"You can't do that!" V.V. shouted to the dragon.
"Reinforcements?" Ira sneered.
"And an Ouija board." Lloyd quipped, holding out the wooden board.
"You found me with a wooden board?" Glenn asked, looking confused.
"Look out!"
Glenn turned just in time to meet the spiked ends of a tail sweeping for him. He gave a yell and, despite being bound in the air, kicked the spiked ends of the tail, ripping leather apart.
"You fool!"
V.V.'s hairs became spiked spears and started raining down onto Ira the dragon, whose wings were trapped in between the spikes. It didn't try to struggle, but instead, it gave a creepy grin.
"You think you got me cornered? Well, think again."
The dragon suddenly writhed and twisted, as though something is trying to break out of it. Right before their very eyes, the dragon started to shrink and started to shift shape. The black became olive tone, scales shifted to human flesh. Cropped short blonde hair that shone like molten gold, eyes that resembles chips of ice. He wore a mage robe that is covered with gold ancient symbols that no one seems to recognize. Tucked underneath one arm is his book whereas in his other hand he carries the wooden wand that Mia had passed to him.
"Even though the seal is not fully broken yet, I still have at least half of my powers." He said. Whipping out his wand, he cried, "Tenebris Incaendium!"
Dark purplish hell flames erupted from his wand and scorched V.V.'s hairs. She gave a gasp and withdrew her hair, turning it back into its original length and blowing at the scorched part.
With no magic to hold him, Glenn started going into freefall. Although Lloyd had awkwardly held out his arms to capture him, he let himself plummet to the ground, but at the last minute tucked himself into a ball and landed on his heels, though he stumbled onto the floor, banging onto the side of his face. If he were a normal human, he would've sustained broken bones, but all he suffered is a big bruise.
"Darn." He clutched the side of his face.
"That's one big bump on the side of your face." Lloyd commented.
"I know." He picked himself up.
Lloyd then tossed over something to him. "You dropped this."
Glenn checked the ammunition clip before saying, "I guess I did. But...why is the ammunition empty?"
"Tonitru Aestate."
Green and yellow thunders crashed down onto them, though they narrowly escaped in time. Static electric were cackling softly despite the thunders are gone.
"My goodness." Lloyd gasped. "We're nearly sizzled like bacons."
"Seriously, Lloyd, what happened to the ammunition?"
"How should I know?" Lloyd managed to duck just in time just as another green and yellow thunder came crashing down, though he made the mistake of going too near a metal pillar that caused him to get a slight shock. "Ouch!" Ira laughed but was soon attacked by a flurry fists from Glenn which sent him flying onto the other side.
V.V. was crouching near Mia, nudging her gently to awaken her. When it did not, she gave her a few gentle light slaps when finally her eyes fluttered open.
"Uh, what happened?" She groaned. "I feel as though I had a splitting headache."
"Well..." V.V. began but was cut off by her, who went screaming, "Oh my God, what is that????"
The water from outside was slowly rising. Higher and higher, becoming menacing by the second.
"Aqua Profunda." He waved his wand in a certain way, just as the tsunami came crashing down onto them. The entire building was smashed into pieces and swept away. The only thing that remained in intact was the sand-drawn pentagram. The torrent of water swept around it as though an invincible bubble protected it and Ira who picked himself up and stand back in it.
When the water had subsided, all that remains left is the pentagram and Ira.
Blast it, he thought. That was only half of my power, but I seemed to have swept all of them away.
He didn't notice V.V. emerged from behind and bashed him with her hair, sending him flying into the water, which erupted as though a rocket had just crashed into it.
Lloyd and Glenn, who was carrying Mia came running in view. Although the current had swept all of the building, a quick thinking V.V. had anchored her hair deep into the concrete ground and the others had held onto her for dear life, though Mia was screaming all the way.
"Well, that'll keep him busy for a while." Glenn said, setting her down and taking off his wet shirt to reveal his skinny lean body. "You okay, Mahler?"
Mia was gawping in horror at the sigh of V.V.'s hair. Her brown hair that is usually tied into a ponytail hung loose and wet all over her pale face. Her misty chocolate brown eyes are wide with shock and disbelief. The robes that she wore clung noticeably onto her chest and legs, but thank goodness she was wearing dark colours to avoid see through.
"Oh my God." She gasped. "Vivien, your hair..."
V.V.'s hair had turned back to normal but that doesn't stop Mia from gawping at her.
