know."
Was whom you were taking as your magical apprentice something that was casually dropped in at conversations? Modesty wondered. She didn't know many who talked a lot about their apprentices.
"Like I said, Veronica, facts later," Mother whispered in the darkness. "Come with us. Rue, keep your eyes on the girl."
"I can watch her," Veronica said.
"No, I want Rue to do it now," Modesty heard her mother say. "We need some good fighters if we're going to find Morganians running about."
"I'm a good fighter!" Rue protested defensively.
"You wish, sweetheart," Mother said. "Veronica, I'd rather you stay behind while my daughter comes up in front. Much better attack plan, you see."
"Correct."
Modesty went to her mother as she began to led their tiny group of people. Who was Balthazar Blake, really? He was rumored to be an excellent Merlinian and looking for the Prime. But who was this man that Veronica seemed so worried about?
He had disappeared without force, Modesty recalled the blond saying. He surely wouldn't have abandoned his presumed love and the girl, right? Modesty felt a fist clench around her heart. She knew what it felt like when a man left you and someone you cared about behind.
Yes, Modessa is Modesty's mother. So far, only one reviewer asked me that question.
Oh, and another thing. I put this up at the bottom because I believe people actually read here.
I haven't been getting a lot of reviews from people here. Only one, which is Sheherazade's Fable, who reviews constantly, a fact I am grateful for. What ever happened to those others who have also reviewed a lot, but suddenly stopped? I don't want to be rude, but it's not a big deal just to put in some good words for the author, right? Thanks.
-TracedScars