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We setoff in the rented vehicle Charlie procured at the port of air travel. The journey was quick, and soon we were exiting the vehicle and wandering through the town to a coffee shop called Mocca Deli.
Before entering, Charlie motioned us to hide behind a pillar and asked Daithi, “Can you make me look like a Swedish police officer?” Daithi gave him a look which informed him that he could do so easily, if only he knew what one was. “Shit. Two seconds,” he muttered and tapped on his phone before showing him his desired disguise.
Daithi closed his eyes, focused for a moment, and moved the surrounding magic into the shape Charlie wanted. “There.”
Charlie smiled his thanks and pointed to a bench. “Stay there. I’ll be back soon.”
We did as he bid us and sat down on the edge of the fountain. Savida would have loved seeing the picturesque town. I could imagine him running down the street and exclaiming over the shape of the old buildings, the river, and the pink blossoms. I sighed.
Clawdia wriggled in her seat. I looked at her, an eyebrow raised in question. She looked around and then whispered, “Winnie is here?”
“That is what Charlie said.” I didn’t know why she was whispering. If her witch was here, the only one safe from her would be Clawdia. And I was glad about that.
“I don’t think she’s here anymore,” she whispered.
“Why do you say that?” I whispered back.
She shrugged. “I can’t feel her close by.”
Daithi heard our whispering and, like a volcano bubbling over, exploded, “You can feel that she is near you? Why did you not say something sooner? We could have already moved on. Stupid animal.”
I reacted calmly but hugged her tighter to me as she curled in on herself. “She let us know as soon as she could. We’ve only been here a few moments.”
Daithi growled low in a tone that I had never heard before. “She is deliberately sabotaging us in order to spare her witch.”
Clawdia protested weakly, “I’m not sabotaging anything. I’ve just told you I don’t think she’s here, haven’t I?”
“Too late. Again.” He sneered, and she flinched as though his expression caused her physical pain. Perhaps it did. She warned me that her emotions hurt her. “We are wasting time being here. Savida’s fire could be in danger of being lost to us right at this moment. I won’t let you and your love for your witch take away the life of my demon.”
I tightened my grip on her as she spoke. “You’re right. I do love her, but I know she’s done wrong. I am trying to help, I promise.”
He ignored me and continued to intimidate Clawdia. “The witches need to die for their sins against Savida.”
“Not Winnie.” I hissed back at him. “Not when it jeopardizes the life of my—of Clawdia. They are bonded.” We were attracting attention. Passersby were watching us carefully and whispering to their companions.
He scoffed. “That could be a lie to ensure she isn’t punished in Winnie’s place.”
Clawdia stood, her hands shaking, and my arm around her fell to the bench. “I’m sorry Savida’s fire is gone, but that doesn’t give you the right to take it out on me. I haven’t lied or sabotaged anything, and I will not sit here and let you talk to me like this.” She stormed away, down the street.
I turned back to my friend and growled at him. “Stop this behavior before you do something you regret. I will take your slander and hateful remarks, but she is innocent in this. You leave her alone.” I took off after my soul pair.
“I didn’t think you were one to be ruled by your cock, Zaide,” I heard him call after me, but I brushed off his remark.
I couldn’t see Clawdia in the crowd, but I continued to walk up the road, hoping to see a glint of her rose gold hair. When I saw nothing, I circled back, believing I might have missed her. “Clawdia!” I called. I received no answer.
When I heard a muffled scream, I knew in my heart it was her.
I rushed toward the sound, my blood pumping, ready to defeat the monster that would seek to harm her. I turned down a street to see the flash of her golden braid as she was being dragged into an alleyway by a large male in black clothing.
“Clawdia!” I shouted as I sprinted around the corner, pushing pedestrians who stood paralyzed with shock and concern out of the way.
Four males stood facing away from me, surrounded by brick. A dead end. They had nowhere to go.
“Hurry,” one said to another.
Clawdia struggled and screamed against the hands of the middle man holding her. Fury ignited in my gut, a kind of anger I hadn’t had since I was a slave.