"Oh my God," she repeated, apparently noticing her change of clothes. "Why am I wearing something that makes me looks like a tacky witch?"
"Er, it's very hard to explain." Glenn said awkwardly.
"Glenn, I know that you're doing a part-time job as a demon-slayer." Mia said in a panicky voice. "But I didn't expect it to be real. Oh my God... Oh my God...." She started to become more panicked and flustered by the minute.
"Well," Lloyd said. "Believe it or not, but supernatural exists around us."
"Oh God..." She moaned, burying her head into her hands. "I'm going to MURDER aunt Pru for sure."
Both guys looked confused. "Aunt Pru?"
"My wacky aunt." She explained.
WHO ARE YOU CALLING WACKY?
Lloyd gave a little jump. "Oh yeah. I think this belongs to you." He handed the Ouija board sheepishly to Mia, its planchette spinning wildly, though they took no notice of it.
Mia winced away from it as though it's some venomous spider. "No, I don't want it! Take it away!"
V.V. had came over to them. "I examined the pentagram. It's a very basic pentagram that is most often used for basic protection and spell casting. I erased it just in case."
She pointed at the place where the pentagram used to be. It is now a faded outline.
"Only thing is we have to kill him off, or send him back into the book." Glenn said, punching a fist into his palm to emphasize his point.
"I say we seal him off." Lloyd said darkly. "Then burn the curse thing into the oblivion."
"I second that." V.V. nodded. "But for that...." She turned to Mia who is standing a little further apart from them. All of them were staring at her.
"What- Why are you all looking at me like that?" She stuttered.
"A witch." All three of them finished each other sentences simultaneously.
"Oh no." Mia shook her head. "No no no no no no no no no no NO."
"Come on, Mahler." Glenn said gently, the Ouija board in his hands. "All we just need you is to cast one itsy-bitty spell to seal up that jerk."
"Oh no no no no no." Mia repeated, pulling herself together. "I am no witch. So I can't help you put in this."
WHAT?????!!!!!!
The Ouija board jerked violently in Glenn's hands, spelling out the words. It seems to add the question and exclamation marks in its words.
"I don't even know why I believed aunt Pru. Uh-uh, I'm not a witch."
YOU CAN'T DENY YOUR HERITAGE GIRL YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE IT
"I don't want to be one!" Mia cried, grabbing Glenn, who passed the Ouija board to Lloyd for safety. "I want my normal life back, Skyler!"
Glenn was looking at Lloyd and V.V. for help, but they both turned away, though the Ouija board planchette is spinning furiously.
"How can you be so calm slaying all these....things?" Mia was saying. "Does Francis even know any of these things?"
Glenn felt his stomach flip over. Francis had never been normal from the start, he had admit that part himself. He was with Blaze's gang due to the radioactive incident for a while before defecting them completely. That's the reason why he could accept it. He even came face to face with Dario and the others, despite the fact that they're all dangerous. And quite recently, Francis had even used his Mafia heritage to help them get into the black market auction and even came to experience with Inari, Goddess of the kitsunes and rice, Daimones, Leviathan, and the half-Ultima Kujaku.
But Mia, he thought. Mia was unintentionally pulled into this. She had always been normal. She came from a no-nonsense kind of family. Even though her parents are American-Asian, they don't believe in the world of supernaturals, demons and certainly not magic, unlike the normal typical Chinese. He had even met them a few times when they came over to check on her. John Mahler is a psychologist, and Rosalia Mahler is a lawyer. Both of them are really the kind that will not believe in the unexpected. This is the reason why they often refuse to meet Lloyd, who had met them once. But when they found out what he does, they hurtled insults and even threatened to take him to an asylum. He was forced to say that he is working part-time not at S.D.S., but at Ray's Pizza. And that was that, though they still disapprove of Lloyd.
"Mahler, I didn't want you to get dragged into this." He said quietly.
Suddenly there was a stabbing pain in his stomach. It look as though he had been pierced by a sharp metal knife.
Slowly, he looked down and stared.
A rune dagger was sticking out of his stomach.
"Mahler?"
Mia was staring up at him with a crazed look in her eyes. When she opened her mouth, instead of her voice, it was Ira's.
"Stupid fool. My essence had never left the girl. I'm thinking of keeping her for a while even though her witch genes are dormant in her right now."
Glenn slumped onto the floor. The blood was everywhere. He could hear shouts, coming from either Lloyd or V.V., he couldn't tell. He's losing too much blood.
