Blood & Magick [Ch 3: Karissa-Knock, Knock. Whose There? Damn! Damn Who? I Forgot My Line.]-New Verson-

I watched as they drove away with the body, my mind blank. Lynda was one of the schoolers under my watch. She was under my protection, and now she’s dead. I stood there, looking out into the blackness, a rumble hitting my ears, but my brain didn’t register it. Instead I punched a tree; the pain that it caused cracked the ice, letting the water flow. Mya caught me before I hit the ground, tears running down her cheeks.1

I didn’t cry I refused to cry in front of Shale’s; I had too much pride to let Shales have ammo against me, it would only turn out in disaster for me. But that didn’t stop my shaking. Mya ran her fingers through my hair, trying to calm me down. I could hear Shale’s and Dylan arguing, my name was mentioned but I blocked it out. Let her think what ever she wants, she’s wrong.2

“How did you know her?” Dylan’s soft calming voice broke through the fog of my thoughts.3

“Since the killings a lot of Mages are seeking help of more powerful Mages for protection, while some are forced to have protection.” I couldn’t meet his eyes.4

I had been given the job of caring for her just after I left the coffee shop, and was also given the job of hunting her down. It seemed her parents were worried because of her sneaking off; most likely with a guy. I had no intentions of stopping her flirtations, but I needed to know where she was. Instead I spent the day hunting down a dead girl; Just my luck.5

“So, she was under your protection and ended up dead.” Shale’s scoffed. 6

It took all of my strength not to punch her for it.7

“So we have a possible rape then kill.” Dylan sighed shaking his head.8

“She was naked Dylan, looks more then possible.” Shale’s commented.9

“What?” I stood up. “No, who’s ever doing this, thinks Mages are disgusting, you can tell by the places they are left.” I blinked. “Why would you rape someone you thought was disgusting, where’s the sexual nature in that?”10

“Oh, so now you think you’re better then the police?” Shale’s hissed.11

“She must have been meeting someone, or met them.” I casted glances around. “And since no ones here that’s freaking out. There must be another body somewhere.”12

I started to jog around the house, though there wasn’t much too it, a body could still be hidden within it. Shale’s had followed behind me, yelling at me to get lost. Dylan was next to her though, he had looked at me weird when I was explaining my thoughts, and he seemed to think I had a good point, or maybe he was babysitting me. 13

Just as I had thought, there was another body. Though this one wasn’t marked up, but there was still a note. This disturbed me more, why was there only slashes across the neck? And the marks on the Lynda were messy, like it had been done in a rush. Did he interrupt them?14

“Even those who associate with Mages are damned, may there be mercy on his soul.” Dylan read a loud.15

“This proves she did it! How else would she know?” Shale’s grabbed for my arm, but I saw it coming and pulled it out of the line of fire.16

“Just because I’m a quick thinker doesn’t mean I’m a murderer!” I snapped, clenching my fists.17

“Of course a murderer would say that.” Shale’s snapped back.18

I chuckled shaking her head. This was getting ridicules, and really old. I clenched and unclenched my fists, biting down my anger. I wasn’t going to let myself get worked up, not this time. She wont win this round, no. This ones mine. Instead, I pushed past them, Mya at my heels. I looked up to the sky and scoffed, shaking my head once more, before turning to look over my shoulder.19

“I’m not the one who’s killing these Mages.” I smiled and turned back around. “I’m not the one with a grudge against them.” 20

I didn’t stop to see her reaction; I just walked away, Mya at my side. I needed to figure this out; the police wouldn’t catch them, not with Shale’s hate for magic. I was going to have to do this on my own, even if it meant opening a bad can of worms. Which, knowing my luck, would happen and all hell would break loose. But hey, what’s and Earth Guardian supposed to do? Just sit there and watch life roll bye? Naw, not my thing.21

