Spellcaster series #4: The Virtuoso

The Trap

TRISTAN

I stood before the mirror and put on my red coat. Colour had finally returned to my face. Jessie said I almost died. Again.

"Ready?" He asked. "We're all waiting for you in my office."

I pocketed my wand into my coat and followed him out the door. We entered his office to find Vicky, Wynona...

...and Johnny.

Fury enveloped me. I strode towards him and grabbed his collar, pinning him against the wall.

"Tristan!" Wynona exclaimed in utter shock. Johnny's grey eyes widened with fear.

I spoke through gritted teeth. "You set the trap, didn't you? You're working for Dean Ryans! Speak, Johnny!"

"Sir, I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Why did you tell me to go there? You could have gotten her yourself!"

"Tristan, enough!" Wynona pulled my arm but I shook her off. I tugged Johnny's collar.

"Sir, please!"

"Tristan, we need to stay calm," Vicky said, her voice shaking. She tugged my arm.

I released his collar and took a step back. I was not convinced that he was completely innocent.

Vicky and Jessie held my shoulders back but I continued, "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you! I turned my back for one minute and I was ambushed! Dean said it was all a ruse! The auction—all of it!"

"Tristan!" Wynona gripped my shoulders. "Look at me."

I steadied my breathing. The rage began to subside after I had let it off my chest. I was unsure if it as utter rage or my brush with mortality that made me do it. Johnny watched me as I took a few steps back to compose myself.

"Look at me, Tristan."

I levelled my gaze with hers. Her violet irises darted back and forth. Somehow I had lost my cool and all that anguish was released. Once again, I took it out on Johnny.

His eyes were wide and frantic. When he spoke, his voice was small and timid, "They made me do it."

The four of us stared at him in silence. Jessie shook his head.

"They made you do what, Johnny?"

The Virtuoso's face reddened and his lips quivered. "My brother and that Vampire lady. I'm sorry!"

Wynona and Vicky let go of me. None of us could make sense of his words. I approached him slowly, narrowing my eyes.

"What exactly did they make you do, Johnny?"

"They wanted to take Heidi but they knew you'd be in the way somehow. So the Vampire lady told me to bring you there with her so she could kill you."

Vicky pulled out her dagger and aimed at his throat. She bared her fangs and hissed, "Where did they take her?"

I stood in front of him and held his jaw with my hand. "Cooperate, Johnny boy, or she will slice your pretty little throat."

"There is an abandoned mansion that belonged to old Lord Graham, the last president of Orchidville back in 1885. It's on the outskirts of town."

"Lord Graham?" Jessie frowned. "Why his mansion?"

"Because he was the last Necromancer before Rose," I muttered. "Dean has been doing his research."

"How can we trust you?" Wynona said to Johnny. She was standing behind me, her voice curt and unwavering.

Johnny squirmed as Vicky and I remained still. He answered, "You don't have to, but that's what I was told."