The Last Mage

Chapter 12: A Letter

Sherman Natale waited impatiently by the sheds. To miss one day of work was one thing. Two was pushing it. Three deserved investigation. Eryn hadn't shown since inspection. Neither had any of her friends. If they'd gotten into trouble the Keepers would have been sent a message. So it couldn't be that. It only put his mind slightly easier. He had heard that Zarlo himself had conducted inspection in one area. He wasn't sure where it had been but it seemed to him he still would have gotten a memo.

He'd covered for them yesterday but today he would do his own investigation. The rush was just getting over and he would ask the supervisor for a badge in a moment. At least it would get him out of the sun. It was still morning and already the heat was bad. Inside the apartments would be worse but the walk between buildings would be nice. And when he found her he would wring her neck for worrying him. No. That was too harsh. Maybe a kiss. If she wasn't too sick.

Getting the assignment was a little more difficult than he thought. The supervisor knew about his personal involvement and wanted to send someone else. But with a few smooth words- and a promise or two- he got the badge and started down the street. It was cooler in the shade if not by much and he took his time. He'd be needed again around noon when the miners and sifters swapped places but that was hours away.

Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck prickled and he slowed a bit to look around. He knew the streets had more demons roaming them now but he thought he'd be okay. He came in here for Eryn. And for the shade, but mostly Eryn. Now he thought what he would do if chased again. This time it might not leave him alone. He knew one thing. He'd be careful not to run into anything. He had to keep his cool.

He made it to Eryn's building without incident though sweating not only from the heat. He didn't hesitate going inside. Demons couldn't come under roofs. He was safe. Then why did he feel so much more uncomfortable?

At the same time Requel was coming from her parent's apartment. She missed them so much. They were gone to work of course but she had found a candle burning in the middle of the floor. They were waiting for her to come back. She couldn't help but cry. She didn't want to but couldn't help it. She had been alone so no one saw. She was trying to give strength to the others, especially poor Amber. She'd always been a mama's girl and she missed her parents deeply.

She had put out the candle and stuck the picture she'd drawn beneath her mother's pillow. She had wanted to write it, to show her dad how good she had gotten but she knew neither could read and she wanted it to be personal. She'd kept the picture simple as well. Just Eryn, Amber, Brielle, her mom, and she, smiling under the sun. It was too dangerous to show the Guardians or that they were really underground. She just wanted to tell them she was safe and with friends.

She was also delivering a letter from Amber to her parents. Thomas had made her rewrite it twice taking out even the littlest of hints to where they were or too much of what it was like. It was necessary she knew but she also thought for sure no one would get the letters but their families. He had been gentle about it which surprised her. Thomas hadn't seemed the kind with that ability.

Eryn had drawn an extremely good picture. It was herself blowing kisses with the silhouettes of other people behind her. She knew herself and Russel and Brielle. They were the easiest to identify. The others had to be Amber and Skyler, Nathan, Thomas, and Brielle's mom. Then she'd also wrote quite nicely, I'm fine. Don't worry. Love you and miss you tons at the bottom. Eryn loved it there with the Guardians. Russel was teaching her to cook and Skyler had agreed to teach them all a bit deeper first aid than they knew. Thomas was still quite aloof and Nathan was recovering from his ordeal. All in all they were having a fine time.

She wished she could have come earlier. Or later. Just to talk to her parents. She dropped the blanket over Eryn's note hoping with this heat they would find it, when she heard footsteps coming down the hall. She pressed herself against the wall by the doorway hoping they wouldn't look in. The shuffling kept coming pausing maybe looking inside a room or something and continuing. They came closer and closer, pausing at each doorway. She'd be found for sure but maybe she could play sick. Pretend to be Eryn. Long as they didn't know her by sight she'd be fine.

She jumped on the cot pulling a blanket over her head. She made sure Eryn's note was still covered with the other blanket and tried to quiet her breathing. She had to fake being asleep. The footsteps were next door now, Eryn's room. Then they crossed the hall to those two doors. It seemed an eternity she waited to be kicked or pushed.

The first tingles started then. All of a sudden she was nervous. She tried to push it back, telling herself it was silly to be nervous about this. They'd done it before and it had worked fine. The shuffling was at the door. Her breath quickened. It came in the room and advanced toward the cot. She waited with her heart in her throat. Perhaps they weren't sure what to do. Maybe it was Eryn's parents come back on break. What if they thought it was Eryn here? She'd have a lot to answer.

Still nothing. Then footsteps. Had they decided to leave her alone? These were coming in though. The blanket was suddenly yanked off and she was looking at Sherman. He was surprised at first then angry. But he put his light on the ground and folded his arms calmly, waiting for an explanation. She had to think fast.

"I suppose you're wondering why I'm sleeping on such a fine day, huh?"

"Well I was wondering a bit. For three days I've been wondering. And are we playing musical rooms as well?" He wasn't going to believe anything she might say so she could actually say yes and be just fine. "And where are the others hiding, I wonder?" He glared down at her and tapped his foot impatiently. He was making her nervous all over again.

"Well let's see... Amber's in my room, Brielle is in Amber's room, I'm in here and Eryn's in Brielle's. We needed a change of scenery..."

"Hmm, that's very interesting considering I checked those rooms on my way over and, oh, there was no one there. I'm waiting, Requel." Her breath came quick being found so easy. It had been a bad story. After all, it wasn't just Eryn been missing from work. She sighed and looked down.

"They're all in Brielle's room. I had to hide when I heard you coming. Course, I didn't know it was you... wanna give us a break? For Eryn's sake?"

"I already did that yesterday! Come on. We're going to talk to them." He shifted to help her up. She froze, her breath caught in her throat. It had been standing behind him... no it was clinging to the wall behind him. Its eyes shown red in Sherman's light and she found she couldn't breathe. Sherman turned slowly around. He looked as though he already knew what was there. Still he stumbled backward falling on top of her. Now she really couldn't breathe.

It crawled down off the wall and sat in front of them, its claws scratching on the floor as it flexed them. Its eyes settled on her. The blood ran cold in her veins as it came a step closer. Sherman rolled off her and headed for the door. The demon turned as if to follow then sat back down to stare at her again. In another moment it had turned and scampered out the door. She drew a shaky breath and her head cleared slightly.

That one had been no tramp off the street. It had been sent, given permission to go inside buildings, to search for someone. Brielle had wanted to deliver the letters. Everyone had. Nathan had blatantly refused her, saying it was too dangerous for her. They knew her face. If she had been Brielle a moment ago she would be dead. She started to tremble. To know for double certain they were searching- inside the buildings- it terrified her. She had to tell them. She threw the blanket off.

Sherman leapt into the room yelling. Her heart just about stopped. He had a thick board in his hands. He looked around quickly and turned bright red. If she hadn't been so scared she might have laughed. But her letters were delivered and she had to get back now. Sherman would be in the way.

She took the board from him and turned him about. He was too embarrassed to resist or act it off. She flung the board into his head, not too hard but she hoped hard enough. He fell to the ground and she didn't bother checking him. She just needed a head start. She heard him scrambling behind her but she was almost to the stairs before he started after her.

In no time she was in the room on ground level knocking on the wall. Supposedly Nathan was waiting for her. His arm appeared, dragging her through the wall. The little glowing balls floated too bright for her eyes. Nathan sensed right away that something had happened.

"They're looking for her! Inside!" She managed to gasp it out before he had her stumbling down the hall. He did not look happy.