Chapter 44: 44__Gone from my world

Seth smiled in awe at the creature before him, studying it curiously as it stared at him with wide purple eyes.

It was magnificent. His first time near the Kingdom of Geminor and he stumbles across such a breath-taking beast. His luck was outrageous.

He reached a hand out to stroke the bright rainbow-coloured hair that swayed from its mane like colourful silk, but his fingers barely reached.

With a sudden grunt, two powerful forelegs kicked out and caught him in the chest, sending Seth flying back, his body dragging against the ground.

With a cough, he rubbed his chest, blinking to clear his vison. It felt like a raging bull had rammed into him. Seth could swear his heart had been dislodged for a moment.

A low grunt brought his focus back and he lifted his head, stunned at what he was seeing. His eyes widening, Seth jerked upright, staring at the unicorn before him as it changed.

He watched the animal shiver, seeming far too weak to get up. In a few seconds, an inexplicable purple glowed surrounded it and through the little clearance his eyes found, Seth something he could only describe as sorcery.

Stunned, he continued to stare as the light faded and the unicorn transformed into… a person.

A *girl*?

What the hell had he run into? Was she a sorceress?

The girl lifted herself into a sitting position, weakly rubbing her elbows where he saw scratches.

Dazedly, she looked around until her gaze fell on him.

The shock Seth saw on Clover’s face was genuine. She couldn’t believe that he’d survived that kick she’d given him. What kind of Vampire was he?

“E-excuse me?!” Clover began in irritation. With a groan, she pushed herself to her feet, dusting her body as she did so. “Who the heck are you? Huh?!” Living with Cassie and Claudia had taught her a thing or two and Clover had learnt well. She gave him a scowl to accompany the question.

Seth blinked up at the tiny woman, staring at her rainbow-colored pigtails. What was she?

“I asked you a question, you moron!” Clover bit out, limping over to him. “D-don’t think I’m a helpless little girl, okay. If I scream once, you’re done! I have friends nearby and they’re bad!”

Her knees were quivering in her pink leggings but Clover forced a mean look into her eyes. This guy wasn’t getting the best of her, hell no.

Seth raised a brow up at the pixie like girl, noting her efforts to look scary.

“Oh, they’re bad, huh?” he asked, leaning on an elbow as she stood over him. “Scary?”

“Yes!” spat Clover. “And I’m scary too, so don’t *mess* with me.”

Her purple irises were aflame with anger, but Seth clearly saw her fear, he could smell it too. She put on a brave face, though. And what a pretty face it was. Titling his head casually, he studied her little heart-shaped face, noting the faint dimple in her chin and little perky nose she had wrinkled in a snarl, doing nothing to dull the appeal of the freckles sprinkled over its bridge.

A laugh curved his mouth and Clover frowned. “What are you laughing at?”

Seth shook his head and slowly began to stand.

Once he’d risen to his full height, Clover gaped, her mouth hanging open as she looked up at the height of him.

“O.M.G.”

Seth looked down at the girl, finding himself once more staring at her. She really was a magnificent creature.

“Forgive me for asking but… what are you?”

Clover blinked. “Huh? Me? I’m… I’m a Geminus.”

He nodded slowly, the look of slight confusion not leaving his eyes. “By that, you mean a creature of the kingdom of Gemini, correct?”

“Y-yeah…” Clover nodded slowly, gaping at him. His voice was so calm, yet deep and extremely authoritative. Vampires definitely were the most gorgeous specie there was. He was unbelievably beautiful. And he didn’t seem to be scary like Rogan. If she put a few colors in his hair, Clove was sure he could even pass for a friendly unicorn.

“What’s your name?” he asked suddenly, a smile spreading across his face.

It didn’t even take a minute and she was entranced by his charm. Seth knew the exact moment when it happened. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks grew rosy as she gazed at him.

“I’m… Clover. What’s your name?”

Drawing her in with his allure like a flower did a bee, Seth stroked back a strand of her hair. “What are you doing here all alone, Clover?”

“Huh? Oh. I’m…” Clover trailed off, gazing at him. A few blinks made her more aware of her thoughts and she frowned slightly.

What was she doing here again?

Clover grew more puzzled. There was surely a reason why she was here in the forest, and a very important one at that, but… she couldn’t remember.

“You don’t seem to remember,” said Seth.

Clover looked back at the Vampire and shook her head. “I don’t.”

That was strange. Had she lost her memory? Seth studied her carefully, sensing the slight confusion radiating off of her. “Are you… lost, Clover?”

She slowly shook her head. “Well… no. I know how to get home. Just don’t know what I’m doing here.”

A smile quirked the side of his mouth up as he raised a pale hand to gently trace her cheek. She was so vulnerable, all the way out here in the forest.

