Casters

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Dinner Time

Walking hand in hand with Robert towards Gybon's enormous house was the worst thing I had ever done. I wanted to go running in the opposite direction. Just as I was going to give into that feeling Viola placed her hand on my shoulder in a motherly way. I smiled in return and held Robert's hand tighter, I could feel the locket he had brought me bouncing up and down on my chest with every step and the ring on my finger was giving me comfort in knowing I could protect us all. 

The big white brick home looked inviting to an average person, but to me it looked like Dracula's Castle. Ironic right? The huge door and windows looked pretty with their blue shutters but I wondered why Gybon would have a house like this. Robert didn't look fazed by the whole thing. Though Robert wasn’t really scared by anything. 

When we got to the blue doors Robert placed his hand on my waist pulling me closer to him. I could feel my hands shaking and tried to get it under control before I walked into the lunatic’s home. Gybon would hear my fear from the breath's I was taking, well more like the way I was panting. Robert had told me earlier that day that Gybon was a vampire too, he just couldn’t walk around in the sunlight because he was created at night. When I found this out I was relieved that I would be safe in the sunlight and if anything went wrong I would have a couple of hours head start. 

Viola straightened her deep purple dress and knocked on the door. It was within seconds a man opened the door, his clothes meant he could only belong to a butler. So we followed him into the "dining hall" as they called it. To be honest though it was the size of a hall and when I walked into the enchanting room lit with candle light, and old portraits all over the walls with a big mahogany table in the middle. I didn't raise my eyes from the ground until I had too, and that was when Gybon said my name.

"Robert, Viola...” He nodded in acknowledgement.

"Carmen, my sweet. Don't you look ravishing..." He said making the last part sound like a snake hissed it. I backed away from him into Robert's chest when he went to touch my cheek. I heard Robert give out a deep growl at Gybon's attempt. At that point Viola placed her hand on Robert and walked over to greet the man from my nightmares. 

"Viola at least you know how to greet somebody. Your brother here doesn't seem to, but I'll let it slide this once." He remarked. Why would he let it slide? Robert didn't have to respect him. After my little moaning fit to myself I turned and saw the other people in the room. There was a beautiful woman, and two other men. When I saw Gybon giving Robert a look of despise I lost my control. However I decided to hold it in for later. 

“What has my love turned into?” Amelia asked distraughtly.

“A monster.”  I replied bluntly to her.

“He never was like this when I was with him. Carmen, you must not talk to me until I tell you, there’s a mind reader in the room. She’s nice but I don’t trust her just yet. Don’t lose control.”  I did as Amelia said, I didn’t reply to her and tried my best not to think about her.

"Shall we eat?" The man standing behind Gybon spoke in his black suit. Everyone else except me nodded in agreement as Robert led me the seat next to him. I sat there still clenching Robert's hand like it was my life support. I sat there for the starters in silence, listening to everyone speak like old friends.

I learnt that the stunning woman was called Kenna, she was the mind reader Amelia had warned me about. Kenna was a really nice woman who I warmed to even though we never spoke however she gave me a smile every so often which I returned. The man who every so often touched her cheek was called Chatwin and they were obviously together, I could tell Robert was fond of the couple as he would speak to them as he would to Viola. The last guest was Corwin, he I wasn't warming too. He looked like he was plotting something and didn't take his eyes off of me. It made me uncomfortable and his white blonde hair was sleek and so straight it fell to his shoulders. The things I would do to swipe that smug look of his face.

"Carmen you haven't spoken all night? Is there anything you would like to say...?" Gybon asked with a smirk on his face, which tipped me over the edge. I looked him straight in the eye before saying:

"Tell me what you know about Paige, Gybon. You know what I can do, and I'm pretty sure Caster’s can kill vampires right?" I gave him a dirty look as I crossed my arms and heard Kenna and Chatwin gasp and murmur that they didn't know I had that power. 

“Carmen, don’t do this!” Amelia pleaded.

"Now, now Carmen. I will tell you my little Caster…” Corwin stated, the first time he had spoke all night as well. I waited for him to continue and so he did. "Your friend Paige was a delicious little thing. I and my dear friend Gybon planned the whole thing. It turned out she had a little temper like you. We planned the whole thing. I came speeding round the corner that summer. I HIT HER. And then when you ran to find help, we took her in the car and drank from her... We killed her!" Corwin smiled like he was saying a complement or something. 

I didn't have know what spell I was chanting but the words were pouring out of my mouth. Dark clouds appeared below the ceiling in the dining hall and thunder was roaring in the room. My anger was causing the storm but I didn’t know what I was chanting would do. The lightning and thunder continued and became louder and brighter. The words were still escaping my lips and I suddenly realised what I was casting when Corwin started to scream. He was clutching his temples on his head and wailing in pain. I knew I was chanting the spell that made vampire’s and lycans (werewolves) hear a static noise that makes their ears bleed and the brain feel like millions of pins are being stabbed into it.

"STOP IT NOW CARMEN OR HE DIES!" Gybon shouted the command and I instantly followed it. He had his arm around Robert’s neck and looked like he was going to snap it. I knew Corwin was not dead yet but could not risk Robert's life. Viola was pulling at Gybon when he released Robert from his death grip. The storm cleared from above us moments afterwards and  I ran to Robert’s side and threw my arms around him saying how sorry I was. He was telling me I did nothing wrong and Kenna and Chatwin were standing in front of us in a sort of protective matter. 

"We're leaving!" Chatwin stated before dragging me, Kenna, Robert and Viola from the room. Before we left the room I heard Corwin shout; "I will come for you Carmen and kill you and whoever stands in my way!" We rushed to our cars and drove as fast as we could to Robert's home.