ELIXA

CHAPTER 7

The hot afternoon wind drifted into the room, through the only window that looked out into the desert. Dust followed its trail, a testimony of the harshness and scorching heat. Catherine hugged herself when the odd chill went down her spine, causing the hair on her skin to stand. It was a surprise to be caught in this situation again. The last time she had broken protocol, the council had sent her to the hole, to spend six months in total solitude and darkness. She had done what she had to do to save her husband and daughter. And she would do it again if the opportunity presented itself. But this time, it was different. She was breaking the hunter's oath for mere speculations. What if everything turns out to be false? What if this boy is not the Silverton? What if she had the wrong person in her custody?

She hissed. Her father had warned her to place her piece in the right box before selling them off. She had never listened to him and a voice at the back of her head doubt she would start now.

Catherine returned to her chair and took a quick draw from her pipe, hoping to ease the tension that hung on her shoulders. Coming here had been easy enough, but seeing Damian and knowing that the only way to keep him alive was to proceed with the plan, caused something to snap within her. She had her doubts, of course, she had expected a blue-eyed boy and someone older. Not some random teen that had not learned to place their footing properly.

She snorted and took another quick draw from the pipe. The tobacco tasted bitter as if buttressing her irritation and bringing anew the pain she had kept at bay. Every time she thought she had figured out the puzzle, it always slipped away from her fingers. Maybe she was being paranoid about the world crashing down on their head. Or maybe the anger of losing her family was getting right into her.

The door on the entrance cracked open, and in came a maroon-suited man, with his head shaved to the skin. His shoulders were broad, and his neck was flat and muscular, twice the size of a pillar. He carried some old files and the gentility in his swagger blended with his sturdiness, adding more stiffness to his meanness as if he had been carved out from igneous rock.

"Give yourself a break." He said before dropping the files on the table, "that thing is a silent killer."

"That's why you should try it too, Seth" Catherine hissed and puffed the white smoke, "it kills your sorrow. Keeps you focus."

Seth's brow elevated on his head, surprised by the bluntness of her speech. He remained quiet, however, and took the seat opposite Catherine. 

"How does that feel," Catherine asked, pointing to his metal feet.

"Extraordinary," Seth groaned and adjusted his suit, trying with waned attempts to cover the exposed metal surface. "But I missed the feeling. I missed the warmth of the sun, the cold from a nice shower and the splendor of painful sensation. So yes, it's extraordinary"

"That's a shame," Catherine rasped and looked away, not willing to meet Seth's brown eyes. Over the years, she had learned to keep Seth at arm's length. She wouldn't want to keep looking over her shoulders every time they were alone.

"How's the boy?"

Seth gave her a flat stare before rummaging through the files he had brought in.

"Sleeping, I guess. It's just two days yet he is proving to be a pain in the skin."

"Will that be a problem?"

"Hardly, but we should take extreme precautions. He had lost not only his parents but his brother and grandma. I wouldn't want to receive a death stroke while asleep."

"He is young," Catherine smirked when Damian's face appeared in her mind's eyes without permission. "I doubt he has the audacity to try something that stupid. We have the strings, he would be wise enough to know that."

Seth's eyes widened. The surprise on his face suggested that he didn't believe anything she had just said.

"Coming from you" he gnashed his teeth as he picked a blue file, "one would think that the said boy is handicapped. You forget too soon, dear mistress. Do you overlook the third article of the hunter's creed?" The open pages of the books flipped to a close as Seth stood from his seat.

"Of course, I know the third hunter's creed." Catherine bit her lower lips, angry that Seth had reminded her of the creed. He shouldn't forget that she recruited and taught him everything he knows about Bounty Hunting.

"Good," Seth muttered "then you should be wise when underestimating your opponent. The kid just lost his goddamn family. Vengeance could be deadly, especially when coming from a teen."

"Damian is not my opponent." Catherine muttered, "but you are right. We should be careful in matters like this. If my memory serves me right, Rinta was murdered by one of his hunts."

"Ah, Rinta was a mistake. Proud old fool who would stop at nothing until he satisfies his fancies. Serves him right."

"Don't speak ill of the dead, Seth. You and Rinta were close."

Seth laughed, "the acquaintance was leveraged to get up to the ranks. Rinta was a corrupt hunter, and in his craftiness, he had an unusual advantage of knowing how and when to place his piece."

"So you admit to being a sycophant?"

"If you would put it bluntly, then yes. So long I get what I want." 

A small smile appeared on the side of Seth's face. He used to be close to Catherine, but she had never been close to him. Seth was a moron, one that would do anything to save his skin.

"How long till midnight?" Catherine asked.

"Long to buy us enough time to quell the fuss in Bel Haven. I wouldn't want those red and black scouts on my heel."

"I wouldn't want that either. Getting Damian away from the city had been difficult. Those garrisons would be sniffing everywhere, looking for us. We should lie low for a bit."

"Hmm, first time in twenty years you agreed with me," Seth's smile broke as he flashed the perfect dentition, "the west did change you."

"Nothing is left in the west. I nearly lost myself to the scorching heat. What are those?" Catherine pointed her nose at the files sitting on the table.

"Everything we need to know about our hunt."

"So you are sure you got the right kid'

"Why not? He matched the description." Seth chuckled before dragging one of the files in his direction. The protesting sounds of the old papers followed his searching eyes and fingers as he began to work on the files.

"I think we have different definitions of that term"

The pages stop hissing and Seth lifts his eyes away from the files.

"We were careful to find the right person, just it is written here."

"Ah, but I see no blue eyes or muscular features. The description is nothing compared to the hunt. Instead of a man, I see a child."

"Oh," Seth chuckled, "I know what's bothering you." He picked another file and handed it to Catherine.

She collected it reluctantly, wondering why the man would give her a file instead of explaining everything right away.

"Says here that my lord would as This description is too detailed to mistake the person."

"Or maybe you are looking at it from a different angle." The smile on Seth's face appeared again. He was enjoying the fact that she was the one paying attention,

"What angle could that possibly be?"

"Family." Seth's smile widened, "the description is about his father, Godison. He was murdered three years earlier before he could see his two-year-old baby walking."

"What family," Catherine turned pale with surprise, "So this Goddison was an airnos"

Seth frowned, "Not sure. He was just a simple trader in the metal market."

"Right," Catherine stood from the chair, tucking her pipe. "We need to get going."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Of course," she shook her head, still trying to contain her anger.

Seth's features towered over her as he stood. 

"I mean" he hesitated, "are you certain to send Damian into the hands of those Darkeel?"

Catherine held Seth's brown gaze. It was firm and glinted with the last light of the sun which was falling on the other hand of the world.

"Keep it a secret, Seth." She murmured.

"I have done that since the first accident."

"Accident?" Catherine shook her head, "it was not an accident. I was in love with that man."

"Again, you admit that I am correct." Seth smiled, but they did not last long, "What will you do if the council notices?"

Catherine shrugged, she had not thought of that.

"I dunno. Let's keep this a secret for now. I wouldn't want to ruin this life before they begin."

"Very well," Seth nodded and returned his attention to the files on the table. "Perhaps I should destroy all evidence."

Catherine allowed a little silence to pass between them before nodding her head in approval. If she wants to create a new beginning, she must get rid of the old and press on to the future. Goddison was a mistake. Catherine had been so naive and young when she had fallen in love with him. It was a secret affair, one that had remained in the shadows for twenty years. Goddison was also in love with her, despite having a wife at home. He had promised to marry Catherine but had not lived long enough to fulfill his promise.

Catherine nodded again, giving Seth the final nudge to destroy every evidence linking her to her old life.