Spellcaster series #5: The Sage

New Beginnings

TRISTAN

The commissioner wove his dark fingers as he clasped his hands together. Captain Bells, in her crisp ironed uniform, sat by my side as he shared his gratitude towards getting rid of Khûl Nir and its terror on Plainsview a week ago.

"It has been a problem for many years, almost a decade," he said.

They gave me two weeks to fully recover before arranging the meeting with me. The commissioner had also graciously granted my family town citizenship and full protection against Orchidville's authorities. Captain Bells had explained to him about my stories down to the last detail before I received his invitation to his office.

"Thank you, Commissioner," I said, humbled by his grants."

I exited the building after. I only had one thing in mind—Heidi's execution. Bells walked me out of the police headquarters.

"If there is anything, sir, that I can repay you with," she said, her honey brown eyes boring on me, "you name it."

"There is. It's about Heidi."

She nodded like she read my mind. "I'll see what more I can find out about her 'execution'. In the meantime, say hi to her for me."

She waved goodbye and left me at the entrance. She had more meetings, she said, and she was to meet me at her house tomorrow. I turned my back to leave when a voice spoke behind me.

"How'd you do it?"

I whirled to see a pair of bright-red eyes. She stood in the sun, her sandy-blonde hair more golden than usual. I hadn't seen her since she saved my daughter and mother from the fire. And Butters, too, I supposed.

"Nice to see you again, Alicia," I folded the piece of paper the Commissioner handed to me in regards to having full protection against foreign authorities.

She took a step forward. "You were able to cast the Sage's spell without your ruby. How'd you do it?"

I studied her face; youthful, brash and determined—a seeming quality among the orphans. And bloodless, too. I began to walk and she joined me. We made our way past security and into a park beside the headquarters. The winter skies were greying yet the sun was still unusually bright.

"You know," she spoke again, "when you first came to the orphanage looking for Heidi, I thought you were the most handsome man I ever saw."

I raised an eyebrow. "You were only fourteen, I believe."

She replied with a straight face, "Indeed, I was. But hear me out, sir. I wasn't sure if it is because of my sympathy for you or the fact that you saved my life that made me save your family. And Heidi, perhaps."

We walked on a footpath under a row of bare poplar trees. I kept my eyes on the concrete, hands in my coat pocket. Alicia continued.

"But I'm afraid that any favour for you has been spent."

I stopped in my tracks and looked at her. She was so serious with her words, almost grim.

"Pray tell, Miss McLaren, what are you getting at? You never owed me to begin with as I saved your life because you were in danger, and it was only out of goodwill."

"Heidi is still breathing." There was a slight glow in her eyes.

I couldn't resist a smile. "Are you asking for a permission or warning me?"

"Warning, sir."

I nodded. "Ah, well, there it is. Now, what would a Prime Vampire do to assassinate a Spellcaster such as Heidi? Surely, you've thought this through?"