Coveted [New/Revised Version]

PAYBACK'S A WITCH

     Sky jimmied his key in the keyhole to unlock his car door. No matter how hard he tried, the thing simply would not budge. He brought the key up to make sure he hadn't grabbed Valentine's by accident. He frowned at his own folly. Hadn't he driven to Bartley's antique shop? Of course these were the right keys!

     He reached down and tried again. Still nothing. Sky let out an exasperated sigh. What the hell was going on? His electric blue eyes considered the glass. What was a trip to the body shop anyway?

      He drew his fist back but something caught his eye. It was a rather peculiar character engraved into the wooden post in front of Ruby. Vandalism wasn't a foreign concept to him and it was the tiniest icon but his skin prickled in warning.

     He looked around.

     Not a single soul roamed the streets with the unfortunate exception of himself.

     His cellphone vibrated against his ribcage inside his jacket and he started.

     Sky reached into his pocket and answered, still eyeing the strange symbol.

     "Got something for me?"

     "I take it old Bartley was a dead end." Aaron said. Sky didn't comment on the cruel irony of that statement. "No, I've got nothing for you."

     "Keep looking, would you?" Sky sighed. "Someone like Zairian doesn't walk into town and no one knows anything. He needs a place to sleep, donors, the works. Keep looking."

     "I might not have a lead on Zairian's whereabouts but perhaps..."

     "What?"

     "Call it me grasping at bits of gossip but there's a rumor going around about the girl."

     "What rumor?"

     "I didn't want to believe." Aaron sounded distant then. "She's such a nice, sweet, gifted girl. Something so horrible shouldn't happen to good people, right?"

     "What rumor, Aaron?"

     "The rumor is Penelope Meyer and Lena Rey are on edge. The kind of edge that can only be produced by desperate witches." There was a stretch of silence. "I know a friend who more or less confirmed it. If Zairian is in town, he's here with the sole purpose of capturing Iris alive."

     "I'm sure I got that from fact that she's still breathing."

     "This is serious."

     "He's in my town attacking its people. You're damn right it's serious."

     "This could cause disturbance between witches and vampires. The man can't be killed. No one will stand in the way of the likes of him."

    "Nothing for me, huh?" Sky had the sinking feeling whoever "confirmed" the rumor milling around Westmyth knew a lot more. "Tell you what, go back to this friend who 'more or less' confirmed this rumor and ask them to ask Zairian to have a meet with me."

    "A meet for what reason?" Accusation underlined Aaron's tone. "Be smart about what you're asking Skylark."

     "I'll try bold instead." Sky grunted. "While you're at it, tell your other friend she can skip town."

    "Which friend?"

    "Neff,"

    "You're not putting me in this position." The frown and disapproval was evident in his voice. "Both of you are dear to me."