Time Paradox: Tales of a Bounty Hunter Book 2

Chapter 4 - Everybody Seeks Answers

Chapter 4

Space

Raven had used a mixture of salt and metal to draw a circle on the floor of the cabin she was sleeping in. She had sat inside there, legs bend and elbows resting on her knees. Her expression was thoughtful as she studied thoroughly her book of magic. The Key resting cold between her fingertips, equally harmless and full of danger. She had been trying to use it as a link -a connection to rip a hole into the protection spell and find Novah's location. So far she had been unsuccessful.

Ramiel!

Her friend had been by her side, supporting Raven silently. But his hungover had washed away some time ago and his kind had been pocking in his head.

Ramiel!

Couldn't they shut up?! Ramiel pinched the bridge of his nose. Not that it would do anything for the headache he was nursing. An arm wrapped around his neck, all of a sudden, and another around his waist.

"There you are, my friend!"

Grav was far too cheery for Ramiel's taste. The other alien offered him a refilled bottle of Cassapian Yammon as if he had known that he needed to get drunk again.

"No luck yet?" he asked nodding to the Witch inside the circle.

Raven's lips kept moving, but the sound was not above a whisper making it impossible to hear what she was saying. Not that any of them would understand nonetheless. But still, the way her eyebrows came together in a frustrating frown, made it clear that all her attempts had failed.

"Not in the slightest." it was Noemi who answered Grav instead of Ramiel.

"And why is she in there?"

"Blocks magic of something." Noemi offered indifferently.

"Actually," Raven sighed breaking her concentration. "It's so that the Key's energy remain's undetected to all magical attempts. It's a temporary solution."

"You don't seem very confident." Grav pointed out. "What, it lasts for a day or something?"

Raven pierced him with her gaze and then sighed again. "No, but if enough witches join together, this single attack will be able to pierce through the protective circle."

"Then how do we make it permanent?" Noemi demanded.

"I'll need a box made of metal -ideally titanium- and a lot of salt to fill it with."

"I can build you that." Grav offered immediately.

"Grea!" she exclaimed. "Then you can go start with that. See if Noemi and Ramiel can help you. Just...let me concentrate."

Ramiel!

The Gypsy sighed and rubbed his head. The alcohol was not working fast enough. Noemi took notice of his discomfort but didn't mention it.

"Look," she turned back to Raven. "You've been casting spells for almost two hours. You have to be tired. Take a break." she advised. "Come with us and have a drink -we can't let Ramiel drink all of our alcohol." she jocked.

"A small smile appeared in the corner of Raven's lips. Ramiel, on the other hand, frowned a bit but didn't complain. After all, he had been turning into an alcoholic -and fast.

Grav patted Ramiel in the back and smiled brightly. "Great!" he then dragged him away from the room.

Noemi shook her head but gave her hand to Raven and together they followed after the men. In her mind, she was already thinking of other ways to achieve their goal without the artifact. The only problem was that she knew nothing about magic or technology. She also knew that Grav wouldn't even know where to begin looking for clues as to where the demon has the Tile Lord captive. In the past, whenever her partner was not able to help, Noemi sought out Eris and her cards to give her the aid she needed.