And he's feeling thirsty. Very, very thirsty.
"Glenn!" Lloyd shouted.
Mia flew off into the night, laughing. Her hair and robes trailing behind her.
"Oh my God, Glenn, are you alright?" Lloyd grabbed the hilt of the dagger and yanked it upwards. He didn't scream, he couldn't. He's feeling too thirsty to do anything.
"V.V., go to the Land Rover and get some bandages in the glove compartment." Lloyd said, trying to close the wound, his hands already smeared with crimson.
V.V. ran off, hurrying to where the Land Rover was parked. It was a miracle the tsunami did not wash it off since the torrent didn't went there.
"Glenn, just hang in there."
Glenn was staring at the vein at Lloyd's wrist. It looks so tempting... That pale bluish vein that is snaking out like branches of a tree... He wonder how it tastes like.
Lloyd was saying something to him, but his gaze was focused on the vein. It wouldn't be that hard to sink his teeth in to draw the blood out.
"Glenn, are you with me?"
With a vice-like grip, he grabbed Lloyd's wrist and said throatily, "Thirsty..."
"What?"
"Thirsty..."
As the realization hit him, he tried to yank his wrist away from him but Glenn's eyes were glowing into a darker grey in colour, signifying his thirst.
"Whoa, hold it!" Lloyd said as Glenn tries to bite his wrist. But Glenn wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the vein which is pumping blood to the heart. "Wait a minute!!!"
Glenn managed to calm down a little but his grip did not loosen. The thirst is maddening him, especially when he lost so much blood. It's the same as last time when he drained Reo's blood at the Brooklyn Bridge when Revarie drain him off his blood, thus awakening the vampire genes in him.
If that's the case...
Lloyd slowly held up the gripped wrist up to Glenn's eyes, which widened with hunger.
"Go ahead then." He said.
Without hesitating, Glenn bite hard, drawing the blood out of the veins.
So, Lloyd thought calmly as he felt as though a vacuum is slowly sucking him. This is how it feels like to be drained off your blood. With willingness.
V.V. had came back with the bandages but there's already no need for that as Glenn's wound is slowly healing itself as he drains the blood. After a moment or so, he stopped, slowly withdrawing his teeth from the wrist, where there are two fresh punctured holes on them.
"Better?" He asked.
There's still a little blood on his mouth, which he didn't notice. "Y-Yeah..."
V.V. took out a roll of bandage and said, "Hand."
He held his hand out and let her wrap his bleeding wrist. Glenn was wrapping his arms around his bare body. The wound had closed and is knitting itself, thanks to his distant vampire genes.
"I'm sorry." He said softly, staring at Lloyd's wrist. "I didn't know what happened to me."
"I don't blame you." Lloyd said, tightening the bandage.
Glenn seems to have noticed the blood on his lips because the next thing they knew he was wiping his lips furiously, getting rid of the evidence while licking his lips nervously.
V.V. gave a sigh and sank down on the floor beside him. "So, what now?"
"Go after Mahler, of course." Lloyd said in a matter-of-fact tone, as though it's something that he do everyday.
"Alright, how?" She asked.
"She's headed for south." Glenn pointed out helpfully.
"We know." Lloyd shoot him a look. "But where would she go?"
"How would I know?"
They all sat quietly among the debris, just like stranded islanders, the sea gently splashing to and fro. All was silence except for a funny clicking sound, like the sound of wood clicking.
All of them turned to the source of the sound. Among the debris, there's a rectangular wooden board, its planchette spinning around and around.
All of their eyes widened at once. "Oh."
Three pairs of hands reached out for the Ouija board and grabbed hold of it at the same time. All eyes are on the planchette which is still spinning around.
"Wow." V.V. said. "I'm surprised the Ouija board wasn't destroyed with all the ruckus going on."
Something in Glenn's head clicked. "Pru."
Lloyd and V.V. turned to him. "What?"
"Mahler said she got that Ouija board from her aunt Pru, remember?"
Lloyd's head snapped up. "You don't think Ira is going after Pru, aren't you?"
"Well, Pru is a diviner..." V.V. said slowly. "It probably makes sense, after all."
Lloyd got up and said, "Anyone fancy catching the train to Malibu?"
***************
Hours later, they had ended up in Malibu station. They had also managed to hail a cab (Not speedy Arnie) after dialing the operator for Pru Mahler's address.
