Chapter 3- Demands
Fabian
I couldn't believe what had just happened. Fabian! My subconscious screamed. Go after her, chase her, do something, but don't just stand there! But maybe Joy was right. Maybe I should give her some time to cool off.
I sighed and went to my last class of the day. I sat down in my seat when I realized something was wrong. Where was Nina? I looked around for her, but there was no sign of her coming. Maybe she had gone back to the house.
"Amber!" I whispered. But Amber was a little preoccupied combing her hair with a pink brush. I had to call her a few times before she glanced up. "Where's Nina?" I asked.
"Isn't she here?" she asked looking around the room. "Oh my god, where's Nina?" I frowned at Amber, sometimes; I really doubt her focus on things.
"Wasn't she with you?" I persisted.
"Ummm, yeah! At Anubis house! Then Victor came with his creepy stuffed eagle and told us to get out."
"Amber," I said, "Corbier is a raven."
"Oh."
I was really getting worried now. Where could she be? I couldn't concentrate the entire class, instead, I found myself glancing at the clock frequently, praying time would go faster. When the bell finally rang, I hurried out of class and called Nina's cellphone. One ring, two rings, three rings…
"Please pick up, please Nina."
Finally, someone did pick up.
"Nina, good. You weren't in class. Where are you? I-"
I was cut off by a familiar voice that chilled me to the bone.
"Hello Fabian."
"Oh no." I whispered. It was Rufus Zeno.
"Surprised? I was, when I realized the elixir you gave me last year was fake."
"What have you done to Nina?" I had to try and control my voice. "If you've hurt her…"
"Now, now, you make me sound like I'm the bad guy. I haven't hurt one hair on Ms. Martin's head, but the harm I am capable of will be a lot worse than the loss of one hair, unless you do exactly as I say."
My mouth was numb. I choked out the words "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious? My, my, not as smart as I thought you were. What I want…" here, he paused. "is the cup of ankh."
I swallowed nervously. "It's destroyed." I lied.
A cruel laugh came from the other end of the phone. "Destroyed? I don't think so. And if you want to see Ms. Martin again, you will do exactly as I say."
"How do I know Nina's actually there with you?" I asked, trying to buy more time.
A crinkle of static, then a cry. "Fabian!" It was unmistakably Nina.
"Satisfied?" asked Rufus.
I couldn't answer.
"Meet me tomorrow night at 10:00 in the clearing in the woods. Make sure you have the cup with you, otherwise…" he didn't finish. He didn't have to. I could already picture the many things he could do to torture her. Last year, he had threatened us all with a swarm of killer flies.
Joy
What should me and Fabe do first? Movies? Romantic dinner? Beach date? I was still congratulating myself on my success, when Fabian burst through the doors of Anubis house panting, his face pale. Everyone looked at him in alarm. Eventually, Patricia stood up.
"What is it? Need to finish your history project?" she tried to joke, but even she could tell something was up.
"Fabian?" I asked.
He stood there for a moment, trying to collect himself, "Rufus Zeno has kidnapped Nina."
My insides squirmed guiltily.
"He won't hurt her." I reassured Fabian.
Jerome glanced at me suspiciously "How do you know?"
"Well, it's just a guess, that until he gets what he wants, he won't do anything. I mean, if Nina is dead-"
"Joy!" cried Mara.
"I'm just saying if. If he kills Nina, then he's in not much of a position to make bargains is he?" I finished. This argument seemed to convince most of them, but Patricia and Jerome were still looking suspiciously at me.
"Let's ask Patricia." Alfie suggested, and we all turned towards Patricia.
"Well, chances are, he might not give Nina back even after he has what he wants. Remember when Mrs. Andrews tried to trade the elixir for me? I wouldn't even be here if Nina, Fabian and Amber hadn't pried open the back door of the car."
"What does he want anyway?" asked Amber.
"The cup of Ankh." Fabian replied.
"Look, I don't know much about Rufus, but I say we just give him what he wants." Mick said.
"But Rufus is always up to no good, and the cup of Ankh might make him really powerful." Fabian protested.
Amber sighed. "Look at all this worrying I'm doing, I'm going to get wrinkles soon."
I rolled my eyes at Amber.
"What are you all discussing? Hmm?" Victor had come down the stairs without any of us noticing.
"Nina has-" Amber started to say, but stopped when Fabian looked pointedly at her. "Nina has a clock." She finished instead.
Victor looked wary "Nina has a clock?" he repeated.
"Yeah, of course. We always go to Nina if we don't know the time." Alfie said.
He cast his eyes around the room glaring at each of us in turn. "Where is Ms. Martin?"
"She-" I started.
"Went to visit her Aunt, whose in town. And she said she'll be staying overnight." Fabian finished quickly.
"Doesn't she know she's supposed to sign out?" grumbled Victor.
"She did, with Mr Sweet." I lied. This was a lie that could collapse in the smallest investigation, but it might work for now.
Victor narrowed his eyes. "Look you lot." He hissed. You have been meddling in too many of my plans. I will not let you break the rules this year. Understand? We all nodded. But Victor wasn't finished. He paced around the room, keeping his eyes on us. "For the rest of this week, I want you all in bed by 9:00. No later. And at 9:05, I want the house to be so silent that I can hear a pin drop." He stormed out of the room.
"Amber!" Patricia said.
"What?" she asked confused.
"If Victor knew that the cup of Ankh still existed, he would do anything to get ahold of it again." Mara explained.
"Oh no!" Fabian exclaimed. "Rufus wants me to meet him at 10:00 tomorrow night. That's way past the new curfew."
"You're actually going to go?" I asked. No, no, no. He can't still care for her. "Didn't you remember what Patricia said? About Rufus not keeping promises?"
"Nina is important. To all of us. We have to save her." He said grimly, and strode out of the room.