Chapter 26: *Jack, Sarah and Lucius*
Rain finished the last of her cleaning duties in the Coven’s Mansion and was now making her way to the Coven’s Library. Rain came to an abrupt stop as she rounded a corner leading to the servant’s entrance at the back of the library.
Rain had caught sight of Jack, Sarah, and Lucius before quickly ducking back behind the corner before they saw her. Then Rain hid further by getting behind the large tree-like bushes that grew against the building.
“Is everything prepared for departure to the Silver Tree Canyon holding?” Jack asked Lucius in a stiff stone.
“Holdings? What are holdings?” Sarah asked, her tone full of disdain.
Rain had crouched down to peek around the corner, making sure to stay hidden behind the thick line of tree-like bushes. Rain was able to get a clear look at the small group through a small break in the leaves.
Jack was looking down at Sarah like she had asked an idiotic question. Rain knew it was Sarah’s question about the word ‘holdings,’ that had Jack looking this way. It was an old term, loosely it meant an area of land, property, or other financial assets.
‘Holdings,’ might not be a commonly used term where Sarah came from to describe such things. More than likely, they used alternate and more modern terms for such things. If that were the case, it would make sense if Sarah were not familiar with the term.
“Yes sir, everything has been packed per your instructions. The specialty vehicles have been loaded. Once through the haze, you will be transferred into modern day transport vehicles. The servants going with you will take care of all those details, you will only need to move from one vehicle to another. From there it will be a four-day drive to the Silver Tree Canyon Holdings.” Lucius said in a formal manner.
“Good, you have been quite efficient Lucius.” Jack said, sounding satisfied.
Lucius bowed. “It has been a pleasure to be of service sir.”
“Lucius…?” Sarah muttered, her face scrunched up as she looked at Lucius. “That name is familiar….”
Jack looked down at Sarah questioningly. “Why would his name be familiar to you?” There was an edge of anger in his voice.
“I don’t know….” Then Sarah suddenly perked up. “I remember now!” Sarah exclaimed, then pointed at Lucius. “You! You are the male who applied to be the first to breed with that mongrel Rain.”
Jack’s head snapped up and he looked at Lucius with surprise. “Well now…this is certainly a surprise. I did not know you fancied her.” Jack’s words said in a drawl that sent a shiver of fear down Rain’s spine.
Rain had only ever heard that drawl of Jack’s before she was brutalized by him. Digging her fingers deep into the soil, Rain used the already existing energy there to cast a concealment spell over herself. By using the energy that already existed in the ground, there was no power flair that would call attention to what Rain just did.
Lucius froze in place, Rain could see the momentary flash of panic that crossed his face. Lucius forced his face into an expressionless mask as he thought for a moment. Lucius was trying to figure out how to talk himself out of the potentially dangerous situation.
“Only enough so that carrying out this duty to the Black Magic Coven won’t be too much of a hardship sir.” Lucius said, keeping his tone respectful.
Jack stared down at him with narrowed eyes in silence. Sarah was looking back and forth from Jack to Lucius. At first Sarah’s expression was curious, then it darkened with suspicion and anger.
“Why are you both talking like this about that mongrel, does she mean something to you Jack?!” Sarah’s voice gradually increased to a shriek with each word.
Jack looked at her disapprovingly. “Hush, don’t cause trouble.”
Sarah ignored the warning, making Rain think that Sarah either did not know the kind of temper Jack had, or did not care and acted out anyway.
“What do you mean hush! I will not hush!” Sarah said in a shriek, causing Jack and the hidden Rain to wince at the pitch. “What is your connection with that bitch!”
Jack’s expression was very dark now, it made Rain tremble. “Lower your voice now.” He growled.
“I will not! Tell me now! What is your connection with that mongrel!” Sarah demanded again.
Jack was angry at how much disrespect Sarah had just shown him in front of a servant. To shut her up he said, “That mongrel is the mate I rejected, now shut up.”
