Inchoate Blood (CRUX I)

4. Dark Red

4. Dark Red

Suddenly from behind, I sense the presence of someone watching me. I quickly turn but only catch a glimpse of dark red hair disappearing behind a tall decorated column. Instinctively suspicious, I run after the figure through the a back hideaway and find myself lost in a long corridor lined with many doors on each side. I've never been to this part of Marsq before, but it seems like the person knows it well. Too well.

Looking around me, I catch the fast movement of a shadow and intuitively run towards it. From the shape of the figure's cloaked shadows, it's hard to tell whether the person is a male or female. But from the sound of paced high-heels on the corridor I realise that she's a woman, though still, catching up to her is difficult. She is agile and swift with her motions and the many turns she takes in the corridor make me unable to run faster any. In a way, I have a strange feeling that her presence is calculated. She's not here for no reason.

I know this because the drift ring on my finger is warming up ever so slightly. She could be the murder I'm about to meet. Very likely the murder I'm about the kill.

Passing through a room with doors ajar, she turns again and we reach a long hallway. Here, it is noticeably a different atmosphere compared to the high-class party we left. Instead of appearing classy, the same wallpaper looks somewhat more daunting and dangerous, as if the dark maroon paint now resembles blood. Weak lanterns line the wall on each side, their fire barely burning in the cold dark night. At the very end of the hallway, I can barely see a wide door marking a dead end in our path. But the figure continues towards it. Perfect.

Seizing the five transmutation needles hidden in my belt, I throw them towards the figure and towards the closed door. I watch as they just barely skim pass the cloaked figure, landing fixed onto the sturdy wooden door. As they stud the door one by one they form a large transmutation circle.

"Exprimo," I mutter. The spots where the needles pierce the door shine a yellow light. Then reaching to one another, they draw the complete circle in a blazing yellow outline, marking the door with my control.

"Reformo," I then said, seeing the figure turn around to face me in surprise as the door behind her shifts into a single wall, lock and doorknob vanishing. My five needles blaze with yellow light and the outline of a five-pointed star is marked inside my transmutation circle. One of the first basics in alchemy: the five orbits.

A simple five-pointed star can be used for the five foundation practices of alchemy, also commonly known as the "five orbits": mitesco, meaning soften; corrigo, meaning mend; reficio, meaning rebuild; emendo, meaning correct; and reformo, meaning improve. The one I had just used was 'reformo', so basically I strengthened the wooden door and made it into one state for more density. But my purpose? Too much booze has taken away my stamina and I seriously can't continue to run for much longer (i.e. she needs to stop).

Aware of my intention to block her, she turns to start escaping back through the hallway. I instantly pull out my blade and fling it towards her, not injuring her but blocking her way at least by shock. The blade also pins to the wooden door, barely a centimetre from her shoulder. Huh. I guess my aim hasn't worsened that much over time, although my stamina has become quite awful.

The figure turns her head to me and I catch a volume of dark red hair hidden behind her cloak. She pushes her hood back and a ponytail tosses itself forwards, long and straight and tied with a claret ribbon. A wry smile tugs at her mouth when she sees me properly in the lantern light, but I furrow my eyebrows together in an attempt to show my seriousness. I didn't chase her all the way here for nothing- she better be worthwhile.

"It's rude," she runs a finger across my blade pinned beside her, "To treat ladies with violence."

"I trust you're not even injured yourself," I reply, making my way towards the door I transmutated.

She smiles again and tugs at my blade pinned against the wall. Then in a skilful motion, she aims it towards me and throws my blade. It nearly skims pass but I manage to catch the hilt in mid-air.

"Why thank you," I say, grasping the blade and hiding it back into my leather coat. While doing so, I feel a sudden warmth on my finger again. The drift ring it reacting to its pair.

Jett's ring is nearby. Is it her? It must be.

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