Pru lives in one of those houses on the cliff that stood on stilts that overlook the sea. There is no fence or walls to keep trespassers out of the boundary but then again, there's no need for that. There are no grasses growing around the area but there are potted colourful geraniums that are placed in pairs. A steep gravel path leads up to the porch.
"Are you sure this is the right address?" Glenn asked V.V. who had called the operator.
"Positive." V.V. nodded at the several wooden signs that are hammered to the ground. Most of them reads PROPERTY OF PRUSCILLA MAHLER
"If you're sure, then."
They all made their way up to the cliff. V.V. is having difficulty due to being short whereas Lloyd and Glenn has it easy due to their long legs. When they made it up to the porch, the door had protective amulets stuck on it. An old fashioned bell-pull hung beside it. Potted geraniums hung from the rafters, giving off their sweet fragrance.
Lloyd pulled the bell and a ringing sound could be heard coming from the inside. After a few minutes, there's the sound of a chain sliding and a woman peered out. She
is fully as tall as any of them, and very thin til you could see her bones prodding out of her skin. Her hair is elbow length, as dark as dark matter that seems to shimmer softly. Her eyes are clear cerulean, almost crystal clear.
"Yes?"
"Pruscilla Mahler?" Lloyd inquired.
"Aunt Pru, darling." She has a thick Latin accent.
"May we-"
"I know why you're here." She cut in smoothly. "You are carrying my Ouija board, or should I say, Mariah's Ouija board."
She pointed at Glenn's hands where the planchette is still spinning wildly. He held it out to her, looking unsure of himself.
"You shouldn't have come, you know." She said as in a matter-of-fact tone, as though they had all dropped by for some tea. "He's coming you know, he took over her body and is coming for me."
"Why?" Lloyd asked.
"My great-great-great grandmother was the one who sealed the Magimaster in his own spell book. She put a complex seal that requires the power of the elements, the blood of a hybrid, and last but not least, the Eye of the Witch."
"What's that?" V.V. asked.
"It's unnecessary to keep interrupting me, since I'm about to show you anyway." Pru sighed.
When she was sure they're silent, she hurried into the room, the others followed suit. She disappeared behind a door and they were surprised to find a stairway leading all the way down to an underground basement, lit by oil-wicked lamps that are strung on wires.
Making their way slowly down the stairs, they reached the bottom of the basement. An old-fashioned door is set into the stone wall, the kind that you see in dungeons. Pru slid the bolt back and entered, motioning them to follow.
The interior of the room is the same as the outside, also lit by oil-wicked lamps. It's a wide circular room with nothing but a square-shaped stone that is greying. Pru murmured a few enchanted words and the stone lid creaked with effort and slid to the side. She then reached into the hollow and brought out an object that seems to resembles an eye. The golden shine had long since faded but the aquamarine jewel set in the middle still shines like a luminous gemstone, about the size of a fist. A golden chain trailed behind the metal.
She then handed it to Lloyd. "Take it. That is what the Magimaster wants. If you leave now, you'll have a chance while I keep him at bay."
Lloyd shook his head. "We'll beat the crap out of that Magimaster. You might as well keep it safe."
Pru didn't bother to argue. Something in his eyes told her that somehow things are going to be alright. "As you wish."
As she set it back again, the oil-wicked lamps suddenly puffed out. One by one, they are thrown into total darkness. There was a booming laughter and he appeared.
Or rather she appeared. The same as always, though the eyes looked maddening than before.
Oh dear.
"Mahler!" Glenn looked stunned.
"Give it to me, witch." Ira roared. The force of his voice is enough to send them all stumbling to the back.
"Enough with the power voice, for God's sake!" Lloyd yelled.
"If you want it, then you'll have to take it." Pru said, holding her palm out. Flames erupted from her fingertips. They all merged into one flaming fireball and went soaring towards him. Mia, whose movement were robotic, just brought out the wand and spun it around and seemed to lash out at thin air. The fireball was cut into pieces and it flickered out like tiny little embers.
"Don't underestimate me, witch! Mortuus Ventus!"
A huge howling wind erupted from nowhere, spinning wildly like a twister. Lloyd stabbed his blade into the ground whereas V.V. stabbed her hair into the ground, with Glenn holding onto her for dear life. But Pru wasn't fortunate. She was swept off the ground and suck into the center of the typhoon.
"Pru!"
