I felt my anger rising every second. This woman really did know how to push my buttons.
“Oh?” Frost laughed, a high cold laugh, “What else do you call one who is Powerless? I’ve seen this before you know … weak Mages who lose faith in themselves and never regain their Power. You’ll be lucky to even produce a spark again at this rate. If your Power has been gone for this long, I’d say it’s gone for good.”
I did not want to hear this. I hadn’t come for mind games.
“I don’t care about that.” I was trying to control my breathing and remain calm.
“Quite the group of trouble makers it seems.” Frost continued without listening, “Yet not to worry, after today you won’t be getting up to much trouble anymore. I shall see to that. I do not have time for those who defy my laws. Nor do I have time for people who want to steal my prized possession.”
Frost indicated to Hawthorne with a slight nod of her head and I could not stop myself from bursting out angrily.
“Your prized possession!?” I exploded.
The Creeley twin’s stupid grin’s faltered but Elvira Frost did not look surprised at my outburst.
“You have something to say, my dear?” Her voice was as cold as ice, “First you break into dearest Sebastian’s private room to try and steal his property, and now you have broken into my topmost tower, a very brave thing to do indeed. Also quite foolish. Yet let me assure you that you will not be stealing anything from me today.”
“It wouldn’t be stealing.” I tried to control my voice, “Merely claiming what was once mine.”
At this point Elvira Frost became quite stern, “Excuse me?”
“Hawthorne. My fox. Your little body guards stole him from me and teleported him here, and I’ve come to get him back!”
All three of them laughed at me now and I glanced at Jack for some sort of support. Would manners get me anywhere in a situation like this?
“Well it seems you don’t know much about your, uh, fox.” Elvira said in a very condescending tone.
“What do you mean?” I growled.
“Well for one, this Vulmessian does not belong to you. It belongs to me.”
“Vulmess, what?” I spluttered.
Elvira’s smirk widened, “It was created specifically for me by a cross-breeder in Concord City. The cross-breeder is a very powerful Mage who has the ability to modify animal genetics and shape them to his will. Your, uh, fox is no more than an experiment and has no real place in the animal kingdom.” She reclined upon her ice throne.
“He’s more intelligent than you or I.” I defended.
“He was designed to be vicious and powerful. He was supposed to be my brand new weapon that I could raise and shape to my liking.” Elvira continued as though I had not spoken.
“Weapon?” The words barely escaped my lips.
“The Vulmessian was stolen on its transportation to Frost Arch as a baby. The man who was supposed to deliver it to my quarters was quite baffled when he discovered that his precious cargo was missing.”
This was sounding far too familiar for my liking. It had been Elvira Frost who Jefferson was delivering Hawthorne too.
“Jefferson … Jefferson was delivering Hawthorne to you? He was meant for you all along?”
“Naturally. The old man came to me, sobbing and spluttering. He said he didn’t know where the animal had gone. That it had simply ‘vanished’. So of course the man was dealt with. Seeing as he refused to give any information about the thievery of the precious cargo he was tortured until death. I was so angry at the loss of my weapon, my rage shook the whole city.”
My heart stopped beating. Jefferson was murdered. They killed him because he wouldn’t say who had taken Hawthorne. Obviously he knew very well who had taken him. Why hadn’t he said? He might have lived. With a jolt I realized that Jefferson’s last act had been to protect me. Although I had stolen from him he had remained silent so I had not been hunted down. I had caused his demise. My throat felt tight and I thought I might throw up. I noticed Jack watching me out of the corner of my eye. I recalled on my very first day in Frost Arch how the ground had shaken beneath my feet. I now knew that it was the rage of Elvira Frost at losing her so called ‘Vulmessian’ to a thief.
“So obviously,” Frost continued, “I now know who it was that stole my Vulmessian. Tell me, how does it feel to be a murderer?”
“No.” I whispered. My stomach was churning as I remembered more. My parent’s letter … they spoke of a missing person from Mortlock. Jefferson. All my fault.
“Ava?” Jack spoke softly, reaching a hand towards my shoulder. R?ven was standing silently next to me, her face perfectly calm.
Elvira Frost let out a laugh just as I found my voice again.
“Why are you telling me all of this?” I said shakily.
“Well, you don’t actually expect me to let you go after all of this?” She said in an obvious tone.
Jack’s grip tightened upon my shoulder.
“Why?” I blanched.