He could suck every drop of blood out of her sparkly Gemini body and no one would ever know.

His smile broadened. “You’re alone, Clover. What if I killed you?”

Clover stared at him, her mouth parted as she tried to comprehend just which part of him that powerful aura was coming from. She didn’t figure it out and gave up, choosing to just look at him instead. “Uh… would you?”

Seth raised a brow at her question. She’d never met a Vamp before, had she? With a sigh, he glanced down at her bleeding knees and lifted her into his arms. “I’ll take you home, kid.”

******************

Claudia watched wide-eyed as Laurel walked around the Hostel living area, the sound of her heeled boots echoing through the empty building.

“You girls have kept the place running,” she said, flicking her tongue over the corner of her dark purple-painted lips. “I’m proud of you.”

Claudia didn’t know what to say. “Uhm…”she began shakily. “How… why… where have you been?”

Laurel smiled. “Gosh, child, worry not about the little things.”

The woman lowered herself onto a sofa and kicked one booted foot over the other knee and smiled and Claudia. Before she could suggest to Laurel that it would be better if she left, the front door opened and Claudia heard them return.

Judging by the low mutters and rumbles she could hear Cassie saying, this was not going to be a joyous reunion.

Cassie and Cleo made their way through the house, their talking and footsteps loud enough to alert the entire building and yet, Laurel sat there, unbothered.

Claudia retreated to the staircase where she would be too far to get pierced by any flying daggers.

The moment they reached the inner lounge, Claudia watched Cassie and Cleo freeze by the bar, eyes staring at Laurel, who waved at them.

“Hello, girls. It’s been a long time.”

The air froze from the cold in Cassie’s stare, her face slightly twitching with rage as she stared at the woman sitting before them.

“Claudia,” said Cleo, keeping her eyes on Cassie to stop her the moment she decided to lunge forward. “Why did you let her in without telling us?”

Claudia hurried towards them, her hands clutched against her chest. “I didn’t *let* her in, she let *herself* in! You think I could stop a—”

“I got it!” someone shouted, crazily loud.

The all froze.

The kitchen doors suddenly burst open, startling everyone to their toes.

Rogan marched into the room like a rampant horse, his hair untied and his eyes glistening. “I called a few ghosts and threatened to murder them if they didn’t tell me where Maia is. They told me and *then* I murdered them.”

“Can you stop appearing out of nowhere?” said Claudia, a hand clutching her heart which had damn nearly burst from his appearance.

Sweeping away one side of his black Sorcerer’s long coat and undoing the top buttons of the black shirt, basically his uniform for very intense and long spells like the conjuring he just did, Rogan pointed at her. “You have no fucking idea how annoying it was to invite those goddamn Caspers into my house! I nearly—” He paused, his gaze landing on the woman on the chair who looked at him with eyes of sparkly interest. “Who’s she? Never mind, no time. Cassidy, what did you find?”

Cassie looked at him blankly for a moment. “What?” she asked, her tone dark and moody.

Rogan gave her a look. “Don’t ‘what’ me, you said you were all going to look for clues about Maia’s disappearance. Well? Did you?”

The three women blinked at him, their faces wearing identical expressions of puzzlement.

Rogan felt his patience slip and fall. “Did you or did you not? For bloody hell’s sake, I’m not going to break you in two if you didn’t! Just answer me.”

Cassie closed her eyes with a frown and shook her head. “I don’t really know what you’re talking about right now.”

With a sigh, she looked away from Rogan and gave Laurel one final glare before stomping away and up the stairs.

Rogan gritted his teeth, making a mental note to send her something scary at night so she’d think twice before stomping away from him again, without answering his damn question.

Cleo placed her hands together as she did when she had to figure something out. “Okay, so what’s the matter, Master Rogan?”

Rogan released a breath, her calm voice forcing him to calm down. “Maia. Did you find any trace of her?”

Cleo stared at him for a moment, her lips pursing. Rogan could see how hard she was thinking and he no idea why!

How hard could it be? Did they think he’d butcher them all into little cubes of spice for his magic spells if they hadn’t found her?

“What is wrong with you girls?” he growled, frustrated.

The front gate opened and footsteps hurried in.

While Rogan’s rage filled the room with a dark energy, Clover appeared like a contrasting ray of sunshine all smiles and giggles.

“Guys! I made a new friend! Come and meet him!”

Rogan turned on her with a glare, lowering his glasses onto the bridge of his nose. “Stop squeaking!”

With a flinch, Clover’s gaze lowered and her brightness quite literally dimmed.

“Did you,” Rogan tried again. “Or did you not… find Maia?”

Claudia released a huge sigh and looked at Rogan. “Okay, but who’s Maia?!”

Rogan stared at her for a moment, his face blank. “What?”

Claudia tilted her head. “Who. Is. Maia?”