"You want her to live, then bring me the Eye of the Witch." Ira said.
Glenn turned to the other two, looking lost. Agreeing means Ira will get to break the seal. But not agreeing will cost Pru's life.
"Alright." Glenn made his decision. He can't risk Pru or Mia getting hurt anymore. Though he's not sure how to break Mia free from Ira.
With jerky movements, he went over to the stone and withdrew the Eye of the Witch. It's a good thing that Pru didn't seal it off fully otherwise he could not reach it. He held the object by its dangling chain, swinging back and forth like a pendulum.
"Give it to me." Ira said, his eyes filled with greed.
Without hesitating, Glenn suddenly set the object down and without thinking twice, heaved the stone lid-
"NO!" Ira screamed.
"Glenn-" Lloyd shouted.
But he took no heed of them. Next moment, he brought the lid smashing down. The Eye of the Witch was destroyed into pieces. The gem burst into shards and the metal shattered as though it had been crushed.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, staring at the broken bits on the stone. Then, next moment, the Magimaster gave a srceam of outrage and without warning, ripped himself out of Mia's body. His eyes blazing in anger. Mia went crashing onto the ground, unconscious.
"PAY THE PRICE FOR YOUR IGNORANCE!" He roared, turning into his dragon form. The tail went swinging towards them, smashing into the wall, making a hole that leads out to the sea.
At least several feet high.
The dragon opened its wings wide and started flapping violently, causing a whirlwind. They were thrown out through the hole and would've fallen into the sea below, but thanks to Lloyd's quick thinking, he managed to stab his blade before he fell off through the hole with V.V clinging onto his back and Glenn grabbing her hair which had extended like a rope while carrying Mia in his arms.
"Everyone alright?" Lloyd called over his shoulder.
"All accounted for except for Pru." Glenn called from below.
Pru was gasping for breath in the tornado while the Magimaster was capering around her.
"Now that I had lost the final item for the seal, I'm going to eat you, Pruscilla Mahler."
"I don't think so!" Lloyd pulled out a stack of senbon needles and hurled them at the Magimaster who swipe them all away with his tail.
"Fools! You think pins and needles can penetrate me?"
V.V. was suddenly on top of him, whacking him for with of her worth with her hair, which transformed into a scythe. He yelled out a lot of curses in Latin, which caused jet black energy sparks to dance around in the interior space. With him being distracted, Lloyd brought our his handy dandy chain and with Glenn's help, managed to save Pru from the whirlwind. But they seemed to be too late, Pru is looking deathly pale. Her eyes sunken and hollow.
"Mrs Mahler?" Lloyd whispered.
Pru shuts her eyes and said, "God, I should've never drag puella into this."
"Mrs Mahler... Just hang in there. We'll get you an ambulance." He fumbled for his phone when Pru put her hand over his. "No."
"What???"
"There's no need for that." She seemed to have difficulty in talking. "I'm already old, there's no need to save me."
"But-"
Pru is suddenly glowing brightly. In all of his years of hunting demons and the supernaturals, he had never seen this before. A sacrifice to save another, by transferring one's power to another.
Pru is suddenly fading into sparkles as Mia started to bathe in a soft warm bluish white glow.
"Uhn...."
"Mahler!" Glenn ran over to her.
"Tell Mariah.... that I'm sorry..."
And that was all before the last words fade into whispers. And he is left stunned, with nothing in his hands.
Mia woke up, blinking rapidly. Her misty eyes seemed to glow briefly, like shining onyx.
"Mahler?"
"Ohhhh, my head..." She mumbled, touching her temples. "Where am I?"
Glenn was about to open his mouth when V.V. went flying past them, crashing onto the wall. Her face full of exhaustion and covered in dirt, her dress sleeves had been ripped off, showing off her bare arms. Now that he noticed, he could see there are cracks near her hands.
"Where's aunt Pru?" Mia said, her voice slurred. "Is she...alright?"
Suddenly, a huge claw grabbed them both and she gave a scream and clung onto him tighter. Both of them were lifted off the ground and turned face to face with a pair of blazing milky pink eyes.
"I'm going to eat you both now." He said, licking his lips. "Bon apetit."
Glenn tried to break free from the grasp and Mia kept screaming, and screaming so loud till he felt for sure that the wine glasses would've smashed into ice shards.
