The Immortals: Missing

3~ The Mysterious Kidnapper

During the next few weeks, Eva pondered on how she was going to help bring back the missing. The only explanation was witchhunters but no one felt the presence of death. She knew they could go out of town and cast a Revealing Spell but that in itself would reveal them to any witch hunters. It would also be against the law and the law was harsh. Eva knew they wouldn't survive witchhunters or any punishment the Law would bestow upon them. Christmas and New Year had gone and passed in huge celebrations and magicked fireworks but the tension in the village was undeniable. No one seemed to stop for a chat on the street anymore. The cheers and shouts during celebrations weren't as loud and some the cottages were deserted. Some shops have even closed up yet more people were disappearing. Eva knew it was now her responsibility to take care of her cousin and aunt. They were both overage witches and in danger from the mysterious kidnapper.
Currently, Eva heard the phone ringing. She lifted up her skirts and ran but Gina got there first.
"Hello, this is Gina Opalwood" she said professionally.
Eva listened. She couldn't hear what the other person was saying on the line but Gina's expression became serious then sadistic. She put the phone down after a while and looked at Eva with sorry eyes. Eva thought she knew what was coming.
"Oh Eva. Your parents...they're missing" moped Gina.

*************

Zachariah and Penny huddled together in front of a large spellbook. It had been Penny's mother's before she died a few years ago. Zachariah was scanning the pages his dark fingers tracing the sentences while he read.
They were searching for any spells that might help their investigation for the missing. Penny knew that Eva was the only one without a missing family member. She felt a pang of jealousy but she ignored it. It wasn't Eva's fault none of her family were missing. In fact, thought Penny, I should be glad.
"Look," said Zachariah," We could use the Witchhunter Spell to reveal any threat from them"
"We don't know for sure if they're witchhunters. It could be one of our own kind. A dark wizard or soceress" reminded Penny.
"It won't hurt to try" said Zachariah with a shrug.
"If it doesn't work, the culprit will catch us, Zac!" said Penny, "Maybe we should get Dylan or Eva to help us"
Zachariah nodded in agreement. He went over to Penny's desk and swished his hand at the candles. They ignited with a swoosh. Zachariah took out ink, parchment and a feather pen and began writing. Penny watched as he scribbled a quick note, threw it out the window and swished his hand again. The letter turned blood red and travelled faster in the direction of Eva's house. Penny turned around and found the exact same note in Zachariah's hands. He did the same to it except it headed for Dylan's house.
Penny shook her head. "You use way much unnecessary magic Zac"
"Hey! It was a fire message" defended Zachariah.
"You could've used other ways to light the candles" suggested Penny.
Zachariah rolled his eyes and sat back down. "Oh well. I wanted to be quick"
Penny grabbed the spellbook and cuddled up next to her cousin.
They flipped absently through the pages until Penny heard footsteps in their house.
"Zac. I hear something" she whispered.
Zachariah responded by snapping the book shut.
"Now the intruder knows we're here!" snapped Penny.
"Sorry. Didn't think" said Zachariah.
The footsteps on the second landing grew nearer and faster. The intruder had heard the snap. Penny grabbed Zachariah by the arm and dragged him under the table. Penny cast an Invisibility Spell over them and waited.
She heard the footsteps coming into the living room. She held her breath.
"Oh why isn't your dad and my mum home?" groaned Zachariah.
Penny shot him a death glare. The footsteps came closer. They stopped in the room Penny and Zachariah were in.
Could they sense us?, though Penny.
The intruder swore and Penny smiled.
She flicked her finger and the Invisibility Spell knocked off.
"Dylan" she said as she came out from under the table.
"Oh there you are. What were you doing under the tables?" asked Dylan.
"We thought you were an intruder. Anyway, how'd you get into our house?" said Zachariah.
"I jumped through the window" said Dylan.
Penny and Zachariah raised their eyebrows.
"Oh alright, I used a spell to get me up to the second landing" admitted Dylan.
"That's better. So, where's Eva?" said Zachariah.
"She's coming I guess" said Dylan, "But why did you send us fire messages?"
Penny began to tell Dylan their plans, the quest, the spellbook and they discussed who the mysterious kidnapper might be. Dylan listened tentatively, nodding and frowning. By the end there was a deafening silence.
"I think it's a dark wizard. No witchhunter kidnaps a wizard or a witch. It's straight death" said Dylan finally.
Penny couldn't help wondering if it was something other. Neither witchhunter, dark wizard or soceress.