Shrunken

Chapter 44

  That explains a lot.

  Seto studied the corpse in awe. The wolf was still, motionless, one teal eye glassy and the other still skewered in dripping crystal. Fangs were bared in a permanent snarl, the tongue lolling slightly over red teeth and lips. Lodged in Angel's side was a spiny ball of ice that tore through skin and fur, about the size of his head, slicing a deep wound into his body. Perhaps through his heart.

  A patch of scarlet fur surrounded the glimmering red ice, where Seto decided he must have bled to death. Hesitantly, the sorcerer knelt beside the body and touched the deadly icicle. It had remained completely intact throughout the night, still cold.

  Sorceric ice worked a bit differently from normal ice, since it was created and controlled by a magic-bearer. If its controller willed it not to melt, it wouldn't, unless in the circumstance of extreme heat. The same went for his fire. It burned as much and as long as he wished, but water would put it right out. Despite sorcerers' amazing powers, each element has basic weaknesses, a counteracting opponent. Fire bearers sensitive to water; water sensitive to temperature and electricity; earth to fire; shadow to light.

  Seto looked at his face again. He could still imagine the pure hatred in the dog's cloudy eyes. He could almost feel the claws shredding his flesh, blood bubbling around tearing fangs. A shudder ran down his spine as he remembered how close he had come to death, how close this hybrid had brought him.

  Rustling caught his ear again and he turned his head warily, examining his surrounding. Only a few yards away was the feline that made Seto's blood boil. Only, she seemed to be having trouble.

  Starr's backlegs were encased in an icy blast, attached to a tree. Trails of dirt in the grass marked where she was trying to claw her way to freedom, but to no avail. The cat was flailing, scratching, twisting; the sorceric ice's grip was too strong. Her amber eyes flashed with annoyance, but widened in terror when they landed on Seto.

  Seto approached her, feeling the rage pulse in his heart, magic blazing in his eyes, heat returning to his hands. Starr thrashed harder against the transparent bonds, caterwauling loudly, hackles raised. He snatched the cat up by its scruff, her prison melting away immediately at his touch.

  She dangled helplessly from his fist, and before he could say a word, began to yell. "Sir, please!" she cried in her British tongue, trembling before the enraged sorcerer. Tears brimmed her bulging orange irises. 

  "Please! Please d-don't kill me! Spare my life that isn't even mine to live! I shall never hope to bother you again! I swear! I swear!" She spoke quickly, desperation overflowing in her voice.

  Seto glared at her, unconvinced by her plea. "Tell me what you've done with my friend and MAYBE I'll think about not burning you alive!"

  Starr gulped and shook her head wildly. "She's not here any longer! The cloaked man took her away!"

  Seto's brows raised slightly, the fire in his eyes dying down. "What?" he said, anxiety edging his tone.

  "When you fell asleep, he watched you for a long while and then came here," she continued. "H-he looked at Angel a-and then saw me hiding. I tried to run, but he froze me to that tree! He took her and vanished. Right out of thin air I tell you! I don't know where he went, I swear to you! He could have gone anywhere!"

  His mind traced back to the mysterious sorcerer that had saved his life. What would he have wanted with Kay? He closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose, feeling empty and shameful. Kay's gone. She's gone and I haven't a clue where that guy could have taken her. She could get hurt and I couldn't save her.