I threw her door open, slamming it closed. Throwing myself on the couch angrily, I tried to calm myself, but the noises coming from upstairs weren’t helping any. I pinched the bridge of her nose, closing my eyes. Shale’s was getting to me more and more, getting deep under my skin. Why am I letting her do this to me? I’m not usually affected this badly. The noises upstairs were louder then normal, causing my headache to grow.22

I hated this stupid apartment; it was a natural hooker joint. I needed air. I changed into tight black jeans and my favourite cashmere crimson sweater, locking the door before I left. I decided to head towards the park, this late a night, no one would be there. I needed time to think. So I turned a left and walked the four blocks it took to get there.23

***24

I sat down on the swings pushing myself gently. I really shouldn’t let her petty insults get to me. I mean she’s ten years older then me, picking a fight with a teenager. How childish. I kicked at the sand, pushing myself a little higher. It’s the killings; that makes six killing in one week. I started to pump my legs, gripping the chains tightly and closing my eyes, imagining myself flying. 25

“You ok Kari?” A voice called to my left.26

I stopped in mid pump and turned to see Mya sit down on a swing next to me. Wow, I didn’t even hear her walk up, spooky. I slowly allowed my moment to decline, coming to a stop. Mya smiled and looked at me worriedly. I sighed and looked up at the night sky. Mya always knew when something was wrong; I guess that happens when you are friends for so long, almost sisters. She was the last of my screwed up family, which always seemed to end up dead.27

“Shale’s is getting to me more then normal.” I shrugged.28

“She’s a vile woman Karissa; don’t let her get to you.” Mya smiled.29

I opened one eye and smiled back, shaking my head.30

“Mya, that’s no way to speak about our head detective.” I giggled. 31

“Oh, your one to talk.” Mya scolded playfully. 32

I smiled and leaned back, forgetting I was on a swing. I groaned as she hit the ground, listening to Mya laugh. I rolled my eyes, propping myself up on my elbows, giving Mya the best fake glare I could muster, which was hard as I was fighting back laughter myself.33

“I don’t think it’s the church, even though everything points to it. How can someone fall into this much darkness and claim to be the light?” 34

It was random and had stopped Mya’s laugh in there tracks. I shrugged and closed my eyes. There were no facts to back this up, just my gut feeling that there was something more to this then met the eyes, I just had to find it before things got bad.35

“There can be no Darkness without Light. Nor can there be Light without Darkness.” Mya smiled. “Therefore Darkness is Light and Light is Darkness.”36

“You are very confusing you know that.” I smiled shaking my head. 37

“But that’s why you love me.” Mya winked.38

I closed her eyes. I may not know whose killing these Mages, but I do know I’ll always have Mya. I sat up, my eyes casting the darkness, a creepy crawling feeling causing Goosebumps on my arms and back. I stood up, smacking the sand from my clothes. Someone’s watching me. I froze as I caught the glimpse of something in the darkness, a willowy figure.39

“Sorry for startling you, but you are Karissa right?” 40

I looked at the girl standing before me. She looked to be the same age as Mya, her hair a vivid black and reached her shoulders, just barley. Her eyes were an icy blue, and stood out against her slightly pale complexion. She was an inch shorter then me and was smiling brightly. She wore a black woman’s suite with a grey blouse underneath the over coat. 41

“What’s it to you?” I crossed my arms.42

“I heard what you said about Detective Shale’s; I just wanted to know if you’d talk about it for The Golden Hourglass, Palmers main newspaper.” She dug around in a beige purse, pulling out a recording device.43

I blinked, taken back by this girl’s news. She was a reporter for The Golden Hourglass? This is it, this is my chance. I could Ruin Shale’s forever. But could I live with myself for it? Am I cruel enough to take it this far, to lower myself to Shales level. I could ruin her, or I could walk away.44

“Sorry, I can’t”45

Mya looked as shocked as I felt. I could do it, but somewhere deep inside I knew I couldn’t. I shrugged off Mya’s look and looked at the reporter.46

“I don’t want to ruin her.” The reporter smiled. “My names Juliea, I actually am a big fan of her detective work.47

I blinked. “Then why did you want to talk to me about me accusing her of the murders?”48

