The Red Dragon | Charlie Weasley

Chapter 14

Haela can't shake the icky feeling that has come over her during their conversation with Vaezor. Charlie has placed the business card in his breast pocket. Once they both finish their drinks, they bid Vaezor goodbye before leaving the V.I.P. area. Haela hasn't seen Rius again and she doesn't see him as they make their way back to the dance floor.

They head for the bar, avoiding the pulsing crowd. It feels wrong, to go back dancing after what they have learned only half an hour ago.

"Where do you think Kadrick and Josué are?" Charlie asks, leaning close in an attempt to make himself heard. His breath tickles Haela's ear and she feels a shiver run down her spine.

She raises herself onto her tiptoes and scans the crowd in search of the two Hit Wizards. Of course, they are nowhere to be found in the sea of people.

When she turns back to Charlie to tell him she has no idea where the two men could be, he's already looking at her. His face is unreadable but Haela can see the tension in his jaw that hasn't left since the moment Vaezor showed them the dragon hide. Little cracks start to form in the man's stony expression.

"Let's head back to the entrance," Haela yells over the music, "Hopefully we'll run into them on our way."

Charlie nods and gestures for her to take the lead. Haela entwines their fingers again. She ignores the way her skin tingles and, instead, starts making her way through the crowd. Charlie stays close, a constant at her back. The music is still pumping and the crowd on the dancefloor has only become tighter. Haela avoids the stage in the center where the majority of people are.

As they slowly make their way through the crowd, Haela spots something from the corner of her eye. When she turns her head to see what it is, she immediately recognises the sign the British Hit Wizards use in situations where they need to locate one another in large crowds. At first, it looks like a reflection from the strobing lights but the "K" is clear as day for someone who knows what they are looking at.

Haela changes the direction they are heading in. The faster they are out of here, the better.

The crowd becomes less tight the closer they get to the "K" in the air and Haela has never been happier to see the dark-skinned Hit Wizard. Kadrick and Josué are seated in a more private corner at the bar, both with half-empty drinks in front of them, deep in conversation. Haela drags Charlie with her and marches up to the two men.

"Wheeler, it's done. Let's go."

Kadrick looks up, surprise written all over his face for a second before a large grin appears. "Peucag, that was quick!"

Before he can say another thing, Haela grabs his arm with her free hand and hisses: "We need to get out of here."

"But-" the wizard tries but Haela, after quickly casting a look over her shoulder to the Dragonologist who seems to be falling apart more and more by the second, shakes her head. Kadrick opens his mouth again but when he looks over Haela's shoulder at Charlie, he closes it again and moves to stand. He quickly downs the remainder of his drink.

Josué is already standing, his glass empty. He gestures for the rest to follow him and with an efficiency Haela is a little jealous of, the Andorran Hit Wizard leads them through the crowd and outside.

The transition from the hot, stiffening air inside and the cold outside helps clear Haela's head. Josué continues walking, seemingly wanting to be as far away from the club as possible, and the other three have no choice but to follow. They walk through the quiet streets of the city until they reach a small, empty square, surrounded by buildings. Most windows are dark but behind a few is light burning, even at this time of night.

Kadrick pulls out his wand and casts a few spells to avoid them being overheard. Haela waits until he's done and has nodded before she turns to Josué and says: "We found him. He surely is involved with the dragon disappearances."

Beside her, Charlie curses and lets go of Haela's hand. Not realising she was still holding his hand, Haela mourns the loss of it for a moment. Charlie curses again and starts pacing back and forth, his fist balled tightly.

"Are you certain?" Josué asks, "We need to be sure to plan our next move."

"A hundred percent. I'm not sure if he captures the dragons himself or if he has people who do it for him, but he has access to the hides and maybe the rest as well."

"He offered us more options," Charlie interrupts, seething, "That bloody bastard offered us a whole bloody range of dragon hides. As if- as if it's the most normal thing in the world. As if they don't come from those magnificent creatures who don't deserve to be slaughtered."

His eyes are full of pain and despair and Haela feels her own heart break a little at the sight. In the past few days, it has become abundantly clear how much Charlie cares about the dragons in the sanctuary.

"Alright, alright," Josué says, holding his hands up to try to calm Charlie down but the Dragonologist only huffs and turns away to continue pacing back and forth.

"His name is Vaezor," Haela says. Josué pulls a face as he tries to remember if the name means something to him but eventually shakes his head. Haela continues: "We told him we had to find out how much hide we want to purchase and he gave us a business card."

She turns to Charlie. The red-haired man looks up when he realises the conversation has come to a halt. Haela sends him a smile and takes a few steps towards him. From Charlie's breast pockets, she produces the piece of dark parchment. Back at the club, she didn't get a chance to inspect it but now she can see there is an address written on it in golden ink.

Vazeor's Antiguitats, the card reads, for all your unusual needs.

Haela hands the card over to Josué who looks it over and says: "I know where that is. It's located on the edge of the city."

"We're supposed to let him know what we need. He said his contact should have a new shipment in a few days."

"We need to inform the sanctuary," Kadrick pipes up, "If they are planning on taking another dragon they should take precautionary measures."

"I'll contact my Ministry for backup," Josué nods, "We have to avoid another dragon being taken."

They decide to go back to Josué's grandmother and contact the Andorran Ministry from there. At the house, Charlie immediately heads for the fireplace to fire-call Isaac and inform him about what they learned. Josué starts writing notes he'll be sending to his superior and Haela and Kadrick do the same but for their own. It's time for the next step in their search for the poachers.