Just as the jaws of razor teeth came in close around them, a blast of onyx light shot the Magimaster squarely in between the eyes. He gave a roar of pain and let them both go, plummeting them once more into freefall. Mia immediately screamed again and without warning, as they neared the ground, they suddenly floated, yes, floated, a few inches off the ground.
"What? What?" She gasped breathlessly, her hair hung loose all over her face.
They dropped onto the ground with an "Ooof!" just as the Magimaster came looming over them, screaming, "MINE!!!!!"
Lloyd sprung out of nowhere and bashed him hard with the hilt of his Zanmato, making a cracking sound as two sharp fangs fell out, stained with blood.
"Eeeew..." Mia shuddered.
"Mahler, stay here." Glenn ordered, loading his ammunitation and shooting at the Magimaster's body. The bullets erupt into small bursts as they came into contact. Lloyd swung as hard as he could onto the Magimaster's body. V.V., partially healed, leapt into the air and swung a torrent of hair down, which spun like a blue drill, trying to penetrate the thick scaled body.
"Do you think you can stop me with all of your puny attacks?" He writhed and twisted and shifted back into his human form. His eyes blazing like blue flames that briefly reminds them of Inari, the Kitsune Goddess. Except hers are filled with cheeriness and a playful tint, his are like blazing fire that devours everything in his path.
"You can never ever stop me!" He bellowed, throwing curses after them in Latin.
Mia who was crouched in a corner was staring at Glenn with uncertainty. He looked so clam as though he does this a thousand times before. The girl, Vivien, or V.V. as they called her, is covered in cracks and all. It's so frightening to see part of her arm crack in places and a slight crack at her face. Her hair trail behind her like a train, seemingly with a life of its own.
A clicking sound made her look around and to her surprise, she found the Ouija board, right beside a stone tomb-like box.
The one that started it all.
With a slight anger in her heart, she went over to the Ouija board and was about to flung it across the wall when it wrote a message out for her.
STILL BEING STUBBORN ARE YOU GIRL
"It's all because of you that my life is never going to be normal again you cursed board!" She snapped at it, preparing to flung it against the wall.
YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YOUR FRIENDS YOU KNOW
That halted her in her tracks.
"W-What?" She faltered.
THE MAGIMASTER IRA CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY SEALING HIM INTO HIS OWN BOOK ONCE MORE
Mia glanced at the others. They are all dodging Ira's curses, which went wheezing past them and smashing the walls, which are full of holes.
"Had enough yet?" Ira laughed.
"Screw you." Lloyd spat, his face streaked with dried blood.
Ira gave a mock-thought. "You know what, you can take it to your grave. Vale."
An onyx light whooshed past them and blasted Ira off his feet, sending him spinning.
"What was THAT?"
Mia was holding the Ouija board in one hand, the other is cracking with onyx-coloured energy. Her eyes glowing a bright matching onyx.
"You dare???" Ira screeched. "You dare to hit me, witch?"
Mia shook her head. "I'm not a witch. I'm just a girl."
"Mortuus Ventus!"
Mia gave an involuntary shriek and was sucked into the typhoon.
"Mahler!" Glenn shouted.
"Stupid witch." Ira laughed. "So what if her powers have awakened?" He then turned to face the other three. "You three are next."
Mia suddenly emerged from the typhoon and without warning, snatched his spell book from his unguarded hand.
"Ipsum!!!!!!" He yelled.
"Score one for me." Mia said, landing lightly on her feet. She don't know what's going on, but her body seems to know what she's doing. She then started chanting in Latin, even though she don't learn Latin.
"What are you doing?" Ira shouted. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Mia didn't answer, but she just kept going on. Thunder appeared above her, booming as the maelstrom open up once more, trying to draw everything in like a vacuum.
"You're trying to seal me away again?" Ira yelled, looking less and less human. "Just like your aunt's great-great-great grandmother sealed me? You're WRONG!!!"
Wind blades danced in the air, cutting into her skin, drawing blood, but she just keep on going. Dark tendrils like shadows emerged out of the maelstrom, reaching out for him.
"Stop chanting!" He kept blasting her while trying to avoid the tendrils that is trying to grab him. Mia's clothes were shredded, and there are blood all over her. She look like some sort of bloodied warrior goddess, yet she kept chanting on, her voice never dropping. The tendrils finally got hold of him and now it's reeling him in, like a fish caught on hook. He kept writhing, screaming in Latin and even as they all watched, he was pulled back into the maelstrom and it closed just as Mia slammed the book shut, sinking into her knees. It seemed as though the life force is being drained out of her.
