The Carrion's Craft

Chapter 14

Lady Mishava sat adjacent to me, slouched in a solid chair with an air confidence. The knife to my throat glinted in the lamp light, its floating blade hugged the soft skin until the cold steel caused me to shiver. I was afraid to move, to look around or shuffle against the cushions for my own comfort. Instead my eyes focused on the knife, its precise positioning reminded me of a needle. The only difference was that this one possessed a sobering sense of death instead of a comforting high. Maybe that was why Drenin requested that package. He had something to look forward to.

"I saw your camera flash from the hall. Be a dear and put it next to Mel's head, here." The witch said matter-of-factly, tapping on the wooden surface. I did as I was told, reaching into my pocket, my hand brushed up against the warm jar of acid as I produced the camera. Two pointed ears flitted in my peripheral vision before I leaned down and met Sylvana's evil eye. She sat on the table, next to the man's head with her paw on the crow's unmoving body. Her purr was uneasy to the ear, as if the feline could smell victory and took pleasure in my terror. "What did you do to Iric?" My voice whimpered out. 

"He's my familiar. His intelligence is thanks to me, and his loyalty shall return whether he likes it or not." Her voice was level with a mix of amusement and irritation. It seemed the event of Iric being appalled by her actions had angered her, but surely this shouldn't have been a surprise? 

The Snatcher must have seen the question form on my face, as she added "Of course you wouldn't know, familiars are not born with individualism. They're given it, through magic - like an essence being passed on. Its usually a long and tedious process, one that I really do not wish to repeat." 

"Like a child?" She nodded to that, a small smirk of understanding spread along her lips.

"Speaking of which," she said before swinging her legs over the armrest and stamping on the carpet, "I understand you have had a particular interest in young Simon." Her eyes narrowed into a glare, with it, the knife seemed to tighten, pinching my skin until a warm trickle of blood ran down my neck. I explained in a stutter that Simon was a client, seeking her out so that she may heal her sister's illness. Meanwhile, my hand squeezed the jar beneath the remains of coat, praying for some semblance of an opportunity for salvation.

"Hm, those two always were trouble. Probably why they hung around me so much. That illness you speak of, did you see it in person?" I shook my head in the negative, leading to the killer's sigh. "Then you'd best count yourself lucky. Henneh contracted "Deamon's lips" after her brother tried to cast a spell without supervision. He ended up summoning a Devil and wound up cursed. Objectively speaking, it was all Simon's fault."

"But will you help him?" I asked. 

Mishava chuckled, "I can't say I can." For the first time since I entered this building, a heat flooded my veins. This kid stuck his neck out, staked his life on finding this cold-blooded murderer and her response was to laugh.

"Why not?" I hissed. Perhaps for the first time since we met, the proud grin on her lips faded into a frown and averted her eyes.

"I know what you think of me. I'm a murderer and a savage, tearing out the eyes of my own kind and leaving children to die. She looked back to me, a hardness formed around her glistening eyes "But I am no monster. I didn't target anybody who belonged to a family, nor did I have a choice in the killings. If I had it my way then Stragard would be dead and her alone, and I would be warm and cosy back home."

"How holy of you." I whispered.

"You really don't know anything do you?" The witch snapped. Sensing her master's aggravation, Sylvana let out a hiss in camaraderie. 

"I know you were taken by surprise in Breana. I know that you've murdered innocent people and that your pharmaceuticals have driven people insane. Your Euthanasia may as well be your own hand... all in order to remove Stragard from the picture. What am I missing?"