She giggled and shook her head. “No, about the second dead body, about how the murderer thinks Mage’s are disgusting.”49

I sighed and rolled her eyes. Really, it wasn’t that hard to figure out. Seriously. But it didn’t seem like she was staying, because shed was putting away her reporter gear.50

“Well, thank you for your time; I guess I’ll be seeing you around.” Juliea smiled brightly, too cheerfully for my liking.51

“Uh, yeah”52

I blinked as Juliea walked off, a small bounce in her step.53

“That, was freaky.” Mya shivered.54

I nodded then turned to Mya.55

“I should get back home; something tells me I’ll be hearing from the higher up people about my slip up.” 56

“Take care Kari, and keep safe.” Mya smiled and waved as I headed back home.57

I didn’t even make it through the door before I was confronted by five older gentlemen. They were in there early forties, all of them, and wore the same disappointed expression. I looked from the short black haired one, with brown eyes on the far left; to the blonde blue eye’s on her far right. The brown hair brown eye’s next to the black hair’s one on the far left’s twin was on the right in front of the blond. The one at the very front was a red haired green eye man. They all wore the same black robes with navy blue cloaks.58

These were the big guys, the Mage council, though I did notice the Magistrate missing, which was a good thing. She was the head Mage of the Head Mages here. She made all the little Mages, like myself, squirm in our Magickal booties. Though, not me as much, I just found her very self centered and told her so myself, black listing me in the, make-sure-to-make-her-life-miserable, list. 59

I knew all of there names, due to my statues, I could most likely end up a Head Mage, if The Magistrate ever stopped hating me. The twins were; Head Mage Junble and Head Mage Kabreile. The black haired man was Head Mage Lucas. The blonde was Head Mage Conner and the Red haired guy was Head Mage Truman.60

I froze in place, still not expecting all five of them to come, maybe one or two, maybe even just a messenger, but all five of them. Oh shit, I’m in trouble. I slowly opened my door and stepped in, the men at my heels. I gulped and scurried to quickly get a pot of herbal tea ready. They are going to kill me, I mean, that’s the only time you hear about all five making house calls, is when they are going to kill someone.61

But no one spoke as I brought out the tea; they just sat in my cramp living room, sipping the tea, as if they were all consulting each other without words. I chose to stand, not that there was anyplace left to sit. I just felt jumpy, and for good reason. And my apartment is a mess, and you can hear people doing it upstairs, oh my god I’m screwed. I felt myself shaking, not heavily but enough that I had tp grasp the wall to steady myself.62

“Miss. Demore.” Head Mage Truman spoke. 63

I stood up straighter, feeling sweat roll down my back.64

“We have been troubled by all the killings, including about the one under your care.” Head Mage Conner held no expression on his face, none of them did.65

“I, uh, um.” I stammered, my knees becoming weak.66

Oh yeah Karissa, just wow them with your awesome conversation skills. I scolded myself, wishing the cat didn’t have my tongue.67

“Relax Miss. Demore; these killings are happening under our own noses as well.” Head Mage Lucas’ voice was flat.68

“We would like to offer you a deal Miss. Demore.” Head Mage Kabreile waved his hand as he spoke.69

“One I’m sure you will not refuse.” Head Mage Junble smiled a wicked smile.70

I slid down the wall, looking at them all, my mouth wide as they spoke. I couldn’t believe what they were telling me, or what they were asking of me. I was only seventeen; they never asked things like this of trainee’s, they didn’t see us qualified enough. This made me very uneasy; something deep down inside told me there was more then meets the eye about this. I had thought so all along, but now I was scared to find out.71

“But this has nothing to do with the murders.” I pushed the words out, unable to ask them in a calm tone like I would have liked.72

“Yes Miss. Demore, it has everything to do with the murders.” Head Mage Truman answered.73

I gulped my eyes nearly out of their sockets, not happy to hear those words. No reassurance there.I watched them as they watched my reaction to the news. Well, it couldn’t get worse then this.74