Silently, Lloyd pulled the book gently away from her grasp and without hesitating, sliced it into half with his Zanmato. The book split into half, and slowly vanished into thin air, as though it had never existed.
*************
It was time to go.
Mia, dressed in a soft green qi pao, was sitting at JFK Airport, waiting for her flight, which had just been announced. Closing her book, she gathered up her trolley luggage, a bag and a Grand Union carrier bag and was about to check into the flight when a voice shouted, "Wait!"
She turned to find him running after her. Her knight in armor, as she had always though of him since she first set sights on him during orientation in Columbia. He look so cute in his Banana Republic T-shirt and Swiss Army pants. From the looks of it, he seemed to have just woken up and had hastily put on his garments. His Banana Republic T-shirt still have the price tag attached on it.
"What's this I heard from Karen that you're leaving?" He demanded.
Mia gave an inward sigh. It has been two weeks after the incident. The funeral of aunt Pru had been very quick. She had also given a lot of thoughts as she lay in the hospital, being treated. She had always been normal, always, now it looks as though her life will never be normal again. It seemed so strange. She had even drew a plan for her life, like a road. Go to Columbia, study medicines, come out and work, get married and have three children. But now it all seemed like a joke to her.
"I can't stay here, Skyler." She said. "Don't get me wrong, it's not about you." She added hastily as he looked hurt. "It's just that... I need some time on my own."
He was about to protest when she cut in. "My life had always been normal, I had planned it out like a road, but now... I'm just so confused."
Glenn grabbed her shoulders for the very first time. "Then just stay. Please."
Mia shake her head. "I'm sorry, Skyler. But I really don't think I can stay here. Because all I can think of is that creep using my body for his dirty deeds."
Glenn looked as though he's going to protest again, but then he let go of her shoulders, murmuring, "I understand."
Suddenly, she had an urge to burst in to tears. She want to lean against that lean lanky body and cry, but she can't. She just can't bring herself to stay here. She just can't cope without thinking of that horrible Magimaster, murdering her aunt Pru and trying to eat her.
"All passengers to Malaysia, please check-in in 10 minutes. All passengers are required to check in 5 minutes before scheduled flight."
Mia rummaged in her Grand Union carrier bag and brought out a second-handed textbook. "Here. Your Greek textbook. I never had a chance to return it."
Glenn stared at the Greek textbook, the one that he had borrowed it to her and tried to get it back when the Cerberus and Hydra went attacking the city. It seems a long time back then.
She pressed it into his hands and said, "Got to go. I'll remember to write you, Francis and Karen letters. Or maybe send all of you a postcard."
She was about to picked up her luggage again when Glenn suddenly threw his arm around her into an embrace. She could see tears in his eyes. They're not visible but there they are, stuck onto his eyelashes like tiny beads of crystals.
"Do you know how much I like you, Glenn?" She whispered.
He nodded. "Always. I just didn't know how to express myself."
They finally let go. Mia picked up her luggage and walked into the check-in barrier where passengers are only allowed.
"Mia!"
Her ears pricked up. He finally said it.
Not Mahler. Mia.
Mia.
It made her heart flipped with joy. Maybe.... She thought as she she gave him a wave, things will not be so bad after all.
With a final glance, she left, disappearing from his range of sight.
**************
Glenn stood where he was, rooted to the spot. The textbook still in his hands just as Lloyd and V.V. came running.
"My God, I thought we will never get out of that jam." Lloyd said. "Are you alright?"
Glenn spoke, without looking at them. "She left."
Lloyd patted him on the back. V.V., being too short, hugged him around the waist.
After a few moments, the flight to Malaysia took off. They all watched it silently as it rose high up into the air and slowly became a small dot in the distance. And then it's gone.
"She'll be fine, you know." Lloyd said. "She's annoying, but she's strong."
Glenn glumly opened his Greek textbook and found a tiny envelope in the index page. It seemed lumpy, as though there's something in it.
Sensing privacy, Lloyd grabbed V.V. and said, "Come on, V. Let's go and get a croissant."
"What's that?" She asked.
"You'll see."
When they both were in the deli's, he opened the envelope and a silver stud earring with an onyx gem fell into his palm. A first look showed that it's an ordinary earring, but with his vamp enhanced sight, he managed to catch the words engraved on the onyx, most likely by magic.
MM + GS 4VER
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