The Mage's Ring

Chapter 3

William and Blaire walked through the busily market in the center square of town. All of the regular everyday food and supply stores got the most business unsurprisingly, leaving her with hardly ever a customer. To be honest, Eric was her first customer all day.

She was hardly lucky to have someone buy something from the antique shop, let alone someone coming in that actually needed magic. But then again, not everyone needed that kind of stuff. Besides, the less interaction she had with people the better. They always found a way to piss her off.

But today she had a whole other reason behind her anger. As the pair of magicians walked along, searching for the little thief, she couldn't help but curse and mutter under her breath at all the things she was going to do once she found that little bastard. Things such as;

"Cheeky little bastard."

"Catch his feet on fire."

"Make sure his balls never even drop and go straight up his throat."

Things of that nature. The two had been searching for a while now and the consistent murmurs were starting to get under the head Mage's skin. William cleared his throat, interrupting Blaire's newest insult.

"Ms. Blaire, I hate to interrupt your...colorful language, but—"

"Then don't." She hissed, still looking forward. "I swear I'm gonna kill that little—"

"Yes I am well aware as you have made that perfectly clear. But, if you could try and think of anything on his clothing that could hint where this clever thief could be, you'd be able to burn his feet much faster."

After very little time with her, William was able to tell she operates on rage. So, why not use her anger to work in their favor rather than against it.

"I am trying to think. And ya know what, now that I think about it, if the ring was so damn powerful and important, why didn't the Coven mention it to me when I bought it!? I would've reported it in not just kept in a fucking box!" Blaire now turned her violet glare to the Mage.

"Well, I suppose we just assumed you knew how important of a relic it was. We did discuss that ring and other powerful relics in our meetings before." Will was trying his best to pick out his words carefully, not wanting to fuel her fire and cause a scene; a difficult challenge indeed.

"Oh, so now you're accusing me of not paying attention during the meetings? Who's side are you on, detective?" She asked, stepping up ahead of him and stopping in her tracks, forcing him to stop as well. She clenched her fists at her sides and her face lowered, her black hair forming a cold shadow over her features.

William stopped. He had briefly heard about this Witch's habit of unnecessarily blowing things out of proportion and losing her temper quite easily. Just like her magic, she was a hot head. Nonetheless, Blaire was talented and strong. It forced Faust and his colleagues to learn how to handle her. Before this, he hadn't the pleasure of dealing with it first hand.

He sighed again. "Ms. Blaire, I am not looking for a fight with you, I am merely just--"

A loud crack crossed his jaw, Blaire's knuckles bleeding from the impact. The detectives stance didn't change, merely where his head was now faced. But still he stood. Blaire felt a chill run down her spine at how he had no reaction to the punch, swallowing hard.

"Go ahead and blame me, I dare you!" She managed to scream out, realizing she just hit what would be considered by many a mage to be a 'higher-up' and she might as well dig in deep.

William rolled his head back to center, ticking his jaw and earning a crack from it. He nicely gelled back hair had fallen forward, covering one of his eyes.  His deep blue eyes pierced hers, with a much more serious expression than before. Blaire pressed her lips together and glanced at her bleeding knuckles, shaking her hand a bit from the sting.