The Scarlet Huntress

Chapter 16: Food & Facts

After she served the food Lena started asking me questions, many of which I didn't want to answer.

"So Lil, how was your visit?" Lena asked.

"It was ok, some of the rumors about her are true, she does come from a family of witches. Other than that, I can't say for sure," I answered.

"What do you mean by that?"

"The information she gave me was good, but both Nocte and Kouda didn't like her, they were afraid."

"While that is concerning, I don't think that it's enough to assume that she's involved."

"There's other things too, I guess I'd just call it intuition, but something is not right about that woman," I insisted.

"Alright, if you are so sure, why don't you convince me," Lena challenged.

After she said that I told her everything about the case ten years ago, Luka's disappearance, and the current case. I told her how my father faced a witch like this one, and died from poisoning (leaving out the bit about his heart being taken) while his client got sick and died, and how Luka died. I told Selena about the things Farmer Milner and I had been dealing with and my suspicions about Uncle Markus's death.

"It's still not enough to convince me that your, admittedly weird, grandmother is in on this. Although I will admit that there is a pattern to all of these deaths, well except for your father's client," Lena mused.

"Good to know that I'm not the only one who sees that. The only thing, aside from being Hunters, that they have in common is me," I sighed in relief.

"Speaking of that pattern, will me and my family be safe? I know we're not Hunters, but we are connected to you." Selena whimpered.

"I've already thought of that and I think you'll be alright, she doesn't seem to be targeting normal people."

"Back to the topic at hand, if it is your grandmother, and that is a big if, what's her motive? You've never done anything to the old biddy," Lena brushed a stray hair behind her ear. "Also all you've done so far is establish a pattern, where's the rest of your evidence?"

"The only thing I can think of as a motive would be revenge. Remember when I told you about my parents, that really did happen. Mom died to save my life, and she was all Cyndi had left, there's your motive."

"That was almost nineteen years ago, so it seems like a stretch, plus, wouldn't she be killing off the only part of your mom she has left? That also still leaves evidence Lilli, and intuition is not going to be enough to convince me, even if it is a good place to start," Lena urged me to continue.

"Well when you look at things separately the case is pretty thin, but everything adds up," I said. "First and foremost we have her letter, there is absolutely no way that she could've known that I would have questions about familiar magic, we both know there aren't any witches in town. Next we have the fact that this has been happening for a decade, which is way longer than I've been Hunting. There are also rumors about a witch living in woods outside of Beavers Bend, who has wolves for familiars, Cyndi lives in the woods outside of town." Just as I was about to continue Lena cut me off.

"Woah, hold on a minute, do you have anything else, anything that actually points to her as the culprit?" 

"Yes, I do, if you would let me finish. Next we have the description that my Mother's ghost gave me. She called the witch who's after me 'old' and said that she would 'do anything to get revenge, even allow magic to consume her.' According to Mr. Blake, Cyndi is dying from cancer, but she isn't weak, she doesn't seem to have any immune problems. She even admits to coming from a witch family and claims to still have contacts 'in the community.' Not to mention that yesterday was 'one of her bad days' and I killed a familiar the night before."

"Really, and that makes her a witch? Does that make you and your mother witches too, I mean you are part of the same bloodline," Selena hissed. "Besides, if she really does have cancer then it may have been a coincidence."

"That is not what I mean and you know it," I waved my hands around accusingly. "I am not basing this entirely off of rumors. There is also a fact that she knows way more about witchcraft than she should, the book I verified her information from was a witch's primer."

"Really? That doesn't mean anything if she was raised by witches, she would know that even if she had never used magic right?"

"You're right about that but it's still very specific."

"I am still not convinced." Lena shrugged, "Besides, according to your family's code you can't do anything about her yet, right?"

"Yes I know that, I can't deal with anyone until I have undeniable proof about what she is and what she has done," I snapped.

With that I got up and went over to the window, the afternoon had already passed us by and it was getting late. Mr. Smith was not going to be happy that Lena still wasn't home, especially with everything that was going on, but I knew he wouldn't be too upset. He may not even realize that she wasn't home yet, Mr. Smith tends to get caught up in his projects and forgets to keep an eye on the time. He would also let Lena get away with murder, so even if he did notice I'm not too worried.