This only made Sarah angrier. “Mate! She was your mate! Is that why you are mad lover boy wants to fuck her! You still have the hots for her! Well, how about you and lover boy there fuck her together then!”
Sarah turned away from Jack and tried to stomp off. Unfortunately for her, she had well and truly pissed off Jack. Jack grabbed Sarah by the hair and dragged her back against him. Using Sarah’s hair Jack bent her neck back and forced her to meet his furious gaze.
“You will not ever disrespect me in such a way again!” Jack roared. “Just to make sure this does not happen again! I will now be teaching you a lesson, next time you will remember to hold your tongue when told to!”
Jack started to drag a whimpering and protesting Sarah away when he suddenly stopped. Jack looked down at Sarah before turning to look at Lucius and smiled cruelly.
“As it was you who made this suggestion, I will have Lucius help me teach you that lesson. Since you have such difficulty shutting up when told to do so. We will have to use alternative means to do it for you.” Jack let out a hair-raising chuckle after he said this.
Lucius looked at Jack, and with a faint smile on his lips said, “Anything you wish sir.”
Jack’s cruel smile widened. “Excellent, follow me.”
Turning, Jack continued to drag off a crying Sarah, this time with Lucius following behind. Rain did not drop her concealment spell till the small group had been gone for a good amount of time. After she dropped the spell, Rain waited a while longer to make sure there was no one nearby to see her exit from the building's shrubbery.
Carefully, so as not to run into anyone else, Rain made her way swiftly to the servant's steps and into the library. Once in the servant's passageway of the Library, Rain looked around to make sure there was no one there. Assured that she was alone, Rain let out a relieved sounding gust of air, and dropped back weakly against the door.
Rain took a few moments to pull herself together, then got off the door and headed out of the dark passage into the main area of the library. No one should be here at this time except for Lillian, and now Rain. The passageway was long and narrow, with lanterns placed at regular intervals.
The narrow passageway ended at the doorway opening to the very back of the library. The entrance to the passageway was hidden behind a bookshelf that acted as a door. The library was a large rectangular building five levels above ground, and two underneath. Four of the five above ground levels had a large open oval center that looked down to the main floor of the library.
In the center of the main floor was a large accessible area, bare of anything except for the power circle engraved into the stone. To prevent the engravings from eroding, and to make the circle more effective, they were inlaid with different colored power crystals. The crystals were crushed then packed into the engravings. Using magic, they were pressed and polished in a smooth and solid surface.
Walking across the circle with her bare feet, Rain could feel the pure energy of the circle seep into her and recharge her. The library, being Lillian’s domain, had an immense amount of good energy inside it. Energy untainted by Black Magic, as no one was to practice their arts in Lillian’s library.
Only Rain was allowed to practice what she studied inside the library. Under Lillian’s tutelage and supervision of course, as Lillian is the one who taught Rain everything she knew of magic. The library was Rain’s refuge, and she felt it welcomed her once she was inside.
Rain made her way to Lillian's living quarters, which were only reachable from the office near the front entrance of the library. In the office, Rain went to the far wall where there was a floor to ceiling bookcase. Placing her hand on the side of the wood, she paused for only a second, before pushing the case gently to the side.
The bookcase opened to a hidden alcove that led to a set of downward spiral steps. When the case moved aside, a lantern in the alcove and at the top of the stairway flickered to life. Rain made sure the bookcase was once more back in place before turning to make her way down the staircase.
Lanterns came on at regular intervals, supplying a consistent amount of light. The stairway opened into a wide and well-lit hallway. To the left there were three doors spaced evenly apart. To the right, halfway down the long hallway, there was a large open archway that led into Lillian’s greeting room.
In the greeting room, Rain found Lillian sitting on one love seat, already drinking a cup of hot tea waiting for her to arrive. On the little table between the two loveseats in Lillian's greeting room was a lovely lunch and freshly brewed tea.
Lillian greeted Rain with a wide smile and with a wave of a hand she gestured for Rain to join her. “I am so glad you made it in time. The tea is fresh, and I made the food myself.”