Disclaimer: Does not own WITCH
Love is a Hearts Child: 3 – Two Halves of Dark Hearts
Chapter 2
"Goes wrong? I'm not sure I like the sound of that." Cedric shrugged as Steven told him. "If you do not wish to, I cannot force you to try. The choice lies only with you Steven." Cedric said. "But if you do not master this, you are more than likely still going to have problems down the line. A big risk to remove future risks, where I may not be present in order to offer assistance." Cedric continued to explain. "Then I guess I'm sorry for wasting your time Cedric. Because that a bit too big of a risk for me to make." Steven replied, rubbing the bridge of his nose annoyed.
He had hoped to be able to master his powers so as to get back to a semblance of a normal life before the collector. At least that's what he wanted at first. Now he just wanted to master his powers so he didn't use them when he didn't want to. Risking his mind for that outcome, and in effect his life was not one he was willing to take.
"Perfectly understandable Steven. As for wasting my time, think nothing of it. If it wasn't for this lesson, I would not have discovered my powers had been returned." Cedric said trying to relieve Steven mind even a little. Cedric had not expected Steven to try, and so wasn't shocked by the outcome of the morning's event. "Well now what?" Steven asked unsure what to do now. "Well I have nothing left I can really teach you. You're free for the rest of the day. I'll probably go and see if Orube has any free time." Cedric told him. "Wait that's it? nothing else? A go on your way?" Steven questioned. "Correct, why not go a see the guardian, you already woke her before she cannot be so lazy that she went back to bed?" Cedric half stated, half asked, as the pair of them headed back upstairs.
"Alright then I guess I will. Thanks for the lesson then I guess Cedric." Steven said heading for the door. "None needed, but appreciated." Cedric responded as he closed the door behind Steven. Cedric then headed back down into the basement. He had said he would go see Orube but that could wait until he tested out his returned power. It would be good to be in his original form for a little while.
Steven considered calling Irma as he left the bookshop but decided against it. Unlike Cedric thought it would be normal for her to go back to sleep, which meant he could surprise her. His lessons were over with, and that opened up his time quite a bit. Between his work and his lessons with Cedric he hadn't been able to give Irma as much time as she deserved. Combined that with that fact Irma was jobless and had too much time, as long as a world wasn't in danger, and they had argued quite a bit about it. He would now have more time, and didn't plan on wasting it. Heading into town, he bought some breakfast and coffee and jumped on the bus that headed the closest to Irma.
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Caleb ran as fast as he could, the rings on the phone cutting out as Cornelia didn't reply for the second time. Next in the phone, he tried to call Hay Lin then Irma, still no response. Growing seriously worried now, he tried Taranee.
"Hey Will." Taranee's voice answered cheerfully. "It's Caleb not Will." Caleb said urgently. "Will and Brigitte are gone, and it looks like there was a small explosion of some sort. Burnt cardboard and scorched furniture. And she left her phone and home; she never leaves her phone at home." Caleb continued describing thing at the speed of light to Taranee. "Caleb?" Taranee tried to get him to stop. "CALEB." She shouted at him causing him to cut off. "Calm down." Taranee ordered. "Let me try and contact the others, including Will she could be fine." Taranee ordered.
A few moments passed Caleb waiting impatiently. "Okay Caleb go to the bookshop, I've contacted Hay Lin and Corny. Hay Lin going to swing by Irma to try and wake her up seeing as I can't reach her. We will all met you at the bookshop and go ask the oracle where Will is. So stay calm, go to the bookshop. Whatever happened we will find Will and Brigitte." Taranee ordered and tried to comfort Caleb at the same time. Well her plans were ruined, so much for going to meet Neil and spending there day off together. "But Taranee?" Caleb tried to question Taranee. "Look situation where one of us has gone missing have come before, trust me staying calm and collected is one of the most important thing you can do. Go to the book shop. I'll be there when you turn up." Taranee ordered again, and Caleb conceded saying she better be and hung up.
Taranee sighed a mix of disappointment and worry. She was truly worried for Will and Brigitte, from the scene Caleb had described it didn't sound good, but damn did evil always have bad timing. Taranee quickly called Neil, explaining that something had sadly come up and that she wasn't going to be able to meet him, but promised that she would call as soon as she could. Neil was upset but understood, they had both been looking forward to having the day off. It had taken quite some bargaining with Cedric to get it. Sharing messages of affection Taranee ended the call before making another.
The next phone call was to Will's mother, it lead to the answer phone. Taranee left a message explaining what was happing, left with instruction of heading home and calling the police to start an investigation just in case, Will's disappearance was mundane and not due to magic, as she and Caleb would normally assume in these sort of occasions. Afterward she left the same message, not word for word but near enough, on the answer machine of Dean's phone as well, before Taranee teleported to the secret basement of the bookshop.
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Taranee scream in shock as appeared to a sight she wasn't expecting, but quickly calmed herself. "Do you not knock girl." Cedric asked rhetorically reverting from his much larger form to his human one. "What is so important that you can't use the door? You knew I was going to be here this morning." Cedric said annoyed. Straitening the collar of his shirt, it never seemed to be right after shifting back into it. "I thought you had a lesson with Steven not that you be taking most of the room up with your powers." Taranee explained herself. "Yes well, that could have been worse, the sort of lessons I would have being given could have turned out badly with that sort of distraction. Also not telling me about my powers being returned was not the polite thing to do." Cedric continued to berate. It was strange for Taranee to let the man had once been her enemy, but he was now her boss and he wouldn't risk both her and Neil jobs by getting mad back. "I'm sorry, but right now my priorities are slightly different. Will and her daughter have gone missing, so the other and Caleb should be on their way here." Taranee told him.
"Fine I did agree that would still be allowed to use this part of the basement, is there any reason to believe foal play. Could she not have just simply gone out without telling anyone?" Cedric asked. "Yes there is I'll explain, after you call Orube and ask her to get here ASAP. I figured that she get here faster if you asked." She said heading upstairs. "I doubt that." Cedric said following and heading to the phone.
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Steven walked from the bus stop; bag in one hand and a coffee in the other, towards Irma's house. As it came into sight, a recognisable pink motor scooter pulled up beside him. Pink and green helmet came off, revealing the worried face of Hay Lin. "Morning Hay Lin, off to meet Irma too then?" Steven asked walking along as Hay Lin slowly drifted forward on the scooter. "Yes but for not good reasons. Will has disappeared." Hay Lin explained. "And here I could give Irma a happy surprise. You might as well just park the scooter here, we can take faster means." Steven said letting her get off and put her helmet away.
The pair walked the rest of the way. Steven let Hay Lin knock, taking a sip from his coffee as he waited. Anna Lair opened the door. "Hay Lin, Steven. Irma didn't mention anyone coming round." Anna said letting them step in from the outside. "It's a surprise." Steven said trying to cover up, the seriousness emanating from Hay Lin. "Well I'm sorry but Irma alre…" Anna started to say. "Who's there mum?" Irma voice called down from upstairs. "Steven and Hay Lin. I could swear you already went out." Anna called back upstairs, as Irma started coming downstairs. "Surprise!" Steven said holding up the bag, he had with him. "We can eat on the way to see the others." Steven added, ushering Irma and Hay Lin out the door.
"What's up you two?" Irma asked happily. "Later is anyone watching Hay Lin?" Steven asked. "No there isn't" Hay Lin replied concentrating. "Let's go then." Steven said putting a hand on either of the girl's shoulders and teleporting to the bookshop basement.
